Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

There’s been lots going on this week, including our school dog Eddie beginning his term back at school with us with some visits to our infant site this week!

Myself and Mr Burkinshaw have been able to get around to every class this week to see some of the learning already going on in this year, and this has been great to see. As children settle into their new classes and with their new teachers, it is encouraging to see how swiftly routines and expectations have been adopted. With the first ‘pupil of the week’ tea parties, and children proudly coming to show off their learning, it is clear that many children are out to impress as the year starts! One of the keys to success will be us working closely with you to ensure learning is supported at home and at school, so do ask if you have any questions. There will be parents’ evenings before half term, and look out for more detail on this coming soon.

One way to get involved generally in our school community is by supporting our school in prayer. Once a term, Rev. Stephen leads a prayer meeting for staff, parents and friends of the school to gather to pray for our school community. The next one is Wednesday 4th October at 8pm, and this happens at the church (Christ Church). Do join us if you can!

Getting involved in a different way, if you think you have skills to offer, you may be interested in joining our board of governors, as we have a vacancy for a parent governor coming up. More details are also below. 

We are also shortly saying goodbye to Mrs Stevens, who has been one of our Pastoral Mentors for the last 8 years (having started with us as a Teaching Assistant over 11 years ago). She will shortly be moving on, as she is about to begin further post-grad training to develop her skills further for the future. We do wish Mrs Stevens well and thank her for all her work with us. You’ll see below that we are currently advertising for a new pastoral mentor to take up her role. 

As the nice weather seems to continue, I wish you a happy, sunny weekend.

Our School Updates for Parents

Parent Governor Vacancy: message from Chair of Governors, Robert Shrimpton

We would like to thank Emma Scott for all the time, effort and expertise she has given to the School and Governing Body over the last eight years as parent governor but, as Emma’s term of office is coming to a close, we have a vacancy and you have the opportunity to elect a new parent governor. A letter which gives more details of the role and the nomination / election process has been sent to parents/carers via Arbor. The timeline is as follows:

• Nominations close Friday 22nd September@ noon
• Ballot if more than 1 nomination received 
  • opens Friday 22nd September 
  • closes Friday 29th September @3:30pm
• NB The first Full Governing Body Meeting of the school year is scheduled for Thursday 5th October 2023.

Opportunity to join our team!

We are currently advertising for a new staff member to join our school office team. Please see the advert here. The deadline for applications is Monday 18th September at 12noon.  If this may be of interest, or you have questions, please speak to Ian Duncan, our School Business Manager in the first instance.

We are also now advertising for a part-time Pastoral Mentor (KS2) to work at the junior site. Please see the advert here. The deadline for applications for this is Wednesday 27th September. If this is of interest, please speak to Alex Roe, SENCO/Inclusion lead in the first instance.

New School Times

Thank you for your cooperation with our new times:

• Infants - 8.35am - 3.05pm
• Juniors - 8.45am - 3.20pm

Gate opening and closing times:

• 8.30am for the infant site, to allow time to get in and get all our little ones settled for the 8.35-8.45 registration period (gate closes at 8.45am)
• 8.40am for the outer gate at the juniors, with the inner gate opening at 8.45am, for our 8.45-8.55 registration period (gate closes at 8.55am). Children should not arrive before 8:40 a.m. (unless they have a club or group) as they will not be supervised until 8:40am.  Please ensure your children do not play around any parked cars in this area. 

Please make sure, if you are dropping off an infant child before coming up to the juniors, that your infant child has gone into class (doors open 8.35am) and has not been left unattended before you leave. There is plenty of time to get to the junior site, as the gate at the juniors does not close until 8.55am.

School Dinners Update

It has been encouraging to see the juniors enjoying their free school meals. We are aware that some junior children have not had as much time to eat as they would like and are putting measures in place to ensure that they do. 

Please see attached the new Nourish menu for after half term.

Pupil Medication

As we start the new school year, please remember to hand in to the school office any inhalers/medication that your child may need during the school day.

Pupil Dietary Requirements

As all children are now eligible for free school meals, if you haven’t already done so, please can parents/carers check that the dietary requirements for your child are up to date on Arbor.

Pupil Bicycles

At the juniors please could we remind you that pupil bicycles should be placed in the pupil bike racks in the playground and not in the staff bike racks by the office.  Thank you.

Energy Drinks

Water is the best and healthiest drink for children to be drinking. Government guidelines say that energy drinks are not recommended for children; cans are labelled with these warnings. You can support your children in making healthy choices, by ensuring they are not relying on an energy drink to give them a short-term ‘fix’.  Children can understand the concerns around effects that energy drinks have on their health and behaviour and it is good to make them aware that energy drinks are not a healthy choice (even the low calorie options as they still contain high levels of caffeine).  

