Congratulations to the following children who have achieved their reading awards:

Chloe P – Diamond Award Eden S – Emerald Award

Congratulations also to Joseph P in class Dove who won a competition to design a useful machine. This is part

of the special reading group work in which Joseph has been participating along with invited Year 4 pupils every Wednesday morning since September. He invented a Trash Collector which impressed the judges and won him a copy of Mortimer Keene Robot Riot.

Joseph said, “ I chose a trash collector because a recycling lorry nowadays causes traffic jams.”

Well done!

Certificates will be presented in Birthday Assembly on Wednesday 16th December at 9.10am. Parents are welcome to join us.

HhhjnBejamin S

Dear Parents,

Danbury Park School – An Outstanding School (Ofsted 2013)

At Danbury Park we all aim… Be wise, be happy, belong

Website: www.danburypark.essex.sch.uk 11th December 2015

Newsletter

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House Morning at Danbury Park

Here are some pictures of our House Morning at Danbury Park. This exciting event saw the ‘regeneration’ of the House System at the school with all members of staff, as well as children being assigned to a Team. House Captains were elected and news of those results and ideas from the meeting will be shared in the form of news reports after the Christmas break.

AIR

FIRE

EARTH

WATER

DPSA Christmas Fayre

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Fayre last Saturday. It was great to see so many families enjoying themselves and getting into the festive spirit. We held the prize draw of the Christmas Tree Donation Collection Cards and the lucky winners of selection packs, which were presented in Birthday Assembly this week, were:

Class Jay Henry C

Class Hummingbird Ollie W

Class Goldfinch Lizzie W

Class Flamingo Joshua T

Class Eider Evie B

Class Dove Scarlett A

Class Cuckoo Christopher M

Class Budgerigar Zak N

Class Avocet Amy W

We are so grateful to all the committee members of the DPSA who give of their time so generously to organise these events which are not only good times to enjoy together but also events which raise substantial funds for the school. Our new interactive screens are being installed this week and 16 new laptops are on order ready for the New Year! Thank you also to the team of dads who helped put the stage back in place ready for practising on Monday morning and the mums who helped vacuum and tidy up.

Christmas Mobiles

The mobiles in the hall look fantastic. The children worked hard on their decorations and they will

bring home their individual contribution at the end of next week for you to keep and add to your collection.

SCHOOL MEALS

Week commencing: Monday 14th December week 1 of our new menu

MONDAY

Homemade Cheese and Tomato Pizza

or Salmon Puff

Tricolour Pasta Coleslaw Sweetcorn Cucumber

Jacket Potato with a choice of filling

Shortbread Biscuit with Fruit

Organic Fruit Yoghurt Selection of Fresh Fruit

TUESDAY

Local Butchers pork sausage or Vegetarian

Quorn Sausage

Creamy Mashed Potato Fresh Sliced Carrots &

Peas/ Green Salad

Jacket Potato with a choice of filling

Chocolate Sponge with Chocolate Sauce Organic Fruit Yoghurt

Selection of Fresh Fruit

WEDNESDAY

Homemade Spaghetti Bolognaise or Quorn

Bolognaise

Garlic Bread Sweetcorn

Peas Salad

Jacket Potato with a choice of filling

Ice Cream Arctic Roll Organic Fruit Yoghurt

Selection of Fresh Fruit

THURSDAY

Roast Turkey, chipolata sausage,

sage & onion stuffing or Seasonal Vegetable Wrap

Roast Potatoes Peas

Carrots gravy

Not available

Christmas Ice Cream Pot or

Festive Shortbread

FRIDAY

Harry Ramsden’s battered Fish Fillet

Chips Baked Beans / Peas

Green Salad

Jacket Potato with a choice of filling

Flapjack Organic Fruit Yoghurt

Selection of Fresh Fruit

Cost for half term - £68

Reminders and Notices Safety Before and After School Pre-school children must be kept under close supervision at the beginning and end of the school day. The school staff car park is still in use at these times and cars may be manoeuvring. Please keep the children close by you and do not allow them to play along the path by the school office where they can so easily wander into the carpark. Primary School Admissions Parents of children born during the period 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012 can apply for primary school places between 9th November 2015 and 15 January 2016. School Office Please note our office hours are 8.30am – 4.00pm. Please wait in reception at the end of the club to collect your child/children. Inhalers: At the end of term, we will be returning all spacers, together with inhalers so that they can be taken home and cleaned. Please ensure that they are returned after the Christmas break. Although as a courtesy, we do inform parents at the end of a term if medication is at, or close to expiry, it is at all times parents’ responsibility to ensure that the correct medication is in school and that it is within date.

PE Kits: Please remember to return these to school on the first day back in January so that the children are ready to resume their lessons. Please note that children must wear PE kits including appropriate footwear for all PE activities. We have noticed that many junior children have been wearing their PE kits for before and after school clubs and then taking them home to be washed which means that they do not have their kit in school and are then missing lessons. We would ask that from January parents supply a separate kit for all before and after school clubs except KS1 Multi-skills Sports.

