Introduction

This week we have been putting our final touches to our Science projects ready for exhibiting (next Wednesday 25^th January from 2.45pm in the hall and in the Later Years building).

The Animal group have been busy with reflecting on our learning journey throughout the project; from our visit to the aquarium, to our skeleton workshop with Liz (Molly), to our fish dissection with Kate (Archie), our tour through the DVD ‘Earth’, our work on food chains, as well as using our art and craft skills for the exhibition itself.  We have been making animals out of straws, paper, cardboard, pipe-cleaners, plastic and clay. We have also been carefully selecting our space and materials for our final piece on multi-sensory habitats (still hush hush!).  As ever, we have been thinking about the challenges and rewards of our journey in this project and what we have learned along the way.

In the Space group we have been reflecting on the learning from this project as we prepare to share with the rest of the school next week.  We have been thinking about scientific language and experiments.

The chemistry group have been planning their science exhibition and rounding up the project ready to share. The group visited Priory School on Wednesday and tested different gases using glowing and flaming splints. We really enjoyed using Bunsen burners and visiting a real science lab! We had to work out if the different gasses in test tubes were Oxygen, Hydrogen or Carbon dioxide. Each gas reacted differently when exposed to a flame. We are looking forward to sharing our project! Anne-Marie

Early Years update

The very frosty start to the week lengthened our theme of seasons and we all enjoyed a brisk stomp around the frozen pond, taking in our surroundings using all the senses (except taste!) to experience it.  Some of the children were inspired to create their own ‘frosty’ pictures and the class shared their experiences to create a winter acrostic poem.  At the end of last week we all agreed on a group project, interestingly named ‘Deadly 60’, its name is coined from the CBBC programme which documents animals from around the world with certain ‘deadly’ characteristics.  It was agreed that our project might develop into more than just deadly animals, with some children being interested in making a ‘cutest 60’ project.  Work began in earnest yesterday with books from the library and internet pages being scanned for facts.  Some of the children have chosen to create models of their animals using clay and some have chosen to create fact-file style posters of their animals.  Any information books/DVDs etc are welcomed if you have any at home!  Lydia

Nursery:  Play-dough has continued to be a predominant feature in our learning this week, whether it’s been playing with the dough from last week or making more batches. It’s been fascinating to watch how this has broadened the social skills of the group.   As well as learning the art of sharing, waiting, and negotiating your turn, it has brought children who wouldn’t normally interact with each other together. Activities such as this have such great value for all area of children’s learning and development. Amanda

Notices

Mobile phones

A few children are bringing mobile phones into school. If your child needs a phone for after school use please can they take it to the school office to be looked after, and collect it at the end of the day. Children do not need a phone during the day and in any emergency they can of course contact you through the office.

Property

If your child brings any toys or equipment to school we cannot guarantee that they will not be lost or damaged. We often talk to children about looking after property, and if a child wishes to borrow something from another child they are expected to ask permission.  Please could you remind your child about this.  Thank you.

Media Folder

We are starting a “Media Folder” in the Quiet Room for people to insert articles about alternative ways of education, or reasons for alternative methods.  This way we can all refer to it, or add to it, for inspiration and guidance. Please do look up articles that we can put into it, or if you see anything in the papers or magazines…. please pop it in!  Thanks, Karen (Alfie).

Spare mugs?

If you have a spare mug in your kitchen cupboard that isn’t chipped, (you know….. that “Superman” one), please would you kindly take it to the school kitchen and swap it for a chipped old stained mug, and then dispose of that one in an appropriate way. Ta!

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Introduction

Sadly Karen Dobres is stepping down from the Governing Body, so you will be electing a new parent governor to the team.  I would like to thank Karen for her hard work, diligence and commitment to the school.  New governors often help us to look at things afresh and bring renewed energy to the team.  So do nominate someone or put yourself forward if you are interested in making a real difference to the school.

For our year six children there is the anticipation, excitement and trepidation of moving to secondary school. We will be helping them prepare for this key transition.

And then we have the possibility of the Free School application………..

I am sure the year ahead will have many highlights, and no doubt some things will come along to ‘trip’ us up!  Whatever it brings we will take the opportunity to learn, reflect and support each other, and continue to strengthen this very special community.

I wish you all happiness and contentment for the year ahead.

