St Luke's C of E Primary School, Glossop

Dear Parents,
Well, there is huge excitement around school because of the possibility of snow!!! Kestrels have already taken advantage of the cold weather and made ice sculptures overnight. I will always try to keep school open no matter what the weather, however it is always dependent on the number of staff members that can get into school safely. If I have to close school I will let everyone know via the texting service and the website, if you hear nothing school is open.
The school is going cycling mad this week and into next with children working hard on their Bikeability training, you might remember it as cycling proficiency. Well done to everyone for how well they are doing.
Tomorrow is an exciting day with the Kites visiting the Air raid shelters, and the Harriers treating us and you to a clarinet concert in assembly. The Kites can come dressed as evacuees tomorrow if they want to.
If you have a pre-school child who will turn 4 by the end of August the closing date for applications for a primary school place is midnight on Sunday (15th January). If you have not applied yet you can do this on line at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions or by phoning call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.
I have had an email from the BBC who are looking for families interested in taking part in the next series of Eat Well for Less, that is the programme where Greg Wallace and Chris Bevin help families reduce their food bill and still eat tasty food. If you are interested in finding out more the contact details are: 0117 970 7698 Or e-mail:eatwell@rdftelevision.com www.facebook.com/EatWellForLess Twitter:@EatWellForLess
The very popular PTA quiz is back! The date of the quiz is on Friday 27th January 7.30. Tickets cost £3 with an optional chippy supper for a further £3. Tickets will be available from the office from Friday.
I am attaching this terms dates as always they may change. There is one more INSET day which I am trying to finalise. The staff will be updating their first aid on that day and I am waiting for a date from the trainers. As soon as I know I will let you know.
Next Friday 20th January the Peregrines will be leading our assembly, I hope you can join us.
There are a few Fridays where there are no volunteers available to make the toast. If you might be able to spare a little bit of time on a Friday morning to help let us know in the office and we will pass your details on to Mrs Williamson who does the rota
Alice Littlehailes

Dear Parents,
Happy New Year. I hope you all had a good Christmas.
It is lovely to see everyone back after the holiday ready to learn.
The Year 1s are going to start swimming on Wednesday 11th January. They will meet up at the pool on a Wednesday morning. The Year 5s will be starting swimming on Thursday 12th January. Letters and forms will be coming home.
Clubs will restart on Monday 9th January except Gardening club which will wait until the lighter evenings. Cookery Club will be group 2. Mr Warburton is going to start an art and craft club on Tuesdays, it will run until 4.30, for children in Key Stage 2. If your child would like to join this club please let the office know.
The Harriers will be showing us just how much they have learnt on the clarinet by putting on a concert on Friday 13th just after 9am. Please do join us if you can as they would love to perform to an audience.
The next PTA meeting is on Friday 13th at 3.30 in school; please do try to come along.
I will send the dates for the term out soon.

Alice Littlehailes

St Luke’s Newsletter
15.12.16
Dear Parents,
It is hard to believe but this is probably the last newsletter of 2016, unless I have forgotten something and have to write a supplementary one!
Exciting news we now have a crossing patrol on North Road Kim is there to help the children cross over safely.
I hope you are beginning to feel festive, I know all the children are. The excitement and exhaustion levels are high. When I walk around school children are busy creating, and working with a real sense of anticipation. Talking to them many of the children are hoping Father Christmas will bring them something techie that connects to the internet. The web is fantastic but also contains dangers for children such as them being exposed to something they are not ready for. Please be vigilant when they are on line to make sure you know what they are seeing and doing.
The sporting year continues to be a good one with the swimming squad winning the Gala on Wednesday and we are waiting to hear about the football league. The football team only lost one match so they are first or second. Even more importantly than this the children have performed with great sportsmanship.
A number of parents have been to see me concerned that other parents have approached their child in the playground to remonstrate with them for something that happened during the school day. Children have gone home very distressed. Can I remind you that things that happen between children during the school day should be dealt with by school staff, please let us know if something has happened to upset your child rather than dealing with it yourself.
The PTA Christmas Fair raised about £900 well done to everyone who supported this event in any way. Remember to get your quiz sheets in by tomorrow no matter how many questions you have answered!
The Christmas events we have held so far have gone well. The play has been enchanting, the party exciting and the choir singing beautiful. There are still many events to go:
Friday 16th December Year 5/6 party.
Sunday 18th December Choir singing at St Luke’s Carol service meet there in uniform at 6.15pm
Monday 19th Kestrels/Peregrines & Osprey’s party
Tuesday 20th Our carol service at St Luke’s church at about 9.20ish. Please do join us. There will be refreshments afterwards.
Tuesday 20th finish for the holiday. School reopens on Wednesday 4th January.

If I don’t see you in person before Tuesday let me wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Alice Littlehailes

8.12.16
Dear Parents,
Thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Fair in any way. It was lovely to welcome so many people into the building last Friday. I don’t yet know how much the PTA raised I will let you know as soon as I know. There is still time to finish that quiz and get it in. The closing date is next Friday 16th December. The prize is a really nice hamper of goodies, I know it is nice because it is sitting in my office winking at me!
This week we welcomed Ann King the head of St Mary’s New Mills to our school. She came to have a look at what we were doing. She was very impressed by the children’s learning behaviour and the standard of their work. She said that the children were happy confident and very polite. I am sure you are as proud of them as I am.
The football team continues to cover itself with glory – they are still unbeaten this season with this Friday being the last night of competition. The Boccia team who went to Buxton on Tuesday had a wonderful time and represented the school so well. As the children know the way to make me proud is to be sporting, it is lovely to win but what is important is the manner in which you play. This year I have been proud of all our sports teams.
The rehearsals for the Kestrel’s, Peregrine’s and Osprey’s Christmas Play are coming on well. The children are all very excited about putting on their costumes and performing for you next week. On Thursday 15th for the 4pm performance we will keep the children at school give them a drink and a snack and get them ready for the grand performance. We haven’t managed to go right through without stopping yet but my best guess is that the play lasts about 30 minutes.
We are getting into the full Christmas Spirit here with lots of activities planned. As well as the play the choir are singing at The Methodist Church Christmas Tree festival on Wednesday 14th December at 10.00 for about half an hour if you can come and support us it would be great as the audience can be a little sparse at this event. The choir are also singing at St Luke’s Carol Service on Sunday 18th December at 6.30 the children need to meet there in uniform at 6.15. School Christmas Dinner is on Thursday 15th December I hope everyone will join in this lovely occasion.
We also have parties coming up. On party day the children can come in their party clothes or get changed at lunchtime (please remember that it will be a normal school morning so whatever they wear must be manageable!). The Kites’ and Harriers’ party is in Wednesday 14th, Eagles’ and Merlins’ on Friday 16th and Kestrels’, Peregrines’ and Ospreys’ on Monday 19th.
We will be holding our Carol Service in church on Tuesday 20th December at about 9.20 / 9.30 it would be lovely if you could join us. We finish for the Christmas holiday on that day school reopens for the children on Wednesday 4th January.
Mrs Tinker has very excitingly got a new job so will be finishing with us on Tuesday 20th we are very pleased for her but will miss her. We are getting together a collection to buy her a leaving present, if you would like to make a contribution towards it please send it in an envelope marked Mrs Littlehailes.
Alice Littlehailes