www.gucs.org.uk
Inspiration for Life; Excellence in all we do
3rd May 2013
Dear Parents/Carers
Countdown to the FroG Rock! TWO WEEKS!
Have you spotted the posters? There are only TWO weeks to go until our FroG Rock, an afternoon of music, fun and entertainment. Next week is ‘Bring a Bottle’ week for the Tombola – bring a bottle of any kind; alcohol, sauce, fizz etc. and receive a free tattoo to redeem at the event. Next Friday is also ‘Dress up as a Rock-star’ – does anyone have a Lady Ga Ga outfit for Mr M? Rock on! Email I mentioned last week that we were developing a new system of communication and we are up and running! I know that some people have not received our emails through their ParentPay account so we have set up a new email account letters@gucs.org.uk. If you would like to receive the newsletter and other notifications via email, please email this account with your child’s year group as the subject and we will add you to our group. We will send these emails as BCC (blind carbon copy) so your email address will not be shared with the entire school! Clubs Please be aware that Art Club is now running till 4:30pm (instead of 4:15pm). Sun hats, sun cream and water bottles! There’s a rumour going around that summer is on its way! Whoopee! Please remind children to bring sun-hats, sunglasses, sun cream and water-bottles with them to school. When they are on the school field in the midday sun they really do need protection. Thank you for your support in this. Cross Country report Last Saturday 27th April, a group of us went to Wendover Junior School to represent Grendon in the Cross Country race. This year the race was flat unlike other years when it has been hilly. We did really well and had 3 people in the top 10. The girls didn’t have enough points to qualify but the boys came 3rd. Everyone tried really hard and were amazing! Report by Charlotte Yates KS1 Indoor Athletics Last night, Sofia Skilling, Natasha Halliday, Lola Baker, Scarlett Holman, Freddie Haddow, Joshua Essenhigh, Alfie Garrad and Dom Leverett went to Waddesdon School to compete against eight other schools in a range of athletic events. The children all performed to the best of their ability and we are delighted to have come 4 th in the competition. Thank you for all the support at that event, and well done everybody! Congratulations to everybody who was in the Golden Book this week: Will Holman, Will Horwood, Jessica White, Molly Brown, Tristan Hughes, Joe Wood, Stephen Bennett, Oskar Shepherd, Jacob Burrell, Aaliyah Rahman, Alice Broome, Jessica Adkins, Mark Samways, Louise Howard, Heidi Leverett, Lewis Welford, Adam Kiddle, Wesley Moore, Christopher Spear, Jimmy Brooks, Harrison Spear, Jenni Baxendale, Luke Forrest, Amy Norfolk, Elliot Oldham, Zac Rutland-Blackwell, Alex Mack, Freddie Wall, Dylan Jones, Rex Johnson, Vikki Yates,
Imogen Walton, Eric Groves, Ollie Downham, Finn Baker, Freddie Haddow, Ethan Steele, Daisy Marlow, Ashton Rutland-Blackwell, Thomas Gaskin, Amara Coney, Kathryn Ross, Zoe Charles, Zadie Smith, Eve Avis, Harvey Witter, William Rowles, Paul Clark. Attendance Year 1 are number 1 this week for attendance with a perfect 100%- Brilliant! Hot on their heels are Year 2 with 98.9% and Year 3 with 98.6%. Parent’s Forum – meeting no.1 Whilst out at the front gates in the morning a number of parents catch me to ask quick questions, make suggestions, or share dilemmas. Usually they are on their way to work, and I feel like I haven’t given enough time to deal with their issues or have enough information to follow it up. Hence, I’m going to hold a Parent’s Forum. This will be an event whereby parents are given the opportunity to tell us how we are doing, log their feedback, but, most importantly, make suggestions for future improvements at Grendon. It’s seems from the number of ‘gate observations’ that the topic for the first Forum meeting should be ‘Homework’ – so if you have an opinion on how homework is set, when it works best (when it doesn’t work as effectively!) please join both Mrs Sherley and myself for meeting number 1, Thursday 6th June 6-7pm. All parents are warmly welcomed. 11+ & Admissions update – Parent Presentation The new, updated PowerPoint Presentation from Bucks CC regarding the ‘New 11+ and Admission arrangements’ is winging its way to me as I write. The date for this parent only event is Monday 24th June 6-7pm. Both Year 4 & 5 parents are invited to attend. Year 2 SATs During the next two weeks, the children in Year 2 will be taking their SATs tests in Numeracy and Literacy. As you are aware this is one of the ways that we assess our children’s progress, alongside the work they do every day. Whilst the SATs data is a measure for the school there is no pressure put on the children and we do not want them to feel worried in the slightest. Please can we ask you to ensure that your children arrive at school promptly and eat a hearty breakfast to maximise their energy! The results of the SATs will be communicated to you through your child’s summer report. Diary Dates May Monday 6th w/c Tuesday 7th w/c Monday 13th Thursday 16th and Friday 17th Saturday 18th Thursday 23rd Friday 24th
Lunch Menu for Week Commencing 06/05/2013
BANK HOLIDAY FroGS bring a bottle get a tattoo (see below) KS2 Sats Bring in your plants!