Linda

Later Years update

It has been an unusual week for Later Years!  First Faustina’s class and Clare/Lorraine’s class have swapped base rooms.  The children have quickly settled and have taken this move in their stride.  We have had a timetable change so that playtime is now at 10.00am and lunchtime is now from 12.00 to 1.00pm. The week has focussed on rounding up the science project work.  Anne-Marie’s group have been working on a special exhibition – shhh it’s a secret – all will soon be revealed.  Clare/Lorraine’s group have been discovering the difference between a chemical reaction and a change of state – they have been eating chocolate and pancakes!  Faustina’s group have been investigating ‘forces’ and have made some exploding rockets.  It has been busy, fun, chaotic and messy!  Linda

Early Years update

Happy New Year! We started the year off with a recap of what each of us did over Christmas and looking ahead to 2012! We have been practising remembering the months of the year in sequence and matching the months to the seasons as well as identifying when our birthdays fall throughout the year.  Talk about seasons has inspired a range of art work and writing and we are in the process of creating a ‘Seasons’ board in our classroom.  Some children were fascinated by the science week activities occurring in Later Years this week, in particular the rocket experiments.  This inspired them to build their own rocket out of junk modelling and hopefully we will conduct our own research into different types of rockets later.  Lydia

Nursery: This week has been all about welcoming people back, welcoming newcomers and settling back in.  The group have spent time learning how to work together and how to negotiate their needs.  While making play-dough they had to work together to add the ingredients, passing the bowl to the next person when they had finished mixing.  They had to wait patiently for their turn and negotiate who was having the bowl next.  This was a great activity for bringing the group together.

In the outside area other children have been learning the same skills by building “Awesome” castles and space rockets.  Amanda  

Notices

Parent Governor Elections! 

The governing body invites all parents to nominate themselves or another parent from Later Years to take over from Karen D as Parent Governor – the nominations must also include the reasons why you think the nominee/themselves would be a good candidate for the role. The role of Parent Governor at LNS is significant and we encourage you all to think about yourself or another parent as possible candidates. All candidates will then be considered by the parent body and the one with the most votes will be appointed Parent Governor by the Full Governing Body. If you have any questions about whats involved or the level of the commitment, please get in touch with Dahlan (Elias, Joshi) or Karen (Alfie).

Please can all nominations and reasoning be sent to Charley Haward for collation - charx@rocketmail.com - by next Tuesday 17th Jan.

Thank you.

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Notices

Introduction

The word “community” is derived from the Old French communité which is derived from the Latin communitas (cum, “with/together” + munus, “gift”), a broad term for fellowship or organized society. Wikipedia.

Since September you have all welcomed me into this unique community that is Lewes New School. People have been warm, kind, thoughtful, supportive, caring, communicative and helpful. I have been made to quickly feel at home. I was particularly struck by the way the ‘harvest celebration’ was organised, with the active involvement of adults as well as children. I would like to thank the team of people that transformed the hall, and the band of musicians (Sophia, Razia, Joanna and Anara). Special thanks to Razia for her well chosen words, and moment of communal quiet contemplation. It was a real treat to get together at the end of the first half-term, with everyone taking part and having fun.

On Monday evening another wonderful community event took place with pumpkins, scary stories, a spooky tunnel and much more! Everyone had made a huge effort to dress up and both children and adults were having great fun. Thanks to the parents who organised and ran this special treat for all the mini witches, ghosts, skeletons and black cats out that night.

It is these special events and activities that the children will hold in their memories for the rest of their lives. Those things that have touched them emotionally, unlocked their creativity and awakened their curiosity. These are not extras but are the life blood of the school.

Keep them coming!

Linda Morris (Head Teacher)

Later Years update

This week we have been continuing with our Science project with; a visit from Liz (Molly) to talk to us about the human skeleton and how it works including the names of different joints, mixing different chemicals and analysing their reactions to one another (with some ‘explosive’ results!), as well as learning about how thrust is created in order for rockets to work by designing some interesting balloon experiments and by lighting teabags!

