Dear Parents and Carers,
What a magnificent year it has been! I honestly can’t believe how quickly the year has gone by and how much we’ve managed to achieve! So, my sincere apologies in advance for the length of this message, but there really has been a lot to celebrate.
Sport
We started the year off by training our Year 6 Sports Crew who were encouraged to come back to school and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. They made some promotional videos in order to highlight the damage too much salt and sugar in a diet can do and then went on to organise and deliver the Virtual League across the school. They have recently won the ‘Sports Crew of the Year’ award at The Canterbury Partnership annual sports recognition awards.
Over the course of the year, Year 5 and 6 have taken part in District Football, Tag Rugby, Handball, Sportshall Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Quicksticks, Netball, and an Inclusive Day. They have also had the opportunity to represent the school in two new sports competitions that we as a school have not entered before: Gymnastics and Swimming. Our gymnasts got through to the Kent School Games finals and Lucy, Franki, Isla, William and James brought home 12 medals from the Thanet Primary Schools Swimming Gala! We also had children identified as particularly talented with a great sporting ethos that got invited to join the Kent Crusaders Basketball Squad.
The rest of the school have also been busy with Years 3 and 4 taking part in the Sportshall Athletics, Quicksticks, Tri Golf, Tennis, Handball and the Change4Life Conference. Years 1 and 2 have taken part in Mini Basketball, Infant Agility, Gymnastics and Multi Skills.
The annual Faversham Running Club event that took place in June was very well supported by Sheldwich. This year we had two teams entered into each category. We won a multitude of individual races as well as 7 of our teams winning too. This meant our school won the shield as overall winning school.
Our Year 4 golfers got through to the Kent School Games finals and the Year 5/6 footballers also won the District League.
Over the course of the year we have had staff from The Canterbury Partnership delivering Dance, Gymnastics, and Athletics lessons across the school. We have also had lessons and after school clubs provided by Total Sports, Faversham Tennis Club, Kent Cricket Club, and Appeti Tennis. These have all enriched the skills of the children and have helped the staff to develop and progress their teaching in these areas.
Our year was finished off with the Canterbury Partnership Annual Sports Awards. We had several children individually nominated for awards: Tia, Freya, Margot, Max K and Luca S. Max K was named ‘Key Stage 1 Sports Personality of the Year’ and our Year 6 won ‘Sports Crew of the Year’. Mrs McCorriston also won an award in recognition of her contribution to school sport.
School Games Values Winners
|
Value |
Name |
Year |
House |
|
Determination |
Jake H |
1 |
Leaveland |
|
Sonny E |
2 |
Throwley |
|
|
Matthew C |
3 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Archie H |
4 |
Throwley |
|
|
James A |
5 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Olivia M |
6 |
Throwley |
|
|
Passion |
Jacques M |
1 |
Throwley |
|
Edward D |
2 |
Leaveland |
|
|
Sonny R |
3 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Axel I |
4 |
Throwley |
|
|
Molly W |
5 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Hester S |
6 |
Throwley |
|
|
Respect |
Max C |
1 |
Badlesmere |
|
Ingrid L |
2 |
Leaveland |
|
|
Natalie C |
3 |
Leaveland |
|
|
Oscar D |
4 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Ethan L |
5 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Thomas W |
6 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Honesty |
Edward D |
1 |
Leaveland |
|
Frank B |
2 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Hang Yee |
3 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Sophie F |
4 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Josh H |
5 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Zak E |
6 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Self-Belief |
Beckett S |
1 |
Badlesmere |
|
Henry T |
2 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Violet L |
3 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Amelia H |
4 |
Badlesmere |
|
|
Alice M |
5 |
Throwley |
|
|
Tillie R |
6 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Teamwork |
Skyla H |
1 |
Leaveland |
|
Amelia E |
2 |
Leaveland |
|
|
Jorja J |
3 |
Throwley |
|
|
Ruby P |
4 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Felix C |
5 |
Sheldwich |
|
|
Oli C |
6 |
Leaveland |
Our Under 11 and Under 9 Chess teams took part in the semi-finals of the National Primary Schools Chess Championships in Camber Sands. This is a very longstanding, prestigious competition, perennially dominated by private schools, but we had high hopes of creditable performances by the two teams. We weren’t disappointed. Having not qualified for the semi-final, the under 9 team instead entered the plate competition. It was a very young team featuring Vashti, William and Oliver from Class 3, Edward from Class 2 and George and Ethan from Class 1. Amazingly, after a nail-biting final round, our young team managed to win the competition and bring home the plate!
