Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at The Castle School

We hope you have a great holiday and look forward to welcoming our amazing pupils back on Monday 5th January 2015

Christmas sing-song at Sainbury's

The young members of The Castle School Community Choir sang their hearts out to shoppers at Sainsbury's in Newbury today. They did wonderful renditions of Jingle Bell Rock, Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. It was a wonderful time and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Sprouts and Aladdin at Christmas!

We have had a busy couple of days here at The Castle School. Parents and staff have enjoyed seeing our amazing pupils perform in their annual Christmas Productions.

Key Stage 1 and 2 staged a performance of The Enormous Sprout, with some really wonderful acting and singing.

 Richmond Class perform as the growing plants

 

Key Stage 1 and 2 attempt to pull up the Enormous Sprout

 



Key Stage 3 and 4 put on a brilliant version of Aladdin with every single class doing a particular scene to tell the whole story. Nathan was a particular star taking on the role of compere as he did at Castle's Got Talent

 The audience rubbed their heads and tummies for a wish - Ruth can get people to do anything!

 

 An Aladdin version of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!

The Key Stage 3 and 4 cast celebrate at the end of their performance

As always, both performances were superb and we are all very proud of how our pupils worked together and the confidence that they showed. Well done.

Two musical stars

Last week, two of our students took part in their Trinity Board music exams. I am extremely pleased to tell you that Justin gained Grade 1 in Baritone Horn and Danny achieved Grade 2 in Tenor Horn.

This is an incredible achievement. Both exams are challenging and of a national standard. Justin has also recently played in the Wantage Youth Silver Band at The Castle School.

Well done to both lads and we look forward to further success with Grade 2 for Justin and Grade 3 for Danny in the not-to-distant future.

 

Danny and Justin, proud of their achievements

 

Justin performing with The Wantage Youth Silver Band

Castle Pupils amaze at St Nic's Carol Concert

The wonderful singers in the Castle School Choir started the Christmas season off in style by performing brilliantly at the annual St Nic's School Carol Concert on Tuesday. They made all the staff proud by singing beautifully, especially with their rendition of Mary's Boy Child (complete with harmonies and saxophone!) to a very appreciative audience. Well done and thanks to Ali Watkinson, our wonderful music teacher for her tireless effort in making sure the choir performed perfectly.

Modeshift Award: achievement for Castle School

The Castle School has been awarded the Modeshift Bronze award for all that we do with regards to promoting different types of transport.

Becky Jane (Children's Active Transport Coordinator from West Berks Council) came in to present the award.

Two of our students, Alisha and Tyrell, were chosen to collect the award for their commitment and success at independent travel.

Next year we will aim for the silver award. IN the meantime I would like to thank our many key stage 4 and 5 students who have successfully achieved independence in travelling independently to and from school each day.

 

Waterside Activity Day

On Wednesday 3rd December our a group of intrepid pupils from Key Stage 1,2 and 4 went to Waterside to take part in a wide range of activities organised by Adventure Dolphin. The students had a fantastic day. They all challenged themselves to learn new skills and as always we exceptionally well behaved. One of our students showed incredible skill in archery - a modern day Robin Hood!

Everyone showed such determination and we all so very proud of all of our students who took part.

Here are some pictures of the day:

Christmas at The Castle School

As ever, there are lots of things happening in the run-up to Christmas. Here are the dates and times of key events for your diary:

Carol Concert @ St Nics - evening - 02/12/2014

Come and enjoy this wonderful occasion where our choir will perform alongside other  schools from the area. This event is a lovely way to start the Christmas festivities.

Christmas Fair - 05/12/2014

Come along to the wonderful Castle School Christmas Fair. There will be lots of stalls selling all manner of exciting things as well as food. There will be lots of Christmas singing to help get you into the seasonal mood accompanied by The Wantage Junior Silver Band. In addition, you will be supporting Friends of Castle School in raising money to support projects for all our young people.

Key Stage 1&2 Christmas Production - PM - 10/12/2014

 Key Stage 1 and 2 perform their Christmas Production for parents and carers.

Key Stage 3&4 Christmas Production - PM - 11/12/2014

 Key Stage 3 and 4 perform their Christmas Production to parents and carers.

Post-16 Christmas Production - PM - 12/12/2014

 Post-16 perform their Christmas Production to parents and carers.

