Christmas Newsletter

2nd December 2008


Dear Parents

I am writing to remind you of the many seasonal events we are having at school over the last two weeks of the Autumn term. Please ensure that pupils are sufficiently well organised to take a full part and to enjoy the activities. This letter also serves as an invitation to parents to join in many of the activities, which are an excellent way of entering into the spirit of the Christmas season.

Tues 2nd/Wed 3rd December
6:30pm J5 play (Aesop’s Fables), ReB play (Aladdin) and ReV play (Cinders)

Fri 5th
9am Friends Meeting
10.30am KG + Junior visiting Pantomime; Christmas Crackers

Tues 9th
1:00pm Senior school Christmas lunch


Wed 10th
7.30am CCF Field Day for L5 and some U4th (pupils notified) 11:45am KG Christmas Lunch
6pm KG Nativity Production (Royal Dockyard Church)


Thurs 11th
10:30am + Carol Service rehearsals, Rochester Cathedral
12.40pm Junior Christmas lunch
7pm Carol Service, Rochester Cathedral – All Junior & Senior School pupils to attend

Friday 12th
8.40am Pupils to attend school in PE kit/tracksuits
Registration / no assembly
P1 + P2 House Quiz Competition
10.30am KG & Junior Assembly
11.00am Senior School Assembly
11.30am KG House Cross Country Race
11.45am Junior Cross Country Race starts
12.00noon Senior Cross Country Race starts
1pm Presentation Ceremony (Jungle Gym)
Parents are warmly invited to watch the House Cross- country races.
1.10pm School closes for Christmas holidays
No after school supervision available

Thought for Today - Attendance at School Events
There are a number of events which take place each year and are an intrinsic part of school and your child’s education. Examples include the school carol service, CCF field days, sports days, after school fixtures and the summer prize giving services. Attendance at these events is a requirement and is considered a part of the school day. Indeed, the children are registered and if not present regarded as absent from school. I mention this to clarify the situation. Some parents/pupils are under the impression that these events are optional. Our ethos at Gad’s is that when joining you sign up to take a full part and actively support all that the school does. We make no secret of our values and expectations. If you wish your child to be able to pick and choose and only do the bits that you they like then perhaps Rochester Independent College might be better for you. You can wear what you like, turn up when you like and so on. However, I do question how that approach prepares people for life in the real world where most employers are pretty demanding and insist you conform with their expectations.

I cannot physically force parents or pupils to ensure that they play a full part in the life of the school and take part in these events. Indeed I would hope that these events are an interesting and fun part of school life. I equally realise that sometimes it is difficult when parents or children are unwell. Not surprisingly it is often the same people who do not show and it is worth pointing out that a lack of commitment will certainly be noted by the school and may well matter one day if-and-when things such as scholarships, bursaries, becoming a school prefect, and even retaining a place at our school are decided. I often say to pupils that “you will get the rewards that you deserve”, the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary!

School Carol Service, Rochester Cathedral
7pm Thursday 11th December
We shall once again be holding our Carol Service at Rochester Cathedral. By popular demand we will be joined by the Gravesend Salvation Army band who will help ensure the service concludes the Autumn term in a very special way.

All Junior and Senior pupils are expected to attend and will be seated with their parents, or if unaccompanied their form tutor, during the service. We very much hope that parents will join us that evening for what is usually an excellent service of exceptional quality. Kindergarten pupils are very welcome to join us providing they are accompanied by their parents. The service commences at 7pm. The Cathedral bells will be rung from 6:30pm onwards. Please try to ensure that you are seated in the Cathedral by 6:50pm.

Timings:
6.20pm Readers, performers, choir and staff to arrive at Rochester Cathedral to set up for Carol Service
7pm Carol service commences

Friday 12th December
House Cross Country Competition
On the final morning of the Autumn term our annual House Cross Country Competition will take place and this will involve all of the Kindergarten, Junior and Senior Pupils.

The Kindergarten will take part in a run around a course on the school fields. The course for Juniors and Seniors will start on the school playing fields and then cross Crutches Lane before doing a circuit of the Orchards and finishing back at the school playing field. The Senior course is about 3Km, the Juniors will run 2Km.

School will start as normal that day at 8:40am and children should attend in PE kit/tracksuits in preparation for the cross-country event. There will be a programme of activities, lessons and assemblies during the morning. Later that morning the races will start and finish near the Jungle Gym and parents are encouraged to come along and lend their support. Lunch in the form of hot soup and sandwiches will be provided for children who take school lunch. There will also be a refreshment stall operated by the Friends committee before and after the races.

Please note that school finishes at 1.10pm at the conclusion of a short presentation ceremony which follows the races. The children are then free to go home. There is no facility for after-school club that day and parents must either collect their children or make alternative arrangements for their care and supervision after that time.

Staff News
Major Adam Vintner Adam joined us as CCF Contingent Commander in June 2007 and was one of our better signings. He made a huge improvement in our CCF in the short time he was here. Sadly he was poached by King’s Canterbury to run their CCF. Apparently they have only 14 cadets at present and want him to redevelop it. It was a pity to lose him.

Since the start of the academic year we have appointed:
Capt Nick Hill as our new Contingent Commander. Nick is a graduate in Sports Science and Geography from the University of Surrey and will take over from 1st April 2009 on his return from Afghanistan. He was until recently Assistant Chief Instructor at the Cadet training Centre at Frimley Park and so knows the cadet training very well. He is leaving the Army with the long term ambition of gaining qualified teacher status, something which we can help him with here at Gad’s.

Miss Charlotte Bassett will be our new teacher of girl’s games/PE from 1st January 2009. Charlotte is a graduate of the University of Wales and currently teaches at the Folkestone Academy. She will replace Mrs Nelson who was on maternity leave until her resignation in September.

Mrs Wendy Black will also join us on 1st January 2009 as a Teaching Assistant for PE/Games. Wendy has been helping out two days per week this term and will help strengthen Kindergarten and Junior games in particular. Wendy has a daughter (Holly) in the Lower 4th.


I do hope you enjoy the various festive activities at our school. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the school Christmas card which this year was designed by Finn Warner, form ReV. The cards are available for sale from the school office in packs of ten at £3.50 per pack with all profits going to the Salvation Army.

In the meantime, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and an enjoyable New Year. I look forward to seeing the children again at the start of the Spring term on Tuesday, 6th January 2009.

Yours sincerely


DGC