No.  22

14^th March  2008

COMMEMORATION SERVICE

Our Commemoration Service is being held on the last day of term, on Thursday 20^th of March at 2 p.m. in St. John's Church.  All parents and friends are warmly invited, to what is a very enjoyable occasion.

YEAR 10 CLASSES – SEPTEMBER 2008

We have decided, due to increased demand for places in Year 10, to move towards three classes for all subjects as from September.  In Year 10 they would always be in three separate groups, in any case, for their options.  Instead of having two classes of 19 we propose to have three classes, which depending on demand for places, would probably be around 14 – 16 in number.  This means that there will be more space for the students, especially, in the science laboratories.  There are concerns amongst some of the students that they may not be with their friends.  We will ask them who they would like to be with in their forms in Year 10, and as far as possible, keep them within the group that they are most comfortable in.  We have the room capacity, and staffing will be arranged in accordance with our requirements.  If you have any further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Mr Bate, Headteacher

SWIMMING POOL

Junior children should not be left without parental supervision at the Swimming Pool.  Staff arrive at 8.20 a.m. and children will need to be supervised until then.

ROYAL ACADEMY THEORY EXAMINATIONS

Any senior school students who wish to take Royal Academy Theory examinations, please see Mr Gentis for details.

TAUNUSSTEIN EXCHANGE 2008/9

Every pupil studying German in Years 7 to 11 should have received a letter this week to pass on to parents concerning the next academic year's German exchange.  For ten years The Park School has maintained an exchange link with our partner school, the Gesamtschule Obere Aar in Yeovil's twin town of Taunusstein, near Wiesbaden.  The next trip to Germany will be from October 27^th – November 3^rd 2008, with the return visit of the Taunusstein party to Yeovil in the Spring of 2009 (dates to be confirmed).  Our friends in Taunusstein are looking forward very much to continuing links and welcoming a group from The Park school later this year.  Parents of pupils who may be interested in taking part are requested to complete the slip on the last page and return to Mr Winter by Wednesday 19^th March.

NEW SPRING REPORTS

As an addition to awarding attainment and effort grades, as is our normal practice at this time of year, Years 7-10 will be receiving grades with additional comments where staff have felt the need to write one. 

Year 7 reports will be issued today, or at the latest Monday.  This will allow for more meaningful discussion at the Year 7 Parents Evening.  Reports for Years 8-10 will be issued next Wednesday or Thursday.

BOARDING FOR RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS

Are you going away over the Easter or Summer Holiday and need someone to care for your rabbits or guinea pigs?  If so, look no further, please phone Sam Pratt (9W) on 01458 251291, who continues to offer boarding for rabbits and guinea pigs at a rate of £2.50 per pet per night, with special discounts for longer stays.  Your rabbit or guinea pig can stay with Sam in one of her hutches.  Runs are also provided, as well as bedding and hay.  Grooming and claw clipping if necessary, are included free of charge.  Please phone for availability, bookings or more information.

YEAR 7 HISTORIANS

The Year 7 historians were asked to make castles over half term.  They fulfilled their brief with enormous enthusiasm, imagination, application and ingenuity, using a wide range of different materials and a huge variety of different approaches.  The standard was so high that we decided to enter them into a competition, though none of the castle-builders knew of this when they built their castles.  The entries were judged by Mr Colin McNeal, former Head of History at Beaminster School.  The overall standard was so good that he had great difficulty in picking out the very best castles, but in the end, Commendations were awarded to the following pupils: Emily Francis, Luke Corner, Laura Coppard, Poppy Denny-Higgins, Alison Goodenough, Hannah Rees, Jessica Whittick, Yasmin Andrews-Urvoy, Philip Bridge, Luca Lepuri and Kirby Mullis.

LATE ROOM

There will be no late room on the last day of term.

