NEWSLETTER Issue: 4.05

MAKE A WISH
Next Thursday is our fund raising day for the ‘Make A Wish’ Foundation. This foundation has granted over 4,700 very special wishes in the UK since 1986 and it exists in 30 countries around the world. The purpose of ‘Make A Wish’ is to grant magical wishes to children and young people facing life-threatening illnesses. The Newbridge School Council chose this as our fund raiser for this term after gathering the views of children and families across the school. We are very proud to have the chance to help bring a wish to life for Mitchell who is 16 years old, lives in Bristol and suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

In Monday’s whole school assembly, Jennie Osborne, from Make A Wish, is going to tell us about the organisation and about Mitchell whose wish is to go to Disney World in Florida. Our aim is to raise £1000 next Thursday so that we can help make his wish come true. We think we can do it. If everyone brings in a £2 contribution for the privilege of wearing mufti and for participating in / watching our very own House Talent Festival (‘Words, Music & Movement’) then we can reach our target. In addition, it is the Year 1 & 6 cake sale after school on that day in the Lower School hall and all the proceeds are going towards Mitchell’s cause. If anyone would like to bring in more than a £2 contribution then we have even more chance of helping Mitchell reach his dream. As regards the mufti, we are waiting to hear about Mitchell’s favourite colour so it would be fantastic if everyone had that colour for at least part of their clothing. We will let you know the colour at the beginning of next week. Thank you for your support for Mitchell – let’s reach that £1000 mark!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Saturday 28/03/09
- Groundforce Day 2: 9.00am – 1.00pm
Tuesday 31/03/09
- Class 2C Assembly @ 2.45pm
- 5PB to Oldfield for Science Day
Wednesday 01/04/09
- Hockey tournament at The University of Bath - pm
- Combe Down & Newbridge children rehearsing at Newbridge
Thursday 02/04/09
- House Event: ‘Words, Music & Movement’ talent festival & fund raising for ‘Make A Wish’
- Easter Lunch
- Year 1 & 6 cake sale
Friday 03/04/09
- End of Term 4

FAREWELL TO MISS HILL
We say ‘farewell’ to Miss Louise Hill next Wednesday which is her last day at Newbridge. Miss Hill has been with us since September as maternity cover SENCo for Mrs Skinner, who returns at the beginning of next term, and in that time she has impressed us all with her professionalism, commitment and care. Many children and staff have greatly benefited from her expertise and our very best wishes and gratitude go with her for the future.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS GO TO……
v Sophia who will be touring the country for six months after being chosen from 1000 children and four rounds of auditions to play Marta in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Sound of Music’ UK tour – a brilliant achievement.
v Ms Van Gelderen, a member of our excellent teaching assistant team, who is getting married next Friday – congratulations again!
v Joda who is our first chess player to play for the county….and he won two out of his three matches! Will was also selected but was unavailable to play.
v The podcast team of Callum, Rashane, Tom, Tom, Sherilyn, Ben and Jay who, under the expert eye of mum, Sharon Alcock, produced an excellent Groundforce Day 1 podcast which is now on the school website. Groundforce Day 2 tomorrow!

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:
Clubs finish this week Friday 27th March 2009, unless you have been informed otherwise.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
We would like to inform all parents that we have a number of children off school at the moment with Chickenpox.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ‘STARS OF THE WEEK’
Foundation Stage
Archie, William
Years 1 and 2
Izzy, Toby, Rosie
Years 3 and 4
Johan, Martha, Lily, Ollie
Years 5 and 6
John, Harry, Class 6A, Class 6CS, Class 6JS
PPA Art
Molly, Millie
PPA PE
Aisha, Beth
PPA Music
Max, Alice

HELP NEEDED PLEASE FOR ‘A CURIOUS ADVENTURE’
Are there any parents who might be free to help me set up staging etc in the Pavilion from 9.00am on Thursday 30th April and/or help supervise our 158 children when they arrive at the Pavilion at 11.30am? Please leave name and contact number in Reception. Thanks. Lesley Houston.

EXTRA CURRICULAR MUSIC CLUBS
Please note that the following clubs will keep running right up until 30th April. It is very important that everyone attends as we are rehearsing for our Pavilion performance:
Choir, Blues Band, Orchestra, Intermediate and Advanced Recorders.
Thanks very much, Lesley Houston

THE PAVILION PERFORMANCE
REMINDER, all instrumentalists (Orchestra, Blues Band and Recorders) need to bring their music and instruments for rehearsal on MONDAY 30th March and WEDNESDAY 1st April. Thanks, Lesley Houston

DINNER MONEY
All dinners must be taken on a weekly basis. The cost of dinners is £9.25 per week. Please send the money in on a Monday morning, in an envelope with your child’s name and class on it. Please try to send in the correct amount as it is difficult to find lots of 75p change. All cheques to be made payable to B&NES please.
Dinner money for the coming term is as follows:
April - 9 days at £1.85 = £16.65
May - 16 days at £1.85 =£29.60
TOTAL - £46.25
Dinner money for term 6 is as follows:
June - 21 days at £1.85 = £38.85
July - 18 days at £1.85 = £33.30
TOTAL - £72.15
April – July - 64 days at £1.85 = £118.40
For those children in Year 6 attending the Isle of Wight trip w/c 1st – 5th June, please deduct £9.25.

CELEBRATING WRITING
I can write a cliff hanger:
As I walked from the spooky tunnel I saw some light and then I saw a stranger in the distance. He started walking and then he started jogging. My heart was beating fast. Suddenly he ran at me. I couldn’t feel my legs. I was so scared I started running for my life. I thought if I kept running he would get out of breath but he didn’t. He was getting closer and closer. I was getting out of breath and my legs were aching. I tripped on a stone and fell to the ground.
Leon – 3H

NPSA NEWS
Cake Sale – Thursday 2nd April – Lower School Hall – Year 6 and Reception
Next week’s cake sale will take place in the Lower School Hall on Thursday 2nd April at 3.15pm. You will receive your cake plates on the Wednesday via your child’s book bag. Please fill them with delicious cakes and return them on the Thursday morning to the Lower School Kitchen. Thank you so much – it really is appreciated!

Nearly New Uniform Sale - Thursday 2nd April – Lower School Hall
Have your children just gone through a growth spurt? Is their uniform suddenly too small? Then, come along to the Lower School Hall on Thursday 2nd April at 3.15pm and have a look at our stock of good quality, reasonably priced second-hand uniform items! And, remember if you have items you no longer need please bring them along and donate them to the school. Without your generosity we would not be able to provide this service!