This Term We Have Been Working Towards Our Get Healthy

CROSCOMBE Long Street, Croscombe Wells, Somerset BA5 3QL Church of England Tel: (01749) 343114 Primary School Fax: (01749) 344826 E mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.croscombeprimary.co.uk HEADTEACHER Steve Heath

21 October 2016

Dear Parents/Carers

Ice Cream Friday Marshmallows and waffles raised £28.00 on the 14th October. Altogether our playground fund now stands at £1,124.23.

1st Croscombe Rainbows

This term we have been working towards our Get Healthy badge, we've walked to the Forest School in Ham Woods to make S'mores and sing campfire songs, had a Zumba class, made Pizzas, played Guess Who with our own pictures and played parachute games. We finished this half term with a party to celebrate one Rainbow making her promise and two Rainbows making their Pot of Gold journey to Brownies.

Rainbows is the Guiding group for girls aged 5 to 7, if your daughter is interested in joining us please contact Sandra on 01749 342221.

Fire Safety Talk On Wednesday, all children enjoyed an informative talk from the Fire Service. The children listened well and had so many questions to ask about fire safety in their homes. For a free home fire safety check please ring 0800 0502 999.

Harvest Festival Thanks to all parents who sent food in to support our Harvest Festival. Our service was led by Territorial Envoy John Melia of the Salvation Army in Shepton Mallet. He led an excellent service with plenty of visual interest for the children. The Salvation Army administer the foodbank in the area and all of the tinned and storable goods will be used to alleviate need in our locality. The fresh produce was passed on to Childrens' Centres and presented to parents of vulnerable young children who were very grateful for these additions to their weekend diet. Thanks also to those parents and friends who were able to attend the service and we hope that they enjoyed the festival as much as the children.

Wells Literary Festival Yesterday, 20th October, Conkers class went to the Wells Literary Festival in the town hall. They went to see a famous writer called Piers Torday. He talked to the schools about his life, his books and other things to do with himself. The children all enjoyed the trip and would like to thank Mrs Kirkham for volunteering to come as well.

Parental Consultations If you have not already done so, could you please return your appointment form to school as soon as possible?

First Class Supplement – Mid Somerset Newspapers Mid Somerset News and Media are again featuring photographs of Reception year children in their 20th October edition. If you are the parent of a new Reception child, I’m sure you’ll want to buy a copy as a memento of their first year at school.

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal We are once again supporting this charity and a box containing various fundraising items will be going into each classroom on a daily basis for the children to buy from when we return after half- term. The suggested donation prices are as follows: Friendship Bracelets (£1), Slap Rulers (£1), Wristbands (50p), Reflectors (50p) and, of course, poppies. If your child would like any of these items please ensure they have their money with them.

Friends of Croscombe School Disco FOCS are holding a school disco on Friday 11th November in a marquee on the school field (kindly donated by Michael Eavis). There will be a BBQ from 5.00pm – 6.00pm and then the disco from 6.00pm – 7.30pm. Entrance will be £4.00 per family with free squash for the children and a bar for adults. You can pay on the door.

Clothes for a Cause It’s that time of year to have a tidy up of unwanted, good quality, children’s and adults clothing, paired shoes, handbags and belts before the winter. Books and soft toys are recycled complimentary, but we will not get any money for them. The school will receive 45p per kilo by using your own black bags. They are unable to collect household textiles, ie tablecloths, curtains, cloth napkins etc so please do not send these items in.

The collection will take place on Tuesday 8th November. Please bring your bags to school and leave them near the middle gate, ready for collection. The lorry normally comes by 9.00am to pick them up. If you think it will be a rush in the morning, bags can be left the night before, but please tell Mrs Groves.

Easyfundraising With Christmas fast approaching, please join easyfundraising and raise free donations each time you shop online. From clothes to car insurance, it won’t cost you a penny more.

1) Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/croscombesch and follow the simple steps to sign up (We are Friends of Croscombe School – Somerset) 2) Every time you shop online, visit easyfundraising first, search for the retailer you want and shop as normal. Everything is the same, including the price 3) With every purchase you make, you’ll raise a donation from the retailer. Your donations are then transferred to us!

