Dear parents and carers,
The sun has provided a very welcome end to the term and the school grounds have come alive in various areas, not least the new gym equipment; it has been great seeing the children enjoying this new addition. Just for the record (as there have been a few comments), I am not trying to create a weightlifting elite club! They are all cardiovascular-themed exercises.
It was lovely watching Reception have their Easter Concert in the hall on Friday and we even managed a KS1 al fresco concert on Tuesday of this week. 
Many thanks to all the staff for their efforts - Mrs O'Brien and her guitar with Reception and Mrs Boa for the singing with KS1.
I hope you have an enjoyable Easter break and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 22nd April.
Year group curriculum bulletins
These will be sent out tomorrow in advance of the summer term.
Sponsored Bounce
A wonderful community event occurred yesterday with all the children involved. The one minute of bouncing proved to be a very apt physical challenge as, from personal experience, the lactic acid really does kick in for the last 20 seconds, if you were trying to be competitive!
Many thanks to all the PSA committee and volunteers for putting this event together, but especially, Caroline Hinds and Anushka Jones.
The overall total from the bounce donations, including gift aid and from the after-school stall is £12,700! Which is a fantastic amount-well done everyone.
If you still wish to donate, the link is here- https://www.justgiving.com/page/sheen-mount-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA
In addition, a huge thank you to Childs Play Hire for providing two brilliant bouncy castles for free. They have a great selection and were very efficient ! Contact: info@childsplayhire.com or 07395346380
Gym Equipment and Update on the Playground project
Please see below for some pictures
. 
We are delighted the PSA agreed to install these now and the children can make the most of them in the summer term. A reminder this is only 1/8th of the total project and therefore, there is a lot of fundraising to go, principally now through the cycle.
Due to the success of the gym equipment and the astroturf, we have had a slight move in our plans for the rest of the project and we can focus on three areas all in the back playground - where Year 1, 2, 3 and 4 principally play and the investment is needed.
- resurfacing of the cage (and hopefully renaming!). This is most likely to be with a polymeric surface and not astroturf
- laying of rubber mulch surface on the outside of the cage for all year round use
- an installation of a natural woodland trail area - this will be where the tepees are currently situated
School Events
All the individual classes in KS1 completed their class assemblies and we enjoyed our first year group assembly last Thursday with Y3. We then have the reception class assemblies to look forward to next term, followed by Y4 & Y5 assemblies linked to their residential trip before Y6s end of year performance.
Year 4 enjoyed a Jazz workshop yesterday, with each class having an hour of impromptu, creative jazz.
Y5 walked down to Holy Trinity Church in Richmond to watch a free interactive version of the Easter story. Y2 visited at Christmas.
Y2 thoroughly enjoyed their day on the London Eye last Friday.
Y1 went to the Richmond Theatre today to watch 'The Smartest Giant in Town'.
Y3 went on a local walk and trip to the River Thames today for their geography topic on rivers.
The choir is singing tonight at the Rose Theatre in the Richmond Primary Schools Choir Concert.
Y1 went on a local walk this week to link with their geography project on urban buildings.
Sport
The tag rugby team won their league quarter final 9-4 against St Mary's Twickenham yesterday afternoon. Playing some lovely passing and free-flowing rugby, the team thoroughly deserved their victory and now progress to the finals evening.
The netball team are already in their finals evening, so we just have the girls football left to have their qualifying game.
A Y3/4 basketball team went out today and won half their matches at a borough event, including a dramatic 'golden basket' moment to decide on their placings.
A range of children from Year5/6 represented the school at netball today against Radnor House-winning one and drawing the other match.
Uniform reminders
As we approach the end of term, many trainers have been appearing. Please ensure
The school has been flexible with the school uniform, e.g. in allowing black-only trainers but we need children, and parents, to keep to the requests. It is very good practice for secondary school where there is far less leeway in what children can wear.
https://www.sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk/page/?title=Uniform&pid=32
Homework
Please support the school in ensuring your child completes the homework. Whilst there are consequences in Y5/6 for not completing it on time, we still expect all other children in the school to complete what is set.
