Dear Parents
We’ve had a busy week in school with lots going on - it’s such a shame that we are not yet able to have parents in school en masse, but let’s hope that day soon comes!
Online Activities
Thank you for your amazing parental support for our online activities such as performances, class assemblies and whole school Mass. This week we have enjoyed the following online:
- Reception children led their first school Mass with Fr Bill for the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. They read and sang beautifully and their Mass responses were exemplary! Not bad at all for a group of children who have lived through the churches being closed! Well done to all of you! Thank you also to Year 6 children who supported with the sung Mass prayers and hymns during our first Mass held in the new school hall. It was lovely to have our oldest and youngest children together for the occasion!
- Well done to Green Class who had their Mission Week this week. They impressed us with their lovely loud voices and brilliant work in their Class Assembly! We have now achieved what we didn’t manage during last academic year – every class in the school has managed to have their Mission Week and Class Assembly this year! It makes such a difference to the children’s confidence reading for an audience and we look forward to being able to hold these in person once again very soon (Let us hope!)
Leavers Activities
Year 6 are busy preparing for their Leavers’ Production, which we hope will be able to go ahead in person on 19th July and it is lovely to hear them singing their wartime songs as they practice in the new hall. They have also been preparing for their transition to Salesian this week, with a Y6 Leavers’ Retreat Day on Monday. We were impressed with their engagement with the day and we had lovely feedback from one parent who shared with us:
“With everything going on it’s important that the young people take time to regroup, reflect and remember and the Retreat allowed them to do just that. Thank you.”
Wintershall and High Ashurst
Year 5 children also had the opportunity for reflection during their own day at Wintershall, where they engaged with a range of “I wonder” reflections on “The Parables of Jesus.” The stories of Jesus were beautifully retold and the children really appreciated the beauty of the setting on the Wintershall Estate. There are one or two lovely photos from the day here. The feedback from the Wintershall team was also excellent:
“Lots of comments from our reflection leaders on the way Cardinal Newman pupils were so thoughtful in the way they responded to the reflections and wondering moments of the day.”
We have been very proud of all of our children – they are a testament to how well supported they have been by our whole school community during this difficult time. Year 5 have had an exciting week this week – finishing with a three day residential to the Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development Centre at High Ashurst. There they were able to engage with the “Outdoor Adventurous Activity” part of the PE curriculum and also enjoy their first nights away from home with school! Photos from the trip will be on the website next week. Next year, we hope the Year 4 children (current Y3) will also have the opportunity for a school residential with our usual visit to Hooke Court in Dorset.
Transition Day
Looking ahead to next academic year, we will hold our transition day next week on Tuesday 6th July. On that day, children will come into school as usual and go to their usual classroom and class teacher. The news about their next teacher will be shared with the children as a whole class and they will go together to their next classroom to meet their new teacher and spend the day with them. At the end of the day, children will return to their current classroom to be collected by parents from their usual place.
We are aware that parents are also very keen to know the news about their child’s new class and this will be shared with parents during the day on Tuesday, so that you are ready to hear all about it from your child at the end of their school day.
This summer, we have very few changes to teaching staff:
- Mrs Jones will be leaving us at the end of her contract in Year 3. We are grateful for her support for the children in Ruby Class during the last two terms after the departure of Mr Armstrong and we wish her all the very best for the future.
- Miss Ward is not leaving us, but she will be stepping down as a Class Teacher after 32 years teaching children at Cardinal Newman! Miss Ward has taught generations of families at Cardinal Newman (a significant number of current and past parents remember her from their own school days!) and everyone remembers her with fondness. We are delighted that she has agreed to stay on in a part-time capacity as an interventions teacher in Key Stage One and we look forward to many more children benefitting from her expertise over the coming years. Her role as Key Stage 1 Lead will be filled by Mrs Gautheron in September and we welcome Mrs Gautheron to the Senior Leadership Team.
We will have two full-time class teachers joining us in the new academic year: Mr Joseph Carter is joining the Key Stage Two team and Mr Euan Doe will be joining the Key Stage One team. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s new class teacher and find out more about the curriculum in their child’s next class at a “Partners in Learning” event in the Autumn Term. This is scheduled for Wednesday 22nd September and we hope that it will this year be able to be in person with a drinks reception in the new school hall.
On Tuesday 6th July, look out for the class newsletter from your child’s new class – this will give you more information about the year group curriculum and routines in place, as well as any equipment needed in September.
Parent Governor Nominations
We have received two excellent nominations for Parent Governor so far – thank you for coming forward! If anyone else would like to be considered, please be aware that the closing date is Monday at 12 noon and elections will take place electronically after that date, so keep an eye out for the ballot!
Parent Association
Thank you for all your purchases of Rainbow Hamper raffle tickets so far! The draw will take place during this week on Thursday 8th July. Please return your tickets by Wednesday 7th July. Plenty of opportunity to buy some more tickets and give yourself the chance to win the “Pot of Gold” 1st prize or one of the other colourful prizes!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
Catherine Burnham
Headteacher