In writing we have continued to write our own individual and collaborative projects as well as reviewing what we know about writing instructions. Some of our work includes; graphic novels (Tali), instructions for how to make your favourite sandwich, (Otis, Nessa, Holly and Carlota), a collection of  poetry (Kitty, Rose, Martha and Delia), some non-fiction work on the history of battles through time (Moses,) and a ‘Death Book’ describing the demise of different fictitious characters! (Alfie, Benji, Finn, Reuben).

In art we have been experimenting with applying paint in different ways and with different tools such as sponges, brushes, palette knives, flicking, splattering, and examining these results.

Early Years update

Nursery: Pumpkin fever has taken hold of the nursery this week after some of the group noticed the left over Halloween pumpkins in the playground.  We’ve been touching, smelling and tasting pumpkins.  Some of us have drawn or painted pictures and as a group we discussed what the pumpkins might be feeling from the expressions carved into them.

Lydia’s class:Lydia’s group have been taken by the story of Diwali, in particular the story of Rama and Sita. Lydiasuggested that we could make masks to help retell the story.  Daisy andEdentook this one step further suggesting that the group could put on a play.

This has led to a week of story-telling, prop making, invitation writing, music producing and so much more.

Notices

Could LNS become aFreeSchool?

All parents are invited along to a presentation followed by a Q&A session regarding the possibility of our school adopting Free School status. It will be held in the school hall at 9.30 – 11.30am on Tuesday 15th November.  A document drawn up by theFreeSchoolresearch team will be circulated in advance of this event.  If you cannot make this meeting, please let the office know and we will try and arrange an additional date.  Look forward to seeing you there.  It may be worth bearing in mind, the soonest LNS could become a Free School would be September 2013.

Linda (Head Teacher) Dahlan (Elias, Joshi, Chair of Governors)

Vision for LNS – update

Since the all school Vision meeting just before half term, the steering team have met up twice to pull together the contributions made at the meeting.  Next week, a draft Vision of LNS will be sent to all staff, parents and other stakeholders for their consideration.

Thank you for your patience!

LNS Winterfest Sat 3rd Dec 

The Winterfest meeting last Tuesday was attended by few (three including me) but we managed to achieve quite a bit…

Sephie Deacon has advertised our Winterfest in the Viva Lewes listings so hopefully this will attract punters far and wide!  Thank you Sephie.

We need people to volunteer to run stalls.  We especially need crafty stalls so please step forward if you have any ideas for this and would like to run one.

With the spirit of community ever present at our school I need everyone to be involved in the Winterfest, however much or little they can!  I especially would like to invite new parents to come along to the next meeting to gain understanding and insight as to how these events run.

The next meeting is Tuesday November 15th at 9ish in the Quiet Room. If you cannot attend please contact me for ways in which you can help:  vsmart04@googlemail.com.

Wunderbar! Ali (Rose Y6)

Start the Clutter-Clearing!

Calling all ladies (ie parents, staff, grannies, sisters, aunties)!

If you don’t love it, or haven’t worn it for a year, stick it in a bag and give someone else the pleasure!

We are organising another Clothes Swap to raise the price of a facilitator for the forthcoming Open Forum.  The Clothes Swap will happen on Sunday 13th November 3.30-6pm at Karen’s, 2 Riverdale,Church Lane,Lewes,BN7 2JL. It’s £1 donation for each item successfully re-housed (doesn’t have to be a swap as such). Please come along, bring your outcasts, have a cuppa, see if there’s anything takes your fancy……..!

See you there, Raphaella (Emil) and Karen (Alfie)

Introduction

I was privileged enough this year, to spend some quality time with the year 6 children. We took refuge from the rain in their shelter and talked at length into the night about their strongest memories of their first camp, our class as it was then and their thoughts for their future at secondary school.

What struck me the most that night was how much they had developed and grown into such sophisticated young people. Their enthusiasm for change and new opportunities, and their willingness to embrace the unknown was inspiring. I feel proud to have been their teacher and proud to have been involved in a school where autonomy and first hand experiences are given priority.

I’d like to thank the children, parents, Lizzie and staff members for all of your support. And last but not least, a special thank you goes to Amanda, who has truly helped me to understand what the most important qualities are for being an effective teacher (and coffee drinker)!

Good wishes to you all,

Jessie

Notices

Lizzie

Head Teacher Appointment
Please find attached to the Friday Letter, a letter from Sharif Horthy (Chair of Trustees) regarding the appointment of the new head teacher.

