Monday 11 December 2017

December newsletter

Crosspool Community Preschool
Parent/Carer Newsletter
6 December 2017


Hello and Welcome to our December newsletter. Just a reminder that we break up for the holidays on Wednesday 20 December and reopen on Monday 8 January. (Please remember that we are closed on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December).



Applying for School

The online deadline for applications for a place in the school year 2017-18 has now passed. If you have not applied for a place for your child you will have to complete a paper or telephone application and the closing date for this is Monday 15 January.           

Please be aware that coming to preschool does not guarantee a place at Lydgate Infant School. In previous years, some children who lived in the catchment area for Lydgate Infant School did not get offered a place and nobody living out of catchment was offered a place at Lydgate Infant School. Therefore, we strongly recommend that when applying for school you put a second and third choice just in case you are not offered your first choice of school.

If you have any questions about the application process, please speak to Tracy at preschool. You will be offered a school place on Monday 16 April.



Christmas Concert

Just a reminder about the upcoming Christmas Concert on Monday 11 December at 6 pm. In order to gain entry on the night please bring your tickets with you as the concert is fully booked and, due to health and safety requirements relating to numbers, we can only allow entry to the event to ticket holders. Please come through the school car park to the preschool door, where you will be allowed access from 5.50 pm. You will be asked to leave your child with the staff in the preschool room and then invited to have refreshments in the school activity area before finding a seat in the lower school hall. The children will be led onto the stage by the staff and sing some Christmas songs. There will be the raffle draw and a collection for the preschool outdoor area. Raffle tickets are available to buy from the preschool office for £1 for a strip of 5 tickets. We will ask you to remain seated for a short time while we lead the children back to the preschool room and then we will ask you to collect your child on the way out. We look forward to welcoming you to this fun and informal get together.



Christmas Party Days

These will be held on Friday 15 December (am session), Monday 18 December (pm session) and Tuesday 19 December (am session).



Bake Sale

We will have a seasonal bun sale on Tuesday 19 December to raise money for the outdoor area at preschool. (Any buns/cakes that remain unsold on Tuesday, will be sold on Wednesday 20th). Please bring in any donations for this from Monday 18 December onwards – along with a list of ingredients please and a name on any container that you would like returning. The buns/cakes can be home baked or shop bought. Thank you in anticipation.









Committee Members and Next Meeting

At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee on 29 November, we elected the management committee for the coming year.  Thank you to those committee members who have agreed to continue for another year, (Catherine Snape, Claire Lindley, Lucy Cherrett and Nicola Leyshon), and to the new parents who have kindly agreed to join committee. Thanks also to Martin Swift who will continue as Chair Person, Paul Griffiths who has agreed to become Secretary and Alice Curren who has agreed to become Treasurer. Thanks also to Steve Marples who will continue on committee but has stepped down from the role of Secretary after several years.  Many thanks to Clare Butler, Melanie Viphakone and Zoe Burgin who have stepped down from committee – their help and support has been much appreciated, especially Clare who has been Treasurer for many years. Committee plays a vital role in the running and development of Preschool.

Preschool is a registered charity and is run by a management committee made up of interested parents and carers. The committee usually meets every half term to talk about what has been happening in preschool. If you are interested, please come along to the next committee meeting which is on Wednesday 17 January from approximately 6.30-8.30 pm in school. Please speak to Lauren, Sue Weston or Tracy if you would like further information.



Themes/Group Times

The children have enjoyed learning about forest and nocturnal animals. We have moved onto learning about Christmas and have a Christmas post office in our role play area. We are continuing in our listening skills groups and looking at rhyming words. After Christmas we will learn all about the Arctic and Antarctic.  



Home Learning Books

Thank you for your contributions to the children’s home learning books. The children really enjoy looking at them in group times and with their key person.



Donations

Donations of carrier bags, tissues and antibacterial wipes or antibacterial spray would be appreciated.



Warm Clothing and Snowy Weather

As the weather turns colder, windier, wetter and probably snowy, please remember to send your child to preschool wrapped up warm with coats, hats, scarves and mittens – they are easier for the children to put on than gloves. You may also like to help your child practice putting their mittens/gloves on. Named wellies would also be useful in wet and snowy weather.

If Infant school has to close due to heavy snow or bad weather, then we will also be closed.  Notice of any closure will be on Radio Sheffield, (saying Infant school is closed) and we will text you as soon as we can, to let you know. We will try to remain open whilst it is safe to do so.


Finally, can all the staff at preschool take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!