RIGTON REPORTER

The all new
RIGTON REPORTER
Welcome!
We have put together this newsletter letter because we want to
remember, share and celebrate all the good things that happen in our
school. We plan to send out a newsletter every half term. We hope you
like it! Carys D and Sophie B
2015 Sport Day
This year’s Sports Day was amazing! We had gorgeous sunny weather
and a fabulous cheering crowd of supporters. We all had great fun with the
races including the egg and spoon, obstacle, skipping, running and relay.
The scores were all very close but in joint 3rd place were Morpurgo and
Wilson, in 2nd was Rowling and in 1st place was Dhal by about 3 points.
There was lots of competitive spirit on show and a lot of support and
encouragement for team members across the year groups from Reception
to Year 6. Emma G (Y5) and Christian W (Y6) were awarded a White
Ribbon by Mrs Down for the care and encouragement they gave to Connor
and Artie, both in Reception. Mrs Wallen thanked her class for helping to
run the event.
Dear Readers
Welcome to our first edition of the
renewed Rigton Reporter. The
mammoth task of bringing you this
fabulous review of our school
activities has only been made
possible by the dedication of our two
budding journalists and editors,
Carys D and Sophie B, without whom
this newsletter would still be on the
wish list. Enjoy reading about some
of our fabulous achievements for this
half term and we can look forward to
many more editions in future I am
sure. Enjoy a lovely Summer
whatever your plans are and we look
forward to seeing you in September.
Mr Edwards
Carys D and Sophie B
Choir perform in the ‘Circus of Life’
In May our Choir joined over 250 other children in a hugely ambitious
charity concert organised by Harrogate Brigantes’ Rotary Club, called The
Circus of Life. Led by Mr Forster, our children attended numerous
rehearsals to learn songs based on the theme of animals that inhabit the
world with us. Local composers Philip Wilby and Guy Wilson were involved
and, with input from the children, they composed songs that highlight the
plight of six endangered species. North Rigton’s song was all about the
Polar Bear. On the night, Friday 8th May, all the performers took to the
stage in the Royal Hall and wowed the audience with a mix of poetry, folk
tale and song. It was a hugely entertaining evening, an impressive
showcase of local talent and community involvement and above all, a
wonderful opportunity for all the children who took part.
Sophie Brennan (Y5) won the competition to produce a piece of artwork that
could be used on all the promotional materials for the Circus of Life. Izzy
Robinson (Y3) won the competition for the best polar bear picture. Well
done Sophie and Izzy!
Sports News
This half term has been extremely busy with sporting events. There are so many opportunities for our children to get
involved and Mrs Wallen as Sports Co-ordinator tries to make sure we make the most of what is on offer. Thanks to all
parents who have given up time this term to transport children here there and everywhere!
A mixed group from years 1 & 2 got the chance to go to a football tournament at St Aidans and play on the astro-turf
pitches. Years 3 & 4 sent a team to a cricket tournament and another group had the chance to try out golf. Here are
some other sports highlights from this half term:
Orienteering
On the 15th June 2015 representatives from years 3, 4, 5 and 6 went to Rossett School to take part in an orienteering
competition. We were split into teams, issued with maps and dibbers and told what to do. After a bit of a warm up and
chance to practise we set off for the real thing. Everyone put a lot of energy into it and we were thrilled that all teams did
well and got through to the
finals – very exciting!
The finals were held at
Ripley Castle. Once again
it was an exciting event.
Our Year 5 girls team made
up of Sophie B, Anna M
and
Sophie
P
did
particularly well coming in
first place. Well done girls!
Kwik Cricket Success
On the 9th of May 2015 a mixed team of Year 5/6s went to a Kwik Cricket competition in Goldsborough and were
delighted to come 1st out of 7 schools. We do have some cricket stars at North Rigton: Barnaby H, Finn L and Finn C (all
Y6) all play regularly for teams outside school. However their success was definitely a team effort and it was not just
the regular cricketers who stood out. Several children across the schools were recognised by the organisers for their
efforts including Carys D (Y5) who was awarded a ‘Passion’ wrist band. The team would like to thank Mr Wilkinson for
his enthusiastic and supportive coaching.
Key Stage 2 Athletics
In June, all of KS2 headed to Harrogate Grammar School to
take part in an Athletics competition. There were several
events: running, throwing…. Everyone who went took part
and represented the school in at least one event. The
competition was strong as many larger schools had just taken
a team of their best athletes. Regardless, North Rigton had
some notable successes: Our Year 6s came 3rd overall; Finn
L (Y6) and Gabriel H (Y4) won their throwing events; Carys D
(Y5) won the Year 6 running event and Alice G (Y3) won the
Year 3 running. Well done to everyone for taking part!