Important Dates
Please come along and join in with our three very important events that all take place next week, our last week of the school year.

On Monday at 2.00pm we have ‘The Crossing’ which marks and celebrates the transition of our oldest Early Years children to the Later Years.  This will be followed by a tea to which everyone is of course very welcome.

On Wednesday at 1.45pm our ‘Leavers’ Assembly’ marks and celebrates the transition of our Year 6 children to secondary school.

On Friday we have our annual picnic in the park (or the hall if it’s pouring!) at 12 o’clock marking the beginning of our summer holiday.

Feedback from the last Governors Meeting – 5th July 2011 

Here’s a news update from the last governors meeting held on Tuesday.

We appointed Sarah Thomas (Luca, Isobel) as the new fundraising governor and leader of the fundraising team. Congratulations to Sarah on her new role. The governors are very excited by her experience and the energy she brings to this role.

Several sub-committees were formally created:

The Ethos Sub-committee headed by Karen Dobres (Alfie). Her team will continue their work on ‘unpacking’ the ethos so that it can be best communicated to the stakeholders, prospective families and a wider community.

The 5 Year Strategic Planning Sub-committee headed by myself and John Farrant (Jude). We will continue to create the process which enables LNS to form a 5 year strategic plan to reflect the views of the community. Please see the information regarding how to participate in the survey in this Friday Letter.

The Free School Research Sub-committee headed by Sarah Thomas (Luca, Isobel)  and Sophia Posnansky (Benjamin). This team will continue their investigation into the suitability of Free School status for the LNS.

We discussed the staffing for classes in September which Lizzie has written about here in this Friday Letter.

We debated and agreed on expanding the governing body to include another parent governor representing the early years, another teacher governor also representing the early years, as well as looking for two more governors from the community specializing in Human Resources, Law and establishing stronger ties to the wider community. So that a balance is maintained on the governing body between parents, teachers and people from outside the community, the 2nd parent governor process will take place once another community governor is chosen. We’ll keep you posted on the developments here.

Additionally, we agreed to have a school-wide meeting on the subject of spirituality at LNS in the Autumn term, created in response to the perceived interests and concerns of members in our community.

Finally, we discussed the Governors Annual Report. With the great deal of changes taking place and work that the governors have been busy doing recently, we have decided to postpone this report until the beginning of the new academic year. However, we intend to have a summary of the year sent to you all at the end of next week.

On behalf of the governing body, Dahlan (Joshi & Elias, Chair of Governors)

Diary

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Introduction

By the end of the second deadline for applications we have received two promising candidates for the headteacher post which we are currently considering for interview. The interviews will soon be conducted in the same fashion as the previous interview day.

There have also been numerous visits by teachers interested in applying for a teaching post here. Interviews will be taking place next week and we’ll let you know how that goes. Once these interviews are done, Lizzie will be able to write to you about where we are with next year’s classroom arrangements. Bear with us. We do understand that it is unsettling not to know what’s in store for your child/ren in the new school year. We are working hard to ensure that the staffing arrangements continue to deliver the learning environment you’d expect from LNS.

Other discussions included the creation of a 5 year strategic plan and the possibility of applying for Free School status. Our school’s staff and our families will be involved through a process of research and consultation, to gather views and feelings on the issue. With regard to the Free School status, the deadline for applying is in Spring 2012, to start in September 2013. The application is a very long process and the parent team involved in doing the work will be extremely thorough in examining all the ramifications of Free School status.

Finally, the governing body would like to invite individuals to nominate themselves, or another person, for the role of Fundraising Team Leader and thus, the role of Fundraising Governor. This invitation goes to people within and outside the school community. The suitable candidates will be selected by a vote amongst the governing body. If you are interested, please get in touch with me directly. Closing date for nominations is Friday 1st July.

