NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.06

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Each day just before we start lunch in the Dining Hall, we would like one of our older children to read out a brief 'Thought for the Day' to help everyone think about other people and matters.
We would like the ideas to come from the children so we are asking our girls and boys to have a think about this at home and then present them on A4 paper, either word processed, or in your best handwriting and decorated. Please include your name.
All entries will be kept in a special folder in the Dining Hall.

FOOTBALL MATCH REPORT
On Tuesday 9th October the girls' football team played Southdown. Newbridge got off to a good start with good chances. Then Southdown conceded a penalty, which Frances missed, but she smashed the rebound in. Then Romany kicked the ball and it rebounded off a Southdown player and went in. Then Ellie blasted two in to make the score 4 – 0.
In the second half I put one away and Tish slotted another in. Sydney took a penalty but unfortunately the keeper tipped it over the bar. Ellie scored two more and then Southdown conceded another penalty. This time Keira took it and slotted it between the keepers legs. The match ended with a final score of 9 – 0 to Newbridge.
We would like to thank Miss Newton and Miss Donnelly for coaching and supporting us. By Franny, Ellie and Keira.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Wednesday 17/10/09 – Book Fair
Thursday 18/10/09 – Elm Assembly – 2.45pm
Parents' Evening
Saturday 20/10/09 – Year 5/6 Football Tournament

PLEASE NOTE
If you child is suffering from sickness and diarrhoea it is imperative that they do not return to school until 48 hours after the last bout. Many thanks for your co-operation in this matter.

WANTED
The Green Club is in need of a supply of manure. If you can help please contact Miss Simpson or Miss Barratt. Thank you.

YEAR 6 FRENCH BREAKFAST
Year 6 will be having 'Le Petit Dejeuner' on Friday 19th October from 9.10 – 10.55am.
Any confident French speaking adults are invited to join the fun! Please let Miss Simpson know if you can join us.
If anyone has a set of Boules that we could borrow for the morning, please see Miss Simpson. Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 'STARS OF THE WEEK'
Years 1 and 2
Summayyah, Adam
Cameron, Harry, Isaac
Years 3 and 4
Samuel, Molly
Louis, Harry
Years 5 and 6
Ellie, Jeorgia, Joe
Iona, Eloise, Callum
PPA Music
Martha, Ashley
PPA Art
Elizabeth, Thomas,Yasmin
PPA PE
Katrina, Ross, Joe

TRAVEL PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE
We realise that you have had rather a lot of questionnaires recently but we are asking for your help once more. This will be the last for a while!
One of the conditions behind our planning approval for the new building on site is the need for an updated travel plan. In addition, we all have an interest in making sure that the journey to and from school is as risk-free and as healthy as possible. To this end your assistance in completing and returning the attached questionnaire by next Friday 19th October is greatly appreciated.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT BUS TRAVEL TO SCHOOL?
Did you know that many of the buses that our secondary school children take to and from school are:
Overcrowded?
Unreliable?
Slow?
Overpriced?
This may not be an issue that affects your family yet, but it will do before too long! If you are concerned about it, please join our campaign. It's quick and easy to do and it will make a real difference – the more support we have, the more effective we can be.
Background
A group of parents is trying to get permanent, positive solutions to the problems facing our children as they travel to and from school by bus.
Following a meeting held at Ralph Allen School on 1st October 2007 with First Buses, BANES officers and councillors, Don Foster MP, parents and school students - which led to some temporary improvements to the hardest hit routes plus a commitment from First to undertake reviews on pricing - we are now planning what to do next in order to get some positive and permanent changes. The news that BANES has just been granted over £50 million to improve transport in the city gives us a real opportunity to lobby for our children to be taken into consideration as part of the spending process.

Our 1st action is to collect a list of everybody who is concerned about this issue:
a.So that we can see how many people are concerned: the more support we have, the more notice BANES and First Buses are likely to take.
b.So that we can let you know what our next action will be.

What you can do?
1. Join our campaign.
All you need to do at this stage is register your concern by joining our online campaign group on Facebook.

There are two ways of doing this:
a. Join direct by visiting:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5333043278
b. Ask us to send you an invitation to join the Facebook group by sending your email address to:
bathschoolbus@googlemail.com
The online group will be a quick, easy and cheap way for us to keep everyone up-to-date with what’s going on and to ask you to do something if there’s an action planned: eg sign a petition, contact your councillor etc.

2. Spread the word.
Although it started there, this campaign – like the issue - isn’t limited to Ralph Allen. Parents at other secondary schools are equally concerned, so please tell your friends and neighbours about our campaign and ask them to join in.

3. Tell us if you have particular skills that you’d be prepared to use for the campaign. Please contact us, putting "Skills in the subject line, at:
bathschoolbus@googlemail.com

Thank you for your support.
Susie Wright Newbridge Primary School & Ralph Allen School parent

NPSA NEWS
Following the last meeting of the Newbridge Primary School Association (NPSA) on Monday 24th September 2007, we can now confirm the list of officers and class reps for 07/08. An enormous thank you goes out to outgoing officers from last year, Ally Richardson, Anna Whitson and Jonathan Whitehead. Stephanie Massie has thankfully agreed to continue in her role as Treasurer – one big job with all the ReNewbridge monies flowing in – thank you Stephanie for all your hard work.
As you can see we are still in need of Class Reps for 1HO, 4P, 6B, 6N, 6S. If you are interested in this important role and would like to know what it involves, please drop a note with your name and contact number in the NPSA tray at the Main Reception. You can share the job with another person if you like. Your school needs you!
The 2007/2008 NPSA committee is made up of the following people:
Chair - Jackie Ainsworth
Vice Chair - Sarah Webb
Secretary - Jo Stevenson
Treasurer - Stephanie Massie
Class Representatives
Willow - Lucy Hanney and Theresa Weston
Elm - Tracey Fielding and Emma Pickard
1HO - ?
1H - Cabi Grosvenor
2S - Amanda Vowles
2RB- Pauline Sparrow
2GB - Julie Tolley
3C - Anna Whitson
3H - Lesley Waters
4P - ?
4A- Sarah Lyne
5D - Jo Stevenson
5W - Anne Thomas
5C - Ally Richardson
6B, 6N and 6S - ?

NPSA Upcoming Events
Auction of Promises - Friday 23rd November - look out for further info on this cracking fundraising event in upcoming newsletters.
Christmas Fair - Friday 7th December. This annual event takes place all around the school campus and is a firm favourite for the children as well as an important fundraiser. This will run from 5-7pm with numerous stalls and entertainment. We need helpers! The more stalls we can run, the more fun we have, the more money we raise! If you can spare some time, even if it is just half an hour, please fill in the form below and return to your class rep (listed above) - if your class hasn't got a rep yet, please hand it to the class teacher and it will be collected. There will be a Christmas Fair planning meeting next Monday 15th October at 8pm at the Boathouse pub. Your company and contribution would be greatly appreciated.
Cake Sales - These happen every term on a given Friday and are run by parents from 2 different years - the first one for this year is on Friday 2nd November and will be managed by Years 1 and 6. All parents/carers from those years will be asked to donate cakes to be sold and there will be help needed on the day to shift the goodies.

NEXT NPSA MEETING
TUESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER AT 7:30PM IN THE BLUE ROOM. If you haven't been to a meeting before, please come along – your thoughts and ideas are always welcomed - and we will supply wine and nibbles and a laugh or two.