Dear Parents,
We are approaching the last three weeks of term and looking forward to the various festivities planned for the children - from end of term concerts/performances to the staff panto. This all starts with the Christmas Fair on Saturday between 11-3pm. We look forward to welcoming the whole school community to this event.
Christmas events
A reminder that all the dates were shared at the beginning of term and in the previous newsletter dated 16th November.
School Streets and parking
Please see below for the exciting information around the planned School Street. I would like to take the opportunity to once again remind everyone about their responsibilities to Sheen Mount families and the wider community with their parking. I received the feedback that the day after I was on West Temple Sheen road last week, parents were parking in very unhelpful places. Please also be conscious of where you park on Christchurch Road.
You may have noticed some new signs outside the school re: School street. This whole process is run by Richmond council and a charity called Sustrans. Whilst you can provide feedback on the forms themselves and via email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk there are also two face-to-face events coming up at school.
- Parent pop-up - Friday 8th 3.15-4.15pm
- Resident/parent drop-in - Wednesday 20th 3.30-6pm
Sports Events
Three substantial tournaments in the sporting calendar have taken place over the last two weeks. If we combine our three large borough tournaments this year in girls football, boys football and tag rugby, we have lost one match in extra time, but been knocked out in the quarter finals each time!
Girls Football Borough Tournament
The girls had a very successful day at the borough tournament. They successfully negotiated their way through the group phase to the cup competition, winning 3 of their games. They won their first knock out match and in the next knockout match had a very strong performance, but had to suffer a golden goal loss in extra time! Mr Brown was very impressed by the passing football the girls played.
Boys Football Borough Tournament
The boys had an equally successful day this week at their borough tournament, suffering defeat in that well-known English fault, the 'penalty shoot-out'. They were unbeaten in their group phase and ended up topping the group. After a very tight knock out match, which swung both ways, they unfortunately lost out in the dreaded penalties.
Cross Country
12 children from Years 5 & 6 represented the school at the borough event last Friday. Sadly, Richmond Park has banned the event from there (which is a real shame as this will be a place the children will hopefully exercise in the future.) 
However, the new course at King's House sports ground is flatter and does allow for better spectator viewing. We await the final results, but the children all gave their all with well over 100 runners in each race.
Y6 Ambassadors - Art with Mrs Wigmore
This week is the turn of the Art Ambassadors. Our Art Ambassadors are Sadie, Lora, Natalia and Rayan. They would like to share with you their roles and responsibilities for this academic year, as well as share some of the artwork that has been happening in Sheen Mount this half-term.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Our Art Ambassadors are responsible for promoting a love of art in school. They will share some of their own artwork in our Key Stage Assemblies and be responsible for listening to and sharing any feedback from children within the school with Mrs Wigmore. Not only this, our ambassadors will also keep our “Art Masterpiece” frames up-to-date each half-term with the latest, amazing artwork that is happening throughout the school. We hope you enjoy reading about all the creativity and enjoyment we have been having in Art at Sheen Mount.
From our Art Ambassadors-" We asked some of the other year groups what they are learning - Y1 are understanding about lines and colours, Y2 about the artist Yayoi Kusama, Y3 & Y4 about pointillism and Y6 about the artist Mark Rothko."
Headteacher Peer review
In our strive to constantly develop, we have joined with some other Headteachers in 'peer reviewing' each other schools. This is facilitated by our School Improvement Partner, who also visits the school termly and produces a report for Governors and AfC. There are four schools from around Richmond and Kingston in our peer review group and we all have the same School Improvement Partner. Sheen Mount went first and welcomed the three Headteachers this week. They spent the morning looking at lessons and gave feedback to myself and Mrs O'Brien around areas of strength and questions to consider about developing our practice even further.
Volunteers
Following our google forms, we have a range of invaluable parent volunteers throughout the day and week now at the school-thank you.
I also wanted to make you aware of the many other volunteers we have coming into the school. There are numerous adult volunteers who either have a connection to the school in the past, connections to members of staff or are simply people from the local community who have volunteered to come in and listen to children read.
We also have over twenty 6th formers from three different schools (RPA, Grey Court and Ibstock) that come in for work experience throughout the week. Typically, this is listening to children read and assisting with the general provision in reception.
Movember-Mr Brown PE teacher
Mr Brown has been diligently taking part in Movember this month and his online link is here-https://movember.com/m/craigbrown114mospace?mc=1
A few words from Mr Brown regarding his motivation-
I know it's easy for things to be brushed under the carpet and appear as if everything is normal, when in fact it actually may not be. I also know it's hard for men to open up and talk about either how they are feeling or put off getting checked because of embarrassment.
So, by growing my moustache through the years in different ways, yes, the Hulk Hogan look has been attempted in previous years, I am going for just the tash look and seeing how long it will grow. Fun way to raise awareness and money for a great and genuine charity.
Katherine Vile
You will be aware through the emails we have sent of the sad passing of one of our parents - Katherine. Thank you to those who have supported John and the girls, no doubt that will continue for many years. Strength comes from adversity and the strong connection between the parents and the school allows us to support the children and the wider community.
You may not be aware, but Katherine was one of the ‘50’ who cycled from Sheen Mount to Paris, which considering what she was going through, was a remarkable achievement. We will remember her and others' achievements with a plaque by the astroturf.
Have a good weekend and see many of you at the fair.
Tom Holmes - Headteacher
Maria O'Brien - Deputy Headteacher
