Page 52 - Phonebox Magazine August 2011

News from Lavendon School
Milton Keynes District Athletics Final
Lavendon school were delighted to have three pupils representing them at the Milton Keynes District athletics Final on saturday 9th July.
Lucy rawlings (y6) - senior Girls Long Jump, abigail Jones (y4) - Junior Girls Long Jump and rachel shaw (y3) - Junior Girls throwing. all the girls competed very well in their event and demonstrated a great attitude
and enthusiasm for their sport. there was extra celebration within the Lavendon school team when our two Long Jumpers gained medals! Lucy received a Bronze Medal and abigail a silver Medal both up against some strong competition. although rachel didn't get a medal she threw a personal best and qualified fourth in her event which was a great achievement - well done!
a great success girls, the school is very proud of you.
Lavendon School Choir
Lavendon school Choir, an after school club run by Gill toosey, the director of the Olney Community Choir, performed in front of over 400 people in Olney Church during the Willen hospice fund raising concert on saturday 9th July. they sang two songs “tomorrow” from the film annie and “you are My sunshine”.
made an appearance but stayed in its tank! (much to the relief of the staff!)
The Big Picnic
Last summer our children visited the recreation ground, thought about what their ideal park would be and then designed it, including their ideas for play equipment; the plans were then submitted to MK council. thanks to the efforts of the Parish Council to secure funding, the new equipment has been installed and the official opening was at the `Big Picnic’ on sunday 10th July. the two children from each year group who won the poster competition, assisted by some of last year’s year 6, cut the ribbons and let off party poppers after a grand countdown at midday. Class 3 provided entertainment in the form of Maypole dancing. the lovely weather ensured that everyone had a superb day.
OPEN MORNING AT LAVENDON SCHOOL
you are most welcome to attend the open morning for parents and children who will be starting or changing school in september 2012.
the open morning will be held on thursday 29th september 2011 from 9.30am until 10.30am.
also performing at the concert was Liam playing “habanera era” on classical guitar. he has been taking lessons at school with Milton Keynes Music service.
the children really enjoyed their first public performance. It was a fantastic evening, many thanks to Gill toosey for making it happen.
Zoolab visit to Lavendon School
Classes 1 & 2 enjoyed a visit from ‘Zoolab’. they found out about a range of nocturnal animals and even got to meet some of them! the children were fascinated and had the opportunity to hold a cockroach and a giant snail called Dave! they were also able to stroke a snake and a rat. a tarantula also
A Precious Jewel for All to Share
Is there any resource more readily available to the wide-awake mind than our Library service? Library services commenced many years ago as straightforward collections of books for members to borrow. From small beginnings in 1924 with 450 books and run largely by volunteers in the newport Pagnell council chamber this grew to tens of thousands of borrowings by 1946 at around which time the service became thoroughly professional; Olney Library was fetched into being from newport Pagnell in 1960. rising education standards following r a Butlers work rendered public libraries increasingly useful to the world of school as teachers were freed to recommend ripping good yarns to young people which neither home nor school budget might afford. the Library service was growing in service value to the community and has gone on to do so even more with the advent of further sources of knowledge and information. nowadays the national footfall of our libraries is markedly higher than the attendance at football matches.
It was long supposed that libraries were just about books but that has long ceased to be true. the idea of reference section has gone on to include internet access with the benefit of professional staff who can guide the enquirer in his search, music recordings and film, local activity and planning may all be accessed. In short if you need to know and comprehend the world around you then the library must surely be your first call.
But the Library service costs money and in the whirl of cut-backs our nation needs some authorities are failing to take stock of
the social and intellectual importance of the Library. stupidly Libraries are listed under such headings as social welfare – probably seen thus by the elderly who browse for long forgotten romances (the grey vote), whereas they surely belong to the world of education. the people with most to gain from the library are our teenagers, sensibly parents and teachers will urge them to enjoy the wonderful adventure stories which comprise such a wonderful way to discovering our past. Ivanhoe, three Musketeers, tale of two Cities, these and a thousand besides are much more than just adventures, they are eye-openers to our history and our values.
We must strive to save this service and to this end the Friends of newport Pagnell Library has come into being with support from many quarters. town Mayor Wendy egan (photographed among us) has pledged the studied support of the town council, the nP Partnership are becoming more than just interested. In truth everyone who is concerned is encouraged to join a growing nation-wide campaign to
retain a service which gives voice and form to so much of our civilisation and culture. Locally the next public meeting of the newport Pagnell team is set for 7.00pm. on tuesday 13th of september at the newport Pagnell Library.
the internet has its uses as to information but contributes nothing to comprehension. Our schools work well at setting young people to ferreting out facts through their computers but actual book reading, digested at a steady pace is far more necessary for our young people if they are to become cultured members of our society. GB
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