MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR The Autumn Term has drawn to a close and we have nothing but admiration for the way the children have embraced and adapted to all changes. It's not been the easiest of terms, but there's been plenty to enjoy every day and excellent academic progress has been made in all classes too. Thank you to all families for all the support and encouragement you have given; I know that the staff will also wish to join me in thanking you for all the lovely Christmas gifts and cards. Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year however you celebrate and here's to a safe and less complicated 2021! ChristingleAs we approached the end of term, it became obvious that we wouldn't be able to go to church for our annual Christingle service. The school hall was also not an option due to needing to maintain distance between class bubbles. Not daunted, we decided to hold an outdoor service on the playground on Friday morning. By Wednesday, it was obvious that the weather on Friday was very much against us, so we changed plans again and brought the service forward to Thursday. The whole school gathered in their bubbles on the playground for whole-school carol singing and readings from the year 6 pupils. Rev Mark also joined us and gave a short address. All the children then returned to their classrooms for the lighting of their Christingles and to sing Away in a Manger. The classes were all connected via a TEAMs meeting so they could see each other on the interactive screens in their classrooms. It was a very different service but very special and the unaccompanied singing of carols on the playground was particularly beautiful. Flash Mob Carols
Behind the Stable DoorOur traditional KS1 nativity performance was another event which we refused to let Covid take away, so we had to adapt to the changes. Years R, 1 and 2 put on a spectacular show of Behind the Stable door which was shown to the KS2 children across two afternoons and recorded for parents to watch at home. Well done to all the children and staff for such a wonderful production. What's on at Okehampton Library? Okehampton library will be open and holding some lovely events during the Christmas period: Click here to find out more. Support for Families experiencing financial hardship over Christmas period A COVID Winter Grant Fund has been made available to local authorities and district councils to support families experiencing financial hardship over the 2020-21 winter. Children eligible for free school meals have been issued with food vouchers and district councils are able to support families through their hardship grants. In addition, Early Help will be able to help families with a grant of up to £100 per family to support them to buy food and pay utility bills over the winter. If you are experiencing financial hardship this winter, then please contact Early Help to receive this and other financial support to improve the situation. Hardship does not need to be COVID related or recently acquired. The criteria set by Early Help is as follows:
You can contact Early Help by contacting the following mailbox: Southern Devon: Earlyhelpsouthsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk Food Bank Collections A very big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the foodbank collections. These will now be dropped off at Okehampton foodbank. If you would still like to donate to the foodbank, there is a collection point at Co-op in Okehampton. A message from the Three Hares Governors The Local Academy Committee governors would like to wish all children, parents and staff a very happy, safe, joyful and peaceful festive break. We would also like to thank all the staff for their extraordinary efforts to keep the schools as safe as possible. Behind the scenes, they have been working under extreme pressure to ensure the children have been able to experience school life as normally as possible, and have had to respond quickly and efficiently when cases of Covid-19 have arisen. Our thanks also go to parents and carers, who have worked with the schools so willingly to comply with the various measures that have been put in place to minimise the risk of spreading the virus. Have a wonderful Christmas, and we look forward to continuing our work with each of the Three Hares schools in the new year. With our very best wishes, Three Hares Local Academy Committee governors PTA newsA huge congratulations to everyone for making the fundraisers this term such a success despite the difficult circumstances. We've had great feedback about the Lockdown Recipe Collection, autumn trail, online wreath-making class, Christmas activity packs and the virtual balloon race. These fundraisers together with the Waitrose hamper raffle and non-uniform day have raised well over £3000 - a truly amazing achievement - thank you!! Congratulations to Elsie in Year R who won the delicious hamper of Waitrose goodies. We will be in touch in the new year with details as to how this money will be given back to the school to benefit the children. If anyone has some new fundraising ideas for 2021 then please let us know. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the PTA team! SAINTS SW After-School Football ClubsPlease see link below for parents to book back onto the extracurricular football clubs in the Spring Term. KS1 After School Club; https://saints-southwest.class4kids.co.uk/info/506 KS2 After School Club; https://saints-southwest.class4kids.co.uk/info/515 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing the children back in school on Tuesday 5th January.Comments are closed.
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