ALVESTON C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL
Knights Lane
Tiddington
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 7BZ
Telephone: (01789) 293412
Email: [email protected]
www.alvestoncofeprimary.co.uk
Headteacher: Mrs K M Vickery BA Adv. Dip Ed
18 March 2016
Newsletter No: 24
Dear Parents/Carers
Curriculum
English: Author Visit
As part of Stratford Literary Festival’s ‘My Author Project’, Gary
Northfield paid a follow-up visit to Year 5 to look at the outcomes of our
project. Gary was delighted to see the breath of the children’s creativity
in producing models, drama pieces and cartoon narratives of animals in
extraordinary settings and circumstances.
English: Storytelling
Well done to our Reception class who this week led their very first
class family assembly. As you can see, they looked splendid in their
story character outfits. They told us about the structure of fairy
stories, they chanted refrains from well-known ones (eg The
Gingerbread Man) and sang/danced their way through story themes
(Sleeping Beauty and The Lion King).
English/Drama: Y4 Visit to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The following report was written by Harry Davies ’On Monday 14 March Year 4 went to the
Birthplace Trust because it was ‘William Shakespeare Week’. I was lucky because I had to go
to the front to deliver a question which was, ‘What Inspired William Shakespeare to write and in
what way?’ They then gave me the microphone and I asked my question! There were three
main things that inspired him and they were: other writers, history and the local countryside.
After that, they showed us one of the first folios of Shakespeare’s plays and his golden cygnet
ring. We then watched a famous scene from the play which had been voted as the third best by
children across the country. It was Hamlet, even though I think Hamlet is the best play. Then
we watched some actors and some children perform a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
which was the second best play. Finally the play, which had been voted for as the best, was
announced … Romeo and Juliet. The actors then acted some scenes from this play. Just
before we left, Milo was interviewed. We all enjoyed the afternoon and learnt lots about
Shakespeare and his life.’ What a lovely report, Harry.
As Harry mentioned above, this week has been ‘Shakespeare Week’ and each class has been
studying a different play: YR- A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Y1- Macbeth; Y2- The Tempest; Y3Romeo and Juliet; Y4- The Taming of the Shrew; Y5- The Comedy of Errors. As Y6 has been
working on a WW1 project this week, the children will work on their play after the Easter break
(Julius Caesar).
Aiming High: Achieving at Alveston
History/Art/English
Year 6 has been invited to be involved in a very exciting project researching and producing work
based around the lives of WW1 soldiers from Alveston and Tiddington. On Monday they had a
visit from artists who helped them create decorative envelopes in the style of WW1 trench art as
well as discussing the life of one soldier from the village. Children have been given one WW1
soldier each to research and around whom to create a project. Their final pieces of art will be
displayed in Stratford to coincide with the commemorations of the Battle of the Somme.
Sport
Netball
Our latest match was against Stratford Prep. (B) which we won 11-1. With away matches and a
tournament scheduled for after Easter the team’s confidence is rising. Well done to all players
(Sophie T, Lolly H, Gracie F, James Y, Ellie D (c), Rudi B, Mia F, Florence C, Katie L,
Sandra F and Alessia G).
Cross Country
Well done to Ellie Deaner who came fourth in the County Cross Country Finals last Saturday in
Rugby. A bright but cold morning witnessed the county’s top 80 girl runners complete a 2.4km
course around the perimeter of a steeply terraced series of football pitches. With the county
divided into four regions: North, East, Central and South; in finishing fourth, Ellie still
demonstrated her dominance as the number one runner in the Stratford and South
Warwickshire region. Well done, Ellie.
Music
This Wednesday our violinists played in our school assembly.
What great progress you have made, children.
Environment
During the Easter holidays the asbestos in the kitchen ceiling
will be removed in readiness for a new canopy to be fitted
during the summer holidays. By the time the children return
to school the work will be complete. For any children
attending either Cygnets or the Hi-5 holiday scheme here at
school, please be assured that there is no danger of any contamination.
Health and Safety
Please be reminded that no-one should park or stop their cars on the yellow zig-zag lines before
or after school. There have been a couple of instances this week where a delivery van has
done this. Thank you to the parent who reported it to us. Should anyone notice this being done
again, please inform the school (a registration number would be helpful). In the meantime,
please continue to share safety messages with your children regarding safe crossing of roads.
Thank you.
Parents’ Evenings
Once again thank you for your support. The percentage of families attending was 91%. If you
had not have chance to meet with your class teacher (I know some of you could not come
because of illness), please arrange a mutually convenient time after the holiday.
