NEWSLETTER Issue: 5.05

HEAD’S VIEW
Half term is here after a very fast five weeks! The last two weeks have seen Year 6 SATs take place, with Year 2 SATs taking place over a longer period. Our other children, from Year 1 upwards, have also had their assessments so that we can track their progress and ensure we are meeting their needs. As well as ongoing teacher assessment, we carry out these more formal assessments every six months throughout the children’s time at Newbridge and the outcomes of these very much inform the Reports coming out to you later this term. As you know, the future of Year 6 SATs in their current format is uncertain but what is certain is the attitude of the vast majority of our children towards their learning. We are so impressed with their desire to do their very best and we cannot ask for more than that! Huge credit goes to all the staff too for leaving no stone unturned to help the children be the best that they can be.

Sadly, we say farewell to Adam (2B) and Andrea (1H) who move to Peasedown St John Primary and Longwell Green Primary respectively. They both live quite a long way from our school and it will be so much easier for them and their families now. Both are delightful children and we will miss them very much, as we do Thomas (4W) who left us very recently and is settling in well at the Paragon. We wish them all the very best in the future.

You will find attached the first Governor Newsletter in our brief history! This newsletter will come out three or four times a year and is a step towards achieving our aim of bringing the governors and school community closer together. We hope you enjoy it and well done to Victoria Janseunne, our Chair of Governors, for making it happen.

I hope you all have an excellent half term break. For my part, I am hoping to do a spot of camping with the family …..fingers crossed for that heatwave!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY W/B 01/06/09
Monday 01/06/09
- Start of Term 6
- Year 6 residential trip to Isle of Wight
- Year 2 ‘Invasion’ Week (induction in KS2)
Tuesday 02/06/09
- No Blues Band or Keyboard lessons
Friday 05/06/09
- Curriculum Overview out to Parents

LITERACY WEEK: Monday 8th – Friday 12th June
Literacy week is fast approaching. Just a couple of dates for your diary:
· Tuesday 9th June – Book at Bedtime
· Friday 12th June – Dress up as a Book Character
The Book Fair will be running from Monday 8th to Thursday 11th. I would be really grateful for any parents who could run the fair. This involves unlocking the book cases and selling books for about half an hour at the end of the school day. If you can help please sign and return the slip attached to Ms Rhodes, via the School Office, by Wednesday 3rd June.

Please bring any unwanted Nearly New Books into school after the holiday. IR are hosting a book sale after school on Tuesday 9th June, as part of Book Week. Thank you. Mrs Rhodes.

WESTON VILLAGE OPEN GARDEN EVENT
Our Spiritual Garden and the Conservation Area are open for the public to see on Sunday 14th June between 1.00pm and 5.30pm. For the first time we are taking part in the Weston Village Open Garden Event and we are one of a number of gardens open for viewing (Mrs Rixson’s is another one!). Entry to all the gardens costs £5 on the day or £4 in advance. We have programmes on sale in the office and all proceeds go towards Dorothy House hospice. If you are able to take part, that would be great and if you can help, for at least part of the day, by manning the gates that would be equally great! Please let us know if you are able to help.

ATTENTION YEAR 6!
We are leaving for the Isle of Wight on Monday 1st June at 9.00am. Please arrive early, especially those with medicines.
Remember: Packed lunch, Water bottle, Backpack and your Suitcase!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ‘STARS OF THE WEEK’
Foundation Stage
Jamarnye, Isaac
Years 1 and 2
Anna, Phoebe, Max
Years 3 and 4
Maddi, Sam
Years 5 and 6
Lawrie, Poppy, Bryony, Sh’Niele
PPA Drama
Lucas, Joda
PPA Art
Sophie
PPA PE
Charlie, William, Naomi, Jay
PPA Music
Michael, Rhys, Julian

NEWBRIDGE SCHOOL HATS
Protect your children from the sun in an official school hat. Two styles available: Baseball cap with detachable neck flap - £4
Beanie (all round brim) - £5
both embroidered with the school logo
On sale after half term outside the office at 3.15pm each day. All profits to NPSA

LOST
Boys trainers, size 4F, blue and silver, Bootleg brand from Clarks.
Black school trousers, white shirt and black school shoes in red Power Rangers PE bag.
Red reversible fleece school jacket.

CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE
At the end of every month each class teacher has a very difficult decision to face. They have to choose the one person from their class to receive a Certificate of Excellence. The person they choose has to consistently be the best that he or she can be. That could be in effort and attitude, achievement, behaviour or citizenship. Sometimes it can be very difficult deciding as all of the children at Newbridge seem to work so hard and behave so well!

