Events & News

Latest news from the headmaster

Week beginning Monday 28 June 2010

What a week that was!  The French trip returned (slightly ahead of schedule), with the pupils having enjoyed a most rewarding time abroad.  Party members were weary but all managed to be in school the next day.  From visiting a local bakery to snail-tasting, much educational experience was gained from the adventure.  Staff were extremely complimentary of the pupils’ enthusiasm and good behaviour.  Well done and thank you to all involved.

J1 pupils didn’t travel quite as far to sample a Roman experience but nonetheless discovered much!

Then there was the J4 Play!  What a show!  Was it a ‘dream’ or was this really a production performed by ten and eleven year olds?!  A Midsummer’s Night Dream was the first production to be staged in the Consterdine Hall and it proved a perfect setting for a thoroughly professional, enjoyable and skilful production, which was visually stunning, too.  Grateful thanks to all involved, including parents who assisted with costumes, etc, for helping to make the production such a success.

A DVD featuring 150 high-resolution images from the show is available.  Please send in £10 cash, in a named envelope, to the Junior School Office by Tuesday.  16” x 20” prints, signed by Mr Hollingworth, are also available by the same system for £50.  All  proceeds are to be split between the play production costs and King’s Bursary Trust.

Our annual Prizegiving celebration takes place during the afternoon of Monday 5th July.  Such an occasion is an opportunity for all pupils to share, not only in the many collective successes of the school community, but also to provide them with the chance to acknowledge individual successes.  The guest speaker is local author and former King’s School pupil, David Whitley.  This event, in the Senior School Hall, begins at 2.00 pm and the proceedings will be followed by refreshment.  Pupils, whose parents are not able to attend, will be dismissed at the normal time.

Please be aware that buses may leave King’s slightly later than usual on Thursday afternoon due to Senior School Prizegiving.

The final session of term will be the Cathedral service on Friday 9th July.  Choir members should assemble in Abbey Square by 9.20 am.  All other pupils should meet at 10.00 am.

The service should finish at approximately 11.30 am.  The Summer holidays will commence soon thereafter.

May I wish all families a very pleasant vacation period and wish all pupils leaving the Junior School every success in their future schooling.  Thanks for the memories.

If you have not yet returned the parental questionnaires to school, please do so within the next couple of days.  Thank you.

Good Work:

• Nikhil Mediratta for his ‘Shark’ booklet.
• Erin Morgan and Anna Chadwick for their acrostic poems on ‘Sharks’
• William Taylor – ‘The Alphabet Sweet Shop’
• Henry McEntyre and Scot Hodgson for ‘Legotec’
• Alchemy Lucas and Henry Buckley for ‘A Letter from Mr Twit to an Agony Aunt’
• Alfie Griffin for ‘Dear Petronius’

Congratulations:

• Jake Wundke met Freddie Flintoff and was given his autograph.  (I offered Jake mine … but he didn’t seem too impressed!).
• J1R pupils raised in the region of £80 via their cake sale.

Sports Results: 

U10 Cricket v Merchant Taylors’:
Won by six runs.  A real cliffhanger of a game, which ebbed and flowed right up until the very last ball of the match.

Swimming v Queen’s:
U8 Lost; U9 Lost; U10 Won; U11 Drew.  A very close encounter with King’s narrowly losing out overall.  It was good to be able to involve a number of J1 pupils in a competitive fixture.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 5th July	2.00 pm	Junior School Prizegiving in Senior School Hall
Tuesday 6th July	9.30 am	AJIS Cricket Cup Final (Merchant Taylors’ Boys v Birkenhead Prep) hosted by King’s
Thursday 8th July	2.00 pm	Senior School Prizegiving at Chester Racecourse.  (Junior School ends at normal time).
Friday 9th July	10.30 am	Cathedral Service Summer Term ends

Week beginning Monday 5 July 2010

Forty pupils from J3 and J4, together with five staff members, set off from school at 5.30 am last Friday morning to embark upon their trip to Northern France.  All were in good spirits, even if feeling a little weary!  The group are scheduled to return on Monday at approximately 9 pm … then straight to bed ready for school, all bright and breezy, on Tuesday morning.

One of the major highlights of the school year, namely the J4 play, takes place this week on Thursday and Friday at 7 pm in the Consterdine Hall.  This year’s production is A Midsummer Night’s Dream. All J4 pupils take part and they are accompanied by a band from J3.

This event is normally held in the Senior School Hall.  However, due to restrictions of access to this facility, we are using our own hall for the first time.  This has many attractions, the major drawback, however, is the limited floor space available for seating.  Consequently, we have had to restrict numbers attending.  I realise this may disappoint some, for which I apologise, but I do hope that you will appreciate our difficulties.  An alternative for us would have been to limit the numbers of pupils taking part but we believe that pupils gain a great deal from being involved in such a large-scale production and we wanted to retain the inclusive nature of such an exercise.

Please note that we have moved the dress rehearsal to Thursday.

J1 pupils are to become ‘Romans’ for a day as they take part in the Deva Experience, spending time in the Museum and experiencing the Roman Soldier Patrol.

I look forward to sampling the culinary delights of 1R pupils (parents?) as they hold their charity cake sale on Tuesday.  Romans one day, bakers the next … what a life we lead at King’s!

Sports fixtures this week see us swimming against Queen’s and playing cricket against Merchant Taylors!

Please be advised that during last week you should have received correspondence as follows:

1. Details of report grades system and end of year pupil awards.
2. A parental survey of The King’s School Junior School’s strengths/areas for improvement.
3. Details of end of term arrangements including those for the J4 Play, Prizegiving and Cathedral Service (also containing ticketing arrangements/requests for the play/prizegiving).

