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Page 1
St. Paul’s Newsletter
St. Paul’s Newsletter
October 2014
Hampton Court Way, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0LP Telephone: 0208 398 6791
Web site:www.stpauls-thamesditton.surrey.sch.uk e.mail:[email protected]
INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER
1
Dear Parents
1
Class Representatives
2014/15
1
Charity – Harvest Festival
2 Why St. Paul’s doesn’t ‘do’
Halloween
2
IEP Review Date
2
Easyfundraising
3
Information from Subject
Leaders
3/4 News form the Office
4/5 Travel Plan
5 St. Paul’s Breakfast Club
5 SPPA
6 Parent to Parent
6 Dates for your Diary
7 Slips to print off
School Closure
As we move towards the wintry
weather conditions, I felt it would
be helpful to outline our
procedures for school closure.
In extreme weather conditions, the
school telephone line does
become congested; therefore
information regarding school
closure can be obtained via:
• our own website
• the Surrey website
http://www.surreyalert.info
Dear Parents – Mrs. M.F. Johnson
I spent four days last week on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Rome. Bishop Kieran
accompanied us throughout on what I believe was his last official duty as our Bishop. He is
admired and loved by so many and will be greatly missed by a huge number of people in
the diocese. His statement to the diocese last Saturday and his subsequent words to the
Press - ‘I can’t defend myself. I did wrong. Full stop ‘- would be impossible for anyone other
than a deeply truthful and humble human being and these are qualities which, among
others, have made him such a gift to us in A & B.
Class Representatives 2014/15
I wish to take this opportunity to thank on your behalf last year’s class reps, for their
support and assistance. Each class has now appointed their new class representative for
this academic year, I am pleased to welcome the following parents. Thank you for offering
this level of support, I look forward to working closely with you.
St. Matthew
St. Bernadette
St. Elizabeth
St. Luke
St. Francis
St. Mary
St. John
St. Peter
St. Joseph
St. Bernard
St Thomas
St. Anne
St. Margaret
St. Anthony
Mrs Barbara Thordsen + Mrs Sarah Green
Mrs Janine Albrecht-Webb
Mrs Alouisa Nawalker + Mrs Maria Kwei
Mrs Liz Miles + Mrs Hayley Porter
Mrs Nora Cleve + Mrs Colette Keoghan
Mrs Heather Phillips + Mrs Deirdre Fitzgerald
Mrs Dawn Dale + Mrs Madeleine Thompson
Mrs Sadaf Ashdown + Mrs Liz Neaves-Thomas
Mrs Candice Savio + Mrs Patti Peretti
Mrs Fiona Morrissey + Mrs Maria Pini
Mrs Alice Squire + Mrs Helen Boczkowski
Mrs Gina Lane + Mrs Sara Parkinson
Mrs Germaine Gillman
Mrs Fiona Reynolds
Charity - Harvest Festival
Tuesday 21st October 2014 – Mrs D. O’Sullivan
Our Harvest Festival donations this year will be given to the East Elmbridge Foodbank.
They rely on food donations to feed local people who find themselves in crisis. At the
moment they are desperately short of the following items: Milk (UHT or powdered, Fruit
juice (long life carton), tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, tinned sponge/rice
pudding/custard, biscuits or snack bars, instant coffee and sugar. Please, if you could
spare any of these items, would you include them in your child’s harvest festival donation
box. Thank you.
Page 2
St. Paul’s Newsletter
IEP Review Date
- Mr A. Cottington
Parents of children who are at
School Action Plus or above
on the Code of Practice are
invited to attend a meeting
on Wednesday 15th October
2014. An appointment letter
will be sent to you directly.
Literacy
– Miss O. Bragg
Do you have an hour to spare
each week? Would you like to
come and spend it listening to
some fabulous stories read by
our wonderful children? We
are looking for DBS-checked
(Disclosure & Barring Service
– formerly CRB) mums, dads,
grandmas and granddads to
come and support our
children’s reading throughout
the school by volunteering as
reader helpers. If you would
like further information about
volunteering, or think you
might be able to help, please
drop me a note via your child's
book bag telling me which day
and time you would be
available and I will endeavour
to match you to a class. If you
have a query regarding DBS
checks please see Mrs
McCallum in the School Office.
