Thank you so much for your responses to the parent questionnaire. There have been lovely positive responses which were very encouraging and some very helpful pointers for areas to be developed. We will discuss the responses with parent representatives on 4th March and share ways forward in the minutes of the meeting. It is not too late to respond to the questionnaire if you have not yet done so.

It has been lovely to be signing off plans for a number of trips and visitors this week, whether they are trips to Shrek’s World of Adventure, the Buddhapadipa Temple, an Easter experience or visits from BMX champions or Zoolab for an African Safari workshop.  It is so refreshing to be able to add this rich layer to school life once more. We are also looking to expand our range of clubs still further for the summer term. In particular, we are looking for a netball coach. If you have a helpful contact, please let us know.

World Book Day - Thursday 3rd March 

Next week, on Thursday 3rd March, it is World Book Day and children will be able to come to school dressed in sports wear in the theme of being 'fit to read'. Please see the attached poster for details of the exciting activities we have planned. One of these is a sponsored Readathon, which we will be participating in throughout the day, and details of this are in the attached letter. Please watch out for sponsorship forms - we will need them filled in and returned so that the charity can claim GiftAid.

Parents’ Evenings 

Later this term, on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th March, we are having parents’ evenings, where parents can meet their child’s teacher. Over the past two years our parents’ evenings have been virtual. This has proved very valuable in terms of enabling parents to access the meeting from home (without babysitters) or even work, keeping to time, and not having to rush between the two sites. However, we are aware that some people value face to face contact. We would therefore be grateful if parents could complete the form sent via ParentMail, which asks which parents would prefer, virtual, face to face or don’t mind. 

Clubs on Thursday 24th March

On Thursday 24th March school closes an hour early due to parents’ evening. Year 3 and 4 football club and drama club will both run 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Book Fair - Volunteers needed

As part of World Book Day we are holding a book fair after school next week. We are looking for volunteers to help run  the book fair, so please contact the office (office@ccnm.uk), if you are able to support at the end of school on either Wednesday or Thursday at the Infants or on Friday or Monday of the following week at the Juniors.

INSET day: Friday 18th March

As you will be aware on Friday 18th March, school will be closed for an INSET day. This will be an invaluable opportunity for staff to review the progress of your child with senior leaders ready for parents’ evening.

Connect Plus - If you are interested in using Connect Plus on this inset day, please email connect@ccnm.uk. If we get enough demand, we will see if it is feasible to run between 9am-3.30pm. The deadline for expressing interest is Wednesday 9th March.

Open Afternoon

In the afternoon of Thursday 31st March (the penultimate day of term) we will invite parents to drop in during the last hour in the afternoon to see what the children have been learning. 

Year 2 Football Win

Congratulations to our Year 2 footballers who celebrated yet another win this week, with a 6-2 victory over Coombe Hill.

Reminder - In Borough Art Competition - Final submission date 3rd March

Pupils have been invited to take part in an In Borough Art competition being sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Kingston and New Malden. The competition focuses on the local environment and invites pupils to create a picture entitled 'Kingston Wildlife' which could include any animal or plant life local to the Borough. Please note that the following conditions apply:

• The picture should be no larger than A3 and can be created with any medium but not photography.
• On the back of their artwork pupils should include their name, age and school.

The first prize for each age group will be Amazon vouchers and a donation to their school. Please hand in any entries to either school office by next Thursday, 3rd March as all entries will be collected on Friday 4th March.

Kingston Music Service - Start Something new in '22

Children can learn an instrument in a group, from scratch with FREE instrument hire included by joining Wind Gang at Tolworth Centre or String Gang at Kingston Centre. It's a fantastic opportunity for your KS2 children (and also Year 2 for strings.) Our Keyboard Club, also running at Tolworth Centre, is exactly as it sounds: a way for a group to learn keyboard in a specialist facility, all together at a much lower cost than 1:1 lessons. 

Places are still available at our Youth Choirs, UpBeat, Ukulele Club, Hook Percussion Project - all cost effective ways for children to make music and make new friends. Please see this information sheet for further information. 

Closing date for Nursery Applications 2022

Please note that the closing date for Nursery applications is next Friday, 4th March 2022.  

Easter Touch Typing Course - St Joseph’s Primary School

There are Easter holiday touch typing courses for 7 – 16s being run at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Kingston on the following dates:

• Monday 4th to Thursday 7th April, 10:00 - 12:15 pm
• Monday 11th - Thursday 15th April, 10:00 - 12:15 pm

Beginners, improvers and advanced typists are warmly welcome. Formal technique is taught along with fun games and activities. The cost is £160.00 per course and there is a sibling/ bring-a-friend/returner discount of 10%. For more info please email: sarah.holt@typingscool.co.uk or visit https://www.typingscool.co.uk/

Have a lovely weekend.

Tabitha White

Headteacher

 

Key Dates - Spring 2022

• Thursday 3rd March - World Book Day
• Wednesday 9th March - Y6 Junior Road Watch
• Wednesday 9th March - Hedgehog Class Trip to Shrek’s Adventure - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Thursday 10th March - Y6 TfL STARS Safety & Citizenship Talk - 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
• Friday 11th March - Infant PTA Second Hand Uniform Sale - 3.00 p.m.
• Monday 14th March - Y1 Zoolab Safari Workshops - 1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• Tuesday 15th March - Y5 BMX Champion Visit 
• Wednesday 16th March - Fox Class Trip to Shrek’s Adventure - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday 16th March - Y6 BMX Champion Visit
• Friday 18th March - INSET Day (School closed)
• Monday 21st March - Y5 Easter Experience at the Baptist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesday 23rd March - Parents’ Evening - 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday 24th March - Parents’ Evening - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00. p.m (School closes 1 hour early)
• Friday 25th March - Junior PTA Second Hand Uniform Sale - 3:15 p.m.
• Saturday 26th March - PTA Easter Egg Hunt and Nature Afternoon - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday 27th March - Junior Choir singing at St John’s - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Thursday 31st March - Parents’ Open Afternoon