Weekly Post – 28th November 2024

St Michael’s Weekly Post

28^th November 2024

The children had a lovely time this morning creating their Christingles, reminding themselves of the true meaning to each element and why we mark this celebration. The older year groups teamed up to help the younger ones to make their creations ahead of our lovely service this afternoon. Thank you to Rvd Sue Rodd for leading the worship and to all of those who donated chocolate oranges for the local food bank.

Rowan class had a wonderful trip to Ramsbury Manor this week, to help plant new trees for their woodland. It is a really important initiative and the children loved being involved in the planting. A huge thank you to Ramsbury Manor for inviting us.

Cherry class visited the church this week to learn about baptism. Reverend Sue very kindly came to talk to us and explained why we have baptisms and what it means to Christians. We then had a demonstration of a baptism.  A big thank you to Reverend Sue for helping our RE lesson come to life!

Please note that tomorrow Friday, 29^th November is a TD day so children will not be in school – thank you.

Parent Workshop – Friday 20^th December

In addition to the information below, we wanted to let you know that your creative task for our Christmas parent workshop this year will be to make a Christmas mouse. Please bring your own crafty bits in. For those new to the school, this is a wonderful morning that we do hope you can join us for! Parents are invited to stay after drop off with the children to start the day with a Christmas story performed by our brilliant teachers. You will be then tasked to add to the story by creating your Christmas mice, the classrooms and halls are a buzz with you all crafting away before being called back to the hall to finish the teacher’s tale. The children (and parents!) adore seeing their favourite teachers take centre stage, it is guaranteed to make you laugh and we really hope to see many of you there! Siblings are very welcome to join you too. It will finish at around 11.30am.

Author Visit – Tuesday 3^rd December
On Tuesday 3^rd 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.

Non-uniform day – Friday 6^th December

We would like to invite children to come into school in non-school uniform on Friday 6^th December in exchange for a prize for the tombola which will take place at the Santa Dash (7^th 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 5^th December. If the form is not completed by 2^nd December your child will not receive the vaccine in school. The school code is: WT126392

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 8^th 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 17^th 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 only attend the 2pm session if they wish to see the nativity, rather than the evening performance, as the children only have quiet voices and it can be very distracting for them. Thank you for your understanding.

Wednesday 18^th 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 19^th 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 20^th 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 to make a Christmas mouse – you can be as creative as you wish, nothing is too small or big! Please could we ask that from an environmental perspective, you do not bring glitter – thank you.

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 7^th 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 7^th 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 5^th 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 14^th December. Tickets available at www.steam-museum.org.uk

Term 2

Full term dates are available on our website.

TD Days:

Friday 29^th November 2024

Monday 24^th February 2025

Monday 23^rd June 2025

Friday 24^th July 2025

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