Weekly Update 10th October 2025
Read our newsletter to find out what has been happening in school this week and upcoming events ...
Dear Parents and Carers,
Another busy week in school!
This week in school
Y3 visit to Holly Lodge
Yesterday Y3 went to Holly Lodge in Richmond Park to learn about animals and their habitats as part of their learning in Science. They took part in pond dipping, sieving the water with nets to find dragon fly nymphs, water boatmen and worms. They also made animal shelters, and went on a mini-beast hunt making a tally chart of the mini-beasts they found and observing them in collection jars. The children had a wonderful afternoon and were delighted to find so much wildlife all around them.
Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary – 7th October
Our Pupil Chaplains led our Celebration of the Word on Tuesday. They showed the school how to pray the Rosary and then shared one of the Joyful Mysteries, Jesus being found in the temple. On this day, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we joined approximately 1 million children worldwide who were praying the Rosary for peace.
We will be continuing to pray the Rosary every day throughout the month of October and children are encouraged to bring their own Rosary beads into school to use to help them pray in class and assemblies.
If you would like to pray the Rosary at home with your child the following resource may be helpful: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/prayers/the-rosary_public/
‘Mini Vinnies’ guest speaker
We welcomed Maia from the St Vincent de Paul Society into school this week. She spoke to the children about our school becoming a ‘Mini Vinnie’ school. Mini Vinnies are the primary school section of the St Vincent de Paul Society whose mission is to put their faith in action to help others. Their motto is ‘See, think, Do’ and our group of Y6 Mini Vinnies are certainly fulfilling this. They will be running the Food Bank appeal over the next two weeks: for more details see below.
Wear Yellow for Mental Health
In assembly today, Mrs Compton encouraged the children to think about how they can look after their mental health. She explained that we all feel different things at different times and that there are ways that we can make ourselves feel better such as having some quiet time, talking to a friend, listening to music or getting outdoors in the fresh air.
The School Councillors then explained that they are here to listen to the views of children in their classes and as they put it, work towards making our school an even kinder, fairer place. The School Council are going to be part of our school playtime development this year and their first action is to carry out a pupil survey beginning next week. Thank you School Councillors!
Sports Update from Mr Sagar and Mrs Knowles
The girls' football team kicked off our year of competitive sport with a home fixture against Marshgate School. Here is the match report from Audrey and Alianna.
On Monday, the Year 6 girls went to a football match, against Marshgate. In the first half it was a tight game and Marshgate were playing really well. They scored early on and by half time it was 2-2. Then came our comeback… We scored 3 more goals with Alianna scoring a total of 4 goals and Mia scoring one. We did some great passing and Beatrice saved a really hard shot from Marshgate’s best player! Also excellent in goal were Audrey and Emilia.
Well done, girls, for a strong team effort and a great start to the season!
Cycle to School Week - October 13th - 17th
Cycle to School Week takes place next week. This is a UK event, organized by the Bikeability Trust and supported by NatWest Rooster Money, that encourages children, families, and schools to cycle or scoot to school. It celebrates the health, wellbeing, and environmental benefits of active travel. We warmly encourage more of our children and families to cycle or scoot to school next week, using the bike and scooter parking at the front of school or in the infant playground.
Next week in school
Harvest Mass – 9:30am Thursday 16th October
On Thursday next week we will be celebrating our Harvest Mass. Fr Peter Andrews will be celebrating Mass for us and Y4 children will be leading the prayers and readings. All parents and carers are very welcome to attend.
We ask the children to bring in donations of food as Harvest offerings for our Mass. This food is then donated to the Richmond Food Bank and we also take some over to the residents of Greville House, the care home next door to us.
The Mini-Vinnies who are organising the food collection have the following message:
Richmond Food Bank Collection https://richmond.foodbank.org.uk/
We are proud to be supporting the Richmond Food Bank with a collection from Monday 13th – Wednesday 15th October. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to help local families in need. Donations can be dropped off between 8.45–9.00am on each of these days at:
- The ping pong tables in the KS2 playground
- The shelter in the KS1 playground
The Food Bank has let us know that the items they are most in need of are:
Cereals, Tinned and Packet Soup, Pasta Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes, Tinned Meat, Tinned Vegetables, Tinned Fruit, Rice, Custard and Rice Pudding, Coffee and Tea, Long life Fruit Juice, Jams and Spreads, UHT Milk and Non-dairy Milk replacements, Crisps, Sweets and treats, Toothbrushes and Toothpaste, Laundry Capsules and Washing up liquid, Razors and Shaving Gel, Deodorant, Shower Gel and Shampoo, Larger size nappies (sizes 5 to 8) are also especially welcome.
