Dear Parents and friends of the School After an action packed week Christmas definitely feels like it is in the air. The visit to the Northcott Theatre on Wednesday was a great way to kick things off. The performance of Beauty and the Beast was stunning and inspired the children who was been re-enacting the show all week in the playground. They behaved beautifully and certainly enjoyed their interval ice cream. Mr O’Mahony Many thanks to Chair of Governors, Iain Stewart, for donating our school Head of School Christmas tree and lights, which stands pride of place in our playground. It looks beautiful and makes the school entrance look very inviting. Thursday's Christmas Art and Crafts Day certainly allowed the children to demonstrate their fine array of talents. Whether it was the fine motor skills in sticking jewels on the Christmas tags, sewing skills or patience and focus in weaving a holy wreath. Thank you to all the parents who made this possible. The children have created such very lovely gifts which will be on sale at Carols in the Woods on Sunday. Any gifts not sold will be available to purchase after school next week. As a reminder, Carols in the Woods takes place this Sunday 8th December from 3.00pm. We have sent a home a programme/ carol booklet with your child this evening. Teaching staff will be on site from 2.45pm with the children singing a number of Carols at 3.00pm and then again 3.40pm. In between the performances, mulled wine will be served along with hot chocolate for the children. The PTA have also organised a small Christmas treasure hunt around the copse and the Christmas crafts will be on sale along with Mr. Ching's Christmas chocolate brownies and rocky road. Please can all children wear warm clothes, Christmas jumpers, hats, scarfs, gloves etc. There is no need to wear school uniform. All proceeds from the sale of these items will go towards our Summer Surf trip to North Devon ( A meeting to plan this is planned in for just after the Christmas holidays). Several parents have asked if there will be a Christmas play this year; This year, our main event is our Carols in the Woods and will be supported by our Christmas Lunch and Christmas activity days being held in the final week. We will however be holding a whole school Summer play which we will be putting on for the parents and wider school community. I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday! Martin O’Mahony Head of School
Thank you to our volunteer helpers who assisted the children with our Christmas craft sessions on 5th December.
Safeguarding and Child Protection is extremely important to us. Supporting children and young people exposed to Domestic Abuse. We are an Operation Encompass School Occasionally we may need to make a referral to CYPS or other external agencies.
Calendar Dates 2019 - 2020
10th – 13th September Balanceability for Reception, Y1 and Y2 children 1:30pm – 3pm Starting 10th After School Sports Club with Mr O’Mahony 3:30pm – 4:30pm September (every Tuesday evening) Starting 11th After School Art Club with Mrs Hodder 3:30pm – 4:30pm September (every Wednesday evening) 11th September KS1 Curriculum meeting 3:30pm – 4:00pm 13th September KS2 Curriculum meeting 3:30pm – 4:00pm 16th September Individual and Family group photographs 1:30pm (Tempest) **Please return all orders by Friday 27th September, or place order online ** 18th September Introduction to the School Development Plan 3:30 – 4:15pm KS2 Class 23rd September Bags2School Collection 9am 23rd September KS1 trip to Morwellham Quay 9:00am – 4:15pm 23rd September School Association AGM 7pm in the school library; light refreshments will be provided 24th September Governors Meeting 5:30pm in KS2 classroom 30th September Scholastic Book Club Orders due in school accompanied by correct payment 30th September NSPCC Presentation 1st October KS2 visit to RAMM/Waterstones/Pizza Express, Exeter 10th October World Mental Health Day. Please refer to other information in this newsletter. w/c 14th October Parents’ Evening KS2 (Please see Mr O’Mahony) 15th October KS2 Orienteering at Killerton 9:30am – 12:30pm 15th October Parents’ Evening KS1 (Please see Mrs Rensburg) 17th October Victorian Day (come to school dressed as a Victorian child) 18th October Harvest Festival (all donations to Cullompton Food Bank) Silver collection for Water Aid, funding worldwide projects St Andrews Church Clyst Hydon 10am
28th October Second half of autumn term begins 1st November Halloween Crafts and Fun in KS1 class 3:30 – 4:45pm All welcome 8th November KS2 ICT enrichment course at St Luke’s Campus, Exeter 9:30am – 3:30pm 11th – 15th November Anti-Bullying week 13th November Whole School ‘Dance Night’ Cullompton College 4:00 – 5:00pm (part of PE Enrichment programme) 15th November Children in Need Charity Appeal 19th November NHS Whole school Flu vaccination programme 9am https://schoolimms.virgincare.co.uk/flu/2019/devon or 0300 247 0082 **Please complete the consent/non-consent form online** 22nd November Scholastic book club orders to office (Correct payment required) 4th December Whole school visit to Exeter Northcott Theatre ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Packed lunch required 5th December ‘Make and Do’ crafts morning. Parents welcome to join us. 8th December ‘Carols in the Wood’ Join the village community around a fire at Bessie’s Copse. 16th December Christmas lunch and Children’s Christmas Present Swap **Please can you bring your child’s gift to the office by Friday 13th December** 20th December Non-Uniform Christmas Jumper Day with traditional party games and craft sessions
6th January 2020 Non Pupil Day 7th January 2020 Spring term begins 9th, 16th and 23rd Jan Yoga and Mother/Toddler storytime sessions 1:30 - 2:30pm
24th February – 27th Second half of Spring Term March 2020
14th April Summer term begins
17th July 2020 Final day of term for pupils
Please remember if your child is in KS2, a school meal is chargeable unless you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit. The current charge for a school meal is £2.50 per meal, per child. If you think you may be entitled to free school meals, even if your child is in the infant part of the school, please log into the Citizen Portal; using the following web address https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/school-meals) or telephone 0345 155 1019 for an application form. There are benefits to both yourself and the school if you are eligible for the free school meal premium. The school must see proof of eligibility which will be confirmed directly to yourself. Unfortunately the school are unable to apply on your behalf.
For more details,