Any parents that do
volunteer will not be placed
in a year group in which
their child is currently being
taught. This is to avoid the
children becoming
distracted from their
learning.
Why St. Paul’s doesn’t ‘do’ Halloween
– Fr. Rob Esdaile
Halloween has become increasingly popular in recent years. How should we respond
as Christians to that date in the ‘secular’ calendar? There’s no need to regard
Halloween celebrations as evil, nor to criticise those who do make a party out of it.
But we should help our children to focus their reflections on the Christian faith that
underlies (and undercuts) this modern pagan festival. After all, the name of the day is
itself a contraction of 'All Hallows Eve' - in other words, the night before the Feast of
All Saints.
Long before pumpkins were carved into masks in the New World, large root
vegetables (swedes and manglewurzles) were being made into lanterns in England
on October 31st to guard the graves of deceased love ones - a sign of Easter Faith,
the victory of the light of Christ over the darkness of sin and death.
That should be our focus, the story we are telling our children this October 31st,
inviting them to think about the Communion of Saints - and to pray, calmly and
confidently, for the members of their own families who have gone before them to
God. It's an opportunity to speak with them about what happens to people who die
and about our Christian hope.
This year The Feast of All Saints (normally November 1st) will be celebrated on
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Sunday, November 2 (replacing the readings and themes of the 31 Sunday of
the year). As a result, All Souls Day (officially ‘The Commemoration of All the
Faithful Departed’) moves to Monday, November 3. That is also an important
opportunity to remember loved ones and to help your children entrust them to God.
Most parishes also have a Book of Remembrance or other ways of naming those we
have lost at this time of year. Why not take your child to see it or to light a candle in
church for your loved ones who have died? Our Lady of Lourdes will be open
through the day on November 3 to let you do that.
Easyfundraising
– Tim Cooper, Parent Governor
Many of you will already be aware of the excellent website,
www.easyfundraising.org.uk This allows you to make donations to your chosen
charity or PTA (guess where this is going) while just going about your usual day to
day internet shopping. It is incredibly easy to use and is a fantastic tool for helping
raise much needed funds for the school. All you do is register and then it involves
just one extra click of the mouse when shopping online. Most major retailers,
including Amazon, EBay, John Lewis, M&S, Sports Direct, etc. are on the site and
they even have a ‘find and remind’ toolbar which prompts you whenever you log on.
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School Uniform
- Mrs M. Creigh
Just a reminder that summer
and winter uniform should not
be mixed; therefore long
trousers should be worn with
shirt and tie only. Please also
note the school kagool can be
purchased as an optional item
to the uniform but does not
replace the school coat.
Our wonderful school so far has 62 supporters who have raised, as of the 16
September, £815.87. St Pauls is currently No 369 on the chart of the highest earning
PTA’s but we can do better. Please also note the word supporters. It does not just
have to be parents. Friends, neighbours, grandparents, colleagues can all help. If
you have registered then you can refer our page, via the site, to a ‘friend, and when
they have earned £10, you get a £5 credit to your total. Don’t forget to gift aid it as
well.
It really is very simple and we will do monthly reminders and updates on our
progress to date. Thank you for your support and the direct link to our page is:
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stppatd/?t=PTA-UK-li&u=HMXH46
Page 3
St. Paul’s Newsletter
Surrey Arts Music
Lessons
– Mrs J. McCallum
Just a reminder that Surrey
Arts provide music lessons for
any pupils that would like to
learn to play a musical
instrument. Lessons normally
take place during the school
day and range from piano,
keyboard, strings, woodwind,
brass, percussion, recorder
and singing. Children may only
have 1 lesson per week.
Please visit
www.surreycc.gov.uk/music
for further details and to
download an application form
or ring 01483 519303.
