Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

One of the things we talk a lot about at Christ Church, as well as ‘creating community’ and ‘embracing diversity’, is ‘achieving widely’ and this was very much on display this week at school. This has included our Year 4 children this week enjoying their bikeability sessions (despite battling some rain) and some great sandwich-making in Year 1 (which I personally sampled for lunch!). Big congratulations also to Emma Silva Cerqueira in Year 6 who was the runner up in the New Malden Remembrance poetry competition with her beautiful ‘Lest We Forget’ poem. 

In sports news, following all our footballing success last week, attention turned to Dodgeball this week; some of our Year 5 and 6 children took part in an event at Kingston Academy. This was the first ever dodgeball tournament and the children represented the school really well, and we celebrated with them in collective worship today.

We’ve also had our Year 5 children out and about this week taking part in the Junior Roadwatch scheme, and getting an insight to how the police keep our roads safe. Speeding drivers were given the choice of a fine of £100 and three points on their licence, or explaining why they were speeding to the children (all chose to talk to the children!).

My thanks to our PTA, who have organised a disco for children tonight and, of course, are working hard on planning for our Christmas Fair next Saturday 30th November - Christmas will be in full swing for this event!

At this event, we will be continuing to raise funds for our junior playground project. Whilst this has been slower than we would have hoped, there are some exciting plans coming together in line with our OPAL project. More details to look forward to next week!

Hopefully, you managed to get along to this week’s ‘Learning Look’ and your children were able to show off some of their learning, and introduce you to their classroom and some of their work so far this term.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope you and your family have a good time. 

Our School Updates for Parents

Nourish meals and next steps 

Thank you for recent feedback on this aspect of school life. This week, there was a review meeting with our Nourish managers to ensure all feedback is shared and acted on, regarding aspects such as choice and accuracy of menu. Our attached Nourish manager has been spending some time with her staff team this week to ensure good practice at both our infant and junior site. Nourish will shortly be sharing, in words and pictures, some more about the lunchtime experience at Christ Church for parents to see. 

There will also be in January a Nourish taster for parents, an assembly for children and an opportunity for pupils themselves to give feedback and ideas to Nourish staff themselves. We have also invited the Nourish manager to the next class reps meeting in the spring.

Wheels Wanted 

We want to get the children moving in the playground. As part of our OPAL journey we are looking for donations of working:

• Scooters
• Pushchairs
• Wheelchairs

If you have any of these, please hand them into the office on either site. Likewise, if you know where we could source them, please let us know. 

Help Needed

Do you have experience accessing funding via grants and are keen to help the school? If so, please speak to Mr Burkinshaw. 

Safeguarding - Pick up and Drop Off 

In order to keep children safe at this busy time of day, adults will no longer be able to use the school toilets at the beginning and end of the school day. Children needing to use the toilets will be able to do so but on their own.

Parrot Street Pop Up - Friday 29th November 

It is Black Friday, and Emily and Sarah from Parrot Street will be coming to school with a carefully chosen selection of new childrens’ books which would make perfect Christmas presents for your children! They will be running their pop-up:

• After drop-off at the Juniors site (8:45-9:15) 
• Before pick-up at the Infants. (2:30-3:05)

For more information see the flyer. 

No Home Learning Group Next Week

As next week is Wellbeing week, and there is no home learning set, there will be no home learning group with Mrs Wogan on Tuesday.

Primary School Applications 

For any parents making primary school applications for September 2025 entry, you can apply online here. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 15th January 2025. You must submit your application online and return any supplementary information forms to the school office by this date. Please ensure that you choose Christ Church New Malden CofE Primary School (and not Christ Church CofE Primary School Surbiton).

Nursery Applications

For any parents making nursery applications for September 2025, please complete this form. The closing date for applications is Friday 7th March 2025.

Wider Community Updates

Old Emanuel Rugby Opportunities

Old Emanuel is a small, really friendly rugby club, with a great refurbished clubhouse at the end of Beeline Way. A few of our Christ Church children are already part of their Lions mini section and they’d love some more to come along and be roar-some with them on a Sunday morning. You can attend four sessions for free to see if you like it before signing up. Their girls also regularly have girls-only sessions as part of an exciting new team, the Sparks. Feel free to message Y3/Y6 parent Jenny with any queries on 07967 480638. Please see the attached flyers for more information on the Lions and Sparks.

Malden Centre Christmas Concert - Thursday 12th December

The Malden Centre annual Christmas Concert is a free event and everyone is welcome. Please see the attached poster for information.

Christmas Tech Camp

Next Thing Education will be hosting a variety of tech filled activities at both our Junior site on the 30^th and 31^st December and the 2^nd and 3^rd January from 9 am to 4 pm each day for children aged 5 to 11 years old. Their mission is simple: to inspire, engage, and empower the next generation of innovators. Here's a glimpse of what awaits: 

• Lego Engineering – Create and build frames with axles and crankshafts that allow you to explore and learn about different functions like spinning or turning back and forth.
• Fantastical Virtual Reality - With the magic of VR, you can explore breath-taking virtual worlds, design your own adventures, and unleash your imagination like never before.
• 3D Festive Creations - Unlock your inner Tech Artist and create mesmerising three-dimensional creations, letting your imagination soar!
• Laser Tag - Step into the action-packed world of laser tag! Engage in thrilling battles and team up with friends in the ultimate test of skill and strategy.
• Christmas Circuitry and Electronics - Learn about electronics with circuit cubes and test your building skills with endless projects possibilities! 

All staff are DBS Checked and qualified to run the greatest sessions in the safest environment. For more information please see the attached flyer or to book:

• Click Here to Book at Christ Church School 
• Click Here to Book at St Joseph’s Catholic School

HAF places available at this camp on 2^nd and 3^rd January! They have a number of HAF spaces available at camp which are completely FREE to eligible children on benefits-related FSM and include a hot lunch alongside the fantastic activities. You can click on the link above and find the ‘funded booking link’ button for more information. HAF bookings at this camp open on 25^th November.

Key School Dates 

• Friday 22nd November - PTA School disco for Infants @ 3.30-4.30pm (Junior hall)
• Friday 22nd November - PTA School disco for Juniors @ 5.00-6.30pm (Junior hall)
• Tuesday 26th November - Y2 Christmas Journey at The Baptist Church 
• Wednesday 27th November - Y3 Rainbow Theatre Greek Workshop
• Thursday 28th November - Gazelle Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Friday 29th November - Parrot Street Pop Up (Juniors 8:45 – 9:15am/Infants 2:35 – 3:05pm)
• Saturday 30th November - Christmas Fair @ 1:00-4:00pm
• Wednesday 4th December - Turtle Class “Try The Train” Trip 
• Friday 6th December - Y5 Handbells & Singers performing at the Baptist Church Toddler Group (new)
• Monday 9th - Friday 13th December - Chums Week
• Monday 9th December - Y5 Handbells and Singers performing at St. John's Church (new)
• Tuesday 10th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 4:00pm
• Wednesday 11th December - Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumper Day
• Wednesday 11th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 6:00pm
• Thursday 12th December - Nursery & Reception Joint Nativity @ 9:00am
• Monday 16th December - Y2 Choir singing at the Methodist Church (new)
• Monday 16th December - Nursery & Reception Trip to the Methodist Church & Waitrose (new)
• 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