P E  KIT

Please ensure your child takes their P.E. kit home on the last day of term.  Thank you

FEE INCREASES, EFFECTIVE FROM AUTUMN TERM 2008

Please see attached letter

FUTURE DATES

Tues 18^th Mar – Year 7 Parents' Evening

Thurs 20^th Mar –Commemoration Service

2 p.m. St. John's Church

PAYING FEES ON-LINE

For those parents who wish to pay school fees by means of on-line banking, the school's bank details are given below:-

Bank: Lloyds TSB

Account Name:- The Park School (Yeovil) Ltd

Sort Code:- 30-99-98

Account Number:- 0083388

When paying this way, it is absolutely essential to quote your parent code shown on the top right hand side of all invoices.  This is so that payments can be matched to the correct account.

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

On Wednesday 12^th March, three Year 7 pupils, Poppy Denny-Higgins, Ellen Bazley and Alison Goodenough, took part in the District Final of the Youth Speaks public speaking competition.  They were ranged against twenty-one other speakers, most of them in Year 9, from seven schools and colleges across the South-West.  They did not seem nonplussed at facing almost two hundred people in a large hall near Frome, showing quite extraordinary confidence and self-assurance, speaking with clarity and gentle wit, and engaging their audience from the start.  The Chairman of the Adjudicators, himself a professional public speaker, singled out our team from all the others, for the way it handled the questions from the floor.  He considered this the most difficult part of public speaking because it cannot be rehearsed: it calls for quick thinking and a cool head.  Our girls were one of the stronger teams, and although they did not win on this occasion they should be truly formidable by the time they reach Year 9.

                                            /contd…….

GCSE SCIENCE COURSEWORK

We would like to remind all of Years 10 and 11 that their GCSE coursework is due in by Thursday March 20^th.  If anyone needs any help with their work, they must speak to one of their science teachers as soon as possible as this date represents a final deadline, after which no more work will be accepted.

K. Hopkinson

SPORTS REPORT

Reports for all matches this week and next can be found on the school website under "EVENTS".

Highlights of the week

Tuesday, Freyia Crawford captained the u14 netball team to Bronze in the South Somerset League.

Wednesday – Hannah Rees and Yasmin Andrews-Urvoy captained the u12 hockey to Bronze in the South Somerset League.

Next Weeks fixtures are:-

Monday 17th – u11 Girls Football

Tuesday 18th – u13 Football, u15 Cup Football

Any queries regarding fixtures should be directed to Mr Tulett – PE Office 01935 414613 or by email to larry.tulett@parkschool.com

YEAR 9 SCIENCE SATs

The SATs exams for Year 9 will take place at the beginning of May.  More preparation for these tests will be taking place in school as the date approaches.  It would be helpful if all pupils had a revision guide to help them learn the wide range of topics which will be covered.  These can be purchased cheaply in most bookshops and can be a great help.  If students do not have a revision guide then they can borrow a Science book from Mr Smith, which does cover most of the topics.  Please can students who need to borrow a book see Mr Smith as soon as possible so that they have a source of help for the homework that will be set for the Easter holidays.

K. Hopkinson

                                                /contd…….

THE PARK SCHOOL JUNIOR LIBRARY PROJECT

Research has shown that a good school library has a real impact on academic achievement in the classroom.  Our aim is to make the library the centre of the school; to promote reading for pleasure and purpose; to support reading and research, to be a repository for information where children feel comfortable; to provide materials to support the curriculum by providing up-to-date resources and demonstrate the value of learning; to foster children's ability to recognise when more information is needed and to access it through the library resources or information technology.

To this end the Junior school library needs an overhaul.  Mr Bate has promised £500 for new books and the installation of a networked computer and printer, which will provide an additional research facility and act as a presentation facility for book reviews.  The PTA have agreed to fund £600 for new child friendly bookcases, a seating area and general re-decoration.

We are all very excited about the project and thank all those who have helped in our fundraising which has enabled us to commit to such a worthwhile project.                                            

TAUNUSSTEIN EXCHANGE 2008/9 – October 27^th – November 3^rd 2008

I wish my son/daughter to take part in the above visit.

Name …………………………………………………………. Form …………….

Signature of Parent …………………………………………………………………