Newsletter 5 Autumn 2020

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!

Parents' Evening Appointments
If you have not yet had or made an appointment with your child's teacher, please get in touch. Appointments this term are over the phone and last ten minutes. They are an invaluable way to maintain the links between school and home to help your child both socially and academically.
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​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 [email protected] 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: [email protected]

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. 
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Meal Time Assistant Vacancy
We have not yet filled our vacancy for a mealtime assistant. If you are interested in becoming an MTA, please visit our vacancy page here, or email me for more information ([email protected]). You do not need to commit to every lunchtime in order to apply.

Booking lunches
Please help us by booking your child's lunch choice well in advance. It is very helpful if you can select the home packed lunch option if that is their choice, as then we know that they do not need a school dinner and can plan ahead.

Best wishes,
​Sarah Marvin 

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