St Michael’s Weekly Post
22nd November 2024
It’s been a busy week at St Michael’s. Last Friday, Oak class had an amazing geography trip to the River Lambourn. They designed and carried out a field-trip to collect data about pollution in our local waterways. They then sorted the rubbish, categorising, tallying and making written and pictorial notes about what they had found.
A group of children headed to Pewsey Vale this week to compete in a kurling competition. The children thoroughly enjoyed the games and there were lots of smiles all round! Team 1 came sixth place and Team 2 came third place. Well done everyone!
Today we were treated to an incredible performance from the dance after school club, who were inspired by our justice & perserverance values for the term. It was wonderful to see all ages come together for this.
Last Friday, we celebrated Children in Need, raising over £200 for this incredible cause. Thank you to everyone who donated. The PTA would love to thank all those who supported the Safari Supper. We had new and old parents in the school mingling with the community in a very joyful evening wandering around the village eating wonderful food before we met in the pub for a final drink or 2. We made a whopping £775, well done and thank you to all who helped organise and come along to make it such a success!
Lastly a HUGE thank you for your support for our annual welly walk, this year we have raised a record breaking £2,800 pounds! What an amazing difference this will make to our school, thank you so much.
Please note that next Friday, 29th November is a TD day so children will not be in school – thank you.
Potential Emergency Closures
Please be aware, if the school should have to close due to snow or other emergency circumstances, we would inform you via a Weduc message and we will also update our website.
Emergency Lockdown Drill
This morning, we took the opportunity to practice our emergency lockdown procedure. All went smoothly and calmly. Please see our previous letter in regards to how we would communicate with you should an emergency lockdown ever take place especially around pick up or drop off times. Any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team.
Author Visit – Tuesday 3rd December
On Tuesday 3rd December, we are delighted to be joined by local children’s author, Lydia Saward. Lydia will be sharing with the children (Reception- Year 3) what it’s like to be an author, and reading her new magical Christmas book, ‘Is Aunt Moll from the North Pole?’ With beautiful illustrations from artist Emily Charlotte Powell, it is the perfect book to read with children in the build up to Christmas. There is the opportunity to buy a signed copy of the book if you would like to. You can pre-order a copy from the publisher’s website. Select the free delivery option and edit the delivery address to the school address. These will then be handed to the children on the day. Alternatively, Lydia will have copies with her on the day that the children can purchase with cash.
Message from the School Council
The School Council would like to continue the St Michael’s tradition and ask everyone to bring in a chocolate orange to school, which will be donated to the Food Collective, instead of sending Christmas cards to one another. This is to help our community reduce paper usage, to spread a little joy and a merry Christmas for those who need it most. Please bring donations from Monday 18th November until Thursday 28th November and we will announce how many chocolate oranges have been collected, let’s see if we can beat last year’s total!
Christingle Service – Thursday 28th November, 2.15pm
Our annual Christingle service will take place in St Michael’s Church on Thursday 28th November at 2.15pm. All family members and friends are welcome, we do hope to see you there. The church will bless the chocolate oranges donated for the Food Collective.
Parents Evening – 25th-28th November
A reminder that our parents evenings will take place next week, w/c 25th November. If anyone has any issues with booking, please let the office know. For new parents to the school, it is also a lovely opportunity for you to visit your child’s classroom to see what they have been up to, so please do so after your appointment.
Picture News
Story: 2024’s Earthshot Prize winners have been announced and Prince William, who launched the prize in 2020, closed this year’s award ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa.
Question: How can we raise awareness of important issues?
Virtual Picture News: www.picture-news.co.uk/discuss
Non-uniform day – Friday 6th December
We would like to invite children to come into school in non-school uniform on Friday 6th December in exchange for a prize for the tombola which will take place at the Santa Dash (7th December). Please bring bottles for the adult prizes or chocolates for the children. Thank you!
Flu Vaccination
As a reminder, please complete the online permission form to give consent or decline the nasal flu vaccine on the following link ahead of the vaccinations in school on Thursday 5th December. If the form is not completed by 2nd December your child will not receive the vaccine in school.
Keeping children healthy
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South West is reminding parents of the simple steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and winter illnesses to ensure they stay healthy this term and keep strong this winter. It also includes details regarding when to keep your child at home. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/04/a-parents-guide-to-keeping-kids-healthy-this-school-year/.
