Newsletter 20 - w/c 6th February 2023
FOSS UPDATE - PAGE THREE
TURN TO PAGE SIX FOR NEWS ON A SPECIAL NON-UNIFORM DAY ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE TURKISH EARTHQUAKE
ARE YOU FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER?
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!
DATES AND REMINDERS
Friday 10th - Year Six - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Monday 13th - Friday 17th February Half Term Holiday Monday 20th February
Monday 20th February - Inset Day
Tuesday 21st February Children Return
Thursday 23rd February - Year Six - Buddhapadipa Temple
Friday 24th February - FOSS - Pre-loved dressing up costume sale (in preparation for World Book Day)
Monday 27th February - Year Two - Great Fire of London workshop (further details to follow)
Wednesday 1st March - World Book Day
Thursday 2nd March - FOSS Reception Disco ???
Friday 3rd March - FOSS Disco - Years 1-6
Monday 6th March - Year Five - Science Museum (further details to follow)
Friday 17th March - Year Two - National Archives - Great Fire of London Workshop (further details to follow)
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd - Parent Teacher Consultations (face to face)
Friday 24th March - Year Six - Junior Citizenship, Holly Lodge (further details to follow)
Friday 31st March - End of term. School closes 2.15pm
Wednesday 3rd May - Friday 5th May - Year Four - residential trip to Juniper Hall
WHICH MEMBER OF THE ST STEPHEN'S STAFF TEAM HAS WORKED IN SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS? SEE THE BOTTOM OF PAGE TWO FOR THE ANSWER ...
FAREWELL AND THANK YOU TO SALLY!
The wonderful Sally Stratton has been tending our Gardening Club for many a year but, alas, it is time for her to uproot from St Stephen's and move on to pastures new. Here is her final report ...
Once upon a time, many years ago, Mrs Bachour and I decided we'd like to start a gardening club at St Stephen's. My eldest son was in Year 5 and he and his friends liked mud and minibeasts so getting something to grow in the mud with the help of any passing children and insects seemed like a good idea. He's 29 this year and after two decades of gardening with you, I'm finally hanging up my trowel and heading off to pastures new. I'll miss our Wednesday sessions: all the horticultural experiments we've done together, the fun of tasting what we've grown (especially the annual potato salad bonanza) and the excitement of turning over a leaf and finding a little creature merrily munching away and making themselves very much at home - thanks for coming along and joining in.
However, I'm hoping that all I've learnt from you over the years will be useful as I embark on my new job as Community Gardener for the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. I'll be helping communities there build a vegetable patch where they live so that other children and their families can discover the joy of growing their own and learn new skills that will hopefully start a lifelong love of gardening.
I hope I'll continue to see many of you around St Margarets and I look forward to hearing what you've been growing and tasting.
Best wishes
Sally
Mrs Bachour says: "When Sally comes in on Wednesday lunchtimes to run her Gardening Club there is always an air of excitement in our entrance area, as the young gardeners await her. She has given generations of our children the taste for gardening and an appreciation of growing their own vegetables and herbs. They love it when they get to taste what they have grown. We would all like to thank her for her contribution to life at St Stephen's. Kensington and Chelsea are lucky to have her. Thank you Sally and good luck."
World Book Day - Wedneday March 1st 2023
We have made a decision to move World Book Day to Wednesday 1st March due to the proposed strike day.
World Book Day Celebrations - St Stephen's 1.3.23
Dress up as your favourite book character OR bring your favourite non-fiction book to share with the class. This year, we will ask for donations to set up a dual language section of our library so we can buy some of our favourite books in English/Chinese and English/Ukrainian.
Character Catwalk/Book Recommendation, so children have the chance to tell their friends what they are dressed up as or to recommend their favourite non-fiction book.
Teacher Book Swap – teachers will read an extract of their favourite book to other classes at the end of the school day. This is a brilliant way for children to hear another reader
DEAR time (drop everything and read) time in the day. Adults and children have fun reading silently together – a great way to share some mindful time.
Children will learn a classic poem or a poem linked directly to the curriculum. Each class has been assigned a poem that they will recite and perform during phase assembly during WB 20th March (World Poetry Day is on 21st March!)
£1 Book Voucher for every child
