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www.springgroveschool.co.uk

Friday 20th May 2016 No. 30

SG MessengerSG Messenger

Focused Learning In addition to focusing on the last few weeks of a busy academic year, we are also planning ahead for next year’s teaching programme and the or-ganisation of classes. As many parents will ap-preciate, whilst we await final confirmation of places being taken up, it is necessary to delay the announcement of who is actually teaching what and to whom until later in the term, when our timetable and classroom lists can be published. SEN Development However, I am keen and pleased to announce that we shall make an important change to our teaching organisation next term. From Septem-ber, Mrs De Giles will relinquish her form teach-ing responsibilities and instead become our full-time SEN teacher which will allow her to focus exclusively on children who require extra support in all areas of the school. She will continue to support individuals and small groups outside their normal lessons but she will also spend more time providing essential help within various lessons in support of the class teacher. Together with the Director of Studies (Mrs Rafferty), Mrs de Giles and the form teachers reg-ularly discuss the on-going progress of all children and highlight any concerns that arise. Acting on this infor-mation, Mrs de Giles will be able to organise her timetable in order to target the needy. I am really delighted that we have been able to make this change and will look forward to improving this very important area of our education.

“You’ve just got to knuckle down and do it!” This week’s words of wisdom come from one of our Year 3 pupils who was passing on valuable advice to a reluctant Year 1 learner.

Queuing for a bat… Rounders practice at SG.

On Friday, Form 1 garden became the Crimea, the picnic bench became the old barrack hospital at Scutari and the children became the soldiers and nurses of the nineteenth century conflict during which Florence Nightingale revo-lutionised nursing care.

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Headmaster’s Scholars of the Week Week 5 (ending 20th May)

I have set up a new notice board directly outside my study which gives details of my Scholars of the Week. Form teachers regularly send to me pupils who have completed an impressive assignment. I am able to talk through the successful work with the pupil, have them read to me and listen to their ideas for further development. I then reward them with an appropriate sticker and stars. This notice board will allow me to provide public recognition of their efforts. I shall publish each week’s ‘scholars’ in the SG Messenger:

SG Connect

Answers to last week’s Connect Question: Flying... (Answers: Squad, Scotsman, Buttress, Ants, Foxes). WIN-NER: Mr Millner This week’s challenge: Solve the five clues then find what connects the answers… 1. A meeting point of two routes

2. P5, 75 and SD1 3. Belonging to all, general 4. Most popular thoroughfare name in the UK. 5. It goes with shields, port and all. Connection: ___________________________________ Email your answer to headmaster@springgroveschool.co.uk . The first correct answer wins a Spring Grove pen!

Issah Guy (Form 2) For a superb piece of persuasive writing, in which he both researched his chosen topic and produced a faultless composition.

Benny Sharp, Scott Strange, Alice Goodman and Joe Cobb

Level 6 in Maths

Bella Gaskain, Joe Cobb Level 6 in English

Ben Pickard Great progress with reading words on flash cards

Phoebe Boucher & Emmy Mitford-Slade

Lovely artistic work in French

Barney Smith Maths

The chickens were spotted making an escape bid on Thursday, when they were spotted ‘legging it’ down the front drive. Piers, Sebas-tian, Hasini and Mia were the guards that checked their flight and shepherded them safely back to their run!

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Issah Guy (Year 2) was challenged to write a newspaper-style article, as a persuasive piece

of writing. His research and finished report was completed entirely on his own. A brilliant

effort!

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Sport U9 Cricket v Ashford—Match Reporter, Henry Smith On Thursday the U9 team played cricket against Ashford. Luckily, we got to field first so we knew what we would have to chase. Ashford got off to a great start with 3 4s and 2 6s with only one pair! However a few minutes later, Piers took our first (and only) wicket. Ashford batted well and scored 92. Now it was our turn and although Barney and Charlie opened up with a good start we sadly lost too many wickets and our total was 15. We shall have to learn to protect our wickets and run sensibly! Thank you to Mrs Rawlins for a lovely match tea and thank you to Mr Smith for umpiring us.