Although the donation may not seem much, all the 10p’s and 20p’s soon add up. If you are thinking of booking a holiday online or buying new items for your home, please think of us.

Working with Children SSL (Somerset Skills and Learning) is running a one day workshop exploring all career opportunities within the field of Working with Children (for instance, childcare...supporting teaching and learning in schools...social work etc). it runs from 9.30am - 3.30pm (or 3pm if parents/carers need to leave early to collect children from school) and it's free (and aimed at 19+ years). It will appeal to those who are looking to retrain, change jobs or enter employment after a gap. It will also appeal to those aged 19 - 24 looking to do an apprenticeship or traineeship in this area.

It will be held on Tuesday 1st November in Wells. Call us on 0330 332 7997 to find out more or email [email protected]

Science Firework Morning – Whitstone School Whitstone School are holding a science family fun morning on Saturday 5th November from 10am – 12 noon for children in Years 4 and 5. Activities will include using Bunsen Burners to find out what makes fireworks different colours and creating and launching your own rocket. First come first served.

To book your place at the Firework Fun Morning please email your name, school and phone number to [email protected] by Wednesday 2nd November.

Lizzie’s Hummingbirds Come and join me for singing with your little ones. Thursday mornings at Croscombe Village Hall. Babies from birth to too wriggly: 10.00am – 10.20am. Refreshments and a good old chat and play: 10.20am – 11.00am. All ages: 11.00am – 11.30am. Sessions are on a relaxed drop in basis. £3.00 a session (£1 extra for another child). Just come along, or ring Elizabeth on 01749 330460.

Reminders/News

 If your child attends an after school club, can you please come into the playground to pick them up from the instructor. We have been having cases lately where parents are sitting in their cars and expecting children to walk to them. In view of the traffic on the road, we would prefer it if you come and collect them. It is also a safeguarding issue if the instructor is not sure who the child is going home with  After a very busy couple of weeks, there will be no work taking place at the allotment during half-term. Our Project Manager definitely needs a well-deserved holiday!  Forest School – for those children who will be taking part in Forest School next term the dates are as follows: Wednesday 2nd November, 9th November, 16th November, 23rd November, 30th November and 7th December  Dinners – rather than send the standard dinner letter, I am just attaching the two week dinner menu order form for the two weeks commencing 7th November and 14th November. If you normally fill these in, could the sheet be returned to school by Thursday 3rd November?

Holly & Hawthorn Half-Term Forest School (Windsor Hill Woods, Shepton Mallet)

Tuesday 25th October – 10am – 2pm & Thursday 27th October – 10am – 2pm

The forest school sessions will have a seasonal theme, but still include all the usual forest school activities such as den building and campfire cooking (5-11 year olds).

£15 per child per session (concessions available).

Please visit www.smforestschool.btck.co.uk for booking form or contact forest school leader Kaye Watts on [email protected] or telephone 07963 078024 (text message is best!)

After Half-Term 01.11.16 – Swimming – Years 2 – 4 01.11.16 – Rainbows 01.11.16 – Croscombe Tiddlers – 10.00am – 11.30am – School Hall 01.11.16 – Lacrosse Club – Years 1 – 3 - 3.30pm – 4.30pm 01.11.16 – Flu Immunisation (Nasal spray) – Years 1, 2 & 3 who have sent in consent forms 02.11.16 – Forest School 03.11.16 – Ukulele Lesson – 1.15pm – 2.00pm – Years 3 & 4 03.11.16 – Reading Meeting – Reception Parents – 2.45pm – 3.30pm - School Hall 03.11.16 – Lacrosse Club – Years 4 – 6 – 3.30pm – 4.30pm 04.11.16 – Choir – 3.30pm – 4.15pm – Years 3 - 6

Advance Notice 09.11.16 – Parental Consultations 10.11.16 – Academy Portraits – school photos 10.11.16 – Parental Consultations 18.11.16 – Children in Need – ‘Spotacular’ – children should come to school wearing something spotty!!

Have a good half-term break and we come back to school on Monday 31st October.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L Rainsford Senior Teacher