St Paul's Newsletter
Friday 7th June 2024
Message from Mrs Evans
Welcome Back
It has been lovely to see you all this week and to hear about some of the exciting things that took place over half-term. It was wonderful to welcome INSIGHT in to lead worship for us on Tuesday and our Year 6 pupils really enjoyed attending INSIGHT's transition session with other Year 6 pupils from across the local area. We are busy preparing to welcome our new Reception class and are really looking forward to welcoming so many siblings to the new class - many of whom we have watched growing up.
Praise for Our PSA
I wanted to take this opportunity once again to congratulate our PSA on an incredible summer fair which raised over £7000. This is almost triple the amount raised last year. It was a fantastic team effort and it has been wonderful to see so many volunteers joining in from across the whole school community. We have a little bit of work to still be completed on the KS2 playground and then our attention turns to our KS1 and KS2 libraries. Thanks to the fabulous book week fundraising we have again been able to replenish our books and are now looking at a redesign of each of these spaces to make the books easily accessible and the spaces flexible for reading, small group work and as spaces that can be used for regulation too. Our 'Community Room' in KS2 has been such a success in supporting pupils when they need a calm space to regulate and we are keen to create a similar space to be used in KS1 within the library area.
Thank you to all of our families who have contributed towards the fundraising across the year so far!
Working in Partnership
I wanted to give a bit of an update about my work so far with Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Richmond. It has been a great opportunity for me to reflect on some of our key strengths at St Paul's but to also consider areas that we would like to develop further which they have strengths in. I have already had the opportunity to take one of our staff over to Holy Trinity to work with one of their subject leaders and they also have experience in a new maths initiative that we were already intending to launch in autumn term so it will be good to be able to draw on their prior knowledge to support us in rolling this out.
This partnership has also brought with it a financial reward for our school and with the challenge that schools are currently facing financially this has been welcome to support us in being able to update parts of the school environment and resources to support provision for our pupils.
Thank you for your continued support in me taking on this challenge. I have been incredibly grateful for the positive way that the community has embraced this and for the support that I have been shown by both families and staff.
School Trips/Visits Policy
At St Paul's we have developed a rich programme of trips and visits to support our curriculum. Whilst parents/carers will always be asked for permission for their child to attend, these experiences have been carefully chosen and planned to enrich our pupils' learning and therefore we are always keen to enable as many pupils as possible to attend.
We are always keen to hear from parents/carers if they have any concerns about a trip or visit and will then invite them to come in and meet with us to discuss this concern further in the hope that together we can create a plan of support which will enable their child to take part.
Please do not be surprised to be asked to come in if you have not given permission for a trip/visit - we really value these opportunities to have conversations about concerns and to consider what can be done to support.
Developing Healthy Online Habits
We are aware that even our youngest pupils have regular access to devices such as iPads and phones to access activities online. We wanted to share some top tips with families to support them in helping their children to develop a healthy relationship with this technology. Parents and carers can do this by:
- Setting clear limits on the amount of time that these are being used daily
- Ensuring that devices are being used in an area that allows adult supervision at all times
- Discussing with children how to respond if they see something online that they do not like or if they are contacted by someone that they do not know
- Having regular conversations about what they are accessing
- Setting boundaries around online device use and bedtime – ensuring that there is a period of time when children are not using these before going to bed.
- Creating healthy habits, open discussion and clear boundaries early in children's lives is extremely important as it is much harder to put these in place once unhealthy habits have been formed. The following guide gives some suggestion
If you would like any further support with this please see the information on our school website here: Online Safety Advice for Parents
Alternatively, please contact Mrs Evans or Mrs Griffin to arrange a time to discuss this with them further.
With Me in Mind - Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Families
This newsletter is a place where we can share with you: resources, strategies and thoughts to consider. We are keen to reach more families with messages and resources that we use with your children at school. We look forward to receiving feedback on this new venture for us.
- So what do you want to know more about?
- Are there challenges that you are facing that you would like to consider differently? Please let us know your thoughts on this Google Form
In this issue:
A Book: How can we manage change?
A Look: How can we learn to cope with change?
A Hook: Where can we find positive ways to take control in times of uncertainty?
Book..
Look...
//www.youtube.com/embed/fqBJheIJaEQ#t=0.5
Hook...
Our Mental Health Team...
Sharon Griffin Lianne Cook Fahmida Wadud
Mental Health Lead Emotional Support Mental Health Support
PSA Updates
St Paul's PSA: ‘Bringing our school community together to create lifelong memories’
Here are some examples of the fabulous resources that have been purchased for the school through this year's fundraising:
PSA Purchases
Thank you to the parents/carers and local community members who supported the summer fair - it was a huge success which will allow us to continue to look at improvements around our school to enrich our pupils' experience!