We have worked hard to try to achieve a manageable amount of work for each age group, whereby it does not become laborious, but there is some homework routine before secondary school.
Sheen Mount Evening music concert
Please see the message below from Mrs Boa and Mrs Wrigglesworth who are organising this. It will be a new event and they are aware of many talented musicians in the school, but the form below should be filled in with anyone who has learnt an instrument outside of school.
On Tuesday 24th June, 6.30 -7.30, we will be holding a music concert which will allow some of the musicians in school to perform a piece that they have been learning this term.
The concert will be by invitation, including the orchestra and groups of children who have music lessons from the Richmond Music Trust. Some children will be invited to play solos. We would like to extend this to children who learn instruments outside of school and have reached a Grade 2 standard.
Please complete the google form below indicating the instrument, length of time they have been playing and grade/level achieved for your child.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScww3MrLTfUsxzBTT5yeKx1hwEviS-n40uixxrhJ_uH36szog/viewform?usp=header
School finance meeting
Following the re-launch of the school fund and various questions at the Parent forum, I will hold an online meeting to provide you with more context around school funding. Governors, PSA and members of staff will also attend.
There was a request in the forum around 'paying for more TAs'. Any parent donations need to go via the school fund and will be used centrally by the school. The meeting will be on Tuesday 6th May at 7.30pm. A link will be sent nearer the time and reminders after Easter, but you can save the date.
Parents entering the school for clubs before or after school
A reminder please to not enter the school buildings at the beginning or the end of the day when clubs are running. You will need to sign in through the front desk, otherwise our safeguarding commitments with outside clubs are not maintained.
Fundraising for Red Nose Day
Thank you to all those who donated for this, we raised a fantastic £910 for the charity. As well as wearing something red, we enjoyed some jokes in celebration assembly, a comic sale and an opportunity for some children to be teachers for the day.
Clubs-Mr Brown's clubs-internal and external and holiday offer
There were some questions over the change of sports within Mr Brown's school clubs offer.
Mr Brown runs four clubs a term for the school and then four to six clubs a term through his private company. I asked him to change his school club sports for the summer term to athletics and cricket, as I believe it is important that primary age children be exposed to a wide range of sports. It is up to Mr Brown what sports he runs for his private clubs, as long as they do not clash with the school offer and are an enhancment.
Mr Brown has spaces in his holiday club for the first week.
There are many spaces between various other school-run sports clubs as well.
PSA committee
Following their two-year term, two members of our PSA will be stepping down at the end of this academic year. The PSA is now seeking a new Class Rep Coordinator and Secretary to begin in September 2025 for a two-year term. If you're interested or would like more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Your support is greatly appreciated. Feel free to email clarazmnelson@gmail.com or haugekath@gmail.com.
A big thank you as well to parent volunteers Clare and Maria, who, along with many helpers, have managed the uniform sales and drops this term. It's wonderful to see the shed being used and that parents have such easy access to second-hand uniforms.
Special food day
On the last Thursday of every half-term, we have a themed food day. Today was Italian and we have French and Polish day to come to this academic year. Since we started this, we have also had Turkish, Greek, Portuguese and Chinese, which are all representative of the diversity of our community.
Swimway
Please see the attachment from them on their holiday offer.
Any parents keen on booking, please email homeguard@swimway.co.uk , online booking SwimWay Swimming School - Book Your Swimming Lessons Online or call Swimway on 0208 871 3972.
https://www.swimway.co.uk/blog/summer-swimming-outdoor-games/
Sheen App letter
A reminder of the attachments about the Sheen Mount app.
Have a good Easter break.
Should you wish to contact me directly, please do so on headteacher@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk
Tom Holmes - Headteacher
