Dear parents and carers,
I hope you are well. This is the final newsletter before the half-term break, with a normal pick up time on Friday 23rd October. A reminder that Monday 2nd November is an INSET day, and so we look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 3rd November.
SCHOOL FUND REMINDER
A reminder of the school fund arrangements
Harvest assemblies
We look forward to the multiple harvest assemblies next week.
As per last year, we are now required to have two performances for each phase. All the information is here:
https://www.sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=863&type=pdf
You will be able to take your children home after the 2.30pm performances – this will be at some time after 3pm, when you get back to the classrooms. Unfortunately, you won't be able to pick up siblings from other phases as it is too disruptive for the learning in those classrooms.
A reminder of our photo/phone initiative please with any performances. There are no photos or videos to be taken at any time. This is for the children's enjoyment and you demonstrate to them what an audience acts like. Plus, there are numerous children in the school without photo/video permission.
We do try to have a photo at the end of class/year group assemblies as long as that photo is then not shared on social media.
The school (usually myself) will try their best to film class/year group assemblies and some of the Christmas performances, but not harvest singing.
International Day and Language Ambassadors-from Miss Herring our Languages lead
The language ambassadors this year are Sophines (6W), Mariam (6C), and Pete (6AD). They have shared why they wanted to become a language ambassador.
Sophines: I wanted to be a language ambassador because I have lots of experience with languages and I love learning about different cultures and traditions.
Mariam: I wanted to become a language ambassador because I can speak many different languages, including Russian, English, Turkish and Chechen.
Pete: I am really interested in languages. I have also had experience of different cultures and have experienced living in a different country.
Our aim is that we want to inspire the school about the enjoyment of learning about different cultures and languages.
International Language Day
We really enjoyed celebrating International Language Day on the 2nd October, and loved seeing all the different activities around school. We had a variety of activities in school, from Year 2 visiting Spain and trying Spanish cuisine and learning a song to Year 6 doing a carousel of learning Spanish, Polish and Italian. We had a lot of fun helping organise the day and seeing fantastic outfits in the celebration assemblies.
Headteacher Review Presentation
This took place online last night with over 40 parents attending. I looked back on the previous year whilst also talking about what we are focusing on in this upcoming year. Attached is the presentation. There was then a Q&A at the end.
Supervision of children before and after school
A reminder please for children to not go on any equipment, play with footballs or climb trees before or after school, regardless if they are with adults who are dropping them off. There are numerous signs around the site informing you of this. If one of our staff is not with the children, the insurance is not valid.
School events
The following school trips/workshops have occurred in the last two weeks:
Year 6 have visited Kew to focus on the evolution of plants
Year 5 had their Anglo-Saxon workshop day in the hall.
A group of KS2 children went with Mrs Adams to take part in a range of activities at Holly Lodge yesterday, which also involved meeting the mayor.
Sport
Boys Football
Four boys teams were taken to Hampton School on Saturday 3rd October in the morning. There were two Y5 teams and two Y6 teams, and they played six 5-a-side matches over the course of 90 minutes. Well done to all the teams for the teamwork and determination they showed. One of our Y5 teams finished runners-up and received some hard-earned medals. The photo is missing Nico!
Cross-country
40 children took part in the Harrodian cross-country event last week. There were 5 boys and 5 girls from each year group from Y3, Y4, Y5 & Y6. Y3/4 ran 1000m and Y5/6 2200m. We had six top 10 individual finishers and there were around 50 children in each race. Well done to all the children involved and for many it was the first time they had represented the school.
Rental of the school hall at weekends
There is still the possibility of renting the hall on Saturdays and Sunday afternoon should parents know of anyone in the community who is interested.
Harvest Donations
Harvest Donations
We will again support the Richmond Vinyard Community centre foodbank.
Please leave these on the tables outside the school office on any day from Monday next week. Please see the information from the charity:
The items we currently need the most are:
- Tinned veg & meat
- Tinned fruit
- Fruit juice
- Pasta sauce
- Long-life milk
- Rice pudding & custard
- Razors (disposable)
- Shaving foam
- Deodorant
- Rice (500g)
- Toilet rolls
- Washing up powder/pods
- Washing up liquid
- Jam & spreads
- Coffee
- Cereals
We've got plenty of:
- Pulses
- Baked beans
- Pasta
- Nappies
Uganda School Project - EACP Charity
You will recall last year we raised money at different times of the year for a specific school in Uganda and for specific events. The charity sent me photos and a detailed report to show the impact of our work, which is attached. We look forward to working with them again in the future, hopefully in 2027–28.
Mr Brown's October Half-term Camp
Please see the attached flyer for children aged 8 and above.
PSA
Project Indoors/Festival of Movement
The first meeting took place in the hall on Tuesday evening – with a very healthy turnout. It was principally a meeting about the cycle ride, as the organisation of this is time-sensitive. If you are interested, please make sure you have filled in this form- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rkWYWpgsR95bDPKXaxIVquy9rVDo6wUesUIadwWW7fk/viewform?chromeless=1&edit_requested=true
The walk/run aspect will definitely go ahead, and we hope to have secured something for the children to be part of on the day – more news to follow about this soon. The date to reserve is Sunday 23rd May.
Halloween Trail
Thank you to all those who have given up their time for the Halloween trail on Saturday. I'm sure everyone will have an excellent time at this community event.
Community News
James Anderson Halloween Drawing Competition
James Anderson (estate agents) are having a drawing competition for children and all the information is in this link. The deadline is Saturday 31st October:
https://jamesanderson.co.uk/landing/halloween-drawing-competition
Mayor Christmas Card Competition
Please see the link below with a deadline of Monday 9th November:
https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council/councillors/mayor/mayors_competitions
Monday Yoga Classes - Parent Champions Cafe in Mortlake
Complimentary coffee, cake and chat social for parents available after each class.
Mondays 09:50am to 10:40am at The Powerstation Youth Centre, 121a Mortlake High Street, London SW14 8SN
A fully funded wellbeing activity for parents of children aged 0 to 18, up to age 25, if a child has SEND and individual London Living Wage threshold earnings of up to £28,860. No need to book, all classes are a drop in, on a first come first served basis.
This is a parents-only session, regretfully we are unable to accommodate children. Registration is required on the first visit only. Please bring your own yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing.
More information here.
Have a good weekend.
If you wish to contact me directly, please do so at headteacher@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk
Best wishes
Tom Holmes - Headteacher
