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Butcombe Newsletter

Dr Wendy Bowring, the Headmistress of Clifton College's Butcombe Pre-Preparatory and Nursery School, writes a regular newsletter for parents and friends of the school.

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Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow is the Pre Commemoration Day, so I thought I would write to you today in case I run out of time! I cannot believe it is the end of term and another school year comes to an end – how quickly it flew by! The children are more than ready for their well-deserved summer break, and we look forward to welcoming them back in September. For the few moving on to new schools, we hope they will look back in years to come on their time at Butcombe with affection, and I genuinely look forward to being kept posted of their successes as they happen.

Today’s Year 3 Leavers’ Service was very poignant, as was the Chapel service on Tuesday. It has been an extremely hectic term, with additional events such as the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and Olympic Week, to name but two. I am sure that many parents are as ‘schooled out’ as we are after so many opportunities to visit in recent weeks and I apologize for having had to squeeze so much into such a short half of term. Thank you all for your part in making this year such an enjoyable one for everyone in the Butcombe team.

There are just a few things to tell you about before we close.

Staff News

Many of you have heard on the grapevine that we are sadly losing Mrs Montgomery at the end of term. Monica has worked at Butcombe for 11 years, as a teaching assistant and after school care supervisor. She is about to embark on an exciting new challenge – running a cafe in Teinmouth with her daughter – so the staff are looking forward to visiting her for a complimentary Devon Cream Tea! We will miss Monica very much, and wish her every happiness in the future.

Mrs Treasure, who works in the Nursery, has given birth to a baby boy – Harry Albert. Mother and baby are doing well, and I am sure you will want to join with me in wishing Jo, Steve and Ollie every happiness as baby Harry joins the Treasure family!

Second Hand Uniform Sale

There will be a Second Hand Uniform Sale on Monday 6th August at 1.00 p.m. until 3.00 p.m.in Butcombe Hall; time to stock up for the new school year. Any donated items can be placed in the container in the School Shop over the holiday period. All proceeds from the sale are given to charity. Any queries to Debs Simcox (debssimcox@gmail.com).

Future events for your diaries

I have been asked to give you plenty of notice about two events that are happening in the Michaelmas term: first, the Butcombe Friends are holding a ‘Butcombe Ball, a black tie event in Big School on Saturday 6th October, so please keep the date free and more details will follow.

I attach a document about costumes for our Victorian Week which will take place during the week beginning 1st October, straight after the school’s 150th birthday. I hope you are happy to help us with this, and that you have plenty of time to sort out an appropriate costume for your child.

Kids’ Club

A reminder that the CCSL is running its ever-popular Kids’ Club throughout the holidays – please look on the website for details.

Term Dates

Also attached is a list of the term dates for the next year, please note Butcombe will be closed for the ¾ Exeat on Friday 16th November and also on Monday 6 May for the early May Bank Holiday. Butcombe will be open on Saturday 11th May during the morning for our Celebration Day.

Mr Milne’s Preview

Finally, you might like to catch up with the latest news from the Pre by reading the latest PreView Issue 12.

And that’s it! I hope to see many of you at the Concert on the Close tomorrow evening and the Ball on Saturday – let’s pray for good weather as such a great deal of effort has gone into arranging both events and it would be a real shame to see them spoilt by the wind and rain!

I wish each and every one of you a fantastic summer with your families, and hope that when we meet again you will be rested and ready for the year ahead.

With my very best wishes,

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6 July 2012

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