NEWSLETTER
March 2014
LETTER 8
INSET dates:
Visit the website: www.st-marys-oxted.surrey.sch.uk
Monday 2nd June 2014
for regular updates on clubs, calendar items, term
dates, letters & newsletters
Dear Parents and Carers
The sun is shining, and the children have been very busy as you will see from this newsletter –
which I hope you will enjoy reading.
It was lovely to see so many of you at our parent workshops on Wednesday evening. We will put
the presentations and hand-outs up on the website next week so that those of you who were
unable to attend can still have a taste of what was discussed. I am very grateful to my senior
team for giving so much of their time so that you could have a better understanding of what we
do in school.
I had a meeting with Tandridge Councillor Nick Skellett this week who will be undertaking a
parking consultation along Silkham Road – following complaints that have been received from
residents. Please do your utmost to park safely and courteously to support us in having good
relationships with all members of the local community.
We’re hoping that the sun will keep on shining for the next 3 weeks so that the children can have
as much time outside as possible and that we are able to end our term with a whole school
Easter Service in our Oasis on Friday 4th April.
Sarah Lewis
Oxted Carnival Saturday July 5th
The theme this year is ‘Toys and Games’.
Nicky Voller is unable to co-ordinate the St
Mary’s entry this year. If you are creative,
organised and have a vision for this theme,
please get in contact with Natasha Copp on
[email protected].
Mad Hatters Spring Ball
Saturday March 22nd 7pm
£25 per head
Don’t miss out, only 14 tickets left.
Please come and be part of a wonderful evening
and raise funds to support school. Welcome
drink, two course meal, coffee and treats, raffle,
silent auction, awesome DJ. We promise you a
great evening.
Contact: [email protected]
Merit Awards
The following children have gained a merit award during March
Ben Sumner
Rachel Budd
Thomas Pearson-Young Isabel Fricker
Alex Campion
Fintan Furbank
Fraser Myers
Eleanor D’Alessandro
Cai Edwards
Luca Gale
Matthew Hosp
Louis Hobson
Lewis Beaumont
Callum Stables
Harry Vivian
Lucas Stavert
Joel Pickford
Hannah Longhurst
Freddie Chalmers Ellie Stirrat
Eleanor Milne
Elizabeth Mills Joseph Dyson-Lee
William Mumford
Lois Drake
Eloise Cummins Paul Hulme
Rosie Mackintosh
Clare Chappell
Mack Allgood
Johnny Thurbin
Annabelle Cusack
Luca Fairchild
Alex Gautrey
Luke Cowley
Jaidan Lawrence
ECO-COUNCIL
Over half term the school received the fantastic news that we had achieved
the Silver Award. This is given to schools who have met the criteria laid out
by the Eco-Schools organisation and shown a commitment to environmental
issues. Below are the committee celebrating the news.
Joint Concert with Oxted School and SESAW
The School Choir performing
th
On Thursday, 27 February our Bells Group, School
Choir and Band joined with Oxted School and our
local area concert band SESAW for a concert held
at Oxted School. The children were a little nervous
about performing in such a big hall, and with so
many older children, but they had a great time. It
was a great opportunity for them to hear lots of
different instruments being played, and we hope that some of them might have been inspired to
take up new instruments themselves!
Everyone performing a Stevie wonder Medley
Everyone involved felt the evening was a great
success, great fun and certainly something we
want to do again. We’re looking forward to
performing our favourite items (along with some
new ones and lots of dance numbers) at our outdoor summer concert on Friday 20th June. Put
the date in your diaries now!
Sarah Lewis
Dear Parents/Carers,
My name is Annabelle Smith.
On the 21st March 2014 I will be shaving my head for charity. I want to raise money to help children who very sadly
have lost their own hair through cancer treatment. The Little Princess Trust provides real hair wigs to boys and girls
throughout the UK who have lost their hair in this way.
With your help I would like to raise at least £350. This is enough money for The Little Princess Trust to make one
wig for a child. I am hoping everyone at school will be able to sponsor me £2 [or more if you can] so that I can
achieve my target.
