New Menu for KS1
The new menu for next half term can be found here. The KS2 sandwich options remain as ham, egg, cheese or tuna each day. 

Free School Meals Vouchers
As you may have seen from the mainstream media and social media, the motion to extend the free school meals voucher scheme over the half-term was defeated this week.
However, the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust is resolute that none of its children, eligible for free school meals during term time, should go without during their holiday next week. We would like to reassure you that all families eligible for free school meals in the Three Hares have been contacted and should now be in receipt of their food vouchers.

If your child is in receipt of free school meals and you have not yet received your voucher, please do get in touch. 

The South Tawton Lockdown Recipe Collection
The thought process behind creating this delectable treat was inspired by all the wonderful photographs and art work that our pupils sent to us during lockdown.  Our mouths were simply watering as the school blog posts were looking like something out of a plush foodie magazine or gallery visit! Peggy Chalcraft, the Yr4 Teacher, thought "I want to make those dishes and I'm sure others do too". So, she went about collating a super collection of Art, Poetry and Recipes to remember the rather different Summer term of 2020 for everyone to enjoy.
Alex Thomas, a parent at the school and a Graphic Designer, volunteered his time and expertise to help produce our recipe collection in a very stylish manner!  From the funds raised, we hope to buy a friendship bench with a difference for our playground.
Thank you again to our school community for helping to make this happen.

Bon apetit / ¡buen provecho! / Dig in!
Peggy Chalcraft

Have you bought your recipe book yet?
Can't make up your mind? Here's some lovely feedback from families who have already received theirs:
"I just wanted to say thank you for our recipe book
It’s fantastic. Thank you for your hard work in creating this.
My daughter has already book marked several recipe pages"

"Just wanted to let you know how fabulous  I think the children’s cook book is - such a lovely positive (and useful!) keepsake for us of our time in lockdown. Thank you for all your hard work in organising it for us."

"Oh we are already enjoying the recipe book!
We even cycled to Sticklepath stores to get the ingredients!!
Lava biscuits 😋"

"Our daughter has planned out our menu for Half Term already. Thank you!"

"Just to say how amazing I think the recipe books are, they look great and have been so well put together, they will be such a great keepsake from such a difficult time. Thanks to all involved."

"The recipe book is fantastic - the quality is great and it looks amazing so thank you and a huge well done for putting it together 🎉👏😊 "

It's not too late! If you would like to purchase a copy, please email SouthTawtonPTA@gmail.com with your child’s surname/year/number of books in the subject line of the email E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2 books
  *   Please also let us know how you would like to pay i.e. Cash or Paypal in your order.

Autumn Trail
Did you know that South Tawton PTA have a Facebook page? Please search for and like our page to keep up to date with all our PTA news and events.

South Tawton Primary School PTA are running an Autumn Trail this half term holiday. It takes in the villages of South Zeal, South Tawton and Sticklepath and you can purchase a trail sheet for £2 from PTA members or South Zeal and Stickepath shops. The trail starts and finishes by the South Zeal shop and the questions on the sheet are about things you will see on a walk around the villages, so keep your eyes open!  There are three sections to the trail so you can do as much or as little walking as you feel able to. Hand your completed sheets in to a teacher by November 9th to receive a reward and a Team Point!

Update from Devon County Council
You may find it interesting to read this latest update from Devon County Council about Covid-19
Click here

​One of the recommendations is that families do not go out trick or treating this year. The message is copied below:
The Halloween season is fast approaching, and families may be wondering whether trick or treating is worth the risk this year. 
It’s really not. Please just stay at home and don’t turn Halloween into a COVID-19 “nightmare on your street.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Halloween safely at home, from spooky window dressings to ghostly film nights.
This year public health teams in Devon are asking families to forget the usual trick or treat plans and instead celebrate safely indoors.
We've got some 'low risk' celebration ideas on our website, along with a list of things to avoid doing this Halloween.

Happy half term
Have a lovely week off and we look forward to seeing all children back in school on Monday 2nd November.

Best wishes,
​Sarah Marvin  

Please click here to read the letter to schools with a coronavirus update before the half term holiday.
​

To order please email: southtawtonpta@gmail.com with surname/class/number of books in the title line and how you would like to pay (either Cash or Paypal)
£10 for one / £18 for two / £28 for three / ​£36 for four.
Be part of something really awesome and help raise money for your school. 

