Dear Parents,

This week’s Sporting Life is full of dates and information.  Our teams and squads are springing into life for the New Year, training hard and getting excited about the huge number of fixtures, tournaments, galas and matches that we have already arranged for this term.  Please see the listings below – individual letters will come to those children involved in each event – if you have any queries please email the coach of the individual teams taking part once you have received notification of your child’s involvement.  Thank you again to the Mums and Dads who provide transport and support the children in all of their sporting endeavours – we are immensely grateful to you and very proud of the children who represent Kings’. 

This term also sees our school celebrate Sports Days, Interhouse Swimming Galas and, new this year, an Interhouse Sporting Tournament – details to follow soon, along with match reports and updates from our talented sports persons!

Kings’ vs Safa Match Report – by Stan Roze, Year 6

On Thursday 19^th January, the amazing Kings’ football squad met Safa football team. 

‘Kings’ get the kick off and Safa choose to stay where they are.  Kings’ start and run straight towards the goal but unluckily get stopped by Safa’s defence.  This time Safa run to the goal, they shoot from long range, Kings’ goalkeeper Jack dives for the ball but sadly the ball rolls into the net.  1-0 for Safa.  Kings’ start off again, they run towards Safa’s goal.  Shaan gets the ball and shoots.  The goalkeeper dives for it but the ball skids under his arm.  It’s a goal!!!  1-1. Then the referee whistles half time.  Safa starts but lose the ball straight away, Kings’ run and Mark shoots, the shot is deflected off a player and in the air. Eloi headers it and it goes straight to Stan who taps it into the goal.  2-1, Kings’ is leading.  Safa start off running towards the goal, not much time left. They dribble past Kings’ defenders and shoot.  Jack touches the ball, it hits the post and goes in, 2-2!  End of the match and everyone is happy.  We shake hands and go back to our coaches.’

Sporting Fixtures for Spring Term

Tuesday 17^th January      -           Netball - away

Thursday 19^th January     -           Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 vs Safa - Home

Sunday 19^th February       -           Year 3 and 4 vs WIS

Wednesday 22^nd February-           Year 5 and 6 vs WIS

Thursday 1^st March          -           Swim Gala Home – (TBC)

Wednesday 7^th March      -           Year 6 Tournament at WIS          

Thursday 8^th March          -           Swim Gala Home – (TBC)

Sunday 11^th March          -           Year 4 & 5 Tournament at WIS; Year 1 & 2 Swim Galas

Monday 12^th March          -           Year 5 & 6 Swim Galas

Tuesday 13^th March         -           Year 3 & 4 Swim Galas

Monday 19^th March          -           Year 3, 4, 5, & 6 vs Rashid

Wednesday 21^st March    -           Year 5 Tournament at WIS

Thursday 29^th March        -           Swim Gala Home vs JAR/BSAK

Sunday 1^st April              -           Year 3 Tournament at WIS

Caroline Qayyum

Specialist Manager

Dear Parents,

Updates

The Staff Challenge!

We are making progress as a staff with our challenge to learn the National Anthem.  The children had serious doubts that we could do it but with their help and encouragement we are getting better and better.  We now need to try and sing without the words!

Getting Greener

Kings’ is getting greener was launched last Thursday thanks to the Vintcent family and their connection with Lewis Pugh who swam at the North Pole to draw the world’s attention to the global warming agenda.  Kings’ encourages all families (as well as us at school) to think of ways we can be greener.  Thank you to everyone who is embracing this – every little helps and together we can made a difference.  We are all looking forward to finding out what each class’s commitments are in this week’s assembly.  We will keep you posted.  A special thank you to Ross and Georgia and their mum for putting together such a powerful film clip of the interview with Lewis.

Homework > Home Learning

The homework facelift is underway.  We want to balance the ‘traditional’ style homework with more open and creative tasks for children to carry out with parents.  Coffee afternoons are proving that you all have different opinions and expectations.  The consultation process will help us get the balance right so that children’s learning is extended appropriately beyond school without it becoming onerous.  Thank you for your support through this tricky phase.

Open Day

Year 6 were impressive ambassadors as they took new Kings’ families around our school last Wednesday.  We received so many positive comments and feedback; it was actually very moving to hear.

Year 7 Kings’ College Meeting

Over 40 parents attended the evening with Mr Turner, our Head of Secondary designate last Wednesday.  He shared his vision for the school, his philosophy on education and answered questions about next year when Year 7 will be initially catered for within the Kings’ Dubai expansion.  It was a very successful evening and he intends to visit Year 6 again in early February to talk to the children and answer their questions.