A number of pupils have already purchased a sun hat in support of the Skin 4 Life charity, based at The Christie Hospital in Manchester.  There is still time to make a purchase for your summer holidays – we have some large ones suitable for adults.  May I remind you that these, specifically-designed hats are the only ones pupils will be allowed to wear whilst at school.

Looking back to last week:

The J3 pupils enjoyed their visit to Tatton Park in connection with History studies.  Thanks to the parents who assisted.

Miss Rebeccas Kitchen, a PGCE student, spent two days with us as part of her work experience.  As a result, she is convinced she wants to be a PS teacher … she loved it (as we all do)!  Sixth form English students have also joined us as part of their study of language.

Sports results:

1. U10 Cricket v Stockport GS, lost by 15 runs.
2. AJIS Athletics – Silver medals in 45m hurdles (Joe Brett), High Jump (Zak Soutter and Isobel Wild) and Bronze medals in 45m hurdles (Annie Powell) and J3 Boys’ Relay (Charlie Jones, Matthew Reece-Jones, Tom Thelwall-Jones and James Tomlinson).  Hopefully next year we will return with a few gold medals!

Good Work:

1. James Wynn Edwards for his World Cup Poster;
2. Joe Warr for Shark Facts.

Congratulations:

1. Ted Carter, for successfully completing the Gold Level of the YMG Junior Golf programme at Carden Park Hotel (and passed with distinction!).
2. Amelia Standing for taking part in the Bolton Triathlon and, as a result of performances of the season, ranks fourth in the North-West Winter Series.
3. The netball team, for which Megan Gareh and Annie Powell play, were runners-up in a local league.
4. Megan Gareh (she’s had a good week!) has been voted ‘Player of the Season’ for the Chester U10 netball squad.
5. Amelia Standing and Natasha Groome took part in the Sefton Triathlon.  Amelia came second in the U10 girls’ event.
6. Zak Soutter’s Sunday soccer team won a local football festival.
7. Tom Bailes has gained his red belt in Tawkwon-do.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 28th June	9.00 pm (approx.)	J1 History trip to Deva Experience French trip returns
Tuesday 29th June	2.00 pm 4.00 pm	J1R Cake sale U10 Cricket v Merchant Taylors’ (H) Swimming Gala v Queen’s (H)
Wednesday 30th June		NB – J4 Play Dress Rehearsal now on Thursday 1st July
Thursday 1st July	1.00 pm 7.00 pm	J4 Play Dress Rehearsal (moved from Wednesday) J4 pupils and J3 Band members leave school J4 Play A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Consterdine Hall (pupils to return by 6.30 pm, please)
Friday 2nd July	1.00pm 7.00 pm	J4 pupils and J3 Band members leave school J4 Play A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Consterdine Hall (pupils to return by 6.30 pm, please)
NEXT WEEK:
Monday 5th July	2.00 pm	Junior School Prizegiving, Senior School Hall
Friday 9th July	10.30 am	End of Year Cathedral Service

Week beginning Monday 21 June 2010

What a busy week … but what a super week too!  To add to our joy, the sun shone brightly as well!

The New Pupils’ Party was very well attended and much fun was had by all.  New parents had another chance to meet up too.  The J1 pupils who were acting as ‘buddies’ to the newcomers did a very fine job indeed.

A large number of parents attended Sports Day, some were with us for both sessions.  Such stamina!  The weather was good, the refreshments provided by KSPA proved most inviting and the athletics events were contested in an enthusiastic manner by everyone taking part.  A real team ethic was in evidence.  I thoroughly enjoyed the day; it was so rewarding to see so much effort being put in by so many people to ensure such a successful outcome.  Thank you.  I was pleased that Mrs Caroline Jones was able to present the victor/victrix ludorum awards to the following pupils:

Miles Meredith set a new record in the 600m, only for Tom Thelwall-Jones to break that subsequently!

House placings:

Overall athletics champions:  LINDANS

J2 pupils enjoyed their visit to Wepre Park in connection with their Geography and Science curricula.  Pupils took part in river work and a study of mini-beasts.

The quality of work on display at the Art and Design Technology exhibition was outstanding and a source of great pride to me.  Some of the items on show would not have looked out of place in a national gallery.  It was fantastic. Grateful thanks to all involved.

A small number of Junior School parents attended the presentation on e-safety led by PC Karl Williamson.  It was most thought-provoking and I’m sure that those parents who were in attendance found it extremely useful.  A Junior School-specific session for parents has been booked for September (more details next term).

The disco held to raise funds for the Senior School expedition was enjoyed by pupils.

The girls who competed in the National Final of the ESSA freestyle and medley relay events held in Sheffield (Connie McClelland, Jennifer McDonald, Isobel Wild, Jessica Lee and Natasha Groome) gained a great deal from their experience.

Visitors to Assembly this week include Revd Ian Thomas and peripatetic music teacher, Chris Haughton and his samba group.  Miss Rebecca Kitchen joins us in school for a couple of days’ work experience.

Sports fixtures this week include the AJIS athletics event and the Sefton triathlon and U10 cricket against Stockport.  Will we win any medals at the athletics this year?  We did extremely well last year at the triathlon event.  Will we be able to emulate our success this coming Saturday?

J3 pupils are to visit Tatton Park in connection with their studies in History.

A number of pupils have already purchased a sun hat in support of the Skin 4 Life charity based at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.  There is still time to make a purchase if required.  Please be reminded that these specifically designed hats are the only ones pupils will be allowed to wear whilst at school.

