St Luke's C of E Primary School, Glossop

3.11.16
Dear Parents,
Here is the newsletter on proper newsletter day.
We have already had a busy week. The Kestrels had a very exciting trip into Manchester to watch The Halle Orchestra’s production of The Rainbow Fish. Not only did they have the excitement of travelling on a coach they also got to listen to world class musicians bring the story to life. All this and a picnic lunch!
The Kites and Harriers had a visit from Sarah Salam who came in to talk about the Muslim faith as part of this term’s RE week. We are also going to have visits from some of the Whitfield parish team. The Kestrels are going to have a good explore of St Luke’s Church.
Last night our Prime Minister, Deputy and Chancellor attended an awards ceremony in Buxton to receive our Gold Games Mark. It was a very lavish event with entertainment and a buffet! The children represented us very well.
Today the cross country squad will be taking part in the High Peak final. We hope they have wings on their feet.
Today is also the Merlin’s Menu. I am really looking forward to lemon chicken or stir fry, though how I am going to choose between them I do not know. Next week it is Eagle’s menu on Friday 11th. If your child is normally on packed lunches and would like to try a dinner on that day just let us know.
Ospreys are leading our Assembly on Friday. Do join us if you can. On Friday 11th Merlin’s will be leading the assembly.
The football league starts this Friday after school. The team are all excited and ready to go.
Next Thursday 10th November the staff are having some training on science teaching. Thank you to all the children in Harriers who have offered to come and help with this. They will finish at 4.45. Due to this training there will be no afterschool clubs on this night.
Friday 11th is also Year 4 Sleep Over. Huge excitement!

There is a PTA meeting tonight 7pm in the upstairs room in The Oakwood. The PTA film night is fast approaching! Keep Friday 18th free. It starts at 5.30 – 7.30, The film is Secret Life of Pets. Tickets will be available from the office they are £3 which will include refreshments.

Alice Littlehailes

Dear Parents,
Thank you to everyone for supporting the cake stall for Tear Fund. As you know the money is going to support development work in a region of Uganda. We will continue to support this work over the next few years and hopefully find out more about the region.
The disco was a sparkly success on Friday. Thank you to everyone who helped organise it or supported it. Not only did the children have fun but £500 was made towards providing the ‘extras’ in school. If you are interested in contributing to the conversation about how PTA money could be spent the next meeting is on Thursday 3rd November, time and venue to be confirmed.
This week is Thank Your Vicar Week. We are very grateful for the work the whole ministerial team do in Whitfield Parish. They actively support the work of the school and enrich the children’s experiences, so thank you to them.
On Friday the Kestrel’s will be leading our assembly first thing. Please join us if you can. Peregrine’s will be leading the assembly on Friday 4th November.
We finish for half term this Friday 21st October and school will reopen on Monday 31st October. As a half term treat the PTA will be selling popcorn in the playground at the end of the day.
The first week back after half term is school meals week, during this week we are launching a new project. Each class will plan the menu for one day of the week and choose which day it will be on. Mrs Howe and the catering department have agreed she will cook the special meal for the whole school. We start with merlin’s menu on Thursday 3rd November when dinner will be lemon chicken or vegetable stir fry. I do hope everyone will support the children and try a dinner on that day. If your child normally has packed lunches and would like to have a dinner that is no problem if they just let us know and bring in £2. Dinner money up to Christmas is £74. Please pay for dinners in advance.
On Tuesday 1st November the Kestrel’s class are going to see the Halle Orchestra’s production of The Rainbow Fish.
There have been a number of reports of head lice in school. Please could everyone be vigilant about checking heads weekly and can long hair be tied back. Lice spread through hair to hair contact so tying hair back just reduces this contact. It is also difficult to work if your hair is falling between you and your work.
I hope you all have a lovely half term.
Alice Littlehailes

St Luke’s Newsletter

13.10.16
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to our sports teams that have competed over the last week. The Girls football team played well and came fourth. The cross country team did amazingly well and came first. This Friday the girls in Y3&4 have been invited to a football festival where they will have the chance to try out some of the skills involved in the game.
It is big write week this week and school has been full of scrap metal and robots as the children all write in response to a picture. I cannot wait to read their work.
A new station has been opened in Kestrels and Peregrines with a wonderful café. The service is very hands on but like lots of train services it can be difficult to get a seat. I am reliably informed that the trains go to Manchester and Blackpool.
With huge excitement we have awarded the first of this year’s Super Student Badges. We award badges to our pupils for being just that super students. For showing good learning behaviour, contributing in class always trying to do their best and being all round super. They get their bronze first then work towards their silver and then gold. We ask that they wear their badge every day, take care of it and give it back when they earn their next one. They can keep the badge they are on at the end of the school year. We try not to award loads at a time as this stops them being special so do not worry if your child has not got one instantly it does not mean they are not doing well.
I have received a number of complaints about cars blocking the road whilst parents bring their children into school. Please can everyone be considerate at drop off and pick up time. Hopefully it will not be a problem next week as it is Walk to School Week when we encourage as many people as possible to walk at least part of the way to school. I do hope you are able to support this initiative.
Due to Parents Evenings and other staff commitments lots of the school led clubs will have to be cancelled next week. ICT, PAS and Gymnastics will be on but the rest of them are cancelled.
On Friday 14th The Peregrine’s will be leading our assembly first thing, please join us if you can.
Remember the disco is on Friday. Get your dancing shoes on and come and enjoy.
Alice Littlehailes

6.10.16
Dear Parents,
Well done to all the children and adults who took part in the Glossop jog on Sunday. We had 53 runners who ran 413 laps between them! I know an amazing job done by all. Now everyone needs to collect and return their sponsor money as soon as possible. If you still have a running number at your house please could you return it as The Rotary Club would like them back.
The Year Six children returned from Whitehall yesterday having had a lovely time. We were so lucky with the weather. All of the children were proud of themselves for what they achieved across the three days they were away. We are very grateful to the staff who gave up their time to make this happen for them.
Parent’s evening is fast approaching. We are providing opportunities for you to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress on Wednesday 19th or Thursday 20th October. Letters are going home tonight. When you fill in the slip to say which time bands would suit you the more options you can give us the easier it is for us to accommodate everyone. We will then liaise between classes so families have appointments near to each other and give you an appointment.
We had one nomination for parent governor so I am very pleased to announce that Claire Sproulle has been elected to represent you.
The children have become very interested in Tearfund’s project to support an area in Uganda. Over the next few years the local community would help raise funds to train project workers to help the community find solutions to the problems they face. The school has decided to hold a cake sale next Thursday, 13th October, at morning playtime. If the children who would like to bring in small cakes we will sell for a donation. I would suggest that a donation of 30-50p would be appropriate.
Friday 14th is a busy day it starts with Peregrines leading our assembly, do join us if you can. In the afternoon the girls in Y3&4 are going to a football festival at Glossopdale and the day rounds off with a PTA Disco.
Can I just remind parents of children in Years 3-6 that dinner money is £2 a day (£10 a week). It needs to be paid in advance. Some people are building up quite a lot of debt and the local authority policy is any amount over £30 can be referred for legal action. I do not want to have to refer but school cannot afford to carry a large amount of money owing for dinners. Please keep up to date with dinner money. If you are experiencing any problems please let us know so we can try to help.

Alice Littlehailes