WEDNESDAY WORD
This week’s Wednesday Word is CHRIST. Please try to
enjoy a special time throughout Advent, preparing for
Christ’s arrival, growing in faith and sharing your child’s
thoughts about this Sunday’s Gospel.
MASS IN SCHOOL TOMORROW
Mass in school tomorrow, Friday 9th December, will be
prepared by staff and pupils from Year 3. Mass on Friday
16th December will be Year 2’s Nativity Mass. Parents,
carers and friends are all very welcome to attend these –
as well as any and all other school Masses.
CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASS 2016 AT CHURCH
The children from St Mary’s will again have the opportunity
to take part in our ‘living nativity’ at Christmas Eve Mass at
St Mary’s Church on Saturday 24th December 2016. Please
let school know if your child will be attending and would
like to take an active part in the Mass. You can pop in to the
office to do this or use [email protected]
INFANT TRIP TO THE PANTOMIME
The infant trip to the pantomime was a great occasion and
was enjoyed by pupils and adults alike. Many thanks to Mrs
Robinson, the staff in school and a small army of
volunteers who attended the trip and made it such a great
afternoon for all the Infants.
DON’T MISS OUT ON A RECEPTION PLACE IN 2017
If your child will be 4 years old before 1st September 2017
then you must apply for a Primary School Reception place
online through Tameside’s website at
www.tameside.gov.uk. The online application facility is
now open and the closing date for applications will be
Sunday 15th January 2017. Please apply on time.
WORDS OF THE WEEK
Year Group:
Next week’s word :
Year One
moist
Year Two
roam
Year Three
ache
Year Four
rein
Year Five
magnificent
Year Six
dismal
HAMPER RAFFLE AND HUSKY SOFT TOY RAFFLE IN AID OF
READING SHED
We have a wonderful Winter hamper … and now a very cute
Husky dog soft toy as raffle prizes for anyone who would like
to buy a ticket. Tickets are 50p each with proceeds going
towards our fund-raising drive for a reading shed. Please
come in and buy some tickets!
BREAKING UP FOR CHRISTMAS
We break up for Christmas on Tuesday 20th December
2016 at 1.30pm. It is vital that your child is in school on
Monday 19th December and Tuesday 20th December. We
will return to school on Tuesday 3rd January 2017.
Thursday 8th December 2016
YEAR 3 CLASSTEACHER VACANCY
We are currently advertising for a Year 3 teacher who will be
able to take over from January 2017, for the rest of the
academic year. A full application pack is available in school
and we would like your help in getting news of the vacancy
known about by as many suitably qualified candidates as
possible. The advert and application pack is also available at
www.greater.jobs/search-and-apply/job-details/685/. The
closing date for applications is 4pm tomorrow, Friday 9th
December 2016.
SAINT MARY’S SCHOOL NATIVITY 2016
Our Nativity will take place in St Mary’s Catholic Church,
Zetland Street, Dukinfield, on Wednesday 14th December
2016 at 7pm.
We expect all pupils to attend – so please make a note of
the event in your diary.


Year 2 children will need to come to church at
6.30pm
All other pupils will need to be at church by 6.45pm
For parents and carers, admission to the Nativity will be by
ticket only. This is in order to comply with fire regulations.
Please order your tickets as soon as possible in order to
avoid disappointment.
DIARY DATES:
DATE:
EVENT:
Thursday 8th
December
Friday 9th
December
Friday 9th
December
Friday 9th
December
No Year 6 Booster tonight – next one will
be in the new year.
Year 3 Mass in school hall at 9am (Third
week of Advent)
Nasal Flu Vaccinations for pupils in
Year 1 to Year 3 who have consented
Deadline for Y3 classteacher
applications (4pm)
Y2 to be dropped off at church between
8.40am and 8.50am for
Nativity practice
Advent Penitential Service (Infants) and
Penitential Service (KS2)
Commando Joe’s 100% Attendance and
Punctuality and Behaviour Reward
Infant Nativity and KS2 Carols in church
at 7pm – all pupils to attend
Year 2 (Nativity) Mass in school hall at
9am
Tuesday 13th
December
Tuesday 13th
December
Wednesday 14th
December
Wednesday 14th
December
Friday 16th
December
Friday 16th
December
Family Group Treat (all afternoon)
CHRISTMAS POST BOX
Children should post any Christmas cards to classmates by
using the post box in the central resource area. Please
write the year group on the envelope, along with the
recipient’s name.
