Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School Parent Portal - Issue

Dear Parents

Welcome back to the second half of the Autumn term! The sun is shining and there is so much to look forward to.

This Week

We have already enjoyed our first whole school Mass for the Feast of All Saints and Blue Class made a great start to the run of Mission Weeks with their investigation into “Saintly Qualities” around the school. There was a great deal of excitement about the photos of “saintly behaviour” spotted around school this week! Y2 and Y6 have both been to Mass in the parishes this week – Y2 to All Saints and Y6 to St Erconwald’s.

Looking Ahead

Going forward, there are Mission Weeks in the calendar for Violet Class, Coral Class and Amethyst Class in the coming three weeks, as well as Anti-Bullying Week, National Maths Week and the regular Forest School sessions. Next week we have Able and Gifted Maths workshops onsite for Y5 pupils from the local area, including many of our own children. Lots going on in November!

Mrs Sharp (RE Lead) is sending a letter next week about Advent activities and there are dates in the calendar for Mass, for Christmas services and performances. It is worth just reiterating that while we are publishing these dates, we cannot promise what will go ahead, just depending on the developments in guidance locally and nationally between now and then. We know you will understand this, but be reassured that we will do all within our power to ensure our children have the best possible experience in whatever way we can.

COVID-19

Half-term came at a good time for Cardinal Newman school, providing a natural firebreak in the smattering of cases in the community before the break. We have had a few positive cases this week and it seems wise to remind parents both what the outbreak management plan is and how we can all take measures to avoid having to use it!

The outbreak management plan is available on the school website here. It sets out that additional measures to prevent transmission will be taken in school if we have 5 cases in a class within 10 days or 5 cases among staff who work closely together, as that may indicate transmission in school. Additional measures may include staff reverting to wearing masks or classes being taught in bubbles again (separate from others in the school). This would have a knock-on effect on whole school activities. We may also have to look at welcoming visitors into school for assemblies or performances if we reached that level. Please be reassured that there are no plans to take any more drastic measures than that – school closures are not on anyone’s radar, thank goodness!

Happily, the situation at Cardinal Newman is not yet at outbreak level and we can work together to make sure it doesn’t reach it! Please support us to keep our children and staff safe by doing the following:

Please monitor your children closely for symptoms and get a PCR test if you are in any way unsure, especially if your child is in a class where there has been a case this week. Note that symptoms for Primary-age children differ a little to the well-known three and can commonly include headaches and sore throats.
If you use Lateral Flow Tests at home, thank you for testing regularly – our school staff are continuing asymptomatic testing twice a week and these tests do help us to pick up cases with no symptoms at all. Please note: Lateral flow tests are not sufficient for children with symptoms – the guidance is then to seek a PCR test please.
Please keep your children at home if you are in any doubt – we know this is really inconvenient for working parents but it is a much better outcome for the community than a family infecting a whole class or several classes. “Teams” is up and running to access work set in parallel with the class activities.
Please continue to choose outdoor activities or well-ventilated spaces where you can and to follow other national guidance to support a reduction in transmission.

Thank you – Donations!

The Parent Association were delighted with your generous donations of chocolate towards the Christmas Fair Chocolate Tombola on Mufti day this week. There are two more dates planned for mufti days for fair donations, so please keep an eye out for these. Thank you for your support!

Thank you also for the donations of good quality books and small world toys which have arrived in school so far this week! We are already putting them to good use and would always welcome similar donations when you are having an Autumn sort out! Thank you!

Uniform

It was lovely to see the children arriving so smartly dressed in their winter uniform and we have been blessed with some crisp sunny Autumn days during this week. Please be sure to send children into school with a warm waterproof coat and smart school shoes, so that they are dressed for the weather. Some rings, bracelets / bands and nail varnish have crept in over the half term holiday, but please make sure these are removed for the coming week. We get lots of compliments on the smartness of our uniform at Cardinal Newman – thank you for helping us to uphold those standards.

Wishing you a very happy weekend.

All best wishes

Catherine Burnham

Notes/Reminders

New Tag Rugby Club!

There will be a new Tag Rugby club on Fridays after school starting 12th November with KS2 (years 3-6). More information will be sent out next week re. booking.

Food Bank Donations

Please send food bank donations into school on Friday 12th November. Please click here for flyer

Coronation Rec Closing time

Please note in case you park in Coronation Rec it will be closing early in Autumn / Winter at 4.30pm.

123 Magic Course - Managing Behaviour Effectively for Parents & Carers

No one has ever said parenting was easy. Living with children can be one of life’s most enjoyable experiences, but it can also be unbelievably frustrating. 123 Magic is a simple, precise and effective way of managing the behaviour of children. It’s not magic but works like magic! Please find more information here

Chinese Club

There are still places available in Y1/Y2 and KS2 Chinese Club. Here is some feedback from the children who attended the first week:

‘This is really fun! I will ask my friends to join too!’

‘Characters are like pictures. They are so fun!’

‘I can count to 10 with one hand, and say my birthday in Chinese!’

‘I can say my name in Chinese now!’

It’s still not too late to register. Email admin@chineselearning.co.uk or click this link

Updated Clubs list November - December

Please find updated list of clubs here for November - December

School Dinners

Please find the new school menu for Autumn/Winter here. Please remember to book school dinners at least 1 week in advance. Please discuss the food choices with your child before booking to make sure they are happy with what is ordered for them.

ACS International School Cobham

Bursary Application Deadline November 22nd. For more information, please click here

Dance class cancellations

Dance classes on Monday 15th and Monday 22nd November will be cancelled. There will be a replacement class on Monday 13th December and a refund for other class.

Wrap up London

Wrap up London Coats collection will be on Tuesday 16^th November 2021. Please dropoff by 9 am outside the school office to ensure your items get collected. Thank you

Tissues - donations

We would be very grateful for boxes of tissues. Please drop them into the school office. Thank you.

Report your child's absence

Please notify the school office every day your child is absent from school before 9 am so we can adjust dinner figures etc. Please either ring the school office and leave a voicemail or email absence@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk. Thank you

Walton Guides

Walton Guides are looking for new leaders. They need help for Guides and also the Brownie age group. Anyone interested can contact Rachel at Walton Guides via email 8thwaltonguides@gmail.com If you would like to know more about Guiding in general then please have a look at www.girlguiding.org.uk

St Erconwalds Masses update

For the last few years many have asked about the return of a Vigil Mass to Walton because they (or quiet likely their children) had commitments on a Sunday Morning. From this Sunday 7th November a vigil mass will be held each Saturday at 6pm. We will be needing additional teams of Readers, Servers, Eucharistic Ministers (possibly musicians). If you can help please get in touch. Most importantly we need a congregation. Please make an effort to share this news with others you know especially if they have not been to mass in Walton for a while. The Italian mass will now be at 4.45pm

Consultation on admission arrangements 2023

Surrey County Council is consulting on proposed changes to admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2023. Please click here for more information.

Admissions 2022

Is your child starting school in September 2022? please click here for more information.

Open Mornings Admissions 2022/2023

Please email the school office stating what session you would like to book in for. Please give your phone number also. The presentation/tour will take approx 1 - 1.5 hours. Numbers are limited. The open mornings are as follows:

Wednesday 29th September 10.30 am

Wednesday 6th October 10.30 am

Wednesday 13th October 10.30 am

Friday 5th November 10.30 am

Friday 19th November 10.30 am

5th November 2021