NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.03

Message from Mr Croker…..
There are so many examples of excellence happening every day in our school. Well done to everyone on making this a very special school. I will do a ‘round up’ in the last newsletter of term but I did want to take this opportunity to praise the work of the NPSA who are doing so much for our school. The Christmas calendar, which I know will be treasured by so many, is a great example of this teamwork. A big ‘thank you’ to the team of parents who helped make last Friday very smooth and, in particular, Mrs Massie, Ms Ferrett, Ms Tolley, Mrs Marshall and Mr Baigent for their organisation, leadership and creativity.

Please note:
- Please ensure all children bring a coat to school during these cold months
- There are still ‘My Learning’ folders left at home – please can these be returned as soon as possible
- The School Council have selected our charities for the remainder of the year. We will be supporting ‘Make A Wish’ in Terms 3 & 4, and Oxfam in Terms 5 & 6. Many thanks to all the children, parents and staff who contributed their ideas which led to some very positive discussions
- The Upper School Carol Concert will involve all the children in the Upper School. Further details out next week
- Our new outdoor classroom in the Conservation Area! We have other clever plans for the outside environment and we will give out more details shortly
- Disco times on Thursday 11th December are as follows:
Years 3 & 4 4.30 to 6.00pm
Years 5 & 6 6.30 to 8.00pm (and Year 7 ex–Newbridge pupils very welcome – please spread the news)
- Lower School Christmas Party is at 2.00pm on Thursday 18th December

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Deck the Halls – Monday 1st December 2009
Just a reminder to please come along on Monday 1st December from 7.00pm to help decorate the School Halls for Christmas. Festive refreshments will be provided and both mums and dads are needed in great numbers.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY W/B 1/12/08:
Tuesday 02/12/08
- Year 3 to Roman Baths am
- Primary Maths Challenge Year 5 & 6
Thursday 04/12/08
- Mufti Day (see ‘NPSA Christmas Fair’ for further details)
- Christmas Fair 5.00pm to 7.00pm
Friday 05/12/08
- 6JS Assembly @ 2.30pm

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS DINNER
Reminder - Monday 1st December is the last day for Christmas Dinner orders. No orders can be accepted after that date.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ‘STARS OF THE WEEK’
Foundation Stage
Jasmine, Sam
Years 3 and 4
Mimi, Ella, Hannah, Hodaviah
Years 5 and 6
Nathan, Lilley, Eryk, Alex, Elliot
PPA Drama
Will
PPA Art
Katrina
PPA PE
Archie, Natasha
PPA Music
Elijah, Sydney

THE QUIZ FACTOR
The Quiz Factor has SOLD OUT!
The bar will be open for a 7.45pm start and we are looking forward to a great night. Remember to bring your tickets and a pen!

Also, a big thank you for supporting the Cake Sale and Mufti day last Friday.

CHANGE OF DATE
Please note that 1R’s class assembly will be on Tuesday 10th February and not Tuesday 9th December.

FRUIT SCHEME
Your help is needed in the Lower School. There is a temporary rota on the board. Please fill in the gaps. Many hands make light work!
Cheers, Dawn 1R.

CHOIR
Thanks to the Choir for all their hard work as we get ready for all our performances. Please remember the Abbey reply slip should have been in today and the reply slip about the Christmas Fair needs to be in on Wednesday.

HOCKEY MATCHES
On Sunday 23rd November two hockey teams from Newbridge Primary School went up to the University of Bath to play in a hockey league. The teams were Newbridge and Newbridge A. The first match was Newbridge vs Newbridge A. The teams both played very well with an ending score of 7-1 to Newbridge. The second match was Newbridge vs Team Bath Buccaneers Cadets. Newbridge worked very well as a team and the ending score in the match was 3-0 to Newbridge. This was a very good score because Team Bath Buccaneers are a proper Hockey club. The third game was Newbridge A vs Team Bath Buccaneers Daggers. Newbridge A tried their hardest but sadly they lost 2-0. It was then time for Newbridge to face Team Bath Buccaneers Daggers. This game went well and the ending score was 3-1 to Newbridge. The final match was Newbridge A vs Team Bath Buccaneers Cadets. This match was sadly unsuccessful with the ending score of 2-0 to Team Bath Buccaneers Cadets. So at the end of the day Newbridge had won all their matches and ended up top of the division.

