Hello everyone,
It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and it's only November. As I was standing on the queue today, I heard bells jingling on book bags, saw several Christmassy hats and was sung to a number of times - all Christmas themed songs! But on a more serious note, now is the time that we have to start planning what is happening at Christmas. In my newsletter at the end of October, I told you that we were hoping to be able to hold some Christmas performances as we hadn't managed our Harvest Festivals. This is still the plan but, currently, all our singing has to be done outside and therefore we are having to plan for outside performances rather than indoor ones. We will be meeting as a leadership team next week and I will be able to confirm dates in next week's newsletter but I just wanted you to be aware. Talking to my headteacher colleagues, many of them have already decided to cancel Christmas events and I don't want to have to do this at Sheen Mount. I know that you will continue to do everything possible to keep everyone healthy and virus free over these last 3 weeks of term, so thank you for that.
Community News
I met with Alistair Parkes this week. He is an ex-Sheen Mount dad and a few years ago, he helped us celebrate the life of George Weeden. George was a
Sheen Mount dad from the early years of the school and a GB Olympian gymnast and popular gymnastics coach who headlined fundraising for the school playground and inspired us all to "Walk Tall" (http://katesullivan.co.uk/walk-tall/
Ali has told me that next Friday 3rd December @ 2pm, the Sheen Mount community are warmly welcome to attend a 15 minute unveiling ceremony of a unique memorial bench (& QR code linked webpage) to benefit local parents & to encourage youngsters to “challenge yourself”. This unveiling will take place within the new Woodland Playground on Sheen Common, where the bench is situated and there is an optional toast event to celebrate George afterwards in The Victoria garden, 2.15pm to 3pm). It will be lovely if some of you can attend.
Keeping Each Other Safe
As part of our duty to keep children in our care safe from harm, there are
times when we might need to talk about inappropriate behaviours and the right that everyone has to keep themselves safe. Useful advice for parents on this matter can be found here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/
It is important that children feel heard if they have a concern, that their concern is followed up and that we reassure them that action has been taken. The link above takes you to the NSPCC website and gives information specifically on the PANTS rule:
Privates are private
Always remember your body belongs to you
No means no
Talk about secrets that upset you
Speak up, someone can help
'Be Yourself' Day
Next Friday 3rd December your children are invited to wear their own clothes and bring in a bottle for the Christmas Fair tombola or a cake for the cake stall. We will be collecting these outside the front of the office. Thank you, in advance, for your donations.
Sporting News
On Tuesday 23rd November, our football team played against Barnes Primary School on our field. Not long into the match, we conceded a goal from the half way line. This startled our players and they fought back. The first of many Sheen Mount goals came quickly and it was not long before the tide turned and the score was set comfortably at 4:1 (to us). Sheen Mount went into half-time feeling confident, but shortly after the restart found themselves only one goal ahead (4:3). Despite our lead narrowing, we quickly regrouped and scored two goals in quick succession. Barnes had multiple attempts at goal (hitting the woodwork several times), but excellent defence from Dean and Jasper kept us in the game. Barnes managed to, eventually, break through our defence and scored (6:4). Our final goal was scored in the closing minutes of the game and Sheen Mount went on to win 7:4. Sheen Mount would like to thank Mr March for coaching the team and making the win possible and Mr Donohoe for some excellent and fair refereeing.
PSA Corner
A simply huge thank you!
The big announcement from the PSA this week is that we have had an outstanding week of fundraising, both from the adults and the kids!! Thank you to all those who attended the Ball, the auctions winners, and, in particular, the Autumn Ball Committee of Cara McGregor, Caroline Hinds, Nett Jones, Kathryn Hauge, Claire Leonard and Calli Louis. In total, the Autumn Ball raised a huge £18,758!!!
We also want to thank the children for all their efforts in designing their Christmas cards, as the annual project with Cauliflower cards raised a further £1,388.
So just over £20k for the week!! This fundraising leaves the PSA account in a strong position, able to complete the funding of the new reading books and phonics program and the air filters. We can’t say thank you enough for everyone’s generosity, in terms of finances, energy and time!!
