Terms 3 / 4 2007
Newsletter

Dear Parents

Welcome back to the new term. In this newsletter you can read about some of the exciting projects that the children have been involved in since Christmas, along with events we have planned for the term ahead.

The children have been working very hard on their maths, reading and writing targets. Pupils are expected to make 2 sub levels progress over the academic year (for example progressing from 3C to 3A). Results from our last assessments in February show that many pupils have already achieved their targets of two sub levels progress, and we are hoping to get even higher results in the next assessments in May. A big thank you, of course, to the teachers and teaching assistants for all their hard work in helping your children to achieve these results.

Please continue to support your children with their learning at home – it really does make a difference to their progress.

Best wishes
Sue Freeman

Key Stage 2 SATs Tests in May
Monday 14th May – Friday 18th May

Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be involved in these tests every day of the week, so please ensure they attend school every day and have plenty of rest the weekend before.

Thank you to those of you who have offered to help as readers for that week. We do need you all - so A BIG THANK YOU.

However we do still need more helpers, so please contact Mrs Turner if you now feel you can help, or know of anyone else who can.

World Book Day
The whole school has been involved in writing stories and many of our pupils have entered the story competition run by Martello Bookshop to celebrate this day. Look out for the results in the newspaper in March. Every entrant also receives a certificate. Well done children!

Booster Classes

The Year 6 children have booster classes on a Thursday with Ms Foster and Mrs Freeman, as well as their own teachers. Also, Mrs Turner runs a class during Tuesday lunchtimes. Please encourage your child to attend the lunchtime sessions and to complete their ‘Booster Homework’ (a small treat at the weekend works wonders).

Creative Partnerships

Building on a successful first year as part of the Creative Partnerships Project in East Sussex, we are soon to be interviewing for suitable practitioners to work in Year 3 / 4 and Year 5 / 6 classes.
Diamond and Sapphire teachers are busy planning their project in more depth with sound artist Saffron Summerfield. The project will culminate in participation in a Wildlife Weekend in May.

Top-up swim

13 of our year 6 pupils were offered free top-up swim sessions at Rye Sports Centre. The sessions were paid for by the National School Sport Strategy, and were aimed at children who were working towards swimming 25 metres. Our children worked extremely hard during these sessions, and the improvement in their swimming and confidence, was immense. Well done swimmers!

Activemark

Our school have been awarded Activemark for our ‘exceptional delivery of the National School Sport Strategy.’

Results were taken from our annual school audit to determine whether specific criteria (unbeknown to us) were met.
We received Activemark because:
-- 90% or more, pupils received 2 hours of PE a week (100% of our children do).
-- We held a sports day.
-- 27% of children participated in sports clubs linked to the school (47% of our children did).

Activemark is awarded annually, and we are grateful for your support on sports day, as well as being a taxi service for your children to take them to local sporting clubs!

Look out for the logo on forthcoming letters that recognises our achievement.

Primary Sport Leader Awards

17 of our year 6 pupils have passed this award. It enables them to run playtime and lunchtime games for the children in our school. They organise and set up their own equipment, organise children to play their games, and show fairness and leadership qualities throughout. Our school have been recognised for our commitment to this award, and have received a certificate. Thank you to Ms Howard for her wonderful training.

Badminton

Four children from Year 3 and 4 were selected to take part in a Badminton festival at Rye Sports Centre. The children received an hour of coaching and then took part in a tournament the following week, against children from other local primary schools. Our team finished 3rd. Well done to Beth, Megan, Harris and Louis.

The Mayor of Rye visits Freda Gardham

The Mayor of Rye, (an ex Freda Gardham pupil) visited school to speak in an assembly about his work as a Mayor and Speaker for the Cinque Ports, bringing with him the town maces for all to see, and wearing his regalia.

He then went on to speak to the Year 3 / 4 children where he was ‘hot seated’ (questioned) and asked if he could do something about the cars which race past our school on the A259 when we are getting on the buses at the end of the day.

We are now awaiting his reply from the Rye Town Council.



A Huge Thank you to Adams of Rye

The teachers and children of Ruby Class would like to say a very big thank you to Adams of Rye, for the stationary gifts. They are greatly appreciated, and were very much needed. Lunch Menu Dates
w/c 05.03.07 – Week 1 of the menu
w/c 12.03.07 – Week 2 of the menu
w/c 19.03.07 – Week 3 of the menu
w/c 26.03.07 – Week 1 of the menu

New menus will be issued following the Easter break.

