Chidham Parochial Primary School

	Chidham Parochial Primary School Chidham Lane, Chidham, PO18 8TH Tel: 01243 572380 Email: office@chidham.w-sussex.sch.uk

We are very pleased to welcome you to this page. We hope that it will provide you with helpful information about the school and interesting news about current events. Our school is in a beautiful location overlooking the Bosham Channel and with views across the fields. There are eighty five amazing pupils, aged between 4 and 11 years old in four mixed age range classes. Chidham is a small school with a strong family ethos. The children are offered a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum, which acknowledges different learning styles and the individual contributions that each child and their family brings to the school.
	As a ‘Foundation’ school we have strong links with the local parish church and with the Diocese. St Mary’s Church is a short scenic walk away and a number of school celebrations take place there. The school was awarded "Healthy School" status in 2006 link to the school website
Mrs Aplin Head Teacher

	Farewell to Mr Beer	after 10 years at Chidham School
Staff, parents, friends and pupils past and present came together to celebrate the end of term and the end of an era, as we wished a fond farewell to Steve Beer after 10 years at Chidham school.

Lynda Aplin paid tribute to Steve's contribution in his decade at the school and he was presented with a photographic seasonal montage of his favourite view from the sports field along with an engraved glass vase designed by pupils. A fond farewell and good wishes were also given to Miss Archer as she leaves to do her PGCE next year.

Chidham School's Walking Bus
Chidham schools walking bus set off for the first time on May 25. Children can join the bus along the route as long as they have booked a place and there are enough adults to supervise. If you would like more details or can help please ask at the office - the bus currently operates on Fridays only but may be expanded if help can be found to share the work.

And contributing to the Walking Bus world record attempt

SCHOOLCHILDREN VISIT CHICHESTER FARMERS' MARKET

Children from Chidham Primary School will be learning about the environment, healthy eating and growing food, when they visit Chichester's Farmers' Market, on Friday 20 April.

Chichester District Farmers' Markets offer a range of fresh, local seasonal produce and the pupils from Chidham Primary School have been working with one of the stallholders, Tuppenny Barn, on a range of projects, from growing their own vegetables to drawing flowers in art lessons.

Maggie Haynes, who runs Tuppenny Barn, has now arranged for the children to visit the market, in Chichester city centre, and learn from the other stallholders as well. She said,

“This visit is part of an ongoing two year project with the school. As well as producing organic food for local people, I also wanted to use Tuppenny Barn to show children how food can be produced without the use of pesticides and chemicals. The project has given them an opportunity to experience various activities on the land like tree planting, propagation and sowing seeds and making things from selected items on the field. The Farmers' Market is a great place for them to come and meet some other local producers and see the range of local produce available.”

In January 2006 Chidham School also helped Maggie plant the first fruit trees in Tuppenny Barn's community orchard. This was partly funded by a Wildlife Improvement Grant from Chichester District Council. The orchard now has 120 trees of 50 different varieties of eating and cooking apples, plums, pears, cherries and a quince tree.

Wildlife Improvement Grants are available to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of projects (up to £500) that introduce, enhance or protect biodiversity, increase public access, knowledge or awareness of a site, or create or regenerate a community orchard. For more information please contact Chichester District Council's Environmental Strategy Unit on 01243 785166.

Chichester Farmers' Markets are run by Chichester District Council and take place on the first and third Friday of every month, in East Street and North Street. There are also Farmers' Markets on the fourth Saturday of every month, alternating between Midhurst and Petworth.

	On 15 June we are taking part in the Record-Breaking Walking Bus, co-ordinated by Brake, the road safety charity. Pupils will aim to break a Guinness World Record by marching for safer roads in our community! They will learn important lessons on how to stay safe on foot and can also help to raise sponsorship for the event in aid of Brake. Click here or on the logo to go to Brake's website and find out more about the event. Also on Brake's website you can find road safety information for:
Teachers	Parents	Kids

New Chidham School Gallery page to display children's topic work

The new School Hall - official opening: 15th September 2006
Chidham school sports hall was officially opened today by Professor Philip Robinson, Principal of the University of Chichester. He unveiled a plaque made by the children and spoke to them of them importance of 'play'! Mrs. Aplin welcomed and thanked guests involved in the project, as well as governors, staff, the PTFA and, not least, the children. The PTFA presented Mrs. Aplin with an engraved vase in recognition of her dedication to the project. The celebration concluded with a mass balloon release and of course tea and cake.




Read about the building of the hall and see the photos (Click here).	When the Construction of the Sports Hall Building was completed, the Bishop of Horsham visited the school and blessed the Hall.