Wishing you all an enjoyable weekend, all the best – Dahlan (Elias & Joshi, chair of governors)

Notices

Summer Eco Carnival – Sat 2nd July

Okay. No excuses. It’s action stations a go-go!
DONATIONS NEEDED:-
LARGE NEWSPAPERS
Full BOTTLES of booze, soft drinks and toiletries for tombola.
SUPERMARKET PLASTIC BAGS to make pom pom decorations
FABRIC, SEQUINS, FEATHERS etc for decorating carnival attire
Please, please, please, please, please, (don’t make me beg) bring any, some, or all of the above to the quiet room.
NO DONATIONS = NO CARNIVALDoes anybody have a contact where we can get lots of straw bales for the cafe and music area?
We also need more volunteers to help set up, clear down, run the cafe, run stalls etc. Please contact me or your class rep if you can help on the day (even an hour is a help!)
Thank you beautiful people of the fabulous LNS.
AliX

Hi allSephie here. I have volunteered to run the cafe this year at the summer fair.I am looking for reliable folk who would be willing to commit to an hours shift.12-1, 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4I am also putting the word out to the baking fraternity to get busy in the kitchen and produce some delicious offerings for the cafe. If you can give some time or bake a cake (or two) please can you get back to me on this email address sephie@persephonedeacon.com by the 24th June. Many thanks Sephie (Talia year 1) xx

“Come back On-Line!!”

Following the impact of recent discussions the broadcast Google Group will revert to being purely for notices and announcements. A separate discussion area will offer a choice to users to join discussion threads, or not. (Thanks to Neil (Will T) and Adrian (Thalia)). The reason is that people are unsubscribing because, whilst they appreciate the announcements, they do not necessarily wish to take part in the discussions.We hope this news will encourage those who have unsubscribed to give it another go. GoogleGroup is more useful to us all the more of us it reaches!It was suggested at the Open Forum that it might be useful to have some guidelines for using the online forum that are in line with the Open Forum guidelines and would reflect the respectful communication we all value so highly.
The Open Forum is, of course, held by a facilitator who reminds us that we are there because we all love the school. That is our common thread. We then share rules or boundaries, allowing us to feel safe and therefore open to others in our community. They are as follows:

*We aim to create a ‘safe’ place for us all to share and reflect*Remember it’s ok to be vulnerable….many of us are….

*Please speak from the “I” point of reference rather than ‘we’, ‘you’ or ‘they’

*Please look at the person you are talking to

*We use respectful communication, let people finish what they say and don’t interrupt or speak over

*Speak for yourself, and not for someone else, eg, not “I heard”, but “This is true for me….”

Of course, some of these rules are impossible to keep to with a GoogleGroup email. You cannot look at the person you are talking to in the eye. For this reason it is much harder to gauge the tone of the words being used. However, it is still possible to speak from your “I” point of reference, ie. not “You are like this”, but rather “I feel like this”, to give each other time and space before responding and to BREATHE before you think of pressing that SEND button.
Please give any feedback you have on this to me, (including more ideas for rules if you are a member of another digital forum that works well), and I will keep it all and share with the Governing Body.

Thanks very much!Karen (Alfie)Parent Governor

Friday Letter Format

This is the definitive return of the Friday Letter to hard copy.We hope it will be a welcome change. Does any one fancy taking it on in this glorious, accessible format?
We’ll still put whatever is appropriate on the blog.  If as many of you as possible could offer your thoughts, photographs and wisdom, we can post them too so that it becomes a true reflection of our energetic, diverse and vibrant community.
Lou x (Manu and Taya)

Diary

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Introduction

This is so much more than a summer outing. It’s a time of consolidation, exploration and connection; it’s a focal point, a watershed, somewhere to learn to let go.

Camp is a place to feel alive and to connect with each other and to the natural world.  For a school with very little outdoor space, camp brings an invaluable physicality to our sustainable living practice. It places the children in a deeper relationship with the environment and asks them to explore their own wild nature. There is a wonderful, grubby vitality that the children quickly embody when they camp – a way of simply being.

Trackways, who run the camp say, ‘We seek to share a vision that reconnects us to our passion and purpose, opening our eyes to the beauty of the earth and the awesome grandeur of spirit’.

They will teach the children wild craft survival, tracking, nature awareness, shelter building, living history and wilderness spirit work.

In alignment with the way we encourage the children to learn in the classroom, camp is a real experience, one that can enhance the rest of their lives.  They leave with carvings, bruises, tangles, pockets full of crumbs, mud and stories. Most importantly, they also carry new awareness and a profound sense of belonging.

There’s something life affirming about the whole experience – it asks the children to be daring and expansive, contemplative and alive. The children are trusted – they expand with the responsibility of paring with knives, tending fires and looking out for each other. It’s a place that offers both freedom and safety.

