December Newsletter

WEST PARK SCHOOL December Newsletter Thursday 17th December 2015 This newsletter can also be viewed at www.westpark.hartlepool.sch.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY January Monday 4th January - return to school Week beginning 11th January - Story Telling Week Monday 11th January - Peter Pan Performance February Week beginning 1st February - Assessment Week Friday 12th February - last day of the half term.

Monday 22nd February - School reopens for the second half term Monday 29th February - Carlton Outdoor Education Week Y5/6 March Thursday 3rd March - World Book Day Thursday 10th, Monday 14th and Thursday 17th March Parent Consultations (after school) 24th March - school closes for the Easter Break April 11th April - school reopens for the Summer Term.

CHRISTMAS FAIR A GREAT SUCCESS It seems a long time now since the Christmas Fair, but it’s not too late to celebrate its success. We would like to thank the Friends of West Park and all those who attended and supported the event.

The FWPS have also been hard at work providing refreshments during our performances, which has been greatly appreciated by all.

The funds which the FWPS are able to donate to the school make a huge difference. All of the staff and pupils recognise their hard work and would like to say a big thank you to all parents and grandparents who have given up their time this year.

We are working hard to reach our target which will allow us to make significant improvements to the bottom yard.

AMAZING PERFORMANCES FROM YOUR CHILDREN! Nearly a thousand visitors have come through the doors of West Park over the last two weeks to see the children perform in our three Christmas productions and Carol Concert. From the comments received, parents and grandparents from nursery to Year Six have been extremely impressed. Many thanks to the children themselves and the teaching and support staff for making the events such a success!

After this busy time the children are now enjoying their welldeserved parties. Thank You to all parents who sent food in for the children to enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

WONDERFUL NEWS

SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES

All of the staff and children would like to send our congratulations to our school cook Dawn Purvis who is expecting her third child in 2016. Her maternity leave begins on Friday, we wish her well.

West Park School have supported a number of local and national charities during the Autumn Term:  Children in Need  Hospice - Harvest Festival  Hospice - Christmas Beanies  Bring a Coin for Jacob  Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group  Hartlepool Foodbank

STAFF CHANGES We are happy to welcome Mrs Dobson and Mrs K Robinson back to school in January.

Mrs Dobson will return to support children in Y3/4, Mrs K Robinson will return to Key Stage 1. Mrs Elson will be leaving us after being with us for a short time. We have appreciated greatly the contribution she has made to the staff and children in Year 1, we wish her well in her new post nearer home.

Requests to support charities come into school on a regular basis and as a school who promotes strong values for its pupils, it is always difficult to say no. We do, however, recognise that parents have made a number of generous donations.

Senior staff have decided that the school will continue to support the Foodbank during the Spring and Summer Term but any fund raising efforts will be aimed at supporting the Friends of West Park School to reach their target for improvements to our smaller playground.

PLAYGROUND IMROVEMENTS The children from the school council have been meeting designers from a number of building contractors who have some expertise in playground development. They have some fabulous ideas.

Designs should be complete in the first half of the Spring Term, a contractor chosen and the improvements complete during the Summer Term.

Funding will be provided by the Friends of West Park School. I am pleased to say that the Christmas Fair and the donations from tea, coffees and the raffle at the Christmas Performances increased their funds by almost £1000. A wonderful effort.

HARTLEPOOL SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT GROUP HSNSG have donated four tickets to their screening of Polar Express at the Town Hall Theatre on Tuesday 22nd December. If you are interested in these tickets could you contact the school immediately? If we have interest from a number of families, we will draw names from the hat during Friday’s assembly.