Newsletter : 28th March 2024
A Message from Mrs Murphy
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today is the last day of the Spring term and what a term it has been! So many exciting activities, trips and events for the children, along with all the learning and progress in the classrooms.
Highlights of the last two weeks:
Hindleap Warren
Last week, I was privileged to accompany the Year 4 children on their first residential school trip to Hindleap Warren. It was a fabulous three days filled with climbing, archery, high ropes and a very muddy assault course. We are very proud of all the children as they all fully embraced the challenges of the trip. They all showed St James Courage as they stayed away from home for two nights and were excellent ambassadors for St James! I would like to personally thank Mrs Lawrence, Mrs Hilton, Mrs Powick, Miss Franklin, Mrs Wong, Mrs Jain and Miss Punter who gave up their time to organise and accompany the children on this school trip. Residential visits cannot go ahead without the commitment and dedication of the team so I am very grateful for them for giving up their time.
Year 3 Hampton Court
In other news , Year 3 headed to Hampton Court to continue their learning on the Tudors. We were very lucky to receive a grant for this trip following our submission of the royal bench competition entries for the King's Coronation, so thank you to Miss Reid, our history coordinator, for all her work to make this happen. It was a fabulous opportunity for the children to cement their understanding of Henry VIII as they revisited their learning about the Tudor period and Oatlands Palace.
Year 4 Trombone concert
Year 4 had a further exciting event this week as the displayed their musical talents, playing the trombone to parents and carers. Performing songs like Star Wars, James Bond and Seven Nation Army, the children demonstrated their progress in reading music, understanding of dynamics and playing the Trombone. Year 3, who were also in the audience, will begin their lessons after the Easter break.
Year 6
Year 6 have also been applying their design skills to make CAM toys. They considered moving mechanisms and designs to create a moving toy. Some fabulous outcomes from across the year group. Well done Year 6!
Fire Service visit to Reception
We were so excited that the fire service were able to visit us. The children in Reception were able to sit inside the fire engine and test out the fire hoses. They were even called away to a real life emergency during their visit with us and so the children even got to hear the sirens.
Easter Pause Day
On Monday, the children across the school took part in an Easter Pause day. During the day, the whole school took time to reflect on what Easter means to Christians. The children created their own crosses and we have all contributed to our school cross with our thumb prints to show that we are united as a school community.
Easter bonnet parade
Yesterday, the St James creativity was on display in our Easter Bonnet parade. So many fabulous designs of bonnets came into school and it was very hard to choose a winner. Assisted by the whole staff team, we manage to reduce the number of entries to a group of finalists from across the school. These children all received a craft based prize from the school. From these finalists, we selected the two winners who received a fabulous Easter gift hamper from the Friends of St James.
In the EYFS and KS1: Congratulations to Joseph.
In KS2: Congratulations to Isla.
Thank you to all parents who supported their children to take part.
Sustainability Homework
It has been such a joy to see all the creative homework coming into school over the last few weeks. The deep thinking and learning that can be seen in all of this work is very impressive and I thank all parents and carers for their support with this at home. We are preparing our gallery and would like to invite parents and carers to view this gallery on Thursday 18th April and Friday 19th April in the Aviary from 3.15pm - 3.45pm. The children will all have an opportunity to visit the gallery in the first week back and I am sure that they will be keen to show off their own work to the wider community
The next creative homework will be included on the class newsletters.
Good luck
This week we wished Miss Peacock good luck as she left to go on maternity leave. We will all be waiting to hear the exciting news of her new arrival. We will be welcoming Mrs Sykes after Easter who will be supporting Year 6 with their preparations for SATs and their transition to secondary school.
Weybridge Station Art
We have updated our display of art work for the Easter holidays. Please do head into the waiting room and have a look at the fantastic art work of the pupils of St James.
And finally....
Ahead of the end of term, I would like to thank all staff for their continued hard work at St James. I am very lucky to have a committed team who unite to provide the best quality education possible for the children of St James, and always aiming to do so with a smile.
Thank you also to the parents and carers who have supported us over the last term, we do appreciate all your efforts.
On behalf of everyone at St James, I would like to wish you all a lovely Easter break. We look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Monday 15th April.
Best wishes,
Mrs Murphy
Reading
Safeguarding
New School Spring/Summer Menu
Please find below the new Spring/Summer menu from our school caterers, Twelve15. This is a three week rolling menu which will come into effect after the Easter holidays. All children choose from one of the three meal options at the start of each school day.
