Whatlington village voice

A big thanks to Paul and Jo Dengate for organising the Irish Music night last week at The Royal Oak. This is always a wonderful evening and last week was no exception – what a talented bunch! The next session will be Friday 30th March.

We had lots of good quality donations for the Jumble Sale in aid of the Village Hall last Saturday and the money raised will help with the maintenance of this important community facility. If you would like to book the hall for a party or meeting, please call Ken Jones on 01424 772997.

There is an open meeting for anyone who would like to be involved in the Jubilee Street Party on Monday 4th June. The meeting will be in the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 12th March. Please come along if you have any ideas for the party or would like to help. If you can’t make the meeting but would still like to be involved, please call Angie on 01424 870087.

If you would be interested in a palm reading evening hosted by local Master Palmist Robin Lown, please get in touch with Alex on 01424 870492 as we are looking to organise this event in the near future.

I have just received a copy of the Mountfield & Whatlington School’s newsletter and although it was sent out to the parents a few weeks ago, I would still like to let you know what is happening at the school, because I know many of you take great interest in our local school.

With the new term, each class has a new Learning Journey. This highlights particular topics and areas of the curriculum that will be covered this term. A copy is sent home with each child. Each child is also given a reading book every day to read at home and a reading record is kept to show that the child does in fact read at home.

The children are asked to line up in the playground at 9am unless of course it is raining and goodbyes should be said before lining up time! As we are still in winter , although it has to be said that we really have not had a very hard winter, just one bout of snow, if the school needs to close because of bad weather a text will be sent to parents mobiles or information is also available on www.eastsussex.gov.uk

I reported to you in my last information from the school that Joe Hellett, Head Teacher of the school is leaving at Easter and becoming Head Teacher of a school in Hastings. An advert appeared in the TES on January 6th advertising the post of Headteacher and generated a good amount of interest. Interviews were to have taken place on Thursday 9th February but the survey of applicants did not lead to any interviews and therefore the school will advertise the position again in March and the interviews will be scheduled for mid May. Unfortunately this does not mean that Joe Hellett will be staying at the school and he will leave as arranged. Therefore an imported Acting Head will lead the school for one term until a new appointment is made.

The pupils returned back to school on February 20th for the start of term 4.

Below are few important dates detailing the activities at the school.

Thursday 1st March 3rd annual “Eisteddfod” Music and Arts Competition

Thursday 8th March World Book Day (come dressed as a book character)

Friday 9th March INSET day (School closed for pupils)

Wednesday 14th March PARENTS OPEN EVENING 6-8pm

Saturday 17th March 10is “Ground-force” morning

Thursday 29th March Mufti / Fundraising day

Friday 30th March Last day of term 4

Monday 2nd April - Friday 13th April EASTER Holiday (re-starts on Monday 16th April)

Last week I gave you an update of the church fire appeal fund and I can now tell you that I have received a further £220.00 this week; the appeal fund total now reaching £30959.78. Can I please thank Angela, Nigel and Diana, who all worship at churches in Bexhill on Sea for their generous donations. I really cannot believe that in this deep economic gloom and recession that the appeals fund has reached this amazing amount!

This Sunday, the second Sunday of Lent, Parish Eucharist will be celebrated at 8.30am in the village hall. I wonder if you have given anything up for lent or tried in previous years and been unsuccessful! Our family are going to try to be more tolerant with each other.

Hilda Aplin

Lismoyne, Oakhurst Road