Newsletter 12 Autumn Term
27th November 2024
Embedded Files
St Andrew’s and St Mark’s
Church of England Junior School
“I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness.” John 10:10
-School News-
Our Instagram feed displays photos of school events. Click or tap on a photo to find out more:
If you would like your child to have the opportunity to be featured on our Instagram page, please update the parental consent on the SIMs Parent App and ensure permission to be posted on social media is ticked.
Changes to reporting your child's absence
If your child is absent from school for whatever reason, please phone 0208 3902976 prior to the start of the school day, using option 1 to report an absence. Alternatively, please email attendance@sasm.rbksch.org.
Police bike marking event: bring your bike to the MUGA end of the day on Friday
On Friday, 29th November, from 3:15pm to 3:45pm, the local police team will be on the school MUGA for a Bike Marking Event. This initiative helps to protect bikes against theft by marking them with unique identifiers, making it easier to trace and recover them if they go missing. Please note: this is for any bike- adult or children - a parent/carer needs to present as the bikes will be registered to adults.
No need to book—just bring your bike along after school and let’s work together to keep our community secure!
The Eco-Refill shop is open on Friday
After two sell-out events in September and October, November's Eco-Refill Shop opening will be on Friday 29th November before and after the school day.
Come along with a 500ml bottle and some cash to restock on your sustainable hand soap, washing-up liquid and shower gel! The shop is non-profit and run by our own pupil Environment MPs
SASMSantaDash24 will take place on Friday 6th December. All children should come to school wearing their SASM PE Kit and trainers, ready for a morning of Christmas themed sporting activities including a whole school SantaDash. The children are welcome to wear Christmas accessories (Santa hats, tinsel, headbands etc.) with their PE kit to add to the fun.
Our Advocacy MPs
We need your help - Christmas food donations for Kingston Foodbank
As you know, this half term our Christian value is GENEROSITY on Friday 6th December our
Advocacy MPs will be on the playground ready to collect your kind donations. To make sure we
collect a range of items, we are allocating each year group, specific items to donate:
Year 3 - Christmas chocolates, shampoo and UHT milk
Year 4 - Christmas biscuits, cooking oil, and orange/blackcurrant squash
Year 5 - Tinned corned bee, tinned ham, tinned custard and ladies' shower gel
Year 6 - Chutney, pickle, long life puddings, ladies' spray deodorant and coffee
We are very grateful for any donations you are able to provide.
SASMFestivities24
The PTA are working hard planning activities and stalls for the children at their festive fundraiser SASMFestivities, taking place on Friday 13th December. All the children will be visiting the event with their teachers from 1:30pm until 3:00pm. There will be lots of fun and entertainment for them to take part in such as ,crafts, games, competitions. tombola's and an Alpine Cafe.
To raise funds to support enrichment activities across the school, the PTA are asking for a donation of £10 per child. The donations can be made via the shop in ParentMail or in cash via the school office.
Friday 13th December will be a festive non uniform day.
The PTA are also launching their Winterfest raffle. Tickets will be sent home with your child shortly and the stubs, plus ticket money, should be returned to the office. There will be a number of themed hampers and prizes on offer and the raffle will be drawn during SASMRocks on Thursday 19th December.
If you would like to help out with any of our PTA events please submit this form
The Faith Committees - developing spirituality
This week, our pupil Faith Committee met with Shafaly Khan, Mr Gates, Miss Jervis and Mrs Byrne, who take part in our adult Faith Committtee. The committee reviewed each classroom's prayer table - a focal point in each class for pupils to consider their own spiritual development. Pupils also shared a piece of work their were particularly proud of
SASM's choir opens St Andrew's and St Mark's Churches Christmas Fair
It was fantastic to see so many member of our school choir open the church fair on Saturday. Thank you to the parents and carers who gave up their time to bring their children and Miss Jose and Miss Jervis for attending.
Year 6 storytelling
In their English lessons, Year 6 have been writing a suspense narrative, based on the short film Alma. On Thursday, pupils had the opportunity to share their finished stories with.... . The quality of the writing was outstanding; here is a brilliant example from Mishka - click here to hear the story.
