7th December 2007

Champions!
The Alcuin Under 11 Netball team pulled off a remarkable achievement by securing a first ever league championship. They defeated Froebelian school 14-11 to secure a 100% record against the top schools in the city. The scale of the achievement should not be underestimated. There are only 7 girls in year 5/6 and they are the team. Only two of the girls are actually in Year 6 so the majority of the team is Under 10.
The achievement is a tribute to their hard work and dedication. They practice in all weathers on a small court. As well as the normal Friday afternoon lesson they all turn up at 3.30pm on Thursdays (after cross country) without fail and we are often playing in the dark. If you visit the playground any break time you will see most of the girls practicing shooting for almost all their break. If anyone thinks the schools we have played have sub-standard teams talk to the spectators – these have been hard fought games of the highest standards for this age group. Congratulations to the team - I am very proud of you. A match report follows.

Match Report
Despite every effort to keep the girls calm and treat this as just another game, they knew what was riding on the Froebelian encounter. There was clear tension at the start of the game and our weaker first quarter rotation again gave us a deficit to make up – this time 4-1. In the second quarter things began to grind into gear and the half time score saw us trailing 6-5. A very tall girl on the Froebelian team was also giving us defensive problems as she towered above our defence and showed good accuracy with her shooting. The whole thing swung in the third quarter as it so often has this year. With Brie in attack and Katie suddenly losing her tension as her partner, Holly started to focus as the centre and Jaimi – Ann and Grace grittily holding the defence a series of devastating attacks saw us build a lead of 11-6. Froebelian tried an interesting tactic with their tall girl rotated off in the third – an injury to one of their players saw the tall girl return during the third quarter! Also faced with endless contact calls from the home umpire the girls kept their cool in the 4th to see out the game 14-11, this time Brie and Quiss in attack working well together and Megan in her best position as centre – with the tall girl playing an attacking position for the third quarter in a row –clearly against the rules! The support was fantastic and gave the girls huge encouragement so many thanks to everyone who turned up. I am sure you will agree to play like they did with all the pressure and all the calls going against them showed real character and total self belief. This was (on a smaller scale) truly the Agincourt Spirit.

The Last Week
The last week of the long Autumn term is upon us. We are looking forward to the production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Playhouse on Tuesday (return to school 4.15pm). On Wednesday we have our traditional Nativity Play starting at 1.30, to be followed by the carol concert at 2pm. I hope you will then be able to join us for tea and mince pies at 2.30, following which the children will be free to leave.
Our annual Christmas Party will be Thursday lunchtime with party games in the afternoon. Also on Thursday morning Years 4-6 will be visiting Neville House residential home for the elderly to sing Christmas Carols.
We finally break up on Friday and school will close at 2pm. Reports will be issued on that day.
John Hipshon

Nativity Dress Rehearsal
The Nativity dress rehearsal is on Monday afternoon at 1.30 – anybody wishing to come who cannot make the Wednesday performance is very welcome.
Commendations
Dante – improving focus of attention
Tiseanna – for stability and doing her best
Kobie – for quick understanding in science
Amarri – very civilised behaviour, caring for other children in the play and at the table
Rachel – for being very good company, reliable in the nativity play
Harry – for enthusiasm and willingness
Archie – for speaking the truth and improvement in pausing
Anamay – good and clear work in Science
Liam – meticulous care in homework preparation
Quiss – fascinating diary work
Katie – excellent story writing

A Fat Cheque…
…will be presented to Martin Patterson of St Georges Crypt after the Nativity Play and Carol Service on Wednesday. The school has raised
£1110.30
what a result for a school our size!
Tom Spickett

Absences
Just a reminder that any child absence should be reported by phone call to the office on the morning of the absence and also covered by a note on the child’s return to the form teacher.
Many thanks
Liz

Monday:
Art Club 3.30-4.30pm
Tuesday:
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (return to school approx 4.15 pm)
Wednesday:
Chess Club Lunchtime
Nativity & Carol Concert 1.30pm
Thursday:
Yr 4 – Yr 6 visit Neville House (am)
School Christmas Party (pm)
Friday:
End of term chess blitz tournament (lunchtime)
Break up 2 pm