We would like to thank Mrs Kennaugh for coaching us and Mrs Bartlett, Mr Croker and all the parents for supporting us.
Harriet – 6A and Jay – 6CS.

ROBOTICS COMPETITION
On Wednesday 26th November Newbridge Robotics Team (Robogenuises) went to Bristol for the FLL Robotics Challenge 2008. The day started with the opening ceremony at 10.30am. There were over 1000 people there. After the opening ceremony we did our presentation in front of the judges. Then came the robot competition round. In round 1 we collected 15 points. In the second round we got 55 and on the last round we got 50 (which is good for the first time there). We came 29th out of 40 in the Robot Challenge. We had challenges to do during the day and we won a chocolate prize for the word searches.

The team was Molly, John, Charlie, Joda, Matthew, Jacob, Callum, Jack and Will and the supporting crew were Bex, Austen and Max. It was a fun day. Thank you to all our parents for taking us and Miss Wells and Mr Cumpson for organising the day.
By John and Molly.

NPSA CHRISTMAS FAIR Thursday 4th December 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Well, Christmas has arrived at Newbridge Primary School and as the children of Newbridge have behaved so well throughout the year Father Christmas has confirmed that he is on his way to our school and will be with us next Thursday!

It should be a great evening and to get us in the Christmas Spirit, the school choir will be kicking off the festivities. All the old favourites will be there - such as Santa’s Grotto, the chocolate tombola, splat the rat and the craft room, where children can make cards and baubles. There are also a few new additions like the ‘Wrap a gift for Someone Special Stall’, where your child can select and wrap a surprise gift for you, and ‘Shy Santa’ which is a festive version of a coconut shy! There are plenty of other exciting stalls both old and new along with a great selection of outside traders. Don’t forget that this is an event for the whole family and the Reindeer Restaurant will be serving pizza, mince pies and hot and cold drinks so you can have your supper before you go home!

You will be issued with a Christmas Fair Guide (which includes a map) next week, to help you negotiate around the various stalls and games. Both the top and bottom gates will be open to facilitate access.

Now, to the important bit! This is the event, more than any other, which needs the support of the whole school to be successful and I am afraid that we are yet again going to ask you to donate your goods and time! Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to help on the day of the fair but we still have slots to fill. So, please, approach your class rep and put your name down to help set up or run a stall or to stay and clean up afterwards.

Here is a list of what each year group is being asked to contribute:

Years 4 and 6 – Sweetie Jars (You should find these in your book-bags today along with this newsletter, provided all has gone to plan! Please fill them - no nuts please)
Year 5 and Reception – Cakes, glorious cakes (You should find your plates in your book-bags tonight. Please fill them with home made or shop bought cakes – no nuts please.)
Years 1, 2 and 3 – Chocolate for the Chocolate Tombola (No nuts please.)

In addition, Christmas Fair Day is Mufti Day and in exchange for wearing mufti we are asking the whole school to bring a tombola prize. For example, a bottle of wine, an alcoholic beverage, some nice olive oil, a box of chocolates, some special biscuits, a particularly nice chutney etc.

So, where do you have to bring all these goodies? Well, we would like you to bring them in on Thursday the 4th of December – the morning of the fair and bring them to the Blue Room. If you do not drop-off on a Thursday then bring them in anytime next week and leave them in reception.

I would also like to thank all those people who have donated presents and gift wrap for the ‘Wrap a Gift for Someone Special Stall’ and cuddly toys for the ‘Adopt a Teddy’ Stall but, please keep those coming in. They can both be brought to the main reception in the link building and left in the kitchen there.

Thank you in advance for all your kind donations. In a week when the builders have started work on the outside classroom in the conservation area, it really shows how much good your kind support does. Bringing in goodies and volunteering for half an hour really do make a difference to our children’s education!