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NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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Head of Junior School - introductionDear Parents
One of the most exciting aspects of life at the Junior School is that new topics, events and expeditions are introduced on a regular basis and even those which have been tried, tested and retained are refreshed to ensure they reflect our current approach to teaching and learning. Several examples from both categories, described above, have featured during the second half of term.
The new ventures of Year 6’s three-day cultural trip to Paris and Year 5’s ‘Out of the Box’ week were both highly successful and are likely to be repeated next year. While the staff members who planned these major events and participated in the activities deserve our thanks for their splendid organisation (and a special well done to Mrs Parker for climbing the high ropes at Mepal!), it is the pupils who are to be congratulated for making the most of the opportunities offered. Both year groups showed enormous interest and enthusiasm throughout their ‘off-timetable’ days and we were impressed by how they supported one another and coped with living and learning together, away from the familiar environments of their classrooms and homes.
Year 6 pupils have been working hard to capture their memories and record their follow-up study of the places we visited in Paris and they are sharing their scrap books, conventional and digital, with younger pupils and their parents this afternoon. To read more about this trip click here and to see the official photo album please visit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenperse/sets/
In order to further their understanding of Social Enterprise the girls in Year 6 have also been putting their entrepreneurial skills to good use this week. Having received a small loan from School Council each group of pupils set about creating items for sale in aid of Sunflowers Care Limited, a children’s rehabilitation centre in Cottenham. We await news of profits and subsequent donations from each group.
Click here to read about ‘Out of the Box’ week as experienced by Year 5. The following week over half of the Year 5s jumped at the chance to learn about beekeeping, which was the topic of the final Junior Inspire Me talk of the year. We are most grateful to Mr Phil Webb, father of Frances in 5A, for a fantastic session on this little known topic. Click here to read more and see the photos. If any parent reading this would like to offer a Junior Inspire Me talk next academic year, suitable for 9-11 year olds and lasting for 45-60 minutes, then do please contact Mr West, [email protected].
NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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Years 3 and 4 have enjoyed special events during the last fortnight too. Year 3 had a memorable trip to Norwich last Monday, not least because they found themselves virtually on set for the filming of ‘Tulip Fever’ starring Dame Judi Dench in Norwich Cathedral; there was no sign of Dame Judi but I was informed that there were ‘live’ cows in the cloisters! Click here for the report of this trip.
The following day Year 4 gave a spectacular performance of Tony Mitton’s ‘The Red and White Spotted Handkerchief’ in assembly. By then rehearsals were well underway for the summer concert, which was held yesterday evening at West Road Concert Hall. This year’s programme was ambitious with a great variety of pieces involving soloists, ensembles, choirs, the massed orchestras of Years 4-6, and the whole school singing ‘I am a Small Part of the World’, ‘Happy’ and several songs from Disney’s ‘The Lion King’. What a fabulous evening it was – every member of the Junior School played her part and, in its entirety, this was a concert which demonstrated musicality, talent and stamina! Well done to all our performers. Click here to read a more detailed report and see photographs.
On Wednesday everyone enjoyed a break from concert rehearsals when we welcomed Lucy Hawking, alumna, author of the Cosmic George books and daughter of Prof Stephen Hawking, to the Junior School. Many of the children had entered Lucy’s ‘Cosmic Challenge’ in the autumn and they were eager to hear how her knowledge of space had contributed to ‘George and the Unbreakable Code’, which was published earlier this month. To find out more about Lucy’s talk please click here.
As the end of term is approaching rapidly this is the final Junior School newsletter of 2013-14. There are still a number of events and expeditions during the next ten days, most notably a whole school integrated learning project on the ‘Life and Works of Shakespeare’. The normal timetable will be suspended to enable all four year groups to participate in special activities, workshops, a Tudor feast and, of course, our trip to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Mary Arden’s Farm next Tuesday. Do keep an eye on Twitter @SPFJuniors and Junior School News (http://junior.stephenperse.com/news) to find reports and photos of these and other events.
We hope that you and your families enjoy a wonderful summer and we look forward to welcoming many of you back to the Junior School in September.
Best wishes,Katie MilneHead of Junior School
Head of Junior School - introduction
NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeCome and join us in Narnia for an extremely colourful version of this well-loved story, performed by members of Years 7 & 8.
There will be something for everyone – songs, dance routines, stage fighting, fabulous costumes created by Backstage Club and, of course, plenty of magic and adventure.
Tickets are now on sale at the Senior School Reception.
Do you have an old mobile which you no longer use, or empty ink cartridges (branded ones only)? If so, please send them in to the office at any of the Stephen Perse Foundation Schools.
