Community

At St Mary Magdalen's, we are delighted to welcome you to our school and Parish family. As a small school, we are able to offer you and your children the comfort and feel of a small village school while also being part of a huge community, all at the heart of London. We are very proud of our strong community links, as we are lucky enough have the support of a very active Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) and have our Parish church on our doorstep.

Our family feel has served us well as we have navigated through unprecedented times this year. Our staff came together to create a video to brighten up our families' days and to remind each other that though we may have been kept apart, we are always together in spirit and will be back together again soon.

Please enjoy this video and continue to read below for more information on our amazing PTA and Parish links.

Parish Links

A welcome from Fr Adrian McKenna- Whyte

Fr Adrian McKenna- Whyte

Starting school for the first time is rather daunting, so much so that both parents and children often remember their first day at school for years to come. Aromas, sights and sounds can all bring back floods of memories such as who was there first at the school gates to greet you; who were the new friends you made on your first day and sometimes the focus shifts to the difficulties that can be encountered, such as how difficult it can be to say goodbye or to try to find your way around the school!

All of us can feel slightly overwhelmed at the prospect of starting something new, not helped by the fact that most of us have been in lockdown for the last three months! Having seen a range of feeling of excitement in children and families about ‘Big School’ over the last few years, in addition to some wonderful bible stories, I am reminded of A.A. Milne’s tales and thought of one, in particular, where Piglet’s enthusiasm, in running to offer Eeyore a balloon for his birthday, ends up with Piglet bursting the balloon whilst running along in excitement. The joy of the story is that even the burst, limp, pieces of balloon became a perfect present when Eeyore is able to take them in and out of the empty honey jar brought along by the ‘silly old bear’. The story is only possible because each character offered the small gift they had – just like the child offering Jesus the two small fish and five small loaves (John 6:1-13). Know that as your child starts their journey through the life of the school, all they have to offer is going to be multiplied by the gifts and talents of each member of staff but, most importantly, by the love and care that you can bring as you help your child to grow in their gifts, day by day.

In September, your child will receive a prayer stone to the start their journey through the school. The stones will be blessed and the children carry it through the school, using it to support their ability to reflect and pray. Years from now, when they reach their final year at St Mary Magdalen's, they take it with them when they leave as a symbol of how their faith and their school will always be part of their life journey and to support their growth.

We look forward to welcoming you into our school, our church and our hearts this September.

Yours sincerely,

Parent Teacher Association

Who we are

One of the things that makes our school special is the dynamic contribution of our Parent Teacher Association (PTA). As a parent, you are automatically a member of the PTA, and we would love you to get involved in any way you can.

We work with the school staff to provide better opportunities for all our children – both financially, through fundraising, and practically, by helping out with extra-curricular activities. We meet regularly in the evenings at school, and you are always welcome to join us.

What we do

Every year, the PTA organises a variety of fun events for parents and children to help fund much-needed amenities and improvements for the school.

Our PTA events have ranged from our hugely successful Bike Rides and Fairs, to a range of evening events, Fun Runs and Family Bingo. We also organise smaller fundraising events throughout the year, from Movie Nights and regular cake sales to our big Pancake Breakfast.

Money raised and the difference it makes

In the 2018-2019 school year, the PTA raised £22,000! It’s hard work, but extremely rewarding when we see the contributions we have made to the school – from enhanced learning environments to improving our IT and technical facilities, plus subsiding sports provision and school trips.

Spotlight on a recent event


Following on from the success of the 2018 London to Paris bike ride, Team St. Mary Mags embarked on 59 mile cycle from London to Brighton in 2019. This was once again one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and introduced a new group of parents to long-distance cycling.

Those newer to cycling were coached and led by the London to Paris cyclists, showing how fantastic fundraising can be combined with forging friendships and reinforcing a sense of community amongst our parents and teachers.

Ways to give

Attending and supporting our events is the primary way of contributing to the PTA, and means that fundraising can continue to be combined with strengthening our community and enjoying time together.

However, there are other ways that you can help to raise money. One-off contributions are possible via the Products section of SCOPAY, and there is always Easyfundraising/ Amazon Smile, which allows you to raise money when shopping or booking online.

Contact

Please contact us in relation to any PTA matters at our email address INFOSMMPTA@YAHOO.COM, or catch us in the playground. Questions and queries can also be directed through your Class Reps.

Please also look out for our emails and newsletters, which are always sent via SCOPAY and your Class Reps.

You can also follow us on Instagram @STMARYMAGDALENSMORTLAKE


A huge thank you in advance for your support, and we look forward to welcoming you!