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FroG Rock Festival! Y5 Production 1:30 & 6pm Inset Day- No School
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Dates for the summer term May: W/c Tues 7th Friday 10th w/c Monday 13th Saturday 18th Thursday 23rd w/c Monday 27th June: Monday 3rd Thursday 6th Friday 7th Tuesday 11th (pm) Thursday 20th
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Main
Vegetarian option BANK HOLIDAY
Dessert
Ham and Tomato Pasta Bake Roast Gammon
Tomato Pasta Bake
Fruit Flapjacks
Vegetable Tartlet
Sausage Casserole Battered Fish
Veggie Sausage Casserole Vegetable Fingers
Fruit Jelly and Cream Krispie Cake
FroGS Bring a Bottle for a Tattoo FroGS Mufti Day (see below) and Y5 Cake Sale KS2 SATs FROG ROCK! Y5 Production at 1:30pm and 6pm End of Term Half Term Term starts 6-7pm Parents’ Forum- all parents welcome Y6 and Leavers’ Photographs Bag2School Textile Collection Sports Day (Friday 14th if the weather is bad) Instrumental Concert 6pm
Iced Sponge
Monday 24th
July:
Friday 28th Tuesday 2nd Friday 5th Monday 8th Thursday 11th w/c Monday 15th Friday 19th Tuesday 23rd
Y6 Waddesdon Games 6-7pm 11+ and Admissions meeting for Year 4&5 parents Y2 Bernwode Music Festival New Classes Day Camp Out YR - Y4 KS2 Area Athletics Y6 Leavers’ Production Y6 Southampton Trip KS1 Trip End of the Year!
FROGS NEWS ‘THE FROG ROCK’ - Saturday 18th May @ 3.00pm-6.30pm You should all have received a letter this week regarding the School’s summer event ‘THE FROG ROCK’. Please come along, have fun and support the school: 3.00pm - The Choir will be opening the event. Live Music from fantastic local band ‘The Pistons’ 4.00pm-6.00pm – bring chairs/blankets and ‘settle in’ for an afternoon of Rock, Soul, Indie and Funk classics. This will go ahead come rain or shine and hopefully outside, but we do have a back up plan! Food - Cream Teas and Cakes – BBQ Sausages – Jacket Potatoes – Candy Floss – Pop Corn – Tuck Shop - Licensed Bar! Children’s Entertainment - Inflatables – Face Painting – Craft Corner – Premier Sports Activities Plant Sale (the plants grown by the children!) Donate a bottle and get a Tattoo: 7-10th May! Donate a bottle for our bottle tombola during week commencing Tuesday 7th May – bottles can be brought into school from Tuesday to Friday in exchange for a voucher for a temporary tattoo, which can be redeemed at THE FROG ROCK’s ‘Tattoo Parlour’. Mufti-day: 10th May! All you budding stars - donate a £1 and ‘Dress as Your Favourite Rock Star’. Plant Stall 16th and 17th May – Please bring the plants you have nurtured at home into School on either Thursday 16th or Friday 17th May for sale at THE FROG ROCK on Saturday 18th May. Raffle – Fantastic prizes including the use of an MX5 car for the weekend courtesy of Lodge garage! Please look out for raffle tickets in your book bag next week. General Notice – The PTA really need new parent volunteers (particularly from the Early Years and KS1) to join FroGS and help us to organise events. Many of the existing ‘FroGS Team’ have children in their last couple of years at GUCS, so we really need new members. If you are interested in joining us, please feel free to come along to one of our meetings, as we will be thinking about and planning for the next school year’s calendar, or leave a message with the office or speak to one of the existing FroGS Team (meetings: 6th June or 4th July – venue to be advised) – see the FroGS Notice Board for the current team. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!
Pippa