Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

It’s been a joy to see some late summer sunshine over this week, which we’ve all been able to enjoy. The weather won’t always be good, but in a year when one of our school improvement priorities is all about making outdoor play an excellent part of each school day, we are hoping to get outside as much as we can!

The children continue to impress in their new classes, and are working hard at ‘being your best’, as in our ‘Ways to Be’. As well as ‘being our best’ in class, we also want the best playtimes and lunchtimes. We are beginning work to become an ‘OPAL’ school, which will mean some exciting additions and changes to our playtimes and lunchtimes over the coming months. More about this to come! In the meantime, children are busy earning lunchtime keys when they demonstrate ‘the key to a good lunchtime’, and we are setting up at both the infants and juniors next week some children to be our ‘cleaner playground champions’.

We hold Year 5 in our prayers for next week and wish them well, to have a great adventure at Carroty Wood, setting off on Monday. We look forward to hearing more, and seeing pictures of all the activities. This is always a very exciting part of the Year 5 curriculum.

In the meantime, may I wish you a happy and blessed weekend.

Our School Updates for Parents

End of day Pick up  

We updated our Missing Child Protocol at the beginning of this term. Please note that children up to Year 4 must be collected by parents/carers or by a pre-nominated person, who should be 18 or over, unless prior permission has been given by the school, using the form sent via email. You can read the updated guidance here. 

Reporting Absences

Please can we remind parents/carers that to report a child’s absence, please now use the Arbor Parent App or Portal. You must do so by 8:55 a.m. each day of absence. We no longer use the Google form.

If your child suffers from either vomiting  or diarrhoea, then they must be kept off school and can only return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear. It is vital that we are kept updated as we are keen to ensure that any child who walks to school on their own is safe.

Drama

There are still a few places left at the Y1 Drama Club at lunchtime on Mondays. You can book via the school website.

STEM Lunch - Volunteers Needed

We're hosting a series of STEM Lunch and Learn events where parents with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) expertise share their experiences with the children. If you work or volunteer in a relevant sector we would love to hear from you. Please email the school office with your name, role/profession and they will contact you with more information. Do also pass this invitation to anyone you know who might be able to help. Help inspire our future innovators! 

Bicycles at the Juniors

Please can we remind you that children’s bikes should be stored in the bicycle racks in the playground and not in the staff bicycle rack by the office.

Year 4 /5 /6 - Soloist Concert - Friday 18th October in the Junior Hall (exact times to be confirmed)

If your child plays an instrument or sings and they would like to take part, they can send in an audition video to Mrs Bond (lucy.bond@ccnm.uk) by Monday 23rd September (but sooner if possible). This will then give the teachers time to look through all of the auditions to choose a variety of performances for the concert, and allow time for rehearsing at school with the piano if needed. Parents and the children's classmates will be invited to watch the concert. Timings: The last few soloist concerts have been quite long, so please aim to keep the pieces short. It may be possible to extract a very long piece or cut out repeats. If your child chooses a song, stick to one or two verses and a chorus. Also, please ensure the lyrics are appropriate and that the song can be sung easily by a child (some pop songs are unsuitable for young voices). The children may sing in a group with friends if they can arrange a video audition together. We will be available to accompany instrumental pieces and songs if needed, but music must be provided (or a backing track found). Please note that this concert is only for children in Years 4, 5 and 6. The Year 3 children will have an opportunity to perform later in the year.

Parent Musicians Needed

We are looking for parents who may be current musicians or ex-instrumentalists to show the children different instruments. As part of the musical journey at Christ Church, several topics involve listening to or learning about orchestral instruments. If you play one and could come in to demonstrate it, that would be fantastic. Alternatively, if you have an instrument from your childhood that you could show to the children and demonstrate even a couple of notes, that would also be helpful. The children are always delighted to see different instruments and a very friendly, appreciative audience! We are especially always looking out for slightly rarer instruments such as the bassoon, tuba etc however, all are very welcome. If you can help at some point, please email Mrs Bond at lucy.bond@ccnm.uk.

Secondary School Application Deadline

A reminder to Year 6 parents/carers that the deadline for secondary school applications is Thursday, 31st October.  Please complete the online application if you haven't already done so at eAdmissions.