Dates for your Diary

8th March - Dance Festival at TPCC – Emerald Class taking part.
16th March – Red Nose Day
16th March - Mothering Sunday Assembly.
22nd March - Top Play Festival at TPCC – Year 2 children taking part.
26th - 30th March – Science Week.
28th – (Wednesday) Pupil / Parent Learning Meeting – 3.30 – 7.30p.m. –please make a note in your diary – further information to follow
29th March – Year 2 Easter Egg Hunt with Tilling Green Year 2’s.
30th March – Easter Service at St Mary’s
9.30a.m.
30th March – X-Factor competition for children

30th March – Break up for Easter Break.
16th April – School re-opens for Term 5.

STOP PRESS

The plans for the new Rye Primary School have now been validated. A copy of the planning file is available for your inspection at the school office.
Anyone who wishes to make comments should do so in writing to:
Development, Minerals & Waste Group
Transport and Environment Department
East Sussex County Council
County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
LEWES
East Sussex
BN7 1UE
Or by completing the on-line form on the County Council’s website:
Go to www.eastsussex.gov.uk
Then “Quick link to Planning”
Then “Form – comment on a planning application”.

There is a deadline for making comments, which can be obtained by contacting the Transport and Environment Department on 0127

Red Nose Day – 16th March

We will be raising money for Red Nose Day by wearing red clothes to school. Children & staff will have to pay 10p for every red item of clothing that they wear to school on that day.

We also have our Mothers Day Service on that day, so if you are coming along to that please join in the fun by wearing red clothes and contributing 10p per item.

No red hair please, we are saving that for fundraising in future years!

Vacancy

We have a vacancies for MDSAs – Midday Supervisory Assistant. If you are interested, and would like more information, please contact the school office.

Tokens

Please keep on saving all tokens especially those from Tescos and Sainsburys, and don’t forget to ask your family and friends to save them for us as well.

The vouchers are really valuable to us as every year we can exchange them for much needed resources.

Homework

Thank you to all of you who support your children with homework. Research shows that children who have this support really succeed in their learning and it also raises their self esteem.

If you have a problem with being able to support your child, please contact their teacher for help with this.

Learning Multiplication / Division tables and number bonds is a very important basis for your child. They need to go over and over these backwards and forwards, until the end of Year 6.

Also, it is the same for spellings so please keep these up and practice them, even at odd times for example in the car, or when you are walking down the road.

Do please remember the Homework Journal is also a two way communication between you and your child’s teacher about Homework. If you have a problem with this please ask us, we are only too pleased to help.

Any other communication needs to be in a sealed envelope addressed to the teacher please.

Noye’s Fludde

On Thursday, February 8th (yes – we know that school was closed that day on account of snow!) a group of intrepid songsters braved the elements and traveled out to Benenden School where they played the part of the animal chorus in a marvelous performance of Benjamin Britten’s “Noye’s Fludde”.

The project began way back in July 2006 when Stuart Beer and Jenny Miller (Musical and Choral Directors at Benenden) first approached Freda Gardham and asked if we would be interested in taking part in what had long been an ambition of Stuart’s – to put on a performance of this fine work. Stuart’s intention was to stage performances in Rye and Tenterden before bringing the whole production to one spectacular finale in Rochester Cathedral. Benenden School would provide the soloists and orchestra with Benenden Primary and Freda Gardham providing the animal chorus.

First, there were costumes to make. Radiator Arts, a Hastings-based company, came over for two happy mornings helping the children to create their own animal head-dresses. All children were involved – singers and non-singers alike.

There followed three rehearsals in Freda Gardham where Stuart and Jenny introduced everyone to the dramatic arts and the pupils introduced Stuart and Jenny to their own special brand of drama.

Eventually, a committed band of sixteen children volunteered to be part of the show and choir rehearsals began in earnest. The walls of the music room shook to the strains of “Eternal Father Born to Save” and the animals’ Alleluyah” chorus moved everyone - judging by the speed with which they seemed to by hurrying along the corridor. Not only school time but week-ends too were marked on everyone’s calendar for the all-important combined rehearsals in Benenden and Rye.

