Dear Parents and Carers,

Christmas is fast approaching and we're getting ready for lots of festive fun in school! Unfortunately, when we've fetched our Christmas decorations out of the loft today, our very old Christmas tree has decided that its time is up! Before purchasing a new one, we wondered if anyone had a Christmas tree which they aren't using this year that we could potentially borrow until the end of term? We've decided it would make sense for us to wait until the January sales to buy ourselves a new one! If you can help, please let us know. 

Several parents and carers are raising concerns around parking on the main road at school drop off and pick up times. It is almost impossible to see traffic coming along the main road when you are pulling out of the village if cars are parked too close to the junction. The farmshop are happy for parents to park in their car park in a morning to help alleviate traffic congestion so do make use of this if you can. We appreciate that crossing the busy main road is not ideal, but the school has raised its concerns around safety and parking with the local safer neighbourhood team. The children's safety, as well as that of our parents and carers, is our utmost priority. 

Church rehearsals next week

A reminder to please collect your child/children from Edensor church on Tuesday 3^rd and Wednesday 4^th December between 3pm-3.15pm. The parking situation is pretty terrible in Edensor at the moment so please take care. The school bus will run as usual both afternoons and will collect the children from church to take them home. If your child usually goes to 623 club on a Tuesday or Wednesday, please make arrangements with 623 directly for your child's collection arrangements. Many thanks. 

Y3 swimming

As we are at church next Tuesday, the Y3 children will not be going swimming. The children's final swimming session this term will be Tuesday 10^th December. 

Old nursery classroom

After several weeks of liaising with our insurance company, I'm pleased to say that the downstairs classroom which suffered from a water leak, will have a new floor fitted the week commencing 9^th December. Our toddler group will continue to meet in Beeley village hall on a Friday morning up until Christmas but will then be back in school in January. 

Christmas craft fair- Bakewell Agricultural Centre

On Sunday 8^th December, Mrs Dey, Amanda Travis and some of our Class 3 pupils will be selling their handmade wreaths and other Christmas decorations in aid of school funds. This is part of Class 3's enterprise project and they can't wait to get selling!! Our thanks go to everyone involved.

Christmas service- Tuesday 10^th December- 5.30pm

Everyone is welcome to join us for our annual Christmas service at Edensor church on Tuesday 10^th December at 5.30pm. The doors to the church will open at 5pm. The infants will need to come to church dressed in their costume please. All junior children should be in full school uniform (no hoodies) and school shoes please. 

Y5/Y6 residential

The children in Class 4 will be receiving a letter next week regarding a residential visit in the summer term. 

Carol singing at the farmshop- Wednesday 11^th December

Mrs Townsend is taking a group of Y5/Y6 children to carol sing at Chatsworth farmshop on Wednesday 11^th December at 1.30pm. 

Trip to see Chatsworth Christmas decorations- Thursday 12^th December 

We have arranged to take the children to Chatsworth on Thursday 12th December to see the Christmas decorations. We aren't able to access the House until 9.45am so we are asking parents and carers to drop off children at the Lodge at Chatsworth House as close to 9am as possible please. We will take the children for a short walk before we are allowed entry into the House so, please ensure they are dressed appropriately for the weather as there isn't any indoor space for us to wait if the weather is bad. The children will come back to school on the school bus in time for their lunch. As we will be outdoors for part of the morning, please send your child to school wearing their school jumper/hoody with trousers (no jeans please) and either sturdy trainers, walking boots or wellies. If you could please put your child's school shoes into their bag, they can change their footwear once we're back at school at lunchtime. Class 4 will have their PE session on Thursday afternoon as usual. 

'Wear something Christmassy' day- Friday 13^th December 

We are having a non-uniform day on Friday 13^th December and theme is 'wear something Christmassy!'. We are asking for donations to be made via Parent Pay which will be split between Save the Children and school fund to pay towards Christmas party resources and refreshments when we go to the pantomime in Buxton. 

Musical and wellbeing coffee afternoon- Tuesday 17^th December 

This will take place in school hall at 2pm and everyone is welcome. 

Trip to Buxton Opera House- Jack and the Beanstalk- Wednesday 18^th December- Reception to Y6

The children will be having an early lunch on Wednesday 18^th December as we are leaving for the pantomime at 12.00. Please arrive at school for 4pm to collect your child afterwards. The children will be dismissed from their classrooms when we return as it will be dark on the playground. Once we are all back inside school, we will open the main playground gate for the junior parents to collect children from the hall and we will ask infant parents to use the main entrance (front steps) to come into school to collect your infant children from Class 2. 

Christmas disco- Thursday 19^th December

After much consideration, we have decided to run the school disco during school time on the afternoon of the 19^th December. There will be quiet activities planned in the annexe for children who don't want to join in with the disco. The community transport buses will take the children down to the Cavendish Hall after lunch.  Please collect your child from the Cavendish Hall at 3.15pm on this date. The school bus will collect the bus children from the Cavendish Hall as usual to take them home. If your child usually goes to 623 club, please contact 623 directly to arrange your child's collection from the Cavendish Hall. More details will follow as to what the children need to wear/bring etc for the disco. 

Christmas party day- Friday 20^th December

Following part food for lunch, we'll be having a Christmas party in the afternoon. The children will be in non-uniform and can come to school wearing their party clothes. We are planning for a visit from Father Christmas too!

PTA news

The PTA are having a meeting to discuss the Christmas disco on Friday 13^th December at 9am. The meeting will take place at school in the old nursery room downstairs. 

Following on from the PTA meeting held in school on the 18^th November, the new committee is as follows:

Amanda Travis- Chair of the PTA

Emma Coleman- Vice-Chair

Secretary- TBC

Kev Parkes- Treasurer 

Huge thanks go to Kev Parkes who has agreed to take on the role of treasurer again as well as Bex Vardy, Katy Wood and all previous post holders on the PTA for all the work that they've done in raising funds for our school. Their time and commitment are greatly appreciated and lots of money was raised last year through various fundraising efforts. The newly formed committee are ready and raring to go and have lots of lovely ideas already. 

The children return to school on Monday 6^th January after the Christmas break.

All best wishes for a lovely weekend,

Mrs E Bond

Headteacher