1 MB 19th Dec 2014 Newsletter No 7 19th December 2014

Summercroft Primary School
‘Achieving through care, challenge and creativity’
Dear Parents and Carers
In true Summercroft Style it has been busy, busy, busy! In the final couple of weeks there has been no let up in our
delivery of Christmas fuelled learning opportunities. It was standing room only at All Saints Church on Monday where
our children excelled in all things musical. Thanks to Miss Lewis for her meticulous planning and organisation and to
Miss Hanson, Mrs Harvie and Mrs Monk for their invaluable support. I was especially pleased that the children, who
had been disappointed when the Harvest Service was cancelled, had a further chance to practise their presenting skills
in front of such a large audience in church. My goodness me, I continue to be impressed by our young people’s
confidence when speaking in front of such a large number of people. Any signs of nerves were kept under control!
Most admirable. Thank you to Mrs Gapper for coaching and encouraging the children to such a high standard. There
was a wonderful sense of community within the church making it a memorable event, thank you!
A special visitor made a guest appearance in yesterday’s key stage 1 assembly. Father Christmas heard about our
fabulous pupils and decided they deserved a visit!
I should like to take this opportunity to wish Mrs Odrich Damallie well at her new school and thank her for all that she
has done for pupils at Summercroft.
She will be much missed.
Thank you for your continued support and good wishes
and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to
school on Monday 5th January.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Warm wishes
Carole Hinstridge Headteacher
The Golden Folder
Congratulations to the following children who have appeared in our Golden Folder recently: Michael Crowland,
Charlie Evans, Erin O’Connor, Molly Piper, Alissia Townsend, Tom Guy, Leila Trusty, Ethan Moorfield, Sam Booker,
Jack Baros, Sam Ranford, Francesco Townsend, Luca Ollandini, Olivia Rnjak, Nicholas Harris, Trinity Farley, Sophie
Stewart, Erin Trowsdale, Amy Jenkins, Esther Wilson, Sebastian Clark, Olivia Cox, Eve Bailey, Elfine Atkins, Annie
Harvey, Lucy Moorfield, Jimmy Grant, Jamie Hill, Thomas Greenhill, Oscar Hormbrey, Nelia Mullins da Silva,
Savannah Sawford, Katie Delano, Joshua Foxall, Alex Gilkes, Jessica Glover, Leo Swanepoel, Leila Trusty, Eleanor
Gunkel, Liya Pereira Dinis, Connor Cherrett, Callum Hunnings, George Taylor, Olivia Cumber, Eva Hall, Euan Hardie,
Ryver Gardiner, Robert Clatworthy.
Year 3 trip to Royal Gunpowder Mills
Year 3 had a
fantastic time at
the Gunpowder
Mills. They
learned a lot
about Victorian
foods and
traditions and
enjoyed making
a variety of
Christmas themed
gifts. Look out for some special cards and gift bags
coming home in book bags this week.
SmartMoves in KS2
You may have wondered who
created the wonderful
Christmas tree which is in the
office hallway. The Key
Stage 2 SmartMoves children
have been very busy over the
last few weeks designing,
creating and decorating the
cardboard tree in time for
Christmas.
Newsletter No. 7 – 19th December 2014
Newsletter No. 7 – 19th December 2014
Nursery trip to Audley End
On Thursday 11th December Acorn
class set off to Audley End Miniature
Railway for a special train ride to meet
Father Christmas. It was a bright but
chilly afternoon
and we were
all pleased to
see the
blankets in the carriages on the train. We all climbed
aboard and tucked ourselves in. We travelled on the train through the woods spotting cuddly
snowmen, reindeers, Christmas bears and some very festive pandas! We were very excited
going through the dark tunnels and travelling over bridges. All of a sudden we spotted Father
Christmas and Mary Christmas waving to us. We turned a bend and there was Santa’s grotto.
Father Christmas spoke to each of the children and gave them a special early Christmas
present. After thanking Father Christmas we set off back to the station for a well deserved hot
chocolate in the cafe. We all had a very merry time!
‘It’s A Party’
Last week Year
One and Two
performed 'It's A
Party' to the school
and their families.
'It's A Party' tells
the story of the
birth of Jesus and highlights the celebration had by all.
The children's acting skills were brilliant and the singing
really raised the roof. The
children were accompanied
by a selection of Year One
children playing percussion
instruments and Mrs Monk
on the piano. As always the
parents put together
fabulous costumes to make
the story come alive. The
show was a true success
and the children can be
proud of themselves.
Reception performance
Wow! Christmas has finally arrived in Reception and
what a splendid performance our lovely children
gave. Their singing was enchanting and we are very
proud of their efforts and thought they looked wonderful
in their costumes. In class we've been making hats, cards
and solving Maths puzzles, all around a Christmasy
theme, but the favourite activity in recent days has been
donning a feathered cap and becoming an elf postman,
delivering cards to the children in the two classes. We
wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to
seeing everyone back in January.
A Christmas App - Monty’s Christmas
This tells the story of the
famous Monty the penguin.
