CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

BLG/gpm                                                                     08^th October 2007

Dear Parent(s),

Reminder - This Thursday 11^th October 2007, there is a "drop-in" session between 4.00pm - 5.00pm, where you can pop in to see your child's class teacher without an appointment.

Yours sincerely,

B.L. Gellatly (Mrs.)

Headteacher

  CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

CP/gpm                                                                                                                  26^th September 2007

Dear Parent(s)

Nestle Cereals - Box Tops for Books

Nestle Cereals have teamed up with Dorling Kindersley for its Box Tops for Books scheme. This enables the school to claim high quality educational books for free.  Tokens can be collected from the tops of special packs of Nestle breakfast cereals and cereal bars. Box Tops for Books does not encourage parents to buy products they would not already have in the house. The scheme runs from September to March 2008. Please bring the tokens into school and place in the box in the school hall. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs C Parker

Key Stage 2 Co-Ordinator

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

BLG/gpm                                                  25th September 2007

Dear Parent(s),

Harvest Festival - Harvest assembly will take place on Tuesday 02^nd October 2007 at 8.50a.m.  It will be led by Reverend L Cornwell.  We look forward to you joining us.  This year our harvest gifts will be given to the Churches in Reading Drop-In Centre for the homeless and needy.

Please could you send gifts from the list above with your child on Tuesday morning.  Please do not send baked beans/tinned pasta as they have in excess of 1000 tins in their store!  Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

B.L. Gellatly (Mrs.)

Headteacher

  CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

AUTUMN TERM - NEWSLETTER

Dear Parent(s)                                                                                                       13^th September 2007

Welcome back to our school for the Autumn Term.  A warm welcome to new families, who have joined us this academic year. I hope you and your children will be happy at our school.

Staffing

This term we welcome Miss Jackson, Mrs Liptrot and Mrs Hilton-Gee. I know you will support them in settling into our school. Congratulations also to Mrs Parker who married in the Summer holidays.

Absence

Children of school age, by law, must attend school regularly.  If you need to ask for leave of absence this must be done before the absence is taken. I am only legally allowed to authorise 10 school days each year, more than this is counted as unauthorised absence.

Please can I emphasise that holiday should only be taken during term time if it cannot be taken during school holidays.  Also if a child has two weeks holiday each year, by the end of Year 6 this equates to a whole term out of school.

We also have in place a ‘first day call' system.  If you do not contact us on the first day of your child's absence we will contact you.  To reduce the number of calls we have to make, if your child is unwell please telephone school on the first day of absence, if possible before 9.30 a.m.  Thank you.

Behaviour

We are very proud of the behaviour of the children in our care.  To this end we have a system of rewards and termly certificates.  Teachers will contact parents specifically to share positive feedback.  Certificates are awarded to the children for achievement in work or behaviour, at the end of each term.  These are presented at our Friday assembly or at the end of term assembly.  The children are proud to receive these awards.

Conversely we have set procedures which are recorded in our Behaviour Policy for those occasions when a child's behaviour does not meet our expectations.  This is available in school, with all our policies for parents to read.

School Uniform

Winter uniform for both boys and girls includes a button to the neck white or grey shirt and a school tie, which can be purchased from the School Office for £2.00. Only watches and stud earrings may be worn. Earrings have to be removed for P.E. For P.E. children should wear a white t-shirt and black shorts. White polo shirts with the school logo for P.E. may be purchased from the National Schoolwear Centre.

Please encourage the children to dress smartly for school. Shirts should be tucked in and ties tied, so they are a reasonable length. We are trying to develop smart dress habits to prepare pupils for Secondary School and their working life.

Assemblies

You are very welcome to join us for Friday assembly at 8.50 a.m. On Friday we hold visitor, class or sharing assemblies. I will publish the list for this term, once it is confirmed.

Friday 14^th September 2007     -      House Captains & Prefects

Friday 21^st September 2007     -      Year 3 House Sorting

School Records

If you have changed any of your personal details e.g. home address, email address, mobile phone number, doctor's details, please notify the School Office. There have been occasions when we have not been able to contact parents, as we have not had an up to date mobile number. Please ensure you inform us whenever you change this.

