Headteacher’s News 03/02/23

We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.

Cicero

Next week is Children’s Mental Health Week and the children will have workshops as well as lessons throughout the week. The theme this year is about making meaningful connections for all, during this special week and beyond. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing.

For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, everyone is being encouraged to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways.

Parents Evening is after half term but information on the sign up process will be sent out next week.

Wellbeing Tip of the Week – Gratitude

Finding time in your day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for, however small, can be good for your mental health. 

Try to think about three things that made you smile, that you appreciate or even acts of kindness that you noticed. 

Research has shown that actively practising gratitude can train the brain to pick up on positive thoughts and emotions more frequently, which helps to reduce anxiety and feelings of worry. 

You could try this as a personal exercise, with family over dinner or with friends. 

Christian Value of Endurance

A favourite children’s book has a main character called Grace who loves stories – all kinds of stories. After hearing them she usually acts them out, often giving herself the most exciting role. So when Grace’s teacher tells the class they’re going to perform the play Peter Pan, Grace knows exactly who she wants to be. Sadly other children disagree: “You can’t be Peter – that’s a boy’s name,” her classmate Raj says. Natalie tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan because she’s black. At home, Grace’s mum and grandmother try to help her overcome her discouragement and rebuild Grace’s confidence just in time for auditions. In the end, Grace learns that staying true to her dream – despite what others think or believe – pays off.

The story of Grace reminds us that a key element of progressing positively in life is developing the ability to persevere through difficulty and rise above challenging experiences that we face. As Christians, we look to the life of Jesus, the challenges he faced and the ways that he responded as an example. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is shown in his most human and vulnerable moment. In the Garden of Gethsemane he pleads, “My father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me,” but he still finds the courage to persevere with his act of self sacrifice and follows this cry for help with the words, “Yet not what I want but what you want.” We see that Jesus was able to overcome his fear because his love was stronger and gave him the courage to persevere.

While life experience teaches the most valuable lessons, hearing stories of others, both fictional and real, who have demonstrated perseverance in never giving up, can also help us to keep going when faced with our own challenges.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

Sporting News

A huge well done to all of our children that played in a one-off football friendly event earlier this week. The matches took place at Talacre Sports Centre and so it was a great opportunity for all the schools that qualified for the CSSA Football Finals, later this month, to play on this much larger pitch, as a lot of schools (like ourselves) played the league matches at other local sports pitches. Unfortunately two schools that were due to play our girls’ team did not show up, but they were still able to play four ten-minute matches against Richard Cobden. The boys played against Netley and Richard Cobden twice, so a total of four matches as well. The children really enjoyed playing with all the extra space and our girls’ team cannot wait to come back for the Finals, in a few weeks’ time. 

Attendance and Punctuality

Assembly Timetable – Church hall at 2:55pm

Friday 10th February	Awards Assembly 9am
Friday 24th February	Y1
Friday 3rd March	Y2
Friday 10th March	Y5
Friday 17th March	Y4
Friday 24th March	Reception
Friday 31st March	No assembly – last day of term

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health – Free Webinars

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ONLINE EVENTS
Nutrition and Mood – Assess impact of diet, understand which supplements are helpful, practical ideas to influence diet for the better.
Mindful Emotion Coaching – Neurodiversity inclusive, trauma-informed approach to wellness. FREE
Depression: Identifying and Supporting Children and Young People – Understand how depression presents, the role physical exercise may play, and tech and online interventions. FREE
Identifying and responding effectively to Traumatic Bereavement – David Trickey delivers a comprehensive session packed with tips and advice. FREE
FREE webinars from education professionals on Substance Use, Bereavement, Social Media

Community Activities/Events

Free Counselling Service for Parents

We highly recommend the free counselling service for parents through Camden. You can find out more and register your interest via this leaflet.

CAMHS Open Minded Webinars

The school also recommends the “Open Minded” webinars. Find our more by clicking here.

Camden Music Service

From Y1 onwards, you can sign your child up to learn an instrument in school. For more information and to download the Camden Music Service application form, please click here.

Term dates for 2022 – 2023

First day of autumn term	Monday 5th September
Half term	Monday 24th – Friday 28th October
Last day of autumn term	Friday 16th December
First day of spring term	Wednesday 4th January 2022
Half term	Monday 13th – Friday 17th February
Last day of spring term	Friday 31st March
First day of summer term	Monday 17th April
Half term	Monday 29th May – Friday 2nd June
Last day of summer term	Friday 21st July