Newsletter Seven
W/c 14th October 2024
URGENT MESSAGE FOR YEAR SIX PARENTS - SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS MUST BE IN BY OCTOBER 31ST
Message from AFC admissions – Secondary School Applications
Please ensure you submit your secondary school applications online as soon as possible before the half term break as e-admissions wish to minimise the number of late applications because of registration difficulties.
The eAdmissions Helpdesk will not be available after 6pm on the closing date, Thursday 31 October in order to assist parents who experience difficulty logging in to an existing account or creating a new one.
The web address is www.eAdmissions.org.uk
Applications submitted after the closing date (late)
Please be aware that late applications will only be considered after all on time applications, unless parents provide a legitimate reason for missing the deadline. However, we do consider the circumstances and any disadvantage to the child a late application may have when making a decision whether to accept a late application as ontime.
Calling All Musicians!
We love to hear your talents! Would you like to play an instrument at the start of Monday’s merit assembly? This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talents. If you are interested, please see Mrs Morrison, who will put your name on a list and let you know the date on which you will entertain the whole school!
FOSS UPDATE - PAGE THREE AND MERITS PAGE FOUR
ARE YOU FOLLOWING US?
For regular updates on all the exciting things we are getting up to in school, you'll need to follow us @StStephensCofE.
Don't miss out!
RED HOUSE IS THIS WEEK'S HOUSEPOINTS WINNER
DATES AND REMINDERS
(Dates may be subject to change. For a full list of our yearly dates please check our 'Summary of Dates' page on our website)
October - Cultural Awareness Month
Monday 21st October - FOSS Second hand uniform sale
Tuesday 22nd October - Individual & Sibling school photographs
Friday 25th October - INSET DAY - School Closed (Stars will be open)
Friday 29th November - Let’s Talk About Friendships - 9am in the Studio
Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November - Half term holiday (Sports Camp open 29th, 30th, 31st)
Saturday 2nd November - FOSS rugby stall fundraiser
Sunday 3rd November - OPS Fireworks Night (tbc)
Monday 4th November - Children return to school
Wednesday 6th November - Year Five Trip to Hampton Court Palace
Thursday 7th November - Attenborough Class - Joy of Movement
Friday 8th November – Attenborough Class Assembly (Y5) - 9 am
Monday 11th November - Anti-Bullying Week
Tuesday 12th November - NSPCC Online Safety Course (online) 6pm
Tuesday 12th November - Odd Socks Day for Anti-bullying week - come to school in unmatched socks!
Tuesday 12th November - Attenborough Class Food Tech Workshop with Mrs Cox
Tuesday 12th November – Year Two Trip to Gilbert White’s House
Friday 15th November - Lau Class Assembly (Y5) - 9am in the Hall (this is a date change)
Friday 15th November - FOSS Wear your own clothes to school
Tuesday 19th November - Lau Class Food Tech Workshop with Mrs Cox
Tuesday 19th November - Year One Trip to Strawberry Hill House
Tuesday 19th November - New parent tours
Sunday 24th November - FOSS rugby stall fundraiser
Friday 29th November - Class assembly - Year Four - Turing (tbc)
Friday 29th November – ‘Let’s Talk About’ Friendships session – 9am Studio
Saturday 30th November - FOSS Christmas Fair
Tuesday 3rd December - Parent consultations - online
Wednesday 4th December - Parent consultations - online
Saturday 7th December - FOSS Christmas Fair – This has been moved to Saturday 30th November
Wednesday 11th December - Reception Nativity - School Hall - 2.30pm
Thursday 12th December - Reception Nativity - School Hall - 2.30pm
Monday 16th December - FOSS Christmas Market
Tuesday 17th December - Year Two Christmas Performance - 10am
Wednesday 18th December - Carol Service - St Stephen's Church - 10am
Thursday 19th December - Christmas Lunch/class parties
Friday 20th December - Term ends 2.15pm
Monday 6th January - Staff Inset Day
Please ensure children do not go on the climbing frames after the bell has gone at the end of the school day. Children are only permitted to go on the playground equipment during school hours, when they are supervised by our trained first aiders. Thank you for your co-operation.
INDIVIDUAL AND SIBLING PHOTOS
Our photographer from Tempest will be here next week to take the annual school portraits. Please ensure your child is dressed in or has packed their full school uniform. Summer dresses can be worn, any child wearing a shirt should also be wearing a tie.
Attenborough and Yousafzai class should wear their uniform and pack their PE kit in their bag, photos are taken of the upper body so trainers can be worn with uniform.
Pankhurst class should wear their PE kit but pack their uniform to change into for the photographs.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH - THE BIG LIVE ASSEMBLY
This week, as part of Black History Month, we took part in a live assembly, with thousands of other schools up and down the country. The theme of this year's BHM is 'Reclaiming Narratives' and the assembly, and the other focus work during October, sees our children look at the lives of marginalised and overlooked Black individuals and culture.
LOADED UP AND READY TO GO
It took Mrs Blomley, Mr Scarlett and the Richmond Foodbank volunteers quite a while to load up our Harvest Festival donations, such was the generosity of our wonderful children and parents. Once again, thank you so much. This will make such a difference to families in need in the local area.
FIRST SCHOOL TRIP FOR RECEPTION
Reception braved the pavements of St Margaret's to walk, two by two, to Moormead. They may have enjoyed many a jaunt to the park with their families, but this was their first off site, school trip. They were looking for signs of Autumn, so collected some beautiful leaves and other seasonable greenery to bring back to the classroom for further learning. Thank you so much to all our parent helpers and our wonderful staff who have prepared them for this momentous learning milestone. We have heard that they behaved beautifully - it was a mere 'walk in the park' for these lovely, early learners. As befits the occasion, our team took lots of photographs, so see page five and next week's issue for more Autumn Walk shots.
Launch of Rights Respecting Schools at St Stephen's! - report by Mrs Brown
This year, we are embarking on a mission to become a 'Rights Respecting' school. The aim of the Rights Respecting schools award (led by UNICEF) is to empower children by teaching them about their rights and the importance of respecting the rights of others. This is very much in line with our school vision, values and curriculum, where we teach children to be upstanders and build each other up in love and learning. More information can be found on their website here.
Excitingly, we have already elected our 'Rights Knights' committee from Upper Key Stage Two, who will be supporting with spreading the message of children's rights throughout the school through many different avenues.
Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to embark on this inspiring journey with us!
WELCOME TO ST STEPHEN'S
Kathryn Chappell joins us as a Teaching Assistant in Year Six. Formerly, she worked as a Reception teacher in Twickenham. In her spare time she is writing a book and loves pottery.
Jane Bishop is our new French teacher and will also be a Teaching Assistant in Year Four. An animal lover, Jane also enjoys yoga and the cinema.
James Mitchell joins us from Melbourne. He will be working as a Teaching Assistant in Year Three. Back home he was a scuba diving and basketball enthusiast.
PARENT WELLBEING SURVEY
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ON THE WELLBEING SERVICES WE OFFER AT ST STEPHEN'S. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. MANY THANKS
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_BVt9h2rvYipGnY45VOeb5ZsHXwdlv5HUP3ViF2WBUA/edit
Please have a look at the Parentsafe Website. It has fantastic advice for online safety and beyond.