Forty pupils from J3 and J4, together with five members of staff, are to embark upon a trip to the Pre Catalan Centre, Hardelot Plage, in France, where the main focus of study will be on culture and language.  We hope that they will learn much, enjoy a good time, but, most importantly of all, return home safely.  For those involved in the trip, please do ensure that Miss Anderson is in possession of children’s passports, medical cards and spending money.  You should have received, via Mr O’Neil, the telephone tree for use in an emergency.  The coach is scheduled to arrive at King’s at 5.15 am for the loading of baggage.  Departure time is 5.30 am prompt.

Good Work:

• Elliott King for his ‘automaton’

Congratulations:

• Alex Freeman – recently awared a green belt in Taekwon-do.
• Miles Meredith – has set a new course record for his age group at Carden Park Golf Club (having only recently broken the previous one).
• The J1G cake sale raised £71.38 for Claire House Children’s Hospice.  The money will fund play activities for one day for one of the children and their sibling, with money left over going towards the hydrotherapy pool.

Fantasy Football: Managers of the Season:

J1 – Michael Politsos

J2 – Thomas Bailes

J3 – Miles Meredith

J4 – Charles Smith

Parents – Mr Politsos

Staff – Mr Malone (Hoorah!  Mr Capello, look out!)

FA Cup: Daniel Verity

Overall Winner: Michael Politsos

2nd Place: Mr Politsos

3rd Place: Ted Hopkins

Thanks to everyone who took part.  The new season is not too far away.

Eco Schools:

As part of our drive towards aiding the environment we have been collecting unwanted mobile phones  The following pupils were runners-up in the recently held competition:

Ben Aveyard, Thomas Ardron, Chloe James, Erin Morgan, Matthew Carty, Daniel Sharratt, William Richards, Ryan Kingsley, Mathew Burrows, Harry Li.

Competition winners were George Compston and Xavier Brown.

Road Safety representatives:

Cheshire West and Chester Council Junior Road Safety Officers, James Hughes and Sarah Stearne, complete their term of office.  A presentation is to be made in Assembly on behalf of the local council.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 21st June	Revd Ian Thomas to lead Assembly. AJIS Athletics Championships at Blackpool  (return approx. 6 pm) VI Form A Level students join Junior School lessons this week.
Tuesday 22nd June	Samba demonstration in Assembly U10 Cricket v Stockport G S (H)
Wednesday 23rd June	House Cricket (Round 3)
Thursday 24th June	Miss Rebecca Kitchen, PGCE student - work experience J3 History trip to Tatton Park
Friday 25th June	Miss Rebecca Kitchen, PGCE student – work experience French trip departs (returns Monday 28th June)
Saturday 26th June	Sefton Triathlon

Week beginning Monday 14 June 2010

May I commence this week by expressing my sincere thanks to the many people including teaching staff, support staff and pupils who aided in the mopping-up operation following the torrential storm which struck the area late on Wednesday afternoon and just prior to Parents’ Evening!  The team ethic of King’s came to the fore. We were able to hold our session for parents as planned and school opened as normal (although slightly damp in a couple of places on Thursday!).

It was good to be able to chat with so many of you during last week’s Parents’ Evenings. I hope that parents valued the opportunity to discuss their child’s development with form teacher.

Other visitors into school last week were PC Karl Williamson who addressed J3 and J4 pupils on e-safety, Revd Ian Thomas who spoke on the subject of ‘Journeys’, Mr Richard Jackson, from the charity ‘Skin for Life’ and Mr Andrew Bate from the Chester Astronomical Society who gave a demonstration to J2 pupils on ‘Rockets’.

In association with the ‘Skin for Life’ cancer charity based at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, we shall be selling sun hats specifically designed for the charity to help raise funds for this worthy cause.  A letter was sent home last week with details.  Please do support this venture.

We welcome Miss Lucy Rushforth to the Junior School this week.  Lucy is a student at a local school and is joining us for work experience.  We very much hope that she enjoys her brief stay with us and that she gains much from the experience.

We also welcome into school those pupils who are to join in September.  A ‘New Pupils’ Party’ is being held with games and food a plenty!  Parents of the newcomers are also invited along.  I’m afraid there will not be many games but we can offer a cup of tea!

Do please come along to the e-safety awareness session arranged for parents and led by PC Karl Williamson, (School Liaison Officer), to be held in the Senior School Hall from 7 – 8.30pm on Monday 14th June.

Our annual Sports Day is on Tuesday (with a reserve date of Friday 18th June).

J1/J2 sports will commence at 9.45 am with J3/J4 sports due to commence at approximately 1.15 pm.  All pupils take part.  Please ensure that full white PE kit (including predominantly white trainers) is worn.  Support is most welcome.  Please make your way to the Senior School field.  Do check the web site for any postponement decisions in the event of inclement weather. As in previous years, the Parents’ Association hope to serve refreshments at what we hope will be a fun occasion.  If any parents are able to assist Mrs Maria Reeves (Chairperson of the Parents’ Association) or provide a cake, please contact her via the school. Cakes should be brought into school reception on the morning of the event.  We hope for some pleasant weather on the day.  May I suggest that, if the forecast is good, pupils bring to school with them a white sun hat, a drink of water and sun cream, which they will need to self-administer.

J2 will be visiting Wepre Park on Wednesday as part of the Geography and Science curricula.  The pupils will be undertaking a river study and a mini beast study.  Pupils are not expected to wear school uniform but will need to dress suitably for fieldwork.  My grateful thanks to the small group of parents who have kindly agreed to accompany this trip.

We would like to invite you to the opening evening of an exhibition of Art and Design Technology work created throughout this year by pupils from the Junior School.  This will take place on Wednesday 16th June from 6.00 – 8.00 pm in the Senior School Gallery, which is located next to the Main Hall.  The work will remain on display for the remainder of the week. We look forward to seeing you there and joining us for a glass of wine and nibbles.