Clubs

The clubs on offer this term are listed below. These will begin week commencing 17^th September except for Cookery club. This is unable to start on Thursday 20^th, due to a technical problem with the equipment but hopefully will commence on Thursday 27^th September.  If more than eight children apply a second group will start later in the term.    Children wishing to attend a club must return the permission slip signed by a parent. Slips can be obtained from the School Office. Please could you also emphasise to the children, that if they commit themselves to a club, they are expected to attend on a regular basis.

Autumn Term 2007 - School Clubs

There will be a Recorder Club one lunch time each week. Once the day has been agreed we will inform you.

If any parent is interested in running a club, please contact the school office or talk to me. Thank you.

Breaktime Snacks

The children are welcome to bring a snack to eat at playtime. Could I remind you they are only allowed fresh fruit or vegetables. Some of the older children have taken to eating crisps or cookies. This does not set the younger children a good example and contradicts our ‘healthy schools' policy. Please reinforce to the children that they should not be eating crisps/cookies etc. at playtime and these should be a treat as part of their packed lunch. Thank you.

Tesco Sport Vouchers

We are collecting these vouchers, so would appreciate any you may receive. If your child cannot locate the voucher box in the hall, they may be brought to the School Office.

Building Project

As the first day of term approached, it was with fear and trepidation that I wondered if we would ever be ready for the children and how they would cope with the disruption. All the rooms in the Key Stage 2 part of the building had to be packed up and covered as a new heating system has been installed.  With the support of fantastic staff, lots of hot water and elbow grease, we had all the Key Stage 2 classrooms ready for the first day.

Meanwhile two diggers were ‘residing' in the old office area and the front playground resembled a builders' yard. Thanks again to dedicated staff, signs were made and systems agreed to make the start of each day as straightforward as possible.

Thank you for making our first day back so streamlined in the morning and your continued support. We anticipate moving into our new offices by the middle of October. Just as you have become used to finding the present offices, we will be re-directing you.

We are hoping the Year 3 Classroom and new main entrance will be completed by mid November. There have been one or two set backs; when a drainage pit was found exactly where a new wall was to be constructed and then the workmen cut through a water pipe! However, my vision of having to despatch 190 children home was thankfully short-lived, when a wellington-booted young plumber capped the leaking pipe and saved the day.

The children as always have been accepting of the changes in routine and settled well, not that I would have expected anything less!! I will of course keep you updated regarding further progress and look forward to a fantastic new look to our school.

Forthcoming Events

Macmillan Coffee Morning - This event will be held after assembly until 11.15 a.m in the dinning hall on Friday 28^th September. Any offers of cakes or raffle items to Mrs Pandya, Mrs Velzian or Mrs Watson. I do hope you will support this event.

PTA Quiz Night - A popular event to be held on Saturday 29^th September. Please refer to PTA flyers.

Our Annual Harvest Festival Assembly - will be held on Tuesday 2^nd October at 8.50 a.m. As Reverend Cornwell does not work on  Friday, we have decided to hold this on the day she normally leads our assembly. Further details will follow regarding this assembly.

Parents ‘Drop-In' Session - This is to be held on Thursday 11^th October from 4.00 - 5.00 p.m. This is an informal time for you to ‘drop-in' to see your child's teacher to discuss any concerns/issues which have arisen to date. Formal parent's evenings, with set appointments will be held later in the term.

Please refer to the attached list of dates for the term for all the events planned. Further details for each event will follow nearer its date.

I look forward to a successful year and hope that if you have any concerns, you will arrange to come in and see me about them.

Yours sincerely

B L Gellatly (Mrs)

Headteacher

 St John's News

The newsletter of St John the Baptist Church, Crowthorne     http://www.crowthorneparishchurch.org.uk/   September 2007

Vicar's Column

September sees the beginning of our experimental new pattern for evening worship. To remind you, where unaffected by seasonal variations and CTC services, the general pattern will be as follows:

            1^st Sunday - Healing & Wholeness service

           2^nd Sunday - Choral Evensong

            3^rd Sunday - Evening Prayer

            4^th Sunday - Alternative Worship alternating with Taizé

            5^th Sunday - Youth Service

I will comment upon the "Healing & Wholeness" service in the next issue, for now, I would like to shed some light upon the background and nature of "Alternative Worship". Those of you came to the Alternative worship for Trinity Sunday will already have had a "taster".

