THE STAR 27th November 2009 No: 12

Visit our website @ www.steeplemorden.cambs.sch.uk

Further to the recent conversations and small survey of the Church Street bus stop in Litlington, a trial will start of the bus stop in a new position on Church Street.

From Monday 30th November the bus will stop at 8.45 am near the Sextons Cottage, close to St Catherine's Court where the pavement is wider and therefore a safer place for children to wait in the morning.

Debbie Morris

I have lived in Litlington since 2007 with my husband, Steve, and our two children, Eve and Stella. Both the girls are now at Steeple Morden School, Eve in Year Two and Stella in Reception.

I was awarded a degree in English from Nottingham University, where I also met my husband, who is now an academic. I then spent some time working in I.T. in the City. Realising this was not the career for me I once again became a student, gaining a postgraduate teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge. I have subsequently taught in a variety of primary schools across Kent, Essex and London.

It is with this experience as a primary school teacher that I hope to add value to the governing body, working to ensure that our school remains a happy and successful place for our children.

The plans for the proposed new building, prior to going to planning approval, are now available to view in the school office. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our Nativity - Whoops-a-Daisy Angel. On Tuesday 8th December Key Stage 1 performs for the school, visitors and groups from our community. Preschoolers are also most welcome. The main performances are on Wednesday 9th December and Thursday 10th December when we ask that no pre-school children are present. We hope to sell DVDs and CDs of photographs to parents which should be available by the end of term. Richard Lloyd

Alisa Lopez-Adcock

I moved to Steeple Morden with my husband

Gary in 2003. We now have 2 daughters,

Georgina and Gemma. Georgina has just joined

the school and is in Reception, her sister Gemma

will join in 2013.

I have been a Human Resources Manager for

over 15 years and currently work for a global

medical device company supplying a variety of

equipment used by surgeons to enable them to

perform leading edge minimally invasive

surgery.

I have just been appointed Foundation Governor

by the Church. I have a keen interest in

education, and in this role I hope to put my

business and management skills to good use in

upholding the foundation and ethos of the

school, and in supporting the school to achieve

its objectives.

November

Saturday 28th Church Fair in School Hall

December

Wednesday 2nd Year 5 Assembly

Tuesday 8th KS1 Nativity Rehearsal - 2pm

Wednesday 9th KS1 Nativity - 2pm (No Roast Dinner)

Thursday 10th KS1 Nativity - 2pm No lunchtime or after school Spanish club

Friday 11th Year 4 Cake Sale

Wednesday 16th Christmas Lunch No French club at lunchtime

Thursday 17th 9.30am

School Carol Service at St. Peter and St. Paul Church

Friday 18th Last Day of Term

January

Tuesday 5th Term Starts

Thursday 7th School Panto Trip Depart 11.45 am/ Returning at approximately 4pm

July

21st Leavers’ Assembly at 9.15am

New dates are in bold, italic print.

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT US AND ENJOY

STEEPLE MORDEN CHURCH

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER

at Steeple Morden School 12 noon to 3pm

£1 Entry by "Win a Turkey" Draw Ticket

Stalls to include *Home made Produce and Cakes* *Books* *Toys* *Raffle*

*Tombola* *Christmas Cards* *Gifts* *Decorations* *Candles* *Children’s Activities*

also Come and hear the Metronomes and the Bassingbourn Band

Lunch and Teas

Proposed Residential

Visit to France – September

2010 Thank you to all those Year 4 and 5 parents who have returned reply slips and/or deposits for the proposed residential visit to France next September. Some families have not replied and we are now trying to finalise numbers. It is still not too late to make the decision for your child to attend this visit but you need to let us know as soon as possible please. You should have received an individual letter home as a reminder yesterday. Thanks for your attention, Nadia Stanbridge

SPORTS NEWS

Some pupils from Years 5 & 6 are participating in a cross country race at

Therfield Heath on 1st December. Look out for the results in next weeks STAR.

