31st October 2007

I hope you all had an enjoyable half term break. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Adam Sharp, who has joined year 1 and his brother Lewis who has joined the year 3 class. The family have just moved into the village and we all hope that they will be very happy here. I would also like to welcome Mrs Abbey as the new Learning Support Assistant in class 1.

Ground Force day; the governors and I are coming into school on Saturday 10th November at 10:30 to do some gardening jobs, lay the paving slabs behind the new fencing, re-site the green house and construct some vegetable patches out of railway sleepers. There are also quite a few less strenuous jobs which need doing. As you will appreciate there is a lot to do and any volunteers who enjoy a bit of manual labour will be very very welcome.

The ‘Operation Christmas Child’ Shoe boxes will be collected from school on Thursday 15th November. The children did really well presenting their gifts last year and we hope that the response will be equally generous this year.

The Science work shop which had been scheduled for Friday 30th November has been moved forward to Wednesday 21st of November.

The British Legion Poppy Appeal will be supported in school again this year. Class 3 children will be selling poppies every break time as from tomorrow. Last year the school raised £42.27 for the appeal.

This year there will be three performances of our Christmas Production ‘Are We Nearly There Yet’. The first will take place at 2.00 p.m. on Monday, 10th December and if parents are bringing younger children, we would be grateful if you would arrange to come to this performance with them rather than any of the other performances as in previous years it has created problems hearing the children performing. There will be two evening performances commencing at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday 11th December and Wednesday, 12th December. Our part-time children will be participating in the afternoon performance only. We would also like them to join us at the Church Nativity and carol service on the afternoon of the 20th December.

A recording of the performance will be made, which will be available in DVD format only at a cost of £10 each. Please return the reply slip by Thursday 13th December to place your order. Orders received by that date will be distributed before the end of term. Orders taken during the last few days of term will not be available until the New Year.

As in previous years, we would be grateful if you would ensure that the children return to school by 6.00 p.m. for the evening performances. Performances will last for approximately one hour. Please note that Registration will be at 9.00 a.m. each morning that week.

To reserve your seats please complete the reply slip and return it to school as soon as possible. Programmes will be issued the week before the performances and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis from the date of receiving the reply slip.

A selection of photographs will also be available to purchase. These will be displayed from Monday, 17th December on the parents’ notice board and order forms will be available from the school office from that date.

As we offer these opportunities for photos/DVDs we would ask you to be sensitive about using your own cameras as it can be very distracting for other members of the audience and the children.

The school Christmas Post Box will be in action from Monday, 4th December.

West Midlands Children’s Theatre has been booked for the afternoon of Tuesday, 18th December to perform ‘The Firebird’ for the children. Our PTA is once again funding this performance.

Our Christmas Party has been organised for the morning of Wednesday the 19th December when Father Christmas will visit the children. Children can come in their ‘party clothes’ in the morning but please remember they will be on the playground in the morning and at lunchtime so they do need to be warm and footwear needs to be sensible. They can bring in their favourite game/toy on this day. The School Christmas parties will be followed by of the School Christmas Lunch.

Finally, on Thursday 20th December there will be a Carol Service at 2.30 p.m. at All Saints Church, Ridgmont. Everyone is very welcome to join us. Children will return to school after the service where they can be collected by parents.

Find attached our annual parental questionnaire. the governors and I would be grateful if you could fill it in and return it to school as soon as possible.

It has come to my attention that several children have had their ears pierced recently. Only small stud ear rings are allowed in school. For your child’s safety I would recommend that they do not wear any jewellery at school. Can I remind you that Bedfordshire Health and Safety for PE and our own PE policy requires children to remove their ear rings for all PE sessions. As it is not possible to remove newly pierced ear ring for six weeks I would urge anyone thinking of having their children’s ears pierced to wait until the end of the summer term. In the meantime children who can not remove their ear rings will not be able to participate in school PE sessions and extra curricular sports activities arranged through the school. Flitwick leisure centre, where we have swimming lessons , require children who can not remove their stud ear rings to wear a close fitting swimming hat which covers their ears for their swimming lessons.

Please can I remind all parents that there is no pedestrian access across the car park at any time during the school day. Can you please set a good example to the children by using the safe pedestrian route which is fenced off for their protection.

Lynda Clark
Headteacher
 

CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION 2007 - ‘ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET’

I would like to reserve the following seats for the Christmas Production on:
 

Monday, 10th December	2.00 p.m.	1 / 2 / 3 / 4* seats
Tuesday, 11th December	6.30 p.m.	1 / 2 / 3 / 4* seats
Wednesday, 12th December	6.30 p.m.	1 / 2 / 3 / 4* seats

Name of Child ………………………………..........…….

Signed ……………………………………………………   Date ……………….......…….

* Please circle as appropriate
 

CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION 2007 - DVD ORDER FORM

I would like to order ……………………….. copy/copies of the Christmas Production 2007 DVD priced at £10 each.

I have enclosed ……………………….. to cover the cost.
(Cheques made payable to Ridgmont Lower School please).

Name of Child ……………………………………………..

Signed ……………………………………………………...   Date…………………………..