The U11 team faced a very stiff task against 36 of the best schools in the country who had won through the qualifying stage to get here. Oli, Zeno, Felix, Josh, Sean and Marley did incredibly well, winning 4 of their 6 matches and only losing to Dulwich College (who finished 7th) and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School (who finished 2nd). The children were awarded a gold trophy for their 11th place finish (going one better than last year’s silver).
Thanet and East Kent Chess League’s Walker Shield
Our Under 11 team have also completed their first season in an adult evening chess league. We have kept this open to ex-pupils as well as current, so that Sheldwich alumni still have an opportunity to continue developing their chess skills. The children did brilliantly, winning 3 of their matches, drawing 4 and losing 3, finishing tied on match points for second place with Broadstairs and Margate. We received many complements from their adult opponents on the children’s mature attitudes and quality of their play.
SATs Results
I would like to congratulate both Year 2 and Year 6 for their excellent SATs results, they really have excelled themselves.
Year 2 SATs
Cohort: 30 pupils
Sheldwich Expected +
Reading
All Pupils 83%
Writing
All Pupils 87%
Mathematics
All Pupils 83%
Year 6 SATs
Cohort: 34 pupils
Sheldwich Expected + National Results Expected+
Reading
All Pupils 91% 73%
Writing
All Pupils 88% 78%
Mathematics
All Pupils 85% 79%
SPAG
All Pupils 88% 78%
These results are superb, and as you can see we have significantly surpassed the ‘National’ results for all subjects (Reading, Writing, Mathematics and SPAG).
Year 6 Production
Year 6 provided the perfect end to the year with their triumphant and energetic performances of Treachery at Traitors’ Quay. From beginning to end we were entertained with their amazing acting and wonderful singing.
Pupil Councils
School Council Eco Council Healthy School Council
Mrs Garrett Ms Gower Mrs Linter
Mrs Spencer-Brown Mrs Dodgson Mrs Fairs
Class R Violet and Felix
Class 1 Phoebe and Leo Eadie and Max Safiyya and Edward
Class 2 Zoe and Oscar Emily and Martin Heidi and Edward
Class 3 Emilia H and Ethan H Vashti and Edward Amy and James
Class 4 Sophie and Myles Emilia and Ben Jessie and Josh
Class 5 Keira and Ethan Meg and Zeno Poppy and Reuben L
Class 6 Anna and Ted Annie and Clay Freya and Oliver C
School Council
The School Council have demonstrated an infectious enthusiasm, commitment and dedication towards their role. Following their successful election the School Council Representatives quickly got to work discussing with their class which charities they would like to fundraise for: Porchlight, Kent Greyhound Rescue, and Friends of Suchana.
During Term 2 we wrote to our chosen charities to find out what support they needed. A member of the Porchlight Charity delivered an assembly to the children and the School Council distributed Advent Boxes to be filled with loose change. They school raised a superb £295. The Porchlight Assembly also inspired Clay in Year 6 to ask parents for donations of warm clothing to be distributed in Canterbury. Clay and his mum made up packs of clothing which also contained a hot water bottle. Restaurants in and around Canterbury were asked to fill the hot water bottles if they were presented with them. We also organised a ‘Thank You Tea Party’ for our amazing parent helpers with handmade invitations made by the School Council.
During Term 3 each class discussed with their School Council Representatives a ‘Wish List’ for the PTA. Each class unanimously chose an iPad. The iPads have been used to make videos, take photos and support teaching and learning in the classroom.
In Term 4 we had representatives from Kent Greyhound Rescue come into the school to deliver an assembly about the charity’s work. Prior to this event the School Council requested donations of sardines, gravy bones, blankets and toys for the greyhounds which would be put together and given to the charity after the assembly.
During Term 5, together with the Eco Council we organised a poster competition to encourage people to switch off their engines in and around the school. Above are the winning designs for each class.
Earlier this week the School Council got to showcase their leadership qualities during our Annual Fundraising Day. This is an activity which is run entirely by the children. And, as always, they did an incredible job. In all, a fabulous £568 was raised for our nominated charities. Thank you so much for your support.
Eco Council
Wow, what an action packed year the Eco Council has had. Particular highlights include:
We also had a fabulous trip to Farmer Phil’s Farm. We wanted to find out more about our local area, where our food comes from and sustainability of crops and livestock. We learnt so much, not only about our local community but also about the world around us.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”
Jane Goodall (Conservationist)
Healthy School Council
The Healthy School Council have had a busy year and have focused on a different area of healthy living during each term.
In Term 1 they asked their class what school dinners they enjoy and what is their favourite. They discussed the responses and looked at how many chose healthy lunches as opposed to a more unhealthy choice.
In Term 2 they conducted an experiment with their class by putting an egg in three different solutions – water, orange juice and cola. After one week they looked at the condition of the eggs and learnt how this experiment is linked to their own teeth concluding that it is always best to drink water. They told their classmates about their findings.
In Term 3 they learnt how germs are spread and the importance of washing hands. After the meeting they spoke to their own classes to pass on what they had learnt and put up notices in the cloakrooms around the school.
In Terms 4 and 5 the children organised a competition to ‘design a healthy lunchbox’. Pupils had the Easter holidays to make their entries and at the next meeting in Term 4 the Healthy School Council had fun judging the competition. Winners were chosen and their designs were photographed for the website and newsletter.
All year, the Healthy School Council has been asking for Smoothie Bikes to come in to school. Making smoothies by pedalling a bike has the joint benefits and exercise and healthy eating. Four bikes were here on Wednesday of this week and every child in the school got the chance to pedal hard to get the blenders fixed to the bikes to mix a smoothie, after which they were able to drink it.
Harmony
We are extremely fortunate at Sheldwich that our school is set within a truly beautiful environment. An environment which enables us to support and develop our curriculum for learning. During the year we have been researching how we can embed ‘Nature’s Principles of Harmony’ into our teaching and learning. Staff have attended training sessions at school and have also taken part in The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts workshops. Harmony is an innovative approach to education that puts creativity and sustainability at the centre, exploring the world from a local to global scale through the process of enquiry and engagement with the natural world. It helps children to explain, inspire and address curiosity about Earth and our responsibility to look after it.
So, from Little Hedgehogs in our Pre-School to Badgers in Class 6, we have all been learning about the ‘Principle of Geometry’. Nature’s geometric patterns and forms are all around us and they remind us that the natural world has an order, a rhythm and a symmetry to it that creates balance and harmony.
Sheldwich Has Talent
Yesterday we were all treated to 27 spectacular acts for our annual Sheldwich Has Talent Competition. Year on year this event never ceases to amaze me with how talented the children are. This year we had children playing the violin, guitar, ukulele, piano, electric guitar, drums and harmonica. There were also gymnastic routines, ballet, comedy sketches, singing and tap dancing! Every child performed with confidence and truly shone on the stage. Well done to all our finalists – you were OUTSTANDING.
1st Meg A
2nd Keira, Isla, Myles, Oscar and Ruby
3rd Molly W
4th Thiago and Nayara
5th Freya, Connor and Reuben L
6th Heidi
PTA
A huge Thank You to the PTA Committee for organising a brilliant variety of fundraising events and activities during the year for pupils, parents, staff and members of the wider community to enjoy. The Summer Fair made a staggering £2,700 profit and last night’s thoroughly enjoyable collaboration with the Sheldwich Village Events Committee, ‘Dinner and Drama at Dusk’ made over £900.
This year the PTA have provided the school with a new trim trail, leavers’ books for Year 6 and Sports Day ice poles. They have also subsidised the Year 6 hoodies. What an amazing and extremely successful year it has been.
My thanks also to all our governors, teachers, learning support assistants, office staff, midday supervisors, cleaners, site manager, kitchen staff and gardener who work so well together and are extremely dedicated in ensuring we provide the best opportunities possible for our children. Finally, thank you to our brilliant parent helpers who dedicate their time assisting us in the classroom, on school trips, transporting children to and from numerous sporting events and running after school clubs; it really is appreciated.
On behalf of myself, the staff and governors at Sheldwich Primary School may I wish you all a happy, fun and safe summer holiday.
Best Wishes,
Mrs S Garrett