Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

A happy new year to all our Christ Church families. I hope you have had some lovely festive family and friends times over this break, and that your new year resolutions are still going strong!

We have a very exciting term ahead, including author Bob Hartman making a return visit to us next week. Bob is the author of all the ‘Open the Book’ materials used in collective worship each Thursday, and a lot of other books for children, retelling Bible stories. He will be entertaining all year groups next Thursday with his engaging and energetic story telling. 

In staff news, we are saying goodbye over the next couple of weeks to two of our valued teaching assistants, Mrs Geraghty, who is moving out of the area, and Miss Dare, who is beginning a new career in the fitness industry. 

We continue to advertise for teaching assistants to join our team, though, as for a lot of roles currently in education, the recruitment market is not buoyant. If you or anyone you know may be interested in a full time or part time, term-time only role, do have a look at this advert (deadline Sunday 19th). We are also open to volunteers joining our team, if you or anyone you know would like to just get some experience in a school environment. Previously, a number of our TAs have started as volunteers. If you are interested, please contact the school office or speak to myself or Mr Burkinshaw. 

Following our SEN survey last term, we are keen to engage parents further on this subject and the first of two ‘tea and cake’ afternoons are also coming up next week - 5pm on Wed 15th Jan. Mrs Roberts and Mrs Roe will share a little bit of the vision for supporting parents of children with SEN at these events, but mainly it is a chance to hear from you, and hear what you might find helpful in terms of input and support. 

Have a lovely weekend and let’s hope it warms up a bit!

Our School Updates for Parents

Changes to Connect Breakfast and After School Club 

As part of our regular safeguarding review, we are updating the registration process for Connect to ensure we have an accurate record of who is attending each day.

• Same Day Bookings: Will now close at 12:00 noon.
• End-of-School Pick-Up: If your child is booked into Connect but you decide on the day to pick them up at the end of school, please collect them directly from Connect (Infants) or Junior Reception, not their classroom. 

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.

Clubs this term

Most clubs still have spaces for this term. The only clubs full are:

• Junior Dodgeball
• Junior Girls’ football
• Year 1 and 2 Football
• Year 2 Drama

Wider Community Updates

Poppy Appeal

The Royal British Legion has let us know that we collected £75.06 for the New Malden appeal which totalled £28,000.

St James’s Players Pantomime

Please see the attached poster for details of this local pantomime taking place this month.

Reminder: Kingstonian CC 2025 Winter Sessions

Kingstonian Cricket Club winter sessions, starting on 12th January and taking place at Shrewsbury House School still have spaces available to purchase. So if your child/children would like to join them from January to March 2025 on a Sunday please see the attached flyer to sign them up as soon as possible.

Key School Dates

• Monday 13th January - Y2 Great Fire of London Workshop (pm)
• Thursday 16th January - Bob Hartman Author Visit
• Thursday 16th January - Lynx Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Monday 20th January - Y1 Trip to Sealife London
• Monday 20th January - Y5 Rainbow Theatre Vikings Workshop (pm)
• Tuesday 21st January - Y6 SATs meeting for parents @ 6:00pm
• Thursday 23rd January - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 23rd January - Fox Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Tuesday 28th January - Y4 Rainbow Theatre Workshop (Romans) (pm)
• Thursday 30th January - Antelope Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Thursday 30th January - Nourish Food Taster for Parents @ Juniors
• Friday 31st January - PTA Break the Rules Day
• Monday 3rd - Friday 7th February - Chums Week
• Tuesday 4th February - Safer Internet Day
• Wednesday 5th February - Y5 & 6 French Play ‘Au Musee Magique’
• Wednesday 5th February - Parents’ Evening @ 3:45 – 6:45pm
• Thursday 6th February - Parents’ Evening @ 2:45 - 5:45pm
• Tuesday 11th February - Charity Tuesday
• Monday 17th - Friday 21st February - Half Term
• Tuesday 25th February - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 27th February - Eagle Class trip to Wimbledon Synagogue (am)
• Thursday 27th February - Hedgehog Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Monday 3rd March - Y1 Zoolab Visit (pm)
• Wednesday 5th March - Y1 Insight Visit
• Thursday 6th March - World Book Day
• Thursday 6th March - Tiger Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Thursday 6th March - Parrot Street Pop Up at the Juniors @ 3:00 – 3:45pm
• Wednesday 12th March - Junior Talent Show @ 6:30 - 8:00pm
• Thursday 13th March - Macaw Class Trip to Wimbledon Synagogue (am)
• Thursday 13th March - Soloists Concert at the Juniors @ 9:00am
• Monday 17th - Friday 21st March - Wellbeing Week
• Monday 17th - Friday 28th March - Y5 Bikeability
• Wednesday 19th March - Ross Montgomery Author Visit (pm)
• Thursday 20th March - Y4 Insight Visit (pm)
• Thursday 20th March - Owl Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Friday 21st March - Reception Trip to Polka Theatre (am)
• Monday 24th - Friday 28th March - Chums Week
• Tuesday 25th March - Charity Tuesday
• Tuesday 25th March - Y6 National Child Measurement Programme (am)
• Tuesday 25th March - Spring Concert @ 6:00pm
• Wednesday 26th March - Y5 Easter Experience at The Baptist Church (am)
• Thursday 27th March - Learning Look - from pick up until 4:30pm 
• Thursday 27th March - Lion Class Worship @ 2:40pm
• Friday 28th March - PTA Break the Rules Day
• Tuesday 1st April - Cluster Choir Concert at Rose Theatre (pm)
• Wednesday 2nd April - Easter Bonnet Parade at Infants
• Thursday 3rd April - Y3 Trip to Butser Farm
• Friday 4th April - Easter Church Service @ 9:30am
• Friday 4th April - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Monday 7th - Monday 21st April - Easter Holiday
• Tuesday 22nd April - Summer Term Starts