We look forward to sampling the culinary delights of J1G pupils (or perhaps their parents!) during their cake sale on Thursday.

A disco is to take place on Saturday for Junior School pupils to raise funds for an expedition to Peru and Bolivia next summer.  A specialist DJ has been employed to ensure maximum enjoyment for the children with both games and dancing.  The event is not run under the auspices of the Junior School.

We wish the girls competing in the English Schools’ Swimming Association National Finals on Saturday (Connie McClelland, Jennifer McDonald, Isobel Wild, Jessica Lee and Natasha Groome) every success.  The girls have done tremendously well to qualify in both the medley and freestyle relays.  Whatever the eventual outcome, it will have been a great experience for the girls involved.

I would like to congratulate the team of pupils responsible for the production of the ‘Bi-Kingly’ newsletter.  It is a fine publication.  Well done.

Sports Results:

• AJIS Rounders: Very well done to the girls who finished in second place in the small schools’ event.
• AJIS Boys’ Tennis: Both Matthew Thompson and Llewelyn Bevan reached the semi-final stage of the main competition with Matthew narrowly defeating Llewelyn to secure third place overall.
• AJIS Girls’ Tennis: Polly Chappell reached the semi-final of the Plate competition.
• U11 ‘A’ Cricket v Merchant Taylors’:
  • Merchant Taylors’ 120-3
  • King’s 111-5 (M Thompson 27, F Smellie 39 n.o.)
  • Lost by 9 runs
• U11 ‘B’ Cricket v Merchant Taylors’: to quote Mr O’Neil, “we came second” in this “pairs” game.

It is a source of pleasure that cricket is still very much alive and well at King’s for it is a sport that requires patience, application, thought and no little skill.  The introduction of the occasional ‘B’ team fixture has allowed a greater number of pupils the opportunity to represent the school.  Despite us losing both games, I was heartened by the fact that Merchant Taylors’ staff were full of praise for the conduct, good manners and spirit shown by our players.

Good Work:

• Megan Gareh & Jessica Lee - ‘Pneumatic Model’
• Olivia Hughes - ‘The Water Cycle’
• Sarah Stearne - ‘Dear Father’ and ‘Lost And Found&’

Sketchbook of the Week:

Scot Hodgson for his delicate and carefully constructed ‘fantabulous’ hat.

Congratulations:

• Tom Thelwall-Jones, who continues to excel in tennis at both county level and in national competitions.
• Emily Politsos who competed in Sunday’s ‘Race for Life’.
• Ben Gale, whose soccer team won a tournament over the weekend.
• Jennifer McDonald, who was successful in the Wrexham Swimming Club’s Open Meeting.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 14th June	1.30–3.15pm 7.30pm	Miss Lucy Rushforth to join us for work experience. House 6-a-side Cricket New Pupils’ Party E-Safety Assembly for parents, led by PC Karl Williamson, SS Hall
Tuesday 15th June	Start  9.45am Start 1.15pm	SPORTS DAY J1/J2 J3/J4
Wednesday 16th June	6 – 8 pm	J2 visit to Wepre Park ART & DT EXHIBITION
Thursday 17th June		J1G Cake Sale Removes Parents’ Evening
Friday 18th June		Reserve Sports Day
Saturday 19th June	6 – 7.30pm	E.S.S.A. National Finals J.S. Disco in Main Hall

Week beginning Monday 7 June 2010

I hope that you enjoyed the half-term break during last week and that the pupils have returned fresh and ready to tackle the events of the forthcoming few weeks with renewed vigour.  It promises to be a very busy period!

Some of the forthcoming ‘attractions’ include:

Parents’ Evenings	8th/9th June
New Pupils’ Party	14th June
Sports Day	15th June (Reserve Day: 18th June)
Art & DT Exhibition	16th June
ESSA National Final	19th June
French Trip	25th – 28th June
J4 Play	1st & 2nd July
Prize Giving	5th July

I trust that all parents have received notification of their ‘slots’ for the forthcoming Parents’ Evenings.  Details should have been forwarded to you via your children.  As a courtesy to other parents, I would request that meetings are limited to ten minutes.  Should further discussions be thought necessary, staff would be happy to make an appointment at a later date.

A number of Assemblies this week will be led by visitors:  PC Karl Williamson will address J3 and J4 pupils on e-safety matters.  I encourage parents to attend a presentation on this theme, which has been arranged in conjunction with the Senior School and will take place on Monday 14th June at 7 pm in the Senior School Hall.

Richard Jackson, from the ‘Skin for Life’ cancer charity based at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, will lead Assembly on Friday.  We shall be selling sun hats specifically designed for the charity to help raise funds for this worthy cause.  A letter will be sent home this week with details.  Please do support this venture.

Revd Ian Thomas makes a welcome return to lead an Assembly this week, too.

Sports fixtures this week see us host the AJIS Boys’ Tennis event.  We hope to extract revenge upon Merchant Taylors’ cricketers for our cup exit when we play them at home this week.  The ‘B’ team also has an outing.  The girls take part in the AJIS Rounders event.

The ‘Rocket Man’ returns to give a demonstration to pupils in J2.

As per calendar, Sports Day will take place on Tuesday 15th June.  Further details will be forwarded this week.  KSPA would be grateful to receive offers of help with refreshments at this event.  Please contact the Junior School office if you are able to assist.  If you are not able to assist but could bake a cake, this would be much appreciated, too!

Please be advised that the Junior School, under the leadership of Miss Savage and Mr Hollingworth, are to present an Art and DT Exhibition in the Senior School Gallery on Wednesday 16th June, from 6 – 8 pm.  Parents are most welcome to attend.  Further details to follow.  This event does not appear on the calendar.

