LATEST NEWS

Welcome to The Forest School newsletter. We would like to welcome Kaitlin McNulty to Class 4 and
Kelsie Cuthbert to Class 7.1 both of whom joined us after October half-term.

Yellow Day
Many thanks to all who supported this event - £393 was sent to Macmillan
Cancer Support. We were very pleased to welcome the Mayoress of Knaresborough, Mrs. L. Guest, to the event. We even got a mention in her letter to the Knaresborough Post praising the school for supporting Macmillan Cancer Support.

Children in Need
A very lively disco was held and we have raised £230 for children in need.
Grace Eves, Class 3, made an appearance on her local news for Children in Need and talked to them about her special needs. Grace was very excited about being on the television and attended the BBC party in Penrith to celebrate.

Harvest
The loose change collection at the Primary Harvest Assembly raised £47.30. This money will be used to support the work of orphaned children in Africa. We were pleased to welcome the Rev. Francis Wainaingna to our harvest celebration.

Clothing
Now we are in the season for hats, gloves etc. please ensure that all items of clothing are named.

Christmas Fair
Friday 7th December 9.30 – 11am
This has been arranged by Key Stage 4
pupils to raise funds for residential trips next year. Stalls include: Tombola, Raffle, Cakes, Toys, Jewellery and coffee and cakes will be served. We do hope parents/friends will be able to join us on this morning. Our newly formed group of parent supporters are going to run a toy sale on the day. Any unwanted toys in excellent condition will be gratefully received. Why not use this opportunity to empty your toy cupboards before Christmas to make room for all the new toys that Santa will bring!

Dates for your Diary
5th Dec – Year 7 Panto/Lunch/Bowling
10th Dec – 2pm Sinbad the Sailor
11th Dec – 2pm Primary Dress Rehearsal ‘Wriggly Nativity’
12th Dec – 2pm Primary performance
12th Dec – Year 8 Panto/Lunch/Bowling
13th Dec – Year 9 Panto/Lunch/Bowling
17th Dec – pm Primary party
18th Dec – Christmas dinner/Carol Service for pupils
19th Dec – KS4 Lunch/Bowling in Harrogate
19th Dec – Break up
7th Jan – Return to school

Contact Details
If you have not completed the contact details sent with the September newsletter, please return this form as a matter of urgency. It is important that these details are up to date in case we need to contact you in an emergency.

Christmas Cards
These are now available at a cost of £2 for 5 cards and the money raised will go towards school funds.

Sports News
Football: The Forest School team is currently battling its way through the league for Special Schools Partnership, having played 3 matches with another 2 to be played next term. Congratulations to all our team.

The Forest swimming squad pupils took part in the regional Disability Swimming Competition at the Hydro in Harrogate on Saturday 10th November. Swimmers from all over the Yorkshire region took part in the event, coming from as far a field as Hull and Bradford.
The following pupils swam several races and achieved great results; they won many medals including Gold, Silver and Bronze. At assembly each pupil received an English schools’ swimming towel and they were presented with certificates by John and Chris the swimming coaches from the Hydro.

Courtney Hawkins Shaun Ramage
Rory Maclellan Chloe Gill
Mary Rose Lawrence Kieran Behan

Ex pupils Tracy Barrett and Bevan and Nathan Sutton also achieved great results winning their races by a clear margin.
Next competition will be on 23rd Feb in Hull.
The fastest swimmers from each regional competition will go through to the next stage of the competition: The National Finals and if successful they will swim in the 2012 Special Olympics.

Illness
Please remember that if your child has sickness or diarrhoea they should not return to school until 48 hours after
the last time they were ill. This is an Environmental Health ruling to prevent the spread of infection and your help in keeping the school a healthy environment for all children and staff would be appreciated.

Enterprise
On Thursday 22nd November, as part of
Enterprise Week, 5 schools came together for
the first ever Special Enterprise Event.

Bettys & Taylors very kindly offered to host a gathering of 80 students with Special Educational Needs at the Taylor’s factory in Harrogate. Students had the opportunity to be involved in 4 out of 8 workshops which will extend their Enterprise skills and enrich the curriculum. Workshops included a Dragon's Den Workshop run by NYBEP, Enterprise Soapbox, a soapmaking workshop run by Andrew Bernhard, Tea Tasting in the Taylor’s tea blending room, Chris Powell’s award winning Cone Exchange as well as a Music Workshop run by Rachael Hillyard and John Turner, parent of Alex, Advent Wreaths run by Robin Smith and Odette Murtland, Bridge Building by Phil Bunting, and Craftastic Workshops run by Joy Silversides and Stuart Page

The day included pupils from The Forest School, Brooklands Special School, Skipton, Mowbray School, Masham, as well as Asdan pupils from King James’ School in Knaresborough. We were also joined by a group of Year 6 pupils from Skelton on Ure Primary School.

The event was a fabulous success with all pupils and staff commenting on the exciting opportunities and ideas provided by all 8 workshops. Bettys and Taylors were very generous and hospitable, giving up their time and space to make the event such a success.

We hope that this event will be the first of many, and intend to have another inter school Enterprise Day next term.

We look forward to welcoming you in school to at least one of our Christmas Events.
May I take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Christmas and a great New Year for 2008.

Monica Uden