Weekly Newsletter

Headteacher - Mrs K Adams

Assistant Headteacher - Miss H Howard

Associate Assistant Headteacher - Miss L Whale

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we enter the festive season, I hope that you are all well and your Christmas preparations are underway! Over the next two weeks, we have an extremely busy timetable in school and very much look forward to seeing you in school as we celebrate this special season together.

Last week, we were very excited to welcome Yvette Cooper into school to meet Oliver, our Year 3 pupil who won a competition to design her Christmas card this year. We are extremely proud of Oliver and contacted the local press to ask them to run the story. Here is Oliver with a copy of an article in the Pontefract and Wakefield Express. What an achievement! This memory will stay with Oliver and his family forever. Well done Oliver!

On Tuesday the children really impressed us with their resilience to do the reindeer run, raising funds for The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract, despite the rainy weather. This event is for a great cause and we thoroughly enjoy participating in the run each year. Thank you to all the parents/carers who came to watch their children run and thank you for all the donations sent in to us. Well done children!

On Thursday our Head Boy and Head Girl were invited to go into Pontefract town centre to judge the Christmas shop windows along with other schools in our area. This event is run yearly by Pontefract Civic Society who we think are doing some amazing things for the town and community. We have yet to learn the outcome of the competition but we will announce the winner as soon as we know.

On Thursday afternoon, EYFS visited St Giles church in Pontefract. Reverand Sam Fletcher spoke to the children about the meaning of Christmas and Advent. He then retold the Christmas Story and the children had the opportunity to act out some parts. They had a wonderful time. We look forward to welcoming Reverand Fletcher in to school to see us again in the New Year.

It has been such a wonderful day in school today as the children came wearing Christmas Jumpers/non- school uniform together with festive headwear for Christmas Dinner Day. The children were so excited and there was a fantastic festive buzz around school. The tables were decorated in keeping with the Christmas theme and we had festive music playing. It was a delight to see the children’s happy faces.

On Monday, Santa will be in school visiting the children. Our youngest children will be invited to listen to a story read by Santa and each child who chooses to visit will receive a present.

On Tuesday 12th December, it is our Reading by Candlelight event. Children should come to the main reception door at 5pm. We ask that children arrive in their PJs and bring their favourite book. They can also bring a teddy and a torch to read with if they so wish. All children will be offered milk and biscuits.

KS1 will leave through the hall door at 5.45pm and KS2 again from the hall at 6pm. Siblings may wait for each other to be collected but please inform us of your intentions so that we are aware. Thank you.

On Wednesday 13th December, KS2 will be going to Wakefield Theatre to see the Sleeping Beauty Pantomime. Children will be on the coach by 12.30 and we aim to back between 4.30 and 5.00, traffic dependent.

The children will be dismissed from classrooms as normal. In this way they can collect any belongings they may have.

Parents of Year 3 children are invited to school on Thursday 14th December for a class guitar concert. The concert will start at around 9.30am and finish at 10am. Please arrive at 9:20am and enter through the hall doors. Due to space restrictions, we can only allow two adults per child.

Thursday 14th December is the date of our much loved Winter Wonderland. If you haven’t already purchased tickets, these can be purchased on MCAS. The price includes the winter lights walk, hot drinks, hot dog, a sweet treat and Christmas songs sung by the choir.

We hope to see you all there!

The Christmas Fair will be open from 2pm. All parents/carers must collect pupils from their classroom doors as normal and then enter school through the hall doors. All childcare responsibility is then passed to supporting adults. Children without an adult will stay with their class teacher and will be dismissed from their classroom door as normal.

Overall 96.2%

Reception 98.7%

Year 1 95%

Year 2 91.7%

Year 3 99%

Year 4 95.3%

Year 5 94.6%

Year 6 99.3%

Clubs will run until Friday 15th December. Therefore, no clubs will be on the week commencing 18th December.

Also, just a little reminder that we now offer a dinner option 3 which is pasta and sauce.

Wakefield Council's Happy Healthy Holidays – Wakefield Families Together is now open to book for activities between 2nd and 5th January 2024. There are lots of activities on offer including dance, arts and crafts, day trips, sports activities, cooking, food and nutrition activities and much more! If you think you may be eligible for free school meals benefits (this is different from the universal meals given to Reception up to Year 2) please contact the office.

Please contact the office if you need any clarification regarding dates.

On a final note, I would like to thank all parents/carers/family members who have brought donations in today for our Christmas Fair Tombola. As always, we are over the moon with your generosity so thank you so much.

I hope you have a lovely weekend! Stay warm,

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs Adams