School examinations are completed for all year groups.  Parents ask us from time to time why their child could achieve such high percentages in their early years, yet appear to perform less successfully later in their career.  Quite simply, we aim to encourage early achievement by consolidation and relatively straightforward tasks, which are appropriate for younger pupils and gradually build their confidence in test situations.  At older ages, we set more challenging tasks which will require greater thought and time.

Last week’s New Parents’ Evening proved most successful as did the J1 Taster Day.  Thanks to J1 ‘buddies’ for helping look after potential new pupils.  A New Pupils’ Party is to be held on Monday 14th June.

Much positive feedback was received from Cheshire Fire Service following their visit.  ‘Blue Watch’ were highly impressed by our J3s.  Well done!

Sports Results:

• Rounders v Queen’s, Lost 20-12.  A spirited performance from our girls.  The winning margin possibly flattered our opponents.
• U10 Cricket v Birkenhead Prep.  Won.  A convincing victory for King’s in the ‘pairs’ match.  King’s showed good potential.  Sam Thompson took four wickets.
• U11 AJIS Cup Cricket v Merchant Taylors’, Lost.  A disappointing showing from King’s who, hitherto, had achieved a 100% winning sequence.  We saved our poorest performance of the campaign for the cup tie!
• U10 & U11 Boys’ Tennis v Manchester Grammar School:
  • U10 Singles, Won, 4-0.
  • U10 Doubles, Drew, 1-1
  • U11 Singles, Drew, 2-2
  • U11 Doubles, Won, 2-0

King’s pupils produced some high-quality tennis throughout the games and were fully deserving of their overall success.

• Chester Primary Schools’ Swimming Gala:  King’s overall placings:
  • Boys A, 1st
  • Boys B, 2nd
  • Girls, A, 2nd
  • Girls, B, 4th    

As in previous years, King’s performed very well.  Having won both girls’ and boys’ events last year we were keen to retain the trophies.  However, it was not to be the case as the girls were narrowly beaten in the final and had to settle for runners-up spot.  Nevertheless, a great effort by all who took part.  Particular congratulations to the boys’ A team of Lee Bryce, Allan Prossor, Fraser Smellie and James Wynn-Edwards.

Congratulations:

• James Wynn-Edwards, who was a runner-up in the county-based writing workshop competition, organised by ‘Explore Learning’;
• J1D pupils raised £89 for charity via their cake sale;
• Sam Thompson has been selected to represent NE Wales in tennis at U10 level.
• Fraser Smellie has been selected to represent Wales in cricket at U11 level.
• Matthew Reece-Jones was voted ‘Players’ Player’ by the Rhyl RFC at U10 level.
• Nicholas Back and Luke Allen, whose Sunday team won a football festival (played 8, won 8 … almost as good as Birmingham City!!!)
• Ben Gale, whose Sunday soccer team won the U9 Cup Final.

Good Work:

• Kristian Ellis, ‘The Worry Spaghetti’
• Isabelle Lally, ‘Delamere Forest’
• Alchemy Lucas, ‘James and the Giant Peach’

Sketchbook of the Week:

Jessica Lee (J3W) for all her hard work, patience and skill in creating her fabulous ‘fantabulous’ hat.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 7th June		Second half of Summer Term commences
Tuesday 8th June	6 – 8pm	E-Safety Assembly for J3 and J4, led by PC Karl Williamson Parents’ Evening for all year groups
Wednesday 9th June	2 – 3.30 pm 3.40  – 6 pm	Revd Ian Thomas to lead Assembly J2 Rockets demonstration Parents’ evening for all year groups
Thursday 10th June		AJIS Rounders at Birkenhead Prep. House 6-a-side Cricket (Round 1)
Friday 11th June	1.45 pm	‘Skin for Life’ Assembly, led by Richard Jackson AJIS Boys’ Tennis competition hosted by KSJS U11 A & B Cricket v Merchant Taylors’ (H)

Week beginning Monday 24 May 2010

Wasn’t it pleasant to experience some sunshine during last week?  We had a number of visits out of school and several sports fixtures (see results later) and it made a change for them not to be interrupted by rain!  Please do ensure that even on warm days pupils arrive at school wearing full school uniform.  We shall attempt to send them home still looking neat and tidy, too!

The J1 year group welcomed the opportunity to ‘explore’ Delamere Forest, whilst our J3s discovered much about the history and geography of Chester during their ‘Walls Walk’.

Many thanks and congratulations to the J1 pupils who acted as ‘buddies’ at the recent Taster Session.  You were fantastic!

This week sees us host a presentation for J3 and J4 pupils on e-safety, led by PC Karl Williamson.  A whole-school session for parents will take place in the Senior School Hall on Monday 14th June at 7 pm.  Please do come along.  A Junior School-specific event is being planned for late September.

Examinations take place this week for all pupils in J1 – J3, although a little light relief is provided for those in J3 with the visit of Cheshire Fire Service.  Cakes will be sold by J1D pupils.

In connection with academic matters, parents ask us from time to time why their child could achieve such high percentages in their early years, yet appear to perform less successfully later in their career.  Quite simply, we aim to encourage early achievement by consolidation and relatively straightforward tasks, which are appropriate for younger pupils and gradually build their confidence in test situations.  At older ages, we set more challenging tasks, which will require greater thought and time.

The New Parents’ Evening for parents with children joining us in September, takes place at Thursday.  Grateful thanks to those parents who have kindly offered to serve refreshments.

Sports fixtures are scheduled in cricket, tennis, swimming and rounders.  There will be no badminton club this week as the Senior School Sports Hall is being used for examinations.

A letter will be emailed to all parents giving details of class progressions for the academic year 2010/11 and information on changes to staff personnel.