Rounders Achievement
On 14th July a team of year 5/6s went to the finals of a
rounders competition and came second overall—that’s second
out of all primary schools in Harrogate and Knaresborough!
That is a fantastic result for a school our size. It was also
announced that North Rigton has been awarded the most
’teamwork’ wrist bands out of all schools this year.
Mrs
Down, who accompanied the team, commented on the
fantastic attitude, commitment and teamwork displayed.
Spot-light on James Finch
You
may
have
heard your children
talking about James
who teaches them
PE. In case you
don’t know, James
comes into
our
school once a week
as a specialist PE
teacher
and
teaches children in
all year groups and
also runs the popular KS2 Sports Club after
school on Tuesdays. He is an accomplished
sportsman himself having played Cricket for
Yorkshire. James is also giving our teachers tips
on how to teach PE to our children. Funding for
this specialist sports teaching post was received
through Olympic Legacy funding.
Countryside Live
Out Door Day
Years 5 and 6 went on a fun day out to
Countryside Live at the Yorkshire Show
Ground. We saw sheep being sheared
which was very interesting because most of
us had never seen that before. There was a
fun show featuring dancing sheep and we
got to see and hold snakes, tortoises and
guinea pigs. Some of us even held
tarantulas! Indoors there were
demonstrations on paper making, and we
had a go a rag rug making. It was as a fun
day out – definitely one we will remember.
Harlow Carr visit for Reception and years 1-4
While years 5 and 6 were at Countryside Live, children in Reception and years 1-4 enjoyed the delights of a sunny day
at Harlow Carr. Reception enjoyed making natural material crowns, exploring the Log Ness Monster and the tree
house. Mrs Down was really pleased with the children who all behaved wonderfully! Others played an I Spy game,
ticking off all sort of plants and creatures as they went along. Pond dipping was a real hit as was bug catching in the
meadows. It was a great day for everyone!
Tropical World and Paddling Pools - life’s fun in Reception!
Reception also had a trip to Tropical World where we got very hot in the tropical house and saw lots of interesting
animals. The trip was rounded off nicely with an ice lolly, picnic and play in Roundhay Park. Back at school we have
made the most of hot sunny days and had lots of fun keeping cool in the paddling pools.
Another highlight this term has been our transition mornings when we have welcomed in our very confident new friends,
next year’s Reception class, into the school.
Crag Walk
On 7th May the whole school went on its annual walk to the Crag. The highlight was watching Emily M grab a sheep that
had escaped from the field and was running past us all. She picked it up and put it back in the field!
Robin Hood’s Bay Residential Trip
At the start of July we (Y3/4) went to Robin Hood’s Bay for our
school residential. We went to Bempton Cliffs, a nature reserve run
by the RSBP. We were given binoculars and we saw loads of birds
including 2 puffins. Next we went to the place where we were
staying. After we had made our own beds, the smuggler’s wife
came in and told us stories about smugglers in the area (she was
quite scary). Then we went to the dining hall to write our diaries.
The next day we went straight to the rock shop and to a museum
which was interesting because we saw where the brandy, tobacco,
tea and playing cards were hidden. After an ice cream and lunch
and went home on the bus. We were all really tired! Gabriel H
GRAND DAY OUT AT THE SEA for Years 1&2
Our topic this half term has been based on the book ‘The Lighthouse Keepers Lunch’ which has led onto looking at the
history of the seaside holidays, comparing the features of the seaside to our local area (guess where we would prefer to
live!) and a very dramatic re-enactment of Grace Darling’s brave rescue of 9 souls. We rounded off the term with our
‘Grand day out at the sea’ (we used our imaginations!) where we made a picnic, packed up our swimsuits and towels
and, passports in hand, went to the ‘beach’. To you it may have looked like the field and a few paddling pools, but to us
it was Rigton by the sea!
Rigfest 2015 - not your usual summer fair!
“Best day ever mummy –
can we do it again tomorrow?”
Friends of North Rigton decided to try a new approach to the
usual summer fair this year. Their aim – to allow parents to
have a great time too (while not breaking the bank!). And
what a success it was!
Amazing music was provided by local talent – ‘Blast Off’,
‘WOP Group’, ‘North Rigton Recorders’, ‘North Rigton School
Choir’, ‘The Rigtonics’, ‘Limited Edition’, ‘Bad Dads Band’ and
various pupils from our school performing in the ‘Star
Performers’ slot.