Attendance
Following the period of school closures through the last academic year, it is now more important than ever that children attend school whenever they are well enough to do so. Obviously, if they or anyone in the household has Covid symptoms, then please self isolate as a family and get tested. The children can return to school as soon as evidence is received of a negative test. I'm delighted that our attendance for the academic year so far is 96.8%. However, we have a statutory duty to monitor attendance very carefully at this time. Through this week, all children with attendance levels which have dipped below the average will be receiving letters detailing their attendance so far. Please do get in touch if, having received one of these letters, you have further questions or would like any support in maximising your child's attendance. 

​PTA News
Proceeds from this term and next term's fundraisers will go towards some new playground markings! As we won't be able to pay for the usual trips, workshops and other events for the foreseeable future, we are contributing over £1500 towards some new markings for the Year 6 and main playgrounds. These will be for fun and fitness but also educational and can be used by the whole school during playtimes and as part of interactive lessons to enhance the children's outdoor experience when other play equipment is restricted. We are very excited that these will be in place really soon - either over half term or the following week!

The PTA are running an Autumn Trail this half term holiday. It takes in the villages of South Zeal, South Tawton and Sticklepath and you can purchase a trail sheet for £2 from PTA members or South Zeal and Sticklepath shops. The trail starts and finishes by the South Zeal shop and the questions on the sheet are about things you will see on a walk around the villages, so keep your eyes open!  There are three sections to the trail so you can do as much or as little walking as you feel able to. Hand your completed sheets in to a teacher by November 9th to receive a reward and a Team Point!

It's dress down day the last day of term on Friday 23 October!! Wear what you like but don't forget to bring £1 each to your classroom to go towards PTA funds. 

Did you know that the PTA have a Facebook page? Please search for South Tawton PTA and like our page. 

Finally, recipe books have arrived! You should have received information via email about how to make payment. Distribution will begin once payments are received.

A busy week!
As ever, the news stories behind each of the pictures above can be found in the class blog pages. Please visit them to find out more about our week in each class. Year R have had a baptism; year 1 explored their senses with some new tastes; year 2 dodged some very heavy showers when they took their maths learning outside the classroom; year 3 have made their own fossils, year 4 have been discussing some extraordinary women; year 5 have been finding out about Sir Francis Drake and year 6 have been investigating light and reflections in science. All in all, another excellent week!

​Christmas presents sorted for grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbours, friends
You should have all received the sample pages of our amazing Lockdown Recipe book last week. As well as being packed full of recipes, poems and art work sent in by our pupils during lockdown, it is also a bright and positive memento and will make a thoughtful Christmas present for all. All profits made will go to the PTA and will be spent helping to improve the school experience for all pupils. Thank you to all contributors, helpers and particularly Miss Chalcraft who first thought of the idea and has worked tirelessly to bring it to print.

​If you'd like another look at the sample, please click here.

Order and Payments Steps:

• To pre-order, email us at SouthTawtonPTA@gmail.com with your child’s surname/year/number of books in the subject line of the email E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2 books
• Please also let us know how you would like to pay i.e. Cash or Paypal in your order email.
  
  Please wait to pay until you hear from us, especially important if paying by cash. There will be specific date TBC.

For your information:

• When can I have my copy (ies)? We aim to get the book to you before half term, print run allowing. 

• FOR CASH ORDERS: (only when we contact you to send it in)
   You will need to put exact money in a sealed envelope in your child’s book bag. Please write your child’s surname/year/number of books on the outside of the envelope  E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2books 

Once the CASH has come in to us via your child’s book bag, it will be quarantined and then checked. You will then get a confirmation email that it has been received.

• PAYPAL: 
   If you request to pay via Paypal we will give you the instructions for paying via the PTA email.

Please note: when paying via Paypal make sure you select the Friends and Family option to avoid fees
Please include a note in the payment to tell us your child’s surname/year/number of books 
(E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2books) to help us track orders. 
 
For more information, please contact us via the PTA email: SouthTawtonPTA@gmail.com

Idling Car Engines
The residents of South Zeal have requested that I ask you all to ensure that you do not leave your car engines running when picking up or dropping off your children at school and pre-school. The particles present in exhaust fumes are well-proven to be damaging to health when inhaled, and the current climate crisis is well documented. Please help to keep our children, neighbours and the planet safe by ensuring that engines are turned off whilst you are waiting.

