Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

We have enjoyed our iShare Learning theme of ‘No Fear’ over these last few weeks, reflecting on the Bible verse, ‘I can do all things who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4v13); we have learnt about various Bible characters who had to overcome fear, such as Daniel, Gideon, Moses and Jesus’ disciples. This week, with Rev Stephen, we also reflected on the most well-known psalm that begins ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. Rev Stephen even brought a sheep in to worship (not a real one!).  It has also been a delight this week, as the children met with their ‘chums’, for them to share their own ‘I can’ achievements.

This week, we have been believing ‘I can change the world’ through our writing. Our ‘Writing to Change the World’ week started with inspiration from our visiting author Ellie Irving, who talked about how she became a writer. Whilst with us, Ellie signed some book plates for children who have ordered her books, and these should get to you shortly after half term.

Following on from this, children have been writing their own writing pieces for our school-wide competition to win book tokens supplied by the PTA. Don’t forget adults can get involved too, with your 250 words to change the world - just email your entry for a chance to win an Amazon voucher to changetheworld@ccnm.uk.

In this busy week, we’ve also marked Safer Internet Day, which was on Tuesday. There are plenty of resources to help with this which can be found here on our website. Our thriving Year 2 choir have been ‘on tour’ this week, singing to the Widow’s Group at Christ Church and our Year 6 children spent a very interesting day on Wednesday at the campus of Chessington World of Adventures for their junior citizen day. Macaw class entertained their parents yesterday with their excellent class worship. It is always a delight to welcome parents into our worships. It has also been wonderful to see this morning a whole range of creative costumes from our reception children in their dress up day as part of their topic on fairy tales.

A big well done also to Libby, Eleanor, Melanie, Keira, Lara and Gana, who took part in a girls’ football competition at Richmond & Kew Football Ground on Wednesday. They got through to the quarter finals which was a great effort, especially as they were up against a lot of Year 6 pupils. Congratulations to them all!

May I wish you all a happy and enjoyable half term week, as the weather continues to warm up and we look towards the longer days of Spring. I pray you have a blessed week of some lovely family times.

Key Updates for Parents

Parents’ Evening

This term we have the following online opportunities for parents to meet with their child’s teacher and discuss how your child has settled in to the class and to talk about their learning:

• Tuesday 7th March (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) - All classes (no SEN appointments)
• Wednesday 8th March (3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.) - All classes (except Mrs Roe’s Y6 maths) & SEN
• Thursday 9th March (3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) - SEN appointments only

All appointments will be online video appointments and will need to be booked through SchoolCloud, an intuitive and easy to use online appointment booking system. We will send out further information and booking instructions after half term.

Please note that school closes 1 hour early on Wednesday 8th March to accommodate parents’ evening.

Learning Look 

Like last term, we are also providing an ‘in-person’ opportunity for the children to show off their learning, when you are invited in to their classrooms and to look at work in their books. This will be on Thurs March 30th between 4.30pm - 5.30pm. Please note that this begins strictly at 4.30pm and we cannot accommodate entrance into classrooms before this time. We know the children will enjoy showing you their learning!

World Book Day Thurs 2nd March

To mark World Book Day this year, we will be doing some fun things on this day as an alternative to dressing up. We’ll share more details of this with you after half term. At the time of writing, 2nd March is also a planned teacher strike day (arrangements are likely to be similar to last time, but we will give more detail as we can after half term). Be assured that for any classes not present on World Book Day, we will mark this day on an alternative day that week. Watch out for more details in the next parent bulletin.

Music Soloists Concert - morning of Friday 10th March (timings 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 Friday 24th February. This will then give the teachers time to look through all of the auditions and choose a variety of performances for the concert.  Parents will be invited to watch the concert, as will the children's chums and class mates. 

If your child is choosing a song, please consider the length (maybe stick to one or two verses and a chorus). Also please make sure the lyrics are appropriate and the song can be sung easily by a child (some pop songs are not suitable 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 will need to be provided (or a backing track found).

Save the Date: Wimbledon SingFest - Saturday 13th May

Exciting opportunity for the Junior Choir! - We have been invited to sing at Wimbledon SingFest which will be happening on the afternoon of Saturday, 13th May and will involve members of the Junior Choir - more details will follow after half-term but please keep the date free if you are interested.

Volunteer Reading Circle

Do you love reading? Could you spare one hour a week, starting next half term? We are currently hoping to recruit some additional volunteers (parents, grandparents and or carers) to help support reading.  This would be an afternoon slot and we are hoping for a regular weekly commitment of 1 hour.  We will provide training.  You would need to have a DBS, which we can help you with.  If you are interested or have any questions, please email office@ccnm.uk ref: Volunteer Reading Circle.

Key Dates - Spring 2023

• Monday 13th - Friday 17th February - Half Term
• Thursday 23rd February - Y2 Visit to the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
• Friday 24th February - Break the rules day
• Thursday 2nd March - World Book Day
• Wednesday 1st March - Tiger Class Worship @ 2:45pm (changed from Thurs 2nd)
• Tuesday 7th March - Parents’ Evening - 4:00 - 7:00pm
• Wednesday 8th March - Parents’ Evening - 3:00 - 6:00pm (School closes 1 hour early)
• Thursday 9th March - SEN Parents Evening appointments - 3:00 - 6:00pm
• Thursday 9th March - Owl Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Friday 10th March - Junior Soloists Concert - timings tbc
• Thursday 16th March - Lion Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Friday 17th March - PTA Quiz Night @ 7:30pm
• Tuesday 21st March - School Concert (Evening)
• Thursday 23rd March - Fox Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Saturday 25th March - Easter Egg Hunt
• Thursday 30th March - Learning Look - 4:30 - 5:30pm
• Friday 31st March - Easter Service @ 9:45am
• Friday 31st March - Term finishes at 1.15pm (infants) and 1.30pm (juniors)