Tissues
- Mrs F. Scott
As the autumn season is
nearly upon us, donations of
boxes of tissues for the
children would be very
welcome! We will use these
throughout the school to help
with runny noses and snuffles.
This will also give us the
opportunity to remind the
children of the NHS advice to
‘Catch it, Kill it, Bin it’
Thank you
Information from Subject Leaders
Numeracy – Miss A-M Adams
Talk for Parents - Thursday 9th October 7pm-8pm
Claire Mosley from the Howard Partnership will be leading a talk on how to support
your child with their maths at home. She will also be covering current teaching
methods that children are taught today. All parents are welcome to attend, however,
it will be particularly pertinent for parents in KS2 when using methods unfamiliar to
them.
Literacy – Miss O. Bragg
Electronic Literacy Homework
Over the summer, I embarked on a new and exciting trial for a program to be used
both in the classroom and at home. I have decided to roll the program out to all year
groups, to be used in English lessons and as an English homework tool.
Over the next few weeks, your child/ren will be able to show you their logins to the
Pearson Wordsmith website and complete activities set by the teachers.
As this is a new adventure for the school, I am holding a short information evening
for parents to tell you about the program and how best to support your child at home.
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This information will take place on Tuesday 14
forward to seeing you there!
October 2014, at 6.30pm. I look
News from the Office - Mrs M. Creigh
Parents’ Meal Taster Sessions – 20th – 23rd October – Mrs N. Jenkins
Limited spaces!!!
St. Paul’s would like to offer parents the opportunity to experience a typical school
meal served to children during the school week. Spaces are limited and we can only
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invite 10 parents per day to come in during week commencing 20 October 2014.
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If you would like to be considered, please complete the details below by 13 October
2014 together with payment of £2.10 pence per meal payable online via Tucasi
www.scopay.com/stpauls-thamesditton
Mrs Jenkins will contact you by return. Please arrive promptly at 11.45am on your
chosen day.
Notice Requirement to
Change School Meals
- Mrs N. Jenkins
Should you wish to make a
change to your child’s meal
requirements after half-term,
please remember to give
notice to the school office via
email to [email protected]
before we break for the
holiday.
School Lunch Trials 3rd – 14th November – Reception to Year 6
- Mrs Nikki Jenkins
We would like to encourage as many children as possible to try school meals. There
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will be a two week school meal trial from 3 - 14 November 2014 inclusive, for the
whole school. The cost of school meals per day is £2.10, therefore totalling £21.00
for the two weeks, unless your child is eligible for universal free school meals up to
and including year 2, whereby no payment is required. If your child wishes to
participate in the school meal trial, please fill in the slip at the bottom of the
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newsletter, returning to the school office via your child’s book bag by 16 October
2014. Please note this deadline as we will not be able to accept children onto the
meal trial after this date. Your payment should be made online using your online
account.
For
further
details,
please
go
to
www.stpaulsthamesditton.surrey.sch.uk/fp_payments.html or refer to the school web site under
the section “for the parents/payments”.
Page 4
St. Paul’s Newsletter
School Photographs – Mrs J. O’Sullivan
School Clubs
-Mrs J. McCallum
Our Clubs are now all up and
running, I hope your child is
enjoying their club. As you will
have seen from the Timetable,
we have introduced some
exciting new clubs for the
children. These are:
Skipping on a Monday
Fencing and Cake Baking on a
Tuesday
Girls Football on a Wednesday
Places are still available at
these clubs and it is not too
late for your child to join in and
maybe have a go at something
new! There are still a few
places at some of the long
standing favourite clubs, such
as Golf, French, Hockey and
Gardening - your child can still
join in with these too. Please
note that Gardening Club will
be moving from Tuesday
afterschool to Wednesday
afterschool. The timetable and
booking forms are available on
the website. The clubs
timetable is new at the
beginning of each term and
loaded onto the school’s
website on the first day of each
term.
