Dear Parents,

Welcome back to the second half of term, always a lovely one as the children are now confident in their daily routines and you can really sense the excitement mounting as we head towards the fun events that end the year.

IGCSE 2 pupils are working very hard and are in the middle of sitting some IGCSE exams already. We wish them and our younger linguistically talented Year 8 students who are sitting French and Spanish the best of luck in their exams.

Playground

Huge thanks to the Parents Association whose hard work has enabled them to provide the new playground gym equipment being so enthusiastically enjoyed. The equipment is not suitable for infant children and I would ask that you do not let them go on them at the beginning and end of the school day. Thankyou to Mr Clements for securing them so safely into the ground. CIPA are also providing the infants with some new outdoor toys, which are being purchased this week. Many thanks indeed to all who give so generously at CIPA events and to the tireless organisation from the small group of dedicated committee members.

The Infants are now the proud owners of a new wooden train, built over half term by the very talented Inky and Mrs Rigby. It is truly an amazing achievement and we know it will provide pleasure to many young children for many years. The wood was all taken from our sister school, Holme Court and we are delighted to see it put to such good use.

Fund-Raising

Each year we are struck by how very generous our parents and children are. The collection on World Poverty Day for the poor in Cambridge was spectacular. So many of you went to a great deal of effort and provided truly lovely and essential items for the needy. Thankyou.

Thankyou too for supporting with such kindness the enthusiastic efforts of the Upper School students who were very moved by an Assembly given by Mrs Elliott. The younger three classes have all raised in the region of £80 each which they intend to donate towards specific items in the Oxfam catalogue which provide the opportunity to buy goats, trees and other essential items in countries which benefit greatly from this assistance.

We are mindful of the need not to keep asking for donations and will certainly not keep doing so. We continue our long term support of the Kasiisi Porridge Project with incidental fund-raising and this half term, will join the nationwide support of Children in Need. Our particular focus on this occasion is for adults! Please do come along and join us while we sing the Hallelujah Chorus. It could be an absolutely amazing occasion, but it will not be if you don’t come along and sing!

Sporting Events

We have several teams of footballers with some amazingly talented players, we have great enthusiasm and a great kit. However, we are not yet on a winning streak! We remain undaunted, if a little frustrated. At each match, we have been complimented on the exceptional skill of some of our players and we look forward to really pulling it all together in the next few fixtures. We do not yet have a victory to report, but two ties and a three ’second places’!

Trips

The children have enjoyed a really varied set of trips this term, ranging from Caribbean class going to the Royal Mail sorting office, a trip to the Tate Modern, Colchester Zoo, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Botanic Gardens, the Royal Institute in London, the theatre to see My Fair Lady and a pub for a live jazz jamming session. We have also benefitted hugely from some really inspirational workshops and speakers, including a fantastic drumming workshop, a demonstration of a didgeridoo, a demonstration of how to weld iron and steel, an Electoral Commission Officer and the amazing Snail Tales English workshop right at the start of term. Many children also went along to hear Michael Morpugo at half term and were truly entranced at what he had to say. We are absolutely convinced of the high academic value of such trips and visiting speakers and are very grateful to all the staff who arrange these and the parents who come along and help.

The School as a Film Set

Both the JSC and Cherry Hinton Hall were transformed over half term as we hosted a film crew who delighted in the natural light and beautiful surroundings of their settings. Cherry Hinton Hall was further complimented by a very enthusiastic group, the Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall who were invited into the School for one of their regular meetings. I was particularly gratified to hear such compliments about the wall displays (particularly the Impressionist art in the Hall) and their pleasure in seeing the building being so well used and loved. Many walk past it every day but had never been in.

Thankyou

We are very grateful indeed to Mr Powell-Owens for the very generous donation of a screen and a computer for us to use in the entrance hall to display photos. The children really love this.

Dates to remember

I am sure the Michaelmas Term Calendar is in a prominent place in your homes, but just to remind you of the following dates:

Nov 4^th: Parents Evening: Med and Sarg

Nov 11^th :Parents Evening: Junior Department

Nov 12^th: Parents Evening: Tyr and Ion

Nov 20^th:: Sing Hallelujah performance at school, 7pm

Nov 30^th: Drugs Awareness Talk for parents from Year 8 upwards, 7.30pm

Dec 6^th: CIPA Christmas Fair, 12 noon

Dec 9^th: Infant Christmas Play, 2pm, St Andrews Church

Dec 9^th: Carols by Candlelight in the playground, 4-5pm. All very welcome

Dec 11^th: Whole School Christmas Concert.

I look forward to seeing you all as you pop in to school or come to various events. You are always welcome to come in and chat about anything you like!

With every best wish

Harriet Sturdy