It has been observed that most people feel as uncomfortable in church as most Christians do in a betting shop. (I wonder if that has any bearing upon why the Greenbelt Christian Arts festival that I attended on the bank holiday is held at Cheltenham Racecourse?!) It often seems, even to Christians, as though churches inhabit a different world from the one we spend most of our lives in - the language, the music, the ritual can seem alien. There exists a gulf between popular culture and church. Alternative worship is about bridging that gap. It uses the stuff of every day; it seeks God in the ordinary as well as the extra-ordinary.

Alternative worship is a worldwide movement seeking to heal this disconnection between our lives and the ways we express our faith. In order to achieve direct and authentic spiritual expression, communities flatten hierarchies and structures and open up services to almost any kind of input.[1]

Alternative worship began in Britain in the late 1980's. It was "post-charismatic", rejecting the culture of chorus singing and the worship group with worship leader, against a performance-based musical idiom, in favour of one of communal celebration and participation. (Leadership is de-emphasised.) A distinctive feature of alternative worship has been a revival of interest in the worship traditions of the church, embracing form, set prayers and liturgical patterns. This stands in contrast to the trend of the charismatic renewal, a "modernizing" move, which tended to take a more negative view of tradition. Alternative worship has been labelled "post-modern", because of the way it combines the use of advanced technology and techniques with a pick and mix approach to the worship traditions of the church. Fragments of liturgical tradition are juxtaposed with contemporary media. The riches of catholic liturgical tradition - texts, chants, rituals, icons, use of colour and gesture - are appropriated in a way that is playful as well as serious, eclectic as well as respectful.

Alternative worship is the first church movement to employ recorded music as its normal means of expression. Live music can still play a part, but musicians are not set apart on stage as "worship leaders". Singing is not seen as the main vehicle for worship and services may have no songs at all. Everything in life is considered as a potential place of encounter with God, so there is no sacred-secular distinction made in the music. Much of it is secular from Pink Floyd to Madonna, because people have perceived a spiritual content in it, or because it ties in with the theme of the service. The result is that worship has the same soundtrack as the rest of life, but the church context changes the way the music is heard.

Anglican Common Worship services are still often regarded as being too "wordy". Research suggests that part of our brains are specialised for language and part for other forms of information, including imagery. We need to see it, to experience it, to let our imaginations be engaged. Alternative worship is much influenced by conceptual art and symbols, where people interact with objects or environments. We need these opportunities in our worship for the expression of the whole human person. God has made us whole beings, body, mind and spirit; our physicality and spirituality are entwined. Whether, high tech or low tech, it is about making creative use of whatever is available.

Alternative worship helps us to step outside of the box; to think and feel in our worship. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that alternative worship is primarily for youth (although, youth ministry has often been the back door for renewing the church). Alternative worship crosses age barriers. Come and sample something a little different - experiential, multi-sensory, reflective, stimulating, relaxing, engaged, connected.... meet God where you are.

In the main the services will not be Eucharistic but our initial service will take the form of a Meditative Eucharist, which will use words sparingly and actions carefully, to gently draw us into communion with God. (The opposite of the Café Eucharist we had in the summer!) I would very much like to form a small group of people to be involved in the planning, preparation and delivery of future alternative worship services. Please speak to me if you are interested. 

Rev'd Lisa Cornwell

On August 5^th the coffee and doughnuts served up at the 10 o'clock service went down a storm!  The difference was that they were eaten throughout the usual service with the congregation sitting comfortably around tables laid out in the Church Hall.

Lisa decided that as August has a holiday feel to it and with several families on holiday, it might be worth trying out a Cafe Eucharist service as an experiment. There was some excellent feedback after the service with many people enjoying what may become an annual event?

A freshly baked loaf of bread was used for the communion and each table delegated somebody to go up and collect their consecrated wine. The people on each table then delivered communion to each other in one of many moving moments of the service.

The liturgy was delivered to the congregation via a PowerPoint presentation and Wesley accompanied us on the piano for each hymn and the Taise chant during the intercessions.

Yet more coffee and a few more doughnuts were seen off after the service and it appears that this service may be requested again next summer!