The resulting performance in Saint Mary’s Church on Sunday, February 4th, was indeed something special. The principal singers sang with professionalism and panache leading the entire troupe through a faultless and captivating performance of Britten’s work. Noah led magnificently, the ark and stormy seas (helped along by the magic of dry ice plus projected waves) combined to make even the good citizens of Rye feel sea-sick and the animals moved everyone with their orderly processing as they entered and departed.

Sadly for Stuart, the long-awaited 8th February arrived and so did the snow. Our own school was closed but worse than that, the decision was taken not to make so many young children risk the journey to Rochester. Plans were made and re-made; buses re-scheduled and ‘phone-bills grew alarmingly. The performance would go ahead – but in Benenden School – exciting for the younger children but a colossal disappointment for all at Benenden who had so looked forward to performing in Rochester. The orchestra and lighting which had been stored overnight in Maidstone, were somehow transported back as were the stunning props and costumes. Amazingly, ALL the F.G. children who had committed to the project managed to find a way to get to school, some arriving as early as 11.20 little realizing it would be another ten and a half hours before they would once again be safely tucked up in bed. Fortunately, and much to our surprise and delight, Benenden canteen managed to rustle up a tasty cooked supper for everyone – at virtually no notice – thus fortifying us for the evening ahead. Thank you Benenden school for taking such good care of us and thank you Stuart and Jenny for your patient encouragement.

Well done too, parents and friends, for all your patience and support throughout the project. Special congratulations to Stuart and Jenny for introducing our children to Britten and for allowing us to participate in your splendidly polished performance. What an experience –and – what an education for our children.
We enjoyed it!
Liz Thompson

Music Therapy at Freda Gardham School

For two years now Liz Butt, a State Registered Music Therapist, has been running Music Therapy sessions every Thursday. These are funded by the Otakar Kraus Music Trust, a charity who provide music therapy for all sorts of people with special needs. Most of their work is done in London and the home counties but Liz Butt has set up a special 'outreach' project for some of the children at Freda Gardham School.

Over the two years many children have benefited from one to one music therapy sessions, during which they have used many musical instruments to build a relationship with Liz through which to address problem areas such as attention, self esteem and communication difficulties. Liz has also offered music therapy sessions to staff both to experience and to learn more about the processes involved in Music Therapy.

Funding is always a problem and we need YOUR HELP with ideas for fund-raising. Might you be able to undertake something - a coffee morning, garage sale, sponsored run, haircut, bath full of baked beans! - anything that would help raise a little money and raise the profile of Music Therapy.

Liz is very willing to offer 'taster' sessions of Music Therapy and to talk to anyone who is interested in learning more.PLEASE be in touch and enable this important service to continue for your children in your school.
Liz Butt
Registered Music Therapist

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Here are some reports from children in Topaz class following their visit to A Midsummer Nights Dream:The play was eventually finished, and the children’s behaviour was brilliant. Some people wish they could go there again! Lucy Turner On Friday 9th February, Year 5 and 6 went to the Congress Theatre to watch A Midsummer Nights Dream performed by Shakespeare 4 Kids. The play was about a Fairy who muddled up couples who were in love. Everyone enjoyed the trip, and our behaviour was excellent.

Marcus Bolton.On 9th February 2007 the students of Freda Gardham in Year 5 / 6 went to Congress Theatre in Eastbourne to watch A Midsummer Nights Dream sponsored by Shakespeare 4 Kidz!

The play was hilarious, amazing, wonderful, gosh I’ll probably take all day to finish this list. Furthermore I’ve asked these lucky children what rating they would give this great play, and you’ll never guess what most children gave, 10/10! Maisha Shareef.

On Friday 9th February 2007, Freda Gardham Year 5 and 6 went to see “A Midsummer Nights Dream – Shakespeare for Kidz”. Oh and you are probably wondering what it was. It was in Eastbourne at the Congress Theatre. We left at 8.15 and set off to Eastbourne! Someone shouted out “we are here” and everyone jumped out of their seats with enthusiasm, and the teacher said pair up with your partners. With a blink of an eye we were in the Theatre!
The play was a Shakespeare comedy. The play was about a magical mixed up love!