4 Dec 2007 - Newsletter No: 8
Date: 4 December 2007 Newsletter No: 8
Dear Parent
Emergency Closure
In the event of extreme bad weather or some other emergency (eg, heating failure), it may be necessary to close all or part of the school. In such circumstances, closure will be notified to parents in three ways:-
- Notices will be posted on the school gates and on the school website (see top of letter).
- The closure will be announced on Orchard FM Radio (102.6FM) and on Somerset Sound (1556MHz)
- We will do our best to staff the school telephone between 8.00am to 10.00am and 3.00pm to 4.30pm. (Remember that the number of calls to this line may be large and it could be difficult to get through.)
Closure will be on a day-to-day basis only. Please be assured that the staff and I will do all we can to keep the school open in most conditions, but we need to be prepared in case of emergencies.
Car Parking – Orchard Vale Car Park
I have recently had discussions with South Somerset District Council about the parking at the rear of the school. The situation here is very difficult, I know, and spaces are in real demand.
I wish to give you advance notice of a change in January 2008. When we return after the school holidays, there will be no concessionary parking at the start of the school day for Greenfylde parents. At the moment there is 10 minutes either side of 9.00am. However, as from January, a car parked there from 9.00am onwards will have to have a valid parking ticket, or will be subject to a fine.
To help accommodate this change, the school proposes to bring forward the time at which parents may leave their child(ren) in the playground. This will now be 8.45am (as opposed to 8.50am). A member of staff will be on duty in the playground from this time. I hope that this will help enable parents to bring their child into school and then clear the car park by, or at, 9.00am.
The concessionary parking for the end of the school day will continue to operate. That is, parents may park for free 10 minutes either side of 3.30pm to collect their child(ren).
Thank you for your understanding of this issue. If you wish to discuss any aspect of this, please do come and see me.
School Christmas Lunch – Thursday 20 December
You should receive, with this letter, a Christmas menu, outlining two choices for main course and dessert. If you wish your child to have a Christmas Lunch, please return this to the school office
as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday 12 December. We need to know numbers, so orders after this date will not be able to be accommodated.
The cost of the lunch is £1.80 (correct money please). This should be placed in a named, sealed, envelope along with the menu choices ticked and returned to the office please. Thank you in anticipation.
The school Christmas Lunch is always much enjoyed by the children. We have a slightly extended lunchtime to make sure everyone has time to enjoy their meal. Every child in the school, regardless of whether they have a Christmas Lunch or not , will receive a Christmas Cracker to have with their meal.
Father Christmas will also be visiting the school during this day.
Festival of Christmas Trees – The Minster – This Week
There is a Festival of Christmas Trees this week at The Minster Church. Lots of local organisations have entered a tree and are having a collection for a chosen charity. The church is open every day, including Saturday, until 4.00pm for viewing. Do please go and have a look.
The school has put a tree in the Festival. The children in Mrs Jones’ and Mrs Pym’s class worked very hard making the decorations, which are on the theme of ‘Children Around the World.’ They have made a splendid job!
The charity we have chosen is Oxfam Unwrapped. This is where you can buy specific gifts for people in need, eg, it may be a certain number of school meals or the training of a teacher. The staff feel this is a really good way to support the education of children in the developing world.
Please go and see the tree and, if you can, make a donation. Thank you.
Thank you to Mrs Jones and Mrs Pym for their work on this project.
Operation Christmas Child – Shoeboxes
The latest update I have is that a total of 14,300 Shoeboxes have now been collected in the local area for Operation Christmas Child. This is a wonderful achievement and again, may I express my thanks for all those who helped.
All best wishes
Yours faithfully
Headteacher