8th December 2005

• On Saturday there was a fantastic turnout to the PTAFA Christmas Fayre.  The Hall looked fabulous, with art work displayed from children in all areas of the School, and with stalls heaving with goodies intended to tempt our customers.  And give in to that temptation they certainly did – with a wonderful £1829 raised.  The Beauty Parlour proved very popular with pupils, as did the ‘games room’ and annual ‘wellie wanging’ challenge. As always, St Peter’s School Santa worked tirelessly in his grotto with his little helper-elf.  Raffles were drawn, cups of tea were drunk accompanied by home-made mince pies, and even the weight of the cake was guessed accurately this year!  It was a great event, and only made possible by your generosity and by the hard work of parents and teachers running the various stalls.  I would like to join Mrs Tye, chair of our PTAFA in thanking parents, pupils, and staff for making this year’s Christmas Fayre such a success once more.
   
• It has been a week of wonderful performances given by the children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.  On Tuesday, the dress rehearsal was shown to Key Stage Two pupils and teachers, who are always so appreciative of the work and efforts of their younger fellow pupils.
   
• Having attended both of the performances to which parents were invited, today and yesterday, I was not the only ‘grown-up’ moved by the sincerity and urgency with which the Christmas message was conveyed.  Year One and Two performed The Little Fir Tree, which told the story of a small tree, ridiculed by the taller trees, and how he came to realise that it was in his smallness of size that he really was very significant.  The songs were truly beautiful, with words clearly sung, the sentiments of which were clearly understood by the children. 
   
• Then followed Nursery Rhyme Nativity, where children in Reception and Nursery presented the Christmas story in their own inimitable fashion!  It was frankly quite staggering that children so young could remember so many words and position themselves on the stage so accurately, but it is in not underestimating what they are capable of, that we are able to give them such great opportunities, and at the same time, provide proud parents with some magic moments.
    
• On Friday at 2.45pm pupils in Key Stage Two will take part in The Big Sing.  Our children will join thousands of other schools in a bid to break the existing Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous sing-a-long. This initiative supports the work of CLIC Sargent, who do wonderful work caring for children with cancer and their families across the UK, and The African Children’s Choir, helping Africa’s most vulnerable children.  We would like all of the children taking part in The Big Sing to bring in a suggested donation of £1 for these charities, and children in other year groups are also welcome to contribute to this collection. The song to be sung is a specially written arrangement of ‘Lean on Me’, the popular Gospel song.  More details of The Big Sing can be found on www.bigsing.com
   
• Mr Kinsella leaves St Peter’s School at the end of this term, having been with us since 2002.  Mr Kinsella has been fully involved in all aspects of School life over the last ten terms, but I would like to thank him particularly for his enormous contribution to the further development of games and swimming at the School. He leaves us with our good wishes, accompanied by the sound of Christmas wedding bells! 
   
• Mr Anthony Holmes, no relation to Mr Holmes our site supervisor, joins St Peter’s School in January. His class will be called 4AH. 
   
• The Key Stage Two Christmas Disco takes place tomorrow evening, in Sunnylands Hall. Mr Ian Loveys, an ‘old parent’ of St Peter’s once more hosts this popular event.  On the same evening there will be a private viewing of primary school art work at the Alfred East Gallery in Kettering, with a selection from St Peter’s School as part of it.  Key Stage Two parents might want to while away the 90 minutes between dropping off and picking up disco go-ers by ‘taking in’ some art.  The exhibition remains ‘in situ’ during the Christmas holiday, so hopefully many of you will visit it.
    
• A group of elves and fairies will take up residence in St Peter’s School Nursery on Monday, with this also being Elves and Fairies Day.  Our little people will have a party and play games, and later in the afternoon they will sing some songs for the Mum’s and Tots group that meets for the last time this term in the Infant Mobile.  The next Mums and Tots group meets on Monday 9th January 2006.
   
• Pupils in Key Stage One and Two have outings on Monday.  Those in Reception, Year One and Two are off to West Lodge Rural Centre, whilst older pupils go to The Castle Theatre to see a stage production of A Christmas Carol.
   
• Pupils will enjoy a Christmas Dinner on Wednesday.  Please note that as a festive treat, there is no school uniform requirement for this day, although lunch aprons will still be useful for the younger pupils.
   
• Christmas post boxes are now in place in each department.  Please ensure that cards contain the full name and class of the child for whom the card is intended.  The boxes will be opened on Wednesday 14th December when cards will be distributed. 
   
• Please note that no clubs will run next week.  Lent Term clubs will start on the week beginning 16th January, allowing time for the distribution, completion and processing of new club application forms.
   
• Pupils will also be delighted to learn that homework will cease formally from Monday.  This does mean that if any pupils are unsure of the words to some of the songs being sung at Thursday’s Carol Service, they now have no excuse!
   
• Please continue passing on your Tesco vouchers.  The last day for them to be in is tomorrow.  We hope to inform you of the way in which they have been used in due course.
   
• A letter regarding the PTAFA School Calendar was sent out earlier this week.  Please take the opportunity of purchasing one – it’s a great way to avoid forgetting the birthdays of the other pupils in your child’s class!  Calendars are prices at £3.50 each, and orders can be left with Mrs Walshaw in Nursery or with Mrs Sharp in the School Office.
   
• This is the last weekly bulletin of Michaelmas Term 2005.  You will receive a copy of our School Magazine next week, rounding up the many events and successes of the term.  It certainly has been a busy time for the pupils, with their teachers encouraging them to push forward towards meeting targets set in Numeracy, Literacy and Science.  In amongst this, there has once more been an excellent response to Clubs, PTAFA events, competitions and charity fund raising.  I would like to thank parents, pupils and staff for their constant and energetic contribution to the life of St Peter’s School this term.
   
• I look forward to seeing many of you at Thursday’s Carol Service.