December 2016 Newsletter
Windmill Integrated
Primary School
30 Old Eglish Road, DUNGANNON, Co. Tyrone, BT71 7BE
www.windmillips.com T: 028 87 727277
Holidays
School closes at 11:45am for P1 – P3 children and older siblings and 12
noon for P4 – P7 children on Tuesday 20th December. (No school meals
that day). School will reopen on Wednesday 4th January 2017. (Please
note change of date). Initially pupils were due to return to school after
the Christmas holidays on Thursday 5 th January, but now pupils have to
return to school on Wednesday 4th January in order to accommodate
staff training. Instead school will close on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th
January. (Please see calendar on school website www.windmillips.com).
Congratulations
Congratulations to our Primary 1 pupils for undertaking their Nativity Play
so well. Thanks must be extended to Miss
Jenkinson, Mrs Tate and Mrs Loughran for
preparing the children. Congratulations
also to the Key Stage 2 pupils for
entertaining family and friends with their
Christmas production ‘Gimme, Gimme,
Gimme’. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the
dress rehearsal, morning and evening
performances. Again sincere thanks must
be extended to all staff for preparing the
children. Mrs Stephanie Hazelton (parent
of Lee in P6) must receive a special
mention as she used her artistic talent to
benefit our school in the form of creating
the winter scene backdrop which will be
available for use for years to come.
School Meals Price – Effective 1 January 2017
The Education Authority has recently carried out a review of school meals
prices. As a result of this the price of school meals will increase from 1st
January. The price of a school meal for children in P1 – P7 will increase to
£2.65 per day or £13.25 per week. The price of a meal for children in the
Nursery will increase to £2.25 per day or £6.75 per week. Nursery meals
will increase again from 1st March 2017 to £2.45 per day. Please
remember to send in the correct money as change will not be given.
Upcoming Events
December 16
Christmas Party
December 20
School closes for the Christmas
holidays
Trips/Events
P1 will visit Speedwell on Friday
16th December with Bush
Primary School to participate in
a Winter Wonderland
programme.
Swimming lessons for P6 will
commence on Thursday 12th
January.
Netball competition on Friday
20th January from 9:30am –
12noon.
Irish lessons for P5 pupils will
commence on Thursday 12th
January.
Nursery/P1 Enrolment forms to
be returned by 12 noon on 11th
January.
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More Important News
Ditch the Dark Day
This will take place on Tuesday 20th December to raise awareness of safe
travel to school. Children are encouraged to cycle, scoot or walk to
school (or at least part of the journey) looking as bright and shiny as
possible.
Christmas 2017
It has been agreed that next December we will have a whole school Carol
Service in St. Patrick’s Church. This is instead of a Christmas performance.
In December 2018 Key Stage 1 will put on the Christmas performance and
in December 2019 Key Stage 2 will put on the Christmas Performance. It
will alternate in this way from year to year.
Emergency Weather Plan
If there is a forecast that gives severe weather for the following day, firstly
the Principal (or Vice Principal in her absence) will place a message on our
school website www.windmillips.com . Secondly by text message, to all
families and staff using the school text messaging service. This service uses
the main mobile contact number which has been given to the school. It is
the responsibility of parents to ensure that school is notified of any changes
to contact numbers. Thirdly by notification to BBCNI News who will
produce a list. A list of closures will be found at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsni. If we do get snow you should send your
child to school with wellingtons/snow boots, hat and gloves etc.so that
those who wish to do so get the opportunity to go outside.
However, if there is doubt as to whether or not the school will be open, staff
and children should come in as normal unless conditions where they live
mean they are blocked in or that driving conditions are hazardous.
Reminders
Head Lice
A number of cases of head lice
have been reported recently.
Please be vigilant and
remember to check your child’s
hair on a regular basis. For more
information on head lice go to
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk and
search head lice.
Holidays
School closes on Tuesday 20th
December for the Christmas
holidays and reopens on
Wednesday 4th January 2017.
Christmas Party
Please remember to send in
payment for the party this week
and return ticket stubs, money
and any unsold tickets. Thank
you.
Prizegiving
Any cups/shields awarded at
Prizegiving in June on a joint
basis should be passed on prior
to the Christmas holidays.
A member of the senior management team will monitor the situation at
school and make a decision on whether or not to keep the school open or
make arrangements to get children home who have arrived at school.
Staff are expected to ring in their intentions before 7.30am. However,
should weather conditions improve sufficiently before 12 o’clock staff will
be expected to come in to work.
Unless the weather deteriorates during the day staff will be expected to
work their normal hours.
If a parent has been able to bring his/her child in to school he/she should
be able to expect his/her child to remain in school until the normal finishing
time (unless the school has announced that it will be closed or unless the
weather begins to deteriorate sufficiently to warrant that it would be
advisable to get the children home as soon as possible.
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