Community Choir at Sainsbury's - 15/12/2014

The Castle School Primary Community Choir will be performing a selection of well-loved Christmas Carols at the Sainsbury's store in Newbury from 12 noon. Come along and show your support and sing along if you wish.

Carol Service @ St Mary's Church - AM - 16/12/2014

Post-16 Christmas Carols - 18/12/2014

Come along to this lovely event where you can join in with our talented school choir and sing all the classic Christmas Carols. This is an evening event and more details will be sent out nearer the time.

End of Term 2 - 19/12/2014

The Castle School Christmas Fair

If you want to start off the festive season in style then come along to The Castle School Christmas Fair.

This Friday (5th December) from 6pm to 8pm at Love Lane.

There will be a wonderful array of stalls as well as a Christmas BBQ!

The whole evening will be accompanied by the talented folk of The Wantage Silver Youth Band conducted by Sam Wyne, playing a collection of Christmas tunes and other fun songs.

If you don't feel Christmassy yet, you soon will do.

Come along, support the school and have a lovely evening.

See you all on Friday

Please send in your bottles!

It is our annual Christmas Fair this Friday (5th December) at the Love Lane site. Please can you send in any bottles you have for our Bottle Tombola. This is always a very successful stall for raising money for the school, but we are still quite short. We will kindly accept any bottles whether they are drink, shampoo, bubble bath - in fact anything. Please
send them in before Friday. You support is very much appreciated.

Lancaster go potty over pottery

This week, Lancaster Class were lucky enough to get expert help in creating some wonderful pottery. Ursula Codrington, who is one of our school governors introduced us to Marion Walker, an experienced potter, who came in to work with the students and create bowls using a proper potters' wheel. Below are some pictures showing our students working hard and being extremely creative. Thank you so much to Marion for her expertise and for given her time up to come and let our student experience this activity:

Inclusion Afternoons are GO!

We have recently introduced Inclusion Afternoons on Friday. The sessions are designed around our Rights Respecting School (RRS) statements. The purpose is to get pupils working with a wider variety of other children to improve social interactions and share experiences. It is early days, but already we are seeing some wonderful activities and outcomes. Below are a selection of photographs of some of the learning opportunities:

 RRS "Shelter Me" - DT project on shelters

 RRS "Let me be creative" - DT and Art projects

 

 RRS "Let me Speak" - Sensory Stories

 

 RRS "Let me be creative" - school choir

 

  RRS "Let me be creative" - school choir

 

 RRS "Let me be Healthy" - Yoga

 

 RRS "Let me be Creative" - DT and Art Projects

 

RRS "Let me be Creative" - DT and Art Projects

Fun day out at the Race Track

Last week, Conway Class had a wonderful day out at Thruxton Dace Track. They had a lovely day looking at all the amazing racing cars. They even met Tiff Needell, who used to be a presenter on Top Gear! He said some lovely things about the pupils and staff. Here are just two of them:

"You are amazing and are doing a fantastic job looking after the children" 

"The children are well behaved, thank you for all you do"

Here are two pictures from the day. Everyone really enjoyed it:

 Here is Tiff Needell with Conway Class

 

The pupils celebrate a lovely day at the track

 

 

Many thanks to the lovely people at Thruxton Motorsport Centre for a wonderful experience.

Children In Need

 

Thank you to everyone who donated to The Castle School Children in Need. We raised an amazing £430 for Children in Need - Well done everyone.

"Monday's child is fair of face"

 



 

"Tuesday's child is full of grace"

"Wednesday's child is full of woe"
 

"Thursday's child has far to go" 

"Friday's child is loving and giving"

Here is a picture of all the wonderful leggings that pupils and staff wore on Friday

 

 

Thanks to everyone who was involved or donated to this very worthwhile cause.

Newbury Weekly News Article

We are on the Newbury Weekly News website and also in the paper (page 18) this week to celebrate our wonderful "Outstanding" OFTSED result. Please click here to read the article and see the picture.

Just to address one omission from the newspaper article - I would like to wholeheartedly thank our "outstanding" governing body who have worked tirelessly on a voluntary basis to support and challenge the school to enable us to reach this wonderful position. I would like to particularly thank Brian Connolly, our brilliant chair of governors, for his expertise, guidance and strength in the role.

If you are interested in joining this exciting and dynamic team then please don't hesitate to contact the school on 01635 42976 and we will put you in contact with one of our governors to chat through how rewarding it can be and what is involved.