Leading up to Christmas at Woodside, while maintaining our usual high standard of education, we taught children many of the traditional carols that are their heritage together with some exiting modern carols and carols from around the world and gave them the opportunity to develop their confidence and performing skills while thinking about others. This began. with performances by our choir at Grays Court Care Home, and at Lakeside, where they collected for St Francis Hospice. Our Christmas Jumper day took place without as collection for this as we had recently done some major fund raising money for Children in Need but infant classes held their own Christingle services collecting for the Children's Society. We also took children to some seasonal entertainment. Year 3 went to see the Royal Ballet Company's Nutcracker at Covent Garden as part of their Chance to Dance collaboration with ROH Trailblazers, we took year 4 to the pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk and Thameside Theatre, and year 5 and 6 to the end our term show at Thames Park School. All our children enjoyed an in-school performance of Cinderella for all children on the last day along with parties and a traditional Christmas lunch.
Children have also had the chance to perform themselves. Each of our Infant classes presented a simple nativity with well-known carols to their parents while each Junior year group presented a traditional carol service at St Mary's Chadwell, as well as singing carols outside in the time honoured way at the end of specified days. This year we have focussed on the more traditional carols which are part of our heritage, with our own accompaniments involving children playing instruments rather than using commercial backing tracks. We have included some newer carols, including John Rutter's Angel's Carol and the originally Ukrainian Carol of the Bells and an international element with El Burritto Sabanero sung in Spanish and Silent Night in Spanish, German and English with British Sign Language.
Y4 Thameside Theatre Visit
We are taking Y4 to see Jack and the Beanstalk at The Thameside Theatre on Wednesday 6th December.
Y3 ROH Nutcracker Visit
We are taking Y3 to see The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on Wednesday 6th December.
Christmas Jumper Day
Children can wear Christmas Jumpers or other Christmassy clothes on Thursday 7th December and the last day of term.
Christmas Bazaar
Please come to our Christmas Bazaar after school on Thursday 7th December. There will be no clubs after school that day, not even ASC.
Carol Singing in December
Year 1 to 6 all have a day to sing carols outside from 2.45 to 3.15 pm:
Y6 Friday 8th Y5 Monday 11th Y4 Tuesday 12th
Y3 Thursday 14th Y2 Monday 18th Y1 Tuesday 19th
Disco
Our Christmas Disco is on Wednesday 13th December: Infants 4.45—6.30 pm and Junior 6.30—7.45 pm. £5 each (includes hot dog & drink)
Infant Nativities *
Each class will present a simple nativity play with traditional carols:
Y2 Friday December 8th 2 B 9.15 am 2E 11.00 am 2W 2.15 pm
Y1 Monday 11th 1P 9.15 am 1C 11.00 am 1O 2.15 pm
Reception Wednesday 13th RM 9.15 am RS 11.00 am RB 2.15 pm
Nursery Christmas Concert *
Our nursery children will perform I-Spy Christmas on Friday 15th December at 11.00 am and 2.30 pm.
Carol Services*
KS2 invite you to their Carol Services at 10.00 am at St Marys:
Y5 Tues 12th Y4 Thurs 14th Y3 Mon 18th Y6 Tues 19th .
* Crèche
We ask you to use our FREE crèche in school for all performances as we do not admit toddlers and babies. There are NO exceptions.
Christmas Pantomime
We are treating children to the M&M pantomime of Cinderella in school on Wednesday 20th December, the last day of term.
Christmas Lunch
We shall cook Christmas Lunch for everyone on the last day of term. Please let us know if your child does not want it or is a vegetarian.
Parties
We are holding Christmas parties in the afternoon on last day of term. No need for food but children can wear Christmas jumpers or party clothes.
The 18th January is the birthday of AA Milne, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh and, by popular request, we are having another Winnie-the-Pooh day. Children and staff are invited to come to school in Pyjamas or Onesies (teddy bears welcome) and we will be having a special lunch with children's favourites, chicken nuggets or cheese and tomato pizza with skinny chips with Winnie-the-Pooh's special Honey Cake as dessert. All children who stay to school lunch that day will be given their own hardback Winnie the Pooh story book to keep and a honey-scented sticker. We will also be showing some favourite Winnie-the-Pooh films at lunchtime.