Autumn Term 1.6 Friday 16th December...
Transcript of Autumn Term 1.6 Friday 16th December...
Wishing all the families, friends and members of our school community a great Christmas and a Happy 2017
Dear Parents and Carers,
The final newsletter of 2016! It’s always a good time to reflect on all that we continue to achieve and our
targets for next year. Just within the past few months I can think of so much to be proud of; the arrival of
our new Year 5s, Focus Days, Osmington Bay, theatre and pantomime trips, open evening, countless
charity fundraising events to name but a few of our achievements over the Autumn Term.
Last week we took over 250 pupils (in five coaches!) to Yeovil for the ‘Peter Pan’ Pantomime. This is the
second year we’ve done this and, again, the excellent conduct of your children made this a really fantastic
experience. The show was great, however, for the second consecutive year, we were made to feel a little
sorry for Mr Boyland who again was ‘butt of the jokes’ for some of the cast!
As I write this newsletter, children next door are rehearsing for the Christmas Show on Thursday evening.
Schools are always special places to be at this time of year and I am privileged to be the Headteacher of a
school that has young people that have such a wonderful sense of fun and enthusiasm but also know
when the time is to stop.
Finally, as we come towards the end of another calendar year, can I take the opportunity to, once again,
thank everybody for the support they give the school. Swanmead has had another successful year and we
are all very proud of our achievements. One thing that is always consistent, and has been crucial towards
our prosperous year, is the backing of the school’s parent community. Through all the challenges, it is
always made easier knowing that you continue to back me and my colleagues in how we try to provide
the best for our young people.
Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and I look forward to writing to you again in 2017. A reminder that we
return to school on Tuesday 3rd January 2017.
Mark Walker Headteacher
Telephone: 01460 52431 Facsimile : 01460 55305 e-mail: [email protected] Web Address: www.swanmeadschool.co.uk
Parents’ Newsletter – Autumn Term 1.6 Friday 16th December 2016
Swanmead Community School Ditton Street Ilminster Somerset TA19 0BL Headteacher: Mr Mark Walker
The Swanmead ‘Festive’ Pen
Christmas at The Minster
From acting, musical performances and singing, our Year 5s did a terrific job hosting the event yesterday
at The Minster. Many thanks to the parents that came to join us for our annual Christmas service. Always
good to have so many of you join us for that special event and we are, as ever, very grateful to The Rev
Nigel Done for allowing us to celebrate Christmas in the magnificent Minster building.
Christmas Jumper Day
Thank you to parents who helped their children support our ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ today. Many of our
staff and pupils swapped sweatshirts and cardigans for Christmas jumpers in order to raise money for
‘Save the Children’. Children brought in contributions from their piggy banks and we will be sending off a
cheque to the charity ‘Text Santa’. Some dodgy jumpers on show but well worth it!
Minster Christmas Tree Festival
We’re all really proud of Freya Hannant-Lewis, Millieanne Higgins,
Ryan Larcombe, Kodie Bennett and Henrietta Gullidge (not pictured)
who have been our school ambassadors for supporting the annual
Christmas Tree Festival up at the Minster Church. With help from Mrs
Arnold, the children designed and decorated the Swanmead tree. The
team also sold raffle tickets to pupils and staff during breaktimes.
Following the festival and raffle the children managed to raise £38.73
for Secret World in Highbridge. This is a specialist rescue, rehabilitate
and release centre for injured animals. Thank you Freya, Millieanne,
Ryan, Kodie and Henrietta for representing the school so well and all
your hard work on this.
