Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

It’s been a super week at Christ Church, with lots going on! We’ve had Year 6 at the Tate Britain and Year 1 out at the Natural History Museum. We’ve also had lots of singing and music going on, and we’ve enjoyed a soloists’ music concert today in the junior hall, with so much talent on display. Thank you to Mrs Bond for organising this. Some of our ‘chums’ have also been getting together, and reflecting on our iShare Learning theme of ‘Belonging Together’.

We’ve continued to welcome parents this week for another tour, who are considering where to send their child to primary school next year. Do spread the word to your friends and neighbours and tell them how fantastic our school is. We also have big new plans for our nursery at Christ Church from next year, extending its hours and with more flexible options for parents. Thank you again to all our parents who responded to our recent survey on this.

Our school prayer group also met this week to pray for our school community; this is open to everyone, and we meet once a term. It is a real encouragement to have this prayer support for our school, as we aim, together, to ‘become the people God made us to be’.

You may have seen (or heard) Mr Roberts in recent weeks in our school office. We are thrilled that he has taken up a new role in our staff team as part of the admin team, and we welcome him to his new role.

We look forward to welcoming you to our parents’ evening appointments next week. Please remember, in order to accommodate the earlier start of parents' evening on Thursday 24th October, school will close 1 hour earlier than usual at the following times:

• Infants @ 2:05 p.m.
• Juniors @ 2:20 p.m.
• Connect will start early @ 2:05 p.m. and run until the usual time of 6:15 p.m.
• Junior Drama club and Y3&4 Football club will both run from 2:20pm.

In addition, don’t forget another date for your diary is Thurs 21st Nov, when there is an in-person opportunity to come in for the ‘Learning Look’, shortly after half term, to see your child’s classroom and the work they’ve been doing in books.

In the meantime, have a lovely weekend!

Our School Updates for Parents

Term Dates and INSET days 2025/26 

For those wanting to get ahead of the game, here are the term dates for the academic year 2025/26, together with our INSET dates, which we have just published on our website. 

Usernames and Passwords

Every student at Christ Church has access to a range of online solutions that support and enhance their learning. To access them, they need to use personalised login details. Your child has been given today a list of their login details, please keep it safe and secure, as they will need them throughout their time at Christ Church. 

Medication for Pupils

This is a reminder that any medication your child needs to take at school must be handed in to the office in the morning and a consent form needs to be completed by a parent. Children are not allowed to keep medication on them or in their bags at school. 

Parent Reps

Mr Meehan and Mr Burkinshaw meet termly with the parent reps from each class and our first meeting of the year is on Tuesday 5th November. If you are a parent rep this year, please complete the form sent via email and you will be contacted by Mr Roberts in the school office.   

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.

Wider Community Updates

The Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition 2024

Please see the attached letter regarding a competition to design the Mayor’s Christmas Card. The competition is open to all children of primary school age living and/or attending school in the borough and might be a nice activity for children to undertake during the half term break. An entry form is attached and can be submitted online directly to mayors.office@kingston.gov.uk or, alternatively, by printing the form and returning the completed picture to the school office no later than Tuesday 5th November.

Love the Ball October Camp

Love the Ball are running an October half term camp at Coombe Hill School. Please see the attached flyer for details.

Half Term Discoverers in Richmond Park

Discoverers - Friends of Richmond Park will be holding a whole day of activities on Friday 1st November to help children and their families discover all about trees, leaves and bark as well as fungi. Please see the attached flyer for details. Their events are drop-in (come whenever you can within specified times) and free of charge.

Independent Schools Show

The Independent Schools Show offers parents an opportunity to explore over 250 top independent schools from across the UK. Should this be of interest, please see the attached flyer for details.

VIP £5 tickets to Surbiton High School’s ’The Addams Family’ at New Wimbledon Theatre

Surbiton High School are delighted to be presenting a family-friendly, musical production of ’The Addams Family’ at the New Wimbledon Theatre next month. They are offering discounted VIP tickets for £5 should our parents and pupils wish to enjoy the performances as a family on the following dates:

• Thursday 21 November, 7.30pm
• Friday 22 November, 7.30pm
• Sat 23 November, 2.30pm
• Sat 23 November, 7.30pm

To book this special £5 ticket offer, select a seat in the Upper Circle using this link.

Autumn Half-Term Art & Design Camp for ages 6 to 12

IDEA have contacted us to promote their half term art and design camp at the Reuben Foundation Wing, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. Throughout the week, they’ll be experimenting with a wide range of art forms (sculpture, drawing, collage etc.) as well as delving into the world of design.  Please see the attached for details.

Kingston Adult Education Courses

As part of Kingston Council, Kingston Adult Education provides a range of courses to people aged 19 or over.  A lot of their courses are free, and take place in school hours. They have a number of 6-week courses starting after half term, including:

• Maths for Parents - aimed at parents with children moving into, or already at, secondary school so they can better support schoolwork
• Explore your business potential: a pathway to self employment - a 6-week course to consider how your skills can be used to make a successful business 
• A range of wellbeing courses to teach you how to take better care of your mental health
• French and Italian courses - for those learners with basic or no previous knowledge of these languages.

Enrolment is also open for a range of qualification courses starting in January, including Bookkeeping; Childcare; Community Interpreting; Counselling; Information, Advice and Guidance; and Understanding Mental Health. See their latest prospectus for further details about these courses as well as their wider offering. Their classes take place both online and at centres across the Royal Borough of Kingston. For further information, please contact Kingston Adult Education directly on 020 8547 6700 or at adult.education@kingston.gov.uk

Key School Dates 

• Monday 21st October - Nursery Parents’ Evening @ 3.45 p.m. - 6.45 p.m. 
• Wednesday 23rd October - Parents’ Evening (Reception - Y6) @ 3:45-6:45pm
• Thursday 24th October - Parents’ Evening (Reception - Y6) @ 2:45-5:45pm (School closes 1 hour early)
• Thursday 24th October - Y6 Trip to the Buddhapadipa Temple (am)
• Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November - Half Term
• Tuesday 5th November - Y1 and 2 Outer Space Drama Workshops
• Wednesday 6th November - Y5 Trip to Hampton Court Palace
• Wednesday 6th November - Reception Little Wandle Phonics Talk @ 2:30-3:00pm (new)
• Thursday 7th November - Leopard Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Thursday 7th November - Y1 Little Wandle Phonics Talk @ 2:30-3:00pm (new)
• Monday 11th - Friday 15th November - Anti-Bullying Week
• Tuesday 12th November - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 12th November - Y2 Little Wandle Phonics Talk @ 2:30-3:00pm (new)
• 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 19th - Thursday 20th November - Y5 Junior Roadwatch
• 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 - Christmas Lunch
• Wednesday 11th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 6:00pm
• Thursday 12th December - Nursery & Reception Joint 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