NEWSLETTER Issue: 3.03

HEAD'S VIEW
For weeks and months now, four of our parents, Mrs Le Butt, Ms Groves, Mrs Marlowe and Mrs Noad have been spending countless hours helping us prepare for the opening of the new library. We cannot thank them enough for undertaking the mammoth task of sorting through all the books in the school and starting to catalogue them and put them on the computer system. Thanks to their work and the increasing support of children and staff we hope to open the new library, situated in the Learning Resource Centre, at the start of the summer term. Some of our ReNewbridge money is going towards furnishing the library while a substantial amount will purchase new fiction and non-fiction books. We really look forward to having a library which will be used by our children and families for years to come. We will keep you informed of opening dates and further details.

As well as placing books at the centre of school life, we have also identified writing as an area we wish to develop. We want to enhance the writing skills of our children and at the same time enable them to discover the joys of writing in many different ways and for many different audiences. While I am sure we have many talented writers among our parents and staff, we are very fortunate to count a well known children’s author, Sue Mongredien, amongst you. Sue, whose children Tom and Hannah attend our school, has kindly agreed to be our ‘school author’ to help us promote writing and this started with a whole school assembly today and the initiative outlined below.

Next Wednesday is a special day as it marks the last day for Joan Williams who retires after 27 years as a member of staff at Newbridge Infants School and, latterly, Newbridge Primary School. In that time she has helped and supported generations of children as a teaching assistant and I am sure many will remember her with affection and gratitude. In addition, Mrs Williams has also served as a governor so there is very little she does not know about the school! On behalf of all at Newbridge, I would like to pass on my very best wishes to her and her family for a very happy new chapter in her life.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY W/B 28/01/08
Thursday 31/01/08 - Kilve Meeting @ 7.00pm
Friday 02/02/08 - 5C Assembly @ 2.30pm

NOTIFICATION OF DATE CHANGE
4P's assembly will now be held on Friday 28th March and 4A's assembly will be held on Friday 2nd May.

CHOIR AND DRAMA CLUB
All children in Years 1 and 2 who are in choir or drama club on a Tuesday will be collected by Mrs Houston/Mr Baigent from the Library area of the lower school.Those children in Years 3 – 6 are to go straight to the upper school hall where the other teacher will be waiting.

CALLING ALL BUDDING WRITERS!
Would you like to see your work in print? Well, now you can! From February onwards children's writing will be featured in the newsletter. Class teachers will be submitting work, but children can also submit writing completed at home. Writing in all genres – poetry, stories, non-fiction – is welcome. Work should be given to Ms Rhodes and should have your name and class on the back please. Three times a year Ms Rhodes and Sue Mongredien, our school author, will pick the star writer, who will receive a special certificate of recognition.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 'STARS OF THE WEEK'
Foundation Stage
Erin, Hanna
Years 1 and 2
Tom, Daniel, Nicholas, Lucy, Megha
Years 3 and 4
Lily, Sam, Daniel, Caitlin
Years 5 and 6
Jack, Caitlin, Jay, Sammy, Grace, Yasmin
PPA Drama
Lucy, Shannon
PPA PE
Molly, Bryony

BOOK WEEK 2008 - W/C Monday 5th March
Book week how has a new name – Literacy Week! We are planning lots of exciting activities for the week. If anyone knows an author, illustrator or publisher who would be willing to talk to the children about their work, please leave a message for Ms Rhodes.

We will also be having a book fair, so if any parents can spare some time to help man the fair after school, please contact Ms Rhodes.

Finally, on the Friday of Literacy Week the children will be invited to dress up as a book character – so get your thinking caps and sewing machines ready!

BATH HALF MARATHON
If you wish to sponsor Laura O'Gara, Class 1HO, please go to the website below -

www.justgiving.co.uk/lauraogara

FOOTBALL MATCH REPORT
On Thursday 17th of January Newbridge football team faced St Phillip's primary school in a friendly on our school field. The game kicked off with Newbridge piling on the pressure with a few early chances which ended in an early goal from Ben, who slotted it under the keeper. St Phillip's fought back, pulling a few swift saves out of Samuel. Suddenly a ball was played through for Max who had an effort which was saved but fortunately it bounced off the keeper right back to Max who put it in the corner to make it 2-0. Ten minutes before half time St Phillip’s had a break which was finished by their centre midfielder. The first half finished with Newbridge winning 2-1.

The second half kicked off with Newbridge pressuring the St Phillip's goal. A goal finally came when Caleb picked up the ball and shot it into the back of the net which made it 3-1 to Newbridge. Newbridge were pressuring but got caught off guard when a looping ball was hoofed over the defence into the path of their striker who got them back in the game with a goal. Their celebrations were short lived as Newbridge had a chance which was finished by Joe to make it 4-2 to the mighty Newbridge. It just kept getting better for Newbridge, when a corner was crossed in by Joe which hit off their defenders shin and into the goal. There was one final attack for Newbridge which was perfectly finished by Matt to make it 6-2. In the end it finished 6-2 to Newbridge.

We would like to thank Mr Cumpson for coaching us, Miss Newton for refereeing the match and all the adults who cheered us on all the way through. By Joe Lindsay.