Remember to check out our events guide on the PSA page which is a guide for families about what our different events involve and how you can help:
PSA Store
Many of you will have seen our new PSA website. Don't forget to head over to our PSA store to get involved in the latest events using the link below:
Second Hand Uniform
We have a large amount of good quality second hand uniform available, please use the link below and follow these instructions:
- Once on the website click on the three lines to the right.
- Scroll down to ‘find your school’
- Select Kingston upon Thames as our Local authority.
- Select St Paul’s C of E KT9 1AJ
Please carefully read the instructions on when to collect your items.
Easyfundraising
Easyfundraising turns your daily shopping into every day magic!
Easyfundraising partners with over 7,000 brands who will donate part of what you spend to a cause of your choice. It won't cost you any extra. The cost is covered by the brand.
Brands pay Easyfundraising a commission because when you start your shop from the Easyfundraising website or app, they can see we sent you to them. If you make a purchase, a commission is generated, and we turn that into a donation - magic!
Click the link above to register to use Easyfundraising - remember to search 'St Paul's Primary School, Chessington' when searching for your cause and turn on the donation reminder. Every little bit helps!
Class News
Reception
The week before half term we had a visit over to the Church, where Mrs Griffin gave us a tour of the different features of the church and what they are or represent. In Maths that week, we looked at greater than or less than using our crocodiles to help us. This week we started our new topic 'minibeasts'. We have looked into the 3 different parts of a insect and have been practising our writing by labelling different bugs independently. We then went on a minibeast hunt around the outdoor area of the school, then came back into class to create our own minibeast using finger paints.
Reception Newsletter
Year 1
In Year 1, we have started our new history topic looking at what life was like in the 1950s. We enjoyed watching videos and spoke about how life has changed since then. We had lots of questions about what children enjoyed doing and what television was like. We have been focusing lots on our phonics this week, making sure that we are feeling 'Phonics Fabulous'. We split into teams and treasure hunted words with certain sounds in around the classroom. We enjoyed reading in pairs and helping each other sound out tricky words. In Maths, we have been recapping money and looking at counting coins to make certain amounts.
Year 1 Newsletter
Year 2
Year 2 enjoyed writing letters in English before half-term and since we have been back this week we have enjoyed writing character descriptions to describe Max in 'Where The Wild Things Are'. In Maths, we have been learning how to exchange a ten for ten ones to add and subtract 2-digit numbers crossing the tens boundary. This week, we have been adding amounts of pounds and pence in money. We completed our 'Explorers' topic by considering who the greatest explorer was and why. We have now started our new exciting topic all about creatures of the ocean and thought of different ways to group sea creatures based on their features. Next week, we are excited to visit the aquarium to see some of the sea creatures that we have been learning about.
Year 2 Newsletter
Year 3
In Year 3 this week, we have continued to learn about column addition. We have extended our skills and can now add two 3-digit numbers together and solve a variety of reasoning problems. In English, we have been reviewing our time in Year 3 and using our knowledge of the past tense to write an interesting descriptive paragraph. We have begun our RE topic on Jesus’s two greatest commandments. We have been considering the meaning of the word love and reflecting on how it feels to be loved unconditionally.
Year 3 Newsletter
Year 4
This week, Year 4 has been looking at poetry. We looked at different types of poems and identified rhymes within the poems. We even created our own poems using personification! We have been practising our times tables using songs, on chrome books and playing games as a class in preparation for our times tables check. This week we started looking at our DT topic focsuing on seasonality. We looked at grains and how they can be stored or harvested all year round. Just before the holidays, we visited the Sikh Gurdwara. It was very interesting and the children had lots of questions.
Year 4 Newsletter
Year 5
Before half-term saw Year 5 complete our marble runs. We loved having the chance to look at one another’s creations with one child commenting ‘I felt proud and it was fun testing them out.’ Year 5 have settled back well since the half-term break and are busy exploring area and perimeter in Maths. In English, we have been able to celebrate members of the class earning their pen licenses as well as reflecting on the past year by writing our pupil report comments. Finally, in Art we have started work related to the impressionist movement. This week, the children produced some beautiful work inspired by Monet’s Lily Pond and Bridge.
Year 5 Newsletter
Year 6
In Year 6 we have begun work on our production - 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. We have been listening to the songs, getting to know the story written by Shakespeare and have begun learning our lines now that our roles have been assigned. There are some fantastic characters and the adults are having great fun thinking about our costumes! We have continued work on our Year Book and have also been reflecting on our year for our reports - so much to be proud of! We have enjoyed tackling some maths investigations and creating some artwork to reflect us as individuals too.
Year 6 Newsletter
Team Points
Congratulations to Rubies and Year 5 who were the Team Points winners for the week beginning 20th May, and to Rubies who were the Team Points winners for last half-term. Congratulations also to Sapphires and Year 1 who were the Team Points winners for the week beginning 3rd June.
