Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you enjoyed a relaxing half-term break.  It has been lovely to see the children return to school refreshed for the busy half-term ahead!

This week in school

John Henry Newman

In assembly today we celebrated the life of St John Henry Newman who was made a Doctor of the Church and Patron of Catholic Education by Pope Leo this week.  St John Henry Newman is special to our school as he is one of our House Saints.  Known for his great wisdom and powerful preaching, John Henry Newman lived in Ham as a child. We focussed on the words of John Henry Newman (above) and we considered what work God may have chosen for each of us and we prayed for God’s help so that we can use our talents wisely to fulfil our missions.

November – Month of Holy Souls

November is the Month of Holy Souls when we pray for the souls of those who have died.  Throughout the month, children are invited to bring in a photograph of a family member who has died to place on the ‘Friends in Heaven’ table.  This is a positive and hopeful experience.  Through sharing memories of their loved ones, children see how we continue to cherish those who have died and we pray the Eternal Rest, that they may be happy with God in Heaven.  Photographs can be printed or framed and we will return them to children at the end of November. 

Next week in school

Remembrance Day Assembly – Tuesday 11^th November

On Tuesday, Y6 will be leading the school in an assembly on Remembrance.  The children have carried out their own research into their relatives’ experiences during the World Wars and they will be sharing these stories as well as holding a minute’s silence.  Parents are welcome to join us for this special assembly.  We would love as many children as possible to wear a poppy on this day so please do look out for the Pupil Chaplain and Mini-Vinnie poppy sellers on the playground on Monday and Tuesday.  

Parents’ Meetings

Thank you for making your booking for Parents’ Meetings which will be held on 11^th and 13^th November (12^th and 13^th for Y4).  Reception, Y6 and Y4 meetings will take place in the classrooms and Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y5 meetings will take place in the school hall.  Staff will be on hand to assist with directions on the evenings.

Odd Socks Day for Friendship Week

Monday is Odd Socks Day when all children are invited to come into school wearing odd or brightly coloured socks.  This is a nationwide initiative which encourages children to recognise and celebrate one another’s differences. We will be having a ‘Friendship’ theme all week in school and on Wednesday, we will be taking part in Positive Noticing Day.  This is a chance to ‘positively notice’ all the wonderful and kind acts done by our pupils.

Information for Parents

PTA Updates

The PTA would like to share the following message:

Good News!  The Pre-Loved Uniform Sale led by the PTA team in September raised a fantastic £1,194.85. The Bingo Night led by Y4 parents raised just over £1,652.47. This is an amazing amount of money for the Bingo and the evening was a wonderful successful evening enjoyed by many.  Thank you to the Y4 parents and to everyone who attended.

The Y2 cake sale raised £320.  Y3 cake sale raised £288.83.

This year we are raising money to upgrade the IT in school especially the computers and screens in the classrooms.  Thank you all for a fantastic example of community, organisation and teamwork.

Information from the Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Please see attached, information from the MHST. The MHST is an early intervention and prevention service focusing on mild to moderate mental health difficulties such as anxiety, low mood and common behavioural difficulties. The Kingston and Richmond MHST is a schools-based team of psychological professionals who support children in all schools across the boroughs. They also run webinars for parents, details of which can be found in the attached flyer.

Pupil Chaplains’ Prayer Packets

The Pupil Chaplains have been busy making Prayer Packets which were blessed at the Harvest Mass. The packets have been created to encourage children to pray with their families at home using artefacts that we use in prayer in school: a cross, a Rosary, a candle and cloths in the liturgical colours.  You can order a Prayer Packet for £12 in the Arbor Pay shop or cash or cheque. 

Wednesday Word

The next RE and Catholic Life Newsletter will be sent home on Friday 14^th November.  Here is this week’s copy of the Wednesday Word https://www.paperturn-view.com/wednesday-word/good-news?pid=MTA101634&v=163.4

Upcoming dates

November

Mon 10th   All day   Odd Socks Day for ‘Friendship 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

Thurs 13th   3:30 - 6:30 p.m.   Parent / teacher meetings

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 – children wear own clothes for hamper donations

Wed 26th   Y5 Local area walk

Fri 28th   a.m.   PTA Christmas morning with carol singing by each class

Fri 28^th   2:45 p.m.   Y4 Clarinet performance – parents invited

December

Mon 1st   Last full week of clubs

Mon 1^st    a.m.   KS1 Reconciliation Service – children only

Tue 2^nd   11 – 12 noon   Reception 2026 Parents tour

Thu 4^th   a.m.   KS2 Advent Reconciliation Service led by Y3 – children only

Fri 5^th   2:00 p.m.   KS1 Christmas disco

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.   PTA Christmas Disco                       

Wed 10^th   2:00 p.m.   Christmas production in school for Reception, Y1, Y2 and Y3

Thu 11^th   10:30 a.m.   Last swimming lesson for Y5 & Y3

Thu 11^th   7:00 p.m.   KS2 Advent Carol Service

Fri 12^th   10:00 a.m.   KS1 Nativity Performance

Tue 16^th   12 noon   Christmas Lunch

Wed 17^th   9:30 a.m.   Reception: Carols around the tree

Thu 18^th   2:00 p.m.   Anticipating Christmas Mass prepared by Y5 – All parents and carers welcome

Fri 19^th   2:00 p.m.   End of Autumn Term Children to be collected at 2 p.m. 

Awards this week

Values Awards

Congratulations to the following children for living our School Values this week:

Rec: Meabh

Y1: Bertie

Y2: Caitlin

Y3: Alexander

Y4: Georgy

Y5: Eureka

Y6: Emilia

Million Word Reader

Congratulations to Sebastian in Y5 for becoming a Million Word Reader – a fantastic achievement!

Attendance and punctuality this week

Congratulations to Y2 and Y3 for having the highest attendance rate at 100% this week. 

An excellent week for punctuality!  Well done for Y1, Y2, Y4 and Y5 for having the best punctuality this week.

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Jane Hines and the staff of St Elizabeth’s