Newsletter: 9th November 2018

Posted on November 9, 2018 | By Mr Cole

Happy Birthday…almost!

In January, the school will begin a year-long series of celebrations for our school which opened 140 years ago on Monday 27th January 1879. Community Voice are already beginning to plan a special school day on 28th Januray, as well as events for former pupils later in the year. In order to “brand” all of our birthday activities throughout 2019, we would like our children to design a Birthday Logo. It needs to be A4 in size (portrait or landscape) contain the Woolsery Primary School badge, the words “Woolsery Primary School 1879-2019” and the number 140. The winning entry will be judged by some former pupils before the end of term and will be used on all birthday activities throughout the year. Please ask your children to hand their designs to Mr Cole, with their name clearly on the back. Thanks.

Here’s the official design for the branding of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, just to give you all an idea.

We are also opening a public appeal to former pupils for donations to pay for work to get our school bell working again in our birthday year. The bell, if you’ve not seen it, is hanging above the arched window of Burscott Class and hasn’t been in a usable state, certainly for the 12 years I’ve been here and probably much longer than that. If you are a former pupil, or you have family members who are, and you’d like to donate specifically for this appeal, please send in any donations to the school (and cheques payable to The Friends of Woolsery School, please) and hopefully we can get the bell ringing again during 2019.

Bonfire Night Thanks

For a second consecutive year we were blessed with near-perfect weather for our Bonfire and Fireworks last Friday – it was good to see so many of you here, as well as lots of people from surrounding areas. We hope you had a good evening – we’ve certainly had lots of positive comments here at school. Cranford Class and Ashmansworthy Class had an awesome afternoon building the bonfire, and I think everyone enjoyed seeing it burn on the night! The fireworks were spectacular too!

There is a very long list of people who need to be thanked for their contributions on and leading up to Friday night, and far too many to mention individually here. But if you helped us in any way, thank you. You’ve made a huge difference to our children and our school!

I am delighted to say that our children have benefitted to the tune of £1432.58 (profit) which will be used for FOWS next big project which will be an upgrade of our outdoor spaces. This is a substantial increase from the £1098 profit last year – thank you!

Bonfire Night 2019 is already in the diary for Friday 8th November.

 

Children In Need

Next Friday is BBC Children In Need day. Your child is welcome to come to school in Something Spotty and pay 50p towards this excellent cause. Dave will also make some Children In Need biscuits to sell at morning playtime with the help of Charity Voice group. These will be 50p each in place of our usual Friday Tasty Tuck, so please send your child in with 50p if you’d like them to buy one. Thanks.

On the Official Merchandise front, we will have the following on limited stock on sale:

  • Pudsey Ears (£2.50)
  • Pudsey Keyring (£3)
  • Wristbands (£1)

 

Following requests from parents and organisations, we’re adding a Community Corner section to our Newsletter to feature any community events relevant to our children. Please send any material electronically to mcole@woolsery.devon.sch.uk. Thanks.

WOW! Nativity

Woolsery Open Worship presents the Christmas Nativity on Sunday 23rd Dec 4pm

All Hallows Church – All Welcome

If any children are interested in taking part please let Jane Cann know ASAP (haworthjane@hotmail.com)

 

Harvest Thanks

We’ve received a lovely letter from Harbour, Bideford this week which has been shared with the children in Family Group time:

“Everyone at Harbour wishes to thank you all – staff, parents and children for the generous gifts from your recent Harvest Service. From previous contact with your school you will know the support you provide for our entirely voluntary work-force gives them much needed encouragement as they try to meet the variety of needs that arrive on the Drop-in Centre’s threshold. As we approach colder weather there will be numerous clients who will never know who provides the food but their survival and stability demonstrates the real outcome of your kindness. Thank you so much for helping Harbour to continue in fulfilmen t of its commitment to care and hospitality.”

Thank you once again for all of the food donations you sent to school!

Non-Uniform Day

On Friday 23rd November, we’ll be holding another Non-Uniform Day in order to collect in raffle items for all of the end of term events FOWS have planned leading up to Christmas. This means that instead of paying money, we ask each children who doesn’t come to school in uniform to bring in an item which can be used in the raffles.

So we get a broad variety of things, please try to bring:

  • Cranford and Sunflowers: small toys or craft items
  • Burscott and Stroxworthy: sweets or chocolates
  • Alminstone and Ashmansworthy:  toiletries and smellies

Remembrance

As you will know, Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which brought fighting in the First World War to an end. Charity Voice have been busy for the last three weeks selling poppy merchandise around the school in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and most classes have marked the date by making something poppy-related in class. Reverend Jane also came in to school and held a special assembly to help us all think about the sacrifice made, and how important peace is to our lives and happiness. Burscott Class have painted pebble-poppies and went over to Woolsery Church after the assembly yesterday with Reverend Jane to place them by the altar ready for the Remembrance Service at 11am on Sunday.

Headteacher Awards

Our amazing learners this week, who have all received a Headteachers’ Award are:

  • Cranford: Oliver S – trying so hard to form letters correctly; Alfie – blending sounds very well in Letters & Sounds
  • Burscott: William – coming into class to help every morning this week; Dexter – a huge increase ini the quantity and pace of writing this week.
  • Stroxworthy: Willow – trying her best with everything she does; Bailey – helping others in a caring way
  • Alminstone: Ashton – excellent listening skills & fantastic contributions to class discussions; Chloe N – outstanding presentation in all her work
  • Ashmansworthy: Harrison – great improvement in handwriting, spelling and punctuation this term; Rebecca – writing a fantastic version of The Highwayman this week.
 (last week’s awards were also presented today as our Fire Safety talks over-ran hugely so assembly was cancelled – apologies. They were:
  • Cranford: Archie  – being a good friend and Harrison – great sounding out when we are doing letter and sounds
  • Burscott: Georgia – diving into all aspects of her learning with enthusiasm and Isobel – fitting so well into Burscott Class
  • Stroxworthy: Finley – helping others whilst using his fantastic ICT skills to make firework posters and Bluebelle –  making friends and working well with new people at the Multi-Skills festival
  • Alminstone: Anthony  – working hard in maths and demonstrating his understanding of subordinate clauses in literacy and Billy – fantastic effort and hard work in all lessons this week
  • Ashmansworthy: Lucy – working hard with her maths and writing this week, and listening well in class and Charlie E – trying hard and managing to add and subtract huge numbers, including decimals! Also writing a lovely recount of “The Highwayman” using descriptive language )

Family Group Points

The totals for the first two weeks of this half term are:

  • Beech: 110
  • Elder: 106
  • Hazel: 110
  • Oak: 69
  • Silver Birch: 82
  • Sycamore: 84
  • Willow: 104

As you’ll remember from last week’s newsletter, the chidlren are saving up points to win a Christmas Cupcake Creation afternoon with Kitchen Dave in the last week of term.

The Week Ahead

  • Monday: Mrs Kersey out all day; Mrs Burns supply. Mr Cole in meetings (pm). Swimming continues for Y4 and Y5
  • Tuesday: Mrs Kersey out all day; Mrs Burns supply. Mr Davies out (pm). 
  • Wednesday: Miss Butler out all day. Mrs Burns supply.
  • Thursday: Stroxworthy Class to Fleet Air Arm Museum all day
  • Friday: Children In Need Day
With best wishes,
Matt Cole

 

 

 

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