Thank you

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Christmas Events

Christmas Plays All tickets have now been sent out, so please check your child’s book bag and remember to bring them with you to the performances. We regret that as space in the hall is so very tight, pre-school children are not permitted to sit on adults’ laps during the performance. Please note that the KS1 afternoon performance will start at 2.15pm, and the KS2 at 1.45pm. We will need to clear and set up the hall after lunch so please note that the doors will not open until 15 minutes before the performance at the earliest. Christmas Dinner This will take place on Thursday 17th December. This is always a very popular event with almost all children and staff eating a traditional roast, with a vegetarian alternative, together. There is no need to order in advance but please remember there will be no jacket potatoes offered that day and of course, if you would prefer, you may send in a packed lunch. Christmas Parties The children will join together with other classes for their Christmas parties. Classes C, D and E celebrated on the afternoon of Friday 11th Dec, all the infant children will be celebrating on Thursday 17th and Classes A and B on Friday 18th. The children come to school in their uniform and bring party clothes to change into after lunch. The teachers organise traditional games and activities in the classrooms and hall. As we have had so much party food left over in the past, school will provide drinks and a range of snacks so there will be no need to send in any food. Christmas Post-box From Monday 7th December the Christmas post-box has been in the school hall for the children to post their cards to their friends in school. Our Year 6 children form our team of jolly post girls and boys and they sort and deliver cards every afternoon. To support the post team please help your child clearly write their friend’s name including surname and their class on the front of the envelope. The children bring their cards into class in the mornings and they will be given time after the register to post their cards.

Emergency School Closures

As we approach the time of year when inclement weather is more likely, we would like to advise you of the school’s emergency closure procedure. The decision to close the school is never taken lightly but there may be rare times when the site is unsafe or insufficient staff can get into the school and closure is unavoidable.

Last year there was a change to the notification process and the local radio stations no longer give out announcements. Schools now notify Essex County Council and the information is available on their website at: http://www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Dates/Pages/Emergency-School-Closures.aspx We will also put a message out on Parentmail, on the website and on the school answerphone. We aim to do this by 7.30am. If the weather and traffic are bad, please take care and get to school safely. We will understand if you delay your journey and arrive later than the usual time.

If you have not yet joined Parentmail, please ask at the office.

DPSA news Thank you for supporting the Christmas Fayre It was great to see so many families at the fayre including pupils who have now moved onto secondary schools. Thank you to everyone who kindly helped manning stalls, baking cakes, donating prizes, tidying up, rebuilding the stage... the list goes on!! We couldn’t have done it without everyone mucking in and giving up their time. The cake stall looked the best it has for ages so thanks everyone. The Christmas Fayre is all about the children having a good time but of course it is a great fundraiser too. We are pleased to say we raised a fantastic £2,230.00. New laptops have been ordered for all children from EYFS to Year 6 to use in class. Competition winners Santa’s helpers photo quiz – Danielle W and George B (they even guessed Mrs Ascott in sunglasses!). Santa’s socks – Eva H Name the teddy - Beau B Grand raffle 1st prize – Sarah Watley (£100.00), 2nd – A. Matthews (Lion vouchers), 3rd – Kelly Berry (Hamper)

Children’s Christmas Performance DVD Last chance to order before Christmas Orders must be received by MONDAY Following last year’s success the DPSA has once again arranged to have both the KS1 and KS2 Christmas performances recorded by a professional company (recordings will take place at the dress rehearsal). The DVD will include both the KS1 and KS2 performances and will be professionally edited and recorded with the use of microphones to ensure little voices are heard and you can sit back and enjoy the show. DVDs will be available at cost price £15.00 each (the DPSA will not make any money from the recording). In order to receive your DVD BEFORE the end of term orders/payment will need to be received by Monday 14th December. Orders placed after this date will not be available until the New Year. DVDs will be sold at their cost price of £15 and each DVD will have both the KS1 and KS2 performances on. The DPSA will not be making any money from this venture. Shopping online this Christmas? – www.easyfundraising.org.uk Remember to log in to easyfundraising.org.uk it’s the easiest way to raise money and costs you nothing. All you do is your Christmas shopping from your armchair. We raised £80.00 last quarter so it’s well worth doing. There are so many well known retailers on easyfundraising. Please take a look.

Dates for Diary January 9th - New Year Jumble Sale! January 20th - Bag2school February 27th – Quiz Night

March 19th – Easter Egg Hunt June 18th – Summer Fayre

Birthday Assemblies

Wednesdays at 3.05pm

Please note that from September Birthday

Assembly moved to Wednesday afternoons

16th Dec 9.10am 14th Dec– 31st Dec

6th Jan 1st Jan – 10th Jan

We hope you will join us for assembly to celebrate

your child’s birthday.

Dates for the diary

Mon 14th Dec Dress rehearsals and filming of

Christmas Performances

Tues 15th

2.15pm EYFS & KS1 Christmas

Performance

6.00pm EYFS & KS1 Christmas

Performance

Wed 16th

9.10am Birthday Assembly

1.45pm KS2 Christmas Performance

6.30pm KS2 Christmas Performance

Thurs 17th Christmas Dinner

Pm Classes J, H, G & F Christmas

Party

Fri 18th

Pm Classes C, D & E Christmas

Party

Full term dates for this year and the next

academic year (2016-17) are available on the

school website.

Yours sincerely,

Carol Gooding

Headteacher

Danbury Park Community Primary School Dates for Autumn Term 2015

Date Time Event

December

11th Pm Classes C, D & E Party

14th Christmas Performance Dress Rehearsals

15th 2.15 & 6.00pm EYFS & KS1 Christmas Performance

16th 1.45pm & 6.30pm

KS2 Christmas Performance

17th 12.00pm Christmas Lunch

Pm EYFS & KS1 Party

18th Last day of term

Pm Classes A & B party