Dear Parents/Carers,
Re: Christmas celebrations
This academic year, our aim is to support one charity each term. I am delighted to announce that the charity we will again be supporting over the Christmas period is ‘Action for Children’, an international charity focused on supporting less fortunate children around the local community to enable them to have warmth, shelter, food and toys to open for Christmas. For more information on the charity and all of the fantastic work they do, please visit the link below: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/
In addition to this and to support our local community, we will also be supporting ‘Dartford Deeds, Not Words’ that work with some of our own children who may struggle for food and gifts over the Christmas period.
We are reaching out to anyone who is able to support this drive by donating any food, drink, toiletries and new toys for our students to then create hampers with. We will then deliver these to the families within the area that are in need. Any surplus we have will be donated to the foodbank run from St Edmund’s Church on Temple Hill and St Alban’s church on East Hill to then support the wider community.
If you are able to donate please ensure items are non-perishable and in date until the end of December. If you are able to assist with this, please ask your child to bring any items to the main school reception in the IA building, where they will be collected every afternoon after school for our students to begin to put our hampers together.
For any students who are interested in helping with the making of the hampers, please speak to Mr Lawrence.
On 17th December for pupils in years 9 to 13, and 18th December for pupils in years 7 and 8, we are inviting pupils to take part in Christmas Jumper Day, where we will be raising money for Action for Children. Students are required to wear their normal uniform but will be allowed to wear one additional ‘Christmassy’ item. There’s no need to purchase new sweaters to join in the fun you could borrow or dress up an old woolly jumper with a few decorations. We’d really appreciate your support to make Christmas Jumper Day a success – it’s a great cause, and together we can make a difference.
All your child needs to do is wear a festive jumper and donate the suggested £1 donation via the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/page/theleighutc
This day is not compulsory and students do not have to take part, however if your child does not take part it is important to note that they should wear their full school uniform as this is not a non-uniform day.
In addition, Cucina, our catering company will be holding their Christmas lunches on Tuesday 17th December for Years 9 to 13, and Wednesday 18th December for years 7 and 8. The price for the Christmas lunch (this includes a two course lunch) which will be £3.50 with no cost for students in receipt of Free School Meals. For Christmas dinner options, please complete the google form here along with making payment via parent pay by Monday 2nd December.
The last day of Module 2 is Friday 20th December, finishing at 2.10pm. Students will attend lessons 1 to 4. They will have lunch before being dismissed at 2:10pm. For the start of Module 3 all years are to return on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a restful Christmas break and thank you for your continued support.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Kevin Watson | Principal