Below is a slip for you to use to make a donation. Please complete it and return it with your donation [Cheques
made payable to A.Smith] to the school office in an envelope marked;
“ANNABELLE’S HEADSHAVE”
OR make your donation on my just giving website:
http://www.justgiving.com/AnnabelleHeadShave
I am also planning to send my cut hair to The Little Princess Trust. Hopefully they will be able to use it to make wigs
and help more boys and girls who are suffering from hair loss.
If you would like more information about The Little Princess Trust please visit www.littleprincesses.org.uk
Yours Sincerely,
Thank You!
Annabelle Smith 6W
Annabelle Smith Headshave Sponsorship Donation
Name
Address
Postcode
Amount Given
Date Given
Gift Aid
£
[Cash/Cheque]
/
/
Yes / No
£
Online Donation
World Book Day
Caught Reading Competition
Book week was wonderful fun. Each year group focused on non-fiction reading and writing
producing some lovely pieces of work including: reports, film reviews and biographies.
On World Book Day Years 5 and 6 spent part of the morning working on a co-writing project with
the pupils of Downs Way School. In small groups the children created mythical creatures and
wrote reports about them. It was great fun helping younger children and realising how far
education takes you by the time you reach the top of junior school. Class 4M also had the
opportunity to do paired reading with the Downs Way Reception Class. Both of these events
were so successful we are planning to do them again!
It was such a delight to see everyone in their costumes. Thank you to all of the parents for
helping to organise this. Thank you as well to everyone who entered the “Caught Reading”
competition. Winners were: Emma Stocker, Rosa Grayling, Dominic Smith, Finn Copp, Ben
Hasler, Ellie Staples, James Hobday, Harvey McGuinness, Caitlin O’Neill, Francesca Beattie,
Olly Evans and Class 6L. A special mention to Finley Stables and Joe Hasler who were late
entries (but can have prizes anyway!).
Miss Greenwood
A French Adventure
On 26th of February we (the year 6 students of St Mary’s school) thought we were having a regular French lesson, but in fact we
were secret WW2 English spies, undercover in Nazi occupied France.
The mission was to go through all the shops that were hidden in different rooms, collecting cards as we went and avoiding the
Gestapo. When we had five different coloured cars we had to make our way to the patisserie which was in the hall.
Once in the patisserie we enjoyed different foods and cakes.
The only trouble was all the directions were in French! So we had to use our navigation skills and knowledge of French to find
our way around. My group were fine with the directions but finding our way into the patisserie was the hardest part for us!
When we finally found our way in we were given a sheet by Mrs Dove and told to rate the food from ‘J’adore’ – meaning ‘love’
and ‘Je deteste’ – meaning ‘hate’. All of it I loved except the pain aux raisins, Yeugh!
William White
Last French lesson, Wednesday 26th, we went underground as French citizens and we went round the school to different teachers and they asked us our names and our favourite colour and favourite food. Sometimes I couldn’t understand it, so I just had
to sound like French.
But mostly I got it right and I was pretty impressed with myself and I enjoyed it too. After, we were going to get a prize and I
didn’t know what we were going to get. But then we got to eat delicious food and we had baguette and chocolate rolls. It was
lovely – ymmmmm.
Mack Allgood
Last Wednesday we had a more-than-average French lesson. When I say more-than-average I really do mean it.
Over the weeks leading up to the event we had been focussing on WW2 occupied France and last Wednesday, because we
couldn’t go to occupied France, the teachers brought it to us.
Basically what happened was, we were first split into groups of about six. Secondly, we were given a car with instructions on it
to reach rooms which had been named places such as the museum or bakers where we would present our identity papers
(filled in and coloured by us) and be quizzed by a teacher pretending to be a Nazi officer e.g. allez au muse, tournez a droite,
continuez tous droit, tournez a gauche, etc.
Once we had been to every room in a specific order we went into the hall to try some food. There were four types of food that
were French (croissants, baguette, pain au chocolate and pain aux raisins). I didn’t really enjoy the pain au raisin but the others
were nice. Overall I enjoyed this and I think it was a lot better than a normal French lesson.
Alex Campion
Last Wednesday all of year six went on a great adventure! We were French WW2 spies. All of us made our own identity cares.
We made up our French names and our families names, where we lived and lots of information about what we looked like. If
we were stopped by the police then we had to show our identity cards and tell our French names. But it had to be believable!
As we walked around the school we had to follow the directions that we were given. Each card had quite a few directions on it
like continuez tous droit – which means continue. We also had directions which meant ‘left’ – tournez a gauche; and ‘right’ –
tournez a droite.
