Cheam Common Weekly Newsletter
Friday 6th September 2019
Cheam Common Junior Academy: Kingsmead Avenue, Worcester Park KT4 8UT Tel: 020 8337 1844
email: ccjoffice@leoacademytrust.co.uk www.cheamcommon.org.uk
Learning Together, Aiming High
News & Information
WELCOME BACK!
Welcome back to the new academic year! A special and warm welcome to all the new Year 3 pupils who joined us this week - I hope they will be very happy at the school. We hope everyone had a restful Summer and that the children are looking forward to another exciting year of achievements and new experiences. Please find below details of our new members of staff for this year and who you need to contact if you need any help or support for your child or have any questions or concerns that you need to raise. We want every child at Cheam Common to realise their potential and look forward to working in partnership with you again as we continue to improve our school. We hope your children continue to enjoy coming to Cheam Common and that while they are here, they work hard and make the necessary progress and, of course, maintain the excellent behaviour that the school prides itself upon. Your child will have brought home this week our Homework Diary & Reading Diaries. Please can you check and sign the diary every week and record how much your child is reading at home in it, while encouraging your child to read every day. We really do value the help and support parents give the school, and know that children make the most progress when parents and the school work closely together. Our extra-curricular club list for the Autumn Term went home on Tuesday with details on how to book. This term we are running over forty different clubs each week for children in all year groups. There really is something for everyone; all teachers would encourage every child to try to participate in at least one club at some point during the year.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO...
our new members of staff: Miss Carberry in Y5, Miss Maclean in Y4, Miss Beagle in Year 3 and as well to our new PE and Sports’ Teachers, Mr Ewing, Mr Decruz and Mr West. We wish you all a long and successful career at CCJ.
WHO TO CONTACT?
Please find below a reminder of our procedures for communicating with the school.
The School Office is open daily from 7.30am – 5.30pm; you can call to report absences from 7.30am. The office staff can deal with all general queries and take messages for our teaching staff. We look forward to working with your children this year. If any problems should arise, please let us know as soon as possible. In the first instance please speak to your child’s class teacher; a quick chat after school is often all that is needed to deal with any issues before they become a bigger problem. Feel free to contact us in writing or, if you have a greater concern about any issue, please make an appointment to see the relevant member of staff via the school office. Class Teachers and the school’s Senior Leadership Team continually monitor every child’s progress and will contact you with any concerns about academic progress, behaviour and application in the classroom. They also offer pastoral care to the children in their class and across the school. Your child’s class teacher should always be your first point of call with any general concerns that arise. If you need further assistance, or for more serious matters, please contact your child’s Year Leader and then Miss Gunner (Principal) who are always then available to help. If you need further information on Special Educational Needs support, please contact Mrs Townsend (SENCo) or Mrs Hart.
COMMUNICATION & PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
At present, we currently inform parents of all school events, news and policies through our weekly newsletters, school website, our news feed on Twitter, parents’ evenings twice a year and other regular letters home; our school website is updated regularly. Please see our weekly newsletters for forthcoming dates such as Parent Workshops on English and Maths, as well as Parent Coffee Afternoons for each year group to welcome parents to the new year and explain all that will be going on for the children in 2019 – 2020.
HOMEWORK DIARY & READING RECORD
We will again be using our Homework Diary & Reading Record in every year group this year. Each child has been given their own diary to use at home and school each day. The Homework Diary & Reading Record will be used by the children to: record their homework in, to list weekly spellings or tables they may have to learn and as a reading record of all reading they do at home and school. Class teachers will check and sign the diary at least once a week; they may also use it to send home individual messages to parents. Parents are asked to check their child’s diary regularly please and use it as a reading record as well. You may also like to add any comments each week or write brief notes to your child’s class teacher. Please can we ask all parents to sign the diary every week. Your child must have their Homework Diary & Reading Record in school every day.
Many thanks in advance with your help and support; all of the teaching staff hope you will find this a useful part of our range of communication methods for parents.
