The last week has been really very wet and we are all becoming adept at dodging the showers and getting out to play in any dry moments. Spirits have remained high though and we've managed to teach the full curriculum. A special mention is due to those year 6 pupils who braved the wind and rain and completed their Bikeability this week. The remaining children will finish their training later in the term and we have everything crossed that the weather will be kinder for them. 

Forward Notice – the school will be closed on 8 May 2023.
The DfE has now confirmed that schools should close for the bank holiday on 8 May 2023 to mark King Charles III’s coronation. An additional bank holiday in honour of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Monday 8 May 2023. As this date had previously been announced as the first day of the 2023 key stage 2 (KS2) test week in England, a change to the KS2 test schedule next year will be necessary.
Ministers have considered the situation carefully and have decided that KS2 tests will take place in the same week with tests following the usual order but each taking place one day later than originally planned. As such, the new schedule will be:

• Tuesday 9 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) papers 1 (questions) and 2 (spelling)
• Wednesday 10 May: English reading paper
• Thursday 11 May: mathematics papers 1 (arithmetic) and 2 (reasoning)
• Friday 12 May: mathematics paper 3 (reasoning)

We're very excited to announce that we will be going on a whole school trip to the Northcott Theatre to see Robin Hood on Wednesday 14th December. The PTA have very kindly subsidised this trip and we are asking for parents to pay £12 per child towards the cost of transport and tickets. Please log onto the payments section of your school gateway accounts to make this payment. Families in receipt of pupil premium funding may receive support with this payment if required. Please contact Sarah Marvin if you would like to discuss this,  

Congratulations to Y6 who has the highest attendance last week at 99%. Whole school attendance was generally a little lower last week and now stands at 95.7% which is a little below our target of 97%.

Three Hares LSB
 
The final member of our current LSB to introduce is Reverend David Spence, who recently moved to North Tawton with his wife, Ellie, and their four children, two of whom attend North Tawton Primary School.  David moved here from Witney, near Oxford and is looking forward to doing more work to link the school and the community, through his role in the church and as a governor.

David’s specific role is a Foundation Governor and he will work alongside Mel (the other Foundation Governor) to cultivate respect for the spiritual and moral beliefs of the Christian traditions, and champion & monitor the integration of Christian values across all aspects of school life.  Whilst Chagford is the only Church of England school, the Three Hares principals are all keen to welcome David into their schools, where he will also bring a fresh pair of eyes to the overall ethos and vision of the schools.

This week, James Warner, our Safeguarding Lead, has undertaken safeguarding visits to all three schools.  Each visit took about two hours, and included a meeting with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (who is the principal in each of our schools), a sample check of the Single Central Record to ensure its compliance (the SCR is a statutory requirement for all schools, and stores records & details of all staff, volunteers etc, to ensure all appropriate vetting checks have been carried out, and all details are current);  a walk around the school to observe safeguarding issues; a chat with some staff to check their understanding of safeguarding; and a talk to a panel of pupils to assess their perspective on safeguarding. James will report back to the LSB at our next meeting in January, although if any urgent issues had arisen, these would be highlighted and dealt with immediately. 
 
We would like to thank the principals for inviting us to their various school festive events.  A number of us are able to attend different occasions, and are really looking forward to seeing the children and staff getting into the Christmas spirit!  Do please say “Hi” to us, if you see us – we are always keen to meet you and it really helps us in our overall objective of gathering stakeholder voice!
 
Mel & Liz
[email protected]
[email protected]

PTA News 25/11
 
As Christmas marches ever closer there are lots of deadlines to be aware of this week.
 
Bags to School donations need to be dropped to The Kings Arms THIS MONDAY 28th NOVEMBER and at drop off on Tuesday 29th November.
 
Last day for booking your spot at the fantastically festive wreath making evening is MONDAY 28th NOVEMBER, simply email [email protected] to book your place.
 