SAFE USE OF THE CAR PARK
As well as not walking through the car park at any time and
not parking in the staff car park at any time, we expect all
parents and carers to follow the rules below at all times:
Mornings:
No access to car parking spaces (row of 6) to
parents/carers after 8.30am. This is to ensure safety and to
improve traffic flow. Access to disabled car parking
spaces (row of 4) will be allowed between 8.30am – 8.50am
for blue badge holders. Parents are permitted to park
up/wait on the turning circle in the morning but should be
considerate to the needs of all other parents and carers.
Afternoons:
No access to car parking spaces (row of 6) to
parents/carers after 3pm. This is to ensure safety and to
improve traffic flow. Access to disabled car parking
spaces (row of 4) will be allowed after 3pm for blue badge
holders. Parents are permitted to park up/wait on the
turning circle at the end of the day but should be
considerate to the needs of all other parents and carers.
Please help us to keep all who use our car park safe by
following the above guidelines at all times. Please make
sure that everybody who picks your child up – or drops
them off – at our school is aware of these rules.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
If you have any comments to make about the contents of
this week’s newsletter (or any other aspect of school life or
provision) then please email them to [email protected] . We would welcome your
feedback and any constructive suggestions.
INSET DAY NEXT TERM
Please make a note in your diary that our final INSET day
for the academic year 2016-2017 will take place on Friday
7th April 2017. This is a staff training day and school will be
closed to all pupils on this day.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PATTERN FOR 2017-2018
Please find attached a copy of our holiday pattern for next
academic year. The reason why this is being sent out in
paper format now is so that all parents and carers have
enough notice to arrange family holidays in holiday time –
and not term time. Please remember that we are a
Voluntary Aided school and we can therefore set our own
holiday pattern. This may vary from the local authority
pattern of holidays which is set for community schools.
TWITTER
We need around 20 more followers on Twitter to reach 500
followers. Please follow us @StMarysDuk.
NO HAIR MOTIFS
Hair with patterns or tram lines shaved into it is against
school uniform policy. Please do not send your child to
school with hair motifs or extreme hairstyles of any kind.
Smart appearance contributes to good discipline and good
learning and we expect all parents to support this.
IMPROVING PEOPLE FLOW AROUND SCHOOL
Please be considerate when walking into and out of school
at the end of the day. The path leading onto the infant side
of the playground is narrow and can become congested.
Please walk in single-file whenever possible in order to aid
people flow.
TIMETABLES ROCKSTAR DESIGN COMPETITION
Pupils in Year 3 to Year 3 had the chance to enter a
Timetables Rock star Design competition. The closing date
for entries is tomorrow. Please make sure all entrees are
returned by then.
100% ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY AND BEHAVIOUR
AWARD
Last year we arranged a termly 100% Disco for pupils who
had 100% Attendance and Punctuality in any of the three
school terms. Each term this year we are asking
Commando Joe to bring two big inflatables into school as a
reward for pupils who have 100% attendance and
punctuality from the first day of this term up until today
(Thursday 8th December). In addition, we will be inviting
pupils in every class from Year 1 to Year 6 who have been
the top positive green slip earners in their class – without
gaining a single negative green slip. Look out for the letters
coming home tomorrow. The reward will take place on
Wednesday 14th December.
THERE WILL BE NO AFTER-SCHOOL JAZZ GROUP NEXT
WEDNESDAY 14th DECEMBER
AFTER SCHOOL CHOIR IS ON NEXT WEDNESDAY 14th
DECEMBER
HOLIDAY HOMEWORK & SPONSORED SPELL
All children from Year 2 to Year 6 will receive some Maths,
English, handwriting and spelling homework before we
break up for Christmas. This is designed to keep them
ticking over during the Christmas break.
The spellings your child receives will be related to a
Sponsored Spell event that will take place early in the
Spring Term. There will also be a sponsorship form. Please
support your child in learning the spellings and in securing
sponsorship. Many thanks in advance.