Newsletter No 6 / 11th December 2009

The Play
Thank you to parents for helping with costumes; thank you to pupils for learning their lines so well – it was a particularly “wordy” play this year; thank you to Mrs Drake for recording music for us and to Mrs Dallimore for face-painting; thank you also to Mrs Tombling for coming to school many times to help pupils with practices; thank you to all staff for their help with finding props and making scenery and particular thanks to Mrs Wilkin who has worked tirelessly teaching us the songs, and making costumes and scenery, and of course, thank you to everyone who came to watch. Finally, thank you to the PTA for serving refreshments after the evening performance. We were very pleased to raise £135.00 for Oxfam Unwrapped from the matinee performance and the raffle and £204.00 from ticket sales, for school. We are hoping to be able to purchase some side screens and other drama resources from this income.

Christmas Tree
We are most grateful to Mr and Mrs Tuckwell for kindly supplying us
with a wonderful Christmas tree again this year.

Message about the Christmas Bazaar from the PTA
Christmas Bazaar - a huge thank you to everyone who either donated, baked cakes, helped out, spent money or organised the Christmas Bazaar this year. There are too many people to name however all your efforts are much appreciated so thank you for continuing to support PTA events to raise money for the school. We made a very healthy £850 which is better than last year so well done. The evening was a great success and I think much enjoyed by the children. I spoke to Santa who said he was very pleased with all the children and as they had been so good he would come back Christmas Eve with some presents (but they must be asleep).

Wreath Making Evening & Christmas Play Bar – we are still adding up the sums for how much we made on these so expect an update next week.

Next Week’s Christmas Events:
Tuesday 15th December - Nativity service in Church at 9.30am. All welcome to join us for this.

Wednesday 16th December
School parties pm. All children will need a school meal or a packed lunch, as normal. Pupils may bring their own clothes to change into for the afternoon session. We hope that parents will, as usual, be able to supply food and drink for the party and so that we avoid all families sending in the same things, respectfully suggest the following:

Reception (4 pupils) – 2 litre bottle of undiluted sugar free orange or blackcurrant squash
Year 1 (10 pupils) – small cakes eg fairy cakes, individual swiss rolls, rice crispy cakes etc
Year 2 (11 pupils) – savoury items eg sausage rolls, cheese and pineapple, chicken satay, etc
Year 3 (11 pupils) – crisps, twiglets, cheesy puffs, etc
Year 4 (11 pupils) – small plates of sandwiches, open topped bridge rolls, etc
Year 5 (8 pupils) – chocolate biscuits, shortbread biscuits, etc
Year 6 (9 pupils) – something healthy! eg carrot sticks, fresh pineapple cubes, fruit platter, etc

Thursday 17th December
For part of the morning, instead of normal lessons, pupils will be divided into teams and set a variety of cross-curricular Christmas challenges.

Christmas Lunch
Thank you to everyone who has already paid for their child’s Christmas Lunch for this day. We hope that all children will take part in this seasonal event. Cost is £2.00.

Normal Thursday afternoon school session.

Friday 18th December
End of term assembly at 9.05am. All welcome to join us for this.
School finishes at 1.30pm for pupils.

After-School Fun Club
We have a number of places available next week and are planning the following activities if any pupils would like to join us:
Monday: Make Christmas cards and calendars
Tuesday: Make angels, other Christmas decorations and Christmas hats
Wednesday: Ice biscuits and have a Christmas party with snacks, games and prizes.
Cost is £5 per session and we finish at 5pm. First come, first served for the spare places. Please see Mrs Hopkins.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have been very busy making Christmas decorations and Christmas puddings! Their building is looking very festive and sparkly! They enjoyed watching the school play on Tuesday morning and would like to extend an invitation to everyone to come along and see their nativity performance in the school hall on Saturday 12th December at 2pm.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 15th December
Nativity Service in Church at 9.30am. All welcome.
Wednesday 16th December
Christmas parties pm
Thursday 17th December
Christmas Challenges for all pupils!
Whole-school Christmas Lunch - £2 – please pay on any Monday morning
Last After School Football Club
Friday 18th December
End of term assembly at 9.00am. All welcome.
Break up at 1.30pm.
Monday 4th January
Staff INSET Day
Tuesday 5th January
Pupils return to school for the start of Term 3.