Raffle Ticket stubbs and money need to be returned to class teachers by THURSDAY 1st DECEMBER.
 
Last date for ordering Christmas Cards and gifts with guaranteed delivery for Christmas is Monday 12th December!
Additionally 10% off orders ends Friday 2nd December.
 
 
Thank you for all your Christmas card, mug, teatowel and keyring orders so far you’ve raised just over £120!
If any one is able to help on our stall in The Charter Hall at Edwardian Evening please contact us asap, we are very low on helpers and may have to cancel this event.
Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or are able to help at any upcoming events or message us on Facebook.
Best wishes
Hannah and Liz

​Bags to School
We have another Bags to School collection on Tuesday 29th November 9am.
We accept the following ‘good quality’ items for RE-USE:
●      Men’s, Ladies’ and Children’s clothing
●      Paired shoes (tied together or elastic band around)
●      Handbags
●      Hats
●      Bags
●      Scarves and ties
●      Jewellery
●      Lingerie
●      Socks
●      Belts
●      Soft toys
●      Household linen
●      Household curtains
●      Household towels
●      Household bedding (bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers)
 
We DO NOT accept:
●      Duvets and blankets
●      Pillows and cushions
●      Carpets, rugs and mats (including bath, shower and toilet mats)
●      Soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing
●      School uniforms with and without logo
●      Corporate clothing and workwear
●      Textile off cuts, yarns or threaded material
The amazingly supportive Kings Arms have said that we can use their phoenix room as a drop off point on Monday 28th November all day and Tuesday 29th November before 9am. If you are able to help on Tuesday morning please get in touch.

Have you ordered your school  photos yet? A polite reminder that the closing date for free delivery back to school is Tuesday 22nd November 2022.  Order through the Tempest website using your unique link or visit www.tempest-orders.co.uk 
If you need any assistance in ordering your photos, feel free to contact Tempest on 01736 751555 (option 3).

​18 children from years 5 and 6 took part in The Castle Drogo Cross Country event, organised by OCRA. The children gave it their all and were so supportive of each other. The boys narrowly missed the medals and were awarded 4th place, but the girls' A team took 3rd position, and they all received bronze medals! After the run they all took part in some different activities, including dance, which they all seemed to enjoy too! A great morning! 

Three Hares LSB
It was great to introduce two new governors to our Local Stakeholder Board at our half-termly meeting held yesterday.  These meetings follow a set agenda prescribed by the Trust which help keep us focused and ensure we don’t get side-tracked by discussions that may make the meeting overrun…  Last night, our meeting lasted about 1½ hours, and we often find that we are joined briefly by children or pets that require our attention, and usually earn a little “aaaah” from the rest of the group!

Leonie McGowan was formally appointed on Wednesday this week, which was perfect timing for her first meeting.  Lennie is our new SEND Lead Governor, replacing Dr Ben Morris who recently stood down.  Lennie has particular expertise in this area, as she has a child with autism, and therefore brings a wealth of knowledge and real-life experience with her.  We are very lucky to have her join us. 

The SEND Lead Governor role takes the lead on monitoring SEND provision (although the LSB retains collective responsibility) and:
 
• is the link between the LSB and the schools (Principals and/or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), reporting to the LSB on steps being taken to ensure compliance;
• ensures appropriate challenge to leaders so that SEND remains high on the schools’ agendas and that the schools have high aspirations for SEND pupils;
• understands how the schools identify who is a SEND pupil, including at points of transition;
• familiar with the individual school’s SEND policy;
• understands how specific money (e.g. Pupil Premium) is allocated;
• discusses with the Principals / SENCo the outcomes of the schools’ monitoring and evaluation of the provision and effectiveness made for pupils with SEND;
• understands how the schools approach teaching to SEND pupils and makes reasonable adjustments to ensure SEND pupils access a broad and balanced curriculum;
• knows what additional support is available to SEND learners.

