Newsletter - Summer Term, 06.06.17
The Marching Band is tuning up and a wonderful musical interlude is in its final stages of preparation, which can only mean one thing: Sports Day! After intense days of exams for the entire school, sportsmanship and camaraderie will be the order of the day on Saturday, ahead of a very well-earned half-term break.
Academic News
We wish every candidate throughout the school ‘good luck’ in their exam endeavours this week.
Sports Round-Up
“This was a game of two halves”, reported Mr Walker. “To a man, each one of my players was poor in the field today, and I don’t often say that. Although there were some genuinely outstanding moments (catches from Ollie & Baron), everyone was guilty of a field-fail and looked jaded, possibly due to the 11 day break since the Brambletye game”.
The tide turned after a mid-innings pep talk and it certainly seemed to do the trick: “Matteo was unfortunate to lose his leg stump first ball to an excellent delivery from the best bowler we have faced this year, and Ollie was out in the 2nd over. At 11-2 I was concerned, but Alex (48) and Sam (19*), and then Will (16*), showed technique, resilience and guile to guide the team home for their 6th win from 6 matches played this year. Much better!” said a happier Mr Walker.
This win equals the team’s longest winning streak (6, 13th June 2012 – 8th May 2013).
Milestones:
Baron took his first catch today (what a blinder, one handed at slip)
Will took his first catch (not as spectacular, but still very good, at short fine-leg)
Alex has passed 250 1st XI runs (252 @ 31.5) and has moved into the all-time Run-Scorers Top 20 (12th place)
Ollie has also moved into the all-time Wicket-Takers Top 20 with his 4-29 today – also 12th place.
Ollie and Alex were awarded their Pink Ties last week, congratulations to them. Mr Walker is hoping to award more over the next couple of weeks.
“I thought this would be the biggest test of the season —and I wasn’t wrong”, commented Mr Walker. “Winning the toss helped us to save this game, as Cumnor’s big hitters would have chased down any total we could have posted. Following the disappointment of last week’s performance, we had a good training session and a good hour before the game”.
“Concentration was much better and, as a result, the performance in the field was excellent. We looked sharp and we were brave. Everyone saved runs around the field and we took 6 good catches”.
“Chasing 186 was never likely to happen, particularly against Cumnor’s excellent bowling attack, and even less so once Ollie and Alex were out without scoring. However, Sam & Will P continued their recent good form to put on 36 for the 4th wicket, and then Harry joined Sam to put on 38 for the 5th. The three 4th Formers batted out 145 balls between them to save this game, which bodes very well for next year”.
"Matteo looked solid to see it through to the end of what was a very good afternoon’s cricket and a very good all-round performance”.
Milestones:
Sam has passed 100 1st XI Runs (136 @ 27.25)
Will M took his 5th 1st XI catch this afternoon
(Will P has 99 1st XI Runs)
2nd XI v Ashdown: won by 5 wickets
“A good win away to a main rival”, commented Mr Butler. “We bowled well and took some excellent catches. This restricted Ashdown to 57 all out. We made a bit of a hash of chasing such a modest total but thankfully got there due to an excellent partnership between Isadore (16) and Kit (18no). It was encouraging seeing the younger members of the team stepping up”. Man of the Match was awarded to Kit.
Mr Butler reports: “Cumnor wanted to play a pairs game, unusual for under 13s. So this was more of a practice match where everyone got the chance to bat and bowl. Each pair faced 3 overs and then had to retire. Each batsman lost 5 runs every time they were out. Too many of our batsmen kept getting out! Yet again it was the younger players who stepped up”. Man of the Match was Alex D.
A delighted Mr A-B commented: “This was an impressive victory against a weaker opposition. Our batting showed purpose today with some excellent running between the wickets, especially Freddie K who carried his bat throughout the innings for a career best 26*. Had we have done the same against Ashdown last match, we would have won that too. Our solid total allowed several of our ‘wannabe’ bowlers to get stuck in which Drummond, Rafferty and Arthur certainly did, finishing the match in under twelve overs of their innings. Well done, boys!”
Although the girls were defeated, Mrs Watkin was pleased that the team changes made for a more enthusiastic and competitive team spirit with some fine individual performances. The score belied a closer match up. Losing at half time by a big margin, we actually won the second half. Our fielding was slick and efficient, our batting more powerful. Girl of the Game awards went to Tallulah and Isobel, for batting and fielding respectively. Mrs Watkin’s own best personal performance choice was to Abigail, who played with restored confidence. Mrs Watkin hopes we can build on this more positive attitude. “Well done!” she said.
