5th November 2019
Dear Parents
Please find below information regarding our Advent/Christmas preparation and celebrations. We hope this will allow you the opportunity to diarise key dates and times.
Tickets for Children’s Christmas Performances
Due to the constraints of our office entrance, we will not be selling tickets directly from the office on the first two days of sale. Please could you therefore send in your reply slip with the correct money to your child’s class. The office staff will then collect them all in and allocate the tickets. Tickets will then be given to the children to bring home. If you have sent in your request and money but do not receive your tickets within 2 days please contact the office. If you have any specific seating needs due to disability please make sure you inform us of this on your request form. All tickets will be available from Monday 11th November.
We have grouped together 2 year groups for each performance this year. Due to fire and safety regulations we must limit numbers. Entrance will be by ticket only and will be restricted in the first instance to 4 per family. We will be making a nominal charge for tickets of £1.00 each. All proceeds generated from tickets will be shared between the Children of the Home of Peace in Jerusalem and our own children’s Christmas Parties. Any spare tickets will be available on a first come first served basis from Monday 2nd December. If you would like further tickets please contact the school office on or after this date.
Foundation Stage Nativity
Our Nursery and Reception children will be presenting their own Christmas Liturgy – ‘The Nativity’. These will take place on:
Wednesday 18th December 10:00 am School Hall
Wednesday 18th December 2:00 pm School Hall
Year 1 & Year 2 Christmas Play
Two performances of the Year 1 & Year 2 Christmas production – ‘The Sleepy Shepherd’ will take place on:
Wednesday 11th December 10:00 am School Hall
Wednesday 11th December 2:00 pm School Hall
Year 3 & Year 4 – Dress The Tree
Friday 6th December 2:00 pm School Hall
The Year 3 & Year 4 children will be leading a Christmas story and festive songs, including the traditional ‘Dress the Tree’.
Year 5 & Year 6 – Advent Liturgy & Christmas Carols
Wednesday 4th December 2:00 pm School Hall
This year the Year 5 & Year 6 children will be taking part in an Advent Liturgy and singing Carols to begin our Christmas preparation, which we are sure you would love to sing along to.
Christmas Fayre Saturday 30th November 2019
We are looking forward to seeing children, parents and family members at the PTA Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30th November from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. All donations of bottles, teddies, chocolate, tombola prizes etc. are very much appreciated. In advance of the Fayre, a special thank you to all of the members of the PTA, Parish and staff who give up their time to organise the event, and help on the day. If you can support in any way, please contact a member of the PTA or the school office.
Christmas Pantomimes
Foundation Stage and Year 1 will be watching a production of Aladdin in the school hall in the afternoon of Monday 9th December. Years 2 to 6 will be visiting Billingham Forum Theatre to watch Snow White, also in the afternoon of Monday 9th December. Further details of these events will be sent out in due course.
Christmas Lunch & Table Decorations
Christmas lunch will be served on Thursday 12th December, and we would like to provide table decorations for this special meal. If any child would like to make a centrepiece at home and bring it into school on Wednesday 11th, we will be having a little competition and award prizes for the best designs. Those children who normally have a Packed Lunch are welcome to have a cooked meal for that day, however we would ask you to inform the office by Monday 2nd December so that kitchen Staff have an indication of the numbers they are catering for. For KS2 children the meal cost of £2.10 will be added to your ParentPay account. Children will also be allowed to wear Christmas Jumpers/Tops etc. if they wish to on Christmas lunch day.
Christmas Parties
The Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Christmas Party will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 17th December. The Key Stage 2 party will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 19th December. Children can come to school wearing their party clothes for the full day.
CAUSE Hamper Appeal
Catholic Action against Unemployment and Social Evil
Every year as part of our Advent preparations we provide Christmas hampers for needy families living in the locality of Middlesbrough. This is a special charity for worthy families nominated by parishes and community workers. This year we will be supporting 8 Families, one for each Year Group. Your family will be given a Gift Label from our Jesse Tree. On each label will be a member of a particular CAUSE family. May we ask for your help by adding this to your Christmas shopping list; providing a suitable gift chosen with the help of your child/children. When your child/children brings their special gift to school they will place a silver or golden bow on our Jesse Tree and we hope it will be in full bloom as we approach Christmas. We will provide further details of this in the coming weeks.
Christmas Events and Pantomime Visits
As we approach the busy Christmas season may we respectfully remind you to be considerate of both our school neighbours and our children’s safety when parking your cars near to school. Please ensure that you and your relatives visiting school for the performances, or accompanying children to the Pantomime at Billingham Forum Theatre park responsibly.
Christmas Holiday
Our last day of term is Friday 20th December – children are allowed to bring a toy (non-electrical) to play with that day.
Children will return to school after the Christmas break on Tuesday 7th January 2020. There is a P.D. Day for Teaching Staff on Monday 6th January, so children will not be in school.
We look forward to seeing you over the Advent period in what is a joyous time of year.
Kind Regards
Mr P. Conway
Head Teacher