As Christmas creeps closer, we want to make sure you are aware of all of the festive activities that will be happening in school:
Sunday 8th December Brass Ensemble & the School Choir (Year 2 upwards) to perform at Aldbourne Brass Band Concert at 4pm. Annually, we are invited to sing with the brass ensemble and the Aldbourne brass band at their Christmas concert. Tickets will need to be purchased if you wish to stay and watch or alternatively you are able to drop your child and collect after. There is a discount code that can be used for school parents only please. The code is SCHOOL which can be used when purchasing via the following link.
Tuesday 17th December Our Nativity Performances in the Church – 2pm and 5:30pm.
All children are to arrive back at school (through the main entrance) at 5:10pm to get ready for their evening performance. Children are to then be collected from school after, at a time TBC.
The PTA will be raising money, selling drinks & mince pies.
Could we please ask that younger children attend the 2pm session if they wish to see the nativity, rather than the evening performance.
Wednesday 18th December Pantomime Trip. We will be taking the whole school to the Newbury Corn Exchange to watch the performance of Dick Whittington. The payment will be available to pay via Weduc payments next week. Children are to be in school uniform. We will need 12 volunteers, please. If this is something you are able to help with, please email admin@stmichaelsaldbourne.co.uk.
Please note the children will be returning late back to school at around 4pm, but we will keep you posted via Weduc on the day.
Thursday 19th December School Christmas Lunch. Please book this for your child on the Lataca ParentMail app. In the morning, children will be making hats out of newspaper. If you have any newspaper for recycling, we would love to have it in school.
Friday 20th December Parent Workshop 8:45am – 11.30am & early finish for the last day of term 2, at 1pm. We would like to invite you all into school for a morning of festive fun with your children. Please head to the hall after drop off, where there will be a Christmas story acted out by some of your favourite teachers, followed by a creative activity (more info to follow!) can be as creative as you wish…..nothing is too small, big or glittery….
The parents session will be finished by 11:30am.
We realise that not all children will have a family member available to join us. We therefore ask if there are children without a family member that you include them in your group. Thank you.
We will be finishing our last day of term early at 1pm.
Messages from the PTA:
Santa Dash – Saturday 7th December
Instead of a Christmas fair this year, by popular demand, the 3k Santa Dash is back! Do come along for 9.30am on Saturday 7th December in your finest Christmas outfit (prizes to best outfits for KS1 and 2, and possibly even the parents if there’s enough effort shown!) to the school field for a warm up and then a 3k run around the village. It’s not a race, it’s just meant to be fun so bring a pushchair or a wheelchair, whatever works for you. Enjoy brunch and a hot drink afterwards, with opportunity to win from the tombola and to enjoy listening to the school choir sing a collection of carols. Click here to buy your family ticket now!
Christmas Wreath Making will take place on Thursday 5th December from 7-9pm in the school hall. Tickets are £35 and include all materials and festive treats – just bring your secateurs! Tickets can be purchased using card or bank transfer using the following link or by emailing aldbournepta@gmail.com.
Message from the Aldbourne Band
Join us for a magical screening of the Christmas film The Snowman alongside live music from the Aldbourne Band on Saturday 14th December. Tickets available at www.steam-museum.org.uk
Term 2
Full term dates are available on our website.
| Monday 25th November, Tuesday 26th November and Thursday 28th November |
Parents Evenings | Whole School Community |
| Wednesday 27th November | Rowan tree planting trip – Ramsbury Manor (Forest School clothes) | Rowan |
| Thursday 28th November | Christingle Service at St Michael’s Church, 2.15pm | Whole School Community |
| Friday 29th November | TD Day (children not in school) | Whole School |
| Tuesday 3rd December | Author Visit | Acorn – Cherry |
| Thursday 5th December
|
Nasal flu vaccinations in school | Whole School |
| PTA Christmas Wreath Making, School Hall (7-9pm) | Whole School Community | |
| Friday 6th December | Non uniform day | Whole School |
| Saturday 7th December | Christmas ‘Santa Dash’ run followed by brunch (morning) | Whole School Community |
| Tuesday 17th December | School Nativity (2pm and 5:30pm) | Whole School Community |
| Wednesday 18th December | Panto – Dick Whittington (late return to school – Approx. 4pm) | Whole School |
| Thursday 19th December | School Christmas Lunch | Whole School |
| Friday 20th December | Parent Christmas workshop (8:45am – 11.30am)
Last day of term (1pm finish) |
Whole School Community |
TD Days:
Friday 29th November 2024
Monday 24th February 2025
Monday 23rd June 2025
Friday 24th July 2025
