Messages

Clarification on Pesto in the Nut-Free Policy

For clarity within our Nut-Free School Policy, please note the following regarding Pesto: Traditional pesto recipes typically contain pine nuts, which are classified as seeds and not tree nuts. However, some commercially available pesto products may substitute or include tree nuts such as walnuts, cashews, or almonds in their ingredients, which are strictly prohibited. Only pre-packaged, shop-bought pesto that is explicitly labelled and certified as nut-free (like certain vegan or specific brand offerings, such as Belazu’s certified nut-free pesto) is permitted in school premises or packed lunches. When in doubt, always check the full ingredient list and allergen information for any 'May Contain' warnings before bringing it to school.

Christmas Lunch Menu Selection and Jumper Day!

Our annual Christmas Lunch is scheduled for Thursday 18th December.

To ensure every child receives their preferred meal choice, all parents are required to view the menu and submit their child's selection via the online form.

Please click the link below to view the full menu options and , alongside your chilchoice for your child's Christmas Lunch:

Link to Menu Selection Form: https://forms.gle/6zH1SCMoFxyTXUb48

All choices must be submitted by the end of the day on Monday, 8th December. We cannot guarantee a specific meal choice for selections made after this deadline.

Christmas Jumper Day

On the day of the Christmas Lunch, children are welcome to add to the festive spirit by wearing a Christmas Jumper over their standard school uniform (shirt/pinafore).

Can you volunteer your help for the christmas Lunch?

Volunteer opportunities for our Christmas Lunch are now open where we need your support to serve nearly 500 lunches!

The volunteering slot is from 11:15am - 2pm. If you can spare some time to support this fun and festive event, we can reward you with a free Christmas lunch!

Festive attire encouraged but not compulsory.

Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:

volunteersignup.org/PHEMD

To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for volunteering!

School Meals Survey

We are committed to providing nutritious and enjoyable school meals for all our students.

To help us ensure the quality and variety of our school catering meet the needs and preferences of the children, we are conducting a short survey.

We kindly request that you complete this survey with your child, as many of the questions directly ask for their honest opinion on the taste, variety, and dining experience.

The survey should take no more than 5-7 minutes to complete. Your feedback is invaluable and will directly inform future menu planning and service improvements.

Click the link below to access the survey: https://forms.gle/YwjGTQRkRsVU8pRk7

The deadline for completing the survey is Friday 12th December.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your views. On the menu today was fish and chips, cheese pasty, fresh salad and fruit, yoghurt, jelly and chocolate cake. Yum!

Upcoming Workshop for parents - Let's talk about... supporting your child with separation anxiety

Wednesday 10th December, 9am

Is the morning drop-off challenging for your child? Do you want to feel more confident and equipped to help your child manage those difficult feelings when coming into school? Join us for this focused, one-hour workshop hosted by the Mental Health Support Team (MHST). We understand how challenging separation anxiety can be, and this session is designed to offer practical, evidence-based tips and strategies specifically for parents. You will leave with actionable steps to confidently support your child, helping them feel safe, settled, and ready to learn after separating from their caregivers each morning.

School Photographs

If you would like your orders to be delivered to school with free P&P, you will need to place your order today Friday 5th December.

The photographs will be delivered to school free of charge before the Christmas break.

Any orders after this are subject to a £4 p&p to your home address.

Spaces still available in our extra-curricular clubs!

Don't miss the opportunity for your child to explore new interests and develop valuable skills! We still have spaces in our exciting range of school extra-curricular clubs, designed to spark creativity, boost physical activity, and foster teamwork.

From dynamic Sports Clubs that encourage fitness and fair play, to imaginative Art Clubs and stimulating Coding, there's something perfect for every child. Enrolling your child is a fantastic way to enrich their week, help them make new friends across different year groups, and provide a fun, supportive environment for growth. Please see ParentPay for our availability.

Temporary Extra-Curricular Club Closure on ParentPay

Please note that we will temporarily close all clubs on ParentPay at the end of Monday 15th December. This pause is essential to allow our administration team to conduct necessary updates to get ready for the Spring term. If there is availability, we anticipate re-opening club bookings on ParentPay shortly after the Christmas break.

STARS Spring Bookings:

We are pleased to confirm that all STARS Club block bookings for SPRING 1 sessions have been successfully loaded onto ParentPay, and confirmation emails were sent to all pre-booked families today.

Check Your Bookings: Please carefully review the sessions booked for each child against the details you submitted via the Google Form. This is especially important for families with sibling bookings.
Report Discrepancies: If you find any anomalies compared to your requested booking pattern, please immediately email the finance mailbox. Failure to highlight errors at this stage will mean the slot is held and you remain liable for the cost, as it prevents us from re-selling the session.
Make Payment: Please ensure all payments are up to date and cleared by Sunday, January 4th.
Voucher/Tax-Free Childcare Payments: If you are paying using childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare, you must include your child's name and the specific club as a reference on the transfer. Please also email the finance mailbox with the transfer details so we can mark your payment as complete.
Settle Outstanding Balances: Please ensure any outstanding amounts for other payment items are settled.

STARS Ad Hoc Bookings:

We currently have a limited number of additional spaces available for ad hoc (one-off) bookings. Booking for these ad hoc spaces will be released on Monday 8th December at 12pm.

If you require an ad hoc session during the term, please follow these steps:

Check ParentPay: Log in to your ParentPay account. A space visible as bookable in the system indicates it is available
Email Request: Should a space not be visible and you would like to request a last-minute emergency booking, please email STARS@st-stephens.richmond.sch.uk.

As spaces are limited, we encourage you to book promptly. If you have any questions, please contact the STARS team directly.

STARS INSET DAY – Monday 5th January

We will be running our fabulous fun-filled STARS INSET CAMP with lots of activities to entertain your child, on Monday 5th January from 08:30 to 16:30
The cost is £40 and includes breakfast. Please provide your child with a packed lunch and water.
This is now available to book and pay for in Parent Pay.
We do accept childcare vouchers for this camp, please email these to finance@st-stephens.richmond.gov.uk in order for us to book you into this camp.

Free Christmas Holiday Activities for Young People (FUEL/HAF)

We are delighted to share details of the FUEL (Feed Ur Everyday Lives) Programme offering free Christmas activities and food for young people aged 9-16!

Part of the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, these sessions are run by Achieving for Children (AfC) and aim to provide fun, engaging activities and nutritious meals during the school holidays.

What's On Offer?

The sessions will be running at Hampton Youth Zone and Whitton Youth Zone on:

22nd December (includes a trip to Heatham House)
23rd December
5th January

Activities include: Art, Cooking, Arcade Gaming, Music, Roller Skating, a wide range of Sports (football, basketball, tennis), Team Games, and Festive themed activities! Food will be available at all sessions.

Who Can Sign Up?

Free places are primarily for young people aged 9-16 who are eligible for and receiving benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM).

A limited number of free spaces are also available for children who meet other criteria for support, including those accessing Pupil Premium or being supported by AfC Early Help/Social Care.

How to Book Your Place:

Families whose children are eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals should receive a FUEL code from their school which is used for booking.

For more information on the activities, concessions, or to inquire about non-FSM spaces, please contact:

Email: justin.johnson@achievingforchildren.org.uk

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 on Instagram @ststephens.cofe

Page updated

Report abuse