PARENT COFFEE AFTERNOONS
This term, parents from each year group are invited to come in to school to join your child’s Year Group Leader for an informal coffee afternoon. Held on Tuesday afternoons between now and half term, this will provide you with the opportunity to discuss any general aspect of the school or your child’s year group, in an informal setting. Year Group Leaders will also give a brief presentation about what new things your child has to look forward to this year and what topics and curriculum areas your child will cover in their new year group as well as telling you about the National Curriculum for English, Maths, Computing & Science that your child will follow this year. Parent Coffee Afternoons will be held from 2.15pm. We aim to finish by 2.55pm to allow parents to collect younger children from the infant school if necessary. Other parents are welcome to stay in school until 3.15pm and have another tea or coffee.
There is no need to confirm that you can attend, please just come along!
Year 6 – Tuesday 10th September. Focus: Y6 Curriculum
Year 5 – Tuesday 17th September. Focus: Y5 Curriculum
Year 4 – Thursday 24th September. Focus: Y4 Curriculum
Year 3 – Tuesday 1st October. Focus: Y3 Curriculum & a visit to your child’s classroom.
(Year 3 parents & grandparents are both very welcome on Tuesday 1st October.)
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PLAYTIME SNACK
Please remember that all children are encouraged to bring fresh fruit or vegetables to school for a mid-morning snack during playtime. Many children are really hungry by lunchtime and will be happier and learn better if they have eaten something at playtime.
Learning
144 CLUB
Our 144 Club returns again for the start of this academic year. This club is no ordinary club. The aim is to be able to answer 144 times table questions up to 12 x 12 in under 5 minutes. Each week we encourage children to focus on beating their previous week's score. When a child has successfully scored 144 they will receive a 144 certificate and termly badge. The children have to renew their membership into the 144 club each term. Who will make it into the club for next week? Good Luck!
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
We are once again launching Battle of the Books with all year groups across the school. Each year group has over 50 books on their suggested reading list with recommendations of high quality stories and authors. There really is something for everyone! The aim is to get each child and each class reading as many books from the list as possible. By next week, every child will receive a book mark. Once your child has read one of the suggested books, they need to complete a book review from their class library and get their teacher to stamp their bookmark. At the end of each term, we will add up the total number of books read from each class. There will also be a prize for the child who reads the most books.
Each week we will also put a brief synopsis of one of the books from a year group’s book list in the newsletter.
This week’s book is ‘The Dragon in the Library' by Louie Stowell from the Year 4 book list.
Kit cannot stand reading. She'd much rather be outside, playing games and getting muddy, than stuck inside a library with a book. The unlikeliest of heroes, Kit can’t imagine a worse place to spend the summer holiday. Instead Kit would rather hang around with a bunch of dead people at the graveyard then go to a place where she is most likely to ‘die of boredom.’ Sadly, Kit’s plans are thwarted by her two best friends Josh and Alita who are determined to get their hands on the latest Danny Fandango book and drag her along. And it’s a good job that they are so insistent because Kit makes an outstanding discovery about herself and the library, that will change her life forever.
Welcome to our weekly science bulletin. Here you will find interesting facts and activities all about science! Every week we will discuss a new topic and we will also be finding out what each year group have been learning about in their science lessons. If you complete the follow up activities or research the topics please present your findings to Miss Lane. Your work may even make onto our twitter page!
This week we will be discussing our science principles. We believe that we are excellent scientists when we follow these principles.
Over to you!
This week your task is to create your own science principles poster. You could even write about a time when you have followed each of our principles!
Keep an eye out for these posters in your classroom and around school!
Why not ask your child how they used our Word of the Week?
Year 3:
incredible
Year 4:
breathtaking
Year 5:
remarkable
Year 6:
phenomenal
Excellence
MAYOR'S MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP
We were extremely proud to begin the term with the news that Oliver in 6K and Alara in 4SM who have been awarded a London Music Fund (formerly Mayor's Music Fund) scholarship award, which will support most elements of his musical education over the next four years. Scholars are nominated by their school and instrumental teacher because they have shown talent, commitment and enjoyment in their music-making. Each year only two or three of the very best students in the borough are recommended for a scholarship and it is therefore a great achievement for two children from CCJ to receive this award. We wish Oliver and Alara the best of luck as they embark on this exciting musical journey.
HEAD BOY AND GIRL NOMINATIONS
Congratulations to the following children who at the end of last term found out they had been nominated by staff as a suggestion for a great candidate for Head Boy and Girl for this academic year. Just to be nominated is a huge achievement. These children will now go through the process of showing staff around the school on a guided tour followed by an interview with Miss Gunner for the position. We will let you know our new pupil voice leadership team next week. Good Luck!
Rochelle, Melissa, Edward, Alex C, Emma N, Zac P, Nico, Emma C, Boris, Rose, Ava, Sian, Irina, Marlene, Ana, Isla, Charlotte, Katie, Kornelia, Zaima, Adele, Eva, Marcus & Clodagh.
NEW SPORTS LEADERS AT CHEAM COMMON
Well done to the following children who have been appointed as Sports Leaders for 2019/20:
Boris, Alex A, Zac P, Marcus, Bolu, Joseph, Benji, Ben R, Alex C, Nico, Evan, Theo, George, Rio, Aniya, Isla, Indi, Melissa, Lula, Hannah, Adele, Marlene, Emma C, Emma N, Gabi, Zaima, Siobhan, Ella M & Alyssa.
Our Sports Leaders will help organise games and sports for other children at both break times and lunch times throughout the year. Thank you all for helping make Cheam Common a really enjoyable place to be at playtimes.
Opportunity
LONDON 2019 WORLD PARA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
We were delighted this week to have secured 20 tickets to the World Para Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford for next Thursday. Children from Year 4-6 were invited to get a letter to be entered into our ballot for the 20 tickets. We were delighted to see interest from over 50 children. Today in assembly we drew out the names of the 20 lucky children who will get to see some of the 651 swimmers from 81 countries compete live to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Para Olympics.
Keep your eyes out for more great opportunities happening at Cheam Common.
We have a Basketball and England Football match already planned for this term. Watch this space!
BROWNLEE FOUNDATION TRIATHLON EVENT
Twenty children from Year 6 will represent Cheam Common in a Triathlon Event organised by the Brownlee Foundation on Tuesday 24th September at Willesden Sports Centre. The Brownlee Brothers have had huge success in recent years and we are delighted to offer this fanatastic opportunity to some of our Year 6 children once again this year. The event will give them an opportunity to try the disciplines of the triathlon. We look forward to hearing how they got on.
CCJ TO VISIT THE ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP TROPHY
On Wednesday 18th September children from our 2018-19 Cricket Teams, our All Star Cricket members and our Sports' Leaders will travel to Sutton Cricket Club for an afternoon of Cricket activities as well as having a chance to seeing and having their photo taken with the ICC Cricket World Cup won by England this summer.
CHEAM COMMON AUTHOR VISIT: MICHAELA MORGAN
We are delighted that poet Michaela Morgan will visit our school on 18th September to talk about poetry ahead of National Poetry Day, and encourage children in writing their own poetry. As part of this, ReadingZone is able to offer discounted copies in case any child would like to buy a book to have signed by Michaela on the day. The following books will be available:
Reaching the Stars
This collection of brand-new poems is a celebration of the achievements of women and girls throughout history, and includes poems about Malala Yousafzai, Rosa Parks, Ada Lovelace, Helen Keller, Mary Shelley, Edith Cavell and many more.
£5 (discounted from £5.99)
Wonderland: Alice in Poetry
In addition to the classic poems of Lewis Carroll – the Jabberwocky, The Walrus and the Carpenter etc – this beautiful collection features many poems from editor Michaela Morgan and many popular poets including Roger McGough, John Agard, and, Joseph Coehlo, each one putting their own spin on these classic texts.
£5 (discounted from £5.99)
A letter was emailed home today for you to order your copies of either or both of these books. Please complete and return this form by Thursday 12th September. Some copies will be available on the day or you can download a copy here.
NIKE'S BIGGEST GAME OF TAG
We are looking forward to being part of Nike's biggest kid's event ever at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Tuesday 24th September. We are joining schools from all across London to get active and take part in an afternoon of fun activities with over 3000 other school children. More information to follow soon.
CARETAKER POSITION - CHEAM FIELDS PRIMARY ACADEMY
We are looking for a caretaker with handyman skills to join our premises team based at Cheam Fields Primary Academy.
20 hours per week, 3.30-6.30pm Monday - Friday,
Saturday mornings 8am-1pm during term time.
School holiday hours to be agreed with postholder and Site Manager
Follow this link for more information/to apply: eteach
Dates For Your Diary
Here are the dates for this term. Dates may change and we will notify you as soon as possible if this happens. Please check the dates section regularly as new dates may be added.