St Catherine’s Church

Litlington

Nativity Display

Everyone Welcome

Free admission

Saturday 5th December 10am-4pm

Coffees Teas Lunches

Children’s Corner-make your own Nativity Character

Book Café open all day

Come and try Bell Ringing in the morning

Sunday 6th December 12-4pm

Coffees and teas

Children’s corner book Café

Christingle Service at 4.30pm

If you have a nativity set you would like to lend to the

church please contact Sue on 852974 or

suehjenkins@googlemail.com

Year 1

The children are enjoying telling the time to the hour and half hour in school and I hope they are continuing to do this at home as well. We have been talking about counting forwards and backwards in 2s and identifying odd and even numbers. It would be very helpful if you could look at house numbers when you are out and about and see if your child/ren can work out what number they think will come next or before.

The children have been continuing to identify adjectives. We have been working on letter formation of letters that begin at the top (eg l, m, n etc.) They have also completed a writing assessment.

We look forward to receiving your child/ren’s outfit for the Nativity Play next week in a named carrier bag. I hope you have all received a letter about tickets for the Play.

Very best wishes, Victoria Penty

We have been extremely

fortunate in the past

that individual parents

have volunteered to run

the County approved

Safer Cycling Scheme,

for our ten year olds

during the Summer term (five, one

hour sessions).

Unfortunately this year we haven’t yet

had any volunteers to take on this task.

If no volunteers come forward there

will be NO safer cycling course for the

Year 6s next year.

Full training is provided. We can

arrange training at either Comberton

Leisure Centre on 9th March 2010, St

Ivo Recreation Centre on 10th March

2010 or Hereward Hall, March on 23rd

March 2010.

If you think this is something you could

help the school with, please speak with

Mr. Lloyd or Mrs. Henderson as soon as

possible.

Hi Everyone

Thank you for your fantastic response to our request for costumes. We have nearly got all of them in. If you are struggling to find something, please let us know.

The children are feeling really tired now, so please make sure thay are getting plenty of sleep. There are a lot of horrible bugs going around and we would hate your children to go down with something.

Show & Tell—Elmers next week.

Thanks again, The Reception Team

December is just around the corner and the panic to get everything ready for Christmas at home and at school is well and truly here! The PTA will be hosting the KS2 Disco on

the 11th of December. Please return the form below to the school by Friday, 4th December as we need to know the numbers in advance.

This event cannot take place without sufficient adults present to keep everything running smoothly. So for those of you who kindly gave messages of support and

assistance… I am calling on it now! Please help us continue the tradition of the KS2 disco and let us know if you can volunteer to chaperone the event.

All the best, Anna May London

School Christmas Disco Friday 11thDecember 6.30-8pm

Entry £2.00 (to be paid on door)

Open to years 3, 4, 5, & 6 only.

Refreshments & glo-bracelets on sale � - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

________________________________________________ of Year ________ would like to attend the KS2 Disco.

I can / cannot help on the night.

Name______________________________________Tel_____________________email:__________________________________

Year 6

I am sure that you are aware that this has been a very intensive Assessment Week where children have worked hard to undertake practice SATs tests in Writing, Reading, Spelling, Numeracy and Mental Maths as well as an assessment in ICT. Next week we will go through the test papers and learn from any errors. Please take a look at our Class Page on the School’s website where under the Summer term, you will see advice for parents with regard to the SATs tests as well as a timetable for the week beginning the 10th May 2010.

We have also found the time this week to construct and de-construct the stage to help KS1 with their nativity preparations …. as well as providing snow flake and angel decorations for the hall! The Tudor collage portraits are progressing brilliantly (some are even finished!) and will soon be put on display. Remember that we are also planning to make Tudor hats with Mrs Clubb in December so all the leftover materials (linen, velvet, silk, fur, beads etc) will be put to further good use.

Homework for this weekend is the usual Spelling list to learn and activity sheets. There are also Maths activity sheets related to data handling and problem solving which should be handed in next Wednesday please. We continue to observe the terrific progress that is being made to learn Target Times Tables from week to week. Excellent work! In addition, Mrs Corner’s Booster Writing Groups need to begin writing their “Pirate Pete’s Perilous Voyage” story. Please concentrate on writing an effective opening and build up.

And finally ….. Congratulations to James Beardmore and Amelia Gumble for being selected as Kung Fu Punctuation Class Champions, and also to Oscar Ayliffe who was Runner Up. Their success in writing (and performing) complex sentences has been celebrated in assembly this week.