The first meeting in September will be on Tuesday 4^th at 8pm when we welcome the Revd Gerald Shaw as our celebrant.  The service will be followed by Coffee in the Hall with a chance to catch up on News.  Earlier in the day there is a Deanery Quiet Day to be held at Arborfield, l0-3pm.  Please take a packed lunch.

On Wednesday 12^th 2.15 pm in the Hall, Evensong, then Lisa will be talk on her First Year in Crowthorne

Monday 17^th 9.30am in the Lady Chapel the Prayer Group meets, and on Wednesday 26^th l0 am in the Lady Chapel MU Corporate Communion.

The MU will again be supporting the Shoe Box appeal - so now is the time to start looking for items to fill them.

Supporting a Mongolian Orphanage

Dom Burrell is aiming to go to Mongolia in Summer 2008 for a month including project work in an orphanage. The expedition is being organised by Reading School and Adventure Lifesigns. To be able to go he must raise the money himself. To this end Dom is offering his services for any task e.g. car washing, shopping, baby sitting, brass band concerts!!! Tel:775644.  All donations will be gratefully received

Harvest Festival

Back to Church Sunday

Sunday 30th September 2007 10 am

This year, the national Back to Church Sunday campaign has chosen 30^th September as the date to encourage non-attenders to come 'back to church' . St John's Harvest Festival service is also on the 30^th, so if you have a friend, relative or neighbour who hasn't been to church for a while, why not invite them to come along on that day and join us in our non eucharistic family harvest thanksgiving to God for all that He gives us?

The groceries and other goods offered at the service will be sent to those in need.

Look out for the specially printed Back to Church invitations, which have two parts: one side which you detach, where you can write the name of the person you want to invite and then give it to them, and then the other side you keep as a prayer aide, as you may wish to pray that the person you invite will respond to the invitation and come back to church.

The 'Back to Church' cards will be handed out at regular services during September, or ask Tom Jasper or Ken Perrett.

Harvest Supper

Saturday 29^th September 2007,  7pm

entertainment from

CROWTHORNE CHIMES

Tickets available from 9^th September

(advance purchase only)

Confirmation 2007 update

The Emmaus course resumes after the summer break - Adult group on Mon 3^rd September (at the Vicarage) and the junior group on Tuesday 11^th September in church. For Juniors there will be the customary day workshop and outing to Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 6^th October and the group will be involved in taking the service on Sunday 7^th October. The Confirmation service will be taken by Bishop Stephen at 10am on Sunday 14^th October. Please do come the day to join in the worship and support the candidates - there were spare seats last year!

Fairtrade

Please note that during September, the Fairtrade stall will be available for purchases after the Sunday morning services on the 2^nd, 16^th and 30^th.

Talkabout is on Monday 10th September at 12.30pm. Marie-Anne Phillips, a Countryside Ranger is coming to talk on "Children in the Outdoors".  We welcome new people to the meetings.

Sunday School:  We start back on 9^th September and welcome new help this term from Sue Rance, Lisa Kemball, Alison Sheppard and Laura Myers.

Many thanks to Rebecca Sutherland for all her hard work with Sunday School over the last few years-we hope you enjoy getting your Saturdays back!!

30^th September is Harvest when Sunday School will meet in the hall and then go to sit together as a group in church, so please come along as normal.

Half-term is 21^st/28^thOctober. Remembrance Sunday is 11^th November. There will be no Sunday School on these three weeks.

Our last session before Christmas will be 16^th December, though we will as usual be involved with the Crib service on Christmas Eve.                                                                                          Vanessa Burrell

Pathfinders:  We are hoping to arrange a trip on September 29^th to The Anvil , Basingstoke for a Sing-along-a-Joseph (price £10). This involves watching the original Joseph film starring Donny Osmond and singing along to all the songs.  Stripy coats and teatowels are optional but recommended.  Please could you let Nicola (773280) or Anna (773811) know if you are interested so there is an idea of numbers. It should be a fun evening.

Pathfinders will lead our first ever evening Youth Service on Sept 30^th.  Music will be available for practice at Pathfinders.

THE BIBLE SOCIETY

The Bible Society is one of the missions that St. John's  supports.  It was started in 1804 and now has a network of 130 Bible Societies operating in 200 countries. It's aim is to make the bible heard everywhere through a global alliance of supporters, churches and other organisations.