PTA Bingo Night on Thursday 16th October
We are looking forward to the PTA Bingo Night next Thursday 16th October. The Bingo begins at 6:30pm and ends at 8pm. Pizza and hot dogs are available, along with a selection of desserts. The PTA reps have shared details of how to book your tickets on the PTA Class WhatsApp. Please note that all children must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for them during the evening. There is a mini Bingo for children in Reception and KS1 who prefer a slower Bingo experience.
We need lots of prizes to make the night exciting for the children and so all donations of toys, games, books and stationery gifts are very much appreciated for this. These can be left at the school office next week or given to members of the Y4 Bingo organisers. We look forward to a fun night!
Information for Parents
PTA and Friends of St Elizabeth’s Bike Ride
You will find in your child’s reading packet a letter about this year’s bike ride. The bike ride is now in its tenth year and the team of cyclists are looking for cyclists, both old and new, to join them as they cycle to Roubaix in France next May.
The cycle ride is certainly a challenge but one that all involved always thoroughly enjoy. They are a very welcoming group of parents who have raised a huge amount of money for our school these past ten years. If you are interested in hearing more about the bike ride, please do make contact with the cyclists and help us to make this year the biggest and best yet!
Snacks in school
Please can we remind parents that children should only bring fruit or vegetable snacks into school. Biscuits, sweets, crisps and chocolate are not permitted as snacks at break-times and at clubs. This helps us to protect children with allergies and also promotes healthy food choices.
Breakfast Club
We currently have some spaces in the school Breakfast Club which happens every day in the Food Tech room from 8am. Mrs Donaldson and our team of Teaching Assistants welcome children of all ages and offer a healthy breakfast to give the children a great start to the school day.
Please contact Mrs Donaldson at admin@st-elizabeths.richmond.sch.uk if you have any questions.
School Development Priorities
Oracy – improving children’s speaking skills
As we shared in our Class Information Sessions, we have a whole school focus on oracy this year. We will be teaching children how to develop their social language, their language for learning and their presentational speaking skills.
We have begun by focussing on social language and over the last couple of weeks we have taught the children to use the words ‘Yes, please’, ‘No, thank you’, and ‘Good morning’ with confidence. The children have been set the challenge to use these phrases around school while also trying to make eye contact with the person they are speaking too. Already, our canteen staff have noticed a difference in the children’s communication as they collect their lunches.
Please could you practise these phrases at home and when you are in social situations with your child?
Upcoming dates
October
Mon 13th p.m. Y4 Woodland Walk in Richmond Park (Please note change of date)
Tue 14th 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Phonics workshop for Reception Parents
Thu 16th 9:30 a.m. Harvest Mass led by Y4 – Parents & Carers welcome
Thu 16th 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PTA Bingo night
Tue 21st 11 – 12 noon Reception 2026 Parents tour
Tue 21st All day Y6 WW2 day, Museum of Richmond & Dance workshop
Thurs 23rd a.m. Last swimming lesson for Y6 & Y4
Fri 24th 3:15 p.m. Half-term holiday begins
November
Mon 3rd All day School closed
Tues 4th 8:45 a.m. School returns
Tue 4th 11– 12 noon Reception 2026 Parents tour
Thu 6th All day Reception to Y6: Nasal Flu Immunisation
Thu 6th a.m. Swimming lessons begin for Y5 and Y3
Mon 10th All day Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying week
Mon 10th a.m. Y2 Visit Museum of Richmond WW1 workshop
Tue 11th 9:10 – 9:30 a.m. Y6 Assembly: Remembrance Day – parents invited
Tues 11th 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Parent / teacher meetings (details to follow)
Thurs 13th 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Parent / teacher meetings (details to follow
Tue 18th 11 – 12 noon Reception 2026 Parents tour
Thurs 20th 6:00 p.m. Vocal Concert (details to follow)
Fri 21st All day PTA Mufti Day – hamper donations
Wed 26th Y5 Local area walk
Fri 28th a.m. PTA Christmas morning with carol singing by each class
Attendance and punctuality this week
Congratulations to Y2 and Y6 for having the highest attendance rate at 99.7% this week.
Very well done once again to Y5 and Y2 for having the best punctuality this week.
Wishing you a lovely weekend,
Jane Hines and the staff of St Elizabeth’s