7th December 2012 PL13 12-13 NEWSLETTER PTA Christmas Fair -Saturday 8th December, 12-3pm Come and join us for the PTA Christmas Fair at Durweston Village Hall. There will be: A Real Reindeer called Snowflake at Santa's Grotto Cupcakes & produce stall Home Furnishings Lunches - Soup, Hot Dogs, Mince pies Children's Clothes Jewellery, Wood turning Bodyshop, Tombola Fantastic Hamper Raffle prizes Children's Arts & Craft stalls Decorating stalls Books, Cards Try your hand at Glass painting Treasure hunt, Lucky dip, Face painting Book Santa's Grotto with Reindeer tickets early, Fridays and Mondays at drop off (8.50am) and afternoon pickup by school office As there will be very limited parking at or near the Village Hall please try and park and walk to avoid congestion and upset to villagers. Christmas Nativity The PTA will this year be trying something new. They are going to serve drinks for parents & friends at the church before the Handy Paws and Starfish nativity and at the church before the Sharks and Porpoises carol service. They will also be serving drinks in the school hall after the Dolphins & Seahorses nativity, whilst you wait for your child to get changed and meet you in the hall. A reminder that the dates for the Christmas services are as follows: Dolphins & Seahorses Nativity Tues 18th December 1.30pm Handy Paws & Starfish Nativity Wed 19th December 9.30am Sharks & Porpoises Carol Service Wed 19th December 6.00pm The children will be provided with nativity costumes on the day but please ensure that they have the following in school for their performances: Starfish black plimsolls and a white t-shirt Dolphins & Seahorses black plimsolls and a white t-shirt Sharks full school uniform (girls must have their hair tied back for safety reasons due to use of candles) Porpoises full school uniform (girls must have their hair tied back for safety reasons due to use of candles) Book Fair There will be a book fair in school from Tuesday 11th December for a week. If you have anyone for whom you are planning to buy a book for Christmas please come along and buy a half-price book and help raise funds for school at the same time. If you are unable to come and browse at the Book Fair pre-orders can be made by completing the form at the back of the leaflet and returning it with payment to the school office. 1 Pantomime The children will be enjoying a pantomime called Magic Castle next Tuesday afternoon, courtesy of the PTA who are also providing an ice cream for the children. Cake Sale There will be a cake sale in aid of Margaret Green Animal Rescue after school on Friday 14th December run by Izzy, Niamh, Chloe and Thea. Please bring your purses when you collect your child. If you would like to donate cakes please bring them into school on Friday. Stourpaine Carol Service I hope that you can come to the Stourpaine Carol Service at 6pm on Sunday 16th December. Unfortunately I cannot be there so Mrs Brooke and Mrs Santer are representing me. Any children who come along will have an opportunity to sing the Durweston Carols we have been learning at school along with the choir. Sing Out Voiceworks & Dorset Music Educational Hub have started a vocal group for children and young people in the Blandford schools. They will cover a fun range of songs that will develop the children's singing skills. The group runs on Wednesdays at The Blandford School from 3.45-4.30pm and costs _1.00 per session. It is also a great way to meet children from other schools and give them a feel for what may be their new school in the future. Mini Blandford Schools Orchestra This group is open to your child if they play a string, brass or woodwind instrument regardless of their ability. Sessions cost _1.00 and are on Wednesdays at The Blandford School from 3.45-4.30pm. If you are interested in joining please go along to one of the rehearsals and register. Further details are available from Dorset Music Services 01305 225770. Rag Bag Scheme Thank you to everyone who uses the recycling bin. We have collected another 105kg of clothes that has raised _52.50. Thank you to Liz H & PTA for looking after this for us. The Giving Machine Don't forget if you are ordering presents on-line for Christmas to go via The Giving Machine. The Giving Machine is a website which is linked to hundreds of major retailers such as Gap, Asda, Next, Matalan, Boden, Amazon etc. If you shop on-line at any participating retailer via The Giving Machine website then Durweston Primary will receive a cash donation. To join in please visit www.TheGivingMachine.co.uk and click on Join, register as a Giver, nominating Durweston Primary as the "Beneficiary". You can then start shopping. This will make a huge difference to our funds and it doesn't cost you a penny. There is also a link for this website at The Giving Machine on the school website. 2 Last Day of Term The last day of the school term will be on Friday 21st December. School will be finishing after lunch and you should collect your child at 1pm. Please note that if your child normally travels on the school bus you will need to collect them from school as there will be no bus running after school on this day. 3