2nd December 2022
A Message from the Head...
This week, the Christmas festivities truly got underway in some style!
Many thanks and very well done to the PFA for the organisation of the very popular PFA Festive Fayre which took place on Monday. Lots of lovely Christmassy stalls were on hand to provide inspiration for those all-important Christmas gifts, sweets and treats were in abundance and the Christmas hampers were as impressive and popular as usual! The raffle was duly drawn and winners who still need to collect their prizes are listed below.
On Thursday, most of the Prep School had an afternoon out of school enjoying the Pantomime at the City Varieties in Leeds. There is a full write up in the Prep Articles section but I understand that Mr Grasby ended up being quite involved in the performance as you can see in the picture below!!
We also had a Stay and Play taster event in Reception and an EYFS Penguin Parade around school!
Whilst not on the Christmas theme, Mrs Wallis and I attended the Independent Schools Conference during the second half of the week. We heard from a range of speakers on everything from 1:1 devices in school to planning ahead for the possible challenges which would face independent schools should a Labour government be returned at the next election, passing through pensions and the new inspections framework along the way. The eagle-eyed amongst you might just be able to spot us in the photos below taken during a couple of the breakout sessions...
It was certainly a full on experience but extremely worthwhile even though it did mean that Mrs Wallis unfortunately had to miss out on the pantomime trip!
Next week the festive fun continues as we look forward to the EYFS Nativity, the KS1 production of "Prickly Hay" and Christmas Jumper day on Thursday!
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
- Dr Tracy Johnson -
Shoebox appeal
This week saw the collection of our shoeboxes, an appeal run by The Rotary Club of Wetherby Wharfedale. We have had a record number of donations this year, collecting enough items to fill a huge 79 shoeboxes - certainly a car full!
This scheme provides gifts for children and families in Eastern Europe spreading a little happiness to those in the many refugee centres throughout Europe over Christmas. We have put together shoeboxes for babies, young children, teenagers and some general household boxes.
Much appreciation goes to the Gateways community for supporting such a worthwhile cause. I am sure they will put smiles on many faces over Christmas.
- Dr Sara Newton -
PFA Festive Fayre
Thank you so much to everyone who came along and supported the PFA Festive Fayre on Monday. It was so lovely to see you all enjoying yourselves, shopping, eating, drinking , winning prizes at the tombola and raffle and playing the new fun games. I particularly loved seeing the excitement on the children’s faces queueing to meet Santa. Thank you also to the pupils who treated us to some lovely festive songs in the PAC.
We pretty much sold out of everything including the 100 tombola hampers which you all so kindly donated. Proceeds from the fayre were a record high of £3,285 so thank you once again for your generosity. This is a great start to this year’s fundraising project to upgrade the Prep School playground.
Thank you also to everyone who purchased tickets for the Christmas raffle. The winning tickets have been drawn and are as follows:-
00955…. Ruby Light
00466…. Nighat Israil
00731…. H. Kemp
00234…. Jean Boardman
00220…. Ferdows Eskandari
00322…. Wing Kei Shair
00196…. Michael Dye
00260…. Sally Weaver
01874…. Iain Dunn
00661…. Ward Family
00973…. Rebecca Beadle
00552…. Hester Stapleton
01878…. Smith Pennington
01574…. Allison Wilcock
Please collect your prizes from Reception.
Finally, I must say a huge thank you to all the marvellous mums and dads who made this whole event possible. We are now a team of 26 volunteers and we had a lot of fun putting the event together. Hopefully some more parents will join us in the future too!
- Kathryn Dyer - Chair, Gateways PFA -
Christmas Jumper Day