On the subject of cars, please drive extremely slowly in the villages and particularly on the cut-through lane between Sticklepath and South Zeal - the light is now fading and many of our families walk to and from school on this road. 
​

The South Tawton Primary School Lockdown Recipe Collection is ready to be consumed!
Before the summer holidays, we asked you to send us your recipes, poems and pictures to include in a school recipe book; we are delighted to finally be able to share it with you. 
There is a sample of the book, click here,  to help whet your appetites.  
The A4 book is an 88 page delight in full colour and is being professionally printed at this very moment, to make the most of your wonderful recipes, spectacular art and beautifully composed poetry. 
Copies will be available for £10 each or 2 for £18, payment is by Cash or Paypal only. 
Please pre-order a copy now by following the instructions below:
Order and Payments Steps:

• To pre-order, email us at SouthTawtonPTA@gmail.com with your child’s surname/year/number of books in the subject line of the email E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2 books
• Please also let us know how you would like to pay i.e. Cash or Paypal in your order email.
  
  Please wait to pay until you hear from us, especially important if paying by cash. There will be specific date TBC.

For your information:

• When can I have my copy (ies)? We aim to get the book to you before half term, print run allowing. 

• FOR CASH ORDERS: (only when we contact you to send it in)
   You will need to put exact money in a sealed envelope in your child’s book bag. Please write your child’s surname/year/number of books on the outside of the envelope  E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2books 

Once the CASH has come in to us via your child’s book bag, it will be quarantined and then checked. You will then get a confirmation email that it has been received.

• PAYPAL: 
   If you request to pay via Paypal we will give you the instructions for paying via the PTA email.

Please note: when paying via Paypal make sure you select the Friends and Family option to avoid fees
Please include a note in the payment to tell us your child’s surname/year/number of books 
(E.g. Chalcraft/year4/2books) to help us track orders. 
 
For more information, please contact us via the PTA email: SouthTawtonPTA@gmail.com
Thank you to Alex and Hannah Thomas who have gone above and beyond in helping us put this together. Funds raised to go to our super PTA who help us fund trips, buy resources etc… 
Kind regards,
The PTA, Staff and Pupils of South Tawton Primary School

Outdoor Education
Another week has whizzed by and we managed to make the most of our outside learning spaces before the weather changed. In the photos above, you will see year 5 enjoying outdoor learning in the outdoor education area, year 6 taking part in Quad Kids athletics and year 2 exploring the effect that exercise has on their heart rates. For more photos and information about any of these stories and more, please visit the class blog pages. 

SIMS Parent
As a MAT, we use SIMS Parent Lite to collect, manage and handle key information about your child and you as parents/ carers. This puts you in control and makes sure the data we hold is accurate and up to date. We also use SIMS Parent to allow you to provide consents where necessary. You can update these consents at any time. 

Later today, I will send an activation email to the home email address of anyone who has not already registered. This will come from noreply@sims.co.uk.  If you do not receive this email by the end of tomorrow, then please check that it has not been diverted into your SPAM folder. If you have already registered, you can log in using your existing details and won't receive the activation email.

Simply click on the link from your tablet, pc or smartphone to activate your account. You can then login using your normal Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft username and password.

More information about SIMs parent and information we would like from you, can be found here.

Please could parents of all children in year 1 visit the page and update their consents ASAP. 

When updating your contact details or consents on SIMS parent, please ensure you scroll down and press the SAVE button before logging out. 

If you have any difficulties in using the service, please let me know via smarvin@southtawton.org

PTA 100 Club
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has signed up for this year's 100 Club. Your support is really appreciated.  The first draw has taken place with the help of Year 3 and the following numbers/people won

1st    80    Nan Passmore
2nd   25    Sally Whiteley
3rd    50    Duncan Coventry

New members are welcome to join the 100 Club at any time throughout the year. Please email the school office for a sign up form and confirmation of the subscription payable if you are interested.

Crisp packet recycling
Crisp packet recycling has now started again. There is a collection box in every classroom and these are coordinated by our school councillors.

Meal Time Assistant Vacancy
We currently have vacancy for a meal time assistant (MTA). Please use the links below for more information
advert_sept_2020.pdf
MTA job description
Application form
The vacancy closes on 16th October.
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