Winterbourne Valley First School PTFA update
Hello everybody,
Everything will have been a bit quiet during the Summer holidays but we do have a couple of dates that need to be put in diaries:-
AGM on 20th September This will be our first meeting of the new year. The AGM will be at the school, starting at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome, particularly parents of the seventeen children we have joining the Reception year. The more people that get involved with organising events the better and it is a really good way to meet and get to know other parents.
Fashion Show on Friday, the 22nd October. We are holding another fashion show but it is going to be a little bit different. This year it is going to be for children's clothing as well as ladies. Children in the school are already getting excited and looking forward to starting their modelling careers. Please get in contact if your children would like to take part or if you fancy being an adult model. The clothes are going to be coming from retailers such as Marks and Spencers, Debenhams and Next and hopefully you'll be able to buy lots of lovely outfits in time for Christmas parties and presents. There will be further details on the fashion show in the September Parish Magazine about where to buy tickets but I hope that you'll all be able to come.
I'll finish now but I hope you have all had a relaxing Summer and that we'll see you in the new school year.
Lesley Lewis, Chairperson, PTFA 01305 889134
Wildlife Garden at Winterbourne Valley First School
The wildlife garden is progressing well and with all the hard work by parents and friends of the school at the end of March it is now in a fit state for the children to use.
The bulbs and shrubs which were planted in the autumn are thriving and the crocuses look stunning. The daffodils are just coming into flower whilst the buddleias, lavenders and other shrubs are all showing signs of growth.
The benches and table are sturdy and functional and the six sign boards that have been put in will display the children’s work as well as being information boards. Thank you to everyone who has helped us to raise funds, donated plants, contributed to the planting or in any other way!
The project is ongoing so money raised this year will continue to be used for the garden as there is still lots we can do. As always, if anyone has any unwanted plants do let me know as we can always fit more in!
I hope you enjoy the photos showing some of the progression of the garden. As you can see it has come a long way.
Tessa Ferguson 889077
The Wildlife Garden ...April update
By the time you read this our working party will have taken place and lots of tidying up and spring planting will have happened! The children will also have had an opportunity to do some willow work, making insects and animals to hang in the trees. If they have time in between the Easter egg hunt and BBQ. Lots of people have given us an amazing amount of help and support to get the wildlife garden to its now useable if not completed state.
We would like to say a special thank you to WasteWatch of Martinstown who have provided us with a very generous donation. This has been used to buy two benches along with the material to make a table and some sign boards. Please keep recycling your newspapers and magazines in their box outside the village hall! We would also like to thank Goulds Garden Centre who have donated two bench covers to protect them during the winter. Woodlands Landscaping and Building Services have given us invaluable help, building the paths and decking area. Scats have also kindly given us a discount on bulbs, bird feeders and bird food. Also thank you to everyone who has supplied us with plants.
I will take some photos of the area for the Martinstown website so, it you would like to see the progress being made, do please have a look.
Tessa Ferguson 01305 889077
PS - we are always on the look out for any unwanted plants which would like shaded areas so do give me a call on 889077!
WINTERBOURNE VALLEY CE VA FIRST SCHOOL
VACANCIES FOR GOVERNORS
There are currently two vacancies for governors at our school. If you are interested in helping our children’s education, and can volunteer some of your time you could become a governor. You need no formal qualifications, just enthusiasm, team skills and a commitment to the school.
For further information or to discuss becoming a Governor contact Dorset Governor Services on 01305-224156 or contact the School Clerk on 01305-889297.
WINTERBOURNE VALLEY FIRST SCHOOL PTFA
THE WILDLIFE GARDEN
The wildlife garden project at the school is progressing well with reception and preschool regularly using the paths on their welly walks to spot bugs and wildlife. The next step is to begin planting. If anyone has any spare bulbs, cuttings, plants that they are dividing, in fact anything that will grow, please keep them for us. Even the smallest of areas usually have something that needs tidying up. Suitable plants for the shady / semi shaded area include geraniums, mahonias, guilder rose, periwinkles, violets, ferns, holly, aconite, bluebells, daffodils, hawthorn, alder, sedum etc. 
etc. The list is vast and we are willing to give anything a go!
Tessa Ferguson on 889077.
THANK YOU FOR THE WILDLIFE GARDEN
Thank you everyone who joined us for our plant planting party at Winterbourne Valley First School on Saturday 7th November in the Wildlife Garden. All the children, parents, grandparents and villagers worked very hard in the cold to ensure that all the hundreds of plants and bulbs that had been donated were planted. There should be a fantastic display of bulbs in the spring and the lavenders, herbs, sedums and everything else will attract a host of birds and insects.
A special thank you to those who spent so much time clearing their own gardens to provide us with cuttings and unwanted plants, and to Carol Budd Conifers in Abbas who supplied us with several trays of plants. Thank you also to Steepleton Manor for their donation of large logs for the children to sit on as they work and study in the wildlife garden. They will be much appreciated in the spring.
We will be holding another planting day in the spring once the snowdrops and crocuses are over, so if you notice an abundance (of anything) in your gardens do let me know as I will happily collect any plants that are no longer needed.
Once again thank you to everyone for a fantastic team effort.
Tessa Ferguson (889077)
Lesley Lewis
Chairperson, PTFA
Tel:01305 889134
Email: lesley@salewis.co.uk
Community Scheme in Waitrose
Thank you very much to all of those who supported our with the collection of the green buttons. We were successful in our bid, and were one of three charities for June. I am delighted to announce a grand total of £234 was raised through this initiative. The Pre School will be looking to enhance its outdoor facilities with these funds.
Thank you all once again for your continued support.
Becky Dovey ~ Foundation Governor
Free Books for Schools with Nestle Box Tops for Books
Following the ongoing success of the scheme, Nestle Whole Grain Cereals are again linking with Dorling Kindersley to offer even more fantastic FREE books for school.
Simply cut out the tokens from the tops of special packs of Nestle cereals and hand them in to the school or alternatively at Martinstown shop. Alan has kindly let us keep a collection pot on the counter for such collections. - Thank you Alan!
Schools can get one book for as little as ten tokens, so keep saving them for us please.
This is an ongoing scheme, and has been very useful for us to stock up on library books for all of the children to use, so thank you for your continued support.
Donations/Unwanted gifts/Lucky Dip Prizes
As you may know, we tend to run raffles at most of our events and prizes are always needed. We would also like to run more Lucky Dips for the children. If you have any unwanted gifts or small toys you would like to donate for prizes at any time of year please bring them into school marked for the PTFA or contact us to arrange collection. As long as they are not too large we can store them ready for the next PTFA event
This could be the best fundraiser we have ever done. It’s an ongoing method of raising money for our children at no extra expense to anyone. You go to the website, register as a user selecting “Winterbourne Valley First school PTFA” as your ‘cause’, then access over 600 retailers using the links on the website and we receive a % of everything you spend and you only pay normal prices.
For example, Amazon give us 2.5% of sales value, Marks & Spencer 5% of sales and Tesco Groceries give us £2.50 for every delivery made. For those of you who have your shopping delivered every week it’s a huge contribution through the year that benefits the children and costs you nothing at all!
Please pass this information on to as many people as you can (grandparents, neighbours, colleagues), as we could raise a lot of money which will make a huge difference to the progress of our Wildlife Garden.