Dear Parents and Carers

Our penultimate full week draws to a close and the frosty weather has certainly brought a festive edge to school life.  I do hope that the children enjoy the Christmas Decorations at the front of our school and the special area around our reception class.  Thank you to the parents who have commented as you know this is one of my favourite times of the school year and it is important to generate as much excitement around this magical time whilst keeping the simple message of Hope through a New Born Baby at the Centre of our Advent Preparations.

It is difficult to believe that our Ofsted Inspection only took place a week ago, as school Carol Concert and Nativity preparations charge ahead.  Next week will be a particularly exciting week and I hope that you are able to enjoy as much of it with your children as you can.

Dates – a reminder for your diary

Week beginning 12^th December 2022

Monday

Infant – Hosanna Rocks Dress Rehearsal – Year 3 & 6

Our second Advent Wreath Collective Worship

6.00pm – Junior Carol Concert – children to arrive at 5.45pm in school uniform – please note this is not suitable for babies and very young children.

Tuesday

Year 5 Victorian Themed Day

Infant Hosanna Rock Dress Rehearsal – Year 4 & 5

Wednesday

Year 5 Final Swimming Session

1.45pm – Infant Nativity – Hosanna Rock Performance 1

Thursday

Christmas Jumper Day – children can wear a Christmas Jumper, a festive hat and antlers, but no earrings – Thank you

Christmas Dinner – Children to be served by school staff

1.45 pm – Infant Nativity - Hosanna Rock Performance 2

School Choir to perform at St James’ Church – next to school – Choir to meet at school at 5.45pm and walk across – Parents warmly invited – children may go home from the Church with parents.

Friday

Afternoon – school choir to sing Carols at Park Haven Trust Maghull

School Council visit to The Cheshire Lines

On Monday 28^th November, pupils from the school council visited the Cheshire Lines, which is part of the Trans Pennine Trail. The traffic-free path for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, is just down the road from the school, off Green Lane. The visit was organised with Sustrans, the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. Sustrans is working with West Lancashire Council to improve the path between Green Lane and Lydiate Station Road. The improvement works will start in the new year, and will include a new smooth surface, and better access onto the trail. The charity hopes that the improvements will mean that the path is used by families even more, as it is a safe route away from traffic for family walks and bike rides. The access improvements at Lydiate Station Road will make it easier for people with a pushchair, or riding on a mobility scooter, to use the path.

During their visit to the Cheshire Lines, the children learnt about the improvements that are going to be made, and also learnt some tree identification skills. They then returned to school to make some posters to be erected on the path to encourage users to look after the trail and be courteous to each other.

Information about the Cheshire Lines improvement scheme can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/Cheshire-Lines

The children have been completing their Autumn Assessments in Reading, Writing, Spelling Grammar and Punctuation, and Mathematics throughout the week.  These assessments are important in order to identify areas of secure understanding but more importantly to identify any aspects of our children’s learning that require support.

Can I ask on behalf of the governing board that if your child has to be taken out during school time for a medical, dental or other reason that you provide proof in order to maintain accurate attendance records, these can be emailed or brought to the school office.

A final reminder that the children’s Christmas Disco’s have been arranged for Monday 19^th December – Reception – Year 2 – 4.30pm – 5.30pm entrance by the school office.  Juniors – 6.00pm-7.30pm – there may be a small charge to cover costs, I will let you know next week.

I am delighted that I have been able to arrange for our school Road Safety Markings to be reinstated.  I think the less said about them the better, but simply to ask that all road users respect them.  This year I have arranged for the Keep Clear sign to be 2 metres high for anyone who struggled to read the previous one that was only 1 metre.  They are there for a reason and I thank the vast majority of you who accept this and respect this. 

May I wish you a Happy and Cold/Flu free weekend

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher