Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

Our Year 2 children had a great start to this week with their Great Fire of London workshop, with some great costumes on show! The workshop included story-telling, building and lots of exciting history learning to support their work in class.

Our Year 1 classes were also out and about on Tuesday at the Sealife Centre, and particularly enjoyed seeing the gentoo penguins and walking over the shark tank! They no doubt got lots of inspiration for their polar explorers topic.

It’s also been great to hear the sounds of strings coming from the Year 3 classrooms on Friday mornings (even as I write this now), as they have started their ukulele lessons together this term.

We are all working hard to practise thankfulness in our current iShare theme of ‘Count your Blessings’. Mr Burkinshaw talked in worship today about how children can practise ways of gratitude with their parents, so hopefully you might see the evidence of this at home! I mentioned to the children on Monday that with 86,400 seconds that we have each day, it’s good to use some of those seconds to be thankful.

As we begin a new term, and continue our focus on reading for pleasure, just a big reminder of our birthday book initiative. When it is your child's birthday, if you are able, please do buy a book from this list which can be shared and enjoyed by the class; teachers can introduce the book to the class and it is a nice way of marking your child's special day as well AND supporting our current push on promoting reading for pleasure! 

To keep our Christian ethos central to all we do, we have this term’s prayer meeting for staff, parents, governors and friends of the school next Wednesday 24th January at the church (Christ Church) between 8-9pm. Please join us if you can. You don’t have to pray out loud!

As it continues to feel we are ‘in the bleak midwinter’, I hope you keep warm this weekend whatever you may be doing.

MR MEEHAN RECOMMENDS

Hello Winter by Jo Lindley

This is my latest recommendation for infant children which I will be sharing with infant classes over the next few weeks. Winter and her three friends, Autumn, Summer and Spring live on Season Isle. They usually have good times together, but in this story, the friends learn about handling fallings out when they upset Winter and need to work out how to restore their friendship.

The Lucky Bottle by Chris Wormell

This book is my recommendation for junior children in this new term. It is a very imaginative tale about a ten year old boy, Jack, who finds himself shipwrecked on a mysterious island, and finds a very creative way off the island, with plenty of risk and danger attached to his plans! It’s well written - and beautifully illustrated too.

Our School Updates for Parents

Wearable Devices 

Just a reminder that devices such as smart watches are not allowed to be worn in school.  Whilst the wearing of a watch is encouraged to support the children in learning to tell the time, children are not allowed to wear smartwatches to school that have any of the following functions: network connection (Wifi or 3G/4G/5G), data collection, ability to: send or receive messages or alerts, take photographs or videos, play music, play games, calculate (i.e. a calculator function).

Class Email Addresses 

Each class has a class email address that enables parents to send short emails to teachers. The email exists to enable parents to:

• Tell teachers something that they need to know about their child, e.g. 
  • Something to do with home, e.g. their child did not sleep well, was feeling a bit unwell or some family news.   
  • Something to do with school, e.g. something about their child’s learning or friendships, or something that happened at school, that the teacher might not know. 
• To ask teachers questions that require a brief answer, e.g. a question about homework.

If parents would like to ask a question that would require a more detailed answer, or would like to discuss an issue about their child’s learning or friendships that cannot wait until the next parents’ evening, they should make an appointment to speak to the teacher.

If you need to report your child’s absence you need to complete this form. 

If somebody different is picking up your child, and you have not told the class teacher at drop off, please email office@ccnm.uk 

Staff will only read or respond to emails during the working day, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Parents’ Evenings 

Please ensure you have read this email regarding our arrangements for parents’ evening later this term, including how to book your appointment(s).

Wider Community Updates

Parents' Survey on Wraparound Care

We have been asked by Achieving for Children to share this link and QR code to a survey for parents and carers to complete on the increase in wraparound childcare provisions, to support their planning for September 2024.

