1 Dec 2007 - NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the newsletter for December a little early so that you have all the necessary dates for our Christmas events. We do hope you are able to come and join in with us at one or more of our planned activities.

THEATRE

The Globe Theatre players are back with us on Wednesday afternoon to perform 'A Christmas Carol' for the whole school as part of our Christmas festivities. It will be a terrific experience as usual having live theatre in the hall and well worth the voluntary contribution.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Envelopes are out now for those children who would like to join together for the school's Christmas dinner on Wednesday, 13th December at 12.00pm. Traditionally, most of our children join their friends and have a school dinner on that day but if your child does not like the roast turkey, then they won't miss out. They can have a packed lunch as normal and join in with everyone else. Just a reminder here that Christmas dinner is the only option available on that Wednesday so free school meal people will have to provide a packed lunch if the hot meal isn't required.

Envelopes need to be returned by Friday, December 1st. Thank you.

CAROL CONCERT

Do you like the sound of children singing traditional Christmas carols and a range of modern songs? If the answer is Yes then put Friday 15th December at 10am in your diary. If you are able we would love to see you at Holy Trinity Church for our school's carol concert. We walk the whole school down to the church for our concert, which lasts about one hour or so. The Holly Spring singers will perform their own pieces as well as the whole school singing a lovely range of Christmas songs.

XMAS FAYRE

Friday, 1st December from 6.30 - 8.00pm in the infant school, is the date for the school's Christmas Fayre. Santa will be in his grotto. All your favourite stalls and raffles will be there.

To help us along, Friday, 24th November was another non-uniform day. Thank you for the many contributions for the tombola stall, ie: tins, packets, Xmas-themed cakes, etc.

YEAR 3 / 4 PERFORMANCES

Continuing with the Christmas theme, I am delighted to inform you that our lower school will be performing 'Rock Around Christmas' which they are busily working on at the moment.

Some of our children have been lucky enough to get speaking parts or be characters within the story while others are in the choir. All are equally important roles as they work together to put on an enjoyable play for you to watch. I am sure there will be a big demand for tickets so we are putting on two performances on Thursday 14th December at 2.00pm, then in the evening of the same day at 7.00pm.

Two tickets per family will be available for any one performance. I am sorry about this but health and safety regulations only allow for a given number in the audience for any one performance. A separate letter will follow shortly.

Please help with lines to learn or songs to sing so we can get into the spirit.

CHOIR

The school choir, the 'Holly Spring Singers' are entering a very busy time of year with preparations going on for two major performances, at the Bracknell School Carol Concert then as an invited choir to the Christmas festivities at the local Kerith Centre. A big thank you must go to Mrs. Crew and the many supportive parents who are ferrying children to and from rehearsals. Please remember, if you want to attend the Bracknell Schools performance on Sunday 3rd December you must buy a ticket direct from the Bracknell Sports Centre. Good luck to everyone involved.

JUDO

The judo club continues in the spring term. The club is open to all year groups. The club sessions are on Thursdays at 8.00am leading up to the start of school.

We are delighted that this exciting sport is well attended by budding fighters who are learning the sport's disciplines under expert tuition. If your child is at all interested in joining this club, open to both boys and girls a letter will follow shortly.

CROSS COUNTRY

Congratulations to all the boys and girls who ran in the Bracknell Schools Cross-Country Championships. Everyone ran their hearts out in very tiring conditions and did the school proud. Thank you to all the parents who came to support us.

CHARITY

Don't forget the NCH envelopes are due back by Friday, 1st December with your very kind donations for this year's Christmas charity. I do hope we are able to present the charity with a lovely cheque from us all for the important work that they do both locally and nationally.

ABSENCES

When your child is absent from school through illness, could you please inform the school by 9.00am on the day and follow up with a short note when your child returns to school. Thank you.

HEALTH & SAFETY

If you want your child to have their ears pierced then can we suggest that the start of the summer break would be a very convenient time.

All children must remove earrings when they do PE and games. We understand that this is a problem when ears have just been pierced therefore the suggested date gives plenty of time for the healing process before school starts again.

Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

As from this January all our school uniform will be available from the school uniform shop in Princess Square.

We are also introducing a PE uniform which consists of a pair of black shorts and a white round necked T-shirt with the school logo on.

We do not expect Year Six to buy new uniform at this stage in the school year.

SCHOOL WEBSITE

Don't forget to visit our school website on

www.hollyspringjunior.ik.org

GOODBYE

As you are all aware Holly Spring Junior School will have a new Headteacher from January 2007.

Mrs. Donkin has already attended governors' meetings and other occasions over the last few weeks and is familiarizing herself with the school.

We know from all the support we have received from the staff, parents and children of this school that she will be made very welcome.

The children of Holly Spring have been delightful and the standard of behaviour exemplary.

On this note we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to you all for allowing us to 'stand in' for the last term. We feel we have been privileged to have been able to share in the community that is HOLLY SPRING JUNIOR SCHOOL and we wish you all every success in the future. We would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.


Hazel Mansfield and Roger Taylor
Acting Headteachers