During the week immediately after the half-term holiday parents’ evenings for all year groups are being held.  You should have received a letter, via your child, inviting you to make an appointment with your child’s form teacher.

Please do ensure that, should your child require to use an inhaler, they are readily available in school and clearly marked with your child’s name.  Thank you.

May I wish you a most enjoyable half-term break.  (Hasn’t the first half of term passed quickly?!)  The second half of term will be extremely busy.

Good Work:

• Matthew Reece-Jones: ‘You’
• Emily Haughton, Luke Allen and Matthew Hynes: ‘Roald Dahl stories’
• Nicholas Back and Harrison Wright: ‘Roald Dahl book reviews’
• Michael Politsos: ‘Wow! What was that?’
• Katie McNamara and Mollie Andrews: ‘Pneumatic models’
• Owen Edwards, Alex Guanaria and Roberto King: ‘The Piano’
• Alice Thomas, Sophie Reeks, Millie Medland, Sarah Korb, Robert Pownall, Alex Guanaria, Louis MacDonald, Arvind Sahni and Roberto King for their silver jewellery.

Sketchbook of the Week:

Oliver Williams (J2A) for his carefully made sculpture.

Music Examinations:

• Thomas Ardron – Grade 1, Drum kit
• Jek Leung – Grade 1, Guitar

Congratulations:

• Robert Batson, voted ‘Clubman of the Year’ for his local soccer team.
• Jonathan Nixon, whose local soccer team won the cup 3-2 after trailing by two goals.
• Luca Scott, whose local soccer team were runners-up in a tournament held this weekend.
• Sophie Reeks continues to excel at ice hockey.  Representing the North of England (who had not won a game for eight years(!)), Sophie helped secure a victory against Scotland and a draw against competition favourites, The Midlands (no surprise that this area of the country would be good!).
• Ben Gale, Oliver Bradford, Seb Corry and Paddy McClelland, whose local soccer team won the Chester and District U9 Cup.
• Paddy McClelland won the right to display his potential at Old Trafford by winning a soccer skills contest.

Fantasy Football – Managers of the Month:

	March	April
J1	Helena Barker	Daniel Sharratt
J2	Thomas Bailes	Owen Wheeler
J3	Natasha Groome	Alex Guanaria
J4	Oliver Jackson	Ben Aveyard
Staff	Mrs Rudd	Mrs Rudd
Parents	Mr Politsos	Mrs Disley

• King’s Junior School has achieved ‘Champion School’ status
• King’s Junior School has won the accolade of ‘First School in the NW Region’

Sports Results:

U10 Cricket v The Grange, Won
The team were making their first appearance of the season and coach, Mr Griffiths, was pleased with the all-round level of performance

U11 Cricket v Stockport G S
Won by 5 wickets

Stockport G S 139-3 (Sharma 1-11, Polding 1-14)
King’s 143-5 (Thompson 61, Armatage 19, Aveyard 17 n o, Soutter 12, Smellie 10)

U10 Rounders v The Grange, Lost

U11A Rounders v the Grange, Won

U11B Rounders v The Grange, Lost
Similarly, this was the rounders teams’ first outing this year and although a mixed bag of results was achieved, Mrs Rudd was encouraged by the performances given.

U11 Tennis v Queens:

U11 Singles, Lost

U10 Singles, Won

U11 Doubles, Won

U10 Doubles, Won
Very well done to all players.

Triangular Athletics:

Competing against notoriously strong opponents, Bolton Boys’ School and Birkenhead School, our U10 and U11 teams both put up highly spirited performances.  Overall we were placed in third position.  Notable performances came from the following athletes:

• U10 Joe Brett, Hurdles, 11.23 secs
• U10 Matthew Reece-Jones, 300m, 50.82 secs
• U10 Tom Thelwall-Jones, 600m, 1m 52secs
• U10 James Tomlinson (1st), Cricket Ball, 39.40 m
• U11, James Hughes (1st), High Jump, 1.11m, Zak Soutter (2nd)

Final Results:

• U11: Bolton 72, Birkenhead 64, King’s 56
• U10: Bolton 74, King’s 62, Birkenhead 58

What’s On This Week?

Monday 24th May	2.00 pm 4.00 pm	Examinations commence for J1, J2 and J3 AJIS Cup Cricket v Merchant Taylors’ (A) Rounders v Queen’s (A)
Tuesday 25th May	1.30 pm	J3/J4 E-Safety Assembly U10 Cricket v Birkenhead (A) Primary Schools’ Swimming Relays at City Baths
Wednesday 26th May		J3 Fire Service visit J1D Cake Sale
Thursday 27th May		New Parents’ Evening for parents with children joining the Junior School in September 2010
Friday 28th May	2.30 pm	J1 Taster Session Boy’s Tennis v Manchester Grammar School (H)

Week beginning Monday 17 May 2010

The J4 yeargroup had a wonderful time last week on their adventure holiday based at Plas Menai.  I know that the pupils enjoyed themselves, gaining much from their experience and discovering talents they hadn’t previously realised they possessed.  My thanks to staff involved, too, for making it happen.

Poet David Horner’s visit to school, once again, proved highly successful.  He provides great entertainment but also engages the children fully in the task of producing their own pieces, many of which are most original and of a very high standard.

J3 pupils visited the Countess of Chester Hospital to take part in the Injury Minimization Programme for Schools and found the experience most valuable.

It has just been announced that this year’s J4 play is to be ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.  Auditions have recently commenced.  All pupils in the top year group take part in the play.  Accompaniment is provided by the J3 band.

As part of the J1 Geography and Outdoor Education curricula, a visit has been arranged to Delamere Forest, where the pupils will be involved in ‘mapwork and orienteering’ and ‘problem-solving teamwork activities’.

