the tidcombe times · it’s finally my turn! i’m arol richards and i have been here at tidcombe...
TRANSCRIPT
The Tidcombe
Times
Available online at www.tidcombe.devon.sch.uk and via subscription
Tel: 01884 252973 Email: [email protected] 20th December 2019
If you have any concerns at all about anything to do with school please do come in to discuss it with us as most problems can be
solved easily and quickly if we work together. This newsletter can also viewed on our website www.tidcombe.devon.sch.uk
Child Protection—if you have any concerns about any child, then please contact Simon Green (Headteacher) Claire Goddard or Jill
Mallender (Assistant Headteachers). Further contact details are on our website.
Here are just a few photos from this week’s AMAZING nativity from
Year 1, 2 & 3. They all looked (and sounded) brilliant. Well done to all of
you – we know it can be quite daunting getting on stage, but you all did
us proud!
Meet the Team Each week this term we will be introducing you to our wonderful
staff. We are aware that you may see us around the school and not
actually know who we are! So here we go...
My name is Lydia Sanders and I am the Year 5 teacher
at Tidcombe. Lots of you will have known me as Miss
Ferris, but this year, in August, I got married on a very
windy day – the tent almost blew away! This is my
third year at Tidcombe and I love teaching here. Some
of my highlights so far include the residential trips to
Heatree, running club and sharing my favourite stories
with my class.
Before I became a teacher, I lived and worked in Lon-
don and Dublin. My boss in Ireland was Mickey
Mouse... I worked in the Dublin Disney Store where I
was an expert on Disney facts and trivia. I just wish I
could remember it all now!
I live just outside of Tiverton with my husband and our
dog, Douglas. In my spare time, I like to relax by playing
the piano, walking the dog and baking gluten free
cakes. I am part of a local netball team and I play every
week. At this time of year, I love to curl up by the fire
with a hot chocolate and a board game.
It’s finally my turn! I’m Carol Richards and I have been here at
Tidcombe for more than 28 years, not just as a TA or HLTA but
in many other roles.
My 2 children went through our lovely little school and now
the next generation is attending here!
When I am not in school, I like reading and walking—but by far
my most favourite thing to do, is spending time with my family.
Term Dates 2019/20
Monday 23rd December—Friday 3rd January CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
Friday 14th February NON PUPIL DAY
Monday 17th—Friday 21st February HALF TERM
Monday 30th March—Monday 13th April EASTER HOLIDAY
Tuesday 14th April NON PUPIL DAY
Friday 8th May BANK HOLIDAY
Monday 25th — Friday 29th May HALF TERM
Monday 1st June NON PUPIL DAY
Thursday 23rd July LAST DAY OF TERM
Term Dates 2020 / 2021 (Expect more detail to be added through 2020.)
Monday 7th September Start of Autumn Term
Monday 26th—Friday 30th October Half Term
Monday 21st December –Friday 1st January 2021 Christmas Holiday
Monday 15th—Friday 19th February Half Term
Friday 2nd—Friday 16th April Easter Holiday
Monday 31st May—Friday 4th June Half Term
FRIDAY 23rd JULY Last Day of Term
After School Club Next Term
We still have a few spaces left for our Premier Sport After School Clubs next term. These will start
again on the very first week back. Cost is £20 per club for the whole of the half term (up to and
including Thursday 13th February) which falls to £15 for siblings or additional evenings. We have
an exciting line up with KS1 gymnastics on a Monday, KS2 gymnastics on Tuesdays, Table Tennis
on Wednesday evenings and Dodgeball / Handball on Thursdays. Please remember that these
need to be paid for in advance.
Tom’s Dance and Performance Club
Tom Mallender will be back next term on a Monday after school for those already signed up
(don’t forget, we have a waiting list for the next slot which will be after Easter). Fees are now due
for the Spring half term, so please drop your £20 in to the office by Monday 6th January.
Great Year 6 Bake Off
This week, Year 6 have been carrying out some product
research on biscuits, as a follow on from their recent
English homework. Their panel of consumers (parents)
were asked what their favourite and least favourite kind
of biscuit was, based on texture, appearance, taste and
“dunkability!” The findings were discussed and the dunk
test was carried out by Mrs Mallender and Mrs Everett-
Kelway. The class then moved on to product design, fol-
lowed by product manufacturing (queue LOTS of mess!)
and today they will be packaging and evaluating their
product. The children have had a brilliant time!
Good Attendance
This week, we gave out a staggering 108
Good Attendance Certificates to our children
from Reception right through to Year 6. This
is truly an amazing number—56% of pupils
were in school with at least 97% attendance.
Thank you for your continued support.
Christmas Service
Last night, St Andrew’s Church was aglow with candles and
shrouded in glorious chorus as Year 4, 5 & 6 performed
some traditional hymns as well as some of their own, to a
congregation of parents and extended family.
Mr Fitton’s school orchestra wowed everyone with their
medley of well known songs and our choir also sang some
songs from their recent service at Blundell’s.
But, it was Year 4 who guided the service and told the story
of Christmas through the eyes of the donkey. Father Richard
was very proud of how respectfully the children placed the
different nativity figures in to the manger.
A reminder from Father Richard that there will be a family
Christingle Service taking place at 4pm at St Andrew’s on
Christmas Eve—everyone welcome.
Amazing Martial Arts
Two sets of proud parents have emailed
us this week to celebrate their child's
amazing achievements in their Martial
Arts classes; firstly, Ellis here on the left
and from Year 1, was awarded his blue
and red striped belt— he has just one
more grading to go before he moves up
to the next class. Well done you little
ninja, your folks are very proud of you.
Secondly, little Alana who is just 4 years
old and currently in our Reception Class
has an extremely proud family as she
has only been attending class for 5
weeks and already has her purple stripe
belt—she passed her first grading this
week with flying colours! Well done both
of you!
Also, a special well done to Charlie in
Year 6 who was recently awarded her
Purple belt in Martial Arts.
Edith and Olive in Year 6 designed this fab
poster for one of their favourite subjects.
Our science lead, Mrs Williams thought you
would like to see it...
Year 4
Year 4 have been rehearsing for their Christmas Carol Concert. Ava explained, ‘It was
scary at the start speaking through a microphone to an audience but I have grown in
confidence so I am excited now.’
We have now finished our topic of the rainforest
and created a fantastic pop up information book
that gives facts about the tribes, deforestation
and endangered species. The children have loved
this topic, they all feel that they have learnt a lot
and are very sad that we are moving on in the
new year.
This week we have discussed all of the things we have done in science and giggled
about the digestive system experiment and have also played top trumps using our
very own rainforest animal cards. Sam came running up to Miss Davies and explained
that he had eaten Harrison in the game due to Harrison being an ant and Sam being
an anteater!
The children have talked about how they have grown this term and these are some of
the things they have said:
‘I have learnt how to play handball and I really enjoyed it’ – Arthur
‘I have grown in confidence in English this term and it excites me to carry on in Janu-
ary’ – Malakai
‘I feel that I have learnt my times tables better’ – Jack
EVERYONE is star of the week
this week for being amazing
throughout this busy term!
Zander in Year 6 recently found out that he has passed his Grade 2 in
piano with a merit! His family are extremely proud of him, as are we.
Well done Zander, you inspire us all every day.
Don’t forget to send in your child’s achievements from outside of
school to [email protected]
By midday on Thursday for inclusion in our newsletter.
Our Staff, Governors and Directors would
like to wish you all a Happy Christmas.
See you all again in the New Year, on
Monday 6th January 2020.