NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.05

HEAD’S VIEW
It is a very brief one this week but next week’s will be an epic (in length if not content) as I look back over a busy and successful term.

Please find attached a questionnaire which the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) is asking schools throughout the country to circulate to their parents so they can take forward the views of the many. It centres on the value and effectiveness of Key Stage 2 SATs (Year 6) under the present format. I know it is a busy time of year, and questionnaires certainly do not feature high on your priority list at present, but it should only take a couple of minutes to complete and your views would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your support.

Standards in all aspects of school life are so important and there are two areas that are slipping just a little at present. The first is lateness to school. I know there are often good reasons for lateness but often there are not. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of children arriving in good time and having a calm and settled start to the day. The other issue is uniform. The vast majority of children are beautifully turned out and reflect the pride we all have in our school. But, lately, we have noticed a number of children who are not dressed according to our uniform policy. I would like to emphasise that black shoes, not trainers, are to be worn and fleeces etc can be worn to school and at playtimes but not in school. The school sweatshirt or cardigan can be worn over the polo shirt in school. Please find attached the uniform policy. Your support in both these areas is much appreciated.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY W/B 15/12/08:
Monday 15/12/08
- Lower School Nativity @ 2.00pm
Tuesday 16/12/08
- Lower School Nativity @ 9.30am
- Upper School Carol Concert @ 7.00pm
Wednesday 17/12/08
- *Lower School Nativity Emmanuel Church @ 9.30am
- Bath Chronicle Carol Concert at Bath Abbey @ 6.30pm
Thursday 18/12/08
- Upper School Carol Concert - 9.30am
- Lower School Christmas party @ 2.00pm
Friday 19/12/08
- End of Term 2

NEWBRIDGE CHRISTMAS CD
Just to let you know that the Christmas CD has been given out this week.
The final date for any last minute orders will be Tuesday 16th December.
Miss Amies.

IMPORTANT NOTICE *
Please note the Nativity Service at Emmanuel Church on Wednesday 17th December will be performed by the alternative Year 2 cast. Reception and Year 1 will not be performing their individual songs.

YEAR 4 SWIMMING
Class 4P will begin swimming again on Wednesday 7th January 2009. The arrangements will remain unaltered from Term 1. If there are any 4P parents who are CRB cleared and able to help supervise the children from 8.45 – 10.30am then please let Mrs Phillips know.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ‘STARS OF THE WEEK’
Foundation Stage
Kameron, Jerome, Lewis
Years 1 and 2
James, Luka, Kyle, Finn
Years 3 and 4
Katrina, Jed, Abigail, Daisy, Alex
Years 5 and 6
Sophia, Max, Grace, Joe, Charlie
PPA Drama
Nathan
PPA Art
Mimi
PPA PE
Lucy, Jack
PPA Music
Hannah

SWIMMING GALA
On Wednesday 26th November some children from Years 5 and 6 sang ‘wheels on the coach go round and round’ on the coach all the way to the Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, to take part in the Bath and North East Somerset Schools Swimming Festival! Every one had an amazing time, swimming in relays, medleys and single races. Although we came 6th out of 7 schools, we all enjoyed it. The only bad thing was the changing rooms!! With thousands of people treading on your clothes and taking your towel, by then it was 4.00pm and time to go home and we were all exhausted!

We would like to thank Mrs Bartlett for organising our races, Mr Croker and Mrs Roberts for coming with us and giving us unlimited support, whether we needed it or not!!
By Grace – 6CS
(‘Our children are a pleasure to be with. Very supportive, sporting in attitude and they gave their best in the pool. Well done!’ Mr Croker)

LOST
Red Newbridge School coat missing since last Tuesday (2nd December). It has the name Danielle on the label and is size 11-12 years. If found please contact Danielle in class 3B. Many thanks.

WANTED – LADIES OF ALL AGES
Get fit in 2009 – Learn a new sport with Lansdown Ladies Cricket Team. Training starts on Friday 16th January 2009 from 7.00pm – 8.00pm at Kingswood School Sports Hall. Get positive with your New Years resolutions and have great fun!
For more details ring Alison Turner on 01225 447697 or Sharon Alcock on 01225 421797.

