Dear Parents,
It has been a very busy week with, amongst other events, Year 6 having their Junior Citizen visit in Richmond Park, Year 3 visiting the Museum of Richmond and Year 1 going on their local walk. It has been lovely to see the various different takes on 'superheroes' or children wearing something red for Red Nose day.
There is a reminder below of the parent engagement events detailed last week, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you to these. Due to the rise in COVID cases, we would request that you please wear a mask if you come inside the school.
Thank you to those members of the community who came to help in the 'clear up' day. A significant amount of work was completed with several areas being greatly enhanced.
Ukraine day
Several children have approached staff this week asking if there is something we can do for the people of Ukraine. Therefore, on Thursday 31st March the children will be invited to wear something blue or yellow or both. Below is the national collection for schools.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/first-news-schools-appeal
I appreciate we have had World book day recently and Red nose day today, but I think this is a more than valid exception to have another event.
We encourage you to contribute to the First News collection as ratified by the DfE. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/first-news-schools-appeal
‘‘I fully support First News’ campaign launched in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee, which will help raise vital funds for the people impacted by the invasion, while at the same time showing our support for the incredible people of Ukraine’’ Nadhim Zahawi - Education Secretary
On the link below is some help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how to help them avoid misinformation (Department for Education)https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/25/help-for-teachers-and-families-to-talk-to-pupils-about-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-and-how-to-help-them-avoid-misinformation/
Red nose day bake sale
Well done to some entrepreneurial Y5 girls who have just completed a cake sale, raising a fantastic £306.20. They have decided to split the money between Red nose day and the Ukraine appeal.
End of term finish time - Friday 1st April
This has been published as 2pm, however it would seem right to keep within the two different pick up times. So R/KS1 will finish at 2pm and KS2 at 2.10pm.
Unauthorised/authorised leave
We have seen a rise in parents requesting leave to visit relatives/friends during school time - typically the reasons given are due to Covid and the lockdowns of the past. Unfortunately, this would still fall into the unauthorised absence category. The criteria permitted to headteachers of 'extenuating circumstances' is actually very narrow. There are very few occasions when authorised leave can be granted from requests. These would involve medical appointments, music/arts exams or visiting secondary schools.
Parking for pick up/drop off
Unfortunately we have had further complaints from our neighbours about parents blocking their drives in the morning/afternoon. Please be considerate of our neighbours; if you are driving, park in the appropriate places.
Parent/child/staff feedback
Thank you to those who have taken the time to fill in the feedback survey for some new initiatives. The link will be sent on the parentmail for those that have not filled it in.
Despite making the school's position clear on the changing of classes, it is very much a survey and we will read and take note of all the feedback.
Music day at Hampton school - Year 3 and above
Parents are invited to sign their children up to this event at Hampton School for those that are at least Grade one standard and/or singers of any standard. We are really pleased to help publicise these opportunities, however on this occasion parents do need to sign up and take children themselves. Please click for more information below.
Hampton School Music Day
Sheen Mount Alumni
It was lovely this week to be contacted by two of our ex-pupils, Lea and Harry. Last week they represented Great Britain in the World Age Group Championships in Acrobatics Gymnastics. They competed in the 13 - 19 age group and came 10th. They qualified last year for those same World Championships in June in Switzerland but had to pull out at the last minute when Lea sustained an injury in training. However, with lots of hard work they were back in full training last November. Lea and Harry, we are so very proud of you both and all you have achieved. Hopefully, you will inspire other Sheen Mount Pupils to take up acrobatic gymnastics - let’s take a look at one of their routines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j98v5tQAau4
Parent engagement events this term
A reminder of the parent engagement events that are coming up.
Music singing concert dates
Where possible these will happen outside. For the 2.45pm concerts, you may take your child home afterwards.
- Reception - Friday 25th March at 9am.
- Year 1 and 2 - 9.15 - Wednesday 30th March
- Year 5 and 6 - 2.45 - Wednesday 30th March
- Year 3 and 4 - 2.45 - Thursday 31st March
KS2 Cross-Country
Thursday 24th March at Sheen Common. Children can come to school dressed in their PE kits for the day, wearing their team colours.
Approximate timings:
Year 4: 1.50 - 2.10
Year 3: 2.10 - 2.30
Year 5: 2.30 - 2.55
Year 6. 2.55 - 3.20
Looking at your children's work
Parents are welcome to come in and look at their children's work after school on one of two days.
Please note this opportunity is from after school until 4.30pm. The class teachers may be working in the classroom, but it is not an opportunity to have in depth discussion about your children's work. Please follow the usual channels if you wish to speak to your class teachers.
In order to keep the numbers manageable, please see the times below
Surnames A-K on Thursday 24th March
Surnames L-Z on Friday 25th March.
Communication
A reminder, I am more than happy to speak to parents at drop off and pick up, or you can contact me directly at:
headteacher@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk
PSA Corner
Another message of thanks from the PSA this week, for all the time and effort put into the school grounds clean-up last week and for attending this week’s PSA meeting. We also want to remind everyone about the Easter Hunt as we look forward to the term break!!
Thank you from the PSA and the school to those who helped with the school clean-up and gardening! The dedicated crew of volunteers, big and small, made short work of the tasks at hand, including repairing and repainting the wall and benches by the office, power washing the bike/scooter shed and outdoor classroom, weeding the plant beds by Year 1 and cleaning the entire reception outdoor area.
We are so grateful for everyone’s help last week, but special thanks go to Marta Perez for putting forward the idea for the event and spending a significant amount of time planning and organising… Neal Ibbett, parent and owner of Creative Developments, who not only lent his own time but persuaded his team to give up their Saturday to help fix the wall and benches… and Charlie Nelson for all the professional gardening and landscape advice.
Well attended PSA meeting. Thanks as well to all those who came and participated in the PSA meeting. Plenty of exciting matters were discussed, including various areas of investment with which the PSA can help. We will post the minutes of the meeting once finalized.
Sheen Mount Easter Hunt
We've created an Easter Hunt for e children to complete during the Easter holidays with a smile.
How it works:
You purchase clues from the PSA via Classlist and pick up the clues from the team at school drop off between 28th March to the 1st April, the last week of term. Hard copies of the clues will also be available to purchase as well as pre-packaged bags of chocolate eggs.
Once you've found all the clues and completed the answers, we ask that you email the PSA sheenmountschoolpsa2021@gmail.com by 20th April with your child's name, class and answer sheet and the winners (one from each version of the Easter Hunt) wins a chocolatey prize.
100 Club
To be the next £100 winner, email sm100club@gmail.com to sign-up ahead of the April drawing.
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. Have a great weekend!
Have a good weekend
Tom Holmes - Headteacher
Maria O'Brien - Deputy Headteacher
