Being the best we can be for

ourselves and God’s world

NewsletterNo.5

16thDecember2016

DearParentsIthasbeenwonderfultowelcomesomanyofyouintoschooltoenjoytheChristmasfestivitieswithyourchildren.Thankyouforallthelovelycommentswehavereceived-itisalwayslovelytohearsuchpositivefeedbackwhenallofthegrown-upswhoworkwiththechildrensooftengothatextramileandgiveaboveandbeyond.IamsureyouwouldliketojoinmeinthankingallthestafffortheincrediblejobtheydoinmakingStMartin’sawonderfulplaceforyourchildrentobe.AsthetermdrawstoacloseitjustremainsformetowishyouaveryhappyChristmasandawonderful2017.WelookforwardtowelcomingeveryonebacktoschoolonWednesday4thJanuary2017.

TheCornerstoneChurchwillbecontinuingtosharethestoryofChristmasintheschoolhallduringthebelowevents.

v 18thDecember5pmScratchNativityandCarolServiceComedressedupasyourfavouritenativitycharacterandbepartofthestory

v ChristmasEve6pmPyjamaServiceforchildrenandtheirparents.Wearyourpyjamasaswegatherroundthetreetosingcarols,heartheChristmasstoryandgoquietlytobed....

v ChristmasEve11:15pmMidnightMassWehopelotsofyouwillbeabletojoinus.

Christmas Events brought to you By Cornerstone Church

Thank You Messages

We would like to say a big Thank You to all of the Parents, carers and friends of St Martin’s that have so generously given their time, effort and resources to us this year. Without your kind generosity we could not have been able to do a number of the activities that the children have enjoyed this year. We are truly grateful for all that you do to help St Martin’s be the best we can be. With this in mind we would like to extend these extra special Thank you

messages for Volunteers and Helpers this Term.

A big Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers that kindly give up their time to hear our children read and learn new skills.

Jenny Maby – for her continued support with the Choir

Tina Lang– for running so many fun activities with our children.

Mr & Mrs Wall - for all their help not only with the Summer Fayre but for kindly donating their proceeds to the children’s Christmas Pantomime.

The Smart Photographer – for their beautiful photographs and donation

towards the Christmas Pantomime.

There is always a danger when thanking people that we may miss someone off. So please accept our apologies as all our volunteers are extremely

valuable to the school.

This week we have had lots of very exciting things happening at St Martin’s. Here are a few of the events shared with you in pictures.

The Last Week Of Term

WRAPOFFUPDATE Afterallofthekinddonationsandthepurchasesmadebythechildrenweraisedagrandtotalof….

£700

PARKINGOUTSIDEOFTHESCHOOL

Wearehavingrealproblemswithparents/carersparkingonthepavementsoutsidetheschool.

TherehavebeenseveralnearmissesQuiteafewparents/carershavecometousveryconcernedabouttheirchildrenwhoarewalkingandtheiryoungchildrenwhoareinpushchairs.WhilstwedoappreciatethatparkingifdifficultthesafetyofourChildrenmustcomefirst.Withthisinmindcanwepleaseremindparents/carersandvisitorstotheschoolthatparkingonthepavementsoutsideoftheschoolisstrictlyforbidden.

PLEASESLOWDOWN Canwepleaseaskthatallparents/carers,visitorstotheschoolandCranbrookaliketopleaseSLOWDOWN.ThisisparticularlyimportantalongYounghayesRoad.Therehavebeenanumberofnearmissesinrecentweeks!!MrsBeardhascontactedtheHighwaysdepartmentagainreadingtheadoptionoftheroadswhichunfortunatelyiscausingaholdupintheenforcementofspeedlimits.ThereforewemustaskthatourcommunitytakesmattersintotheirownhandsandmakethechoicetodrivecarefullyaroundCranbrookbeforethereisanhorribleaccident.

Thankyouforyourcooperationinthismatter.

This week our Phase 1 children treated us to not one but three wonderful Nativity performances. The children really enjoyed learning about baby Jesus and taking part in the plays. And the older children, parents and visitors have had lot of very positive things to say about it. I’m sure everyone will agree that both the Children and the Phase 1 team did an incredible job. An extra special Thank you must be given to Mrs Clements for all of the hard work she has done.

Class photos of the Nativity play will be available on the St Martin’s website (http://www.stmartinscranbrook.devon.sch.uk) for parents/ carers to download any copies they require. In addition a photo was taken of each individual child in their Nativity costume and will be sent home in the form of a festive surprise.

We would like to say Thank you again for not taking photos during the performances we understand that this is disappointing but the safety and

enjoyment of all the children involved is paramount.

APPLYINGFORYOURPRIMARYSCHOOLPLACE(September2017)

Wasyourchildbornbetween1stSeptember2012and31stAugust2013?

IfsoyouwillneedtoapplyfortheirPrimarySchoolPlaceinDevon.

Applicationsmustbesubmittedbetweenthe15thNovember2016&15th

January2017

Youcanapplyonlineat:

www.devon.gov/uk/admissionsonline

ifyoucannotaccesstheadmissionswebsite,youcangetmoreinformationbycallingtheEducationhelplineon:

03451551019oremail:primaryschooladmissions@devon.gov.uk

MASSAGEINSCHOOLSPROGRAMMEInJanuaryweareintroducingtheMassage inSchoolsProgramme(MISP)whichisamassageprimarilyfocusedontheback,anddoneoverclothing,carriedoutbychildrenoneachotherwithpermission,inaclassroomsetting.Therearemanybenefitstopeermassage.MISPpromotesbiochemicalchangeswhichsupportchildrentoengagewiththeirlearningmoreeffectively.Childrenbecomecalmer,concentrationimproves,theybecomemoreconfidentandhaveanincreasedselfesteem.So if your child comes home talking about Harry Potters glasses, bearwalk or the cat grip,they’venotgonecrazy,ask themtoshowyou theirnewmoves,butmakesure theyask foryourpermissionfirst!!If youwould not like your child to take part in this programme can youplease advise us inwriting by sending an email to admin@stmartinscranbrook.devon.sch.uk by the Friday 6th

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday 4th January 2017.

CollectiveWorshipCollectiveWorshipiswhenourchildrenreceivetheirHeadTeachersAwards.Parent,carersandotherfamilymembersarealwayswelcometojoinusforCollectiveWorship.

Thankyouforyourcontinued

support!

WithBestWishes,Tania