Newsletter 5 Summer Term

17th May 2023

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.


Feedback - Question of the Week!


Apologies regarding a technical issue last week.  Please click here to tell us your thoughts on home learning.  Thank you. 



WhatsApp - not for primary aged pupils!

There continues to be a worrying national rise in the number of primary aged pupils using WhatsApp. Please be aware that WhatsApp is rated as 16+. In our school community, WhatsApp groups continue to pose challenges, despite teaching about this to pupils and conversations with parents and carers. These challenges include the spreading of misinformation as well as unkind and inappropriate communication. 


The main reason that WhatsApp is rated 16+ is because you cannot stop complete strangers contacting your child. Ultimately, the questions we need to ask ourselves is: are you happy with the idea that anyone can contact your child directly? Are you happy for the school and wider world to see what your child is posting on WhatsApp?


Whilst this is easy to write, we know that many parents and carers face an uphill battle as pupils gain access to devices and want to stay in contact with friends. Our children often copy the content and tone of what they see their parents write. One strong alternative is Messenger Kids . By contrast to WhatsApp, Messenger Kids is: relatively safe; operated through parent’s Facebook account; there are no adverts or in-app purchases and the parent/carer has almost complete control.


School Vacancies

Come and join our dynamic team. We are currently advertising for an Administrative Assistant and and After School Club Playleader.  Please share these details, if you know of anyone that might be interested. Thank you.


Coming to school in the mornings

Over the past week we have had several instances of pupils arriving at school significantly early before 8:30am and waiting in the bike shed area, which is unsupervised at this time. Please be aware that any pupils on the school site before 8:30am will be sent to the Breakfast Club and parents/carers will be charged for these sessions via ParentPay.



Rewilding at SASM

We have received several Coronation seed packets as part of a collaboration between the Eden Project's National Wildflower Centre and the Department of Education. SASM is taking part by planting the seeds across the site to create wildflower patches. This links to Year 4's study of pollinators and will encourage insects, including bees and butterflies, to our school. Pupils can visit the Spiritual Garden each lunchtime to find out how they can get involved.



Parent /Carer survey results

The results are in! Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our annual survey. We had 167 responses, our highest in a number of years. The results have been summarised here. We would like to thank the 67 parents and carers who also wrote feedback; it was wonderful to share the kind and thankful words with our team as well as hearing the suggestions for improvement. Our Senior Leadership Team will be looking at every comment and we will be sharing responses soon. 


Parent/Carer Coffee Morning - Friday 16th June (8.45am - 9.45am)

We would like to invite any parents/carers of children on the SEND register or whose families face challenges at home/school to SASM for an informal coffee morning. This is an opportunity to chat to other parents/carers in a relaxed forum.  Mrs. Crowther and Miss Woodward will also be available for general conversations and advice.  Please register your interest by completing this brief Google form. Thank you.

Reminder - Class Collective Worship

Parents and Carers of children in 5C are invited to attend class collective worship this week on Friday 19th May.  Please enter via the school playground - the hall doors open at 8.45am for a 9.00am start and it will finish at approximately 9.15am.

Reminder - No School Clubs next week!  

Please remember there will be no after school clubs running next week (Monday 22nd to Friday 26th May) with the exception of the Drama Club on Monday and After School tutoring.  

Wrap Around Care is available to book until 6.00pm.

School Clubs will start again on Tuesday 6th June and will run until Friday 14th July.


ADHD Embrace - upcoming event

Managing Physical and Aggressive Behaviour and supporting your young person with ADHD

This five week online course will focus on supporting parents/ carers of children that frequently exhibit aggressive, controlling and very challenging behaviours.  This course is taking place on Wednesday 7th June at 8.00pm - 9.30pm.  If you would like to attend this course please click here to register. 

-This Week's Notices- 

Activities during half-term

Over the coming days, details of other activities to keep local young people happy and amused during half-term will be added to kingstonuponthames.info 

                                                        -Repeat notices-

Dean Beadle Talk - Autistic social and emotional needs at the Kingston Academy


The Kingston Academy is hosting a talk from Dean Beadle who is a renowned public speaker who has toured the UK for over 15 years, sharing his positive outlook on being autistic and challenging negative public attitudes.  


The talk will be held at The Kingston Academy on Wednesday 21st June at 18:30.  For further information and details of how to book a ticket, please click here. 

Upcoming Mental Wellbeing Courses

If you are interested in  attending any of the following courses designed to help your children - please follow this link for further details and to register your interest.

Sign up to Free School Meals – not automatic and more than just a free lunch!

 

Please click here for further information. Please sign up to the Free Schools Meals scheme if you are eligible.

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 in 60

This week the Safeguarding Hub is talking about TikTok advertising, how the Online Safety Bill could cause WhatsApp to leave the UK and the official health advice on children's social media use.

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-

Break time snacks

As a healthy school, pupils' daily snacks should be full of goodness to keep children full until lunch. Suitable snacks include:

 

These snacks are NOT suitable for a break time snack:

Insect bites and pollen count


As we enter the summer term and warmer weather begins, more of our pupils will be wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts. This coincides with an increase in the bug population. Whilst we always monitor our school site with regular health and safety checks, our playground is outdoors.  Pupils will spend more time outside, both when at school and away from school.  Preventative  measures that can be taken at school and elsewhere is to cover exposed skin by wearing long sleeved shirts and long trousers, as well as reminding children to be careful around flowering plants. Similarly, the pollen count is set to increase, particularly for grass, triggering some allergies. 


Here is some more information from the NHS about insect bites and hayfever: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/  and  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/ 

Summer uniform

From now until the end of the October half term, pupils may come to school in their summer uniform, which includes a white long/short sleeved school shirt or blouse, white polo shirt or red checked dress. 


For further information regarding our school uniform please follow this link to our school website  and our school uniform supplier.  

 

Alternatively, every Friday there is a second hand uniform sale in the office foyer


PE Kit

On PE days children must come to school wearing their PE kit.  Please click here to see PE days for each class.

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. 

Hair and shoes!  

Please remember that all shoulder length hair needs to be tied back for school, even on mufti days. Having your child’s hair tied back, is one of the most effective ways of keeping the nits and lice at bay.  With the hair tied back, it makes it more difficult for the lice to hold on to  the hair. Please note that pupils are required to wear black shoes  (no trainers, boots or footwear displaying a logo).

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.


Diarrhoea and vomiting 

PHE recommends that children are kept off school until 48 hours after the last symptoms have passed. Whilst this is not enforced by us it is responsible practice by parents/carers.