Dear Parents
We are writing slightly earlier this week to give details of the …..
FoDS Charity Christmas Fayre – Friday 25 November
This is the third time we have attempted a Christmas Fayre on this scale, with over 35 stalls and sideshows in the Recital Room and Assembly Hall, festive music in the Music Courtyard, hot food, Santa’s Grotto, children’s workshops, and inflatable Laser Quest, glitter tattoos, face-painting, snow machine, and more. There are a few spaces still available for the Grotto and children’s workshops. These can be booked at the Front Desk. The plan for the afternoon is as follows …
3.00pm Christmas Fayre begins for Dumpton Parents before pick-up
3.30pm Nursery and Pre-Prep pick-up from the gate as usual
3.30pm Year 4-5 Carol Singing in Courtyard
3.40pm Santa’s Grotto opens
3.45pm Children’s Christmas Workshops - will run for 30 mins at: 3.45pm, 4.30pm, 5.15pm and 6.00pm
4.15pm Year 3 pick-up from the gate as usual
4.15pm Laser Quest opens (until 6.45 pm)
4.45pm Year 4-8 pick-up from the gate (if attending the Fayre)
5.15pm Year 6-8 Carol Singing in Courtyard
5.45pm Normal School ends (buses running as usual)
6.15pm Raffle drawn on Assembly Hall Stage
6.20pm Santa’s Grotto closes
7.00pm Christmas Fayre ends
Funds raised will go to Julia’s House. I should just emphasise that children who attend the Charity Christmas Fayre must be supervised by their parents at all times. The normal Prep School day will continue until 5.45 pm as usual. Years 4 to 8 can be handed over to their parents at 4.45 pm to join in the fun slightly earlier.
Thursday concerts
A big thank you to all the Dumpton drummers and peripatetic music teacher Martyn Bennett for preparing such an enjoyable lunchtime concert today. This followed a delightful Music Assembly in the Prep School this morning, including Sarah Bolter’s clarinets and saxophones, and a wonderful Strings Assembly in the Pre-Prep first thing, featuring Mrs Dando’s youngest violinists and ‘cellists, our very own Junior Dumpton Philharmonic. Well done to all the teachers and instrumentalists involved.
Gala Christmas Concerts
We now look forward to the Gala Concerts starting next week 4.45 pm on Friday 2 December (Years 4-5) and then 4.45 pm on Tuesday 6 December (Years 6-8). Thank you to the peripatetics and Sue Watkiss, the Director of Music in advance.
Wednesday Sport
Well done again to all the sports teams who represented the school this week. There were lots of close and exciting matches, as ever, with special mention to the senior girls’ hockey teams on their four wins against Walhampton and West Hill Park.
FoDS Christmas Party – last call
Just a few places left at the FODs Christmas Party at West Beach, Pier Approach on Friday 2 December from 7 pm. Please put cheques in the FODs box by tomorrow (Friday 25 November) if you would like to join the fun.
End of Term Arrangements
Mr Nye will write to you separately next week, outlining arrangements for the last day of term including the seating plan for the Carol Service. There are still three weeks to go, but it is good to plan ahead!
And finally … Gravel Hill is Opening!
We are delighted to announce that Gravel Hill will be open on Monday (28 November) morning to a huge sigh of relief for everyone travelling to and from Poole and Bournemouth. We hope this will greatly ease journey times up to Christmas and beyond.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Browning
Headmaster
PS Dumpton Parent and local soup kitchen volunteer Debbie Etchells has made a plea for sleeping bags, rucksacks, tracksuits and tins of food for the Christmas period. Any contributions would be much appreciated – they will be collected from the Front Desk before the end of term.