Local Charity Competition
Every year, SASM chooses three charities to support. There is always a local charity, a national charity and one global.
The global charity which we support every year is called the Bishop’s Lent Call.
The Advocacy MPs have voted on a national charity to support. They chose Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day because they help children all over the UK and around the world. We will be raising money on 12th December. Everyone can wear a Christmas jumper and bring in £1.
We also want to make a difference right here, in our own community. So, we are holding a competition to find a local charity to support this year. This competition is open to all children across the school.
How does your child enter?
First, decide what local charity your child wants us to support. It could be a charity which is special to your family. Your child needs to film a video of themselves explaining why they would like to raise money for that charity and why they think it is important. They can work on their own or with others.
Once the video has been filmed, please open the assignment that Miss Woodward has posted on the year group’s Google Classroom and save the video there. Pupils have their own login to access Google Classroom, which can be found in their planner.
The video must be no longer than 2 minutes and the closing date for entries is Friday 6th December 2024.
To see 2022's winning entry, please click here
In the news this week
This year’s Earthshot Prize winners have been announced, Prince William, who launched the prize in 2020, closed the award ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. The Earthshot Prize celebrates and supports people and companies working to provide innovative solutions for climate and environmental issues. The winners include projects to protect animals, handle rubbish and prevent wasted energy
Things to talk at home…
Can you tell someone at home a bit more about the Earthshot Prize?
Do you believe awards are a good way of raising awareness about important issues?
Have you ever taken part in or contributed to a project with the aim of helping protect and look after the world? Ask others at home whether they have.
Wreaths For Sale
Beautifully hand crafted circular wreath is the perfect addition to your home this festive period. These wreaths are created by a SASM mum. To order please WhatsApp Mrs. Raana Khatabakhsh on 07742 521650. The deadline to order is 10th of December 2024.
Additional Funding for low-income households
The Department of Work and Pensions has made additional funding available for low-income households in Kingston who meet the criteria and are struggling to afford food, fuel, utility bills and other essentials. The expectation is that the fund should be used to support households in the most need; particularly those who may not be eligible for other government cost-of-living support. For more details click here.
If your household has received help through any of the previous rounds of the Household Support Fund, we may not be able to issue any further funding.
However, we may be able to provide you with information about other support
available so please email: householdsupportfund@kingston.gov.uk
Message from the PTA Committee - we're looking for a new Chair!
On Friday, the PTA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), and we’re thrilled to announce some updates to our team. A warm welcome to our newly elected Secretary, Alexandra Sharp and Treasurer, Ivett Isai - who bring fresh enthusiasm and skills to the committee.
For now, our headteacher, Matt Gates, has kindly stepped-in as Acting Chair on a temporary basis until the position can be filled permanently, which was supported unanimously at the AGM. If you’re passionate about enhancing our school community and have a little time to spare, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. The role of the Chair is to:
Facilitate meetings
Liaise with the school
Welcome and motivate new volunteers
Ensure the PTA is registered with regulatory bodies eg, the Charity Commission, and submit annual reports
Being part of the PTA is a fantastic way to get involved in school life, make a difference, and meet other parents. If you’re interested in becoming Chair of the PTA or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing us via office@sasm.rbksch.org. Alternatively you can let the school office know by Friday 13th December.
Let’s work together to make this year a success!
Thank you for your continued support,
The PTA Team
Repeat notice: Online Parenting Courses - Family Lives
Family life and parenting is more complex than ever. Family Lives has produced a series of online parenting courses, to support parents and carers. If interested please follow the link below:
https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/online-parenting-courses
Family Lives offers a confidential and free* helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). They can be contacted on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Their website is also a rich source of useful support and advice.
(* Free from landlines and most mobiles)
Safer Schools App
We would encourage all parents/carers to download the Safer Schools app for free push notifications about online safety and helpful advice. You can download the app using the instructions here.
Do you have concerns about a child?