U11 Swimming Gala v Ashford The competition was tough as all of Ashford's children were club swimmers. Most of our children had never represented Spring Grove before in a gala but they were not deterred. Scott was outstanding and dominat-ed the boys’ U11 races; Rosa, too, was in great form and swam not just as an U10, but an U11 too. Alt-hough everyone gave their best, Ashford were just too strong. Special mention for James O'Mahoney who, I am sure, will become a key member of our future teams. U11 Girls’ ISFA Football Tournament at Ardingly This was the 2nd time had we entered this competition and we found ourselves playing in a competition for 6 schools, all of which were bigger than Spring Grove. There were girls who had experience of playing at a very high level , such as for QPR, Crystal Palace and an Arsenal.

We got off to the best possible start and beat Bede's 'B' Team, 3-0. Lottie opened the scoring and Gigi add-ed another. Next, we played Bede's 'A' and although we dominated the match and had a lot of shots on goal, the ball just wouldn't go in. Final result 0-0. Our 3rd match was against Ardingly. They battled well and

also held us to a 0-0 draw.

Next up was one of the favourites for the tourna-ment, Royal Russell, who were previously unbeaten. had Just as they put the pressure on us, Gig ran almost the length of the pitch and scored an amazing goal, which shocked our opponents and represented a major upset.

We then played Cumnor House, who proved to be just too strong for us and we suffered our first and only defeat of the tournament. Final score 2-0. In our final match against St George's. Both teams were exhausted but again the girls gave their all. In the dying minutes of the games St George's were awarded a penatly. The girl who stepped up to take it was a QPR player but I think the pressure was too much for her and she blasted the ball high over the goal. Another 0-0 draw. Several other teachers praised our girls including the England U16 coach.

Mylie Wood captured a resident squir-

rel on the

SG Gate last week with her iPad.

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Happy Birthday to…Happy Birthday to… Luca Toma and Miss de AmbrosisLuca Toma and Miss de Ambrosis

CONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONS

Headmaster’s Stars: Austen: Charlie Beaugie, Isabelle Dawson, Jessica Ex-ell, Lexi Hermannsen-Smith, Freddie Mackenzie, Benny Sharp, Henry Smith, Georgina Wagstaff Chaucer: Alfie Allan, Mia Barnett, Phoebe Boucher, Betsey Bowden, Cherrie Martin, Noah Rendo-Castro Conrad: Tiana Brown, Robin Cobb, Josh Desmet, Jo-seph Evans, George Goodman, Miles Gouldstone, Isla Pickard Dickens: Flossie Alexander, Lucy Gardiner, Elvie King-ham, Daisy Morris, Zahra Piggins, Dexter Weir

Swimming Awards: Rosa Bowden (Club Gala medals) Rugby Award: Canterbury RFC Under 6 Medal and “Defender of the Year”: Alfie Allan Karate Award: Shaysha Amirthalingam

Citizenship Awards: BRONZE: Lexi Hermannsen-Smith SILVER: Robin Cobb

Lost PropertyLost Property Hettie MoranHettie Moran New Games Top New Games Top Alfie AllanAlfie Allan Blazer & PE Top Blazer & PE Top Harry SpeightHarry Speight Games TopGames Top Abigail WeirAbigail Weir Trainers & Football Trainers & Football

Boots and School Boots and School

CoatCoat

Tiana BrownTiana Brown Navy HoodieNavy Hoodie

Diary Sunday 22nd - Saturday 28th May

Sunday 22nd

Prep 5 depart to Chateau de la Bau-donniere

CLUBS, CRECHE AND SG EXTRA AS USUAL THIS WEEK

Monday 23rd Key Stage 1 Informal Tests Prep 6 to Rookesbury Park, Hampshire

Tuesday 24th

Wed 25th

Thursday 26th Bags 2 School Collection– Bags in by 9.00am

Friday 27th Prep 4 Assembly Years 1 & 2 to Leeds Castle Prep 6 return from Rookesbury Park

Saturday 28th Prep 5 return from Chateau de la Bau-donniere

PTA DatesPTA DatesPTA Dates 9 June - Prep 5 and 6 Disco

11 June - Masquerade Ball 17 June - Queen's Birthday Fete

Land Wanted

We are looking to purchase a piece of land approxi-mately 1 acre in size for a self build eco bungalow, suitable for disabled access. Location needs to be within a 10 mile radius of the south of Canterbury, even the Chilham, Faversham, Canterbury triangle. If you have or know of anyone that is prepared to sell us this much needed piece of land, please contact Michael on 07801273312.

