Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Christmas celebration at the church this morning so special. As always, Roger and the St Paul's team made us feel really welcome and the community event was thoroughly enoyable. 

Thank you to the School Councillors who organised and performed the readings and Elsie, our School Council Chair, who led the event so capably. Our musicians also performed with get skill and confidence and embraced the opportunity to share their talents.

This week we said goodbye to three members of staff.

Mrs Mace, who joined Dunalley over 40 years ago, retired on Monday. 

We would like to thank staff and families for their generous contributions to Mrs Mace's retirement gifts. Earlier this week we enjoyed a buffet lunch and celebrated Mrs Mace's four decades with us. Over the years she has devoted an immense about of time and energy to the whole Dunalley community. As well as raising thousands of pounds for Dunalley, Mrs Mace has found many charitable organisations to help and support our families.

Mrs Fox, a well loved teacher and Forest School Leader also left Dunalley this week after just over 16 years with us. Her passion for nurturing our young learners has shone throughout her time with us, as has her determination for ensuring that children achieve their very best. Mrs Fox has chosen to take early retirement to embark on new adventures and travel. We wish her all the best for an exciting future.

Mrs Davis, who joined us after Easter, has also left us this week. We would like to thank her for all her hard work and wish her all the best for the future. 

We would like to thank all of the staff leaving us for their dedication and commitment to the whole Dunalley community, each one will be missed by staff and pupils alike.

On Tuesday the children enjoyed their Christmas Lunch.  The lunch time staff created a festive atmosphere with table decorations and Christmas music.

Thanks also go to Aip, our catering team for making the meal so special.

It was a delight to see so many friends and family joining the Year 1 Christmas celebration. It was clear that the children loved performing and appreciated the audience participation!

The Year 1 team would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and would like to thank you all for the support you have given to your child's learning during this very long term!

We have a few events taking place in January that were published at the beginning of the academic year.

Open mornings for each year group are scheduled for the first week back:

• Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 - 10th January - 9-10am
• Year 3 and Year 4 - 11th January - 9-10am
• Year 5 and Year 6 - 12th January - 9-10am

During these informal drop ins teachers will share curriculum plans for the spring term.

We are also holding another Open morning for prospective families on 9th January from 9.30am - 10.30am.  Please come along if you have a child due to start school in September 2024.

Please remember that you can sync these events to your personal calendar if you scroll to the bottom of the page.

We are delighted to announce that the Dunalley Pantry will be open on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

Families are welcome to come along to the school office between 9.30am and 11.30am - Sam Ashton will be in school to help you. We don't want anyone to be hungry or lacking essential items during the Christmas holidays.

Please remember that you can always contact our Family Support Team via email [email protected] or by telephone on 01242 512391.

We are pleased to be able to help our families, particularly during the cost of living crisis.

This is very important information from Highways Commissioning Team.

CENTRAL CROSS will close on the 7th January.

You will find full information below plus a link to their final letter concerning the works.

A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway - Section 1 Honeybourne Line to Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout 

Central Cross Drive Closure – From 7 January 2024

Following the decision being made to implement the Prohibition of Driving restriction for the permanent closure of Central Cross Drive at both its junctions with A435 Evesham Road, construction works will be commencing on 7 January 2024. 

This closure is to facilitate a new parallel cycle and pedestrian crossing along with cycleway and footway improvements. Access between A435 Evesham Road and both sides of Central Cross Drive will therefore no longer be available to motorists at the junction from 7 January 2024.

Temporary pedestrian routes and crossing points will be in place during the works, with pedestrian access being maintained along Central Cross Drive. A temporary lane closure with two-way traffic lights will also be required on this section of A435 Evesham Road to enable appropriate and safe working space for construction workers.

Gloucestershire County Council officers will be on site around school start and finish times on Monday 8 January 2024 for school parents and residents to chat to about the closure and to provide advice. 

For more information on the closure and overall scheme, including plan drawings, 3D visuals showing how the junction will look and all the latest construction works information, please visit the scheme webpage:

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/A435cycleway

Should you have any comments or questions regarding the construction work, then please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Wills Bros construction project team by telephone on 07800 016 927 or by email on [email protected] 

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience during these works.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our recent events, the movie night raised £428,  the raffle raised £1,021 and the winter fair raised £400.   We are pleased to announce that we have now reached £2,807, smashing  our £2,000 target!  We will be supporting the school for the purchase of 10 new laptops for the children's use in their Computing lessons, we look forward to your support in reaching our next target of £3,000.

PRE-LOVED UNIFORM SALE

We are pleased to share that we will be running a uniform sale between 22/1/24 - 25/1/24, purchases will be made by cash donations.  Please leave your good quality donations at the school office from 8th January.  We will also be welcoming BeGreater Shoes on site with their range of children's shoes.

PTFA MEETING

Please come and join our next PTFA meeting and see what we have planned for the rest of the school year, we would love to see you there. Friday 12th January, 1.45pm in the school meeting room.

XMAS GIFT & TREAT AMNESTY

We are collecting items for future events.  We would love your unopened, leftover boxes of chocolates, sweets, bottles, duplicate gifts, smelly sets etc.  Please pop them in the office the first week back in January. 

We would like some trousers/leggings and socks in Year 2 for changes of clothes, if you have any to donate please pop them into school.

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year break, stay safe and well.