Welcome back, we hope you had a safe and restful break over the half term holiday. It was lovely to see many of you at our All Saints Mass on Tuesday afternoon - thank you to Father Nicholas for leading this mass and to all of our family members who were able to attend.

 

Christmas Productions 2016

After reflection on last year’s productions, we have decided to change the arrangements for this academic year:

1. Our Early Years pupils (both Nursery and Reception) will perform their own Christmas Play on Friday 16^th December, at 2pm.
2. Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) will lead their performance on Wednesday 14^th December, at 2pm and then again at 6pm.
3. Due to the lack of availability of the Hall and to place a greater emphasis on the importance of Easter - Years 3, 4 and 5 will perform an Easter Production at the end of the Spring Term.
4. As in previous years, Year 6 will lead the singing at our Christmas Carol Service on Tuesday 20^th December (this will take place in our Church from 4pm until 5pm).

 

Lower Early Years (Nursery) Combined Sessions

Leading up to the end of this half term, both our morning and afternoon nursery will be combined for certain sessions. This is to allow all pupils to take part in the Christmas activities we have planned. These dates include:

Friday 16^th December (Christmas Play) – all children should attend the afternoon session

Monday 19^th December (School Discos) – again all Nursery pupils to attend the pm session

Wednesday 21^st December (term ends) – both am and pm Nursery are combined in the morning

A separate Early Years letter will be sent home, nearer the time, giving further details.

 

Does your child have difficulties with handwriting?

Brunel University are looking for volunteers to help them carry out research into handwriting and movement difficulties in children. For more information, and details of how to get involved, please follow this link:

www.brunel.ac.uk/kidspace

All participants will receive a free assessment of motor skills, literacy and handwriting including a report detailing their child’s performance, as well as information about local resources and findings from future studies.

 

RE Curriculum

This half term, all pupils will focus on the season of Advent as the time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas. This topic will cover teaching on the ‘O’ Antiphons and Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus.

Your child will consider how the belief that Jesus is God makes celebrating Christmas different. As you prepare for Christmas, you may like to reflect how you celebrate and share the following prayer as a family:

 

God of life,

Open our eyes Lord, to the coming of your light. Help us grow in hope and give us the courage to hope for your presence in our hearts, hope for your peace in our world and hope for your promise in our lives.

We ask this through Christ whose birth we are waiting for!

Amen

 

Does your child have a Special Educational Need (SEN)?

If so, the Local Authority SEN Team is leading a series of ‘Early Support Parent/Carer Workshops’ that you may find useful.

These workshops will provide an opportunity for you to explore how to support your child, with Special Educational Needs and or Disability (SEND) and yourself, learning alongside other parents and in partnership with Early Support practitioners including:

Understanding this unknown world:

• Navigating your way through the system.
• Awareness of resources and the Early Support approach.
• Making sense of the jargon.
• The Local Offer- What is it and how it may help?

The Child beyond the disability:

• Awareness of support available and recognising how the experience of other parents may support you.
• Consider partnership relationships with practitioners and improve confidence when contributing to multi agency meetings.

Achieving the best outcomes for our families:

• An introduction to tools and ways to help you when making decisions, identifying priorities and planning outcomes.
• Increasing confidence and resilience.

Growing up and moving on:

• Changing lives.
• Next steps.
• What does this mean?

DATES:

Monday 21^st November 2016

Monday 28^th November 2016

Monday 5^th December 2016

Monday 12^th December 2016

TIME: 12.30 pm - 3 pm

VENUE: Oak Farm Children's Centre, Windsor Avenue, Hillingdon, UB10 9PD

Link for booking a place:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZ2NUlyzuUZDZA-gVh_CIn0oYafFgcQHdSVOJEeO2iRFS8aQ/viewform

OR

EMAIL: jkaler@hilllingdon.gov.uk

TELEPHONE: 01895 277183

 

Road Safety

It has been reported to us there has been a considerable amount of careless driving along Rockingham Road recently.  Please be mindful of traffic when crossing the road and vehicles in your vicinity.

 

Upcoming Diary Dates

Please visit our school website for a complete list of all events:

http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/

Date	Time	Event
Thursday 10th November	11am – 11.30am 2.45 – 3.15pm	Early Years Donuts with Mums and Dads
Friday 25th November		Year 5 trip to Science Museum
Thursday 1st December		Non-uniform Day (Christmas inspired clothes) – PTA collecting luxury items
Friday 2nd December	3.30pm	PTA Christmas Fayre (School hall)
Wednesday 7th December		Year 6 Westminster Carol Concert
Friday 9th December	8.30am	Last day of Mrs Sullivan’s RM Easimaths Group
Wednesday 14th December	2pm and 6pm	KS1 Christmas Play (Years 1 and 2)
Friday 16th December	2pm	Early Years Christmas Play (Nursery combined pm)
Monday 19th December	1.30pm	Whole School Christmas Disco (Nursery combined pm)
Tuesday 20th December	4pm	Christmas Carol Service
Wednesday 21st December	9.30am	Whole School End of Term Mass (Church)
Wednesday 21st December	1.30pm	Autumn Term Ends (Nursery combined am)

 

PTA News

Events News

Thank you to everyone who attended the last meeting for organising the Christmas Fayre we had 18 parents attending which is great news. We still have a lot to do so any more volunteers would be greatly appreciated. A PTA stall will be outside the entrance to the school to answer any questions and to sign up to volunteer for this exciting event. We have another Christmas Fayre Preparation meeting on Thursday 17th November which will be held at the Church Hall at 8pm.  If you are unable to attend but would like to offer your support please email stmaryspta@outlook.com. 

 

Fundraising News 

At our first coffee morning we raised £81!

Thank you to everyone who baked cakes for the Curriculum afternoon where parents and carers enjoyed homemade cakes and chatting to one another. We raised £104.35 at this event, that's a lot of cake! 

 

It’s not just about raising much needed funds for the school but coming together as a community. There will be many more events for all to enjoy in the coming months, watch this space...