--- title: "Weekly Newsletter" url: "https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/news/2021-10-22-weekly-newsletter" school: "Barlaston CE (VC) First School" --- # Weekly Newsletter ![Image of Weekly Newsletter](https://files.schudio.com/barlastonfirstschool/images/news/Green_Newsletter(1).jpg) 22 October 2021 **Barlaston First School** **Weekly Newsletter** **22nd Oct 2021** **Let your light shine through family, friendship and faith** **PTA Launch-Please Come Along!** We are re launching our PTA on Wednesday 3rd November at 6.00pm **What is a PTA?** PTA stands for parents and teachers association, and basically consists of parents and teachers working and planning together, raising money for the children in the school. **Who Can Join?** Any parents in the school can be part of the PTA. **What Does a PTA Do?** A PTA plans and runs events in school, but out of school time, that can be attended by families and the wider community, to raise money. These events could be, a quiz night, bingo night, children’s discos, summer fayres etc **How Often do PTA Meetings Happen?** They usually take place once every term or half term, depending on the need. Sometimes they are held just before the end of school, in the school hall. Others are held in the evening usually in the Duke or the Plume of Feathers. By varying the times, we are able to accommodate parents who are free in the day, or free in the evenings. **What is the Money Spent on?** The school budget is determined by the number of children we have in school. This money is used to run everything in the school, and there is never any spare at the end of our financial year, in fact, the opposite! This means that extra things we wish to purchase for the children, eg, new playground equipment, new adventure trail, playground marking etc, cannot be purchased because we have no spare money. This is where PTA comes in! The children desperately need a new adventure trail, but they are very expensive. PTA funds could be used to purchase this, and all children will benefit. Funds can also be used to: subsidise visits out of schools, or visitors coming in, outdoor equipment for our new forest school venture, ICT equipment if needed, a whole school day out, to name but a few ideas! So if you are interested in helping to organise fundraising events, have some good ideas to raise money, please come along and be part of this group, make new friends and raise money for your child’s school at the same time. We look forward to seeing you! **Parents Evening for Squirrel Parents** This has now been rescheduled for the first Thursday back after half term (4th Nov). The evening will be from 4.00pm-6.30pm, with your allocated time slot still being applicable. If you are booked in for an appointment, but cannot make this day, please have a chat with your child’s teacher, and rearrange a mutually convenient time. Best wishes Mrs Clarey and Team | Mon 1st Nov | School reopens | |---|---| | Thurs 11th Nov | Remembrance Day | | Fri 12th Nov | Children in Need | | Tues 7th Dec | 1.30pm Squirrel and Badger Christmas play | | Tues 7th Dec | 4.00pm Dormice and Hedgehog nativity | | Wed 8th Dec | 6.30pm Squirrel and Badger Christmas play | | Fri 10th Dec | Whole school visit to New Vic Theatre to see Beauty and the Beast | | Tues 14th Dec | Family Christmas craft afternoon | | Wed 15th Dec | Christmas dinner and Christmas party | | Fri 17th Dec | Christingle church service | | Fri 17th Dec | School closes for Christmas | [ Weekly Newsletter](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/news/2021-10-19-weekly-newsletter) [Weekly Newsletter ](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/news/2021-11-05-weekly-newsletter) ### Parents - [Term Dates 2026-2027](https://files.schudio.com/barlastonfirstschool/files/AAHelen/Term_Dates_2026-2027.pdf) - [Newsletters](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/newsletters) - [Breakfast Club](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/breakfast-club) - [After School Club](https://files.schudio.com/barlastonfirstschool/files/AAHelen/Baralston_First_School_-_Progressive_Wraparound_Club.pdf) - [Clubs and extra activities](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/clubs-and-extra-activities) - [Holiday Club](https://files.schudio.com/barlastonfirstschool/files/Holidayclub/Holiday-Club-February-2026-STONE-PDF.pdf) - [Uniform](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/uniform-online-ordering) - [Lunch Time Menu](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/lunch-time-menu) - [Free School Meals](https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/Overview.aspx) - [Parent Teacher Friends Association](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/pta) - [E-Safety](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/e-safety) - [Emergency School Closures](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/emergency-school-closures-list) - [School Money (Eduspot)](https://login.eduspot.co.uk/public/portal/parent/?app=schoolmoney&source=website&version=20190314) - [Attendance/Punctuality](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/parents/late-absence-procedure) **Barlaston CE (VC) First School** Head Teacher: Mr. John Gordon Barlaston CE (VC) First School Broughton Crescent Barlaston Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST12 9DB Chair of Governors: Miss Alison Dando SENCo: Miss Hannah Gill Email: office@barlaston.staffs.sch.uk Tel: 01782 372543 © Copyright 2015–2026 Barlaston CE (VC) First School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://barlaston.staffs.sch.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)