28th November, 2016
Dear Parents,
As we approach Christmas I thought you would appreciate an update on some confirmed dates and
information on some short term changes in school.
There will be some staffing changes up to Christmas due to Miss Croasdale being off until then.
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Mrs Jones will be teaching in Year One for two days on Thursday and Friday
We have employed Mrs Metcalf, a supply teacher who has significant experience teaching
Early Years, to teach in Reception Monday and Tuesday in Reception under the lead of Mrs
Rushworth.
In Year Two, Tuesday will be taught by Mr Foxall, who is a regular supply teacher in the
school and well-liked by the children.
Christmas/New Year dates
Wednesday 14th December will be our Christmas jumper day to raise money for Save the Children.
Children can wear Christmas jumpers, t-shirts, dresses, hair accessories- anything Christmassy! We
will be collecting donations for the charity in the morning.
The money we raise will go towards helping children around the world; helping to provide essentials
such as healthcare, education and food to millions of children who miss out on basic support. There is
more information on https://christmasjumperday.org/ if you would like to find out more about how
our money will help.
We look forward to seeing you in your Christmas clothes - The School Council
The Key Stage One Nativity will take place on Thursday 15th December at 14:00 and 18:00. More
details will follow from class teachers.
For Reception the Nativity walk up to the Nature Area will take place during the last week of term on
Wednesday 14th December (Timings to be confirmed).
On the last morning of Term, Friday 16th December at 09:30, we will be holding a Carol Service with
some readings by the children up at church. Mrs Brown will be playing the church organ and we
have been learning the words to the Carols - O come all ye faithful, Once in Royal David’s City, We
Three Kings, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger in school. Some of the Carols have
been somewhat shortened but words will be available on carol sheets in church. This is a lovely way
to end the year and I hope you can join us in body and in voice (we may be less sure of the words
than usual with no projector present!).
Our Year 6 children will also be singing carols at Manorlands and Lindesfarne on Monday 12th and
Tuesday 13th December. Miss Round will be sending out more information about these events.
We also have our Stars of the Term assembly, which Mrs Jones will be leading, on Friday 9th
December at 9.05 – 9.45 KS2 and 10.00 – 10.30 KS1. We will celebrate the achievements of this
school year so far. A polite reminder that photographs are not to be taken until the end of the
assembly and then only of your own child in the Star Chair. This is to protect all our children, some of
whom would be put at risk if their images and location are published. Thank you for keeping school a
safe environment for everyone and please don’t be cross with us for asking you to delete pictures of
other children and asking you to leave if this is not followed to the letter. Safeguarding our children
is not something any of us can take lightly.
Before Christmas we have our cyber PCSO – Stephen Atkinson - coming to speak to the Year 3 and 4
children about online safety and after Christmas, on Friday January 6th 2017 (the first Friday back),
he is also providing a session after school from 4 – 5 specifically for parents to talk about online
gaming, how to keep children safe and what to expect from the games they are playing. This is
deliberately timed for after Christmas where you may have questions about the new games they
have, modern games machines allow so much interactivity and have so many settings it can be hard
to know where to start.
Parent Forum
Thank you again for your support and ideas, the Parent Forum was a successful way of sharing
information with the school and the next one is scheduled for Wednesday January 11th at 17:30.
Please come along if you have something you would like to share about school or ideas about
communication or community involvement. From of the last meeting we are looking at how to email
a link to the school blog and newsletters when they are published to make access easier, the
Governors are setting up a newsletter to inform parents about the role of Governors, who they are
and what they do. School are also looking at ways to open up the classrooms for you to visit, either
as part of the theme as an event or at the end of a half term to share work and come in for a more
informal visit. I know Year 6 and Year 3 have already identified times to invite you in for a classroom
visit and Year 1 are in the planning stages of their Dinosaur Museum afternoon.
I am sure the Parent Forum will develop in to a valuable communication line in itself so if you can’t
attend please forward your ideas for discussion to the [email protected] address
marked ‘Parent Forum’.
Contacting Staff
[email protected] is the point of contact for all communication with school as well
as the telephone number (01535 642271). The email service is entirely confidential and your
message will be forwarded to the appropriate member of staff. A reply will then either be made in
person, by letter or via the office email address.
Staff members are not able to reply personally to emails via their own email addresses and it is not
appropriate to contact them directly in this manner. In the morning the staff on the doors are there
to pass on information to the class teachers and there is usually a teacher on the door at the end of
the day to see the children out. Appointments for more than a quick chat or information share can
be made via the school office either by phone, in person or via the office@ email address above.
I hope you are having a lovely time in the build up to Christmas and that you are able to attend some
of our events at the end of this term and the beginning of the next.
Mr J Parkin
Acting Headteacher