CLYST ST MARY SECTION OF THE MARCH 2019 CLYST VALLEY NEWS

CLYST ST MARYChurch ServicesThis month sees the start of the new Family Service with Breakfast, starting at 9.30 am on 17th March and every third Sunday thereafter. This will be a very informal gathering for parents and children, lasting no more than an hour (including breakfast!) so that you have the rest of the day for other family activities. Sid will be talking to children in school about the service, so please come along on 17th March and see what it’s all about. Family Communion Services will be held on 10th and

24th March at 11 am.

Church Coffee MorningsThe February coffee morning raised £99.45. Thank you to those who supported the event by coming along to relax and chat as well as to those who ran and contributed to the stalls. We would like to see more people at our coffee mornings. This is an important fundraising

event for our church, held on the second Saturday of each month and is a painless way to support the church by buying home-made cakes, produce and cards. The March coffee morning will be on Saturday 9th from 10 to 11.30 am. We look forward to welcoming you there. Contributions for the cake and produce stall will be much appreciated.

Lent LunchThere will be a Lent Lunch in church on Friday 22nd March from 12.30 to 2.30 pm to raise funds for Christian Aid. Please drop in for soup and a roll and some friendly company.

Annual Vestry Meeting and Parochial Church MeetingThe Annual Vestry Meeting and Parochial Church Meeting will be held in church on Wednesday 20th March, starting at 7 pm. All parishioners are invited to attend.

Village Hall Committee AGM The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Committee will be held in the Committee Room at the Hall on Monday 18th March at 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. All organisations using the Hall are asked to send a representative. If you don’t know what goes on in the Hall and plans for the future, now is your chance to find out. We are in urgent need of new members to help in the management of the Hall if we are not to lose this

important village asset. Please come along and volunteer. If committee work is not for you, we also need helpers for maintenance and repairs. If you think that you would like to get involved, please come along. At our website www.clyststmaryvillagehall.co.uk you can view a calendar of current Hall bookings and hire charges and download hire forms and conditions of hire.

Clyst St Mary Primary SchoolFebruary has been a busy month for Clyst St Mary School. The Bikeabilty team have been in school providing

balance bike training to our youngest children in Classes R and 1. Despite the cold and rain the children really enjoyed bringing their bikes to school and developing balance and coordination

skills which will benefit their academic and physical development. Class 4 have also undertaken Level 1 Bikeability training and Class 5 will do level 2 training in May. Our Kurling team took to the stage once more and came away from their latest tournament in Barnstaple medal winners and TV stars

having been filmed for BBC Spotlight. The footballers have participated in the Exeter City Community Cup, reaching the quarter finals and impressing the accompanying staff and parents with their great team spirit and excellent sportsmanship.There have been various trips out to support learning: Class R visited Haldon Forest to explore the Zog trail; Class 4 attended and participated in a concert given by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the Great Hall, Exeter University; Class 5 have toured Clyst St Mary village to learn more about local geography and history; and Class 6 have visited Exeter Synagogue and the Northcott Theatre where they watched a hip hop musical performance of Wind in the Willows.

Class 6 have also run their annual Caring and Sharing event when each child invites grandparents or other elderly relatives or family friends to a lunch which the children have planned and prepared, using the excellent cooking facilities in our new staffroom. As usual this was a lovely afternoon enjoyed by children and guests alike. As we move into March the pace doesn’t slacken. The choir will be competing in the Devon Performing Arts Festival and

Class 4 will be having weekly Forest School sessions when they are hoping to see some spring sunshine rather than showers. World Book Day will see a flurry of activities to celebrate books and reading. In particular, and in time honoured fashion, we will be dressing up as our favourite book characters. The spring term will close with our Music and Dance Extravaganza for Key Stage 2 and a whole school sponsored walk to raise additional funds for our new school library.Of course none of these wonderful opportunities can happen without the hard work of all the staff and the support of our parents in giving their time (baking abilities, craft abilities, etc), providing transport and contributing to the cost of trips. So we would like to say a huge thank you to all the people who make our school the special place it is.

Badminton Club The club plays Tuesdays 8-10 pm in the Village Hall. New members, even beginners, are welcome. If you have a badminton racket in the loft or in the depths of a cupboard, get it

out and come along! For more information please contact either Malcolm Macmillen on 01392 873280 or Hilary on 01392 874722.

Walking GroupThe March walk will be on Tuesday 19th. We meet at the Village Hall at 10 am. The walk will be approx 5 miles with a pub lunch. Everyone is welcome and we all walk at our own risk. Why not come and join us? For more information please ring Sue on 01392 874563.

Table Tennis Club Looking for a new challenge for 2019?  Then come and join us at Clyst St Mary Table Tennis Club.  We meet every Thursday in the Village Hall, 4 – 6 pm.  The very minimal membership cost of £20 per ten-week session includes full use of club equipment.  For further information, please contact Pam Gardner at pamelamgardner9@gmail.com or on

07714 097220.

Anyone for Tennis? Some of us play tennis every Friday morning at a private court in Clyst St Mary (no fee). If you’d like to join us, please ring Janice on 01392 876858 or Martyn on 01392 874948.

Exeter Nomads Short Mat Bowls ClubOur regular Club Night is every Friday from 7 until 10 pm approx at the Village Hall. The game is suitable for all ages from 9 to 90! And for ladies and men, girls and boys alike. New members are always welcome so if you would like to try the game please contact Robert or Richard Ivings on 01392 210268 or just turn up.

Clyst Valley Pre-School

We are an OFSTED 'outstanding' pre-school offering a friendly, stimulating and welcoming environment for children from 2 years 8 months to school starting age. We offer high staff to children ratios and accept Universal and 30 Hour funding.

We currently have full and part-time spaces available for new starters, so please get in touch via our website www.clystvalleypreschool.org or by calling 01392 876615 for more information.