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Important Notice: School Email & Communication Updates

We are aware that some email communications sent from school mailboxes are landing directly in parents' junk or spam folders. To ensure you do not miss any vital information, please check your junk/spam folders regularly and adjust your email settings to mark our addresses as safe senders.

To keep you fully informed, we are implementing a few new measures:

In-App Arbor Notifications: We will now use the in-app messaging feature on Arbor to alert you whenever a standard email communication has been dispatched. If you receive an app notification, you can check your main inbox - and your junk/spam folder if it hasn't arrived.
Routine Friday Mailings: Messages sent via our primary Arbor mailing system - such as our weekly newsletter links and Friday updates - are delivering normally. We will not send separate in-app notifications for these routine mailings.
A Quick Note for New Families: To keep communications streamlined, we bundle and send out all non-urgent letters and updates once a week on Friday afternoons. Please get into the habit of looking out for this weekly mail catch-up!

Friendly Daily Reminders

To help keep our school days running smoothly and ensure the children are best set up for learning, please take note of a couple of quick daily reminders:

Water Bottles: Please remember to send a labelled, filled water bottle with your child every morning so they can stay hydrated and focused throughout the day.
Lunchtime Preparations: If your child brings a packed lunch, please ensure they have it with them when they arrive at school in the morning. Packing it ahead of time helps minimise mid-day office drop-offs and keeps the school day running smoothly for everyone!

Thank you so much for your continued support and cooperation!

Become a School Councillor for St Stephen’s!

Please share this exciting opportunity with your child! Class teachers have already introduced the idea in school, but here are the key details so you can support them at home:

Do you want to help make our school an even better place? Here is your chance to turn your ideas into action!

What it is: Every class will elect two representatives to join the St Stephen's School Council.
How to enter: Children should prepare a short 1 to 2-minute presentation to share with their class, explaining why they would make a brilliant representative and sharing their best ideas.
When to vote: Elections will take place in class on Friday, 25th September.

Step up, speak out, and good luck to everyone taking part!

Morning Drop-off: Helping Our School Day Start Smoothly

To help all of our children settle quickly into their learning, we kindly remind parents and carers to say goodbye and leave promptly once you have dropped off your child - and definitely by the time the bell rings.

Prompt drop-offs make a huge difference in two key ways:

Enables Morning Routines: It allows teachers to bring classes inside swiftly and begin vital morning registration and settling routines on time.

Supports Anxious Children: Children who find separation difficult take their cues from the playground. Seeing other parents deliver a calm, confident, and prompt goodbye creates a calm environment that makes it much easier for anxious children to separate too.

If your child finds drop-off times tricky or experiences morning anxiety, please take a moment to read our updated guide, The Gift of a Secure Goodbye, on the Wellbeing Page of this Newsletter.

Winter Uniform Notice

As the autumn weather sets in, please note that all children will need to wear their full winter uniform starting from Monday, 28th September.

Uniform Requirements: Please ensure your child wears the standard winter uniform from this date onwards, along with suitable outdoor coats for cooler days.
Ordering Items: If you need to purchase replacement or extra items, you can order directly through our supplier: Dophin House: The Schoolwear Specialists.
Label Everything: With everyone transitioning to winter coats, jumpers, and cardigans, please make sure all items are clearly labeled with your child's name so lost property can be quickly returned.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our pupils warm and smart as the season changes!

Year 5 Secondary School Visits & 11+ Testing Notice

As many of our Year 5 families begin preparing for the transition to secondary school, we would like to remind parents of the procedure for reporting related absences.

Authorised Absences: If your child will be away from school to attend an open morning/day or to sit an 11+ entrance examination, this can be marked as an authorised absence.
Required Documentation: To authorise the time off, please email or bring a copy of your confirmation letter or test invitation to the school office prior to the date of the visit.
Notification: Please let both the office and your child's class teacher know as far in advance as possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation as we help our Year 5 pupils take these exciting next steps.

A Heartfelt Thank You to SEEN Charity

We extend our warmest gratitude to SEEN Charity, a wonderful Twickenham-based organisation dedicated to providing safe spaces and support for young people and parents facing unplanned pregnancy and baby loss.

SEEN has generously donated 100 Lil-Lets starter packs to St Stephen's. Each pack contains a selection of starter period products along with helpful educational information. These resources will be made available to support our children as they grow and navigate these changes, ensuring they feel prepared, confident, and supported.

Thank you to the team at SEEN for your thoughtful support of our school community!

Stationery Donations

Thank you so very much to our kind supporters who have brought stationery supplies so far or financially contributed towards our stationery supplies. We are incredibly grateful!

If you would like to donate towards school supplies, we have two options:

Please contribute to the Stationery Contribution Pot on Arbor under School Shop items
Alternatively, we have created an Amazon wishlist with items we need across the school. We will add items throughout the term.
We have an Early Years Wishlist for our youngest learners creative resources
We would welcome children to bring items into the school office to share with their class.
Please note the school will be closed for deliveries during holidays.

Black History Month: Volunteer Speakers Wanted!

October is Black History Month, and the theme is "Honouring Our Communities."

To celebrate, we are inviting Black parents, grandparents, friends, carers, and local community members to come in and speak with our children. Sharing your story, career path, culture, or hobbies helps bring history and community to life for our young learners.

Interested in visiting for a short session or reading a book with a class? Please contact Jess Morrison to find out more. We'd love to have you!

STARS Notice: Settling Outstanding ParentPay Balances

A quick reminder from the STARS team to please check your ParentPay account for any outstanding wrap-around care balances. Reminder emails have been sent to parents, please check junk/spam folders if you have a Gmail Account.

Please log in and settle any unpaid fees as soon as possible to ensure your child's booking remains active. If you have any questions or require assistance with your account, please contact the main school office.

Donations needed for STARS:

Scooters & helmets
Pop up tents
Board games
Felt-tip pens

Thank you for your support!

Upcoming Trip Payments

Year 6 Hooke Court - 5th October - Payments now due
Year 3 Bushy Park - 23rd September - Payments and consents due by Monday 14th September

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

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