AMBERLEY C.E. FIRST SCHOOL
www.amberley.w-sussex.sch.uk
Friday 20th November 2015
Dear Parents/Carers
Children in Need
Thank you for giving so generously on Friday to Children in Need. The cake sale and the Pudsey
‘change’ Face raised a combined total of £211.73. Well done to Oak Class for organising the cake sale.
New Staff in the Office
I am delighted to announce the appointment of a new clerical assistant. Mrs Lorraine Squire begins
working in the school office on Monday 23rd November.
FASA Race Night and Christmas Fayre
FASA are holding a fund raising event at The Bridge this evening at 8pm. Please come along and back a
horse in support of the school. The FASA committee are working hard to organise the Christmas Fayre
which will be at the school from 1:30-3:30pm. The school are hoping to purchase a class set of Learn
Pads (similar to iPads) to improve the children’s computing skills and enable the children to use the very
latest technology in other curricular areas.
Age of Transfer
I have been informed by Jay Mercer, Director of Education for West Sussex, that the options
consultation for the Age of Transfer in the STARS area will be delayed until early December. The
reasons for the delay were given as:
1) to make sure all the options had been properly looked at;
2) the Local Authority have been undergoing Safeguarding and Adult Education inspections resulting in
officer resources being overstretched;
3) the Local Authority want to make sure that the consultation period wasn’t split around Xmas.
Library books
The children are really enjoying coming to the library every week to choose and exchange their books.
Please make sure your child brings their library books back into school as soon as they have finished
reading them, so that they can exchange them regularly.
Flu immunisations in school
Children in years 1 and 2 have had their flu nasal vaccines this week. If your child missed this session on
Wednesday, then catch up clinics are available at the following venues:
16th December 2015 9.00 – 5.00 at the Chichester Family Centre, St. James Road, Chichester
18th December 2015 9.00 – 2.00 at the Worthing Children & Family Centre
The vaccine will be available for more year groups next autumn. Younger children aged 2, 3 and 4 are
also eligible to have the vaccine at their doctor's surgery.
School Choir
Please could members of the school choir provide a cowboy hat for their carol concert
at Arundel Cathedral? The hats will need to be brought into school as soon as possible
for rehearsals. Details of the event and information about ticket sales will follow next week.
Photo orders
The closing date is Tuesday next week (24th), so please make sure you have brought your order to the
office by then.
Christmas Lunch - Wednesday 16th December
We are now taking orders for Christmas lunch. Please make sure you order by the dates
below as we cannot alter the order later.
Children in years R, 1 & 2 who are all entitled to Universal Free School Meals and
children entitled to Free School Meals will automatically have this ordered for them
unless they are already opting out of school meals. If your child does not normally have a school meal
but would like them to have a Christmas meal with the other children, please let Mrs Burt know by
Monday 30th November.
Children in years 3, 4 & 5 can order a Christmas meal online at https://westsussex.mealselector.co.uk
until Sunday 6th December. Alternatively they can bring £2.25 in a named envelope to the office by
Monday 30th November.
Please let the office know if your child will be having the vegetarian option, so that we can make sure
Chartwells provide the right quantities of quorn and turkey on the day. Thank you.
Mr J Gilbert
Head Teacher
Lost Property: Lady's navy blue H&M cardigan (please ask at the Office)
Attached to this email:
West Sussex Parent Carer Forum Events
Christmas Lunch menu
Diary dates below …
Two Week Diary
Monday 23rd to Friday 27th November
Morning
Afternoon
Netball tournament at Steyning
Grammar (some Yrs 2&3)
Mrs Artingstall teaching in
Acorn Class
Tuesday
Wednesday
After School
3-4pm Multi-Skills (Yrs 1&2)
3-4pm LAST Football (Yrs 1-5)
3-3.45pm Choir (Yrs 3-5) Joint rehearsal with St James choir
SPLASH! Assembly
Forest School Yr 2
Thursday
3-3.50pm Street Dance (Yrs 3-5)
Friday
Saturday 28th November - 1.30 to 3.30pm
   CHRISTMAS FAYRE   
Monday 30th November to Friday 4th December
Morning
Afternoon
After School
3-4pm Multi-Skills
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Dance Taster at Steyning
Grammar (some Yrs 2&3)
3-3.45pm Choir
Thursday
Forest School Yr 2
Yr 3 Choir singing at Amberley
church hall.
3-3.50pm LAST Street Dance (Yrs 3-5)
(Parents can watch from 3.40pm
today)
Friday
9am Worship & Acorn Class
Celebration
Saturday 5th December
School Choir singing with Arun Choral Society at Arundel Cathedral
Significant Diary Dates for the Autumn Term
Saturday 28th November - Christmas Fayre 1.30 - 3.30pm
Friday 4th December – 9am Acorn Class Celebration and Worship
Saturday 5th December - Choir singing at Arun Choral Society concert at Arundel Cathedral
Thursday 10th December – 10am Christingle
Tuesday 15th December - Christmas Performances
Wednesday 16th December – Christmas Pantomime at school, followed by Christmas Lunch
Thursday 17th December – 2pm Carol Service
Thursday 17th December – Last day of term for pupils
Friday 18th December – INSET Day
Spring Term 2016
Monday 4th January - First day of term
Tuesday 12th January - Holly Class to Brighton Toy Museum
Tuesday 19th January - Holly & Oak Classes to Children's Concert at Chichester Festival Theatre
Friday 12th February 2016 - INSET DAY