Family Concert at the Rose Theatre - Sunday 24th March

Oompah Brass will entertain their audience with high-octane renditions of well-known rock and pop favourites, as well as introducing the intricacies of each instrument to the children, each member of the group showing off their instrument and its characteristics. The perfect way to start the day! Oompah Brass are one of the busiest brass quintets in the UK, performing over 100 shows a year, in everything from school classes to Oktoberfest audiences of over 6000 people. They are the original exponents of 'Oompop', the clever re-working of rock and pop classics onto brass instruments and continue to lead the way. Oompah Brass are very keen and active educators, and run many school workshops every year, introducing the next generation to the joys of making music on brass.

Tickets are going fast, so book now at the Rose Theatre website. Adults £10, Concessions £6.

Message from Pop & Rock School (After School Club)

There are a few spaces left in ‘Pop and Rock School’ to join on Wednesdays at 3.20pm. Working with a professional Musical Director, your children will be immersed in an hour of deep fun and musical creativity, developing vocal technique and performance skills, imagination, musicality, movement and team work. We explore a myriad of musical genres, including pop, rock, and musicals and there are opportunities throughout the year, to perform. Please use the contact details on the attached flyer to book.

Perform Drama - Free Trial Session and February Half Term Course

Please see the attached flyers for details of a free drama, dance and singing class and a February half term holiday course being run by Perform.

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

Please see the attached poster for details of the forthcoming Mother Nature Science - February Half-Term Science Activity Holiday Camp 2024 - Science Whizz!  There is currently an Early Bird discount in place; use special Venue School Basket Discount Code ‘coolschool20’ for an extra £20-off list price for full-week places. Find your closest camp Location (using your home postcode) and book now here.

Free Birdwatching Event - Sunday 21st January

In preparation for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, Discoverers-Friends of Richmond Park has organised a free family event to teach the basics and let the children make a bird treat to take home. Please see the attached flyer for details.

First Class Learning Maths and English in KT3 (New Malden Library)

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. They are currently running a Study Centre at New Malden Library and they are currently offering an early bird discount & free assessment. If you would like to find out more about FCL then please visit their website or see the attached flyer.

Key School Dates 

• Monday 22nd January - Y1 and 2 - Drama4All Workshops
• Tuesday 23rd January - Y4 ‘A Child in Roman Britain’ Workshop 
• Tuesday 23rd January - Y6 SATS meeting for parents @ 6pm 
• Thursday 25th January - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 25th January - Fox Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Thursday 1st February - Gazelle Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Monday 5th - Friday 9th February - Chums Week
• Tuesday 6th February - Safer Internet Day
• Tuesday 6th February - Y6 Junior Citizen 2024 @ Chessington WOA
• Tuesday 6th February - Y5 Viking Workshop (pm)
• Wednesday 7th February - Parents’ Evening @ 3:45pm - 6:45pm
• Thursday 8th February - Parents’ Evening @ 2:45pm - 5:45pm (School closes 1 hour early) 
• Monday 12th - Friday 16th February - Half term
• Tuesday 20th February - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30am
• Thursday 22nd February - Y2 Brightsparks Concert @ Royal Festival Hall
• Thursday 22nd February - Y6 Trip to Kew Gardens
• Monday 26th February - Y4 Trip to Natural History Museum
• Thursday 29th February - Lion Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Thursday 7th March - World Book Day
• Thursday 7th March - Tiger Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Monday 11th - Friday 15th March - World Week & Wellbeing Week
• Tuesday 12th March - Paralympic Athlete Visit
• Wednesday 13th March - Y1 Zoolabs Workshop
• Wednesday 13th March - Y5 Easter Experience at the Baptist Church
• Thursday 14th March - Owl Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Thursday 14th  March - Earthsong Workshops (Juniors)
• Friday 15th March - Earthsong Workshops (Junior site for Infants)
• Monday 18th - Friday 22nd March - Chums Week
• Tuesday 19th March - Reception & Y6 - National Child Measurement Programme
• Thursday 21st March - Y3 Trip to Butser Farm
• Thursday 21st March - Hedgehog Class Worship @ 2:45pm
• Thursday 21st March - Learning Look @ 4:30-5:30pm
• Wednesday 27th March - Infant Easter Bonnet Parade
• Thursday 28th March - Church Service @ 9:45am
• Thursday 28th March - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Monday 15th April - Summer term starts