Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

The Governors’ Fund is one of the quiet heroes of our school life. It helps turn good ideas into great experiences – from enriching resources and inspiring initiatives to those extra touches that make learning memorable and joyful for our children. At a time when school budgets are increasingly stretched, this fund allows us to go beyond the basics and continue offering the high-quality education every child deserves. Any contribution, big or small, makes a real difference and is directly invested back into our pupils’ learning and wellbeing. 

Please find attached here more information about our governors’ fund. We’ve made it really easy to donate in this way to the school, and we would really appreciate your regular giving. It is through regular giving to the fund that we are able to ensure every junior child has a Chromebook for school and home use, and have a safe and accessible device to aid their learning, but we are also aware that we need to increase the levels of the fund, and so we need your help. Thank you for being such a supportive community and for helping us give our Christ Church children the very best start! If you’d like to know more about the Chromebook initiative, then visit our FAQ page on our website. 

Meanwhile, we’ve had a great week at Christ Church, which began with our Faith and Spirituality Group leading collective worship on Monday. Our Year 6 pupils have also learnt more about being responsible members of the community through the ‘Junior Citizen’ programme on Wednesday. Our Year 5s are looking forward to their trip to the Buddhist temple on Monday. 

Don’t forget also that we have the Junior Talent Show coming up later term; here’s the letter which tells you how to get involved. In some pupil interviews this week, it was clear how much our children love these trips and events as part of our broad and rich curriculum. 

I hope you and your family have a great weekend ahead, and are able to dodge the showers!

Our School Updates for Parents

New Infant Gate Arrangements 

Parents of infant children will have noticed that we now have our electronic entry gate in operation. Please note that this gate is the one to come to if you are visiting in the school day time, and use the buzzer to the left of the gate to gain entry to the site.

For drop off and pick up time, the large gate by the staff car park will be open at that time for parents to come in and drop off their children. The electronic gate will not be open any more at that time. Please note, the inner infant gate will now open in the morning at 8:35 am and in the afternoon at 3 pm.

With our new fence and gate, we are very pleased to ensure an attractive and safe boundary for our school site. In the coming weeks, we will be liaising with the PTA to add some new features to the front of our school, now it is safe and secure within our boundaries.

Dangerous Driving on Elm Road

Please can we remind all our parents to ensure considerate driving/parking when dropping off, picking up or visiting the junior site. A number of cars were seen mounting the pavement on Elm Road this morning which is incredibly dangerous to pedestrians, especially children. We ask that you please reconsider using Elm Road at pick up and drop off times and if you have to, to please drive with patience and consideration. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Vacancies at Christ Church New Malden 

We are advertising the current vacancies at our school for the summer term onwards:

• Site Manager 
• Connect Supervisor 
• Connect Playleader
• Teaching Assistant

If you are interested in any of these vacancies, you are welcome to have an informal discussion with Mr Meehan or Mr Burkinshaw to find out more.

• Catering Assistant. PS Catering are looking for an assistant to join their team - 3 hours per day term time only. £12.21 / hour rising to £12.71 in April.  Please contact Erin Tomlin, their area manager, on 07584 757305 or erin@pscateringmanagement.co.uk

Charity Tuesday 

Next week, we have our first Charity Tuesday of the year, on Tuesday 10th February, and we will be supporting the Princess Alice Hospice through having a pyjama day! Children can come to school in pyjamas or, if they would prefer, mufti clothes in return for bringing in their donation to the charity. Speakers from Princess Alice Hospice are visiting on Monday and talking to the children about their work in collective worship on that day.

Kitchen Equipment

We need to supplement our mud kitchen supplies. By next Thursday, children can bring any of these items into class and the class that collects the most will be awarded extra play. We need:

• pots (no glass lids)
• pans (no glass lids)
• large spoons
• ladles
• sieves
• colanders
• plastic/metal bowls
• pestle & mortars
• weighing scales (non electrical)
• potato mashers
• whisks
• washing up bowls.

Furniture

We’re looking for garden tables, chairs and benches in good condition. Plus sinks, microwaves (made safe) - if you have any of these items please email the office with photos. We can collect large items.

Arrival for before school Clubs and Intervention Groups reminder 

Please could we remind parents that children should arrive at the start time of the club/intervention group before school. Some children are still arriving up to 15 minutes early.

Year 3/4- Soloist Concert - Tuesday March 10th in the Junior Hall 9am 

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 20th February (but sooner if possible). This will then give the teachers time to look through all of the auditions to choose a variety of performances for the concert, and allow time for rehearsing at school with the piano if needed. Parents and the children's classmates will be invited to watch the concert. Please aim to keep the pieces short. If your child chooses a song, stick to one or two verses and a chorus. Also, please ensure the lyrics are appropriate and that the song can be sung easily by a child (some pop songs are unsuitable 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 we can find the music (or you can send in a backing track). Please note that this concert is only for children in Years 3 and 4.  

Nursery Applications 

For any parents making nursery applications for September 2026, please complete this form. The closing date for applications is Friday 6th March 2026.