Below we have additional instructions and requests for our final few events of the year, in particular the Christmas Fair, on which we know so many of you are contributing so much time. In addition to still needing volunteers for time on the day of Christmas Fair, we also are looking for volunteers to help with food and drink at the Christmas Show on the 11th and 12th of December. We know everyone is busier than ever at this time of day, but even an hour of your time is a big help as we look to host all these fun events for the whole family!
29/11 – 3/12 - Teachers' Raffle and Raffle Ticket Sales
Has your child ever fancied a Rubicks cube party with Mrs O’Brien or Baking Cookies and watching a movie with Mr Knol? Then come and buy your ‘teachers’ raffle’ tickets (£1 each) after drop-off all next week. Thank you to the Sheen Mount teachers for their amazing donations and ideas! We also have some fantastic raffle prizes on offer (£1 a ticket) and you can find more details and a list of prizes in your Reps’ email this weekend.
Friday the 3rd of December 'Be Yourself Day' - Kids wear their own clothes for the day - 'Be Yourself Day' in exchange for bringing a cake or bottle donation for the Christmas Fair!
The Sheen Mount Christmas Fair - Saturday 4th December 11am-3pm
- Roll up roll up, to the Sheen Mount 2021 Christmas Fair featuring...Santa's Grotto (pre-bought tickets), Wine Tastings (tickets - see below), games including 'Racing Pig in Blankets' and the 'Nerf Gun challenge', Photo Booth, Book Sale, Secret Santa, 'Adopt a Teddy', crafts, choose your 100 Club number, cake sale and competitions, bottle tombola, BBQ, bar and much more!! All are welcome!!
- We will take a mixture of card payments, cash and tokens (tokens can be bought with cash or card).
- Over 11s, please wear a mask.
- Entry £1 per person - on the door.
- A map of all the stalls will come via your reps this weekend.
Wine @ Heart 
will be holding wine tastings throughout the day at the Christmas Fair - to try some delicious wine and learn more about what you are sampling - join your friends and snap up your tickets now at www.wineatheart.co.uk/shop/p/sheen-mount-fair
Do you have a spare hour to help out with the PSA stalls? We still need a few more helpers on Saturday, 4th December. Please kindly email classrepco@gmail.com if you can help out.
Thank you!
A number of the year groups also need your help in their preparations!
Year 1
Santa’s Grotto is largely sold out. For those with tickets, the Grotto is outside this year, so please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your allotted time.
Year 3
A reminder to bring all cakes to be sold at the Christmas Fair NEXT FRIDAY 3rd DEC in exchange for your kids dressing up in home clothes – ‘Be Yourself Day’.
Please bring all cakes as you expect them to be sold. So, on a cake board or paper plate would be ideal. All cakes must be clearly labelled with a list of ingredients and remember: no nuts, seeds or sesame. Please clearly mark any tins or Tupperware with your name and class and remember to collect either at the end of the fair or from a table outside the Office on Monday the 6th.
If you would like to purchase cakes on the day to take home please bring in your own container.
Not much of a baker? Please donate a bottle! These should be unopened bottles of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and can also be left outside the school office on Friday 3rd December. Thanks in advance - Year 3 reps.
Year 4
Year 4 are looking for cuddly teddies and bears that are in very good quality for one of their stalls. Please drop them outside the Office on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
Year 5
A Magical Christmas (11/12 Dec)
Kiddiewinks presents A Magical Christmas, an enchanting family show following Santa and his two elves. Huge thanks to Kathryn and Mads Hauge for the fantastic idea of holding a Christmas spectacular at Sheen Mount and for contributing a portion of the ticket sales to the PSA. It promises to be a lovely seasonal event for the entire family. Some shows have sold out, so get your tickets now!! More detail and tickets at: http://buytickets.at/kiddiewinks
The PSA needs your help for food and drink sales around the Christmas Show. Please email smpsachair@gmail.com if you can spare an hour or two to help on the 11th and 12th of December. Thank you so much!
As always, if you have any general PSA-related questions or want to get involved, please contact us via email (smpsachair@gmail.com) or through the class reps.
I am so grateful to the PSA and to all of you for your continued and generous support of the school. What an amazing community - thank you.
So, have a lovely weekend everyone and I'll see you next week.
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