News - 16th January 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
I’m just over a week into my new role, and although adjusting from the classroom to the office has felt a little strange, I’ve truly enjoyed connecting with the children during assemblies, on the playground, in the corridors, at lunch, and at a School Council meeting yesterday morning. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know more and more of the children across the whole school. I already knew how fortunate I am to have this opportunity, but this week, I’ve felt particularly proud as I’ve witnessed the children rising to challenges, embracing the ‘St Mary’s Way,’ and contributing their own ideas to make our school an even happier place.
In the classrooms, new learning is underway, and class teachers have shared updated overviews of the term’s learning and weekly timetables with you. These are also available on the Class Pages of our school website.
On Tuesday, Year 3 kicked off their new History topic in style (quite literally), as they arrived at school in some incredible costumes ready to board the Titanic. They took part in a workshop led by Anne from Godalming Museum, exploring local links to this historic event, and finished the day with a Titanic-themed tea party, complete with tea, cakes, and dancing. It was a joy to see the children so engaged and enthusiastic about their new learning.
We were also treated to Reception Class’s first-class assembly performances this week. Their rendition of Stick Man was utterly charming, featuring adorable costumes, enthusiastic singing, and endearing acting. It was heart-warming to see their beaming faces as they performed for the school and their families. Well done, Reception!
This week also saw the return of our lunchtime clubs, an initiative launched in the Autumn Term to provide the children with a greater choice of activities during the lunch break, and it has been wonderful to have so many children from Years 3-6 coming forward with ideas for clubs they would like to lead. Please find the attached timetable for an overview of the clubs available each day.
I’m especially proud of our Year 6 pupil leadership team, who have taken on additional responsibilities supporting the younger children during break times, from ensuring everyone is where they need to be, to planning and preparing extra games and activities for them.
On the governance front, our Local Committee met on Tuesday evening, where we welcomed our new Chair, Jane Bell. We discussed priorities for the Spring Term and reviewed the school’s progress in meeting the objectives outlined in our school development plan. With a few new faces joining the committee, we are confident in the strength of our team to drive school improvement forward.
It’s been a busy first week, but there are even more exciting events planned for the coming term. Year 5 students are eagerly anticipating their performance at Young Voices at the O2 in London on Monday, while Year 3 will be visiting the Sea City Museum in Southampton. At the end of the month, we look forward to our Great Athletes event, and later this half-term, we will also enjoy class assembly performances from Years 3, 4, and 5. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful and eventful time for St Mary’s children!
Finally, we are all eagerly anticipating the PTA Pantomime this weekend. The dedication that goes into preparing such a professional show is truly admirable, and we’re immensely grateful for the funds raised for our school. It promises to be a fantastic community event, featuring parents, pupils, local residents, and even some of our own St Mary’s staff on stage. To all involved, thank you! We wish you the best of luck – break a leg!
Warmest regards,
Alison Evans
Acting Headteacher
THANK YOU
A huge thank you to the PTA and all parents/carers for your generous Christmas gifts, cards and good wishes. They were very much appreciated by us all.
CLOTHES BANK
Reminder: we have a clothes bank onsite, by the school office. If you have any unwanted clothing/shoes/belts/bedlinen/soft toys/handbags, please bring into school and place in the recycling bin.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING UPDATE
St Mary’s has a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Board which is situated opposite the Mullard Building. Here you will find a wealth of useful information on Mental Health and Wellbeing. Please take a moment to have a look at the services available in our area and online.
GREAT ATHLETES
On Tuesday 28th January, St Mary's is hosting a 'Great Athletes' event to promote the importance of physical activity. Paralympian, Kylie Grimes (GB Wheelchair Rugby), will be visiting our school and all children will be taking part in a fun fitness circuit with the athlete. The children will be required to wear PE on this day. This will be followed by an assembly, where the children will have the opportunity to ask any questions and find out more about Great Athletes.
The children are also invited to get sponsorship for taking part in this event. Forms have been sent home with the children. This is optional.
We are not able to take cash donations at school, therefore please refer to the sponsorship form about how to make online donations/sponsorship.
Children have until Sunday 26th January to raise money/get sponsorship.
This should be a really fun, exciting opportunity for the children, and we look forward to welcoming the Paralympian, Kylie Grimes, to St Mary's.
Please ensure that lunches are updated on Scopay by midday on Wednesday’s.
SCOPAY
Please review Scopay for any outstanding balances for trips, breakfast club or school lunches.
If you are having any issues with making payments, please do get in touch.
UNIFORM
Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct uniform when attending school.
Children should be wearing:
- Royal Blue Sweatshirt (logo), Royal Blue Cardigan (logo), grey trousers, shorts or skirt, white shirt, school tie (KS2), grey socks or grey tights, black or dark blue shoes.
- Long hair must be tied back for practical and hygiene reasons. Blue, black or white or hair coloured hair bands, slides and ribbons of a modest size are acceptable.
- Children should not be wearing jewellery, large earrings, or colourful hair ties/bands. Trainers should not be worn on non-PE days.
Please label all items of clothing to avoid it not being returned if lost.
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.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
Menu Change
On Wednesday 29th January it is Chinese New Year.
In order to mark this occasion, the school lunch on this day will be different.
The Main meal option will be: Chinese Chicken Chow Mein Noodles.
Vegetarian option: Sweet and Sour Vegetables with Rice.
Dessert: Mandarin and Cinnamon Upside Down Cake
Please keep this date in mind when making your selection on Scopay.
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.
ATTENDANCE
We want 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.
More details can be found:
Working together to improve school attendance (Gov.uk)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance
https://www.stmaryschidd.org/key-information/parent-information/school-attendance/
Week Commencing 6th January 2025
Reception – 99.5%
Year 1 – 97%
Year 2 – 78%
Year 3 – 96.5%
Year 4 – 94.5%
Year 5 – 96.7%
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.
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’’ John 8:32
Hope
Hope is a core Christian value in our school because hope gives us energy and supports us through difficult times.
"Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.’’ Romans 12:12
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.
"Do to others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31
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.
"Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.’’ Romans 12:16
Everyone in our school, local and global community are needed and valued.
