Newsletter 8 Spring Term
6th March 2024
St Andrew’s and St Mark’s
Church of England Junior School
“I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness.” John 10:10
-School News-
Our Instagram feed displays photos of school events. Click or tap on a photo to find out more:
If you would like your child to have the opportunity to be featured on our Instagram page, please update the parental consent on the SIMs Parent App and ensure permission to be posted on social media is ticked.
Webinar: Helping Children with Worries
Achieving for Children are running a webinar this week on Friday 8th March (9.00am - 10.15am) helping children with worries. Please click here for further information and to sign up - which you need to do by today!
Year 4 - Visit Hampton Court Palace
A big thank you to the PTA for providing all the funding for Year 4's visit to Hampton Court Palace last week.
Year 4 had a great time exploring the palace, taking part in workshops and having fun in the maze.
Sia (4G) I found the Hampton Court trip fun because there were lots of tour and interesting parts of the palace that we got to look at. We had a workshop about the levels of the monarchy and we looked at the jobs people did in the palace.
Leo (4G) It was a fascinating trip because in one of the workshops we got to look at artifacts that tell us about Henry VIII's character and I learnt a lot of new facts from going on this trip.
Oracy in Action at Home
This week, help your child to imagine themselves in the following scenarios:
What would you do if...
...someone bought you a present that you didn't like?
...you had already made arrangements with your family and then your best friend invites you out on the same day?
...the shopkeeper didn't give you enough change?
Discuss the different options of how you could respond, before deciding upon the most appropriate course of action.
The Spiritual Garden
Recently there has been lots of activity in the spiritual garden. The children have been busy planting bulbs and creating a five star bug hotel!
Our Spiritual Garden - led by Mrs Leung - is staffed at lunchtime for any pupil to speak about pastoral matters with a member of the team. It also offers opportunities to get involved in gardening activities.
Reminder: Class Collective Worship
Parents and carers of children in 4B are invited to attend Class Collective Worship this week on Friday 8th March (9.00am - 9.15am). You can join us in the school playground from 8.30am and you will be invited into the school hall for a 9.00am start.
Please note: We do not permit any photos and videos to be taken.
Reminder: World Book Day
We are looking forward to celebrating World Book Day tomorrow and seeing all the children dressed as a character from a book. If possible, please have your child bring along the book that inspired their costume. Its a wonderful opportunity for them to engage with literature in a fun and creative way. Please also remember, there is no need to spend money on buying an outfit - homemade creations work just as well. There are plenty of book characters who wear normal clothes, too!
Pupil achievements to celebrate:
Tess (4G) recently made her debut in a dressage competition on a horse called Custard Cream, affectionately known as 'CC'. Tess was delighted when she clinched third position. What an impressive feat! Well done, Tess!
Cases of measles are rising in London. Ensure your children are protected with two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, and can be a very unpleasant illness. In some cases, it can be serious – 1 in 5 children will need hospitalisation.
The best way to protect children against measles is to ensure that they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
To see if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, check your child’s red book or contact your GP practice. If your child is not up to date, you can either book an appointment:
at your GP practice, or
at a local vaccine clinic.
Beyond Fussy Eating
Beyond Fussy Eating is a new online programme for families of children who have feeding difficulties. Please follow this link for further information.
Vacancy
We are currently seeking a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant including lunchtime supervision to start in June 2024. If you are interested in learning more about this position and joining our incredible staff team click here (closing date for applications: Monday 13th May 2024 at 8.00am)
-This Week's Notices-
-Repeat notices-
Family Concert at the Rose Theatre on Sunday 24th March
Oompah Brass entertain their audiences 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: https://rosetheatre.org/whats-on/211//oompah-brass-spectacular-a-kms-family-concert
Adults £10, Concessions £6.
Message for parents - Kingston Children and Young People's Plan
Kingston Council is developing a new Children and Young People's Plan. It's being co-produced with children and young people, and will set out priorities for Kingston children and young people from 2024-2027. Its aim is to focus on the needs of all children and young people aged up to 19 years old (up to 25 for anyone with SEND or who have been in care) who live, study or work in Kingston. Kingston Council would like children, young people and parents of very young children to tell them what's important to include in the plan. There is a short survey so you can have your say, and a chance to win a £10 Love2Shop gift card by completing the survey today! The link to the survey is here.
Kooth: mental health support for young people for children aged 10+
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community with helpful articles, discussion boards and a friendly team to talk to. The service is for children and young people aged 10-21 years and is recommended by our local authority mental health support team and school nurses.
Children can sign up for Kooth online and it is an anonymous service. Our year 6 pupils are made aware of this service in year 6 as part of their PSHE lessons and it can provide some useful wellbeing support for children outside of school.
Wraparound Childcare Programme - parent/carer survey
What is the Wraparound Childcare Programme?
