Dear Parents/Carers Year 6 SATs last week commenced with an early breakfast start for the children. Early nerves were soon quelled by words of encouragement from their teachers and the children were reminded about how hard they have been working and that they should just do the best that they can. This was a positive start to the week and the children remained in good spirits and approached their tests with a positive mindset. Well done to them all. Thank you to everyone who supported “Shoesday” this week. We appreciate your kind donations which will be put towards each year group’s charities. May I remind parents and carers that children should not wear Heelys to school for any own clothes day or similar, for health and safety reasons. Congratulations to our very talented girls’ football team for making it to the final competition being held in Stoke this weekend. We are proud of them as they fly the Pickhurst flag at the Premiership Football Stadium in Stoke and wish them every success as they play for the title of best (Under 11) girls’ football team in the country. Please may I ask that once you have collected your child at the end of the school day, you make your way off site promptly, for health and safety and safeguarding reasons and also because some of our after school clubs can be delayed as they wait for the playground to clear. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation. Yours sincerely Ms Anderson (Acting Principal)

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G 1 5 T H M A Y 2 0 1 7

PICKHURST POST

Pickhurst Lane, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0HL

Tel: 020 8462 5867 Fax: 020 8462 9394 Email: office@pickhurst.com

Web: www.pickhurst.com

Pickhurst Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Message from the Acting Principal

Inside this Issue: Message from the Acting Principal Walk to School Week Knights of the Reading Table Coney Hall U8 Tigers Diner of the Week School Council News Miss Walsh’s P4C Corner TfL’s Spring into Summer” Walks Messages, News and Reminders Pickhurst Academy’s Diabetes Care Award Forest School Mistakes Competition Winners Attendance & Punctuality Clubs Dates for your Diary

Walk to School Week!

Well done to everyone who has walked to school this week! It is a great way of getting active before school starts and research shows that children who walk to school are more alert in class, so we hope to see lots more of you continuing to walk in. Don't forget that writing competition entries need to be handed to Miss Barr by Wednesday 24th May.

P A G E 2

Knights of the Reading Table

Dracula By Bram Stoker

This story starts when a man called Jonathan Harker sets off to Transylvania to stay with Dracula. Soon, he learns the Count’s dark secrets and just manages to escape with his life. Dracula buys a house in England and follows Jonathan back home. He then murders a girl called Lucy Westerna who then comes back as a vampire.

In my opinion Dracula has lots of genres - adventure, suspense and horror. It is gothic fiction and can appeal to many readers though would mostly be read by adults. The wide range of vocabulary amazed me; I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. If you have read The Lord of The Rings you will enjoy this

By Oliver P

(6C)

This story is set in the 1800’s; the

main character, Count Dracula, also

known as the Evil Eye, was based on

a Ruler called Vlad The Impaler.

Bram Stoker didn’t create vampires

but the idea of a leader that began

the process of turning innocent

humans into his vampire slaves.

Dracula lived off blood and had the

ability to transform into a bat or a

werewolf.

THE ORIGIN OF DRACULA

Well done Oliver, this is a great book review!

Coney Hall U8 Tigers win the Tandridge League Gold Shield!

The football season has come to an end and the Coney Hall U8 Tigers, who are represented by a number of Pickhurst Academy Year 3 boys, finished the season off in style by winning the Tandridge League Gold Shield on Saturday 13th May. Max, Teddy and Will (3DS) along with Alex and Jacob (3C) all played their part in an enthralling final which they won 4-1. The boys should be very proud of their achievements throughout the season and look forward to exciting times ahead. The boys’ attitude throughout the season has been fantastic and they have continued to develop as individuals and more importantly as a team. They are a credit to the Academy and their parents. I look forward to coaching them again next season when a number of other boys from Pickhurst Academy will join the club. If any other boys or girls are looking to join a local football team, then Coney Hall FC are always on the lookout for new players, at all levels of ability.

Mr Ruskin, Football Coach, Coney Hall FC

A huge well done from everyone at Pickhurst Academy too! A great achievement!

P A G E 3

Diner of the Week The Diner of the Week is nominated by the Dining Hall Team and pupils are judged on their politeness and impeccable table manners. This week’s Diner of the Week is ...

Mia H (3C)

Well done! Enjoy your week.

It is important to think

creatively and critically; that is

why P4C is essential for

everyone.

Miss Walsh’s P4C Corner Why do people

fear losing things that they do not even have yet?

School Council News

Following their recent meeting, here are some of the School Council’s suggestions:- Cloakrooms or lockers for Y5 More basketballs. Better football goals. Add equipment to the freeflow. Mort art equipment. Colouring in books. To be able to work inside during lunchtime. The School Council are also planning a big sale after school on Wednesday 24th May!

P A G E 4

TfL’s “Spring Into Summer” Walks

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May

We would like to inform you of TfL’s fantastic FREE guided walks.