Recognition of Excellence
Recognition of Effort
Loren Wilkinson – Science Charlotte Wellman – Science
Mimi Ward – Science Emily Truong – Science
Charlotte O’Neill – Science Holly Lewis – Science Evelyn Lee – Science
Loren Wilkinson – Maths Evie Lee – Maths
Mimi Ward – Maths Emily Truong – Maths Holly Lewis – Maths Leo Rich – Maths
Ben Hickman – Maths Alice Gibbins – Maths Joe Sainsbury - Maths
Jamie Winchester-Hine – Science William Wright – Science
Cameron Walters – Science Liam Small – Science Sam Phillips – Science Lily Phillips – Science
Jennifer Pearson – Science Charlie Lefeuvre – Science
Joshua Lamb – Science Poppy-May Howlett-Turner - Science
Sophie England – Science Jackson Dabanka – Science
Molly Conway – Science Aurora Connett – Science
Jamie Winchester-Hine – Maths Jackson Dabanka – Maths Loren Wilkinson – Maths
Amelia Francis – Maths Nyah O’Nions – Maths
Harry Thompson – Maths Rebecca England – Maths James Howlett – Maths Lachlan Rice – Maths
Luke Theobald – Maths Ollie Upshall – Maths Sofia Vrabie – Maths
Isabella Watts – Maths Jemma Arnold – Maths Hannah Horner – Maths Phoebe Lomas – Maths
Marcus Freeman – Maths Charlotte O’Neill – Maths
Kelsey Paul – Maths Noah Tolman – Maths
Aurora Connett – Maths Molly Conway – Maths
Josh Lamb – Maths Evie Lee – Maths
Mimi Ward – Maths William Wright – Maths
Ellie Ash – Maths Keeley Brown – Maths Megan Cornish – Maths Ben Hickman – Maths Alfie Nippard – Maths Shayla Male – Maths
Accelerated Reader Certificates Platinum Award
Max Jaffé Archie O’Neill Nancy Pattisson Caitlin Parsons
Gold Award Annie Ashdown Aurora Connett Max Jaffé Hattie Luffman Kieran Mackay Archie O’Neill Nancy Pattisson
Sam Phillips Emily Truong Jasper Clements Frankie King
Silver Award Annie Ashdown Joseph Baker Noah Baker Katherine Bolland Anya Briggs Jasper Clements
Aurora Connett George Conway Judah Cooke Max Jaffé Frankie King George Lewis Hattie Luffman
Kieran Mackay Archie O’Neill Charlotte O’Neill Caitlin Parsons Nancy Pattisson Sam Phillips Gracie Plant Connor Swain Emily Truong Leyla Tunç Joseph Sainsbury Caelan Urquhart
Bronze Award Annie Ashdown Joseph Baker Noah Baker Aaron Biscoe Katherine Bolland Anya Briggs
Hugo Clemas-Turner Jasper Clements Harley Collins Aurora Connett George Conway Molly Conway
Judah Cooke Sophie Dowling Isabel Fowler Rhianna Gater Bethany Gillard Flora Godfrey Martha Godfrey Brynley Griffiths Freya Hannant-Lewis Molly Harris Sydney Ingram Max Jaffé
Frankie King Lexi Knowles Charlie Lefeuvre George R Lewis Holly Lewis Robert Lock Hattie Luffman William Lune Kieran Mackay Belle Miller Laura Miller Kaito Nakayama Archie O’Neill
Charlotte O’Neill Caitlin Parsons Nina Pas Nancy Pattisson Jennifer Pearson Lily Phillips Sam Phillips
Gracie Plant William Purton Harrison Reeve Joseph Sainsbury Nikola Saladiak Oliwer Saladiak Heulwen Simpson Liam Small Connor Swain Angel Taylor Star Taylor Keira Timson Emily Truong
Leyla Tunç Aidan Upshall Caelan Urquhart Bella Viggers Elizabeth Webb Lewis Cotterrell Marcus Freeman Rachel Locke Emma Spooner
Luke Theobald Kaitlynn Thomas-Day Charlotte Wellman
Numeracy Ninjas
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Crayons Prize (15 x Black Belts)
Mimi Ward
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Touch Pen Prize (12 x Black Belts) Joshua Key
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Ruler Prize (9 x Black Belts) Kieran Mackay
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Pencil Prize (6 x Black Belts)
Lily Broom Charlie Poole Molly Conway
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master (3 x Black Belts) Jackson Dabanka Loren Wilkinson Emily Truong Sam Phillips
Frankie King Thea Henderson Bethany Gillard
Numeracy Ninjas – Black Belt
Sebastian Miller Frankie King Harrison Kelly Lily Wheeler
Isabelle Lawrence Owen Charles Lily De’Ath Max Jaffé Hattie Luffman Leyla Tunç Drew White
Christmas Dinner
Hats off to our caterers in the kitchen for providing us with Christmas dinner for almost 200
hungry Swanmead people on Wednesday.
Singing at Muchelney House and the Christmas Concert
Pupils from all year groups turned up in force to Muchelney House to entertain the
town’s senior citizens. A variety show of singing, pantomime and music was on the
menu for the Muchelney residents and they appeared to certainly enjoy themselves!
Christmas Concert
The school community enjoyed
the ever popular Christmas
Show last night. Some tear-
jerking performances, beautiful
singing and comedy moments
sent the Swanmead community
home feeling far more
Christmassy than when they
arrived!
Sports News
Girls Hockey
The term has seen really positive attendance at hockey club for our Year 7 and 8 children. It is very
encouraging to see the girl’s improvements and great to hear that some of them are joining local hockey
clubs to continue to develop their skills and ability.