Wraparound care is before and after school childcare for primary school aged children. The Wraparound Childcare Programme aims to increase the availability of wraparound childcare places, so that all families can access childcare between 8.00am - 6.00pm and therefore allow parents to continue, or enter employment.
Achieving for Children is looking for parents and carers to share their requirements, in relation to wraparound childcare, to support our planning for September 2024. You can access the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKlFKzL6vBJzS1T_IAb9FUfc4RagzEmZUKVoHaNB_dJ9kMig/viewform
Home learning support
Our home learning webpage includes step-by-step guides to signing into each app as well as answers to frequently-asked questions.
Clubs and Wrap-Around Care
We have a fantastic offer of after-school clubs, Breakfast Club and After-School Care. On Friday, our club offer for the Autumn Term will be sent via ParentMail. Please remember to book your child into Breakfast Club and After-School Care in advance of them attending.
Safer Schools App
We would encourage all parents/carers to download the Safer Schools app for free push notifications about online safety and helpful advice. You can download the app using the instructions here.
Safeguarding Hub
This week the Safeguarding Hub are discussing the latest news and updates.
Do you have concerns about a child?
Adults - you can contact the Single Point of Access to request support, or to report a concern about a child or young person. Click here to make a referral. You can also call for advice. Opening hours: From 8am to 5.15pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 5pm on Friday call 020 8547 5008 (Out of hours, phone 020 8770 5000). If you think a child or young person is in immediate danger call 999. Referrals are not limited to safeguarding: the Single Point of Access acts as a signposting service to other services, including mental health. Matt Gates is our Designated Safeguarding Lead.
-What's New? Community Groups-
Click the 'Community Groups' button to see all community notices:
-School reminders-
Pupil Premium Grants
For the first time, all pupils at SASM are entitled to receive a free school lunch. To enable your child to access this, you must book your child's lunch via ParentPay.com.
If you were previously eligible for means tested free school meals or are in receipt of any of the following benefits...
income support
income-based job seeker's allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
the guarantee element of state pension credit
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
child tax credit (but not working tax credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
...your child maybe eligible for a Pupil Premium Grant. This will gives your child access to:
This gives your child access to:
A free after school club every half term
A free 'stay and play' session in our Wrap Around Care each week
A free place at Breakfast Club every day
A discount on school residential visits
... and much more!
Please contact the school office if you have any issues with activating an account.
Parking outside SASM
If you are driving to drop your children off or pick them up from school, please park considerately on the surrounding roads. Please don't park over driveways or over the zig zag lines. This helps keep everyone safe.
We have received reports from local residents of dangerous parking and verbal unkindness from some parents and carers. Please help us to be a positive part of our local community. Whilst the school is not responsible for enforcing street parking, we have advised our local community to report all instances of poor parking or behaviour to the police.
Attendance reminder: being late to school
Punctuality is an important life skill that is required in order to achieve and to succeed. Children must be in school by 8.45am each day. Children who arrive after that time but before the end of registration must come into the building via the main office, where they will be coded as late (this appears as an 'L code' on the register). Children will be marked late if they arrive at school after the gates have closed but before 8:55am, when the registers have been taken.
If a pupil arrives after 8:55am, the register is closed and attendance after this time is considered to be an unauthorised absence and is recorded as a 'U code', which shows as a 'X' on the SIMS Parent App.
The school gates will be shut by 8.45am. Persistent lateness will be monitored by the school and may be reported to the E.W.O. (Education Welfare Officer) after the school’s initial interventions.
No toys in school, please!
We would like to remind parents and carers that pupils are not permitted to bring their own toys or collectables into school. Not only do toys provide a distraction from pupils' learning, there is a potential for personal items to be misplaced. Please be aware that any lost toys, collectible cards or other play items are beyond the responsibility of the school.
Jewellery
Children can wear watches to school but the wearing of jewellery and earrings of all types is not permitted on safety grounds. Any child wearing earrings to school will be asked to remove them. If they are unable to remove them they will be required to stay inside during break and lunch times and will not be able to participate in any PE or physical activities.
Smart Watches
Fitness trackers without smart watch capability are permitted but St Andrew’s and St Mark’s accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of these items. Smart watches , including iWatches- are not permitted due to their messaging capabilities.
Lost Property
Please remember to label your child’s uniform, lunch box and water bottle. All named lost property will be returned to your child by the next school day. Unlabelled property will be kept for one week only in the school office.
Road safety for children
If your child walks to school on their own, it is important they know how to cross roads, including zebra crossings safely. Please click here for more information about Road Safety for children.
Unwell and absent children
If your child is unwell and absent from school please contact the school office before 10am. If you need to leave a message on the answerphone please explain the symptoms of your child’s illness. Siblings of unwell children should attend school.