We agreed as a Board that we will commence our school visits again this half term, and hope to meet some of you at the school gates, or at one of the upcoming events, be that the Remembrance Day Services or Christmas festivals – or anything in between!

Mel & Liz
[email protected]
[email protected]    

This week you will have received a book of raffle tickets to sell to family and friends.There are 12 exciting prizes to be won! More tickets are available from the school office. If you are unable to sell your tickets please return them to your class teacher. Don't forget the class who sells the most will win a prize!
You can now order products with your child's Christmas art work on, perfect for gifts and cards! The PTA receives 20% of all orders. All orders receive 10% off until Friday 2nd December!
It's one week until our bags to school collection. Please drop your donations to The Kings Arms on Monday 28th and at school drop off on Tuesday 29th.
We really need volunteers to help on our stall at Edwardian evening, Thursday 1st December. If you are able to help we'd love to hear from you.
You can now reserve your spot for our very popular wreath making work shop on Friday 2nd December at 7pm in the school hall. To book your place email [email protected] spaces are filling quickly!!
Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or are able to help at any upcoming events or message us on Facebook.
Best wishes
Hannah and Liz

​Bags to School
We have another Bags to School collection on Tuesday 29th November 9am.
We accept the following ‘good quality’ items for RE-USE:
●      Men’s, Ladies’ and Children’s clothing
●      Paired shoes (tied together or elastic band around)
●      Handbags
●      Hats
●      Bags
●      Scarves and ties
●      Jewellery
●      Lingerie
●      Socks
●      Belts
●      Soft toys
●      Household linen
●      Household curtains
●      Household towels
●      Household bedding (bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers)
 
We DO NOT accept:
●      Duvets and blankets
●      Pillows and cushions
●      Carpets, rugs and mats (including bath, shower and toilet mats)
●      Soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing
●      School uniforms with and without logo
●      Corporate clothing and workwear
●      Textile off cuts, yarns or threaded material
The amazingly supportive Kings Arms have said that we can use their phoenix room as a drop off point on Monday 28th November all day and Tuesday 29th November before 9am. If you are able to help on Tuesday morning please get in touch.

 
12 Days of Christmas Raffle
12 FANTASTIC PRIZES to be won! We will draw one ticket a day for 12 days leading up to the end of term!
Raffle books will be coming home with your child this week! Don't forget to fill the stubbs out clearly with your name and contact number and return these to school by Thursday 1st December. 
The class who raises the most will receive a prize!! More tickets are available from the school office.
On the 12 days of Christmas my PTA gave to me…..
Some Guppy’s handmade chocolate shards
A Devon Fare fudge gift bag
Some delicious Taw River Diary ice cream.
A hair and body beauty gift set from KinKind - UPLIFT & SHINE!
£15 to spend at The Wellness Room.
A gift from the King's Arms.
A Merry Go Round voucher
Family admission for Waie2Play at the Waie Inn.
£20 to spend at the Bearslake Inn - voucher redeemable against food, drink, or accommodation
A beautiful sweet pea room diffuser from The Dartmoor Soap Co
Jo Downs handmade glass bowl
Family ticket to Dingles Fairground including ride tokens!!
 
 Join us for a festive evening to make a beautiful Winter Wreath
Friday 2nd December at 7pm in the school hall.
£25 per wreath to include an expert tutorial!
Email [email protected] to book your place and receive further details. Closing date Monday 28th November. Be quick places are limited and this is always a very popular event!!!
​

Flu Immunisations 28/11/22
You will have received details and a link to consent/decline flu immunisation for your children via the School Gateway earlier this week.  Please take a moment to complete the online form as the deadline for completion is midnight on 20.11.22.

Children in Need Day Friday 18th November
This will be a non-uniform day. The school council invite all pupils to dress up in spotty clothes for a suggested £1 donation. They are also asked to bring in spare change which will be used to produce an image on the playground. 