2nd Team v Ashdown: won 22.5-6.5
Superb fielding was the order of the day, with brilliant play from Abigail, scooping the highest scorer accolade and with Sophie (Girl of the Game) and Tierney also brilliant on backstop.
U9/10 v Ashdown: won 22.5-18
This was a great game with confident play and really good team cohesion: a close match which was won on the strength of the batting. “Well done girls”, said Mrs Perry. The next match focus will be the fielding. Girls of the Game were Gesi (batting) Rosie WD (fielding).
U8/9 v Brambletye: lost 19-17
This was a very close match, fantastic fielding with lots of catches and stumping out. Mrs Perry commented that the area to work on is the deep fielding and getting the ball straight to 4th once the opposition player has passed 2nd post. “Again great team work, well done”, she enthused. Girl of the Game was Layla.
Pre-prep news
After a happy day of beach activities the youngest Cottesmorians are focused on their Sports Day, to be held this Friday afternoon 9th June and followed by tea in the Headmaster’s garden.
The events this year will start with a track race, after which the children will go round in groups to different field activities. Sports Day will end with track races, after which the children will certainly be ready for a drink and a lolly! Everyone has their fingers crossed that the current autumnal weather will blow through in good time.
After half term everyone is invited to watch their child’s swimming lesson on Wednesday 28th June and to meet our fantastic swimming teachers, Elaine Placitelli and Dawn Hooley. The times will be staggered a little so that the youngest children aren’t overwhelmed by a large audience and will be as follows: Reception, 1.10-1.35; Year 1, 1.35-2.00, Year 2 and 3, 2.00-3.00.
Also after term it will be full steam ahead to prepare for the Pre-prep summer concert, which will be held in the Hall at 2pm on Friday 30th June.
Here’s their weekly class news:
Reception
The Reception class will be making a postcard in ICT using a program from the BBC. In Maths they will be practising counting in 1s 5s 10s to 100 and consolidating their subtraction methods, as well as practising writing using the correct symbols. The children will be writing a speech bubble after sharing the book ‘Rover’ and sharing some poems on the theme of the beach. For their artwork, they will be creating a giant seascape adding in their own sea creatures. Practising for Sports Day on Friday will be an important part of the week, and enjoying celebrating ours and others’ achievements.
Year 1
This week in Creative Writing Year 1 will be looking at speech bubbles and how to use them in their written work. They will also be writing about their trip to the beach. The children will continue to weigh using non-standard and standard weights and will be revising Time.
In Science the children are looking forward to going down to the pond to look for tadpoles. They are also going to finish their clay work and their paintings of butterflies and caterpillars.
Year 2
This week Year 2 are continuing to look at the text ‘Maise’s Dragon’. They are going to create a ‘fact file’ about their own imaginary animal, exploring different settings using interesting words and phrases. The children will start to plan their own ‘Maise’ story using their fact files, new characters and settings. In Maths this week the children will add and subtract 1-digit numbers to and from 2-digit numbers; subtract 2-digit numbers by counting back in tens and ones; add two 2-digit numbers by counting in 10s, then adding 1s and add 2-digit numbers using 10p and 1p coins.
In Science they will be concluding their plant growth experiments and on Thursday the sunflowers and radishes will be taken home. In Art Year 1 will be finishing their fire-breathing dragons and making a type of Chinese dragon puppet.
Year 3
This week during English sessions Year 3 will begin the new topic of Pirates. They will complete comprehension activities about famous pirates and will then write their own biographies about an imaginary pirate. During Maths sessions will continue to practise telling the time, converting readings between digital, analogue and the 24 hour clock. The children will then revise money, looking at coin value and solving problems.
In Science they will complete their topic of plants by learning about pollination and in Geography will learn about the formation of volcanoes. In RS the children will continue to learn about the Islamic faith, this week discovering its special festivals. In Art they will finish their LS Lowry townscapes.
Dorm Doings
Well done to Alan, Huw, Sophie R and Phoebe S. who were awarded Dorm Stars last week.
Sunday Fundays
The dry weather left the would-be strawberry pickers a little disappointed last weekend as the fruit had yet to ripen; however they will have another chance after half-term. There were however lots of relaxing activities to occupy everyone in school on Sunday ahead of a very busy week.