CHRISTMAS MARKET - ANOTHER GIG FOR SANTA. That man Father Christmas is certainly getting about our villages this festive season.
He appeared at Brookmead School PTA's Christmas Bazaar, and is also dropping in at the Baby and Toddler Christmas Party later in December. But your next chance to meet the great man is at St Mary's Church, Ivinghoe with Pitstone's Christmas Market S
aturday December 8 between 11am and 3pm in Ivinghoe Study Centre, on Ivinghoe Lawn, and in the church.
Father Christmas will arrive on a float after touring the villages. A real seasonal feel is planned for the market, including mulled wine, roast chestnuts and a Christmas hamper raffle. And there will be lots of stalls - cards and candles, jewellery, a butcher selling fresh meats including venison, cakes, preserves, Christmas crafts, the beautiful 2008 Beacon Villages Calendar, National Trust gifts, and the ever-popular baskets. Lunches of home-made soup will be available and teas will be served throughout.
The money raised by this feast of Christmas goodies will go towards a new disabled toilet and a small kitchen in St Mary's, helping to ensure the long-term future of the church.
REMEMBERING ZOË. Over 150 parents joined the children and staff of Brookmead School and Acorns Nursery for a tree planting ceremony on Wednesday November 21. A horse chestnut tree in remembrance of young Zoë Wright, whose sad loss is felt by the whole school community, was planted by contractors earlier in the day and a short ceremony took place in the afternoon.
The Brookmead children took part in tree and bulb planting in the school grounds earlier in the afternoon and Acorns Nursery did their planting during their morning session. Bluebell bulbs were planted under Zoë's sturdy horse chestnut tree and each class planted a ring of miniature daffodils and a variety of native trees. The total donations received so far for Keech Cottage Children's Hospice stands at £258.36 and this fund will grow when the school issues tickets for its Christmas Concerts.
OTHER BROOKMEAD NEWS. Year 5 and 6 children and four members of staff from Brookmead School have enjoyed a fantastic week away at Shortenills Environmental Study Centre, Chalfont St Giles. "We learnt about caring for and preserving the environment, map reading skills, biodiversity as well as basic life skills of how to survive away from home," said teacher Jessica Avery. "We also had a tour of a local farm and learnt about the farming year."
Meanwhile, the school is providing parents with an opportunity to support their children's learning in maths, literacy, science and ICT through the purchase of Pocket Poster Books. The books are fun, colourful and exciting. Their content is curriculum based and they can act as quick reference material to reinforce work being carried out in class.
They are available at a price of £1.50 each and come with Brookmead's full recommendation for Key Stage 2 children. Parents who would like to purchase any of these books need to return the form circulated with a recent letter and return it to school with payment. The books are available at the office should you wish to view them first. On the swimming front, governor Dom Ashburner's hard work has secured a weekly swimming session at Sportspace in Berkhamsted, initially for children who are over eight.
Mrs Avery's class will swim first, for five weeks, beginning in January. Donations from parents will be required, and details will be announced before Christmas. Finally, Brookmead's children were praised for their outstanding work and behaviour at the school's recent Ofsted inspection.
As a thank you, the school is arranging 'Fry day Friday' for all the children on Friday December 14. All children taking a hot meal on that day will be served chips with their meal, whilst children bringing sandwiches should bring along an empty plastic bowl and a fork and will be served chips to eat along with their packed lunch. Children will also be able to bring in any snack of their choice on this day. "We will of course be reminding the children that occasional treats, such as chips, are part of a healthy balanced diet," said head teacher Bob Thomson.
PTA RISES TO BERKHAMSTED HALF MARATHON CHALLENGE. Brookmead School PTA is putting together a team of mums, dads and teachers to enter the Berkhamsted Half Marathon next March (exact date to follow). It is planned to have a representative runner from each class throughout the school to raise funds for Brookmead and Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.
BABY AND TODDLER NATIVITY. Pitstone and Ivinghoe Baby and Toddler Group's Play takes place at 10am on Thursday December 20 in Pitstone Memorial Hall. Programmes will be available with the full cast list and singalong songs and there will be a raffle - with lots of generous prizes from local suppliers. Refreshments including tea, coffee and mince pies will be on sale. A DVD of the play is being made. Orders should be placed with payment on the day.
SCOUTS CAROL CONCERT. All are welcome at Ivinghoe and Pitstone Scout Group's Annual Concert of Carols and Christmas Songs at St Mary's Church, Ivinghoe with Pitstone at 7.30pm for 8pm on Thursday December 20. There will be a small admission charge, but there will be a free glass of mulled wine for adults, squash for children and mince pies. Music will be provided by the Heath Silver Band.