Thank you to everyone who came along to our meeting this week. We have some wonderful festive fundraising plans! As always we can only make them work with your help and are looking for volunteers to help at events and donations needed for various events - See below!!
This week your child will be creating festive a work of art in class which will be turned into Christmas cards, mugs, tote bags etc. Look out for future emails and posts on Facebook which will let you know when they are ready to order.
Our next meeting will be on Monday 9th January 2023 at 8pm via teams. Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you would like to receive the link or are able to help at any upcoming events.
Best wishes
Hannah and Liz

PTA 100 club
The first 100 club draw of the year took place this week and was a double draw. The winners are: 

1st - 44 Neil Vernon
2nd - 4 Kay Pyne
3rd - 6 Lisa Symes
4th - 82 Jamie Yates
5th - 30 Jackie Keegan
6th - 79 Kirsty Loader

Congratulations!

The next draw will be done at the end of November so there is still plenty of time to join the 100 club and to be in with a chance to win! Please contact Emma at [email protected] for details. Thank you all for your support. ​

South Zeal in Action Family Theatre
It's not too late to reserve your tickets for The Story Explorers family theatre event next Saturday in the Victory Hall, message the South Zeal In Action Facebook page to reserve your tickets. There will be refreshments available to purchase from South Tawton PTA. If you can donate cakes, please could you bring them to school office on Friday 11th (or on the day if you are attending the show!)
Saturday 12th November 3pm, The Victory Hall, South Zeal
The Story Explorers
(recommended age 4-10 years, great fun for grown ups too!)

South Zeal in Action are once again bringing professional children's theatre to The Victory Hall. First up is the Story Explorers…
A dynamic, vibrant and original family performance. The Story Explorers is a fiesta of engaging tales, colourful characters and captivating puppetry to amaze and ignite the imagination.
Tickets £5 children, £7.50 adults – see South Zeal in Action Facebook page to reserve. Doors open at 2.30pm.

Bags to School
We have another Bags to School collection on Tuesday 29th November 9am.
The amazingly supportive Kings Arms have said that we can use their phoenix room as a drop off point on Monday 28th November all day and Tuesday 29th November before 9am. If you are able to help on Tuesday morning please get in touch.
We accept the following ‘good quality’ items for RE-USE:
●      Men’s, Ladies’ and Children’s clothing
●      Paired shoes (tied together or elastic band around)
●      Handbags
●      Hats
●      Bags
●      Scarves and ties
●      Jewellery
●      Lingerie
●      Socks
●      Belts
●      Soft toys
●      Household linen
●      Household curtains
●      Household towels
●      Household bedding (bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers)
 
We DO NOT accept:
●      Duvets and blankets
●      Pillows and cushions
●      Carpets, rugs and mats (including bath, shower and toilet mats)
●      Soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing
●      School uniforms with and without logo
●      Corporate clothing and workwear
●      Textile off cuts, yarns or threaded material

12 Days of Christmas Raffle
We have some brilliant prizes for our Christmas Raffle including a family pass to Dingles Fairground, food and drink vouchers from The Bearslake Inn, The Kings Arms and Love Brownies (Big thanks to Kate for sourcing these!).
We will draw one ticket a day for 12 days leading up to the end of term!
Raffle books will be coming home with your child soon! Don't forget to fill the stubbs out clearly with your name and contact number and return these to school by Thursday 1st December. 
1st December Edwardian Evening
We have a stall in the Charter Hall and need volunteers to help! You don't need to give up your whole evening - we can arrange a rota. We have lots of Christmasy items for sale but are always looking for more ideas! We also will be running a lucky dip and are in need of lucky dip prizes if anyone has anything suitable please do get in touch.
2nd December Wreath Making
We are so pleased this will be back in the school hall for a fabulously festive fun evening! This is always a very popular event and places will be limited, details of how to reserve your spot coming soon!

Please click here for more information about Christmas holiday courses from SAINTs Southwest.