2014-2015 Family NEWSLETTER

2014-2015
Family
NEWSLETTER
Friday 14th November 2014
Dear Parents and Carers,
No 5
Dates
Wed 19th November – PTFA AGM
Children In Need
Thank you to all the pupils and staff who dressed up today
in aid of Children In Need! We had some wonderful
costumes - very creative!! We will let you know the
amount raised in our next newsletter.
Mon 1st December - Occasional Day
School Closed
Fri 19th December - Last day of term
Christmas - Ho Ho Ho!
In the run-up to Christmas, we have lots of exciting events planned for the students including
decorating the Christmas Tree, our scrumptious Christmas Lunch and a visit by Father
Christmas.
Here are some Christmas dates for your diary:
Tuesday 16th December 2014 - Lower School Nativity Play
Wednesday 17th December 2014 - Upper School Performance
Thursday 18th December 2014 – Christmas Lunch
Christmas Fayre
Our Christmas Fayre this year is taking place on Friday 12th December. We will be sending home
raffle tickets within the next few weeks but in the meantime, please put this date into your
diary!
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2014-2015
Family
NEWSLETTER
On to other news:
School Meals & Training Kitchen Update
This week saw the official start of our new NVQ Level 1 Professional Cookery programme for
Further Education students. Hopefully the delicious handmade bread made it home un-devoured!
With some participating students already having already prepared a buffet lunch for the Mayor
of Totnes we are really looking forward to our next challenge. Christmas lunch where students
will be helping to cook for and serve up to 140 people!
More options and new menus
In recent weeks we have developed several new lunchtime choices for pupils in line with the
recently promoted Governments School Food Plan. In summary “the plan” means going back to
what many parents and carers will see as common sense healthy food. A balanced mix of fresh
vegetables, meat and fish.
We have already introduced key components, specifically seasonal fresh vegetables, salads,
reduced fat content dishes and unprocessed meat and fish such as steamed salmon and braised
Westcountry beef. The emphasis being on appealing, nutritious food that maintains a healthy
balanced diet.
Recently we have also successfully trialed natural yoghurt with homemade fruit compote in place
of processed yoghurt pots and more homemade desserts such as a dairy free carrot cake and
gluten free fruit flapjacks. All of which have proven very popular.
Over the coming months we will continue to develop our meal service and menus. If you have any
questions please feel free to contact the kitchen directly, catering@bidwellbrook.devon.sch.uk
Message from The Communications Team Reminder!
Signing and Communication for parents and carers
Monday 17th November 10am-12am
Bidwell Brook School
These sessions are very informal, we choose a communication topic to discuss, practise our
signing and share strategies. The sessions will be run by the Speech and Language Therapy
team. Everyone is very welcome to all sessions – both new parents and those who have been
before and would like to refresh their skills and meet other parents.
In this session we will be talking about interaction skills – if you would like to bring a short video
of your child playing or interacting with an adult please do and we can discuss strategies to
support their communication.
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2014-2015
Family
NEWSLETTER
The Elmgrant Trust
We are delighted to have received a grant from The Elmgrant Trust towards the outdoor
classroom build at Bidwell Brook. Our thanks go to Tom Bates who is the rural studies
coordinator at Ellen Tinkham School. Tom applied for and was successful in securing the grant
for us.
Domestic Violence
If you are concerned about domestic violence in any way and you need to talk to someone in
confidence, please contact Stella Taylor.
PTFA News
The PTFA Annual General Meeting is on Wed 19 th November at 10am in school. If you have any
interest in supporting the PTFA in their fundraising activities in any way, or just want to find
out more about what we do, you are most welcome to come along. We will be talking about plans
for this year for fundraising activities so bring along your ideas.
Just a reminder: Parent newsletters and attachments also go on our school website:
http://bidwellbrook.devon.sch.uk/
Accessible from the scrolling news-feed links on the front page of our website or on the
Newsletters page.
If you prefer to receive your newsletter by email please let the school office know.
Enjoy the weekend
Jacqui Warne
Executive Head
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