Children can interact with
the story and then make
their own Monty card.
Enjoy sharing this story with
your children over the
holidays.
Page 2
Newsletter No. 7 – 19th December 2014
Year 4
Year 4 have been exceptionally busy over the last week with lots of Christmas festivities. It began on Thursday
afternoon with their Roman museum and gladiator dance. The museum was a great success and demonstrated their
knowledge of Roman everyday life. The children’s estate agent brochures were shared with parents who voted on
their favourite villa. We are pleased to announce that the winners were; Luca, Joseph, Jesamine and Esther – so well
done to them for all their hard work.
On Friday, we visited the Barnabus Centre for the year 4 music festival where they joined with other schools to
perform for parents. They sang a range of challenging songs harmoniously and the afternoon was thoroughly
enjoyed by all who attended.
This week we have been finishing our Christmas cards, making Christmas hats for our Christmas lunch on Wednesday
and making some Christmas treats to surprise you with (we won’t give too many details away!)
Be a Santa for a Senior
Year 6 have been involved in
helping to organise support for
a local charity called ‘Be a
Santa for a Senior’ this
Christmas. David Bassett came
in to school and spoke to the
children about this charity and
explained how the whole
school could help make elderly people feel more festive
at this time of year, especially if they do not have family
to spend Christmas with. The children have been
encouraging each other to buy a gift for a senior and
put it under our Christmas trees, ready to deliver in time
for Christmas. The children in Year 6 were also asked to
make a cheery Christmas card for an elderly person
living at Conewood Manor Nursing Home. The messages
and poems they wrote and the effort they put in to these
cards made Mrs Cruxon and Miss Lewis feel very proud
of their caring and thoughtful children.
DT for Christmas
Year 5 children have been hard at work in DT producing
Christmas cards with a pop-up mechanism. First they
designed a picture for the front of the card. Then they
incorporated the cam and cam follower and finally a
stand. This part involved accurate measuring, sawing
and drilling before the final assembly. This was a very
popular activity and one they would like to repeat for
Easter. I wonder what they could make?
Page 3
Newsletter No. 7 – 19th December 2014
MUSIC AT SUMMERCROFT
There has been so much going on in school during the run up to Christmas. Our Year 6 choir has taken part in the
annual singing in the town centre to accompany the turning on of the Christmas lights on 21st November. Joe C and
Isabel D sang their solo to Away in a Manger beautifully. Last Tuesday the choir also participated in the combined
Primary Schools' Carol Service at St Michaels Church. Emma B and Alex H sang the first verse of Once in Royal
David's City. Monday saw Years 2 - 6 attend the Carol Service at a packed All Saints church. Year 5 and 6 Choirs,
the Chamber Orchestra and the Recorder group joined the Readers, Pupils, Staff and Parents to contribute to a very
special afternoon. Well done to the Year 2 children who sang 'In a Stable' from their Nativity production. Alex G
and Matthew G were our soloists for this service.
Clarinet recital
Years 3 – 6 had a recital from some of the clarinettists
during Golden Folder assembly on Friday, 5th December.
Their parents were invited to come to the assembly to
listen to their children play.
If you would like your child to learn a musical instrument,
spaces are available for the Clarinet, Cello, Flute,
Recorder and various Brass instruments including trumpet,
cornet, horn. We also have waiting lists for Violin, Piano
and Guitar. Please enquire at the school office if you
are interested.
Open Orchestra rehearsal
We are very fortunate to have an
Orchestra here consisting of over
fifty Summercroft children. It is run
by Miss Wood and Miss Hanson and
we have some willing volunteers who
help every Thursday morning, for which we are very
grateful. Yesterday, the parents were invited to hear
their children play, followed
by a
performance
to the Key
Stage 2
children
during
assembly.
Exam news
Congratulations to the following children for their
achievements in Music: Conor Sinnott passed Grade 1
Clarinet with Merit and Oscar Hormbrey passed Grade
1 Recorder with Merit. Charlie Evans passed Grade 3
Horn with Merit, Sophie Hayles passed Grade 2
Trumpet with Distinction, Phoebe Hogan passed Grade 1
Trumpet, Luca Ollandini passed Grade 1 Bflat Cornet
with Merit and April Peachey passed Grade 1 Eflat
Horn with Merit.
Brass Group
Our talented Brass
Group run by Mr
Dodgson entertained
the younger children
during their Christmas
lunch on Wednesday.
SPORT AT SUMMERCROFT
Upcoming events at Summercroft:
Year 6 have Indoor Sportshall Athletics, Quicksticks
Hockey and Hi 5 Netball competitions coming up. Year
4 have Gymnastic and Virtual Speedstacking
competitions to look forward to.
Miss Matthews with the assistance of the School Sports
Organising Crew (SSOC) hopes to run an inter house
Cross country competition after the half term when
hopefully there will be no snow.
Year 6 Netball Club will resume on Monday, 12th
January.
Year 4 Virtual Speedstacking will start again from
Tuesday, 13th January during lunchtimes.
Page 4