Adults - you can contact the Single Point of Access to request support, or to report a concern about a child or young person. Click here to make a referral. You can also call for advice. Opening hours: From 8.00am to 5.15pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.00am to 5.00pm on Friday - call 020 8547 5008 (Out of hours, phone 020 8770 5000). If you think a child or young person is in immediate danger call 999. Referrals are not limited to safeguarding: the Single Point of Access acts as a signposting service to other services, including mental health. Matt Gates is our Designated Safeguarding Lead.
-What's New? Community News-
Dreaming of a Kingston Christmas - New festive Nutcracker Trail, fun for all the family
There will be an exciting range of Christmas activities in Kingston town centre from 14th November 2024 - 5th January 2025.
The popular Christmas Market will make a return, filled with unique gifts and artisan food, including a festive bar, and a stage with live music performances.
New this year is a free Nutcracker Trail, featuring 15 life-sized Nutcracker statues hidden around the town centre, with an opportunity to win a Christmas hamper. Plus, the first 300 trail-goers will win an exclusive wooden tree decoration! The town’s evolving festive offering also includes a pop up crafts stall featuring free activities that kids will love, from personalised mini wreaths to magical decorations.
All of this alongside the incredible retail, hospitality and entertainment offer, means there's no place like Kingston this Christmas!
Activities and Opportunities
Skylarks is an independent charity that are expanding their outreach. We recommend parents and carers of pupils on the SEND register to sign up with the charity to stay up-to-date on a range of fun activities and opportunities. For more details and to register, please click here.
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
If your child is eligible for free school meals but you prefer to provide them with packed lunches, it's still important to register. By doing so, the school receives additional funding called Pupil Premium which helps support your child in other ways.
Once you have registered for free school meals and we have received confirmation that you are eligible, your child will then be able to attend an enrichment club after school free of charge, as well as one session at our after school club. They will also qualify for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme, this is also known as FUEL (which stands for ‘Feed Ur Everyday Lives’) This programme offers free places at holiday clubs during the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks.
Children can enjoy 4 sessions during Easter, 16 sessions over the summer and 4 in winter, with lunch provided at the club. There are lots of clubs and activities to choose from across a range of dates, time and locations. Some activities include: cycling; film-making; yoga; technology and coding; skateboarding; art and crafts; cooking; indoor climbing; and lots of sports such as cricket, football, netball and rugby.
If you think you may be eligible and would like further information please contact the office and ask for Mrs Miller, our School Community Worker.
Supporting Our Families with Kingston Foodbank
We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That is why we are pleased to be able to offer our families support in partnership with Kingston Foodbank.
Kingston Foodbank provide three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Foodbank clients bring their vouchers to a foodbank centre where they can be redeemed for three days of emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal, and are able to signpost people to other agencies that may able to them solve the longer-term problems.
Vouchers can be issued any day and at any time during the school week. These can be either printed or sent to you electronically via your mobile phone. This is a confidential service and vouchers are only allocated by Mrs Miller - School Community Worker.
Our nearest food collection points are listed below - please note the opening times.
Monday (6.00pm - 7.00pm)
Surbiton New Life Baptist Church
1 Balaclava Road
Surbiton
KT6 5PW
Tuesday and Friday (11.00am - 12.30pm)
Kingston Everyday Church
46 Union St, Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1RP
Click the 'Community Groups' button to see all community notices:
-School reminders-
Uniform - pupils must now wear their winter uniform
Winter uniform is coming! From after half term, until the start of the summer term, children will be required to wear winter uniform.
Winter uniform includes:
Grey pinafore or skirt
Long or short grey school trousers
White long/ short sleeved school shirt or blouse
St. Andrew’s and St Mark’s tie (does not need to be worn with open neck/ revere collar blouses without a top button)
Red jumper or cardigan
White or grey socks or tights and black shoes
Trainers, boots and leggings are not permitted. Should your child come to school not wearing the correct uniform, they may be asked to wear items from our nearly new stock - this is at no cost to parents/carers.
Please remember that pupils need to wear a coat to school.
For further information regarding our school uniform please follow this link to our school website and our school uniform supplier.
