Ofsted Update

Last week we had our monitoring visit from HMI (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate). We are expecting the Inspector’s report, detailing her findings, some time next week. Obviously I will send this out to all parents in due course.

Mrs V Brown, Headteacher

Before & After school

Although the new and earlier start to the school day is working well and parents like it, some children are being left unaccompanied on the playground as early as 8.20 am. The doors are not open until 8.35 am and before this time children are parents’ responsibility.

Also, we are increasingly seeing a number of children not being collected at the end of the school day. Whilst we will always help out in the case of emergencies, children do need to be collected on time. If you need after school care, please contact Chillzone (who run the after school club for Avondale) on 07958 221330 who have places available at very competitive prices.

Norovirus

We have just received some Information in school, advising what to do if your child comes down with this bug. As we have already had a few absences, I thought it would be useful to share these helpful guidelines with parents/guardians.

Dates for the Diary

• 19th Dec KS1 Christmas Performance 2pm
• 19th Dec Reception Performance 6pm
• 20th Dec Christmas Lunch
• 20th Dec Christmas Jumper Day (organised by the school council)
• 20th Dec Reception Performance at 2pm
• 20th Dec KS1 Performance 6pm
• 21st Dec KS2 Performance 2pm
• 21st Dec KS2 Performance 6pm
• 21st Dec KS1 & EYFS Party Afternoon
• 21st December Autumn Term Report
• 22nd December—School Closes at 1.30 pm
• 9 January—School Reopens
• 9 February—Parents’ Evening

Tickets for Christmas Plays

I hope you will join us at one of the Christmas Performances. Tickets need to be booked online as per the instructions sent out in the letter last week.

The link is : avondaledarwen.parentseveningsystem.co.uk Once you have booked your tickets, please send in your money to the school office after which your tickets will be sent home.

Places are limited to two per child for each performance. To be fair to all, there will be no exceptions to this. If and when more seats come available we will let you know. Please note that pre school children (under school age) are NOT permitted to any of the evening performances.

Christmas School Fair

Thank you for all your donations yesterday.

Just a reminder—our Fair is on Saturday 3 December 10.00-12.00 noon. Please come along and join us. Buy tickets for the tombola—some great gifts to be won—and the Christmas hampers—packed with goodies.

We’re planning to have face and nail painting, biscuit decorating and of course Santa will be here in his grotto.

£1 entry free for adults; children are free (but must be accompanied by an adult).

Bakers required

Can anyone help bake cakes for the School Fair tomorrow? If you can that would be great—you can drop them off when you come.

House Points

House points are given to children across school as a reward for super work or behaviour as well as for receiving star of the week. These are all added up and shared in Friday’s Assembly current scores are:

• Red 648
• Blue 1021
• Yellow 968
• Green 985

The house with the most points will receive an additional non—uniform day at the end of term.

Football Team

The football team have just completed the season at DW Sports and have finished in the top half of the table. There has been a whole range of results over the course of the season; though the teamwork and dedication of each player has never wavered. Well done to all of you—you have made us very proud.

Cole Carus ~ Joel Prescott ~ Adam Aslam ~ Thomas Mitchell ~ Jermaine Ali ~ Bradley Heys ~ Harrison Naylor ~ Jordan Houghton ~ Loui-Paul Steele ~ Elliot Jolley ~ Jamie McGill

EYFS Drop In

Just a reminder—we have a drop-in session on Tuesday 6 December straight after school.

Christmas Craft Day

The children have enjoyed doing a variety of Christmas Crafts today. Some children have made calendars, Year 1 have used the computer to make seasons pictures and Year 6 have turned their photos into an Andy Warhol style print. Year 5 are doing some repeating patterns for wrapping paper.