10th December 2021

With one week of the term left, the Nativity practices are full swing and the children are looking forward to sharing their performances with parents and grandparents. As I write this message, I am listening to the Reception rehearsal which is full swing in the Hall- the singing sounds delightful and all of us in the office have huge smiles on our faces!

We have seen the levels of illnesses fall in the school as the week has progressed, we will continue to monitor the situation, but we are hoping that things will carry on improving next week. I would like to thank everyone for their support with the additional measures that we have put in place to help keep the school community safe.

We have had great fun with Christmas Jumper Day and there has been such a lot of colour and sparkle around school today. We have managed to exceed our fundraising target for Save the Children and so far have raised £330 which is excellent news. If you still haven't made your donation the link is ​https://christmas.savethechildren.org.uk/fundraising/cjd210008118

Mrs Reynolds

Year 1 Junk Modelling

Could Year 1 bring in cardboard boxes for a junk modelling project next week. Anything that is shoe box or cereal box sized or smaller but  please remember no boxes that contained products containing nuts. 

Nativity Performances

We are looking forward to welcoming parents to watch our Nativity Plays next week and the children have been working hard rehearsing. A separate letter is being sent by email today with details of the COVID precautions we have put in place so please read this carefully before you attend. 

Nativity DVD

There will be a DVD available of the Nativity performances but this will not be delivered until after Christmas. The DVD will contain both Reception and KS1 performances and can be bought on Parentpay for £5. The deadline for ordering is next Thursday 16th December so that we can place the order before the end of term for delivery in January.

The KS1 play was filmed today and the Reception performance will be filmed at their dress rehearsal on Monday morning.

Christmas Party & Lunch Thursday 16th December

Next week we will be having our Christmas Parties and Christmas lunch on Thursday. Children can wear their own party clothes instead of school uniform on this day. 

Red Cross Kindness Calendars & Christingle Candles

We would love to see what Acts of Kindness you have been doing so please bring your calendars in to share with your class teacher next week. Anyone who has completed 10 acts will get a certificate. 

If you have collected some change in your Christingle Candle then please bring it in next week. If you could bring it earlier in the week that will help us get the change counted and banked for The Children's Society before the end of term. 

Year 1 Walk to the Woods

Friday 7th January

Year 1 will be making another visit to the woods to look for seasonal changes in the New Year. They will need some parents to accompany them and so, if you are able to go with them on the morning of 7th January please sign up here https://forms.gle/9ofcEQQqLXX4Jg8L6

Warm Clothes

We would just remind parents that we are having to keep the school well ventilated at present and so doors and windows are open more than they would usually be at this time of the year. It may be advisable to ensure that your child has extra layers under their school uniform to ensure they stay warm whilst in school. 

Reading Books & Library Books

All Reading and Library books have been collected in this week and no more will be sent home this term. Please continue reading at home and recording this in your child's Reading Record. If you have any reading or library books still at home we would be grateful if you could return these next week. 

Spring Term Clubs

Details of clubs for the Spring Term are given below. 

School run clubs - sign-ups will be on the Class Homepages:

Sandygate Stars This term Sandygate Stars will be offered to Year 1. If your child wishes to sign up there will be a form on the Class Homepages. Sandygate Stars is run by Matt Clark, youth worker from All Saints Church, and others from the church. Each week they look at a story from the bible and do a craft activity based on that story.

Tidy-Up Team - Mrs Burkitt will lead a team to litter pick in the school grounds and further afield in the local area on a Monday lunchtime

Recorders Mrs Phillips runs recorder club for Year 2 on Wednesday lunchtime. The programme this term will be the same as the autumn term and so anyone who took part in the autumn will not be able to do this again. Priority will be given to any child who signed up in the autumn but did not get a place. 

Bookclub - this will be run in school for Year 1 & 2 on a Thursday lunchtime. Children will be asked to bring along their favourite book each week to share with the rest of the club. 

Mindful Colouring - colouring session with some mindfulness on a Thursday lunchtime

Scrumys run after school fun rugby sessions for Year 1 and 2 on Monday afternoons. For full details and how to book please see the attached letter and flyer:  Scrumys Letter  Scrumys Flyer

Youth Moves JDFD have been delivering dance and fitness classes for the past 24 years, building confidence & skills in dance and fitness. The Sandygate class runs on Monday from 3.15pm to 4.00pm. Details on how to book are in their flyer which you can download here. Youth Moves Flyer

Multisports is run by USports with sessions for Year 2 on Tuesday and Year 1 on Wednesday. To book see the Spring Term Booking

Football is run by First Soccer and details of how to book can be found on their website https://firstsoccer.class4kids.co.uk/info/142

Playball run two clubs in school on  Monday lunchtime for Year 1 and Wednesday after school for Reception. To book please see their Playball Flyer

Cookery is run by Smart Raspberry after school on a Wednesday for Years 1 and 2. To book please see their letter

Spanish is run by Caireen at BilinguaSing for Year 1 and 2 on a Friday lunchtime. From January she will also be running a Spanish club for Reception on a Thursday lunchtime please contact her for details. For details and booking see her flyer.

French club is currently full but there may be spaces available after Christmas so we will let you know in the Newsletter if this is the case

As we approach the final week of the Autumn term we want to say thank you to each and everyone one of you for all your help and support with what has been, at times, a challenging term for fundraising. It has been great to be able to hold some face to face events and to come together as a large school family.  We hope this can continue again soon.  We have been very humbled by the generous donations from families in recognition of the reduction in fundraising opportunities this term.  All your donations are given directly to school and contribute to the wonderful learning experiences our children receive.  

The Silent Auction is live at www.jumblebee.co.uk/sandygate2021 and will close on Monday.  Please can all raffle tickets also be returned to the School office, even those that are unsold.  The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 15th December.

The PFA will be serving teas and coffees outside the main entrance pre the nativity shows next week so as you queue you can stay warm.  There will be a donation bucket should you wish to make a contribution. The nativity performances are always so memorable and we hope to see many of you there.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.  5 more school days until Christmas ……..