Autumn Term - PE days
Pupils in all year groups have 2 PE lessons a week. One takes place in the school hall (indoor PE) and the other takes place on the school's Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) or playground. A guide to our school uniform for PE can be found here. On your child's PE days, they need to come to school in their PE kit (pupils remain in their PE kit all day).
Your child's PE days are:
3CR - Monday (outdoor PE), Thursday (indoor PE)
3J - Wednesday (indoor PE), Friday (outdoor PE)
3M - Monday (outdoor PE), Wednesday (indoor PE)
4B - Monday (indoor PE), Wednesday (outdoor PE)
4H - Monday (indoor PE), Wednesday (outdoor PE)
4R - Thursday (indoor PE), Friday (outdoor PE)
5J - Tuesday (outdoor PE), Friday (indoor PE)
5L - Tuesday (outdoor PE), Friday (indoor PE)
5M - Tuesday (indoor PE), Friday (outdoor PE)
6G - Thursday (outdoor PE), Friday (indoor PE)
6M - Tuesday (indoor PE), Friday (outdoor PE)
6S - Thursday (outdoor PE), Friday (indoor PE)
Uniform reminder
Everyone is now looking very smart in their winter uniform. We would like to remind parents and carers that smart black shoes (no trainers, boots or football boots) are required on non-PE days. Smart shoes are widely available and we do have a limited free supply in our nearly-new store, in our school office.
This week is the final week of our school uniform parent/carer survey: https://forms.gle/AikEzhtdhhe3opsE8 . This closes on Friday 15th November.
Uniform donations warmly welcomes
If your child has outgrown their school uniform over the summer break (including shoes, plimsolls or trainers) and they are still in good condition, please consider donating them to our uniform shop. You can drop off any unwanted school shoes at the office.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
Pupil Premium Grants
For the first time, all pupils at SASM are entitled to receive a free school lunch. To enable your child to access this, you must book your child's lunch via ParentPay.com.
If you were previously eligible for means tested free school meals or are in receipt of any of the following benefits...
income support
income-based job seeker's allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
the guarantee element of state pension credit
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
child tax credit (but not working tax credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
...your child maybe eligible for a Pupil Premium Grant. This will gives your child access to:
This gives your child access to:
A free after school club every half term
A free 'stay and play' session in our Wrap Around Care each week
A free place at Breakfast Club every day
A discount on school residential visits
... and much more!
Please contact the school office if you have any issues with activating an account.
Please send a water bottle with your child
Its important to ensure that our pupils stay hydrated throughout the day. Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle. To avoid any mix-ups, kindly label the bottle with your child's name. Thank you.
Parking outside SASM
If you are driving to drop your children off or pick them up from school, please park considerately on the surrounding roads. Please don't park over driveways or over the zig zag lines. This helps keep everyone safe.
We have received reports from local residents of dangerous parking and verbal unkindness from some parents and carers. Please help us to be a positive part of our local community. Whilst the school is not responsible for enforcing street parking, we have advised our local community to report all instances of poor parking or behaviour to the police.
No toys in school, please!
We would like to remind parents and carers that pupils are not permitted to bring their own toys or collectables into school. Not only do toys provide a distraction from pupils' learning, there is a potential for personal items to be misplaced. Please be aware that any lost toys, collectible cards or other play items are beyond the responsibility of the school.
Jewellery
Children can wear watches to school but the wearing of jewellery and earrings of all types is not permitted on safety grounds. Any child wearing earrings to school will be asked to remove them. If they are unable to remove them they will be required to stay inside during break and lunch times and will not be able to participate in any PE or physical activities.
Smart Watches
Fitness trackers without smart watch capability are permitted but St Andrew’s and St Mark’s accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of these items. Smart watches , including iWatches- are not permitted due to their messaging capabilities.
Lost Property
Please remember to label your child’s uniform, lunch box and water bottle. All named lost property will be returned to your child by the next school day. Unlabelled property will be kept for one week only in the school office.
Road safety for children
If your child walks to school on their own, it is important they know how to cross roads, including zebra crossings safely. Please click here for more information about Road Safety for children.
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