Issue23


Nursery Nursery have had a lovely visit to Windmill Animal Farm. The weather was glorious for both visits. We were lucky enough to see a new born calf, it was born on the morning of our visit to Ruby the cow. We all enjoyed our ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. Thank you again to all who came with us. We hope you enjoyed yourselves. We held a sponsored fancy dress day on 6th July. Thanks to everyone for their support for this and throughout the year; money raised will go to buying a new computer. We wish your children success in the future. Family Literacy On Wednesday mornings this term we have been running a family learning course in partnership with Wigan & Leigh College. Parents of next years reception children have been meeting to take part in activities and discuss different aspects of their children’s education. Activities have varied week to week and parents have expressed how informative it has been and most of all how much fun they have had. Parents were able to leave their children with Miss McCabe and Mrs Critchley in the crèche provided. Football Coaching Wigan Athletic offered us the opportunity of football coaching. Several children have taken up this offer. They have a good time on a Tuesday Evening when they spend an hour practising their skills and having mini-games. Fun Day Our Fun Day took place this year on the 12th of June. Despite threatening skies we decided to hold the event on the field. I am sure that everyone who came enjoyed all the events that had been organised. The Line Dancers, Gymnasts and the Aerobics teams dazzled us with their energetic displays. The dogs performed brilliantly. Thank-you to everyone who gave up their time to help, donated gifts or simply turned up to support (or win a lunchbox!). Please remember that you are all welcome to the meetings held by the Friends. We need your support and ideas for future events. Liverpool University Visit On 30th June 39 pupils made the journey to Liverpool University to take part in a day filled with sporting activities. From the time we arrived at 10 o’ clock until the time we left at 3.30 we were never still. We played Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball, Short Tennis, Bench Ball, took part in Problem Solving Activities and we all (even the teachers!), attempted, survived, and some even succeeded, scaling the	dizzy heights of the terrifying Climbing Wall. We then went home to sleep. It was a very enjoyable day and all the children were complimented on their excellent behaviour. KS2 SATs Tests Y6 children took their SATs tests during the week beginning the 10th May. This was a very intensive week but all children coped very well. The results for the year group are excellent with the majority of children achieving Level 4 or above. In all the three subjects there was a greatly increased percentage of children who gained Level 5, which is above the National expectations. Also, for the first time, this year we had one child who gained Level 6 in Mathematics. Many congratulations to all the children and we wish them continued success at High School. Town Sports The Town Sports were held at the new stadium at Robin Park on the 22nd and 29th of June. We entered competitors for each of the Y5 and Y6 events. All the children performed brilliantly against very strong opposition. Special mention should be made of :- Caroline Waterworth who achieved a 1st place in the Girls High Jump competition, almost equalling the record, Sam Hurcombe who gained second place in the Boys High Jump, Nicholas Rimmer who gained a second place in the 200 metre sprint and a third place in the 80 metre sprint, Charlotte Proffitt who gained a second place in the Girls Throwing and Tiffany Daniels who came fifth in the Girls Long Jump. Poetry Competition Y6 entered the Young Writers’ poetry competition at the end of March. We sent in a very good set of entries and are delighted to report that twenty poems have been chosen to be included in the forthcoming poetry anthology. This is an excellent achievement as poems are chosen from many, many, schools and are always of a very good standard. Well done to the successful entrants! Letter Writing Competition Children from Reception to Y6 took part in the Post Office’s Letter writing competition. The theme this year was “Great Ideas” and we had some very imaginative entries! These ranged from the button that would transform the playground into a football pitch to the National Fun Day every week! Once again we had winners and runners up in each year group. Every winner received a book and a lollipop, the runners up also got some sweets and both categories were awarded certificates. In addition to this, there is a	chance that one or more of our children could win one of the National or Regional prizes given by the Post Office. Fingers crossed! Shakespeare’s Birthday World book day, held on 23rd April, Shakespeare’s birthday, was celebrated in school by many children dressing up as book characters. We had some wonderful imaginative costumes and everyone enjoyed sharing and reading their favourite stories. There were prize winners in each age group, which were very difficult to choose and everyone enjoyed looking at the costumes when the whole school shared a story together. Mr Leach I am sorry to report that Mr Michael Leach is leaving our teaching staff as from the 31st August this year. Mr Leach is to move to London to join his wife who already lives and works in the capital. He is to leave the teaching profession and is seeking employment in Information Technology. I would like to record my appreciation of Mr Leach’s contribution to the school during his term with us especially his contribution to IT in the curriculum and to his publishing the school termly newsletter. Shortly before the end of term Mr Leach received news that he had successfully completed the Open University Computer and Software Course he has been studying. Mr LS Hodgson School Dinners We have been informed by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council that as from the commencement of the Autumn Term the price of a school meal will be increased from £1.25 to £1.30 per day. Computers We are hoping to have Internet access in school from next term. When it is installed it will also include e-mail addresses available for the children to use at school. Mr Hodgson now has an e-mail address, it is hodgson@freeuk.com Mr Leach has changed his e-mail address, it is now mail@maleach.freeserve.co.uk The school web site has also moved, it is now http://www.hodgson.freeuk.com Summer Holidays The summer term ends on Friday July 9th at 3:15pm and the Autumn term begins on Tuesday 31st August at 9:00am. Have a good holiday!