For some of our children, it’s their first experience of being away from home. For others, so close to the end of their years at LNS, camp becomes a rite of passage in a different way – for the year six children it’s very much part of how they consolidate the years they have spent together at LNS and explore who they are and their place in the world now that they are moving on.

Camp is part of our collective narrative.  There is something comforting about our return to it every year. It’s a place of ritual, vitality and peace that gives texture to our shared history; an event we all anticipate with a mixture renewed excitement and great affection.

Thoughts gathered late on Thursday evening by Lou (Manu and Taya) and Lizzie (Ruben and Eartha) before Lizzie disappeared to her tipi for the night. Really.

Notices

We need an energetic sweeper for the playground.  Have any of you got a teenager to spare? We pay £5.50 per hour.  It could be a great weekend job.

Please catch me in the playground or let Cath know if you can persuade them that this is easy money.

Matthew

SACRED SPACE.

Subsequent to a level of support received at the last Parent’s forum for the idea that we create a nondenominational sacred space within the school grounds consultation has taken place with Matthew and Jane and some of the other governors (Karen, Lou and Dahlan) and the grounds team. So far a small group of us have met and looked at various areas of the site for their potential and had some ideas about how we might create the space out of trees, manmade structure, planting, possibly a meadow area, using sound making devices etc. It would be great to create a space that fulfils everyone’s collective feeling of what is sacred (ambitiously inclusive I know!) and is made and conceived by as many participants as possible including the children. This could be ongoing and inclusive by making it an interactive space…

At the moment the schedule might look something like:

Ideas meetings, collations, design teams putting something together, funding proposal, school wide workshop elements, construction.

So if you feel that you would like to be involved in the process in any way from helping to construct to contributing ideas and skill and helping to facilitate or even if the idea brings things up for you and you would like to check in about that please contact Leora (Lumin (N))

So far we have on the team: Alinah, Anuja, Charlotte, Karen, Raphaella, Razia, myself, among others who have expressed interest.  A meeting will be arranged for Friday 17th June, after drop off. Let me know if you want to join us.

Love, Leora (Lumin)

MOVING ON

There’s a Patina adults carnival workshop this Sunday 1 – 6pm at the Lewes YMCA.  Come if you can and bring other parents who you think are into making.  And this Monday 13^th June is for the year six children to get busy and make.  Any parents who want to come and join us will be very welcome.  Please contact Georgie (Later Years) via email: georgie.sutton@lewesnewschool.co.uk.

Thanks, Georgie x

WONDERFUL WORKSHOPS

Recently the children have made 2 wood magical woodgas stoves with James, (Ruben and Eartha), as part of their eco project. These stoves use tree prunings to create charcoal. The charcoal gets used to cook and boil water, sieved into the compost bin to enrich the soil and grow broad bean plants as tall as James!

I JUST WANTED TO ASK you all how you feel about the Friday Letter.  Some of us are missing our piece of paper to stick to the fridge even though we know it makes good sense to save the trees.  And some of us still aren’t receiving this blog post as a direct email.  Shall we go back to our weekly handout and use the blog as a way to engage with the world beyond the school gates? We could get the children blogging – taking photos,  talking about what they are learning, why and how.  It might be a great solution for all of us. Please let me know what you think. My email is louisathomsen@btinternet.com if you can’t catch me in the playground.

Love, Lou (Manu and Taya)

Diary

FRIDAY 10^th JUNE 2011

MON 13^th June:            7.00pm – 9.00pm Open Forum

WED 15^th June:            CAMP

THU 16^th June:            CAMP

FRI 17^th June:            CAMP

TUE 21^st June:            Priory School taster day

WED 22^nd June:            Sports Day (if raining Thu 23^rd)

TUE 28^th June:            12.00 District Sports Day Yrs 3-6

(therefore NO FOOTBALL CLUB)

WED 29^th June:            Open Morning

THU 30^th June:         2.30pm – 4.00pm Later Years Eco-project exhibition

SAT 2^nd July:                 Summer Fair

MON 4^th July:            Parent late consultations

TUE 5^th July:                 Parent late consultations

WED 6^th July:            Parent late consultations

FRI 8^th July:                 Patina Parade (Y6)