Thank you for your continued support in all areas,

Nadia Stanbridge

Sunday 6th December 2009, 2:00 pm

Abington Pigotts Village Hall

Santa’s Groto

Mulled Wine

Mince Pies

Village Produce

Festive Fun

Gift/Stocking Fillers

Toys

Entertainment for Children

Variety of Stalls

Raffle and Tombola Prizes

Come and join in all the fun.

Year 5

We are making a slight change to homework arrangements. Now that we expect the children to be practising their multiplication facts every week, we have decided to set only one piece of homework. It will still be set on Wednesdays and due in the following Tuesday but from this week only numeracy or literacy (not both) will be set.

We have had a very busy week with assessments and rehearsals for our assembly. We invite you into school for our assembly on Wednesday, 2nd December which starts promptly at 10:10. The children have been asked to bring in their Victorian clothes on Monday please, ready to wear for our assembly. We look forward to seeing you there. Please ask your child if they have volunteered to bring in props for the assembly. If they have, please make sure they are in school by Monday morning.

Workabook tasks: Numeracy p58 T3 and Literacy p15 2B and 2C

The Year 5 Team

Next LJ'S is

Friday 4th

December

6 – 7:15pm

∗ Christmas crafts

∗ Protect the King

and from 7 - 9 pm there is

LJ'S PLUS for Years 6 - 8

JAM VAN VISIT - The

Cambridgeshire Jam Van

is visiting with all the

equipment for you to act,

film and edit a video.

Please note the

earlier start time!!

Occasionally, we receive adverts from local businesses and organisations. If we feel they may be of interest

to you as parents and carers, we will include them in the STAR. However, this does not necessarily mean the

school endorses such products, events or services.

Robin Community Pre-School are looking for two people to join our Team from January 4th, 2010 as Keyworkers.

One position is for 10 hours per week, (term time only) and will involve working Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The second position is for 7 hours per week (term time only) and will involve working Monday and Wednesday mornings only.

Applicants should have a minimum of Level II qualification (level III preferred) in Childcare, with a proven history in a similar setting, and be prepared to take responsibility for maintaining development records on a weekly basis. Salary negotiable depending on qualifications/experience.

If you currently have no relevant qualifications, but are keen to start a career in childcare and are willing to study for your qualifications whilst working, please contact us to find out more.

Please send a copy of your CV with a covering letter to: Katherine Briers, 14 Brook End, Steeple Morden, Royston, Herts, SG8 0PP.

Smash would like to say a big

to everyone for helping to raise £119.20

for Children In Need. Well

done to William Marshall in Y5

for winning Pudsey.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER At The Village Hall

Litlington 12 noon to 4pm

Delicious filled lunch baguettes & Refreshments Santa’s Grotto, Raffle, Many stalls to include

Cards, Gifts, Jams, Books, Children's activities.

MONDAY

Shepherds Pie

Cheese & Potato Pie

Homemade Bread

Mixed Veg

Cauliflower

Salad Bar

Lemon Sponge &

Custard

Ice Cream Mousses

Fresh Fruit

Assorted Yoghurts

TUESDAY

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Bean Goulash

Rice

Homemade Bread

Green Beans, Peas &

Sweetcorn

Salad Bar

Treacle Tart & Custard

Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit

Assorted Yoghurts

WEDNESDAY

Roast Pork

Cauliflower Cheese

Roast Potatoes

Creamed Potatoes

Carrots, Cabbage

Muffins

Fruit Whips

Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit

Assorted Yoghurts

THURSDAY

Chicken, Bacon &

Sweetcorn Lasagne

Vegetable Crumble

Half Jackets

Homemade Bread

Peas, Broccoli

Salad Bar

Oaty Plumb Crumble &

Custard

Shortbread

Fresh Fruit

Assorted Yoghurts

FRIDAY

Jumbo Cod Fish Fingers

Cheese & Vege Bakes

Chips, Jacket Potatoes

Homemade Bread

Baked Beans,

Sweetcorn

Salad Bar

Selection of Hot &

Cold Sweets

Fresh Fruit

Assorted Yoghurts