J3 pupils will be walking around the walls of Chester as part of their Geography curriculum and studying the historical and contemporary land-use of the city.  The results of the fieldwork will be analysed and discussed in future classroom sessions.

We welcome Mr Jim Pownall to the teaching staff.  Mr Pownall will be covering the maternity leave of Mrs Moffatt until the end of term.

Two local clerics, Canon Trevor Dennis (Vice-Dean of Chester Cathedral) and Rev Ian Thomas, both school governors, will lead Assemblies during the course of this week.

A number of sports events take place over the next few days with fixtures in cricket, rounders, athletics and tennis.

Please note that there will be not badminton for the next three weeks as examinations are being held in the Sports Hall.

There will be a meeting on Thursday, after school, for parents whose children are involved in the forthcoming trip to France.

The latest edition of the Junior School magazine is due to be published very soon.  A copy will be sent to all parents and there will also be a link from the school website.  My grateful thanks to Mrs Moffatt, Mrs Gibson and Mr Hollingworth for producing such an outstanding publication.

I am absolutely delighted that the three most senior positions amongst next year’s Heads of School team (Senior Prefects) are to be held by former Junior School pupils.  Head of School is Peter Johnstone, whilst his two deputies are Joe Benson and Siobhan Barnard.  How well these appointments reflect upon the Junior School.

E-Safety

May I refer you to the letter posted on the school website written by Mr Ramsey, inviting all parents to a meeting on 14th June:

Cyberbullying, use and abuse of email and texting, as well as of social networking sites and all such related issues are becoming increasingly prevalent; school policies and parental knowledge struggle at times to keep pace with technology.

We have therefore arranged for a specialist schools’ IT advisor from Cheshire Constabulary to talk to pupils on a number of occasions this term.  We are also arranging an evening for parents, on Monday 14th June from 7.00 pm until 8.30 pm, and I would urge you to come if you possible can.  Karl Williamson will be giving a talk on ‘sensible, common-sense measures parents should take with regard to e-Safety’, and we will be outlining school policies and giving an opportunity to you to share experiences, as well as answering (I hope) any key questions you may have.

On our website you will find an attendance slip; please do fill this in and return it to us if you would like to come.  Depending on demand, we may be organising further talks, focusing more closely on particular ages: if you would be interested in future talks but cannot attend this one, please do indicate on the form.

Junior School Chess Tournament

One hundred and thirty pupils entered this year’s tournament and the standard was high.  The final was an equally-matched contest between Daniel Verity (4H) and Owen Edwards (3M).  After losing his queen in the early stages of the game, Owen managed to regain this piece in the last few moments, which ensured his victory.  Congratulations to both players!

Congratulations:

• Jack Goodrich has been selected as a member of the Everton F C Academy.
• Fraser Smellie has progressed through to the NE Wales Cricket Squad and has been selected for Wales.  Quite an achievement.  Well done!
• Oliver Bradford’s football team, Waverton Arrows, won the cup last weekend.

Sketchbook of the Week:

Emily Hynes, J1R, for her excellent mixing of tints and shades.

Good Work:

• Emily Haughton for The Lost Son
• Bethan Pode and Louis MacDonald for their Pneumatic models
• Jasmine Denton and Charlotte Tiller for their work on ‘The BFG’
• Jack Goodrich for his work on ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’
• Joe Clarke for his work on ‘James and the Giant Peach’
• Lucas Leon for his work on ‘Roald Dahl’.
• Henry McKeever for his descriptive piece entitled ‘Tiger in a Storm’.

What’s On This Week:

Monday 17th May		J1 Trip to Delamere Forest Rev Ian Thomas to lead Assembly
Tuesday 18th May		AJIS Heads’ Meeting at Birkenhead School U10 Cricket and U10/U11 Rounders v The Grange (A)
Wednesday 19th May		Canon Trevor Dennis to lead Assembly J3 Chester Walls Walk
Thursday 20th May	4.00 p m	J4 Drugs Awareness talk by CASM French trip Parents’ Meeting
Friday 21st May	4.00 pm	7+ Taster Day for pupils entering September 2011 Triangular Athletics event at Bolton Boys’ School U11 Girls’ Tennis v Queen’s (H)
Saturday 22nd May	10.00 am	U11 Cricket v Stockport G S (A)

Week beginning Monday 10 May 2010

This week sees the J4s take part in their annual Adventure Holiday based at Plas Menai Watersports Centre.  The pupils are likely to return home exhausted but will have gained much from their experience and possibly discovered talents they may not have realised they possessed.  We have been using the centre at Plas Menai for several years.  Facilities are excellent and instructors are highly trained.  Have a great time, J4, but, above all else, KEEP SAFE!  Look after each other and work as a TEAM.

J3 pupils are attending the Injury Minimization Programme for Schools held at the St John Ambulance building and A and E Department of the Countess of Chester Hospital.  The programme is taught by fully-trained staff.  Pupils should wear school uniform and girls will need their outdoor tracksuit trousers in addition. A few years ago a Junior School pupil won acclaim, featuring in both the national press and at a national awards ceremony, having saved her mother’s life following an accident at home.  The pupil utilised to good effect the skills learned on the IMPS visit in a real-life, emergency situation.

Local poet, David Horner, visits for three days to engage pupils in his workshops.  Pupils find such sessions a source of inspiration and their resulting pieces of work are often of a high quality.  David Horner will be selling copies of his books during lunchtimes.  Should your child(ren) be interested in making a purchase, cash may be brought into school for this purpose.  (Books are normally £3/£4 each).

