Dear Families and Friends,

Advent is here, and the countdown to Christmas has formally begun. During Advent, we look both backwards and forwards in time: back to that first Christmas day, and forward to when Jesus will return, as He promised. Throughout this term, we have been considering how God keeps His promises, and how all of those promises are fulfilled in Jesus: God's promised king. This brings hope in the darkness, and joy in the light.

As we prepare for our PTA Christmas Fayre on Friday, we have paused most staff-led clubs until January. Please bring any raffle ticket stubs and the money back to school on Monday, as well as any unsold tickets. If you'd like to sell more, spares are available from our office. We have some amazing prizes, so do sell as many as you can.

We are still taking donations for stalls, and any cake donations for our cake stall should be brought in to school on Friday morning. Our "Elves Workshop" would love some wrapping paper, gift bags and gift tags too. Thank you.

If you have some time to spare, please get in touch with our PTA, in preparation for Friday. The fun begins at 3pm, when the school gates open. Our choir will be singing, Santa will take a stroll, and our Christmas windows will be unveiled. The Fayre will open at our usual home time. It promises to be a wonderful evening.

Dates for other Christmas events:

• Early Years - Thursday 12th December @ 10am
• Key Stage 1 - Friday 13th December @ 9:30am
• Key Stage 2 - Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th December @ 1:30pm
• Whole School Christmas Service: Thursday 19th December at 2:30pm

We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each of these exciting events. Let's make this Advent a joyful and hopeful time for us all.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Restall & The St Bart's Team