When we had followed all of the directions, they lead us to a room. This room was either le
musee (museum) la piscine (swimming pool) le supermarche (supermarket) or lots more. It took
quite a long time to travel around the school because my group kept getting lost! At the end everyone finally made it to the hall (la patisserie) which was a pastry shop. It was so fun because everyone got to eat lots of French food as our reward! We had pain au chocolate; croissants; pain au
raisins and baguettes. All the food was really yummy and it was fun going all around the school
following French directions!
Amelia Robson
Descriptive writing inspired by our French Role-Play
I am waiting in a basement, waiting for my mission to start. I am really nervous because it is my first mission I have ever done. I
am really sacred I will get caught by the French. If I get caught I will fail my mission and I don’t want to fail on my first missions.
I am not the only one doing this mission, there is another group with me. Finally it is time to start my missions.
We all have to go round a building. I really hope I won’t get caught.
I am in the first corridor – there is a guard guarding the room I have to go into. I try to sneak into the room but I can’t. I will just
have to try and speak in a French accent. The guard asked me a question I had never studied before. I will just have to try. Then
one of my team came and whispered what the guard was saying so I replied what my team member said. Luckily I didn’t get
caught.
I went into the dull dusty room and I had to find what sort of things they were planning. I searched and searched but I couldn’t
find anything.
Daniella Thomas
Amelia’s heart beat furiously as she gripped the car handle. Was this really going to happen? Was she really going to risk this
for her country? The answer was yes. She promised after all, and she never breaks promises. Her ginger locks shone in the
beams of moonlight. Sweat trickled down her face as she yanked herself in. Anna would be waiting in the secret location – but
until she got there the plan couldn’t commence.
“Stop!” said a fierce voice in French. Immediately the driver stopped and quarrelled with the warden. After 5 minutes the
warden nodded at Amelia. She felt her face burn as he gestured for her identity card. The driver cursed at her and told her to
hurry up. Where was it? Where was her card?
Anna Gates
Dear Diary
Today was so nerve-wracking. I boarded the boat to France, which was a stressful business
– even more so now that war is raging fast and furious. Stowaways are daring – I am not
really that sort of person who will willingly throw themselves into death’s arms and still
have a sile painted on their face. The crossing was dark, dank, rank and uncomfortable
compared to a posh flat in Manchester. But I am running away with my life. Let me start
from when I went to London.
It was a peaceful day in the eyes of Londoners, but I thought it was too busy to my mind. I
had been sent a letter by the secret service to head to London to a secret location where I
would be given a mission. That night I went to the meeting and left speechless….
When I got off the boat I headed straight to a French hotel. I was chosen for this mission because my aunty in law was French
and she taught me fluent French.
Esther Keyworth
The Emmaus Project, South Lambeth.
For one day only on Thursday March 20th—From 9am any furniture, books,
electrical items, clothing, CDs or items needing repair can be dropped off at
school to be given to this project.
Emmaus helps homeless people by providing accommodation as well as training in useful
skills and job opportunities. It runs shops which sell second hand goods which have often
been re-furbished or repaired by some of the people that the project is helping. It helps formerly homeless people make the transition back into work and thereby into a position
where they are supporting themselves. No person belonging to an Emmaus community is
allowed to claim State benefits.
Members of St. Mary’s Church have been saving items for use by Emmaus. On March 20 th
a representative from Emmaus is coming to collect any furniture, electrical goods (large
and small), books, clothing, bric a brac, CD’s and any other useful items for use in their
workshops or for sale in their shops. Items can be in need of repair or refurbishment.
If you have anything suitable to donate please bring the item(s) to School by 9.00am on
March 20th and they will be collected. If you live in the Oxted area and have large items
which would need collecting by van please let Valerie Adamson know
([email protected])
Emmaus is planning to open a new facility which will take in 27 new residents, taking them
off the streets and off state benefits. Anything we donate will go towards the funding of this
new project.
Bethany Nancarrow, Rosie Weight, Francesca Beattie and Natalya Claringbull
Cross Country Event
On Saturday, 1st March, St Mary’s Cross
Country Team went to represent the
school at the South London Harriers race.