MON 11^th July:            AM – Early Years Transition Ceremony

WED 13^th July:         1.45pm – 3.15pm Y6 Leavers Special Event

FRI 15^th July                  12.00 Picnic in the Park

School Clubs

Tuesdays:                    Football Club 3.15 – 4.30pm

Wednesdays:             Sports Club 3.15 – 4.30pm

Yoga Club 3.15 – 4.15pm

Fridays:                       Guitar lesson – 1:15pm

Monday:              Margherita Pizza & salad

Sablee

Wednesday:         Pesto pasta with salad

Yoghurt with fruit

Friday:                Vegetable ketchup pilaf

Banana cake

Introduction

Georgie (Teaching Assistant – Later Years)

Notices

As your school PATINA rep,  www.patinalewes.com I wanted to thank you for all the support you gave to the Friday Fairs (before the spring holidays). Our effort and energy paid off. We raised £450, which pays for two workshops with our artist Nikki and the art materials needed. The theme for this year’s ‘Moving On’ Carnival Parade is ‘Let’s Party’, to celebrate 10yrs of PATINA. This week Nikki came into the school to brainstorm ideas with the ten Yr 6 kids who are moving on this year. They want to dress up as characters from Grease and have a huge dukebox with records spilling out. We need your help making massive quiffs and 50’s skirts. The kids have already learned the hand jive. There are two days of Carnival arts workshops; one in school on Monday 13^th June and an adult Masterclass the day before on Sunday 12th June from 1-6pm at Lewes YMCA. There are places for 8 adults, so if you’re interested talk to/email me georgie.sutton@lewesnewschool.co.uk

Georgie

PHOTOS

For the last few weeks we’ve had trouble with the Friday Letter.  Or possibly just trouble with me.  It was impossible to upload photos.  So here are a few snippets of life in the nursery.

Louisa

Here are the boys in groovy new kit. They drew 2/2 with the Dharma school.

ECO CARNIVAL

Date: Friday 27th May
Time: 7.30 for 8pm start

Big up for the new, lighthearted, and fun quiz night by yours truly!

There will be six rounds including visual, cryptic, trivia, general knowledge and a couple of surprise ones too! Please come along and support it!  Also invite friends, family, and neighbours. I guarantee you will enjoy it! Max team of six. Tickets on sale now in school office!

As well as lovely wines there will be local cheese boards to buy and share as you mull, guess, giggle and think!

Be there or be very square.
Ali
(Quizmaster)

TIME FOR TEA

Collecting elderflowers for this week's cordial making.

Diary

TUESDAYS: 8.50am Swimming Years 1 – 6

THU 26^th May: 2.30pm Half  Term Tea

2.45 – 3.15pm CAMP MEETING (Yrs 3 – 6)

FRI 27^th May: 7.30 for 8.00pm start QUIZ NIGHT
(tickets available in office)

HALF TERM

MON 6^th June: School back

FRI 10^th June: 5.00pm Governors meeting

MON 13^th June: 7.00pm – 9.00pm Open Forum

WED 15^th June: CAMP

THU 16^th June: CAMP

FRI 17^th June: CAMP

TUE 21^st June: Priory Taster Day

WED 22^nd June: Sports Day

TUE 28^th June: 12.00 District Sports Day Yrs 3-6

WED 29^th June: Open Morning

SAT 2^nd July: Summer Fair

MON 4^th July: Parent late consultations

TUE 5^th July: Parent late consultations

WED 6^th July: Parent late consultations

FRI 8^th July: Patina Parade (Y6)

MON 11^th July: AM – Early Years Transition Ceremony

TUE 12^th July: ‘End of year Play’ 2.00pm & 7.00pm

WED 13^th July: 2.30pm Leavers Assembly

FRI 15^th July 12.00 Picnic in the Park

School Clubs

Tuesdays:   Football Club 3.15 – 4.30pm
Wednesdays: Sports Club 3.15 – 4.30pm
Yoga Club 3.15 – 4.15pm
Thursdays:  Guitar lesson – 12.30

Menu

(Week of 20^th May 2011)

Monday:
Mix vegetables ketchup pilaf
Lemon drizzle cake

Wednesday:
Pasta with different choice toppings + carrot & cucumber sticks
Rhubarb crumble and custard

