News from Stoke Lodge Primary School by Headteacher Richard Clark

As I write this we are coming to the end of another school year and for the children and staff at Stoke Lodge Primary School we feel it has been a successful one in many ways, particularly when it comes to sport, fitness and the community.

Recently, many of our Year Three children participated in this year s Patchway Festival parade that was based around the theme of “Patchway, a Good Place to Live ”. We had chosen to work with community artists, led by Ruth Ramsay, to make costumes around the Wallace and Gromit theme as, being close to Aardman studios, we thought it was relevant to recognize this successful local business. The children and spectators enjoyed this immensely.

Some of our pupils have also been working hard and keeping fit through their participation in the Inter-Schools Athletics event held at St Chads Primary School. Again this was a successful event and one in which the level of competition between pupils and schools was high.

Staff too have been doing their bit with quite a number of us running in the Bristol Half Marathon last September. It was a fantastic event and fortunately we all made it! We also managed to raise a considerable amount of money for various charities in the process.

So what will we be looking forward to next year? Well, two of our staff are spending their holiday raising money for a charity ….here is their story: Our journey started something like this, “I’m thinking of cycling from Land s End to John O Groats next year, ” … “That sounds like a plan, I ll do it with you. ” And so, our journey began. A few weeks later our team became 7 and the plan started to come together.

We have taken part in many endurance events but none quite as huge as this one, and along the way we have always shared our experiences with the children at school. We both think it is very important the children share our excitement and difficulties in tackling this challenge as, hopefully, it will inspire and encourage them to take on challenges of their own.

As the children start the summer holidays we will be commencing our cycle, leaving Land s End on Saturday, 27th July arriving in John O Groats on Tuesday, 6th August, covering approx. 1,000 miles. If you would like to support us in our challenge we are raising money for The British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research. Donations can be made on our charity page at www.charitygiving.co.uk/trclejog Caroline Lansdown and Trudi Johnson ‘On their bikes!

Finally, in October, Stoke Lodge Primary School is seeking to convert to academy status. Due to the school s good Ofsted the Governors, parents and staff wanted to put the school in a position to further develop its many great features and continue to strive to provide the very best education and learning environment for our children. I am sure we will have news on this for the next publication!

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