7th December 2006

• Our younger pupils initiated the journey towards Christmas for parents, older pupils and teachers, who made up our audiences during this week’s series of Christmas Concerts. Boys and girls in our Nursery filled the stage with their confident story songs about Whoops-a-Daisy Angel, who, despite being disorganised, succeeded in the most important job she had ever been given-taking the shepherds and kings to baby Jesus. 
     
• Meanwhile, pupils in Reception, 1KS and 2GM presented the story of Ned the Donkey, who after being asked to take part in a nativity play, becomes inquisitive and wants to find out the true meaning of Christmas.  His search takes him on an entertaining road of discovery: through the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen where Christmas dinner is being prepared, a visit to a toy shop and an encounter with Santa and his reindeer. His search eventually leads him to the door of the Church where the nativity play in which he’s been asked to take part is being rehearsed.  And there, the message of Christmas unfolds.
   
• It was wonderful to see our pupils present such a substantial production, brimming with confidence, reading well and singing from memory an assortment of songs.  There were few dry eyes in ‘the house’ and parental pride abounded. One particular store may purport to offer us the sparkle and magic of Christmas but for me, it is always through the voices of children that the true meaning of Christmas lies.  I have a sense that many of you agree……………….
   
• The St Peter’s School Carol Service takes place on Thursday 14th December, at the Parish Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Sheep Street, Kettering, starting at 11am.  As stated in last week’s letter, pupils will need to arrive at school on Thursday 14th December at the usual time, in ‘extra smart’ school uniform, with their coat and school hat or cap. The service will be led by the Rev’d John Smith, with St Peter’s pupils contributing to the readings and music. 
   
• All family and friends are warmly invited to attend the Carol Service. The occasion is made even more special to the children knowing that they ‘have’ someone in the congregation to share in their spiritual preparation for Christmas. Many parents have returned their reply slip outlining the arrangement for pupils’ collection after the Carol Service.  If you have not yet completed the slip, you are asked to do so by tomorrow to assist us in the organisation of the end of term.
   
• Each department of the School has specific plans regarding the arrangements in the days approaching the end of term, and these have been or will be communicated to parents in separate departmental letters. 
   
• On Wednesday teachers of and pupils in Year 5 and 6 visited the community users of The Grange Over 60’s Club, where they sang Christmas songs and carols, and read poetry specially written by the pupils.  On Monday the same pupils will visit the Four Seasons Day Centre to bring them Christmas cheer through song and poetry.
   
• Michaelmas Term reports will be with parents on Wed 13th December. The aim of the report is to provide a summary of a pupil’s ‘settling in’ to his or her new year group both socially and academically, with an outline of areas in which teachers will be working with each pupil to enable further progress to be made.
   
• The Uniform Shop will not open on Tuesday.  Instead, any last minute uniform orders should be with the School Office, with payment, by Monday 11th December, so that parents can collect items on Tuesday 12th December, from the School Office.
         
• Please note that Reception Class for September 2007 is now full and a waiting list operates.
      
• Saturday’s PTAFA Christmas Fayre was a great event. There was a real feel of Christmas community about Sunnylands, and it was excellent to see so many parents and friends of the School’s past and present in attendance. The games stalls were ever popular, Christmas shopping seemed to be the order of the day for everyone, and the day itself was blessed with sunshine, contributing to the competitive spirit of this year’s wellie wangers and would-be goal scorers.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank a great many people in a few sentences: parents and school staff in all departments who helped on stalls and /or who donated items to them or produced items for them, pupils who helped out on stalls too - Abi and Ben Flatman - for folding so many raffle tickets(!) Graham Flatman, our treasurer, for organising the floats for stalls on the day so efficiently and counting up the pennies so quickly, Pip Walshaw- the PTAFA’s secretary for ensuring that all letters got out to parents so that we all knew what our orders (!) were for the Fayre, and in particular to Fiona Kilsby, who as chair of the PTAFA headed the whole event.  To date, over £1750 has been made from this year's Christmas Fayre for the PTAFA’s fund raising initiatives, which is a super achievement on the part of so many. Thanks to you all!
       
• As we come to the end of Michaelmas Term 2006, I am reminded of where we were as a School this time last year. Having heard that our Investors in People award had been renewed, we had also received our first pre-inspection visit from Dr Malcolm Tozer, and we had also just announced the Diamond Jubilee Ball.  Although I often refer to academic years, the last calendar year has been simply amazing for the School. But there is no lengthy pit stop planned……… 
     
• After staff preparation time on Monday 8th January, the children return on Tuesday 9th January 2007 to a Lent Term where they can look forward to Art Week, the School’s production of The Button Box, World Book Day, Kettering Eisteddfod and Winter Games Day, as well as new aspects of their curriculum, which will be conveyed to parents in the Lent Term curriculum projections, to be distributed with the first bulletin of the term, on Thursday 18th January. 
   
• 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.