Friday:
Pumpkin soup with homemade bread
Peanut butter biscuit

Introduction

Notices

It’s the summer term so please remember to pack some (labelled) suncream and a hat in your child’s schoolbag.  Alternatively, put the slap on before they leave for school and get them to wear the hat.
Matthew

School Camp (Yrs 3, 4, 5, 6) 15th – 17th June

It’s the time of year when I request help for the school camp. We need: 2-3 cooks; 1 washup; 1 fire guardian. Each job is for 3 days so could be split if you can’t make the full 3days (hey a bit like a job share!). Please let me know via matthew.mills@lewesnewschool.co.uk thanks, Matthew.

Over communication.  At last.

We understand how important it is to be kept updated with as much information as possible about the recruitment of our new Head Teacher.  The recruitment panel met again yesterday evening.  We are Sharif Horthy (trustee) Peter Mobbs (trustee), Scherto Gill (trustee), Jane Dickinson (chair of governors), Darren Carpenter (finance governor), Anne-Marie (teacher governor), Karen Dobres (parent governor) and Louisa Thomsen Brits (marketing governor).  The ad for our new head was placed in the TES online supplement, on our website and of course released via the wider reach of the school community.  The deadline for candidates to apply is Friday 20th May.  Our interview day will be Tuesday 24th May.  The selection process will involve representatives from every part of our community; children, staff and parents.

We are aware that a number of parents have already come forward with questions for our prospective candidates but would like to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be involved.  If you would like to put forward any questions for the candidates please send us an email or give us a call.  Karen Dobres and Louisa Thomsen Brits

Return of the Ethai – the 2nd Ethos Meeting

Last week Wednesday a group of us from the school community gathered together to further discuss the school’s ethos. Please click here to download the notes from the meeting. If you would like to give any feedback to these notes, please let me know. Thank you, Dahlan (Joshi & Elias)

Diary

Please visit Diary Dates for details.

School Clubs

Menu

Introduction

Notices

Dear All,
hope to see lots of you tonight for ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’ film at 6pm in the Hall.
Bring pillows if you like, come early if you like, help me set up if you like (5:00pm), and bring friends if you like.

£3 Donation at the door per head please
Also for sale in the hall: I’ll make popcorn (salty) 50p, and Juice 50p a cup, and the nice organic cider £2.50 a bottle

Come and laugh together, Raphaella 07787726069
All proceedings will go to the school.

Raphaella (Emil)

Mum’s Night In

Mums night in at Nicky Turner’s, next Friday (13th)- Bring food and drink to share – 7.30pm onwards, 28 Morris Road (turning next to pet shop on Cliffe High Street)  I promise Neil wont be there being a waiter.
Thanks and much love
Nicky X
(Will)



LNS Newstock Eco Carnival 2nd July 2011

Hi Folks!
We had a brief meeting on Tuesday 26th to get the ball rolling again for our Eco Carnival.

We need to start collecting recycled bottles, old cds, fabrics, paper, feathers, sequins etc and other bits and pieces for making decorations and masks.  So please dig around at home and find what you can and bring it in to school and put in the large laundry bag in the quiet room.

We are hoping to have a carnival workshop where the children will be involved in making decorations and headdresses etc for the day.  It is yet to be confirmed if this will be in school time or after school.  We are very aware that the Patina and Crossing Over ceremonies will be happening around this time too so we don’t want to overwhelm the children and it may be that we (parents) will also need to step in to make things ……

Please try and come to the next meeting with your ideas, help and support.

Ali (Rose and Isaac)

Wine and Wisdom (and Cheese)

We are re-launching the new, all singing, all dancing Wine and Wisdom night
but this time with cheese …. (that’s the edible and the not so edible …)
There will be the usual fantastic wines to buy along with a delectable local cheese board to share and nibble if you wish!
You don’t need to be a genius to join in!  Just a good sense of humour and fun is all that’s required!
Where : Lewes New School Main Hall
When : Friday May 27th
Time : 7.30pm to start quiz prompt at 8pm
Teams : 6 people max
Tickets: £5 each or £25 for team of 6 – Available in the office now!
Hope to see lots and lots of you there!

also from Ali (Rose and Isaac)

Diary