Jelly the Giraffe We have never enjoyed such a close finish as just 15 stars separated the four house to-tals. Congratulations to Chaucer for the chil-dren’s perseverance following several near misses in recent weeks as they triumphed over Conrad and Austen!

1. Chaucer 570 Stars 2. Conrad 569 3. Austen 568 4. Dickens 555

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A new and unique opportunity for musicians in Kent who love the idea of community musicA new and unique opportunity for musicians in Kent who love the idea of community music--making.making.

Spring Grove’s Family Music Spring Grove’s Family Music CourseCourse

Monday 22nd —Thursday 25th August 2016 9.30—4.00pm each day

Overseen by our Director of Music, Hilary Jones, the music course is aimed at orchestral musi-cians who will be keen to learn and develop their skills through the week. There are already a

variety of Kent-based orchestral courses for advanced school-age musicians. We think the Spring Grove course will offer something new:

Children of all ages can sign up

Confident Grade 1 players up to and beyond Grade 5. We can adapt parts to suit abilities. Children from any school learning any orchestral instrument are welcome.

Adults can join too… It is possible for children to bring an adult along with them! An ideal opportunity for parents

who might once have learnt an instrument and lacked the courage to play! Course Tutors:

Bill McConnell (conductor/arranger), Hilary Jones (strings), Bill Jones (brass) Pastoral Care: Sue McConnell and Hilary Jones

The course will incorporate: a mixture of group rehearsals for the different instrumental sections

a variety of orchestral styles including jazz, folk and classical supervised break time activities including swimming and outdoor team games

Drinks and refreshments will be provided but packed lunches will need to be brought each day.

The course will end with a concert at 3.30pm on Thursday, 25th August to which friends and family are in-vited.

Cost: £125 for the full 4 day course. £10 reduction for each extra family member. Cost: £125 for the full 4 day course. £10 reduction for each extra family member.

Please note:

All instruments must be insured Booking and consent forms can be obtained via the school office or the school’s website.

Contact: Spring Grove School, Harville Road, Wye, TN25 5EZ apeirson@springgroveschool.co.uk / 01233 812337

www.springgroveschool.co.uk

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Swim Club 2016

All ages, all levels, all welcome

Tobie Lumley will be at Spring Grove to run the Swim Club throughout the May Half

Term & Summer Holidays.

It could be that your child needs a bit of coaching to gain confidence or can’t swim

at all, we will be providing instruction for all ages and levels, even adults.

Cost £15 per half hour one to one session.

Bookings now being taken by contacting

Tobie or Angela via email abmp@uwclub.net or speak with Angela in the School Office.

Spring Grove School, Harville Road, Wye, TN25 5EZ t: 01233 812337 e: apeirson@springgroveschool.co.uk

LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SG EXTRA

Week beginning Monday 23rd May

Monday 23rd May: Children to make their own mini garden. Thursday 26th May: Fruity biscuit truffles.

S G Extra is available Monday through to Friday. 4.30 - 6pm. So

why not book in with the office and come and join us.

If your child wishes to attend on any of the specific days listed they do need to be booked in advance please.

Otherwise there is a possibility that there won’t be adequate mate-

rials available for them to join in in the activity.

With the improvement of the weather and the long-awaited light-er evenings, we will be outside, after our activities. Where possible, we shall make the most of having fun in the garden including having

an occasional picnic tea..

Children taking part in the activities need to be booked in until 5.45pm to enable us time to complete them.

Looking forward to seeing you.