Small Steps, a charity in Huntingdon for families who have children with Downs Syndrome, are collecting these items to obtain iPads and funding for speciality therapy.
The iPads will be an invaluable resource for the children so that they can use the specialist apps developed by The Downs Syndrome Association.
Small Steps charity: appeal for old mobiles & toner cartridges
NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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Alumni Reunion 2014
SPF Parents & Friends Book ClubOur next meeting will be on Tuesday, 22nd July, at 8pm (contact Angela Neale, 01223 207706). We will discuss ‘Lying Under the Apple Tree’ - a collection of short stories by Alice Munro, and ‘Pereira Maintains’ - a short novel about the Spanish Civil War by Antonio Tabucchi.
We always have a lively discussion and are keen to welcome new members. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Martha Crouch for details (mobile: 07768311015 or: [email protected])
We were delighted to see over 100 alumni and former staff return to the school last Saturday for our Annual reunion, this year featuring a reception remembering Margaret Chamberlain who taught History at the school for over 30 years. We were fortunate to also have a history talk in her honour given by alumna Professor Christine Carpenter, and guests enjoyed afternoon tea, Chelsea buns from Fitzbillies (courtesy of alumna Alison Wright), and tours by our wonderful team of Yr 10 volunteers.
The Margaret Chamberlain booklet is downloadable from our website (link below) and we have a few printed copies on request: http://alumni.stephenperse.com/reunions/annual-reunion-2014-1
Photos of the event are on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenperse/sets/72157645279469103/
If you are an alumni of the school and would like to receive future details of our events, please do email Melissa on: [email protected].
Stephen Perse Foundation on BBC Radio Cambs
The Stephen Perse Foundation was featured on BBC Radio Cambridge on Thursday morning for 15 minutes, talking about boys joining our Junior School. Dr Helen Stringer was explaining the developments and we are grateful for Mr Tom Lewis, parent of one of our Junior pupils for contributing to the programme on a telephone link. Do have a listen! Click here or on the image above to go to our Soundcloud page.
If you missed our piece on BBC Radio Cambridge about school sport last week (as in the newsletter) please click here: https://soundcloud.com/spflearning/bbc-radio-cambridge-sport-interview
NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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Dear Parents,
My name is Rebby Wallis and I am the Regional Manager for The Academies at the Stephen Perse Foundation. As you may or may not be aware, this summer The Academies will be taking over the running of the holiday play scheme previously operated by the school itself. The Academies run holiday camps for children aged 3 – 17 and are currently in 10 of the finest school venues across the country including Dame B’s in Saffron Walden. This summer we will be offering the following programmes; Tiny Tots: a multi activity program that follows the EYFS curriculum and will introduce your child to both sport and arts & crafts. Coached by our childcare professionals and inspirational sports coaches, parents can feel safe in the knowledge that their child will be having great fun over the holidays whilst still following the necessary areas of development. (ages 3 – 5) Latham Road The Academies: multi-activity program taught by some of the best and most inspirational coaches in the U.K . There will be a mixture of both sport and arts and crafts throughout the week with an emphasis on having fun in the safe environment of the Latham Road sports ground. (ages 6 – 13) Performance Academies: for your budding young actor/actress this programme is taught by our amazing performance coaches, many of whom have played roles in some of your favourite west end shows or are dance professionals at Pineapple Studios London. The week ends with a performance for parents and includes work on set design and musical theatre. Art Academies: Art Academies aims to inspire the next generation of Damien Hirsts and Andy Warhols and will be taught by one of our inspirational art teachers who recently exhibited her work at Europe’s largest illustration event. The week finishes with the children putting on their very own exhibition for parents and of course will be allowed to take all work home. Our Tiny Tots and The Academies programmes will take place at Latham Road, whilst Performance and Art Academies will be run from the senior school hall and visual arts studio on Union Road. Plus, all Stephen Perse Foundation parents will receive a 10% discount on any programme by quoting SPF10 when booking. If you would like any more information on our summer camps or to see what dates are available please visitwww.theacademies.co.uk or call our friendly bookings team on: +44 (0)844 335 8217. Thank you and looking forward to seeing many of you this summer.
Rebby Wallis
A message from The Academies
NewsletterIssue No 15 / 2013-14 Friday 27 June 2014 Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
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th e fi n est v en u es w it h t h e b est t eac h ersB o o k n ow at www.t h eaca d em i es.co.u k
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0844 335 8217 fac eb o o k.co m/t h eaca d em i es u k @t h eaca d em i es u k T h eAca d em i es U K
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