Spa Academy Askern
Christmas Events 2021
As we approach the Christmas period, many plans begin to take shape in school to ensure we can provide children with as wonderful of an experience as possible during this magical time of the year. I had hoped that we would have been able to return to a sense of normality by holding events similar to what we have done prior to COVID. However, with rising cases across the country, further guidance has been received from the local authority and now the Government; schools have been asked to find alternative ways of celebrating this festive period. I feel very passionately about trying to ensure we still provide the familiarity of Christmas but it needs to done in a safe manner amid concerning levels of positive cases across Doncaster. Last year, we were able to do this very successfully so we have adopted the same approach.
Instant Christmas - Tuesday 1st & Wednesday 2nd December
Our classrooms are being decorated for pupils with trees and trimmings!
Traditional Christmas Dinner - Thursday 9th December
Our kitchen is serving up a traditional Christmas Dinner for all those that choose a school dinner option on this day. If you would like to a Christmas Dinner on this day, please make a payment of £2.50 via ParentMail. A separate order slip will be coming home this week with your child.
If your child would like to wear a Christmas hat or headband alongside their usual school uniform, they are very welcome to do so.
Christmas Jumper Day - Friday 10th December
Wear your Christmas jumper or other festive clothing all day long. There is no cost involved, however if you wish to make a donation to Save the Children this can be done directly at www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day
Cinderella Virtual Pantomime - Week Beginning Monday 13th December
We have already enjoyed some successful fundraising events so far this year, so we have put the money towards paying for a virtual Pantomime of Cinderella, which every pupil will be able to enjoy. We are very excited and will really give the children a theatre style experience by transforming our classroom seating into rows, allowing the pupils to bring in popcorn and other snacks and joining in with panto cheers!
Christmas Parties - Thursday 16th December
Pupils will spend the afternoon having their annual Christmas Party. These will take place within year groups and we would kindly request that parents possibly contribute towards these by way of food and drink (store bought). Teachers will be in touch with more information. This is a non-uniform day so please feel free to wear your party clothes/Christmas jumper for the whole day!
Christmas Musical Spectacular - Thursday 16th December
As we are not able to hold a traditional Christmas performance that involves large numbers of people attending, we will be recording a musical performance for every year group that will feature pupils singing and playing musical instruments.
This video recording will then be sent out to parents to view in their own time.
Christmas Cards
Lots of our pupils enjoy giving out cards to others in school. We want to make sure that our pupils have the opportunity to do this, this year. If your child would like to bring in cards for others, these can be brought into school and posted in their class Christmas post box, and handed out within the week.
Christmas Fundraising Project
Our Christmas Enterprise fundraiser is one of the highlights of our school calendar and, although we cannot hold our usual Christmas Market this year, our pupils are working hard in their DT lessons this term to construct some fantastic products.
You will receive a letter from your child’s class to explain exactly what each year group’s product is and the small cost – decided by the pupils in each class as part of their enterprise work - to purchase these, should you choose to.
Purchased items will be brought home on Thursday 16th December.
Last Day of Term - Friday 17th December: This will be a non-uniform day.
End of term - School closes at 3pm on Friday 17th December, reopening on Wednesday 5th January at 8.30am.
As you can see, we have lots of things planned over the next few weeks & we have carefully organised these to allow children to still experience the joyous run up to Christmas and not let COVID impact too much on these activities. I hope you can understand the rationale for having to do things a little differently again as the last thing we would want is for anyone’s Christmas period being spoiled by this pandemic.
If your child, or anybody in their household, is showing signs of COVID, or feels that they may need to request a COVID test, please protect our school community by keeping your child at home. We will support your child with home learning right up to the end of term. If you have any questions, please contact the Main Office.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas,
Emma Anderson and the staff at Spa Academy