9th November 2007

Thanks for the Party
I would like to personally thank all involved in last Friday night’s party. The organisation was superb and the fireworks were excellent. The atmosphere was great and as for Mrs Hogg’s costume – well what can I say.

Steam Roller Goes On
Our first league netball fixture at Gateways last Tuesday evening started very competitively with both the scores tied at 1-1 after the first quarter. However, the girls shifted up the gears to take a 5-2 half time lead. The third quarter saw 8 unanswered goals and then in the fourth another 6 to run out 19-4 winners. The next three matches are Richmond House, Froebelian and Leeds Girls. I think we are ready for the challenge!
On Saturday we have cross country race 2, which is at Prince Henry’s School in Otley. Good luck to everyone.

Hosts need to be represented
On November 25th Alcuin School hosts the Yorkshire Girls Open Chess Championships. This event is in its 5th year now and Alcuin has never had less than 7 representatives. So far this year we have managed 1 entry. Surely we can do better than this? Every girl in Years 2-6 attends chess club on a Wednesday lunchtime so they can all play.
John Hipshon

Commendations
Archie – for perseverance and a spirit of enquiry
Niamh – greater stillness and constancy
Lois – unselfishness and willingness to respond to class needs
Lizzy – for love of reading and improvement
Louis – generosity in service
Senior Class – willingness to help others
Katie – love for and talent in English and commendation for speech and written work

Rambert Dance Workshop
‘Human beings, vegetables or cosmic dust – we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.’ Albert Einstein.
The Rambert Dance workshop was terrific. Since this was the first collaborative event to take place with another school, how it would go was somewhat unpredictable. In the event the children were fully engaged for the whole afternoon. They were enthusiastic, daring and energetic.
Marie, the workshop leader, and I agreed on a simple format of some
ice breaker games followed by training and practice in basic dance movements used by the company, drawing the whole thing together by grouping the children in 4’s to create their own dances.
What was noticed was how, from a very tentative start where the blue shirts were in one half of the room and the purple shirts in the other, by the end of the day they were working together to create and perform their dance pieces. They had become a company of dancers. They learned from each other, pooling their skills, all of the time growing in trust and confidenceI hope the success of this workshop will be an impetus for future collaboration between the two schools. Thanks go to the staff and children of Moorlands School for being willing to share this venture with us and to the Friends of Alcuin School for supporting it financially.

Below are comments made by the children after the workshop:
It was fun, energetic. There were loads of different dance styles. When we made up our own dances it was interesting to see what the other groups did.
Callum Hylton
I think it was a good opportunity to socialise with children from another school.
Tyrell Walwyn
It was brilliant being with Moorlands.
Grace Worrall
I really enjoyed it. I can’t describe how much fun it was. It was the best!
Euan Fenton
It was great fun dancing with the other school and making friends
Megan Jessop Sanders
I think it was good exercise and I really enjoyed it. I’d like them to come back and do it again.
Louis Oxley
I think that it was great fun and good exercise. I liked making friends with children from the other school.
Liam Rouse
It was good fun, good meeting children from anther school.
Jaimi Ann Shaw
I thought it was fun to meet with other children and make new friends. It was good that we made up dances with other children.
Quiss Simms
It was a good opportunity to let off steam in a good way.
Anamay Shetty
I liked the ball game. I thought Zip Zap really worked. I liked making up our dances.
Holly Thornber
It was a good opportunity to do different dance styles. Great fun.
Katie Wymer
Judith Watkins

Just This Day
What if for JUST ONE DAY, all around the world people were to STOP and be still?
What if the quiet could spread its healing influence all across the globe?
Who knows what effect JUST ONE DAY of peace, stillness and meditation might have?
So simply on November 28th 2007 an invitation is extended to you, your family and friends to join us at 8:45 – 9:00 am for morning assembly.
We will dedicate our assembly to the idea of JUST THIS DAY. The children will present some readings.
There will be a few minutes where in quiet contemplation we can connect with this opportunity to share a possibility.
Just This Day.
If this idea interests or inspires you, please visit the website at www.justthisday.org where you can find out more and sign up to show support.
Thank you
Judith Watkins

Oops!
On Wednesday 12th December the Nativity will take place at 1:30pm and Carols at 2.00pm – not as I said last week.
Tom Spickett

Halloween
One of the best ever events took place last week at Woodland Lane, organised by The Friends of the Alcuin. A combined Halloween & Guy Fawkes Bonfire party attracted a large number of children of all ages, including some 40+. Many former pupils and parents came along that night and contributed to the happy and social atmosphere.
Later there was a cracking firework display that lasted for ages and lit the clear night sky up with cascades of coloured light, and echoed round the neighbourhood with a series of enormous detonations.
There were plenty of intriguing costumes and Adams Family look-alikes. Asher Dixon-Blair was one of the winners of the fancy dress competition, an ex pupil. Food and drink were in abundance and marshmallows were toasted over the open fire.
Many thanks to all Parents and Staff who organised and helped clear up, and made the evening go with a bang!
We raised £627.00
Isola Blair

Summary Box
Monday:
Art Club 3.30-4.30pm
Tuesday:
Swimming
Beginners Chess Lunchtime
Drama Club 3.30pm-4.30pm
Wednesday:
Chess Club Lunchtime
Story Club 3.30-4.30pm
Thursday:
Netball Practice 3.30-4.30pm
Friday:
Orchestra Lunchtime