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WELCOME BACK

I hope that everyone has had a very enjoyable Christmas break and that all our pupils have returned refreshed and ready for a busy term ahead. Below is a list of some of the key dates this year followed by a reminder about our winter weather policy. On the back page of this shorter than normal Sweyne Park Times are also some of the `Thank You's' we have received from members of our local community who received 36

hampers delivered at Christmas, thanks to your generosity. It was lovely to see so many of our pupils actively engaged in putting the hampers together and also delivering them. Certainly such activities are a key part in our pupils' education, given that part of our core mission as a school must be to encourage a sense of civic responsibility in our young people.

KEY DATES THIS SCHOOL YEAR

Year 9 Exams ~ Mon 7 ~ Fri 18 January
Year 10/11 Science Exams ~ Tues 15, Fri 18 January
Year 11 Science Exams ~ Mon 21, Wed 23 Fri 25, Tues 29 Jan
Year 11 Parents' Evening ~ Thurs 31 Jan
Curriculum Extension Day 3 ~ Wed 6 Feb
Half Term ~ Mon 11 - Fri 15 February 2008
Year 9 Parents' Evening ~ Thurs 6 March
Year 10 Exams ~ Mon 10 ~ Fri 14 March
Year 9 Option's Evening ~ Tues 18 March
Extra Inset Day ~ Thurs 20 March
Good Friday ~ Fri 21 March
Easter Monday ~ Mon 24 March
Curriculum Extension Day 4 ~ Thurs 27 March
Spring Holiday ~ Mon 31 March - Fri 11 April
Summer Term ~ Mon 14 April - Wed 23 July
May Bank Holiday ~ Mon 5 May
Half Term ~ Mon 26 - Fri 30 May
Year 8 Parents' Evening ~ Thurs 12 June
Year 7 Parents' Evening ~ Tues 15 July

WINTER WEATHER REMINDER

The school will continue its policy of staying open in the event of snow unless travel conditions are so extreme that the school cannot open. In the highly unlikely eventuality that the school cannot open, please look at our website for advice on the morning in question and, as always, local radio stations will broadcast details of any school closures across Essex. As always we will try to make a firm decision by 7:30am on the morning itself.www.sweynepark.com

AND FINALLY ...

May I take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and successful 2008.

"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year's Day was not always January 1.

ANCIENT NEW YEARS

The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison. The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

AULD LANG SYNE

The song, "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."

FEARLESS

By Tim Lott

Join Little Fearless in her desperate struggle to bring her message to a faceless and uncaring world. An emotive and powerful story. One of the 6 short-listed Essex Book Award books _ will it be the winner?

SHORT-LISTED FOR THE ESSEX BOOK AWARD 2007/8

	GENRE OF THE TERM
	MYTHS and LEGENDS
	Tales of mysterious creatures and legends of old, From far and wide across the globe. Harmless fairy stories or something more? Dare you delve into some old folklore?