Chidham Parochial Primary School Headteacher: Mrs Kim Thornton MA B.Ed (hons) NPQH

Chidham Parochial Chair of Governors : Mrs Beccy Wild Primary School Bursar: Mrs Nikki Brown Chidham Lane Chidham e-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.chidhamschool.org.uk West Sussex PO18 8TH

Tel: 01243 572380

“ Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15 verse 12

11th December 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

Here is a look at what is happening in school next week:

Monday 14th December KS2 children in school 8.45 – 3pm KS1 & YR children in school 9am – 3.15pm Last day for posting in the School postbox Christmas Cracker Joke Day: children to bring their best cracker joke to school (see below for details)

PE kits being worn by children in Willow Class

Tuesday 15th December KS2 children in school 8.45 – 3pm KS1 & YR children in school 9am – 3.15pm

Christmas breakfast & stories : Children to bring their breakfast to school (see below for details)

PE kits being worn by children in Chestnut, Oak & Birch Classes

Wednesday 16th December KS2 children in school 8.45 – 3pm KS1 & YR children in school 9am – 3.15pm

School Christmas lunch day: All children to have a Christmas hat for lunchtime (see below for details)

Apple Class children to be dressed for “Forest School Activities” (see separate letter for details)

PE kits being worn by children in Oak Class

Thursday 17th December KS2 children in school 8.45 – 3pm KS1 & YR children in school 9am – 3.15pm Christmas Jumper Day: Children to wear Christmas jumpers to school & bring in money for charity (see below for details)

No PE kits being worn

Friday 18th December KS2 children in school 8.45 – 3pm Last day of term KS1 & YR children in school 9am – 3.15pm

Christmas Party Day: Children to wear their own Christmas/party outfits to school AND bring a Christmas themed packed lunch (see below for details)

No PE kits being worn

Road Safety Awareness The Village Magazine have raised funds in co-ordination with Sussex Police to provide Hi Vis packs for all the primary school children in the area. Today, every child is bringing home their pack which includes a floorescent hi Vis slap band, safety stickers and keyrings which they could attach to coats (bags when allowed back in school) to keep them safe as they come to and from school. It is such a thoughtful gift and will help keep the children safe.

PC Sarah Pack Visit PC Sarah Pack, West Sussex Neighbourhood Youith Officer, came and spoke to those in Birch (Y5) & London Plane (Y6) Classes on Wednesday morning about care needed when texting and messaging friends online be it via their phones or via online games ie how things are written and then read by the recepient, is not always how the sender meant the message to sound – which can cause problems; plus she looked at what cyberbullying is and the repercussions of those messages. Her input was clear and informative, the messages will support the children moving forward as they gain more independence, have their own phones etc.

PTFA Raffle Thank you for returning all sold tickets (stubbs & monies) and any unsold tickets. The raffle will be drawn on Monday afternoon in school (after 1pm). This will not be carried out via ZOOM as advertised on the ticket. A class will be responsible for pulling tickets “out of the box” with all being witnessed by a member of the PTFA. Fingers crossed you have a winning ticket! Winners will be notified by close of Tuesday.

Christmas in School Here is a look at specific events next week in school:

Christmas Post Box Monday is the last day to post cards in school. All cards will then be left for 72 hours before being distributed ie at the end of the week.

Monday 14th December: “Christmas Cracker Joke Day” Every child is to bring their favourite Christmas cracker joke and the children will be voting on “Chidham’s favourite”

Tuesday 15th December: “Christmas breakfast and stories” On Tuesday we will start the day with a Christmas Breakfast. We are asking the children to bring what they need for their own breakfast e.g cereal, bowl, milk and spoon, or a bacon sandwich wrapped in foil, toast or croissant with toppings already on + plate which they will eat in their classrooms. All will be followed by some Christmas story telling!

Wednesday 16th December: “Christmas hats & lunch” Every child is being encouraged to have a Christmas hat to wear at lunchtime whether tucking into a school or not!

Thursday 17th December: Christmas Jumper Day. The children are being asked to wear their own clothes with a Christmas jumper or Christmas top e.g a Christmas t-shirt with a cardigan, and bring in money for St Wilfred’s Hospice. This will be our Christmas charity event this year.

Friday 18th December: Christmas Fun Day! The children are being asked to wear Christmas clothes of choice or a party outfit for the afternoon Class parties.

On the last day of term with everyone in their “festive gear” be they wearing a Christmas jumper, Christmas themed dress, t-shirt or have just added to an everyday shirt etc, the children will sit to eat their lunches as a class picnic in the school hall. Some ideas could be:  A snowman shaped sandwich  Mini log treat  A satsuma  A  Christmas themed biscuit etc Whatever your child brings to eat will be fine!

Please note there will be no hot dinner service today – all children will need a packed lunch

Attendance As per DfE guidelines you will have now received your children’s attendance data for this term. The Pupil Entitlement Officer (PEO), as you know, monitors the registers re. punctuality and attendance and will always ask for further information about any child whose attendance is 85% or less – please be reassured that any low attendance due to a child isolating due to COVID ie family member awaiting test result etc, will not give cause for any further action.

About Friday 18th December Just to say that in the news this week there was talk that the government are enabling schools to close next Friday. In reality what the DfE emailed to schools on Wednesday afternoon was the option to close if we wish, but we had to ensure remote learning was sent home and the day had to be swapped with an INSET day planned for later in the school year. Like many primary schools in the area we are staying open so as not to worry families about childcare if they work at such short notice, completing any home learning on the Friday nor did we wish to use up an INSET day on this!

Engines Idling Jane Towers, from the Chidham Parish Council, has contacted the school to say, “There are a significant number of cars every day, with their engines idling from the south end of Chidham Lane right and around Hamstead Meadow.” Although understanding of the need, “ in this cold weather, to have heating on in cars whilst you wait; the exhaust fumes are not very pleasant for those walking or cycling past but,” and as she reminded us , “also harmful to the health of children.” Please be mindful of others if arriving early for the pick up at the end of the day. Thank you.