Feedback
Looking through the questionnaires, parental feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. A
more in-depth analysis will be taken and reported back to you.
Aiming High: Achieving at Alveston
Congratulations
The winner of the raffle for the Lions Giant Easter Egg was James Yates – what a lot of
chocolate! I hope you are going to share it with your family (and me!).
Awards
The following children have been awarded half term cups (or our Teddy if in Year R) for either
academic excellence, sporting achievement, persistent effort for
overcoming difficulties, consistent effort, good behaviour or
helpfulness: This half term the cups/teddy go to the following
children: Year R: Emma Ridley, Year 1: Jack Fitzgerald, Year 2:
Daniel Lourenco, Year 3: Harry White, Year 4: Milo Cullimore,
Year 5: Katie Johnson and Year 6: Mia Featherstone. Well done
children. Your names will be put in the Book of Excellence.
Unfortunately Harry is absent today so will add his photo next term.
After-School Clubs
School-run clubs will start on Monday 18 April and run until Friday 20 May. Lists of clubs will be
given in the first newsletter next term.
Mini-Tennis
If any child in Year 1 or Year 2 wish to play mini tennis with Ralph Neilsen from Stratford Tennis
Club after school on Thursdays in the hall, please ask the office for a booking form. The cost for
7 weeks is £38.50 to include all equipment. Lessons start on Thursday 14 April and end
Thursday 26 May.
Team Points
The winners of the school team cup this week are Tudor Reds. Well done!
Children’s Challenges
The winners of last week’s children’s challenges are: KS1: What happened on Good Friday
and Easter Sunday? Jesus died on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday:
Alex Lloyd, Holly Brougham, Iris Stannard, Robert and Sophie Ayers-Hunt
What influences children's eating behaviour?
Loughborough University is conducting a survey to gain better information around the
influences of both parents and children on children's eating behaviour, in particular,
vegetable consumption. They are asking parents and primary caregivers of children aged 47 to take a short questionnaire to help them in their efforts.
We hope schools will support this research by forwarding this email to parents or carers of
children age 4-7. As an incentive we will give a £50 Amazon gift card to the school who
generates most responses. To complete the questionnaire go to:
https://lboro.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/influences-on-childrens-consumption-of-vegetables-2
Community
Tennis Programme for Girls Ages 5-8
Stratford on Avon Tennis Club
A starter indoor tennis programme starting on Wednesdays 4.30 – 5.30pm
April 20 – 6 July £5/session payable half termly
Booking and queries contact Natalie Green (administrator) on 01789 295801
Or email [email protected]
Aiming High: Achieving at Alveston
Shakespeare’s Birthday Competition
What does Shakespeare mean to you?
Help celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary of his death by doing a project of your choice
on William Shakespeare. Here are some entry ideas but feel free to use your imagination.
 Imagine you are a young Shakespeare writing about a day in your life
 A sculpture
 A portrait of Shakespeare
 Imagine life as a child in Tudor times and write about it
 Write a ‘missing’ Shakespeare play
 A painting representing the Stratford of Shakespeare’s childhood
 An illustration of his famous sayings
 A cartoon of his life.
There will be a winner for each of the following age groups and their prize will be a Kindle Fire!
The winners will also be presented with a trophy for their school.
Categories: Years R & 1; Years 2, 3 & 4, Years 5 & 6.
Prizes kindly donated by Stratford Town Council.
Written pieces should be limited to 500 words. Please include your name, year group and
school on your entry and hand in to shool by Friday 8 April.
Punctuality
Please be reminded that the bell goes at 8.55am and all children should be ready to go through
the cloakroom doors at this time. If children come in late, it disrupts the rest of the class. Thank
you for your co-operation.
Illness
This term we have seen a large number of children off sick with various bugs, plus a few staff
too. May I please ask that if your child is feeling poorly that you do not send them to school until
they feel well again. Thank you.
Reminders
Inset Day
Please be reminded that we have an Inset Day on Monday 4 April. Children are back in
school on Tuesday 5 April after the Easter holidays.
Finally
Good luck to Archie and Harry Egerton who are moving away from the area. We hope you
settle in well to your new school next term.
I hope you all have a fabulous Easter break and look forward to seeing everyone back in school
on Tuesday 5 April.
Yours sincerely
Krysia Vickery
Headteacher
Aiming High: Achieving at Alveston