If your child is in KS2 and has a school meal, please remember to pay for and book their meals in advance using the SCOPAY app.
Summer Term School Clubs
2024-Club-dates-and-times-Summer-Term.323177382.pdfInformation from Surrey County Council
Our school are assisting Surrey County Council’s Safer Travel Team to undertake research with parents on pupils’ types of travel to and from school. The objective of the research is to develop a better understanding of the different types of travel used, and to ascertain if this is changing over time. The Safer Travel Team’s goal is to assist schools to continue to encourage safer and more active ways of travelling to school.
Please could I ask that you take the time to complete the survey using the link below. The deadline for completion of the survey is 7th April 2024 and the survey should be completed for each child that attends our school.
https://www.surreysays.co.uk/safer-travel/secondary-school-travel-2024/
OR
https://www.surreysays.co.uk/safer-travel/primary-school-travel-2024/
As a thank you for taking the time to help them, The Safer Travel team will donate £25 for every 100 surveys completed* to your choice of the following two charities;
Shooting Stars Children’s hospices
http://www.shootingstar.org.uk/about-us/
Change of Scene, Farnham
http://www.changeofscene.org.uk/about-us
Thank you for continuing to support our school to improve pupils' journeys to school.
Friends of St James
Family Support
Collective Worship at St James
Week beginning: 18th March 2024
Monday : Mental Health
Tuesday: Palm Sunday
Wednesday: Singing Assembly
Thursday: Picture News
Friday: Celebration Assembly
Week beginning: 25th March 2024
Monday : Easter Pause Day
Tuesday: Holy Week - This is the day
Wednesday: Singing Assembly
Thursday: Celebration Assembly
Friday: No Assembly
Celebration Awards
Y1 Wrens: Bertie / Evelyn
Robins: Dre / Ivy
Y2 Woodpeckers: Huzaifa / Mia
Kingfishers: Finley / Shommo
Y3 Barn Owls: Harry / Evie
Snowy Owls: Rosie / Riley
Y4 Kestrels: Whole class
Merlins: Whole class
Y5 Falcons: Callie / Maya
Kites: Monty / Jayden
Y6 Eagles: Carroll / Patric
Hawks: Theo / Cole
Values Certificates and Counter Collection
This week we awarded:
LOVE: Evelyn / Coral / Sum / Jack
RESPECT: Aarya / Avie / Ben / Zak / Isla M. / Jack S.
UNITY: Georgia / Ria / Mia G. / Mia F. / Yassie / Ellie / Abi B. / Edwin
COURAGE: Sebastian
Diary Dates
DIARY DATES:
Mon 15 April START OF SUMMER TERM
Tues 16 April Y6 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' workshop. 9 - 11.30am
Thurs 18, Fri 19 April 'Creative Project work' viewing - Parents 3.15pm in the Aviary classroom
Wed 17, 24 April Y4 Swimming
Wed 24 April Y1 Wisley Gardens day trip
Wed 1, 8, 15, 22 May Y4 Swimming
Thurs 2 May Y5 Dorking Halls Primary Music Festival
w/c Mon 13 May Y6 SATS
Tues 21 May Reception - Painshill Park day trip
Thurs 23 May Mufti Day - 'Break The Rules'
Fri 24 May Inset Day - (School closed)
W/C 27 May Half Term.
Mon 3 June Back to School.
Fri 7 June Someone Special stall
Mon 10 - Fri 14 June Y6 Residential - Isle Of Wight
Tues 18 June Y6 - Leavers Service at Guildford Cathedral
Wed 26 June Year 3 Assembly - 9.15am
Thurs 27 June Y1 Cake sale
Fri 28 June Sports Day
Fri 5 July Year 2 Assembly - 9.15am
Tues 9 July Y6 Leavers Production (4.15 - 7pm)
Wed 10 July Y6 Leavers Production (4.30 - 7pm)
Fri 12 July Friends Mufti Day
Sat 13 July Summer Fair
Tues 16 July 'Moving Up' Morning
Wed 17 July Y6 Leavers Service at St James Church
Thurs 18 July Year 1 Assembly - 9.15am
Friday 19 July End of Summer Term - 1.30pm finish (no After-School Club)
St James' Church, Weybridge