Years 3 and 4 were a combined team as
were Years 5 and 6. The top four runners
of each category made up the team score.
St Mary’s ran superbly and there was a lot
of cheering coming from all members of
the team.
The results for the teams were:
Year 3 and 4 girls – 1st Olivia Cholerton,
Mia Lewis, Rosie Mullen, Lisa Lammali
Other runners: Clara Hogg and Emma Stocker
Year 3 and 4 boys – 2nd Frankie Fisher, Harvey McGuinness, Ben Ampstead, Freddie Bennett
Year 5 and 6 girls – 2nd Millie Howgate, Anna Sebire, Isabel Griffin, Francesca Evans
Year 5 and 6 boys – 1st Oscar Voller, Charlie Fisher, Max Fackrell-Spinks, Joe Hasler
Other runners: Ben Hasler, Beau Fackrell-Spinks and Matthew Timson
Well done to all, a fantastic result.
Thank you to Miss Greenwood for taking them.
Miss Leach
Football News
The Tandridge Football league saw St. Mary's getting off with a promising start. We have won
the first two of our matches in the league against Lingfield and Tatsfield. We have 5 more
tough games ahead of us, so will be training hard to keep our position at the top of the table!
Premier League Football Tournament at Fulham FC
On Wednesday 6th March the Year 6 Football Team were invited to represent the East Surrey district at the Premier
League Football Tournament. The tournament was held at Fulham FC's training ground in New Malden. It was an
incredibly exciting event, and we played against top schools from Surrey.
We were put into two groups. We won our first two games with 1-0 wins. Goals were scored by Michael Thurbin and
Luke Cowley. Frustratingly, we drew our third game 0-0, but ended up smashing our fourth game with an impressive
4-0 win. Michael, Luke, Harry and Alex all scored. Johnny Thurbin, our fantastic keeper, kept a clean sheet for all the
matches, helped by defenders Charlie Lyons and Callum Stables.
We qualified through to the semis, but unfortunately, lost our game in tricky circumstances. Although we were out we
had played fantastically, and our standard was commented on by many other schools.
Another highlight was, whilst at the tournament, we saw many Fulham FC players doing their training including
Darren Bent and Damien Duff.
I would like to thank Mr Thurbin, Mr Cowley, Mr Lyons, Mrs Lawrence and Mr Voller for driving the boys to the event.
The team were: Charlie Lyons (c), Michael Thurbin (vc), Johnny Thurbin, Luke Cowley, Alex Campion, Callum
Stables, Oscar Voller, Harry Hurman, Jaidan Lawrence, Goncalo Marques and Luca Fairchild.
Miss Keller
Dates for your Diary
March
Tuesday 18th
3.45—5.30
Year 6 Football Tournament at St Mary’s
Friday 21st
10.00
3S Class Assembly
Saturday 22nd
7pm
St Mary’s Spring Ball
Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th
7pm School Hall Year 5 Production ‘The Giant Slayer’
Thursday 27th
3.45—5.30pm Years 5&6 Netball Team Tournament at Oxted School
Friday 28th
10.00am
3W Class Assembly
Tuesday 1st
3.30pm
Year 5 Cake Sale
Tuesday 1st
3.45—5.30pm Girls Football Team Tournament at St Mary’s School
Tuesday 1st
6.00pm
Soloists Concert in the School Hall
Wednesday 2nd
7.15pm
Full Governing Body Meeting—open to visitors
Friday 4th
3.30pm
End of Term
April
Saturday 5th April—Monday 21st April Easter holidays
Tuesday 22nd
8.55am
First Day of Summer Term
Tuesday 29th
3.45pm
Year 5&6 Tag Rugby Team Tournament at Oxted School
Friday 2nd
10.00am
5G Class Assembly
Friday 2nd
3.30pm
Year 4 Cake Sale
Wednesday 7th
9.00—3.30pm ½ Year 3 to Nower Wood
Thursday 8th
9.00—3.30pm ½ Year 3 to Nower Wood
Friday 9th
8.30—3.45pm Year 4 to Greenwich Museum
Friday 9th
10.00am
May
3G Class Assembly
Monday 12th—Friday 16th
Year 6 SATS week
Saturday 17th
May Fayre
Friday 23rd
10.00am
5K Class Assembly
Saturday 24th May — Monday 2nd June Half Term and INSET Day