We have all sighed a huge sigh of relief that the SATs are now over.  Breakfast has proved to have been a big hit.  Year 6 were great and we look forward to a more creative final few weeks of term. I have a few reminders and new date to inform you about:

Me, My Money, My Community
Our topic of Me, My Money My Community will involve us preparing for the school Fun Day (Friday 24th May) and looking at the world of work and finances.  Please contact us if you think you would be able to come and speak about your job.  Next week, Year 6 will be deciding on stalls they will run at the Fun Day.  It will be important for me to know on Monday if your child will not be free after school from 3.10pm-approximately 5pm to help run a stall..

Science Week (w/c 3rd June) / International Week (w/c 24th June)
We would welcome any parents or relatives who would like to come in and talk to the Uppers about their jobs linked with Science or about their experiences living in other countries.  Please let us know if you would like to do this.

French Café
We have been fortunate to have Ms Katherine Monument fortnightly to teach French.  I have organised for her to bring some Year 10 pupils to run a Café for Year 6 on Monday 10th June. I plan to buy ham, cheese, juice and baguettes.  A donation of 50p per child would be welcome to help towards the cost.

Visit to SVC Primary Science and MFL Day – Wednesday 19th June
We have been invited to visit SVC for a day.  During the time there, Year 6 will listen to talks from a variety of science based professionals, and take part in a Science Challenge. The other half of the event will be spent trying out different languages and exciting language related activities within the languages department.  We will be asking for £5 towards the cost of the coach to and from SVC.

Leavers’ Prom – Saturday 13th July
Year 6 are keen to adopt the theme of ‘Grease’ for the prom.  More details to follow later.

Last two days of term

• Monday 22nd July – Citizens outing
• Tuesday 23rd July – Leavers Assembly from 10am.

PE/Uniform
We have entered a team for the Kwik Cricket competition and will be practising next week on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.  We might not be keeping to the normal PE times for the rest of the term so please ensure your child has PE kit in school at all times. They will need shorts and a T-shirt and it is essential that your child has trainers for PE. If the weather is cool, jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt or warm top are needed and if it is hot, a sun hat, water bottle and sun cream are advisable.  All kit should be clearly labelled. Sports afternoon is Monday 1st July from 1.30pm.

It has been noted that a number of Year 6 are coming to school in inappropriate clothing which does not comply with the school regulations.  No jeans or coloured sweatshirts (apart from black/blue) should be worn along with black shoes (not coloured converse style shoes).

Pens
Although we provide pens and pencils for the children to write with, often they prefer to bring in their own. We encourage the children to bring in their own black pen to write with in school.  We recommend a ‘Roller Ball’ or ‘Gel Ink’ pen of some kind (medium tip) and a ‘Ball Point’ (Biro) for use in planning books.  Do make sure your child’s pen is clearly labelled (at home) with their name, so that it is easily identifiable.  We would encourage your child to keep writing equipment in a small pencil case.  We will beginning transition work for Swavesey Village College soon which will need to be neatly presented.

Water bottles
Your child should have a bottle of water (not juice) with them in class to drink at appropriate moments, particularly during warm weather.  Please make sure these bottles are clearly named.  Again, suitable bottles can be bought from Emily in the office.  Do encourage your child to take his/her bottle home each day, so it can be thoroughly cleaned.  The children will only be allowed to fill their bottles at break times so a full bottle should be brought in at the start of the day.

Mobile phones
A number of Year 6 have been bringing in ‘phones to school, some of which have not been taken to the Office for safe keeping.  On the odd occasion your child needs to have a ‘phone in school, please could you write a note in your child’s Day Book or letter of explanation.

Hilltop money
All Hilltop money should have been in by the 1st May.  There are a number of payments outstanding.  Please contact me immediately if you are having difficulty paying this otherwise all outstanding payments need to be made ASAP.

We will update you of further events as the dates and information are confirmed.

Best wishes

Stephanie Tabram

As part of the transfer process, Year 6 children have been invited to Swavesey Village College by the Science and MFL Departments on Wednesday 19th June for the day (9.15am -3.10pm).  This visit is for ALL year 6 children regardless of Secondary school they will be attending in September 2013.  The aim of the day is to raise the profile and enjoyment of science, to introduce year 6 pupils to the science department and school and to raise awareness of career pathways in science based professions.  In addition, the children will be given a ‘taster’ of other languages to enthuse and engage them in this field.  In previous years this visit has been both educational and a great introduction to SVC.

As the children will be representing Bar Hill School it is important that they wear school uniform.  Although the activities are free once there, we have to pay the cost of a coach to and from SVC.  Therefore, I am asking for £5 to cover the cost of transport. I also need your permission to take your child otherwise they will be unable to attend and will have to stay in school.  We will be registering the children at school and then leave for SVC.  We will be returning for the end of the school day.  Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and drink for lunch as we will be eating at SVC.

Forms have gone home with pupils & via Parentmail. Please return the slip by Monday 10th June, 2013.

Dear Parents/Carers

Welcome back to the last term of the school year and what looks to be an extremely busy one for Year 5 and Year 6.

Me, My Money, My Community
Our topic of Me, My Money My Community  will involve us preparing for the school Fun Day (Friday 24th May) and looking at the world of work and finances.  Please contact us if you think you would be able to come and speak about your job.

Science Week (w/c 3rd June)/International Week (w/c 24th June)
We would welcome any parents or relatives who would like to come in and talk to the Uppers about their jobs linked with Science or about their experiences living in other countries.  Please let us know if you would like to do this.

Targets
The target section of your child’s day book will be updated over the next few days.  The old targets have been reviewed and we will now aim to set new targets monthly.  Do look at and discuss them with your child.