SEPTEMBER
Monday 2nd September – INSET Day. No school for pupils on this day
Tuesday 3rd September – First Day of Term. New Year 3 Pupils start at 9.15am today.
Tuesday 3rd September – Friday 6th September – Y6 Baseline Tests (SATS 2018 Papers)
Tuesday 10th September – Year 6 Parents’ Coffee Afternoon, 2.15pm
Thursday 12th September - LEO Paralympics Trip
Tuesday 17th September- Year 5 Parents’ Coffee Afternoon, 2.15pm
Thursday 19th September – Year 6 TfL Safety and Citizenship Talk, 1:45pm (Hall in use)
Thursday 19th September – Mathematics Workshop for Year 3 Parents, 9am and 7pm
Friday 20th September – Individual/Sibling School Photographs
Friday 20th September - Harvest Festival, 10.30am (Donations to School Council Appeal for Sutton Food Bank)
Tuesday 24th September – Year 4 Parents’ Coffee Afternoon, 2.15pm
Tuesday 24th September – Speak Out, Stay Safe NSPCC Assembly -10:10-10:45am
Tuesday 24th September – Speak Out, Stay Safe NSPCC Workshops - Year 6 - 11-12pm & Year 5 - 1:15-2:15pm
Tuesday 24th September - Brownlee Triathlon
Thursday 26th September – English Workshop for Year 3 Parents, 9am and 7pm
Thursday 26th September – Languages’ Day
Monday 30th September - NSPCC Buddy’s Big Workout Sponsored Event Week
OCTOBER
Tuesday 1st October – Year 3 Parents’ Coffee Afternoon & Class Visit, 2.15pm
Wednesday 2nd October - Year 6 Thames Young Mariners, 7:30am
Friday 4th October – Year 4 Visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace
Monday 7th October - Year 6 Bikeability Week 1
Tuesday 8th October - Year 5/6 High 5 Netball, Nonsuch High, 3:30-6pm
Friday 11th October – Autumn IEP/Provision Maps completed
Monday 14th October - Year 6 Bikeability Week 2
Tuesday 15th October & Thursday 17th October - Book Fair
Tuesday 15th October – Parent Consultation Evening 1, 4pm – 8pm for all teachers.
Tuesday 15th October - NSPCC Thank You Assembly - 10:30am
Wednesday 16th October - Borough Cross Country, Sutton Grammar - 1:30-4pm
Wednesday 16th October - Junior Supremo Training 1 - 1-3:30pm - Stanley Park Primary
Thursday 17th October – Parent Consultation Evening 2, 3.30pm – 6pm for all teachers.
Friday 18th October - RE Day 1 - Hinduism
Monday 21st October – Friday 25th October – Half Term
Monday 28th October - INSET Day. No school for pupils on this day.
Monday 28th October – LEO Annual Conference – Inclusion - Epsom College, 9am – 4pm
Tuesday 29th October – School Flu Nasal Spray – 9am
Wednesday 30th October - Year 5/6 Tag Rugby Festival - John Fisher - 10-12:30pm
NOVEMBER
Monday 4th - Friday 8th November - Parliament Week
Wednesday 6th November – Year 3/4 Rugby Festival - John Fisher - 10-12:30pm
Thursday 7th November – Year 4 Viking Workshop in Hall
Saturday 9th November - International Women’s Football - England v Germany, 5:30pm
Monday 11th – Friday 15th November – Anti-Bullying Week
Monday 11th November - Online Safety Parent Workshop
Friday 15th November - Children in Need
Monday 18th November - Wednesday 20th November – Challenge Partners QA Review
Thursday 21st November - Year 6 Handball - Carshalton Boys, 1-3:30pm
Friday 22nd November - RE Day 2 - Sikhism
Monday 25th November – Friday 29th November – Autumn Term Assessment Week
Monday 25th November - Year 5/6 Sports Hall Athletics Heat 1 - Sutton High, 1-3:30pm
Tuesday 26th November - Science Quiz, Alexandra Palace
Wednesday 27th November - Year 5/6 Sports Hall Athletics Heat 2-Wallington Girls, 10-12pm & 1-3pm
DECEMBER
Monday 2nd December – Christmas decorations up this week!
