Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Headteacher: Mr Paul Lavis Deputy Headteacher : Mrs Sam Harris
December 2013 Volume 5, Issue 4
Contents:
Dear Parents
Fundraising update
2
After school clubs
2
School Nurse Drop-in
2
Severe weather
2
Message from FoS
3
Twas the night before Christmas
3
St Mary’s church Christmas services 4 Diary Dates
4
Celebration Assembly Dates 17th January ~ Yr 5
24th January ~ Yr 6
31st January ~ Reception
Hello All and a Merry Christmas! As the term comes to a close and as the collective Blandford St Mary Primary community crawl towards the finish line—desperate for a rest and a break, dragging themselves through Christmas lunches, parties and assemblies, eyes propped open with matchsticks… I wanted to say a big thank you for your kind comments and messages following the news that I will be moving on in 2014. It’s not been an easy month—emotionally— and I’m sure it will only get worse! I love Blandford St Mary Primary School and its community very much and it will be hard to go. However, change is constant and inevitable wherever you look and the time is right to move on and take up a new challenge… I mean: I keep on at the children here about ’working in the green’ and ’being the best that they can be’ so I need to show them that I live by the same rules. Possibly the biggest challenge at Shaftesbury will be getting used to their marking sys-
tem which uses pinks and greens the other way round! That means I’ll have to ’work in the pink’… I’m not sure how I feel about that yet! Christmas is a time of rejoicing and we must do so on behalf of Mrs Harris—who is to leave us on maternity leave today. We rejoice because she has been given the ‘all-clear’ following her surgery and can now focus on the impending birth of her number two. Good luck with that Sam! A Christmas joke for you: Mary asks Joseph to help with the chores… Joseph dear, put the rubbish out love would you please?
I can’t. It’s Christmas – there’s no room in the bin...
Have a great Christmas all.
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Volume 5, Issue 4
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter
Notice Board Fundraising We are pleased to be able to give you a round up of all the various fundraising activities you have supported us with. Christingle = £80.36 Children in need = £303 Shoe box Appeal = 35 shoe boxes Thank you for all your support with these good causes.
After School Clubs There will be no after school clubs the first week back to school. You will be informed when the new clubs are on line and available for your children to request in the new year.
Drop--In School Nurse Drop
The next School Nurse drop in is on Tuesday 21st January at 8.50am. Please let the office or one of the class teachers know if you would like to make an appointment to see Sarah. You can also just pop in on the day.
Severe weather When it snows, ain’t it thrilling, Though your nose gets a chilling We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way, Walking in the winter wonderland.
We are now in the season of unpredictable weather, so please check the school website for notifications of closure in the event of snow. We will always endeavour to use the text messaging service as well to keep you informed.
Volume 5, Issue 4
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter
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A message from F.O.S Thank you everyone for your support this term. It has been a busy one with a school disco, firework display and the Christmas festival, not to mention all those teas and coffees at the school production, talent contest and Nativity. On the expenditure side, we have bought more play equipment, some outdoor storage cupboards, the class Christmas gifts and marked out the newly resurfaced school playground with some games and educational learning aids. We hope you have enjoyed all the events—as ever, all feedback is welcome, as are any new ideas for future fund raising and spending. For those interested in getting involved with the Friends of School (FoS), the next FoS meeting will be on Wednesday 22nd January at 7pm (at school). We would love to see a few more of you involved, so please do come along. Either way, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and we look forward to seeing you all next term. Best wishes FoS
Twas the night before Christmas By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarsugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the househouse-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
The moon on the breast of the newnew-fallen snow Gave the lustre of midmid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
His eyeseyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodgood-night!"
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Blandford St Mary Primary School Birch Avenue Blandford St Mary, Dorset DT11 9QD Phone: 01258-453331 Fax: 01258-455865
Website : www.blandfordstmary.dorset.sch.uk
School Diary Dates: Monday 23rd December – Friday 3rd January ~ Christmas Holidays Monday 6th January ~ Children return to school Monday 3rd February—Friday 7th February ~ Enterprise week Friday 7th February ~ BSN Talent show Thursday 13th February ~ School closed staff training Friday 14th February ~ School closed staff training Monday 17th February—Friday 21st February ~ Half term