The girls and boys with their names here this month deserve congratulating. It is not easy to be awarded a Certificate of Excellence and they have done extremely well.
Lower School
Elm - Olivia
Willow - Isha
1H - Alfie
1R - Zoe
2B - Meg
2C - Jackson
Upper School
3B - Elizabeth
3H - Beatrice
4P - Sophie
4W - Olivia
5C - Sophia
5PB - Beth
6A - Joda
6CS - Finlay
6JS - Ava

PERIPATETIC MUSIC LESSONS
The deadline for showing an interest in learning one of the musical instruments at school from September was today. During the first two weeks back after half-term the peripatetic staff will be testing those children interested to see if they like the instrument and if they are able to play it. The teachers will be taking children out on the following days:
Monday - drums, guitars
Tuesday - brass
Wednesday - cellos
Thursday - violins
Friday - flutes
If there are any children who would like to start to learn an instrument from September, who have missed the deadline, then please notify the office before the relevant day, as shown above. Once the children have been tested, all children will be sent a letter to inform of fees and confirmation of lessons to be carried out.

Keyboard lessons are taught separately by Mrs Houston. There is currently a waiting list for lessons and so Mrs Houston will let all children know when there are spaces available.

If you have any other queries about peripatetic music lessons please see me as soon as possible. Miss Amies

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. All cheques to be made payable to B&NES please.
Dinner money for the coming term is as follows:
June - 21 days @ £1.85 = £38.85 - £9.25 for Year 6 - IOW
July - 18 days @ £1.85 = £33.30
TOTAL - £72.15

LOWER SCHOOL FRUIT SCHEME
There is no fruit supplied on the first day back after the half-term holiday. Please feel free to send your child with a piece of fruit for this one day. The fruit supply returns to normal on the Tuesday. Thank you to all the parents and carers who help with this scheme. Cheers, Dawn. (‘..and a huge ‘thank you’ to Mrs Worthington and the team from the school – definitely unsung heroes and heroines!’ Mr Croker)

ORIENTEERING – Family friendly event
Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK) and Avon Schools Orienteering welcome beginners and experienced navigators of all ages to try orienteering on Sunday 7th June 2009 at Greyfield Wood Farm, High Littleton BS39 6YE, off the A39 in High Littleton at ST 645585 along Greyfield Road. Arrive between 10.00am and 12 noon.
Cost – Juniors £2-3 (accompanying adult free) Adult courses from £5.50.
More information see www.bristolorienteering.org.uk

NPSA News
Disco
Great fun was had by all of those who attended last Friday’s disco which raised a very respectable £450 towards the playground equipment for the Upper School. I would like to thank Steph Massie, Lisa Lansdown and Andy Lawrence for organising the event, Stewart Taylor for supplying the drinks(which certainly helped get people on the dance floor) and Kelvin Rogers for helping him run the bar. Thank you to the class reps for selling the tickets and to Nigel Lansdown, Richard Burton, Anna Whitson and Julian Massie for turning the hall into a disco venue! And, finally, a big thank you to Paulo Baigent for the music and everyone who came along and danced late into the night!
Summer Fete – Saturday July 11th: 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Make sure this date is in your diaries and keep it free as your children will not thank you if you miss this one! Like the Christmas Fair it will, however, need a whole army of volunteers to make it happen! And that is where you come in! Over the next six weeks we will be bombarding you with requests for help, cakes, prizes and all sorts of other things! We are planning to have an events ring with dance and music displays by the children, a competition tent (more details below), cream teas, a barbecue and a variety of stalls including skittles and a coconut shy. We are also hoping to be able to feature all sorts of crafts but that will all depend on your help…
We also need to borrow gazebos, a coconut shy, a Punch and Judy and we need to find the stocks which we know are out there somewhere! If you have any of these, please get in touch with NPSA as soon as possible.
Competition Entries – Summer Fete 2009
We have decided to feature a competition tent in this year’s fair so here are the categories:
Picture A4 size -Theme – summer - Preschool, Infants and Juniors.
Miniature garden – Family entry
Egg-box model - Infants and Juniors
Photograph Black and white or colour -Theme – My favourite place - Primary, Secondary and Adults
Mad Hatters - Decorated hat - Infants and Juniors
Collection in a jam jar – Preschool, Infants and Juniors
Decorated cupcake - Infants, Junior, Adults
Prizes will be given and there will be a charge of 50 pence for each entry. Entry forms will be available nearer the date. So, start working on those competition entries!
Design the Summer Fete Poster
Can't wait until July? Please enter our design a poster competition for the Summer Fete - entries to be in colour on A4 and pictures only (no text). Entries to be placed in the box in Main Reception by 5th July.