Results;
Mixed Hockey (Yr 7/8 teams)
Holyrood
Lost 7-3
Won 7-4
Maiden Beech
Year 7 won 4-1
Year 8 won 4-1
KS2 Hockey
It was great to see our Year 5 and 6 children in action a
couple of weeks ago at the Chard Area Hockey Festival at
Holyrood Academy. The results didn’t quite go in the favour
of our Swanmead hockey juniors but all enjoyed the
experience (some for the first time) to pull on the Swanmead
jersey and represent their school so well. Pictured are the
team preparing for action with Mr Lees.
Girls Cricket
Over the course of the term Swanmead have been part of the ‘chance to shine' cricket programme that
encourages girls to participate in cricket. Since September, we have had Andrew Skidmore from the Somerset
County Cricket Club come in once a week to help run a cricket club. We have entered a couple of Year 5/6
and Year 7/8 tournaments and are looking forward to our first friendly for the Year 7/8 girls in January.
Upcoming Sports Fixtures for early 2017
Wednesday 4th January
3.15 p.m. - 4.45 p.m. Yr 7/8 Girls’ Indoor Cricket at Holyrood Academy.
Monday 30th January
3.15 p.m. Yr 5/6 Cross-Country at Kings College, Taunton.
Thursday 2nd February
Girls’ Indoor Cricket Yr 7/8 - 'chance to shine tournament' at
Hazlegrove School.
Games start at 3.30 p.m. - back to school for approx. 6.30 p.m.
Year 8 Wind Turbine Workshops
Supported by students from the University of West of England, Year 8 pupils worked to design and build
simple wind turbine blade systems. All designs were tested in class to see who could light up an LED, and
whether anyone could charge a mobile phone with their turbine. Forces, angles and material properties were
central to the design process, in a hands-on exploration of physics and engineering.
Year 6 Cardiff Experience 2017 Three-day residential trip from Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th February 2017
Parents’ Meeting
Wednesday 25th January – 5.30 p.m. – School Hall This meeting has been arranged to go through the details of the trip.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, 11th January 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 6 Parents’ Evening
Thursday, 2nd February 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 7 Parents’ Evening
Thursday, 9th March 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 8 Parents’ Evening
Wednesday, 22nd March 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 5 Parents’ Evening
Parents’ Evening Dates
Please make a note of the Parents Evenings taking place in the Spring Term
A Note from Ilminster Warehouse
Due to a series of thefts, the Ilminster Warehouse gates will be locked outside of opening hours - generally
8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This is going to start in the very near future.
Parish News - St Mary’s Ilminster & St Mary’s Whitelackington
Our community friends wish to promote the following Christmas events;
Angel Wing Craft Session
On Wednesday 21st December we will be hosting a community creativity
workshop in the Minster Rooms between 11 – 1pm. Please come along and
make your angel wings ready for our Christmas Eve crib service and help us
to make some beautiful decorations for the church. This FREE craft event is
open to everyone in the Ilminster community. Snacks and drinks will be
provided. For more information, please contact Tracey Hallett on 07854 489753.
‘Fear Not’
The Minster Church would like to invite as many people as possible to join us on Christmas Eve for our Crib
Service at 5.30pm - it would be wonderful if both children AND adults alike were to wear white or come
dressed as angels to help us with this year’s theme – ‘Fear Not’.
Diary Dates
Christmas Holiday – Monday, 19th December 2016 – Monday, 2nd January 2017
JANUARY 2nd Monday Bank Holiday 3rd Tuesday First day back of the new term 10th Tuesday 6.45 p.m. SCOFF Meeting – Room 5 11th Wednesday 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 6 Parents’ Evening 25th Wednesday 6.15 p.m. Rotary Club Youth Speaks Competition 26th Thursday 5.30 p.m. Meeting of The Governing Body – Room 5 FEBRUARY 2nd Thursday 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Year 7 Parents’ Evening 3rd Friday 7.00 p.m. SCOFF Quiz – Hall 6th Monday Year 6 – Cardiff Trip 7th Tuesday Year 6 – Cardiff Trip 8th Wednesday Year 6 – Cardiff Trip 10th Friday INSET
Half Term – Monday 13th February 2017 – Friday, 17th February 2017
Triple P Parenting Group
This ‘Positive Parenting Programme’ is one of the only evidence-based parenting programmes available, with over 25 years of proven
clinical research to back it up.
A free 6 week course for parents & carers
Dates: February 22nd, March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
Time: 9.30a.m. – 12.noon
Venue: Wadham School Community Lounge,
Crewkerne
For more information on this course and to book your place,
please contact Parent & Family Support Advisers, Lesley
Cable on 07825 054 695
or Jane Czerniak on 07818 580 632
A parent’s comment: “This course has been so valuable in helping me to
rebuild a relationship with my children and for supporting me to parent
in a confident, calm way”