As a parent you can encourage young people to reduce their feelings of tiredness by

• Getting more sleep. (Watching tv, working on a laptop or playing computer games before going to sleep will stimulate the brain – try to avoid this.) 
• Avoiding fizzy or caffeine drinks before going to sleep (a milky drink aids sleep) 
• Eating a healthier diet – wholegrain cereals and fruit are recommended by health professionals as a good breakfast that releases energy slowly over the morning until lunch. 
• Encouraging a physical activity, exercise helps sleep because a tired mind will sleep better if the body is tired too.

Mental Health Support Team (MHST) 

Achieving for Children’s Mental Health Support Teams are delivering a series of webinars for parents of primary aged children. The ‘Helping Children with …’ series of webinars will cover a range of common difficulties experienced by children and will aim to share evidence-based strategies to help parents and carers support their children with these difficulties. Here are the flyers and sign-up details for the 2 upcoming webinars:  

• Helping Children with worries
• Helping Children with resilience  

Wider Community Updates

Free Hockey Trial Sessions

The Old Kingstonian HC is a small, local hockey club with both junior and senior members. They are offering free trials this autumn for children from Reception age onwards and have sent the attached poster with further information and how to book.

First Class Learning Maths and English - New Malden Library

We have been sent the attached flyer to introduce the First Class Learning Centre Study Centre, which is running very successfully in New Malden Library. Currently there is an early bird offer & free assessment available. They currently have many students from various age groups. First Class Learning (FCL) is a well-established nationwide network of after-school Study Centres offering support in Maths and English to pupils from early years through to GCSE. The First Class Learning study programmes have been developed in the UK to address the learning outcomes of the National Curriculum. Students follow individualised courses of study appropriate to their needs and ability, and always relevant to schoolwork.

Mother Nature Science - October Half-Term Science Activity Holiday Camp

We have received the attached flyer with details for a Mother Nature Science - October Half-Term Science Activity Holiday Camp 2023 - Spooky Science.  There is also an Early-Bird Discount in place which expires next Monday 18 September 2023.  Use the special Venue School Basket Discount Code ‘coolschool’ for an extra £10-off list price for full-week places. You can book via their website here. 

HENRY Healthy families schools newsletter 

Please see attached the new edition of the termly HENRY Healthy families schools newsletter, with details of their upcoming FREE Healthy Families Group programmes, 1:1 programmes and workshops.

Key School Dates 

• Tuesday 19th September – Fox class trip to Pizza Express
• Friday 22nd September – Y1 Trip to the Natural History Museum
• Monday 25th & 26th September – Junior Road Watch
• Wednesday 27th – Friday 29th September – Y5 Trip to Carroty Wood
• Wednesday 27th September – Infant Nasal Flu Immunisations
• Tuesday 3rd October – Hedgehog class trip to Pizza Express
• Wednesday 4th October – Junior Nasal Flu Immunisations
• Wednesday 4th October - Church and school prayer group @8pm
• Friday 6th October – Harvest Service
• Monday 16th – Friday 20th October – Chums Week
• Wednesday 18th – Thursday 19th October – Parents’ Evening
• Monday 23rd – Friday 27th October – Half Term
• Wednesday 8th November – Reception – Y6 Individual Photographs
• Thursday 9th November – Leopard Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Friday 10th November – Soloists Concert @ 9am
• Monday 13th – Friday 17th November – Anti-Bullying Week
• Monday 13th November – Y1 Pollock’s Toy Museum Workshop
• Thursday 23rd November – Learning Look @ 4:30-5:30pm
• Saturday 25th November – PTA Christmas Fair
• Monday 27th November – Friday 1st December – Wellbeing Week
• Thursday 30th November – Antelope Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Monday 4th December – Y5 Greek Workshop (pm)
• Monday 11th – Friday 15th December – Chums Week
• Tuesday 12th December - Junior Christmas Production @ 4pm
• Wednesday 13th December – Junior Christmas Production @ 6pm
• Thursday 14th December – Reception Nativity @ 9am
• Wednesday 20th December – Church Service @ 9:45am
• Wednesday 20th December – Term finishes @ 1:05p.m. (infants), 1:20 p.m. (juniors) and Connect 5:15 p.m.
• Thursday 21st December – INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Friday 22nd December – Friday 5th January – Christmas Holiday
• Monday 8th January – INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Tuesday 9th January – Pupils return to school