• Issue 8 - July 2010

The NECIP E-Bulletin

July is traditionally one of the hottest months of the year, although there is folklore about rain appearing on the 1st of July "if the first of July it be rainy weather, twill rain more or less for four weeks together". St Swithin's Day is on 15th July, a day on which people watch the weather for tradition says that whatever the weather is like on St Swithin's Day, it will continue so for the next forty dates 'St Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain; For forty days it will remain. St Swithin's Day, if thou be fair; For forty days 'twill rain nae mair"..so fingers crossed for a sunny Thursday next week!!! It is nearly the end of the school year and summer holidays are approaching fast!

July is the 7th month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, although was the 5th month in the ancient Roman calendar, being called Quintilius. A Roman Senate renamed the month to Julius in honour of Julius Caesar, who was born on 12th July. The Anglo-Saxon names for the month included Heymonath or Maed monath, referring respectively to haymaking and the flowering of meadows. It is the month for the appearance of crop circles, Henley Regatta and Swan Upping!

I realise that I've been a little 'quiet' recently. Being seconded to the Local Authority as the CIP Transition Manager two days a week, has meant that I've only been working for the NECIP three days a week. I have only just managed to second to a temporary post to co-ordinate the after school and holiday activities. James Hotson is managing this now and has been very busy planning another fun-filled 5 week Summer Slam! holiday programme. James has been consulting with children to make sure what's on offer meets their needs and interests. Funding for CIPs in the current format ends on 31st March 2011, so part of my seconded role is to explore options for future sustainability. With all the current uncertainty, this is not an easy task and it is likely to be late October, early November before we will have a clearer idea about the future.

Summer Slam! should have arrived home in your children's book bags this week. Jonathan, the NECIP web designer, has developed a real-time online booking system so that you can reserve activities, print them off, complete a registration form and send with payment to me/James via school. This should make the whole process much quicker, easier and smoother. Please have a look on the website www.necip.co.uk for the 'bookings' section where you will be able to book online. Any problems please email me or summerslam@necip.co.uk

Portsmouth City Council will be producing a summer booklet later this term packed with exciting things for the whole family to do during the summer holidays. This will come home via school, and you will be able to download from the website www.portsmouth.gov.uk in mid-July.

Booking is now open for Theatre Arts Saturday Scheme @ Drayton Church of Resurrection for the Autumn term 2010. Dates are 25th September 2010 to 5th December 2010 (30th October week off). Groups are for 3 to 5 years 9.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. - Dance, Singing and Drama and for 6 to 9 years 11.15 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. - Dance, Singing, Drama and Cheerleading. A 10 week term costs just £60.00 (A £10 non-refundable deposit secures your child's place). You can also purchase very stylish Theatre Arts t-shirts. I am going to this term's production on Saturday and am really looking forward to seeing what the children have learned. Book early as places are limited!

If you would like more information and a registration form, please contact Verity Simmons and Rebecca Frost on 07971 667296 or e-mail theatreartsuk@yahoo.com

Highbury Youth Club is going from strength to strength with more attending every week. The children and young people have recently secured some funding and purchase a Wii, PS3, football table, snooker/pool table and have a craft and other activities every session. The youth club for 9 - 13 year olds is held at Highbury Community Centre every Wednesday during term-time from 6.30 - 8.30. Entry is just 50p and there is a healthy tuck shop available.

'Party by the Beach' Safer Portsmouth is inviting Portsmouth teenagers to attend a free end of school party on 16th July at Castle Fields, Southsea from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Headlining the main stage is 17 year old Charley Macaulay who is has played at Glastonbury and IOW festivals this year. This alcohol/drug free event, hosted by Zoe & Gillys from Galaxy FM's Breakfast Show is the perfect way for teenagers to kick off their safe summer - and with free food and smoothies for the first 500 with PO1 - PO6 postcodes, really can't afford to be missed!

Louise Barker is the Drayton & Farlington Children's Centre Co-ordinator and, in consultation with parents, has developed a great range of activities for parents in the Cosham, Drayton and Farlington areas.

Physical play, breast feeding, drop-Ins, baby massage and many other activities take place at CBC and other locations in the area. Please contact Louise for more information 07950 896270

Drayton and Farlington Action Group is looking for willing volunteers for a range of tasks. These range from volunteering in the Information Centre, editing the magazine, sourcing articles for the website, HR issues, newsletter distribution, liaising with a range of local community partners to raise awareness and various volunteer roles, including a Chair, on the management group. If you, or someone you know, may have the time/skills or be at all interested (volunteering looks great on a CV), please contact Brian Alcock on 023 9237 7644. The group is also holding a Tea Dance at Springfield School on Saturday 18th September at just £5 a ticket (children free) with delicious cakes and tea. Tickets available from the Information Centre 023 9238 0000. Do you know an elderly person who may be interested in using the Drop'n'Shop Scheme? The group hires minibuses from Court Lane Junior and Highbury Primary Schools on a Tuesday morning and offers a door to door service (with a smile!) to Sainsburys for any elderly resident who may find it hard to carry shopping bags. Again, please contact the Information Centre.

Thank you for the brilliant response to the recent out of school holiday questionnaire I sent home recently. Winners will be drawn by an independent member of the NECIP on 20th July and letters will be sent home to the lucky winners before the end of term!

Helping your child with maths..try to make maths as much fun as possible - games, puzzles and jigsaws are a great way to start. It's also important to show how we use maths skills in our everyday lives and to involve your child in this. Identifying problems and solving them can also help your child develop maths skills. If you see him or her puzzling over something, talk about the problem and try to work out the solution together.

Don't shy away from maths if you didn't like it at school. Try to find new ways to enjoy the subject with your child.

Tips for helping your child to enjoy maths:

• Talk about and involve children in the situations in which you use maths in everyday life
• Point out the different shapes to be found around your home
• Take your child shopping and talk about the quantities of anything you buy
• Let your child handle money and work out how much things cost
• Look together for numbers on street signs and car registration plates
• Play games involving numbers and/or logic such as card games, dominoes, darts, draughts, chess etc.
• Stimulate their thinking at times of possible boredom (such as travelling - are we there yet?!) with mental activities - try 'the answer is '2' or '4' or '10' - what is the question?' As there are lots of possible questions, there is no fear of failure
• Let them help you to sort the washing, put the shopping away - what goes where and why
• Encourage ordering and sequencing when getting dressed, going to the shops, having a bath etc. Talk about what you do first, what you do next, . and last of all
• Talk about time, refer to the clock e.g. 'we'll have lunch at 1 p.m.' - how long until lunch time?
• When playing with toy vehicles or making models talk about directions e.g. forwards, backwards, next to, shape etc.
• Talk about maps, directions, house prices, cost of fuel - we use maths every day and in most situations!

Whatever you do, make sure your children enjoy it! If they struggle to understand, make mistakes, or get bored: keep calm, make it easier, change the subject, tell them a joke, play football, go to the park .. but please don't get cross or impatient - you could put them off maths for life.

And finally...now that summer appears to be here, what about having a picnic? Here are some great ideas on the Netmums website and don't forget you can have a picnic indoors, in your garden, in the park or even in the car if it's raining!!

NECIP Manager
07904 809677
jderham@courtlanejnr.portsmouth.sch.uk
www.necip.co.uk