Happy Christmas from Friends of Claverdon!

Exciting News: Solar Panels Coming to Claverdon Primary School!

We're thrilled to announce that we've received approval to proceed with our solar panel installation project – a significant milestone that wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support from our school community over the past few years.

This project is being funded through a combination of school funding, generous grants from the William A Cadbury Charitable Trust and the Garfield Weston Foundation, and money raised by the Friends of Claverdon and a couple of other funding sources we're in the process of finalising. We're enormously grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this happen – from our parent community's fundraising efforts to these charitable trusts who have supported our vision for a more sustainable future. We'd also like to thank Stratford Energy Solutions for their expertise and patience throughout what has been a lengthy and complex process.

Over the Christmas holidays, 60 solar panels will be installed on our school roof, creating a 27kWp system that will help power our school whilst reducing our environmental impact. The new system is expected to generate approximately 18,000-19,500 kWh of electricity annually. This means we'll be purchasing significantly less electricity from the grid, resulting in substantial savings on our energy bills year after year – money that can be reinvested directly into resources and opportunities for our children.

Additionally, we'll be saving approximately 3.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year – equivalent to planting 160 trees annually. It's a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and provide a practical, visible example of renewable energy for our pupils.

There is opportunity to incorporate the solar panels into the curriculum, using the live monitoring data to help children understand energy generation and environmental responsibility. Look out for the panels landing on the roof before Santa arrives!

Wreath making

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our festive wreath making evening! A special thank you to Julia (@tropicskincarewithjulia on Instagram) who led a wonderful class and shared her expertise with us. The wreaths created were absolutely stunning – as you can see from the photos! It was a lovely evening filled with festive cheer, creativity, and good company, and we're delighted that it also raised valuable funds for the school. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event.

Christmas Gift Shop

A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who helped wrap gifts for the Christmas Gift Shop and to those who supported the children on the day. The gift shop is always one of the children's favourite events – they absolutely loved the independence of choosing presents for their families and managing their own money. It's a joy to see their excitement (and their attempts to keep their purchases secret until Christmas Day!). Thank you for making this special experience possible.

Operation Snowflake – The elves did it again!

A huge thank you to all the parent-elves who helped make Operation Snowflake such a success! The school looks absolutely magical, and the children's reactions when they arrived were wonderful to see. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who gave up their time to decorate, those who created the beautiful gingerbread houses, and those who donated decorations and supplies. It truly was a team effort, and the festive atmosphere you've helped create has been enjoyed by everyone over the past couple of weeks. Thank you for being part of this special tradition – you've made Christmas at school extra special this year!

Things coming up next half term...

• Next Friends of Claverdon meeting Friday 23rd January 130pm at School (Please join us - we would especially love to brainstorm ideas for the summer!)

• Disco 14th May 2026

• Early discussions for a school tea towel! Watch this space!

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Have you joined the 100 Club yet? For just £2 per month (or £24 annually), you'll be in with a chance of winning one of two cash prizes every month, whilst also supporting the school. The 100 Club provides a valuable regular income for Friends of Claverdon, and if you're lucky enough to win, it's a lovely surprise to find some extra money in your bank account! With great odds of winning and the satisfaction of supporting your child's school, it's a win-win! You can sign up at www.friendsofclaverdon.org/the-100-club – players must be over 18.

  
  

  

Don't forget to label everything before the January return! We've partnered with Stikins name labels – simply use our fundraising number 4537 when ordering, and the school receives commission on every purchase. Check here for more details.

Thank you everyone for all your support at the beginning of 2025/26 - we hope you have a lovely Christmas!