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The school photographer will be taking photographs of pupils on Wednesday, 5
November. Siblings currently attending St. Paul’s will be photographed together and
individually. Please remember that the children should bring their cardigan or jumper
on this day. In line with school uniform policy, please ensure that all girls’ long hair is
tied back with the school uniform hairbands. If you do not wish your child to be
photographed, please confirm in writing to your child’s class teacher.
It is no longer possible to order through the school, all orders must be placed online
from the school photographers, Cardwell & Simons. The necessary details are
printed on your proof card. It is an easy system to use and can be completed from
the comfort of your own home. Your purchases will be sent directly to you. There is a
small fee involved, £2.50 but you should find this method quicker and more
convenient. Thank you for your continuing help and support.
Holiday requests during school term time – Mrs N. Jenkins
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which
became law on 1st September 2013, state that Headteachers may not grant any
leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Routine visits to doctors, dentists, orthodontists and secondary school visits should
be made outside of the school day. Education Welfare state that only in serious
situations would absence be exceptional. Exceptional circumstances might include
service personnel returning to country of origin or serious situations such as a
member of the family being seriously ill. There would be very few occasions where
the Headteacher might consider absence to be exceptional. In accordance with the
above Regulations, requests for leave of absence are treated sympathetically, but
only in exceptional circumstances can they be approved. The policy of Surrey
County Council, to which this school has agreed, states that parents who take their
child out of school for five days or more during term time, without the authority of the
Headteacher, will each be liable to receive a penalty notice. Penalty Notices will be
issued by the Local Authority. The penalty is £60 if paid within 21 days of receipt of
the notice, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days of receipt of the
notice. If the penalty is not paid in full by the end of the 28-day period the Local
Authority must prosecute the recipient for failing to ensure regular school attendance
under section 444 Education.
Travel Plan – School Travel Team
Wet weather before
school
- Mrs M. Creigh
On mornings when it is raining,
the school will be open for
children to come straight inside
from 8.45am. Reception
children should enter through
their normal door. All other
children, both infants and
juniors, should enter through
the door in the junior
playground, directly adjacent
to the Millennium Garden and
the art room. This door will be
supervised by a member of
staff as will all classrooms from
8.45 am. Thank you for your
support and co-operation to
ensure the safety of your
children.
Parking and Safety
Unlike most schools we are very fortunate to have the use of two car parks, the
Church and Imber Court. Therefore, please would parents be mindful of a few points
that will ensure the safety of all, and show consideration to other users, especially at
the crucial drop off and collection times. Please pass this information on to anyone
who helps you with transportation on your behalf, such as grandparents or
childminders.
Please remember:
• The church car park is ONLY for the use of infant families who also have
pre-school siblings. This applies to both morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. All other parents/guardians are requested to either park in Imber Court Car
Park and to walk the short distance to school or park in the surrounding side
roads.
•
When using the church car park please always leave the end space nearest the
presbytery (Fr. Rob’s house) free for the Clubland school bus as it has to drop off
and collect a number of children who are in the before and after-school clubs.
•
Please park mindfully in the spaces. Many users now have larger 4x4 vehicles
and can only fit into the designated car spaces if the vehicles either side are
parked centrally in their spaces.
Page 5
St. Paul’s Newsletter
•
The church car park has a one way system with a 5mph speed limit. Only
designated spaces should be used for parking – there are no exceptions to this.
If there are no spaces in marked bays, please continue out of the car park and
park on the surrounding roads. In particular, users should never park in the car
park entrance, thereby blocking the one-way system. It is very important that
traffic can enter and leave the car park safely and the only way to do this is by
following the one-way system. The entrance is not safe as a drop-off point for
the children. Blocking the entrance causes major congestion along Lyndale
Road.
•
Please do not park on the yellow lines or in front of the Church on the yellow
hatchings, as these are fire and emergency exits. You may put the lives of others
at risk if you park in these places.
