Sonning Common Primary SchoolGrove Road, Sonning Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 9RJTel: 0118 9722105 Fax: 0118 9721019e-mail: office.2506@sonning-common.oxon.sch.ukHead Teacher: Mr C HirstDeputy Head Teacher: Mrs R Salmons

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Weekly Newsletter – Thursday 4th April 2019

Dear Parents,‘You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest, like a mountain in springtime, like a walk in the rain.’ John Denver, 1974. ‘Wild thing, you make my heart sing’ —The Troggs, 1965

Our song-writers and poets often speak of the power of nature to make us feel truly alive. During the school holidays, we hope you will make time to recharge this sense of connection and wonder. It’s good for us and it’s good for the environment, as it reminds us that we are not separate from nature, not simply consumers of material resources, but part of a living, inter-dependent system. As a school, we are supporting Young Climate Warriors, an initiative focused on empowering your children to take action to tackle climate change. Their ‘school holiday challenge,’ set today, is a little different to the usual weekly challenges. It encourages our children to stop for a moment and approach nature and the environment with a sense of awe and wonder. PLEASE REMEMBER TO HIT THE RED BUTTON or email a picture when your child has completed the challenge – we will post them on the website ‘gallery’ page.The first summer term weekly challenge will be set on Friday 26th April.

Space to learn, grow and be inspiredwww.sonningcommonprimary.co.uk

Eat – Sleep – Recycle – RepeatHow many reasons do you need to recycle single use plastic waste?

1. It is the right thing to do.2. We receive money for every kg that we send to Terracycle.3. This money will be spent directly on playground and sport equipment for your child.4. If we are the most successful recycling school in the country between 25th March 2019 and 5th July

2019 we could win £10,000.We need the word spread and encourage more to collect and recycle for us.Through the very kind generosity of the Lent Lunch group and Churches Together we have been given £285 to purchase more recycling bins to put into other establishments. Whilst we have establishments keen to support our efforts we are always looking for more. Do you fit this category – does the business you work for fit this category?More recycling = more money for us to spend on your children.Kites Sharing AssemblyThank you to all of the parents that came to support Kites during their sharing assembly on Monday afternoon. Kites have been learning about the rainforest and the impact that humans can have on our environment and so retold the story of 'The Great Kapok Tree'. Thank you to everybody that made a donation to help the endangered animals. We raised £56.11!Kites Year BookThank you to Lewis Price of Ashgate Automation for their generosity in printing the Kites Year books again for us this year (they were distributed last week). His generosity means that all funds raised go directly to the PTA - £552 this year I think. Lewis Price has been printing our Kites Yearbook for free since last year’s year sixes were Kites!Year 4 Swimming GalaWell done to our Year 4 pupils that participated in the swimming gala against Kidmore End on Thursday. Thank you to the parents that helped transport and cheer us on and to Mrs Barnett for helping to organise. Book Fair From Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th May there will be a book fair, hopefully in the junior playground if the weather is fine. This will be a ‘Buy 2, get 1 free’ book fair and the free book can be either for you or the school. Please support the book fair: the school gets commission for every book sold, which leads to more new books for the classrooms.Breakfast and After School ClubBooking forms for Term 5 can be found in reception and n our website. Please return your completed forms to the school office by the beginning of next term. We have set up the facility for you to pay for your Breakfast and After School club sessions using Parentmail. At present, you will still have to complete a termly booking form or inform us if you would like to add or cancel a session. The relevant account will be debited each time your child attends a session. You are still able to pay by Childcare vouchers, cash or cheques, the amount paid will be credited to your account.School DinnersChildren in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 are required to pay for school lunches unless eligible for free school meals. If you think you may be entitled to free school meals please see Mrs Matthews in the school office for an application form. The cost for 23 dinners (at £2.40 daily) in Term 5 is £55.20. Payment is preferred by Parentmail, however cheques made payable to OCC or cash handed into the school office is acceptable. You are able to check you balance daily on Parentmail.Catering StaffKites Kitchen are looking for a friendly person to join their team from 11:15 to 1:45 for 3 days a week. For an application form please contact the school office at office.2506@sonning-common.oxon.sch.uk and for further details please contact office@kiteskitchen.co.uk

Wishing you a restful break and a Happy Easter. We look forward to seeing you back in school on Tuesday 23rd April.Your head teacher,Mr Chris Hirst

Space to learn: Space to grow;Space to be inspired

www.sonningcommonprimary.co.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY (New Dates and Amendments in italics)APRIL 2019Friday 5th 1:15pm End of Term 4Tuesday 23rd Term 5 startsWednesday 24th After School Judo startsThursday 25th Amazing Animals show for Kites and Year 1

Performance EveningFriday 26th 9:30 – 10:30am Open MorningMonday 29th to Wed 1st May Year 4 visiting Ufton CourtMonday 29th 1:15 – 2:15pm Earth Hour

Year 5/6 Swimming GalaTuesday 30th ` Kites being visited by Berkshire Reptile EncountersMAY 2019Thursday 2nd Skipping Workshop

Assembly – Air Quality CampaignFriday 3rd 3:15pm Year 4 Cake SaleThursday 9th Kites visiting Bucklebury FarmFriday 10th Year 5 Maya WorkshopMonday 13th SATS WeekMonday 20th Year 6 Bell Boating

Year 5/6 Swimming GalaTuesday 21st Highdown visiting Year 6Thursday 23rd Assembly – Police talkFriday 24th End of Term 5 3:15pm

Space to learn: Space to grow;Space to be inspired

www.sonningcommonprimary.co.uk