Newsletter 27

Newsletter 27, published on 23 April 2010, is now available to view.

Features this week include St George's Day, a Sponsored Haircut, an International Day and the Summer Term Headteacher Question.

Also important dates for your diary have been added to the newsletter.

Special days this week

Sunday 29 November - Advent Sunday and the start of Advent

Monday 30 November - St Andrew's Day

How much do you know about December?
Facts, superstitions, traditions and customs

Tuesday 1 December - First day of our Round the World Advent Calendar
Find out how Christmas is celebrated in countries around the world. This year we have added more countries.

New website resource: River Keyword search

Newsletter 10

Newsletter 10, published on 20th November 2009, is now available to view.

Features this week include the ParentMail service, next week's Book Fair, the School Disco and a reminder about wearing the right school uniform and PE kit.

Also some athletics news and an appeal from Eco Club for sewing materials.

Newsletter 9

Newsletter 9, published on 13th November 2009, is now available to view.

Features this week include Remembrance Day, a report on the Year 4 Trip, information on the Year 6 Residential Trip, the latest Charity Stall and notice of forthcoming events (School Disco, Own Clothes Day and the ever popular Book Fair).

Newsletter 8

Newsletter 8, published on 6th November 2009, is now available to view. Features this week include Remembrance Day Poppies, Secondary School Admissions, the NSPCC Appeal (guess how much we raised?), Pocket Money Stalls and various reminders.

Newsletter 38

Newsletter 38 published on 10 July 2009, is now available to view.

Features this week include news on the LEPRA Fundraising, the District Sports, Drumming Workshops and more.

1st May is May Day

The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole. It also marks the the start of Well Dressings in the Peak District. Wells, springs or other water sources are 'dressed' (decorated) with pictures made from things that grow such as parts of plants.
Follow this link for customs and traditions about May

St George's Day

St George's Day is on Thursday 23 April, it is England's national day.

• Facts and information about St George's Day with photos
• The Legend of St. George and the Dragon with photos
• The Real St George
• What is England Famous for?
• Symbols of England

Why is the day before Easter called Good Friday?

The name is derived from 'God's Friday' in the same way as good bye is derived from 'God be with ye'.

In Germany, the Friday before Easter is called Silent Friday, and in Greece, Holy or Great Friday.

Further Reading
Good Friday Superstitions
Friday 10th April 2009 - What is Good Friday?
Sunday 12 April 2009 - Easter Sunday / Easter
Monday 13 April 2009 - Easter Monday

Maundy Thursday (9 April 2009)

This Thursday is known as Maundy Thursday in the Christian calendar. On this day, Queen Elizabeth will attend St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury to present Maundy purses to 166 Suffolk pensioners.

Each recipient will be given two purses – a red purse containing a £5 coin celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII and a 50p coin to mark the founding of Kew Gardens, and a white purse containing 83p in Maundy coins.

You can read more about Maundy Thursday on our website.

Quick links to Special days

Easter is the oldest and the most important Christian Festival.

Sunday 5th April - Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week
Thursday 9 the April - Maundy Thursday
Friday 10th April - Good Friday
Sunday 12 April - Easter Sunday / Easter

Teaching Resources for Easter including an Easter quiz

Mother's Day

Mother's day in Britain is also known as Mothering Sunday. It always falls half way through Lent on Refreshment Sunday. This year Mother's Day will be on 22 March.

Mother's Day in other countries fall on different days. Most countries celebrate Mother's Day in May. Many of our visitors have shared how and when they celebrate Mother's Day in their country and so we have now created a special page on Mother's Day in other Countries.