News - 13th February 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
It’s been another busy and exciting couple of weeks at St Mary’s! We've had enriching learning opportunities, class assemblies, fundraising events, and even a little unexpected drama with a burst water pipe in the midst of the headteacher recruitment process last week – there’s never a dull moment!
As you are aware, last Wednesday, we had to make the difficult decision to close the school, but thanks to Thames Water’s temporary water tankers providing us with our own supply, we were back up and running on Thursday and Friday. Thankfully, everything is now back to normal, and we’re hoping the reappearing temporary traffic lights won’t be around for much longer either!
This all happened during a very important week, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as the substantive headteacher at St Mary’s. Having been part of this fantastic school and community for the past 13 and a half years, I am incredibly passionate about its future, and I am excited to lead the school through the next stage of its journey. Thank you for your support and well wishes.
Despite last week’s disruption, our children have continued to shine. Year 4 put on an outstanding assembly about Ancient Egypt, featuring fantastic acting, singing, and costumes. A huge well done to the children who even choreographed their own dance routines! This week, Year 3 delighted us with their Titanic-themed assembly, bringing history to life with their brilliant singing, acting, and storytelling. It was a wonderful performance!
Although most of the school was closed last Wednesday, Year 5 were able to enjoy their much-anticipated trip to Winchester Science Museum. A highlight of the visit was the planetarium experience, which enriched their learning about space and left them truly inspired. Meanwhile, Year 6 have been busy with their Bikeability training this week, learning important road safety skills to help them cycle safely in and around Chiddingfold. A vital life skill indeed!
We’ve also had a fantastic fortnight of fundraising. Last Friday, we participated in NSPCC Number Day, raising £134 for this important charity.
Additionally, our Great Athletes event was a huge success, raising an amazing grand total of £2,862! Out of this, £1,482 will go directly to St Mary’s, allowing us to invest in new sports and playground equipment to promote the benefits of physical activity. A massive thank you to everyone who contributed—the new resources will further enhance PE lessons and provide a greater variety of break and lunch time games and activities.
In other news, Mrs Porter and I recently met with representatives from Chiddingfold Horticultural Society as they celebrate their 175th anniversary. We discussed some fantastic ideas for working together to mark this event, and we’re looking forward to involving the children in outdoor activities, nature projects, and growing their own plants over the coming months.
On Monday, we welcomed Maria Roberts, Senior Education Officer from GST, along with another GST headteacher, for a quality assurance visit. The focus of the visit was on the achievement of disadvantaged children in writing, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and Science. We visited lessons, looked at books, and spoke with children and staff. I was incredibly proud to hear how highly St Mary’s children spoke about their school, and Maria was full of praise for their strong behaviour, cheerfulness, politeness, and responsibility. Well done to all!
Finally, you may have noticed that our school crossing patrol has looked a little different these past two weeks as Mr Whitbourn has stepped in as our Lollipop Man whilst Mrs Swift is poorly. I’m sure you will join me in wishing Mrs Swift a speedy recovery and thanking Mr Whitbourn for temporarily taking over.
As we come to the end of what has been a truly wonderful half-term, I can hardly believe how quickly the time has flown by! I hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved rest over the break, and we look forward to welcoming all children back to school on Tuesday 25th February.
Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable half-term!
Best wishes,
Alison Evans Headteacher
REMINDERS
Year 4:
Please remember your Swim kits on the first day back after half term (Tuesday 25th February).
Year 6:
Please remember your costumes for the Ancient Greek Workshop on Friday 28th February.
Book Week:
Book Character Dress Up Day is on Thursday 6th March.
Long Term Collections
Please ensure the school are informed of any long-term collection arrangements:
admin2@stmarys-godalming.surrey.sch.uk if you have any changes.
Contact Details
Please ensure the school office has your correct contact details, especially mobile numbers or change of address. This can be updated on the Parent Portal.
Absence Requests
The school require notice regarding any planned absence from school. Please email admin2@stmarys-godalming.surrey.sch.uk. A form can also be collected from the office or found in the link below:
https://www.stmaryschidd.org/key-information/parent-information/school-attendance/
SCHOOL FUND
On a termly basis, we ask for a small contribution per family in order to support some of the extended opportunities that we provide. This may be used for additional resources for specific resources i.e. Art or a piece of equipment to be used by pupils on the school site.