•
Finally, please be mindful when travelling along Lyndale Road which leads to the
Church car park. Vehicles should be travelling at 5mph. If you are leaving the car
park but see a car entering Lyndale Road towards you please give priority to it
and wait by the car park for it to come through. This is much easier than
manoeuvring to pass each other in the narrow space of Lyndale Road. It also
means vehicles do not have to reverse back onto Elm Tree Avenue which is a
fast flowing road and always busy with traffic.
School Drive
-Mrs M. Creigh
Please remember to use the
pathways – the school drive is
for vehicle access only not for
pedestrians. Reception
parents please use the path
and then enter via the junior
playground. We would also
ask parents and children
attending before and afterschool clubs to walk up the the
pathways rather than drive up
the school drive.
I hope these simple, conscientious practices will ensure safe and stress free use of
the Church car park moving forward. Should you have any questions or concerns a
member of the Travel Team will be in the Church car park each morning or you can
email us at [email protected]
Thank you
Registered charity number
1130128
St. Paul’s Breakfast Club – Mr H Burn
The Breakfast Club at St. Paul's has been in full swing for three weeks now and the
Date for your Diary –
children really seem to be enjoying it. There's a lovely atmosphere as the children
eat, chat and make new friends all before the start of the school day. The club runs
Christmas Fair
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Saturday 29 November from 7.45am every day of term and there are still some places left on Monday,
- Sally Doyle
We hope to see you at our
Christmas Fair this year.
Raffle tickets will go on sale in
early November. We would be
really grateful for any raffle
prizes. Please email
[email protected] if
you can donate a prize.
Facebook – keep up-todate with our news
The SPPA Facebook page
gets updated with our latest
news. If you ‘like’ the page (by
clicking on the ‘like’ button at
the top of the page) updates
from us will appear in your
news feed.
www.facebook.com/sppa.stpauls
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday so if you would like to book a place for your child
please contact the club supervisor Mr H. Burn at [email protected].
S.P.P.A. – Mrs Sally Doyle
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We were delighted that so many of you attended our AGM on 16 September. We
still need to recruit new committee members to keep up the good work. Please get
in touch with us via [email protected] if you can join us this
year. We are looking forward to the remainder of this exciting Autumn Term, building
up to the Christmas Fair at the end of November.
Mufti Day – Friday 3rd October
For those of you new to the school, this is a day when the children don’t wear their
uniform to school. Please make sure clothes and footwear are suitable for the rigours
of a school day and football strips are not allowed. In exchange for no school
uniform, we ask that each child kindly brings in a bottle (wine, spirits, beer, soft
drinks, bubble bath, etc) which we will use for the tombola at our Christmas Fair in
November.
Page 6
St. Paul’s Newsletter
Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent
The last day for submission to
the November newsletter is
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Friday 10 October. Please
forward all wording as a Word
attachment to Jane Burden
[email protected]
The 2014 Masquerade Charity Parish Ball
Our Lady of Lourdes Women's Group invite you to the 2014 Masquerade Charity
Parish Ball on Saturday November 8th at Hampton Court House. Tickets are £50
and include a welcome drink, 3 course meal, dancing, and a live auction. Tickets will
go on sale after masses starting Saturday 4 October. Proceeds will benefit Our Lady
of Lourdes parish as well as the Kingston Women's Centre charity. Check the parish
website or contact [email protected] for more information. (Mrs Deb Meacham
– mum of Molly, reception).
Under Your Spell
Babysitter Available
My name is Millie Dunster. I
am 18 years old and currently
on my gap year having just
finished my A Levels. I have a
lot of experience both working
with and babysitting for young
children and babies. I am an
old St. Pauls pupil and many
families know me through my
younger sister, Izzy Dunster in
Year 6. I have a full driving
licence and can be contacted
on 07989 164897.
