Issue 444: 1st December 2023

Dear Parents/Carers,

The weather has certainly taken a turn and a change of coat has been donned this week! I saw my first frosty morning last weekend and thought it a good cue to get into the Christmas spirit and pop my own decorations up. It won’t be long before we have them up in school too. There is definitely something special about working in a primary school at Christmas time.

FS Nativity

One of the things that makes this time of year special in a primary school is the Foundation Stage Nativity. Our youngest children performed for both the rest of the school and their family members this week, in two superb performances. I had the pleasure of watching both and it was a delight. To think that our Penguins and Iguanas have only been at school for a matter of weeks, they definitely demonstrated our Learning Toolkit when taking to the stage for their performances. Thank you to all the staff, for their hard work behind the scenes too, without you it wouldn’t happen.

Christmas

The next couple of weeks are jam-packed with events in the lead up to Christmas, so please keep an eye on the calendar. We have lots to look forward to with the Y2 Christmas Production, our Christmas Fair (8th December 2023), the FOWS Xmas Sale, Christmas Dinner and a Christmas Service at Alwalton Church for some of our UKS2 pupils. You may also remember that during Covid, the OWPS staff team created some virtual Christmas stories as an advent calendar online - this has some new additions and can be found at Orton Wistow Primary School - Advent Story Time (owps.org.uk) if you wish to share them with your own families.

Wet Playtimes

Could I also send a reminder about our request for any unloved or wanted board games, card games, jigsaws, activity/dot-to-dot books that could be handed in to support our wet playtimes. Where possible we always take the children outside and use our canopied areas for shelter, but on the days where the weather isn’t so kind we would like to ask for any further donations. Please hand in any donations to the school office and we will then distribute them to relevant year groups

Happy 1st December to all our Wistow families!

Miss R Tansley

Director of Learning

^{Photo by freestocks on Unsplash}

Each week, we publish the latest achievements of the children at Orton Wistow Primary School.

FOWS Christmas Fair

The School Christmas Fair will soon be upon us, and we are looking forward to seeing you and the children there.

• Raffle tickets – Please don’t forget to sell your raffle tickets and hand in the stubs and cash.  The Raffle will be drawn at the end of the school fair on the 8^th December, so there is still plenty of time to pick up additional tickets should you need them, from the school office.

• Cakes – We are still looking for bakers who can make some treats for us to sell at the fair.  Cupcakes, Brownies, Victoria sponge, whatever your speciality, any donations are welcome.  We ask that you drop your cakes of prior to 1.30 on the 8^th to the school office along with a list of ingredients for allergen purposes. Please note that we are a nut free school, so no cakes with nuts please.

• Fair set up and break down – Many hands make light work and if anyone is free to help set up the fair from 1.30 on the 8^th or hand around to help us tidy up at 5.30 (ish) it would be much appreciated.

• Match Funders – If you work for an organisation that match funds, we would love to hear from you as match funding can give our fundraising a huge boost.  Please get in contact with the FOWS Team fows@owps.org.uk

Discover what is coming up in the OWPS Dining Car.

Read about what is happening in the local community.

^{Disclaimer: Orton Wistow Primary School does not endorse any products, services or activities that appear in the Community section of this newsletter, and is not responsible for any contract entered into by either party. We would recommend all parents check with any providers regarding the status of these services, activities and clubs}