In today’s economic climate, I am aware that parents are concerned about requests for financial support from schools. However, the reality of the situation is that, like all schools, in our latest budget we have had to make significant savings, which reflect reduction in our funding allocation from central government. It is only through continued careful management of resources that we have been able to afford to do this and protect the core curriculum resources.
With this in mind, your on-going support for the school fund would help us to continue to support these additional resources. For the academic year 2024 – 2025, we would like to ask each family to contribute £25 per term; however, anything you can contribute would be gratefully received.
LOST PROPERTY
We have a number of unnamed items in lost property. Please come and have a look. Any items left in lost property will be donated to the clothing bank at the end of term. A polite reminder to label all clothes, water bottles and lunch boxes as this will reduce the risk of losing these items.
SCO PAY
Please review Scopay for any outstanding payments due for school trips for next term.
Please also ensure that lunch choices are updated, for when we return after half term.
PARKING
Parents should not be using School Lane for drop off and/or pick up, inclusive of breakfast club.
There continues to be issues with parking on School Lane and access for residents. Staff at school are also having issues parking on arrival.
Please park either at the Catholic Church or the back of the school and walk to the school gates.
Please do not, under any circumstances, park across the gates which access the school or on the corner of School Lane as this causes traffic on the Petworth Road and obstruction.
Thank you for your cooperation.
ATTENDANCE
We need to remind you that there are new Department for Education regulations in place regarding children’s absences. These took effect from 19th August 2024 which affect penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence from school.
The ‘National Threshold’, when it is appropriate to consider issuing a penalty notice, is 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks. A school week means any week in which there is at least one school session. This can be met with any combination of unauthorised absence (e.g. 4 sessions of holiday taken in term time plus 6 sessions of arriving late after the register closes all within 10 school weeks). These sessions can be consecutive (e.g. 10 sessions of holiday in one week) or not (e.g. 6 sessions of unauthorised absence taken in 1 week and 1 per week for the next 4 weeks). The period of 10 school weeks can also span different terms or school years (e.g. 2 sessions of unauthorised absence in the summer term and a further 8 within the autumn term).
- From autumn term 2024, only 2 penalty notices will be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within a 3 year rolling period and any second notice within that period is charged at a higher rate:
The first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. - A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
- A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within those 3 years, alternative action will be taken instead, which will often include considering prosecution.
If you would like any further information regarding these changes, full details can be found here:
Working together to improve school attendance (Gov.uk)
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/at-school/attendance-and-absence/legal-processes-used-to-enforce-school-attendance-guidance-for-parents
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance
https://www.stmaryschidd.org/key-information/parent-information/school-attendance/
| Week Commencing 3rd February 2025 | |
| Reception | 95.5% |
| Year 1 | 97.5% |
| Year 2 | 98.3% |
| Year 3 | 94.4% |
| Year 4 | 96.8% |
| Year 5 | 98.7% |
| Year 6 | 95.2% |
ST. MARY’S SCHOOL VISION
Wisdom
Wisdom is a core Christian value in our school because we believe through wisdom good choices are made, that it encourages us to learn from our mistakes and encourages us to live our lives wisely for the benefit of all. "Teach me wisdom and knowledge because I trust your commands.” Psalm 119:66
Hope
Hope is a core Christian value in our school because hope gives us energy and supports us through difficult times. "This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and good future.” Jeremiah 29:11 To act with hope is to aspire to greater things, to promote positivity and courageous advocacy.
Respect
Respect is a core Christian value in our school because we believe that all life is precious within the image of God and deserves to be valued. "Show respect to all people. Love the bothers and sisters of God’s family. Respect God. Honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:17 Our Christian value of respect means living up to the image of God with our school, our community and ourselves.
Community
Community is a core Christian value in our school because we know that together we are stronger and can achieve more. "Let all that you do be done with love” 1 Corinthians 16:14.
Everyone in our school, local and global community are needed and valued.