“Spring into Summer” is taking place on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May. There will be 40 walks ranging from short strolls to more challenging routes, all starting and finishing within easy reach of public transport and all led by experienced guides. Walks include “Family Favourites”, which features a fun-filled quiz for the children, and the popular “Animal I-Spy Stroll” searching for dragons, lions and unicorns. To book a free place, visit www.walklondon.org.uk

Messages, News and Reminders

There are an increasing number of parents who arrive late to collect their children at

the end of the school day. We would remind you that school finishes at 3.20pm. We do understand that sometimes parents or childminders may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, however, please ensure that if you are running late, you telephone the school office at your earliest convenience on 020 8462 5867. Should you require the services of Pixies After School Club, please contact them on 07946 150619 or email them at pixies@pickhurst.com

A reminder that there is still some lost property from the PGL trip in the old entrance hall. Any unclaimed

items will be disposed of at the beginning of next week (Monday 22nd May). There is also a vast amount of un-named lost property in the entrance foyer by the school office. Named

items are returned to children as soon as possible. Any un-named and unclaimed items will be disposed of at the end of next week (Friday 26th May). Please remember to name all of your child’s uniform and belongings to avoid items going missing.

Please remember to provide your child with a water bottle (named!) each day which

they may fill up throughout the day as needed. Hopefully the weather will be improving soon and we would remind you to please put

sunscreen on your child at the start of each day, as we keep our fingers crossed for some sunshine!

P A G E 5

Pickhurst Academy featured in last week’s West Wickham News!

Thank you once again to Mrs Williams for helping Pickhurst Academy

achieve this award.

P A G E 6

Forest School

Last week Form 3L enjoyed making bird seed sticks and balls for the forest wildlife. Many children got involved with this activity, as well making dens and camps. Form 3DS had the benefit of the overnight rain. The forest was nice and muddy with the natural spring flowing through the wood. Children made dams and jumped in puddles, while some had fun with the forest school teddy bears.

P A G E 7

Attendance & Punctuality w/e 12th May 2017

The overall attendance figure for Pickhurst Academy for this period was 96.8%. Congratulations this week go to Forms 6C, 6ST and 6W who achieved 100% attendance. Fantastic! 21 lates were recorded this week. Please note that each child’s attendance and punctuality rate is monitored on a regular basis. If it is seen that a child’s attendance or punctuality is below our expected requirement, then parents will be contacted either by letter or a mutually convenient appointment will be arranged to discuss the situation in order for us to offer support.

LOWER SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL

Form Attendance %

Late Children

Form Attendance %

Late Children

3C 92.3 0 5B 97.7 0

3DS 98.8 1 5BA 93.6 1

3F 95.7 1 5C 97.8 0

3L 98.7 1 5E 96.5 2

4C 89.7 1 5S 99.3 1

4F 95 5 6C 100 0

4P 96 2 6M 99.5 0

4W 96.5 4 6S 98.1 0

6SN 99.1 0

6ST 100 2

6W 100 0

Every minute really does count so don’t be late!

Thank you to all of you who entered my “Mistakes Competition’”. I am sorry that not all of you could win, but I hope you liked the “taking part” gift!

A special congratulations go to the winners ...

Abel R (6M) & Ethan C (4P)

Unfortunately, we aren’t all perfect…

* COMPETITION WINNERS *

P A G E 8

Dates for your Diary

Mon 15th to Fri 19th May Walk to School week

Tue 16th May “Shoesday”

Tue 23rd May 3.20pm Cake & toy sale (“WE Day” club)

Fri 26th May Last day of half term, school closes at 3.20pm

Mon 29th May to Fri 2nd June Half term break

Mon 5th June Pupils return to school

Thur 8th June School closed to pupils (General Election)

Mon 5th to Fri 9th June Y6 to France

Wed 7th June 10.45am Y6 children not attending French trip—first aid talk

Thur 8th June School closed (General Election)

Thur 15th June Y5 Chessington trip

Fri 16th June Class photographs

Fri 23rd June Pick-fest (PTA)

Wed 28th June 9-10am Y6 road safety talk

Weds 19th July Y3/4 sports day

Thur 20th July Y5/6 sports day

Thur 20th July Y6 Leavers’ disco (7-9pm)

Fri 21st July Y6 picnic (3-8pm)

Fri 21st July Last day of term, school closes at 1.30pm

Mon 24th July to Tue 5th September Summer break

Wed 6th September Pupils return to school

DAY TIME CLUB VENUE

MONDAY 12-12.45PM DWX GYMNASTICS HALL

12NOON CHESS CLUB MS ANDERSON’S OFFICE

3.20-4.30PM FOOTBALL KRAZEE Y3/4 FIELD

3.20-4.20PM SPANISH CLUB Y3 & Y4 4T

3.30-4.15PM JU-JITSU HALL

3.30-4.30/4.45PM SEW COOL SEWING CLUB Y4 BAY

TUESDAY LUNCHTIME DWX DRAMA HALL

3.20-4.30PM FOOTBALL KRAZEE Y5/6 FIELD

3.30-4.15PM JU-JITSU HALL

THURSDAY LUNCHTIME LEGO CLUB Y5 INTERVENTION ROOM

3.20-4.20PM BEES ATHLETICS (STARTS 27TH APRIL 2017) FIELD

3.20-4.20PM SPANISH CLUB Y5 & Y6 4T

3.20-4.30PM CRICKET KRAZEE Y4, 5 & 6 FIELD/PLAYGROUND

FRIDAY 8.15AM WIND BAND HALL

LUNCHTIME DWX TAP DANCING HALL

3.30-5PM POTTERY CLUB Y4 BAY

3.30-4.30PM STEPHANEEZ PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE CLUB HALL

Clubs