Parking at drop off and pick up

Please remain considerate of our neighbours and fellow drivers when parking near the school. Avoid parking over driveways or illegally, as this blocks the road, causing gridlock and frustration and poses a risk to your children. Unfortunately, this issue has occurred several times this week outside the Junior site, and we would greatly appreciate your cooperation in resolving it.

Wider Community Updates

Free After School Hockey for Years 3-6

Please see the attached flyer for details of a free after school hockey club at Surbiton Hockey Club.

MNS October Half-Term Science Activity Holiday STEAM Camp 

Mother Nature Science are delighted to confirm their Early-Bird Discount is now in place for their October Half-Term Science Activity Holiday STEAM Camp 2024 - Halloween Science! Don’t forget the Special School Basket Discount Code ‘coolschool20’ for an extra £20-off list price for full-week places. Please see the attached flyer for more details. Note: Childcare Vouchers, GTFC, CGPS and Universal Credit (UC) payment methods are now accepted by MNS. Just book online as normal and choose ‘Pay By Other Method’ at Checkout to receive further instructions. Find your closest camp location (by entering your home postcode) and Book Now here.

Capture Kingston Photography Competition - £50 prize for under 16s

This is an annual competition run by the Friends of Kingston Museum and Heritage Service to increase the photographic collection of Kingston History Centre. Entrants could win a cash prize but will also have their photographs become a part of the historic collection to be enjoyed by visitors and researchers in the future. If you are under 16 years, please ask your parent or guardians permission to enter, there is a question on the form that asks for their name and email address. A parent or guardian can fill out this form on behalf of a child who is entering. You don't have to have an expensive camera to take part and most entrants use the camera on their smartphone. The only rules are the photographs must be taken this year and must be within the borough of Kingston which includes Chessington, New Malden, Hook and Tolworth. Please see the attached poster and information on how to enter can be found on their website here. The closing date is Monday 30th September. 

Key School Dates 

• Monday 23rd - Wednesday 25th September - Y5 Trip to Carroty Wood
• Tuesday 24th September - Y2 Fox Class Trip to Pizza Express
• Tuesday 24th September - Y4 Trip to the French Institute
• Tuesday 24th September - PTA Welcome Drinks in the Glasshouse @ 7:30pm (new) 
• Tuesday 1st October - Y2 Hedgehog Trip to Pizza Express
• Wednesday 2nd October - PTA AGM in Infant Hall @ 7:30pm (new)
• Friday 4th October - Harvest Service @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 8th October - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 8th October - Y3 & 4 - Drumming Workshops (am) (new)
• Thursday 10th October - Y2 Trip to the Science Museum (new)
• Friday 11th October - PTA Break the Rules Day 
• Monday 14th - Friday 18th October - Chums Week
• Tuesday 15th October - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 17th October - Y1 Trip to the Natural History Museum (new)
• Thursday 17th - Friday 18th October - Y5 Junior Roadwatch
• Monday 21st - Friday 25th October - Art Week
• Wednesday 23rd October - Parents’ Evening @ 3:45-6:45pm
• Thursday 24th October - Parents’ Evening @ 2:45-5:45pm
• Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November - Half Term
• Thursday 7th November - Leopard Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Monday 11th - Friday 15th November - Anti-Bullying Week
• Tuesday 12th November - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Wednesday 13th November - Reception to Y6 Individual & Sibling Photographs
• Friday 15th November - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Monday 18th - Friday 22nd November - Y4 Learn to Ride Bikeability
• Monday 18th November - Nasal Flu Immunisations
• Wednesday 20th November - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 21st November - Learning Look @ 3:30-4:30pm 
• Thursday 28th November - Antelope Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Saturday 30th November - Christmas Fair
• Monday 9th - Friday 13th December - Chums Week
• Tuesday 10th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 4:00pm
• Wednesday 11th December - Christma Lunch
• Wednesday 11th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 6:00pm
• Thursday 12th December - Reception Nativity @ 9:00am
• Thursday 19th December - Church Service @ 9:30am
• Thursday 19th December - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Friday 20th December - INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Monday 23rd December - Friday 3rd January - Christmas Holidays
• Monday 6th January - INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Tuesday 7th January - Spring Term starts