Tuck Shop
Tuck shop will continue to take place on Thursdays.  Items range between 30p-50p.

Work to be completed at Home
Over the next two weeks leading up to SATs, Year 6 will be given homework daily.  Up to 30minutes should be set aside for your child to complete the short tasks given.  After SATs, no further homework will be set apart from ‘Discovery Detectives’- more details to follow later.

For Year 5 homework will now be set on THURSDAYS, to be handed in the following Tuesday.

P.E.
Once again the children will be doing both outdoor and indoor PE, so they will need shorts and a T-shirt for indoor work and suitable outdoor clothing as well. It is essential that your child has trainers for PE. If the weather is cool, jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt or warm top are needed and if it is hot, a sun hat, water bottle and sun cream are advisable.  P.E. kits need to be kept in school all week.  All kit should be clearly labelled. Sports afternoon is Monday 1st July from 1.30pm.

Pens
Although we provide pens and pencils for the children to write with, often they prefer to bring in their own. We encourage the children to bring in their own black pen to write with in school.  We recommend a ‘Roller Ball’ or ‘Gel Ink’ pen of some kind (medium tip) and a ‘Ball Point’ (Biro) for use in planning books.  Do make sure your child’s pen is clearly labelled (at home) with their name, so that it is easily identifiable.  We would encourage your child to keep writing equipment in a small pencil case.

Water bottles Your child should have a bottle of water with them in class to drink at appropriate moments, particularly during warm weather.  Please make sure these bottles are clearly named.  Again, suitable bottles can be bought from Emily in the office.  Do encourage your child to take his/her bottle home each day, so it can be thoroughly cleaned.  The children will only be allowed to fill their bottles at break times so a full bottle should be brought in at the start of the day.

Important dates for Year 5 to note are:

• Year 5 tests will take place during the week beginning Monday 13th May
• some of the Year Five’s will be representing the school in a Year 5 maths challenge at the beginning of June
• Careers Fair – Tuesday 18th June
• Year 5 bikeability (week beginning Monday 8th July)
• Sex education lessons will be part of the PSHE curriculum after half term
• Citizenship application and training
• End of year concert

Further information will follow in due course

Important dates for Year 6 to note are:

• KS2 SATs – week beginning Monday 13th May, 2013.  Once again, we will be providing your child with breakfast at the start of the day
• Careers Fair – Tuesday 18th June
• Hilltop Residential – Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th July.  Letters have recently gone out regarding money owing and meeting information.
• Leavers’ Prom – Saturday 13th July (more details to follow)
• SVC induction days – Wednesday 17th –Friday 19th July
• Monday  22nd  July – Citizens outing
• Tuesday  23rd  July – Leavers Assembly from 10am.  We suggest you allow an hour as this replaces the end of year concert and will be a show put on by Year 6.

You will be informed of further events as the dates and information are confirmed. This term promises to be one filled with many exciting events and we look forward to sharing these with you.

Regards

Stephanie Tabram & Claire Mayer

Welcome back to the last Term of the school year and what looks to be an extremely busy one for the Uppers. Both Year Five and Six will be working hard during the first half term towards their SATs (external for Year Six and internal for Year Fives). These will take place during the week beginning Monday 13th May 2013. We are sure all of the pupils will continue with the hard work they were demonstrating before the Easter holidays and wish them well for their tests.

Other events happening this term include: some of the Year Fives representing the school in a Year Five maths challenge at the beginning of June, Sports day for everyone, Year Five bikeability (week beginning Monday 8th July 2013) and the Year Six residential visit to Hilltop (Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th July 2013). This term promises to be one filled with many exciting events and we look forward to sharing these with you.

Best wishes

The Uppers Team

Y6 Timetable

Y5 timetable

It is great to see Year Five and Six working hard at the start of the Spring Term. This term the Uppers  are studying World War Two, which has captivated their interest and already a few pupils have brought in artefacts from home, which have created much discussion. Both year groups are using the novel ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ to link their history and English work and also undertaking art activities based on World War Two. As the term progresses we will begin to think about how life has changed since the Second World War by examining music, art, fashion and so forth throughout the decades to the present day. Year Six are busy preparing for their SAT’s next term, focussing on grammar rules and maths problems. Year Five are enjoying swimming on Wednesday’s throughout the term.

Welcome back to a new school year and a special welcome to the Year Fives who join us in the Uppers.

The Year Fives will be taught by Ms Hindmarch on a Monday morning and Mrs Jordan on a Monday afternoon. For the rest of the week Mrs Mayer will teach them, with Mrs Parker and Mrs Flack as Teaching Assistants.  Mrs Tabram will teach Year Six for the majority of the time, with Mrs Darby as a Teaching Assistant and Mrs Jordan releasing Mrs Tabram for her Deputy Head non teaching time.

The Year Six have exciting opportunities to be trained as members of the Citizenship group. In addition they will continue to be responsible members of other groups such as: ABC, Bike It Crew, Eco team, School Council and Play Leaders. The Year Fives will be invited to apply to become: ABCers, part of the Bike It Crew, Play Leaders, Walking Bus and Duty Group.

Look out for further information, especially concerning fundraising events.

Dates for your diary

There are several exciting trips planned for the coming year, including:

• A residential visit to Burwell House for the Year Fives between 5^th and 7^th November 2012
• A residential visit to Hilltop for the Year Sixes between 10^th and 12^th July 2013.

These promise to be great fun and we’ll learn a lot.

Also:

• Swimming  for the Year Fives will commence after Christmas for the duration of the Spring term. This will take place at the Ivo pool in St Ives.
• Thursday 13th September we invite you to attend a meeting to introduce you to the Uppers and the new academic year. This will take place at 5.30pm in Mrs Tabram’s room.