Monkton CEP School – “In God’s Eyes, Everyone is Special” Term 2 Newsletter 2 3 December 2020
Dear Parents, Carers and Governors,
Christmas Performances
As we move into the last two weeks of Term 2, here are few updates, reminders and requests for you.
It is really disappointing that due to Covid restrictions we cannot hold a live performance for Christmas and invite you into school to share this. However, it is our intention to have a performance that involves all pupils in school and to record this for you to view. We are currently in talks with our IT support on how best to film and bring this to you. This should be completed for the week beginning 14.12.20.
We thank you all for remaining vigilant and respecting the measures that we have put into place to keep our children, staff and community safe. Please continue to be very proactive with regards to social distancing on the playground, and also on the road outside of the school. In addition to this, avoid mixing pod children, other than family members, wherever possible, this includes in and around the school. This along with the measures that we have in place within school will enable us to have the best possible chance of avoiding a Pod closure before the end of Term 2. Thank you. Many of you have commented positively about our school virtual tour video. It has been very challenging to find as many ways as we can to promote our wonderful school. You can help us in this by sharing our videos and our flyers on social media including Facebook. We thank you in advance for helping us to spread the message that Monkton may be small, but it is mighty! The virtual tours can be found at the bottom of the Home Page on our website. www.monkton.kent.sch.uk Just a reminder Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 11 December. Donations accepted in cash on the day. There will be a bucket by the gate in the morning. Christmas Cards Once again, this year we will not be sending Christmas cards to each other. Instead we will be donating the money we would have spent purchasing cards to Crisis at Christmas to reserve a place for a Christmas meal for a homeless person. Please send your donations into school via your child/ren and we will forward your donations to Crisis. Please do not send any Christmas cards into school. Thank You. Xmas Lunch This year the school traditional Christmas lunch will take place on Wednesday 16 December and will be served in Class Pods. Please remember to let Mrs Webb know whether your child will be having a school lunch or bringing a packed lunch from home.
Christmas Party - Friday 18 December This is a non-school uniform day. Warm sensible party clothes to be worn on this day!
This year our party will need to be a little different. We ask that you provide your child/ren with a packed savoury party lunch and drink. All the sweet treats will come from school – Covid Safe. Including some cakes, biscuits and sweet treats. If your child has any intolerances, please email Mrs Webb to confirm this and make the appropriate arrangements. If you are in receipt of means tested Free School Meals, please email Mrs Webb ASAP, if you will require a school packed savoury lunch for your child/ren on this day. If you do not contact Mrs Webb we will assume you are providing your child with a packed lunch on this day.
Christmas Panto and Games As we cannot have a live performance from Shooting Stars this year, they have arranged for the children to receive a recorded steaming via the internet. For this year we will showing two different performances according to age: • Search for Santa – Class 1 • Aladdin - Key Stage 1 and 2 Children will also take part in traditional Christmas games within their own pod.
Term Finishes on Friday 18 December 2020 Pod finishing times will be as follows: Pod 1 Class 1 Pod 2 Class 2 Pod 3 Class 3 Pod 4 Class 4
1:05pm 1:10pm 1:20pm 1:30pm
This early finish will enable us to complete a final and full deep clean before the school closes for the Christmas break. As per our usual arrangements, please pick up your eldest child first at their Pod time, before moving to the younger child’s class. This reduces the number of parent/carers waiting on the playground. Thank you for respecting our one family, one adult rule. Should you have any difficulty picking your child/ren up at these times on the last day, please email Mrs Webb to discuss: office@monkton.kent.sch.uk We thank you all for your continued support in what are proving to be quite challenging times.
School resumes on 4 January 2021 – normal staggered Pod arrangements will apply for Term 3 unless we are instructed otherwise. As we break from what has been a very interesting year thus far! Please may I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year. On a personal note Thank you all for your kind wishes and the consideration that you have show both myself and the staff here at Monkton. We very sincerely appreciate you taking the time to express this. Kind Regards,
K A Wilson (Mrs) Head of School