During last week presentations were delivered by the police on rail safety (whole school) and e-safety, including use of social networking sites, such as Facebook (J1 and J2 – a similar event has been arranged for J3 and J4 later this term).  We believe it to be most important that children learn about everyday life experiences as part of their schooling.  A good all-round education should not be ‘textbook-driven’.

You will be aware, following correspondence from Mr Ramsey, that an ‘information’ evening for all King’s parents has been arranged for 14th June.

A former parent has given a briefing to J2 pupils on building and launching rockets.  We may now have a potential budding astronaut in our midst!

Mrs Moffatt leaves us for a while at the end of this week to commence a period of maternity leave.  We all wish her and husband, Jamie, well at this most exciting time in their lives as they await the birth of their first child.

Good Work:

• Daniel Coady-Ward: The Tiger
• Hattie Cole: Automaton
• Sophie Garnell and Scot Hodgson: Pneumatic models
• Nicholas Back: Escape to Ithaca
• James Brannigan: Polyphemus’s Revenge

Sketchbook of the Week:

Megan Gareh for her carefully constructed and beautifully delicate hat design.

Congratulations:

• Louis Jackson for achieving his 100m Rainbow swim award.
• As the youngest member of Boughton Hall U13 Cricket Club, Gunchit Sharma helped his team win the Wirral League Cup.
• Talented hockey players, Harry Armatage and Daniel Verity, members of Deeside Ramblers U12 team, were runners-up in the Northern area finals to be held in Nottingham.  Two other former Junior School pupils (now in Removes) are also members of the team.
• Miles Meredith has set a new course record for his age group at Carden Park Golf Club.
• Lee Bryce, competing in the Wrexham Spring Swimming Meet, took first place in both the 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke events, whilst finishing runner-up in the 200m freestyle.
• Annie Powell and Megan Gareh represented Chester U10 netball team in two competitions recently, winning one and coming runners-up in the other.  Two other members of the team have Junior School connections, with one girl being a former pupil at King’s, whilst another will join us in September.

Sports Results:

U11 Cricket v Bolton (A)
Won by 56 runs
King’s 131-5 (Smellie 25 not out, Soutter 25 not out)
Bolton 75 – 9 (Polding 2 for 1, Aveyard 2 for 29)

What’s on this week:

Monday 10th May		J4 Group 1 at Plas Menai (depart 7.30 am)
Tuesday 11th May		Visit of Poet David Horner J4 (Group 1) at Plas Menai
Wednesday 12th May	7.30 am 9.30 am 6.15 pm	Visit of Poet David Horner J4 (Group 2) departs for Plas Menai J3 (Group 1) IMPS visit J4 (Groups 1 and 2) at Plas Menai J4 (Group 1) returns
Thursday 13th May	9.30 am	Visit of Poet David Horner J4 (Group 2) at Plas Menai J3 (Group 2) IMPS visit
Friday 14th May	6.15 pm	J4 (Group 2) at Plas Menai J4 (Group 2) returns

Week beginning Monday 3 May 2010

I trust that all enjoyed an extended weekend.  No Monday morning blues this week!  (Mind you, there rarely are at King’s!).

You will be aware that Mrs Moffatt is soon to leave us to commence a period of maternity leave.  Mrs Moffatt’s last day in school will be Friday 14th May.  I am delighted that Mr Jim Pownall has agreed to provide cover until the end of the Summer Term.  Some of you may know Mr Pownall as a Junior School parent.  Mr Pownall is a vastly experienced practitioner, who has worked for us on a number of previous occasions.  I know that you will join me in wishing Mrs Moffatt and husband, Jamie, happy times in the months to come.

A rail safety update will be delivered by a member of British Transport Police to all pupils during an Assembly this week.

PC Karl Williamson (Schools’ Liaison Officer) will lead an Assembly on E-Safety for pupils in J1 and J2.  (A similar event has been organised for J3 and J4 pupils later in the term.)  A presentation has also been arranged for parents (please refer to Mr Ramsey’s recent letter).

Mr Andrew Bate, a former King’s School parent, will be leading a demonstration of ‘Rockets’ for J2 pupils.

Examinations in English and Mathematics take place for J4 pupils.

Extreme Reading:

There were approximately one hundred entries to the Extreme Reading competition.  These included photographs of children reading on beaches, on ski slopes, in cars, boats and planes and with famous personalities (dead and alive!).  Judging was extremely difficult and several Highly Commended certificates have been awarded:

• J1 – Emily Haughton, Miranda Thompson, Emil Esrubilsky, Alfie Griffin, Jake Wundke, Helena Barker, Ailsa Black, William Moore.
• J2 – Edward Hughes, Arran Fearn, Joe Warr, Isabelle Pearce, Tom Bailes, Aled Bennett.
• J3 – Scot Hodgson, Kalyan O’Connor, Rhiannon Jackson, Bethan Pode, Lucy Emsden, Huw Smith, Matthew Reece-Jones.
• J4 – Wiliam Jones, George Elsley

The overall winners for each year group are:

• J1 Carmen Boyd – reading in several different London locations
• J2 Emma Giddis – reading in front of the Taj Mahal
• J3 Amelia Standing – reading on a chair lift
• J4 James Wynn-Edwards – reading whilst balancing on an elephant’s trunk.

Readathon:

Individual children collected from £1 to £150 and a splendid total of £1,770.50 was raised.  Well done to everyone.  The money will go to help sick children.  It also means King’s can order books at half price up to this value.

House Quiz:

	Evans	Falles	Lindans	Shepherds
General Knowledge	7	7	6	6
Science	9	10	8	7
Geography	9	10	10	10
Music	5	7	5	5
Sport	6	5	10	7
Maths	18	20	20	18
Languages	10	9	9	7
Picture	11	12	14	13
Total
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