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Saint Patrick's Support

Please talk to us if you have any concerns, no matter how big or small so that we can work together to ensure we can support you and your family. For any help/support queries please contact admin@st-patricks.wilts.sch.uk  F.A.O Mrs Courtney or Mrs Minty, and please do be assured your queries will be dealt with in a confidential and sensitive manner. 

We are passionate about ALL children experiencing enriching experiences at Saint Patrick's. Therefore, this year we have introduced the 'Saint Patrick's Passport of Possibilities'. Throughout each child's time at our school, we have planned in free experiences which are engaging, enriching and educational. Every child will receive a passport, which they keep in school and can keep a record of these experiences, until they leave us and can then take these home to reflect on their time at our school. Click here to view in more detail

Christmas without the Cost - 2024

Many families will be finding the coming months to be more challenging than previous years, because of the cost of living. If this is true for you, then firstly please realise you are not alone and secondly come and talk to us, so we can offer support and signpost you in the direction of others who can also help. For those with children it can be a challenging time. However, when we all look back at our favourite Christmases I am sure we will agree it was about the people and memories, not the material products themselves.

There are many ways to make your Advent and Christmas a special time, some are very low cost or even free! Take a look at some ideas below…

Walk or drive past the twinkly Christmas lights in Corsham, Melksham, Chippenham

Snuggle up under a blanket with a Christmas film like The Polar Express or The Grinch

Bake some Christmas cookies or gingerbread, to share with family or friends

Have a North Pole breakfast with some treats you wouldn’t normally have

Track Santa on Christmas Eve using the free website https://www.noradsanta.org/en/  

Wrap up warm and go out for a winter walk

Cuddle up with a Christmas book – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas or The Jolly Christmas Postman              are much loved books!

 Drive or take a bus to a bigger city, such as Bath, to look at the lights and displays

Design your own Christmas hot chocolate…what will you add to yours?

Take a walk around a Christmas market to soak up the atmosphere. The 2024 dates are…

  • Bath Christmas Market - Thursday 28th November to Sunday 15th December
  • Chippenham Christmas Light Switch on and Market – Saturday 30th November
  • Corsham Christmas Light Switch on and Market – Friday 6th December
  • Melksham Christmas Light Switch on and Market – Saturday 7th December

Carol Concerts

There are FREE carol concerts you can watch live and online, some ask for donations.

Santa!

Santa will be visiting Corsham on his float, supported by the brilliant Lions Club!

  • Monday 2nd December – Rudloe
  • Tuesday 3rd December - Katharine Park                 ** All routes begin at 5.30pm **
  • Wednesday 4th December – Pickwick     
  • Thursday 5th December - Prospect    

       

Why not watch an online Panto or other Christmas viewing!

Cbeebies Robin Hood Panto -  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001tbwn/cbeebies-robin-hood-panto-2023

Cbeebies Dick Whittington and His Cat

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001gc2x/dick-whittington-and-his-cat-panto-2022

The Gruffalo’s Child - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018nrhm/the-gruffalos-child

Stick Man - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06t09rk/stick-man

The Night Before Christmas - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0012j87/the-night-before-christmas-stage-show-1-christmas-show-2021

 

Learn How Christmas is Celebrated in Other Countries…

Learn about how Christmas is celebrated all around the world https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

 

Did You Know that certain Museums have FREE times to Visit?

  • The Holburne Museum, Bath - FREE admission from 3 to 5pm every Wednesday afternoon and from 5 to 9pm the last Friday in the month. Under 18’s free.
  • Bath City Farm – FREE admission to celebrate winter at the Farm with games, craft stall and seasonal treats at our Roots to Work Café
  • Take a Walking Tour with the Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides – Would you like to see Bath’s main sights and learn more about the city’s history? Join a walking tour with the Mayor’s Honorary Guides. These walking tours run every day and they’re completely FREE! Sunday to Friday – 10.30am and 2.00pm. Saturday – 10.30am only follow the link for further information https://www.bathguides.org.uk/
  • Sham Castle - Sham Castle is a notable folly built around 1755 and makes for a lovely visit, taking in wonderful views of the city. To ensure you’re not disappointed, it’s not actual a castle, it’s a screen wall commissioned by Ralph Allen (known for quarrying bath stone) to improve the view from his home in the city! There’s no charge to get in. https://discoverbath.co.uk/sham-castle/
  • Chippenham Museum – FREE entry and learn about the town’s development, through its connections to river, road and rail, and explore its surprising links to Alfred the Great and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Christmas creative activities on Sat 30th November 10.30 – 3.30pm
  • Walk Around Some Famous Film Locations – We are very lucky to live in such a creative area! Head to Lacock to find 7 Harry Potter film locations from Lily and James Potter’s home at the end of Church Street to Horace Slughorn’s Hideaway on Church Hill. More details can be found at https://flyingscotsgirl.com/2024/09/09/7-harry-potter-film-locations-in-lacock/

Bath has been the film location of many films and TV programmes, but in recent years was seen throughout the film Wonka. Walk past Bath Abbey and the Parade Gardens to walk in the footsteps of Willy Wonka himself or the Colonnades where he took in the views of the city in the snow! All of these things are FREE!

Meal Ideas…

We all know how challenging it can be to think up new meal ideas. Jack Monroe has produced recipe cards for how to make great-tasting food with ordinary and budget-friendly ingredients. They are included at the end of this letter for you to try!

Other Current Discounts…

BE QUICK! FREE National Trust Family Pass - If you pick up a physical copy of the Daily Star (£1), Daily Mirror or Daily Express (both £1.60) by Sunday 10 November, you'll find a FREE National Trust family pass printed as a voucher. The family pass allows two adults and up to three children, or one adult and up to four children (or couples or individuals) to visit one National Trust site for free in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland locations and English Heritage sites aren't included). Kids must be 17 or under, though under-fives go free anyway. Parking charges may apply

We all know that food and gifts also cost money. The following websites offer financial advice, as well as making you aware of sales and offers, to avoid overspending this season.

Martin Lewis, The Money Saving Expert, has advice on all your Christmas spending needs from general discounts and saving on your Christmas food shop, to finding cheap train travel to visit family and friends and his Christmas Deal Predictor for 2024. Take a look using the following link, more will be released throughout November, including some month long Black Friday deals! https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips/2024/09/17/

Which? Also have advice on how to prepare for Christmas 2024 click on the following link to read more https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/christmas-2024-8-ways-to-boost-your-festive-funds-adEPu1l8iKPf Make sure you click the Supermarket Christmas Food 2024 tab, for the ultimate guide to festive ranges from Aldi, M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons and more The most expensive is definitely not always the best!

We hope these ideas help you to have a more meaningful and calmer November and December, but take a moment to remember…

 

Jack Monroe Recipes to try out this winter…