Dear Parents,

Thank you for your donations to Children in Need today, we have raised over £180! There were spots, ears and Pudseys galore in school today and every child received a Pudsey sticker.

This week

We all held a 2 minute silence for Armistice Day on Monday, and Year 2 went to the War Memorial on the village green to lay a wreath. The children were very respectful and understood the solemnity of the occasion. Thank you to the parents and grandparents who joined us at the event.

Please remember applications for primary school places are now open - this is for any child starting in Reception year or Year 3 (Junior School) in September 2025. Thank you to the Year 2 parents who attended the meetings at Writtle Junior School this week.

Next week

Year 2 will be back to the village green next week with Dolphins visiting Writtle Library on Thursday morning. Mrs Soden will introduce the children to the library if they haven’t been before and there will be a chance for them to explore the book collection and read a story. Sharks will have their turn on Thursday 28th November.

Next Thursday 21st November is the last week for our teacher-led clubs this term - Drawing, Games, Mindfulness. Please ensure that children are collected at 3.10pm from Thursday 28th November onwards. Other clubs continue until the following week.

As the weather is due to turn colder next week, please ensure children have coats, warm layers and any accessories such as hats and gloves which they may need in school. The Year 2s can teach us all about protection from the elements, as they have just completed a lesson in how polar bears adapt to the cold weather! They used the following:

• Wetsuit - skin
• Bubble wrap - blubber
• Fluffy white onesie/hat - first layer of skin
• Fluffy coat - second layer of skin
• Gloves - fur for the paws
• Goggles - ability to see underwater
• Flippers - specially adapted feet to grip to the ice

What snuggly polar bears they are! Maybe don't go quite that far next week, but you get the idea!

Advent Assembly / Church Events

We are heading into the Christmas season and our first event is the Year 1 and 2 Advent Assembly on Monday 25th November. Please drop your children off at school as normal then make your way down to the church if you wish, where Reverend Tony will lead the service starting at 9.30am. Pews will be reserved at the front and centre for children and staff. The service will finish at 10am.

All Saints Church will host November’s Messy Church on Sunday 24th November at 10am, where the children will be invited to make decorations for the Messy Church Christmas tree. This will go on display at the Christmas Tree Festival on 7 - 8th December. Of course both schools are entering a joint tree for the competition too, so you will have a tough decision to make!

Writtle Parish Council Competition

A reminder that Writtle Parish Council is looking for entries to their competition for children to write about or draw their favourite aspect of school life. We have not been inundated with entries, so please encourage your child to enter the competition before the end of November.

Children's Health

The school nurse is available for drop-in sessions on Tuesday afternoons. If you have any concerns about the issues listed, please email us to make an appointment.

NHS Mid and South Essex have published a new guide to "What to do if your child is unwell." This is a very useful resource which we encourage you to download and keep for reference.

Wishing you all a restful weekend.

Best wishes,

Tracey Wilson