Dear Parents and Carers,

Next week is the half-term holiday and we wish all of our children and families a relaxing break.  Please note that school returns on Tuesday 4^th November. NSSport will be running their holiday camp every day of the half-term break.  You can book a place for your child on the NSSport website: www.nssport.co.uk/

Winter Uniform

When the children return they should be in their winter uniform which means that all children, apart from Reception, should be wearing a school tie and grey shorts, trousers or skirt.  White shirts should have a top button which should be fastened if possible.

Parents’ Meetings

Parents’ Meetings will be held on 12^th and 14^th November (13^th and 14^th for Y4) and the booking system for these went live today.  If you need help in booking your appointment, the school office will be able to support you after the half-term break.

This week in school

Black History Month

Continuing our focus on Black History Month, we have had workshops by Freshwater Theatre in school for all classes this week. 

Reception enjoyed a ‘Carnival of Stories’. Y1 and Y2 children learned about the life of Mary Seacole who cared for soldiers in the Crimean War and Y3 to Y6 found out about the lives of three amazing Black Britons, Jacques Francis, Claudia Jones, and Sislen Fay Allen.

The children learnt so much while also having a lot of fun in these hands on sessions.  Please do ask them to tell you about what they learnt and also encourage them to find out even more about these inspirational people!

Canon Victor, the Episcopal Vicar for Education wrote to schools this week about Black History Month:

“For us as Catholics, Black History Month is a time of great joy and thanksgiving to God for all the many blessings He has bestowed upon black people. It recognises the many hardships and sadness that black people have endured through slavery and systemic racism, prejudice, and stereotypes through the centuries to the present day. Finally, it is a time of reflection, fostering inclusion and integration in the spirit of oneness in Christ, where all are welcome in Christ, and acknowledging that there is always space for one more.”

Y6 World War II Evacuee Day

On Tuesday, Y6 took part in WW2 day. Dressed as evacuee children, they started the day with a workshop at Richmond Museum where they learnt about rationing, the ‘Make do and mend’ campaign and how the war affected the residents and town of Richmond. They also had a chance to make and sew a wonderful patchwork quilt.  In the afternoon children took part in a dance workshop where they learnt a swing dance from the 40's culminating in a spectacular final performance.

Reception Introductions

This week our Reception children were introduced to the whole school in two special assemblies.  The Reception children were invited to say their names and tell the rest of the school what they enjoy playing.  On Tuesday the Reception children were joined by their older siblings in assembly and on Wednesday the children were joined by their Y6 ‘buddies’.  They really have made a brilliant start to their school life!

Y2 – Raising money to buy a well

As part of their learning in RE, children in Y2 decided to raise funds to buy freshwater supply for families who have no access to a well. They created water inspired artworks and sold these to raise money.  They also paid £1 to wear their own blue clothes today.  So far they have raised just over £90 and are hoping to raise enough to buy two wells and contribute to the purchase of a dairy cow.  Well done Y2!  

Sports Update from Mr Sagar and Mrs Knowles

On Monday, we were very excited to put out two football teams against Meadlands School - 17 boys from Y5 and Y6 had the opportunity to represent St Elizabeth's. The league team went behind early and conceded several times more before half time. Presley started the fight back with an amazing goal from an acute angle and later netted a penalty. Sherwood showed great resilience in goal, facing a strong opposition attack, making some excellent saves. 

Meanwhile on the other pitch, the boys played a well-matched game, with high skill levels and enthusiasm from both sides. Goals from Kai and Max and some very strong tackling and passing from Alex and Albie saw St Elizabeth's claim the win. Thank you to our parent volunteers, who helped with transport, and well done to all the boys who took part!

Good news!

We have been informed by Richmond Library that St Elizabeth’s came second in the borough in this year's Summer Reading Challenge with 109 pupils participating.  This is great news and is also an improvement on last year’s participation which was 68 pupils.  Well done everyone!

Foodbank donations

A group of Mini Vinnies helped to load the Richmond Foodbank van with all of the goods that families donated for Harvest.  The Foodbank send their thanks to the school community and wanted to let you know that they will make a big difference to people currently facing hardship in our local area.  Thank you!

Staff Pilgrimage to St Elizabeth’s Church

On Monday evening the classteachers made a pilgrimage to St Elizabeth’s Church as part of our marking of the Jubilee Year of Hope.  The chaplaincy team at St Elizabeth’s spoke to us about the history of the church and then led a reflection on scripture for us.  All the staff present appreciated this opportunity to reflect and pray in the peaceful surrounding of the church and came back renewed for the week ahead.  Thank you to Georgia, Joe and Fr Quentin for welcoming us so warmly.

Y5 children share their DT projects with Y1 pupils

Our Y5 pupils have been making ‘pop-up books’ in their Design & Technology lessons this half-term.  Their brief was to design books that would appeal to younger children and so who better to test out their creations on than our Y1 pupils.  The Y1 children loved seeing what the Y5s had made and the Y5 children equally enjoyed sharing with the Y1s and gaining some useful consumer feedback!

Next week in school

School lunches - new menu after half-term
Our school meals provider, Caterlink, has produced a new menu for school lunches starting after the half-term break.  Please do take a look at the menu attached and discuss with your child the meals they would like.  We do our best to give children their choice of meal everyday however occasionally there are unforeseen changes to the menu.  When this occurs we always work with Caterlink to find suitable alternatives.

KS2 PE lessons after half-term

After the half-term holiday Y3 and Y5 will be having swimming lessons on Thursdays.  Y4 and Y6 will no longer have swimming lessons; Y3 will have a PE lesson on Tuesday and swimming on Thursday; Y4 will have a PE lesson on Tuesday and Thursday; Y5 will have a PE lesson on Monday and swimming on Thursday; and Y6 will have a PE lesson on Monday and Tuesday. 

Pupil Chaplains’ Prayer Packets

The Pupil Chaplains have been busy making Prayer Packets which were blessed in last week’s Harvest Mass. The packets are 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 pay by cash or cheque. 

Poppies

The Y6 children will be selling poppies on the Infant and Junior playgrounds at drop off and collection in the week after half-term.  The money raised goes to the Royal British Legion to support ex-service personnel and their families.  We would suggest 50p to a £1 for a poppy but all donations are welcome. We encourage children to wear poppies to school during the week and especially for the Y6 Remembrance Assembly on Tuesday 11^th November.  

Upcoming dates

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

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 – hamper donations

Wed 26th  Y5 Local area walk

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

Awards this week

Half-Term Reading Cup

Congratulations to the Y3 children and Mrs Sheridan and Mrs Frosdick who had the most completed challenges and are the winners of the Reading Cup for the last half term. 

Values Award

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

Y1: Zoe and Kristianna

Y2: Sebastian

Y3: Lottie

Y4: Emmeline

Y5: Szymon and Naia

Y6: Maxim

Attendance and punctuality this week

Congratulations to Y1 for having the highest attendance rate at 99.3% this week. 

Well done to Y5 and Y6 who have the best punctuality this week.

Wishing you a lovely half-term,

Jane Hines and the staff of St Elizabeth’s