Over the past few months a team of volunteers have been planning - and more recently beginning - the renovation of the school pond area.  Once completed this will provide school with a learning area focussed around a dipping pond and will encourage wildlife into the area.

 

The work was delayed to ensure minimum interruption to the old pond's wildlife.  This year there were hundreds of tadpoles a significant number of whom survived to develop into frogs.  

We had various experts visit to give advice on the plants in the old pond.  Our volunteers then went in to clear the plants  and store them ready for replanting.     Overhanging trees were either cut back or removed to open up the area.  We now have a light and spacious area. 

 

Sadly for those who were working in the area over half term, the planned days turned out to be the wettest in the week, so when the Environmental Agency Team arrived complete with mini digger, they had quite a challenge on their hands.   However, along with our volunteers they have completely redesigned the pond, so it now varies in depth.    The team have also placed large rocks at strategic points along the edge as a start to the landscaping.

 

Already, thanks to the recent rains, the pond starting to fill and we have installed a storage facility for rainwater off the demountable roof so that we can top the pond up if necessary.

 

We are really grateful to everyone who has been involved in this project.    There is still a lot of work to be done however.  The next work to be done is to lay slabs around the dipping area of the pond and are looking for volunteers for this.

 

 

 

Dear Parents, carers and extended families,

 

Following on from my message in last week’s newsletter I am just writing with the confirmed details for this year’s Harvest Festival celebration that I hope you can support and be a part of on Friday 29th September 9am onwards.

 

The celebrations will begin with a Harvest play, performed by the after school Drama Group and led by Mrs H Jones. Each class will be performing a class song linked to the play and our newly formed choir will perform for the whole school community. We hope to get across the importance of preparing for the Harvest, the work undertaken by farmers and the lack of food people endure every day.

 

Therefore, this year we are supporting our local community by providing resources for ‘The Oswestry Foodbank’. The Foodbank is currently really struggling due to lack of supplies; as the demand is so high for people and families within our locality. Please can you support by donating the following during the lead up the Harvest Festival, as we would like to display the collection generated by the whole school community during this celebration.

 

Please can the following classes donate:

• St. Bernadette Class: Sugar, Pasta or Rice.

• St. Francis Class: Tinned meat, tinned fruit or tinned custard and rice pudding.

• St. Anthony Class: Long life fruit juice or squash.

• St. Martin Class: Cereals or snacks such as pot noodles or soups that you just add hot water to.

• St. Therese Class: Shower gel, shampoo, conditioner or deodorant.

   

  I will then arrange for the food to be donated to ‘The Foodbank’ during the afternoon of 29th September.

   

  When the ‘School Performance’ and ‘Special Mention’ assembly has finished I would like to invite you all to stay for tea and coffee whilst we set the school hall up for bread making and baking. If you have any free time it would be lovely if you can stay and join in the bread baking with your child/children. All the children will have the opportunity to shape their own bread roll that will be baked in the school kitchen throughout the morning.

   

  Then to complete our school Harvest celebration, I would like to invite you to join with the children at lunchtime for the Harvest lunch.

   

  The lunch consists of vegetable soup and homemade bread for the adults followed by apple crumble and custard for a total cost of £3 each made payable via Parentpay.

   

  The children’s lunch will remain as the popular pizza, but will include the homemade bread and with the option to try some soup as well, followed by either apple crumble and custard or an oat cookie if preferred.

   

  Please can you complete the slip sent out  this week to  let us know which part of the Harvest festival you will be joining us in and whether you would like to order a lunch. We need to have final numbers to school by Friday 22nd eptember for catering purposes and ordering as slips after this date will not be approved. We look forward to celebrating the Harvest with you and thank you for your continued support.

We will be holding two informal Friend's meetings on Thursday 21st September at 9am and 2:30pm to discuss future events and fundraising. Please join us for a cuppa and a catch up.