Wider Community Updates

Family Hub and Children's Centres Half Term Programme Should it be of interest to you, please find attached the AfC programme of activities for February half term.

Harlequins Rugby Taster Session for U11 & U12 Players

Ibstock Place School are delighted to invite pupils to an exciting Open Harlequins Taster Session for U10 and U11 rugby players, at Ibstock Place School Playing Fields, SW15 5PY, in partnership with Harlequins Rugby Club. As part of their ongoing collaboration with Harlequins, this session offers a unique opportunity for young players to experience professional coaching and gain insight into their rugby programme, which continues to develop talented athletes - some of whom are already part of the Harlequins Developing Player Programme (DPP). Please see the attached flyer for details.

Dance Shack Partnership with Epsom Playhouse

Dance Shack have asked us to advertise their exciting joint venture with the Epsom Playhouse. This means they will be starting classes in Epsom from September and are hosting their Easter Dance Course there from 30th March - 1st April. Please see the attached flyer for details.

Halliford School - Open Events and Saturday Adventure Series

Halliford School are hosting their next Open Morning on Saturday 28th February and a Visitor Morning on Tuesday 24th March..They are also hosting their Saturday Adventure Series for boys in Years 4, 5 & 6. Please see the attached for details.

New Malden Theatre Academy - Half Term Workshop

New Malden Theatre Academy (formerly Action Theatre) are running a drama workshop at our infant site during February half term. Please see the attached poster for details.

New Local Holiday Activity: Coding at Shrewsbury House
If you are currently finalizing plans for the February half-term, Jam Coding has opened a new holiday club location locally at Shrewsbury House School (Surbiton). These sessions are designed to take the pressure off - offering a structured, creative environment where children can build digital skills and work with friends. This half-term, the children will be:

• Coding their way out of puzzles.
• Designing their own 2D arcade games.
• Hacking and modifying the game they love.
• Fun off-screen team games and fresh air to burn off energy.

It is open to all local children, beginners and experienced alike, aged 5 - 11 on Monday - Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. For full details or to book a spot at this new venue, you can visit their page here.

Key School Dates

Spring 1

• Monday 9th February - Y5 Trip to Buddhapadipa Temple (am)
• Tuesday 10th February - Safer Internet Day
• Tuesday 10th February - Charity Tuesday (Pyjama Day for Princess Alice Hospice)
• Tuesday 10th February - Spring Concert @ 9am
• Tuesday 10th February - Pancake Day Special Lunch Menu 
• Wednesday 11th February - (Nursery-Y5) Parents’ Evening @ 3:45-6:45pm
• Thursday 12th February - Lunar New Year Special Lunch Menu 
• Thursday 12th February – (Nursery-Y5) Parents’ Evening @ 2:45-5:45pm (School closes 1 hour early)
• Thursday 12th February - Y6 Learning Reviews (2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.)
• Friday 13th February - Y6 Learning Reviews (8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) 
• Friday 13th February - Y6 Donut Sale Fundraiser after school at the juniors (new)
• Monday 16th - Friday 20th February - Half Term

Spring 2

• Tuesday 24th February - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30-10:00am
• Wednesday 25th February - Manor Park Mobile Farm Visit - Nursery/Reception (am)
• Wednesday 25th February - Y4 Trip to Natural History Museum
• Thursday 26th February – Hedgehog Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Friday 27th February – SEND Parents’ Meetings @ 12:00-3:00pm
• Saturday 28th February - PTA Craft Fair @ 1:00-4:00pm at Korean Culture and Arts Centre & SeOUL Residential
• Monday 2nd March – Y1 Zoolab Visit (pm)
• Monday 2nd March – Nursery Insight Visit - The Easter Story
• Wednesday 4th March - SEND Parents’ Meetings @ 12:00-3:00pm
• Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
• Thursday 5th March - World Book Day Special Lunch Menu
• Thursday 5th March – Tiger Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Monday 9th – Friday 13th March – Wellbeing Week
• Monday 9th – Friday 20th March – Y5 Bikeability
• Tuesday 10th March – Y3 & Y4 Soloist’s Concert @ 9am
• Friday 13th March – PTA Discos and Mufti Day
• Monday 16th – Friday 20th March – Chums Week
• Tuesday 17th March – Charity Tuesday
• Wednesday 18th March - Y2 Trip to Polka Theatre (am)
• Wednesday 18th March - Y5 Easter Experience
• Wednesday 18th March - Junior Talent Show @ 6:00-7:30pm
• Thursday 19th March - PS Catering - Parent Taster Session at pick up (new)
• Thursday 19th March - Learning Look from pick up until 4:30pm
• Saturday 21st March - PTA Easter Egg Hunt (time tbc)
• Wednesday 25th March - Y3 Trip to Butser Ancient Farm
• Wednesday 25th March - Easter Bonnet Parade at the infants
• Thursday 26th March - Lion Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Friday 27th March - Easter Service @ 9:30am
• Friday 27th March - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Monday 30th March - Friday 10th March - Easter Holiday
• Monday 13th April - Summer Term Starts