6 - 18th November 2011

SAINT THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
www.st-thomasmore.leicester.sch.uk
Newsletter 6 – Autumn Term 2011
ADVENT & BLESSING
VISIT OF HIGH SHERRIF 9/11
PARISH BAZAAR 26/11
SPORTS REPORT
LOROS NOVELTIES
Return slip for Bishop’s Mass
TRAVELLING CRIBS
VISIT OF BISHOP MALCOLM 2/12
SCHOOL GAMES
HEALTH & SAFETY AUDIT
POSSIBLE STRIKE ACTION 30/11
18th November 2011
Dear Parents and Pupils
ADVENT
We are fast approaching the season of Advent; a time to prepare for the true meaning of
Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent falls on Sunday 27th November and the real commitment
of Advent is “to bring joy to others”.
ADVENT BLESSING
Lord God, You sent your Son into our world to speak your Word and to make us holy.
Bless us in everything we do. Open our hearts and minds.
Make us alert to your voice, that this holy season may be a blessing for us,
and for all those we cherish.
Amen.
TRAVELLING NATIVITY CRIBS IN PREPARATION
FOR CHRISTMAS
This year, once again, we are encouraging each class to
participate in this activity. Families from each class will have
the opportunity to take home a box containing a small cloth, night
lights and a notebook to accompany each set of nativity figures and to use these as a focal point
for prayer in the home.
VISIT OF THE HIGH SHERIFF OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND HEADMASTER OF
RATCLIFFE COLLEGE – Wednesday 9th November 2011
The High Sheriff, Mr Resham Singh Sandhu and the Headmaster of Ratcliffe College, Mr
Gareth Lloyd thoroughly enjoyed their visit to our school. Both visitors were so impressed with
our pupils’ high standard of behaviour, their impeccable manners and their amazing confidence
and ability to listen so attentively. They have asked me to congratulate and thank the whole
school community for making them feel so welcome.
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BISHOP MALCOLM’S VISIT – Friday 2ndDecember
Parents are cordially invited to join in our Mass of Celebration in the school hall at 10.30 am and
stay after Mass for light refreshments and to talk to the Bishop.
In order to have an idea of numbers please indicate on the slip at the end of the
newsletter if you intend to join us for this celebration.
We would be most grateful to receive any home-made or bought cakes to share
with our visitors after the Mass. Please could you bring cakes into school by
Thursday 1st December. Thank you.
PARISH BAZAAR – Saturday 26th November
Please support our parish of Saint Thomas More by selling and/or buying raffle tickets. Please
also send into school any items you have for the tombola, jewellery, bric-a-brac, toys and cake
stalls.
As usual the children in Years 3 to 6 will be organising and running stalls in Mrs Fielding and
Mrs Bridgwood’s classrooms and require books, toys etc. to sell.
SCHOOL GAMES
Our school has registered to be part of the School Games. The Youth Sport Trust believes in the
vision of high quality and inclusive PE and sport at the heart of school life, lighting a spark in
every child, no matter what their level of ability. The School Games can support this vision,
enabling young people to achieve their personal best in sport and in life. With London 2012 fast
approaching now is the time to harness the unique power of PE and sport to inspire the whole
school community.
What is the School Games? The School Games is the Government’s new structure for
competitive school sport and a key strategy for creating a meaningful sporting legacy from the
2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will offer all young people in years 3 to 13 a range of
opportunities to ensure the inclusion of young people of all abilities and backgrounds through:
Intra-school Competition: within a school environment, class groups competing in varied and
regular competition throughout the year, culminating in a School Games Day, the ultimate sports
day! This intra school competition will be supported by the new Teacher Release post who will
be based at Lancaster School.
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Inter-school Competition: regular leagues taking place between schools at a local level
throughout the year, with the best school teams qualifying to take part at the county level School
Games Festival. This inter-school competition will be driven by the new School Games
Organiser.
Nationally and locally the School Games is being delivered through partnerships.
School Games can support our pupils in achieving their personal best by increasing crosscurricular learning opportunities, raising aspirations, increasing pupils’ self-confidence and their
sense of belonging. Our Primary School Guide has now arrived at school and will provide many
exciting ideas of how our school can benefit from being involved.
SPORT REPORT
Cross Country - The 12th of November at Prestwold Hall proved to be a perfect racing day. The
second countywide cross-country meet was held and Saint Thomas More's team showed up and
delivered. Overall, the team ran and performed better than six weeks ago. In the Boys Year 3
race, Tycho Parkes ran a brilliant race finishing 6th in a field of over 240 runners delivering a
promise to break into the top ten. Henry Bower finished 69th almost thirty places better than his
previous performance. Aoife Brotherton finished 26th in another huge field of over 240 runners,
smashing her previous performance by almost 40 places in the Girls Year 3 race. Lucy Mellor
ran a splendid race placing 55th in the Year 4 Girls race. Joe Kerins delivered a fast race coming
in at 36th in a large field in the Year 4 Boys race. Keira Zarzycki placed a convincing 30th in the
Year 5 Girls race. Katie McGowan and Megan Horley raced fabulously coming in 35th and 45th
respectively in the Girls Year 6 race.
Along with our now seasoned runners with two races under their belt, we had some first time
racers, who despite not knowing what to expect, ran with a lot of heart and placed very well
indeed. So congratulations go out to Beth Horley, Raasmiya Dossaji-Makda, Emily McDaid,
Agata Battaglia, Melody Voigt, Luca Galoppi, Oliver Griffiths, Noah Davis, Ruby Richardson,
Molly Smallwood, Harmony Voigt, Aisling Routledge and Amelie Clarke.
Mr McGill, Coach Kerins and myself are very proud of every runner who raced. The hard work
that they have been putting in on Monday after school has paid off with dividends. Not only are
they getting fitter they are learning to compete with grace and good sportsmanship, to dig down
within themselves and race with courage and heart. Well done to the Saint Thomas More CrossCountry Team!
Report submitted by Coach Parkes
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HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDIT
I am delighted to inform you that following a recent Health and Safety Audit at our school we
received an OUTSTANDING grading. The grading system is a compliance tool that enables
managers to get a feel of how well health and safety management is doing in each school. In
addition to this; the school has an annual Health and Safety Risk Assessment which assesses the
hazards and risks within the school and makes recommendations that any remedial actions will
be implemented. This year marks our 18th annual risk assessment so I am delighted that we
have now achieved an Outstanding grade.
LOROS CHRISTMAS NOVELTIES
The LOROS Christmas toys have arrived in school. This year we have the larger toys which
will be sold at £2 each. The Year 6 children will take these around to the classrooms on a daily
basis and can also be purchased from the school office at the end of the school day.
30th NOVEMBER
Please note that the 30th November is a possible Strike Action Day. Further details to follow.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Mrs P Mason
Headteacher
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bishop’s Mass – Friday 2nd December 2011 at 10.30 am
NAME…………………………………………..
Child’s Name and Class …………………………………………………………
Number of People Attending………….. (Please be aware of our limited space in school)
Signed ……………………………………………(Parent/Carer)
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