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Tag: Chastleston Teas

Headteacher’s Newsletter – 12th September 2025

Written by Mrs McQueen on . Posted in Headteacher Newsletter.

Dear Parents/carers,

Nursery News

Well, after a lot of hard work the nursery and reception area is now completely finished and it looks amazing! The children have had so much fun using all of the new equipment and as the headteacher of St. Mary’s it has been so lovely to see.

Open Morning Friday 26th September 09.00am – 11.00am

Come and see the new nursery and reception area; our newly re-vamped school hall and of course all our hard-working school community in action. We’d love to see you all. We will have taster sessions from our new Lunch Company Dolce; The Branch will be here should you need signposting to services or support; Locality and Community Support Services (LCSS); The Friends of St. Mary’s and The Book Fair will all be available so please do join us.

Chastleton Teas – Sunday 21st September at Chastleton Church in aid of St. Mary’s Primary

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered but we could do with a little more help.  If you could bake a cake and/or could volunteer an hour of your time, we would really appreciate it. All cakes should be brought to the school office by the end of the school day on Friday 19th September in preparation for Sunday 21st. Please contact Sonia King if you could bake a cake or spare an hour of your time on the Sunday.

School Lunches

The feedback about school lunches couldn’t have been better. The variety of food on offer and the new recipes are a definite hit. We have noticed that a lot of children who would normally be entitled to a school lunch are still not taking advantage of this delicious offer. If you are having difficulties setting up an account, please contact the school office and remember if you are unsure whether your child is entitled to a free school meal in KS2, we can always check for you.

Also, some parents are forgetting to pre-order their child’s school meal so unfortunately will not always be given an option at the counter. To avoid any unecessary upset, please order your child’s meal in advance. Meals can be ordered a term in advance. Many parents find ordering on a Sunday evening with their child also a good option so they know what they are eating for that week.

Early Birds and Night Owls

After-school clubs are full. However, you still have the opportunity to place your child in Night Owls, which runs from 3-5pm. Please see the separate email on ParentMail for step by step instructions.

Early Birds and Night Owls – change of drop off and collection

Our wrap around care is now in full swing. Early Birds and Night owls will now run in The Orchard. Please drop your child off and collect your child from the victorian building entrance, labelled The Orchard. Press the Intercom system and someone will come to the door.

Have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards,

Mrs Christine McQueen

Headteacher’s Newsletter – 5th September 2025

Written by Mrs McQueen on . Posted in Headteacher Newsletter.

Dear Parents/carers,

Well, we’ve had a fabulous three days back! A big welcome is extended to all the new families and children we have in reception and nursery. We would also like to welcome all the new families that joined us throughout the school too.

School projects over the summer

The school has been refreshed and lots of people have worked extremely hard over the summer holidays to get the school looking so good. Our new nursery and reception class is coming along brilliantly and we are at the last stages of our journey. Thank you so much to Adam Smith and all of his team who worked long days and at the weekend to produce such a fabulous space. Adam was able to move other commitments around to ensure that our space would be ready for the children and we can’t thank him enough. The hall has received a total revamp. After 38 years, we felt it deserved something better. The new floor and re-paint has transformed the area. It’s been a great hit with the children.

We’ve also had a beautiful mural painted on the side of the Victorian building by Ross Heywood, who was funded by Cotswolds Arts. It shows our values tree and a lovely wise old peering out of the oak tree. We were so impressed with what he had created that we asked him to do some more work in our office area and it is looking really lovely already. I can’t wait to see the area when it is finished.

Chastleton Teas – Sunday 21st September at Chastleton Church in aid of St. Mary’s Primary

The Friends of St. Mary’s are asking for help. If you could bake a cake and/or could volunteer an hour of your time, we would really appreciate it. All cakes should be brought to the school office by the end of the school day on Friday 19th September in preparation for Sunday 21st. Please contact Sonia King if you could bake a cake or spare an hour of your time on the Sunday.

School Lunches

Thank you to all those parents who have signed up to the School Grid. The kitchen staff have worked very hard with a new system and menus and have made some delicious food this week. The feedback has been great. Crunchy baked potatoes and fluffy insides was one comment. The beef pie could easily have been served up in any pub in town. If your child is not signed up, especially if they are entitled to free school meals, please contact the school office or the SchoolGrid for further support. We wouldn’t want your child to miss out.

School Clubs

Thank you to every one who has signed their child up for a school club. There are lots to choose from. There are still some places left, so please complete the google form as soon as possible. Book Club and KS2 Art Club are now full. You will receive a confimation email if your child has been allocated a place today and payment details will be added to your Parentmail account next week.

Early Birds (previously Rise and Shine) runs from 08.00am – 08.25am for £2. Your child can be dropped off in a safe environment and enjoy games or just a quiet space before the start of school.

Night Owls (new to school) runs from 3.00pm – 5.00pm every week, Monday to Friday during term-time. Please contact the school office to be added to the list for Parentmail.

3.00pm – 4.00pm £2

4.00pm – 5.00pm £4

Your child will take part in a variety fo fun activities with Miss Reynolds and Mr Buzzard. Please provide a small snack if your child is staying until 5.00pm. Once it is added to your Parentmail account you can book this up until the night before.

Music lessons

We are very lucky to be able to offer extra musical activities in school time. If your child is interested in any of these then please do jo me or email the school office.

Piano with Mrs Freeman at a cost of £12.85 for a 20 minute lesson

Guitar – The lessons are held in small groups (between 3- 4 children) and cost £9.00 per lesson. If you would like to register your interest, please could you email: info@guitarclubs.co.uk.

Irock – this enables children to become part of a band. No experience needed and all instruments provided for children to use in their session. There is a monthly charge for this but it works out at about £11 a lesson

Diary Dates

In next week’s newsletter, you will receive a list of diary dates for the whole year.

Have a lovely weekend in preparation for a full week next week.

Kind regards,

Mrs Christine McQueen

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