Parents’ Evening with Specialist Teachers

These were very well attended.  Thank you to parents for coming to share in your children’s learning in the specialist subjects.

Tea Towel Success in Year 1

A tremendous 2710 AED was raised by Year 1 parents led by Sarah Fielder and Sue Crane with the wonderful Year 1 tea towel.  Teachers are planning how to spend the money.  A big well done and thank you to the two mums for making this happen. 

Firm but Friendly Reminder!

·         No, no, no nuts in any shape or form in school AT ALL please.  We have children whose lives are in danger if they come into contact with even a trace of nut.

·         NITS are around! Please check your child/children’s hair weekly to stay scratch free and happy.

·         No novelty erasers (it’s too tempting to take/trade them). Please keep eraser collections safe at home.

·         Please, please, please try and bring the correct change when paying for trips at reception.  Pressure on reception in the mornings can be greatly alleviated if we can just take the right amount from you.

Dates for your diary:

26^th January       -           Numeracy workshop for all parents at 1.05pm

29^th January       -           FS Parental engagement begins (please sign up if you haven’t already)

30^th January       -           Open Day for prospective parents Year 2 – 7 10am start

1^st February        -           4IM Class Assembly 8am; Kings’ Art Exhibition begins – artwork available to purchase

2^nd February       -           Year 5 Dhaid / Kalba residential parents meeting at 1:05pm; Art                                       exhibition Day 2

3^rd February        -           Car boot sale 8am – 11am

5^th February        -           Year 5 & 6 Sports Day – 9.30am.  Please see letter from Mr Rowles for details); Year 1 & 2 Sports Day – 12:45pm

6^th February        -           Year 6 Residential; FS Sports Day 10.30am; Year 3 & 4 Sports Day – 12:45pm

7^th February        -           Year 6 Residential; 3KM Class Assembly 8am

8^th February        -           Year 6 Residential; Y3 Coffee Afternoon 1.45pm in the hall

12^th February      -           16^th February school is closed for half term

19^th February      -           Return to school

20^th February      -           Class representative meeting 1:45pm in the staff room      

21^st February      -           Year 4 Residential

22^nd February      -           KS1 trip to see ‘Tiger who came to tea’ – more information to follow; Y2 Coffee Afternoon; Year 4 Residential

23^rd February      -           Year 4 Residential; Year 6 to Ductac ‘Shakespear4kidz’

26^th February      -           Year 6 to Alliance Francais

29^th February      -           1SR Class Assembly at 8:00am; Open Day (by invitation only); Year 1 Coffee Afternoon 1.45pm in the hall

6^th March           -           Parents’ Evening – 2:45 – 5:15pm

7^th March           -           4RG Class Assembly – 8:00am; Parents’ Evening 6:00 – 8:00pm; FS2 Coffee Morning 12:30pm

8^th March           -           Numeracy Parents Time 1:00 – 2:30pm

13^th March          -           Year 5 Residential

14^th March          -           Year 5 Residential; FS1 Coffee Morning 11:30am

15^th March          -           Year 5 Residential

26^th March          -           Year 1, 2 & 3 Performance, 8:15am and 5pm

4^th April              -           4ML Class Assembly at 8:00am

5^th April              -           Book Day – dress up a character from a book; Term Ends.

Thank you for reading this!

Yours sincerely

A Wilkinson

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe we are almost at the end of the first term!  There are lots of things to celebrate in our final newsletter of 2011: Year 2 Trip to the Desert - By Tom Haigh   

On Wednesday Amber and Pearl classes went on a school trip to the desert.  First we had to get on a big yellow bug.  It took about 30 minutes to get there. When we got there we put our lunch boxes in a big stone building. After that we met our guide who was going to show us around for the day.  She led us through some large palm trees down a long path.  We soon reached a camel.  We were allowed to stroke it.  It rested it’s head on the soft sand.  We learnt that in olden days people used the camel poo to put it on a fire and inhale the burning smoke.  The believed it would stop them becoming ill.  We walked further down the path to see an Arabian horse.  It was brown with a white nose and white legs. The guide stood in the middle of the circle and made the horse gallop. The velvety smooth Arabian horse is far more beautiful than an ordinary horse.  It lives for about thirty years.  It has 17 bones but an ordinary horse has 18 bones.  So when they race they use an Arabian horse because it can run faster.  After we went to see the goats.  We fed the goats and gave them milk from a baby’s bottle. In the olden days they used goat lungs for water bottles.  We also go to try camel milk.  We liked it and we asked for more!  It is three times richer than normal milk.  Finally we walked back to the big stone building and picked up our lunch things and went to the picnic area.  It was a great school trip and we learnt lots of new things.  My favourite part was when we got to feed the goats.