“So great to see school kids up there on the stage”
The bar, serving local ales, wine and Pimms proved a huge
success – selling out 3 times over! Cream teas were
demolished by all in the shabby chic tea rooms and 150
burgers and sausages were consumed with delicious salads.
Bouncy castles, gladiator wars, toddler play, photo booth,
tombola and raffle all added to the fun.
Despite the fact that FONR didn’t intend to make a profit from
the day – they did infact make over £1200!! Wow!
So, ‘will there be a Rigfest 2016’ I hear you ask. Well, if the
weather could be as kind to us again we would love to do it
again! Erica
“Such a great atmosphere – great to be able to relax knowing the kids are entertained without me having to keep
giving them money!”
“I am just so proud to be part of this school.
Days like this just prove how lucky we all are”.
“I’ve had kids at this school for 10 years and this is
seriously the best fair we’ve ever been to”
In 2015 Friends of North Rigton launched a competition to design them a logo. The new committee felt it was time for
FONR to have its own identity. A few years ago a similar competition was used to create the school badge - now worn
on all our school uniform! FONR is not only our school PTA, it is also a charity and the logo needed to represent all of
that.
There were about 20 entries from all year groups in the school - and some really amazing designs which
made it very difficult for FONR to choose a winner! After much deliberation - it was Eve
Wilkinson’s design which won! Well done Eve! Eve’s design sketch was given to local artist
and friend of North Rigton School, Anita Bowerman, who then created the actual logo as one
of her Giclee cutting prints. FONR are thrilled with the finished result so huge thanks to
Anita Bowerman!
Eve was presented with her prize during a recent yellow ribbon assembly - her design and
the original Anita Bowerman cutting will be on display in school.
A very large version of the new logo was on show recently at Rigfest. Eve really has captured
the ‘togetherness’ and ‘community’ of FONR!
FONR Fundraising enable improvements to
the school playground
With well over £4000 raised from the Yorkshire Warrior, £1300 from the
Summer fair, not to mention the bag pack, Christmas fair, cake bakes, disco
and coffee mornings, FONR are pleased to let you know that we are able to
proceed with investing in improvements to the school playground. Plans are
already underway to repair and replace the damaged area of playground,
and to add new markings and stimulating games in readiness for the Autumn
term.
Not only that, we have also raised over a thousand pounds for St Michaels
Hospice. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the year.
Well done Warriors!
Total raised so far
£
8
,
6 7 0
Quiet Garden
Over Easter, Mrs Hesketh and a band
of volunteers, built new raised beds at
the top of the field next to school.
These are now full of plants planted
by members of the Gardening Club.
Further work by the ARCHIE group
has incorporated benches and the
area has been developed into a quiet,
reflective garden which will be
officially opened in September by the
new Bishop of the Dales and North
Yorkshire.
1m2 Veg Box
Oh What a Knight!
Didn’t they do well?! Once again the KS2 end of year performance proved to
be a great success and a wonderful way to round off the year. There were
some memorable performances, lots of catchy tunes and plenty of laugh out
loud jokes. The costumes, makeup and scenery were all fantastic and the
huge team of volunteer helpers were thanked for their time and effort without
which the show would not have been possible. Mrs Down did a great job as
sound engineer despite the emotion she felt seeing her first reception class
doing their last performance at the school. She even got the fart in the right
place this year!
Goodbye and best wishes to all
our Y6 leavers who are looking
forward to starting secondary
school in September.
Barnaby H – Harrogate Grammar
Finn C – Harrogate Grammar
Finn L – Harrogate Grammar
Christian W - Harrogate Grammar
William P - Harrogate Grammar
Emily B – St. Aidan’s
Lilly H – St. Aidan’s
Marley D - Harrogate Grammar
Grace F – St. John Fisher
Gardening Club grew and planted as
many types of vegetables as they
could in a metre squared box as part
of a Yorkshire Show competition. We
planted beans, peas, strawberries,
pak choi, courgettes and much more a veritable feast in waiting.
Our
theme was ‘All Things Bright and
Beautiful’ and so we planted our box
with colourful, edible plants to attract
insects as well as being lovely to look
at. Zac wrote a warning sign which
certainly did the trick - nobody dared
fiddle with the veg box!
Have a great summer.
See you back at school on
Tuesday 8th September
That’s the end...phew! What a packed half term we have had.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? We would love to hear what you think of this newsletter and welcome ideas for the next issue.
Speak to Sophie B or Carys D or email: rigtonreporter@gmail.com