YEAR 3 TRIP TO THE ROMAN BATHS
On Tuesday 2nd December Year 3 went to the Roman Baths. It was very exciting on the big coach and some of us went on the white mini-bus. We went to the classroom and had three activities. We got dressed up in Roman clothes and we paid for objects we would need to go to the Roman Baths. The interesting sandals were too expensive. The coins were very heavy and the patterns were very funny.

Looking out of the window at the Great Bath it was really hard to imagine it was from the Roman times and 2000 years old. Looking down through the glass at the dark orange drain it felt like you were flying. Then we got the little telephones and dialled the number to know what we were looking at – we didn’t know they had hot and cold baths and games in the water. We looked at cutlery found in the Roman Baths, like a spoon to open oysters with. We liked the mosaics and the Gorgon’s Head that looked like a sun. We had a very nice morning.
By Harry, Elizabeth, Emma, Johan and George– 3B.
(‘What a wonderful description of your visit – I now want to go back to the Roman Baths and look around again! Well done Harry, Elizabeth, Emma, Johan and George.’ Mr Croker)

NPSA NEWS
Christmas Fair Thanks
I am thrilled to announce that the Christmas Fair raised a whopping £2000 for our school. The Christmas Fair is not only a great fundraiser but, just as importantly, it is a really magical night for the children. So many people are responsible for making it such a success that it is impossible to mention them all. However, I would like to thank the organising committee, the class reps, the staff and teachers of the school, all those who came and helped that day (both in the preparation during the day and running the stalls on the night), those who donated cakes, chocolate, tombola prizes, gifts, sweetie jars and wrapping paper and, finally, to each and every one of you who came out on Thursday night and made the fair so much fun!

I would also like to thank all of those who donated raffle gifts and prizes. These include Sian Blunos, Bath Bakery, Heaven Scent Beauty in Batheaston, Window Dressing, Riverford Organic Vegetables, Phoenix Cards, Chelsea Clipper, Jackie Ainsworth’s Forever Aloe, Desh Indian Food, Kindling Coffee, the Hardware Store Chelsea Rd, the off-licence Chelsea Rd, Naughty but Nice, Diane Day, Rebecca Bleeker, Genesis Gym, Abbey Cameras, Lower Weston Post Office and Sarah Aygul who baked a gorgeous gingerbread house cake! Thank you to you all!

By the way, if anyone has any feedback, positive or negative, please email us on npsa@hotmail.co.uk or pop it in the NPSA tray. All comments are welcome and will help us provide an even better fair next year!

NPSA Expenditure
Seeing as we are constantly asking you to donate either money, goods or time for one reason or another, I thought we should let you know how the money you are so instrumental in raising is spent. So, here is what NPSA funds have provided so far this year!

v An outdoor classroom in the conservation area
v More books for the library
v Wet weather games and toys for all the classrooms
v Waterproofs for reception children for wet playtime
v Year 4 trip to Egg Theatre to see ‘The Nutcracker’
v Cookery ingredients for lower and upper school cooking sessions

Thank you for all your support and please keep it coming!

NPSA Fundraising Idea (by Sharon Alcock)
You may have noticed a bit of a fashion buzz in the drop-off zones last week… fifteen mums tried out a new fundraising idea over the week-end – a frock swap based on the BBC TV programme hosted by Twiggy! We all brought along no longer wanted clothes and accessories, along with a few bottles of wine(!) to one of our homes – and swapped for a (very) small fee! EVERYONE went home happy, with new outfits. We had a great and sociable evening, our clothes were recycled and we raised almost £90.00 for the school. It was such fun! Watch out for a special PTA pack – available in the New Year from Reception – which will tell you exactly how to repeat the experience with very little hassle, including printable info. All we ask in return is for any money raised to be donated to NPSA funds - and you get the new clothes! Who needs sales?!

Christmas Decorations
Thank you to all those who ventured out into the cold last Monday night to help decorate the School halls! They look great!

School Calendars
Just to let you know that if you ordered a calendar, you will be receiving it on Monday 15th December. Please put a carrier bag in your child’s bookbag that morning and pick up your calendar along with your child!

(‘Keep up the fantastic work! Last year our school association won a national award, I think we should be heading for an international award! Well done to everyone in the NPSA.’ Mr Croker)