together Everyone Achieves More Walter Evans CE Primary School www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk email us at - admin@walterevans.derby.sch.uk Tel. 01332 557139 Newsletter Christmas 2016 Merry Christmas, one and all. We hope that everyone has a wonderful (bug free!) holiday with family and friends, and returns to school fresh in January. Dates for your Diary 20 th Dec Last day Remember your special snack and toy! 24 th Dec Crib Service at St Matthews, 5.30pm see below 4 th Jan 2017 Back to school 27 th Jan Y 5/6 Trip to Black Country Living Museum Christmas Carol Concert at the Cathedral Thank you to all the children, parents and grandparents who attended our Christmas Carol concert on 30 th November. We hope that all will agree the children did a fantastic job, and the singing sounded especially beautiful in such an atmospheric venue. They ll always be able to say, I performed in Derby Cathedral! Thank you to our Vicar Rev. Barham for the lovely service, and to all the staff who worked so hard to pull the concert together. 1
Wow! We re nearly there! Thanks to all your donations we re up to 183 books for our library. If you re clearing your children s shelves over the Christmas break and find any new or as new books that are no longer wanted, please think of us, and maybe we can smash our target early! This was a fabulous event once again, brilliantly organised by our dedicated PTFA. We hope that everyone is excited to open their special presents on Christmas Day certainly much excitement went into their choosing! Many thanks to the organisers and to all the helpers on the day, and also to everyone who donated gifts for us to sell. The day raised 1,180. If you d like to help us spend this money in the New Year, pop the date of the next PTFA Meetings in your diary now. They are Thursday 12 th Jan at 8pm, and Friday 13 th Jan at 9am. Christmas Services at St Matthews On Christmas Eve at St Matthews there will be a Crib Service at 5.30 pm. Peter the new Vicar has nativity figures on broomsticks so we will tell the story together and sing a selection of favourite carols. The service will last about 40 minutes and is suitable for all ages. We won't be dressing children up as the different characters, so please come in your Christmas jumpers. Midnight Mass is celebrated at 11.30 pm. On Christmas morning, Peter will lead a Family Communion service at 10 am - bring a Christmas present. A few photos of our Christmas Celebrations! 2
The Christmas parties were a hit with everyone! Santa visited our Nursery and Reception Grotto to see the children he was very impressed with them all! 3
Year 5/6 enjoying a very civilised soiree! Foundation Stage staff looking their seasonal best for Grotto night! Parking Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, parking around school continues to be a major concern for children s safety. In the last couple of weeks there have been occasions where parents have parked on the pavement, resulting in a child with mobility difficulties and parents with pushchairs having to walk in the road. There have also been several near misses, and a collision where a car badly parked in the bus bay was hit by a reversing driver. On Friday a coach returning from a trip was unable to reach school because of a badly 4
parked Renault Megane, which then caused further problems for several other parents. Could we also please remind all parents that there is no parent parking in the school grounds at any time of day, unless you have a blue badge. If you witness a parking/driving hazard, please continue to contact the school office to report the issue. PTFA Christmas Hamper Winners Thank you for your contributions and ticket purchases, we raised around 340! Many congratulations to all our prize winners, listed below 1 st Emma Ireland (Hamper and 25 M&S voucher) 2 nd Katherine Terry (Hamper) 3 rd Roe Family ( 25 M&S voucher) 4 th Coull Family (Monopoly, wine and chocs) 5 th Steve Clarke (Wine hamper) 6 th Helen Munday (Baking hamper) 7 th V Murphy (Champagne) 8 th Eaton Family (Whisky) 9 th Nelson Nudd Family (Leap Pad) 10 th L James (Remote control helicopter) 11 th Edie Bucknell (Beer hamper) 12 th Higgs Family (Bourbon) 13 th Jean Travis (Pamper set) 14 th Hawksworth Family (Wine) Well done to the winners of the PTFA Christmas colouring competition we had over 100 entries, and all of them were fabulous! The overall winner was Jasper Hill in Reception, and the runners up in each phase were Elsie Clarke (Rec), Joshua Simmonds-Martinez (1/2), Harry Bennett (3/4), and Evie Bennett (5/6). It was obvious a lot of time and thought had gone in to all the entries, and they were all very individual. What a creative bunch you are! DCFC are offering 7-11 year olds the opportunity to experience a game of football at the ipro Stadium for free! To register for your free tickets, log on to WeAreDerby.com/FutureFans. Complete the online form and Rammie will be in touch to tell you how to claim them. 5
What is on your Christmas list? The giving and receiving of gifts is very much in our thinking as we enter the Christmas season. So, what is the best gift you have ever received? As a child I still hold onto the treasured memory of the special dolls pram received from my parents. During this Christmas season what are we truly seeking? For me, Christmas is a reminder that the unwrapped baby Jesus, born in a stable, who became the Saviour, is the best present that I have received. Jesus - who offers a full guarantee of eternal life - to all who trust in Him. There is no sale-bydate with this precious gift. Please take a moment this Christmas to consider what that baby in a manger means to you. Happy Christmas, and peace throughout the New Year. 6