20th November, 2015

Key Information (details below)

Meet Mrs Bennett and Mrs Read and Mrs Brunt on 3rd December at 3pm

Individual day bookings for Christmas Club Pelican now being taken

Watching weeks next week for gymnastics, ballet and kung fu

Practise Pelican Skills at home – PSA testing taking place over next 3 weeks!

Sport Awards assembly, Friday 27th November

Christmas Club Pelican! Every day at Christmas Club Pelican is like being in a Christmas Wonderland! The atmosphere is one of happy anticipation as the children count down the number of sleeps to go to The Big Day. Individual day bookings for Club Pelican this Christmas are now being taken and there is availability every day except Tuesday. We always try to help out if you need to make a late booking, but this is harder in the winter than the summer, so if you would like to book a place please email clubpelican@perse.co.uk as soon as possible. We shall, as usual, provide all snacks and meals.

Children in Need What a day was had by all! We were thrilled that Pudsey fitted us into his busy schedule and that he joined in with so many of the activities. Nursery chose their favourite photograph from their photo booth and sorted and counted coins. Reception wowed us with their

talent: magicians, singers, linguists and musicians all participated in Reception’s Got Talent and the judges were amazed. Year 1 succeeded in completing 400 Superhero Star Jumps and would suddenly burst into jumping at all stages of the day and all locations around school. Year 2 ran their cake shop and made £135 on their own! In total we raised £726.95 for Children in Need, so a huge thank you to everyone who contributed.

Year 2 Hockey Experience at the Prep This week Year 2s were invited to The Prep astro pitch for a hockey lesson with Mr Artaman. Armed with a hockey stick and a ball the children practised dribbling, controlling the ball and then had to push (rather than hit) the ball into the goal to score points for their house. A good morning was had by all and Prep staff made a point of feeding back to us how impressed they were by our Year 2s – as are we!

School Photos Following Pret-a-Portrait’s recent visit to take class photographs, these are now available to view online at www.pret-a-portrait.net. The sitting ID is

PPSL170915P. They may also be viewed when logging in using your individual photo viewing ID card. If for any reason you do not have this, please contact Pret-a-Portrait directly on 0800 021 7626 or email customerservice@pret-a-portrait.net.

Link to Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Well done and thank you! Mr Wilson took 60 boxes over to The Upper School and they will be gratefully received by families in Albania, Moldova, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.

Pelican Skills Award Children from Reception to Year 2 have the opportunity to participate in this coveted award. Over the next three weeks children will be asked if they would like to be tested on one or some of the skills, so you might like to practise particular ones with them. The skills should be practised at home and tested at school. Who will be the first to be awarded their badge this year?

Watching Week This takes place next week so, if you are able to, you are most welcome to watch gymnastic, kung fu and ballet clubs.

Book Fair 3 – 4.30pm, 23rd – 2th November, Library Our annual book fair is with us again from Monday to Thursday next week. The children will be taken to view the books and you will be sent a letter with any titles that they are keen to read. The arrival of a book fair at school remains a highlight of the year for the children; I still remember the first time I ever went to one as well as the book I purchased.

Life Education Centre Bus, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th November As part of our Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE) scheme of work, we have Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Life Education Centre bus visiting us for two days next week. Over the 2 days each class will visit the high-tech classroom to have an age-appropriate lesson.

Our school’s philosophy and practice in all areas of PSHE includes developing the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding about the human body in order that children come to make healthy choices. If you would like to learn more, parents are welcome to visit the bus on either morning between 9am and 9.20am. As space is limited in the mobile classroom, please email the school office if you would like to attend.

Sport Awards Assembly with Performance by Street Dance Club Friday 27th November at 9am

A reminder that our termly Sport Award assembly will take place on Friday 27th November. This is an opportunity for children to be presented with a certificate or medal that they have been awarded, either in or out of school. This term our Street Dance Club will be performing at the assembly and Miss Bentley, our dance teacher, will be presenting the children’s certificates. Parents are welcome to attend.

To assist with organisation, please ensure that your child’s favourite certificate or medal is brought in to class teachers by Wednesday 25th November at the very latest.

Year 2 Tea – Meet our New Year 2 Staff Mrs Brunt, Mrs Bennett and Mrs Read will be in the library at 3pm on Thursday, 3rd December. If your child is in Cedar or Willow do come and join them for a cup of tea.

400 Memorabilia

If you have ordered a Perse Rose or our commemorative book, The Perse School the first 400 Years, you will have received an email inviting you to collect your order later this month. For ease of reference, you can also view the arrangements on our website at http://www.perse.co.uk/400-collection/. If you would like to view The Perse book there is a copy in my room; it has some marvellous photographs of old and new and I recommend the book as a lively, very interesting read. Another

excellent Christmas present! In addition, the 400 pin badges look very smart on Pelican sweatshirts and are a simple way for our young children to feel part of the 400 year. They are £5 each and will be available from Mrs Butler from next week.

Pelican School prints We are trying to make it easy for you to do your Christmas shopping! Mounted prints of our lovely school picture have now arrived so do ask Mrs Butler if you would like to see one. £25 each. I am only sorry that we do not have a loyalty card for you to earn bonus points!

Looking towards Christmas…!

Christingle Service

Our Christingle service takes place at St John’s Church on Hills Road at 9am on Wednesday, 2nd December. As with the Harvest service, children and parents/carers should arrive at the church between 8.40am and 8.50am, but no earlier please, and go to the class teachers waiting inside. Children going in to Larks should not arrive after 8.25am as the staff will be walking up to the church after that time. We are so

grateful to the APP who will be making a Christingle for every child in the school to take home. You are very welcome to stay for this special service. “Little donkey ….”

Christmas Tree Decorations

If you were at The Pelican last year, you will know that we have the best Christmas trees in Cambridge because they are adorned with a range of wondrous decorations made by Pelicans at home. Some are sparkly, some are stitched, some are made with mummy or daddy’s help and some are made completely independently. But they are all cherished. The trees will be up in the library and the hall from Tuesday 1st December and the children are encouraged to put their home-made decorations straight on to them.

Christmas Post Box

The Christmas post box will also be ready for deliveries from Tuesday, 1st December. It will be stationed at the bottom of the rainbow stairs and deliveries will be made by our enthusiastic Pelican Postmen. Cards should be addressed with NAME and CLASS to be sure they get through.

Santa’s on Strike! - Reception and Year 1 Christmas production

We look forward to welcoming you all to the Reception and Year 1 productions of ‘Santa’s on Strike’ on Monday 7th December at 2.15pm, Tuesday 8th December at 9.10am and Wednesday 9th December at 9.10am. We need a quietly enthusiastic audience at the Monday performance (7th December) when the performance is being recorded. Festive refreshments will be available following the afternoon performance and before the morning performances.

Nursery Rhyme Nativity, Thursday 3rd December

Our youngest Pelicans take to the stage on Thursday, 3rd December at 9.15am for their Nursery Rhyme Nativity. Families and friends are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available before the performance.

Wrap up warm for the weekend! Mrs W and all the staff at The Perse Pelican