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together Everyone Achieves More

Walter Evans CE Primary School

www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk email us at - admin@walterevans.derby.sch.uk

Tel. 01332 557139

Newsletter – Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas, one and all. We hope that everyone has a wonderful (bug free!) holiday with family and friends, and returns to school fresh in January.

Dates for your Diary

20th Dec – Last day – Remember your special snack and toy!

24th Dec – Crib Service at St Matthews, 5.30pm – see below

4th Jan 2017 – Back to school

27th Jan – Y 5/6 Trip to Black Country Living Museum

Christmas Carol Concert at the Cathedral

Thank you to all the children, parents and grandparents who attended our Christmas Carol concert on 30th November. We hope that all will agree the children did a fantastic job, and the singing sounded especially beautiful in such an atmospheric venue. They’ll always be able to say, “I performed in Derby Cathedral”! Thank you to our Vicar Rev. Barham for the lovely service, and to all the staff who worked so hard to pull the concert together.

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Wow! We’re nearly there! Thanks to all your donations we’re up to 183 books for our library. If you’re clearing your children’s shelves over the Christmas break and find any new or as new books that are no longer wanted, please think of us, and maybe we can smash our target early!

This was a fabulous event once again, brilliantly organised by our dedicated

PTFA. We hope that everyone is excited to open their special presents on

Christmas Day – certainly much excitement went into their choosing! Many

thanks to the organisers and to all the helpers on the day, and also to everyone

who donated gifts for us to sell. The day raised £1,180. If you’d like to help us

spend this money in the New Year, pop the date of the next PTFA Meetings in

your diary now. They are Thursday 12th Jan at 8pm, and Friday 13th Jan at 9am.

Christmas Services at St Matthews

On Christmas Eve at St Matthews there will be a Crib

Service at 5.30 pm. Peter the new Vicar has nativity

figures on broomsticks so we will tell the story together

and sing a selection of favourite carols. The service

will last about 40 minutes and is suitable for all ages.

We won't be dressing children up as the different

characters, so please come in your Christmas

jumpers. Midnight Mass is celebrated at 11.30 pm. On

Christmas morning, Peter will lead a Family

Communion service at 10 am - bring a Christmas

present.

A few photos of our Christmas Celebrations!

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The Christmas parties were

a hit with everyone!

Santa visited our Nursery and Reception Grotto to see the children – he was very impressed with them all!

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Year 5/6 enjoying a very civilised soiree!

Foundation Stage staff looking their seasonal best for Grotto night!

Parking Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, parking around school continues to be a major concern for children’s safety. In the last couple of weeks there have been occasions where parents have parked on the pavement, resulting in a child with mobility difficulties and parents with pushchairs having to walk in the road. There have also been several near misses, and a collision where a car badly parked in the bus bay was hit by a reversing driver. On Friday a coach returning from a trip was unable to reach school because of a badly

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parked Renault Megane, which then caused further problems for several other parents.

Could we also please remind all parents that there is no parent parking in the school grounds at any time of day, unless you have a blue badge.

If you witness a parking/driving hazard, please continue to contact the school office to report the issue.

PTFA Christmas Hamper Winners

Thank you for your contributions and ticket purchases, we raised around £340! Many congratulations to all our prize winners, listed below – 1st – Emma Ireland (Hamper and £25 M&S voucher) 2nd – Katherine Terry (Hamper) 3rd – Roe Family (£25 M&S voucher) 4th – Coull Family (Monopoly, wine and chocs) 5th – Steve Clarke (Wine hamper) 6th – Helen Munday (Baking hamper) 7th – V Murphy (Champagne) 8th – Eaton Family (Whisky) 9th – Nelson Nudd Family (Leap Pad) 10th – L James (Remote control helicopter) 11th – Edie Bucknell (Beer hamper) 12th – Higgs Family (Bourbon) 13th – Jean Travis (Pamper set) 14th – Hawksworth Family (Wine)

Well done to the winners of the PTFA Christmas colouring competition – we had over 100

entries, and all of them were fabulous! The overall winner was Jasper Hill in Reception, and

the runners up in each phase were Elsie Clarke (Rec), Joshua Simmonds-Martinez (1/2),

Harry Bennett (3/4), and Evie Bennett (5/6). It was obvious a lot of time and thought had

gone in to all the entries, and they were all very individual. What a creative bunch you are!

DCFC are offering 7-11 year olds the opportunity to experience a game of football at the iPro Stadium for free! To register for your free tickets, log on to WeAreDerby.com/FutureFans. Complete the online form and Rammie will be in touch to tell you how to claim them.

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What is on your Christmas list?

The giving and receiving of gifts is very much in our thinking as we enter the

Christmas season. So, what is the best gift you have ever received? As a child I

still hold onto the treasured memory of the special dolls pram received from my

parents.

During this Christmas season what are we truly seeking?

For me, Christmas is a reminder that the

unwrapped baby Jesus, born in a stable,

who became the Saviour, is the best

present that I have received. Jesus - who

offers a full guarantee of eternal life - to

all who trust in Him. There is no sale-by-

date with this precious gift.

Please take a moment this Christmas to

consider what that baby in a manger means to you.

Happy Christmas, and peace throughout the New Year.