Tuesday 3rd December – Year 3 Music Assembly to Parents - TBC
Thursday 5th December – Orchestra & Choir Christmas Concert to Parents, 9.15am
Thursday 5th December – Orchestra & Choir Christmas Concert to the school, 10am
Thursday 5th December – Year 3 Science Museum & Sleepover
Friday 6th December – Science Day
Monday 9th December - School Council visit to Houses of Parliament
Tuesday 10th December – Year 3 Music Assembly to Parents
Wednesday 11th December – Christmas Pantomime for all Year Groups, 9.30am - TBC
Friday 13th December – Autumn IEP/Provision Maps reviewed and new targets for Spring
Friday 13th December – Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 13th December – Y5&6 Christmas Production to the school, 10.45am
Friday 13th December – Y3&4 Christmas Production to the school, 1.45pm
Monday 16th December – Y5&6 Christmas Production, 9.15am, 2pm and 7pm
Tuesday 17th December – Y3&4 Christmas Production, 9.15am, 2pm and 7pm
Wednesday 18th December – Christmas Dinner, 11.45am – 1.30pm
Wednesday 18th December – Christmas DVD Morning (PPA Release for all staff from 9am – 12pm)
Wednesday 18th December - Class Christmas Parties, 1.15pm – 3.15pm
Wednesday 18th December - House Point Winners’ - MUFTI Day
Thursday 19th December - End of Term Merit Assembly, 9:15am
Thursday 19th December – Christmas Carols & Songs in the Hall at 11am
Thursday 19th December - Last Day of Term, school finishes at 2:15pm
Friday 20th December – Friday 3rd January – Christmas Holiday
Please check your child has the correct school uniform & PE kit for the new school year.
Please can we take this opportunity to remind you of our uniform policy. We will be reinforcing this will all children from the start of term and are very grateful for your support with this. Please make sure your child has the correct school uniform and PE & Games Kit for September. Also, if getting your child’s ears pierced, please see the section below about jewellery. Non-standard items of uniform or PE kit are not acceptable. All items of school uniform and PE t-shirts are on sale through Schoolwear Inc on 020 8395 3891 or 07951 442734. School ties are available from the school office.
UNIFORM
· Plain red v-necked sweatshirt or cardigan.
· Red v-necked sweatshirt or cardigan with the school logo.
· Summer dresses in red and white check or narrow red and white stripes.
· Plain grey trousers, shorts, skirt or pinafore. Skirts and trousers must be of uniform style not fashion. Skirts must be around knee length and properly worn.
· White shirt. (In summer, a short sleeved shirt is permitted but polo shirts may not be worn.)
· Plain grey, black or white socks. Coloured socks & very short ‘trainer’ socks are not acceptable.
· Plain black shoes with flat heels must be worn. They should be suitable for school wear for valid safety reasons. Boots may not be worn.
· Ties are available in the school office and are compulsory wear all year.
· Please remember to name all items of your child’s clothing. Thank you!
· Make up and Nail Varnish are not permitted to be worn at school at anytime.
GAMES & PE KIT
Games and PE (Including swimming when appropriate) are compulsory subjects under the National Curriculum and pupils should come to school equipped to take part in all lessons. If parents wish their child to be excused temporarily for health reasons, a written request should be sent to the class teacher. Each child will require:
· Plimsolls or trainers,
· Red PE shorts – no logos.
· Plain white PE t-shirt with / without the school logo.
· Please note - only plain t-shirts or those with the school logo may be worn.
Games activities take place in the playground or on the field each term and plain tracksuits or jogging bottoms with a jumper (no hoods) are advisable in cold weather. PE & Games Kit should be brought to school in a clearly named draw-string bag for kit storage will help to prevent loss.
JEWELLERY
Children are not allowed to wear personal jewellery such as rings, earrings or bracelets to school. In pierced ears, a plain, round stud may be worn but these must be removed for physical activities such as PE and games (including dance, gymnastics and swimming). If studs cannot be removed from newly pierced ears, children will be asked to cover the sharp point of the stud with adhesive plaster. We do allow children to wear watches but they remain the responsibility of the child at all times. Parents who wish their children to wear clothing or jewellery specific to a particular religious belief should discuss potential issues of educational standards and security.
HAIR
For safety reasons, long hair should be tied back at all times. Only red or dark coloured hair bands should be worn. No extreme styles of haircuts or eyebrow shavings are allowed; hair must be of a natural colour and not dyed.