Weekly Update from Mr Burkinshaw

What a wonderful week it has been at Christ Church! It was lovely to welcome so many parents to yesterday’s Learning Look. The children do love showing you their books and it is always powerful when parents can see and comment on their child’s progress.  

Our Year 6 children absolutely dazzled audiences with their performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The children captivated us with their character portrayals in this creatively staged and confidently delivered performance. It was a reminder of both their talent and teamwork and all the children should be congratulated on their wonderful efforts.

On Wednesday, our Year 3 pupils brought energy and enthusiasm to the Kingston Schools Country Dancing Festival. With smiles on their faces and ribbons in their hair, they danced with joy and precision, making the most of this special annual event. A big thank you to all the staff and parents who supported them.

Year 5 also had a treat this week with a visit to Coombe Boys’ School to watch a spectacular production of Guys and Dolls. The performance was of a high standard and the children thoroughly enjoyed it—an inspiring experience for our budding performers!

Our PTA raffle was drawn today - thanks for all who got involved in this! If you are a prize winner, a nice email will be coming your way!

Finally, as we begin looking ahead to the next academic year, we are pleased to share the staffing arrangements for each class. From September, as well as the class teacher, each class will have a linked teaching assistant. The teaching assistants will continue to deliver the fantastic interventions that they currently do, but will also be a consistent presence in the classroom. Please read Mr Meehan’s letter outlining which teachers and teaching assistants will be working with each class from September.

In the meantime, enjoy the continuing summery weather over the weekend.

Our School Updates for Parents

Reminder: New Term Menu

PS Catering have announced their menu for the new term do take a look - children opting for hot lunches will choose their meals directly at the counter as before. There is no obligation to have a meal every day, and any child who does not bring a packed lunch will be offered a hot meal. If your child requires a “special diet” (any medically prescribed diet including food allergies) then please read the attached.

Reminder: School Street Scheme - Lime Grove

Following the positive feedback from parents in our consultation earlier in the year, we are pleased to advise that a trial School Street will be introduced on Lime Grove between Poplar Grove and Coombe Road from 1st September 2025.

This will mean that, with the exception of residents’ cars, no cars will be permitted to drive down this section of Lime Grove at the times of drop off and pick up, meaning there will be minimal traffic along the road at these times of day, keeping the area around our school mch safer. 

School Streets support active travel by making it safer and easier for children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot, while also reducing local traffic congestion, poor parking and engine idling, which improves air quality.

The scheme will be enforced using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). There will be exemptions for vehicles registered to school staff, residents living within the School Street zone, emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders accessing the school.

Kingston Council will be collecting feedback about the trial scheme through the "Let's Talk" page from August 2025, but in the meantime further information can be found here: School Streets web page."

Wider Community Updates

KMS - Music Explorers

Please see the attached flyer for details.

Library Summer Reading Challenge

2025's Kingston Libraries Summer Reading Challenge is almost upon us and, this year, they have a unique challenge. Rather than following the national reading challenge, they have created their own in conjunction with Kingston Heritage and Kingston 2025. The Challenge celebrates all things Kingston which has been inspired by the crowning of King Athelstan 1,100 years ago.The Kingston Summer Reading challenge is running from 11th July to 12th September. Please see the attached for details.

Ultimate Activity Camps at Holy Cross Prep School

Ultimate Activity Camps provide activity day camps for children aged 4-14 during the school holidays. Running this Summer at Holy Cross Prep School, children will enjoy a fantastic range of over 40 sports, games and art activities every week. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Soundsteps Music School - Free Taster Sessions

Soundsteps would like to invite parents to book their child/children into a Free Music Taster Session. Please see the attached leaflet should you be interested in booking a taster session.

Key School Dates

• Monday 14th – Friday 18th July – Y6 Isle of Wight Trip
• Monday 14th – Friday 18th July – Chums Week
• Monday 14th July – Y1 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Tuesday 15th July – Y2 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Wednesday 16th July – Y3 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Thursday 17th July - Year 3 - Trip to Royal Academy
• Thursday 17th July – Y5 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Monday 18th July - Y2 Choir Performance @ 2:30pm
• Friday 18th July – Y4 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Monday 21st July – Meet New Class Day
• Monday 21st July – Y6 Leavers’ Celebration @ 2:00-3:20pm
• Monday 21st July – Y6 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Tuesday 22nd July – Church Service @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 22nd July - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Wednesday 23rd July – Friday 29th August – Summer holiday
• Monday 1st September – INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Tuesday 2nd September – Autumn Term Starts