The About Time TC Ltd presents the premiere of "Under Your Spell", a debut play by
Coco Moon. It is Christmas 1930, set in an abandoned New York Music Hall Theatre,
the one-time thriving residency of the Great Magician & Radio Detective Harry
Blacktone. Magic, Mystery and Nostalgic Love all play their part in this charming
ghost story. (Raphael McAuliffe – father of Pascal yr. 6; Teresa Crummy – mum of
Ronan, yr 2 and Cillian, yr 6 & Jonathan Clark – ex school parent)
Tennis
Parents, if you or your child / children are showing interest in tennis I am keen to
hear from you. I am Stanley Feltham’s mother (Lena) and I am currently coaching at
Imber Court. We have squads after drop off and after school on Wed & Fri and also
on Saturday morning. My tennis achievements include being runner-up at
Wimbledon and semi-finalist at The French Open. Please contact me for details of
individual assessments, lessons and relevant age group tennis squads - 0796 396
7071 / [email protected] Lena Feltham – mother of Stanley (year 1).
Dates for your Diary
Clubland
The ‘October Half-Term
Holiday Programme’ details
along with the Registration and
Permission forms can be found
on our website
http://www.stpaulsthamesditton.surrey.sch.uk/cl_
afterhourclub.html
Boys’ Grey Shorts +
Trousers
Mrs J. McCallum
We would be very grateful for
any donations of boys’ grey
uniform shorts and trousers
that we could keep in the office
to use as spares.
Thank you
OCTOBER
Wednesday 1st
Thursday 2nd
Friday 3rd
Wednesday 8th
Thursday 9th
Friday 10th
Tuesday 14th
Wednesday 15th
Tuesday 21st
Wednesday 22nd
Thursday 23rd
Friday 24th
Car Free Green Day
Thank you to everyone who
continues to make an effort on
these special days.
The next date is Thursday,
rd
23 October.
Let’s see if we can make a
difference!
Start of Black History Month
6.30 – 7.30pm Talk for Parents whose children are going on the year 4
residential visit to Sayers Croft
SPPA Mufti Day
Year 3 Visit to Haslemere Museum
Year 4 Visit to Butser Farm
7.00 – 8.00pm Numeracy Talk for Parents by Clare Mosley
9.30am St. Thomas’ Class Assembly. Parents naturally welcome. (Tea and
coffee available in school hall from 9.00am. Class reps to organise)
Last date for submissions to November newsletter
6.30 – 7.30pm Parents Literacy Information Evening re. Pearson
Wordsmith
IEP Day for children at School Action Plus or above on the Code of
Practice (SENCo to co-ordinate)
Last Wheely Wednesday
10.30am Harvest Festival at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, proceeds to the
East Elmbridge Foodbank
2.30-4.00pm SPPA second-hand uniform sale in the school hall
Car Free Green Day
9.30am St. Peter’s Class Assembly. Parents naturally welcome. (Tea and
coffee available in school hall from 9.00am. Class reps to organise)
School closes for half-term (3.15pm for infants, 3.20pm for juniors)
In service training – no school for pupils
HALF-TERM HOLIDAY
NOVEMBER
Monday 3rd
School re-opens for pupils. All pupils should be wearing Winter uniform.
Although we endeavour not to make any changes to the school calendar, please be aware that very
occasionally it may be necessary to move an event or change its start time. For this reason, please do
keep an eye on the school calendar on the website as this diary is obviously published at the beginning of
every month and doesn’t take account of a change that may be made mid-month.
Page 7
St. Paul’s Newsletter
Parents’ Meal Taster Sessions
To School Office (via Book bag)
Parent’s Name……………………………………... Child’s Name & Class……………………………………………
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Please indicate which day you would prefer from Monday 20 Oct – Thursday 23 Oct …………………………
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Please complete and return this slip via your child’s book bag by 13 October 2014.
I have made payment online of £2.10 to Tucasi www.scopay.com/stpauls-thamesditton
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------School Lunch Trials –Whole of School
To School Office (via Book bag)
Name/s………………………..…………………………….……….. Class………………………….………………
Name/s………………………………………………….................. Class…………………………………….……
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I will notify the school office via email to [email protected] by 10 NOVEMBER 2014
if we wish to continue with school meals. For parents of Yr3 – Yr 6 children, I will also make a payment online
for the balance of school meals for the autumn term.
N.B. Please note payment alone is not sufficient