Wider Community News and Events
Junior Parkrun comes to Chessington
The Junior Parkrun is a 2k fun run which takes place weekly at many different locations across the country. We are excited to announce that they have launched a weekly event at Lovelace Primary School on Sundays at 9am. It is a free event, but you do need to register in advance using the link here:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/lovelaceprimaryschool-juniors/
It would brilliant to hear about some of our families taking part!
Hook Centre Fair - Saturday 8th June
FUSE Festival
The Kingston Music Service are participating in the FUSE festival this year! We are running a family Gospel Workshop on Saturday 6th July at The Rose theatre from 10am. Tickets are £13.50 for adults and £9.50 for children:
https://creativeyouthcharity.org/event/kms-workshop-come-and-sing-gospel/
FREE KMS Bandstand Concert at Canbury Gardens
Bring along a picnic and enjoy a few hours of free, top notch music at the Bandstand on Sunday 14th July.
Attendance Information
| Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
95.53% |
94.27% | 95.86% | 95.81% | 94.81% | 96.08% | 96.53% |
| Whole School | National |
|
95.54% |
93.30% |
Holidays in Term Time
We would like to remind all parents that holidays during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. Families may be asked to meet with Mrs Evans before their form is signed and/or may receive a letter from the school outlining the impact of their absence in line with our attendance strategy. Please see further information on the school website by following this link:
Safeguarding Information
What if I have a Safeguarding Concern?
A reminder to parents and carers that if you have a safeguarding concern about a child this should be brought to Mrs Evans (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or Mrs Griffin (Deputy DSL).
There is lots of information on the school’s website to support parents in keeping their children safe (particularly linked to online safety) which can be found by clicking on the link below:
Road Safety Around Our School
We ask that parents and carers are considerate of the other members of both our school and local community when parking for drop off and collection. Please do not park on yellow lines or on the corners of local roads - markings have been placed on the road in spots where it will become dangerous if a vehicle stops. Parking in these places makes it very difficult for families to check that roads are safe for crossing and we are aware that this also applies to our Year 6 pupils who are walking home alone. Please leave time to find a suitable place to park safely and work with us to make the local roads as safe as possible for our pupils and families.
Key School Policies
Please take some time to familiarise yourself with our School Policies: 'Separated Parents Policy' and 'Communication and Conduct Policy'. These have been put together in consultation with the governing body who have now adopted these. Click on the links below to access them; they can also be accessed on the 'policies' page of the school's website.
;Separated Parents Policy Communication and Conduct Policy
Key Dates for Your Diary
New or changes to dates shown in blue
- Mon 10th June: Reception and Year 2 (final session) Swimming
- Tues 11th June: Visit to Year 5 by Head of Chessington School
- Weds 12th June: Year 2 Sealife Centre Trip
- Thurs 13th June: Year 5 Dragon Boating at Albany Reach
- Mon 24th June: Class Reps Meeting at 10am
- Weds 26th June: KS2 Sports Day at Hollyfield Field (Parents/Carers Welcome) - 9:15am - 12:00pm
- Weds 26th June: Year 2 Sports Day Races at Hollyfield Field (Parents/Carers Welcome) - 1:00pm - 2:00pm
- Mon 1st July: Year 1 Drama Workshop
- Mon 1st July: iRock Concert for Parents/Carers at 3:00pm
- Thurs 4th July: Keyboard Performance at 2:40pm
- Mon 8th July: Year 5 Taster Day at Chessington School
- Thurs 11th July: KS1 Sports Festival at St Paul's School - Reception Class at 9:00am - 10:00am (Parents/Carers Welcome)
- Thurs 11th July: KS1 Sports Festival at St Paul's School - Year 1 Class at 10:15am - 11:15am (Parents/Carers Welcome)
- Thurs 11th July: Year 3 Drama Workshop
- Fri 12th July: Year 6 Leavers' Service at Southwark Cathedral
- Mon 15th July: Final Clubs this week
- Mon 15th July: Year 5 & Year 6 Production at 2:00pm
- Tues 16th July: Move Up Morning for Whole School
- Tues 16th July: New Reception Stay and Paly Sessions
- Tues 16th July: Year 5 & Year 6 Production at 5:30pm
- Weds 24th July: Year 6 Leavers' Service at St Paul's Church - 9:15am
- Weds 24th July: Year 6 Leavers' Assembly at St Paul's School - 10:15am
- Weds 24th July: End of Term 2:00pm Finish
- Mon 2nd September: INSET DAY (School Closed to Pupils)
- Tues 3rd September: INSET DAY (School Closed to Pupils)
- Weds 4th September: Children Return (Year 1 - Year 6)
Remember to visit the calendar page using the link above and to link our school calendar to the calendar no your phone for automatic updates.
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