On 11^th September 2007, Ethiopia celebrates it's millennium and The Bible Society has launched a project to get the bible's message to 15 million people across the country by delivering bibles to churches, schools, hospitals and prisons.  Many events have also been planned including a bible reading marathon, sports tournaments, arts festivals, bible quizzes and we pray that this project will be extremely successful.

Ethiopia is surrounded by Muslim countries and there are border disputes that constantly threaten to erupt in violent clashes.  It has a rich Christian tradition and was one of the first countries in the world to adopt the Christian faith.  It is hoped that by putting the Bible at the centre of the millennium celebrations, the people will take its message to their hearts.

Jennifer Sanders, Bible Society Representative

Churches Together in Crowthorne

There will be a United Service of Choral Evensong at St James' Church Finchampstead on 2^nd September at 6pm.  This will be followed by the AGM of CTC.  CTC will be seeking a new Chair and Vice Chair.  All welcome.

Hooray for the new term!

Choir practice starts again on

Thursday September 6^th

6.45 for Juniors, 7.15 for adults

We would enjoy some meeting some new members  SOPRANOS (that's 'singing the tune'!) are especially welcome.

Juniors - boys and girls - don't forget: you can also attend Sunday School; AND we offer reasonable rates of pay for attendance

(good pocket money for Christmas!)

Christmas Singers

are most welcome after half term (Nov 1^st)

Nine Lessons and Carols Sunday December 16^th

Christmas services - guaranteed seat in the choir stalls!

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

We assisted with the cafe style Eucharist in Aug. happily providing coffee, doughnuts & teacakes and welcomed the extra help in the kitchen afterwards.

We are now planning the Harvest Supper Saturday Sept 29^th 7pm featuring Crowthorne Chimes. Tickets available 9^th Sept.  Please purchase in advance.

Colin Nicholls will give us the benefit of his knowledge and expertise at a Wine tasting for the Festive season towards the end of Nov.      Jill Pope

PARISH DIARY

September

Sun 2^nd 6pm CTC Choral Evensong, St James, AGM

Mon 3^rd Emmaus/confirmation  course restarts

Tue 4^th 8pm MU Eucharist with Rev Gerald Shaw

Sun 9^th 10am First Sunday School of term

        6.30pm Evening Prayer

Mon 10^th 12.30pm Talkabout Children in the outdoors

Tue 11^th 8pm PCC

Wed 12^th 2.15pm MU My first year   Lisa Cornwell

Sun 23^rd 6.30pm Alternative Worship

Sat 29^th 7pm Harvest Supper

        Pathfinders Sing-along-a-Joseph, Basingstoke

Sun 30^th 10am Harvest/Back to Church non-eucharistic family service, all welcome

        6.30pm Youth Service

October

Sun 7^th 6.30pm Iona style Healing Service

Oct 14^th 10am Confirmation

Regular Weekly Services:

Sunday 8am, 10am and 6.30pm

Wednesday:  10am Communion,

                     10.45am Mother & Toddler Service

Friday: 6.15pm Prayers for the Sick

[1] Steve Collins - member of ‘Grace' alternative worship community in Ealing.

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

10^th September 2007

Dear Parent(s),

Parents Information Evening  - We would like to invite you to our Parents Information evening on Thursday 20^th September from 6.30 - 7.30 p.m..  This is an opportunity for you to speak with your child's teacher and learn of the curriculum being taught and the routines of the class.  Following this meeting each parent will receive a copy of the homework timetable, if you have not already received this, and an overview of the curriculum for the term.

This year we have organised the evening a little differently.  We will serve refreshments between 6.30 and 6.45 p.m..  Reception, Years 1, 4 and 5 teachers will give their talk to parents at 6.45 p.m.  Years 2, 3 and 6 teachers will start their talks at 7.05 p.m..  Whilst I appreciate this will not accommodate all parents with children in more than one year group, it should mean the majority of you will be able to hear the relevant presentations.

I would value your views on the success of these changes after the event.  Please complete the attached proforma so we can provide adequate refreshments.  We look forward to seeing you on 20^th September.

Yours sincerely,                                                                                

B. L. Gellatly (Mrs.)

Headteacher

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Child's name:.......................................................  Class.......................

I will/will not be attending the Parents Information evening on Thursday 20^th September 2007 from 6.30 - 7.30 p.m..

Signed.................................................................................................