ℯNEWS FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Jigsaw Assembly
Our week started with a whole-school PSHE assembly on Monday morning. During the session, pupils shared their thoughts on making healthy choices in terms of what they eat and how they exercise. This led to an interesting discussion on the snacks consumed and the games played during park time. Some of the children honestly shared their challenges in opting for healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables, leading to a further discussion on exploring ways to encourage trying new options.
In order to further delve into this topic, the children were tasked with keeping a record of their exercise routines and healthy food choices over the next couple of weeks. These records will be the focal point of discussions in their respective classes during upcoming PSHE Jigsaw lessons.
Poetry Competition
On Wednesday, all children had the opportunity to stand up in front of their classmates and the judges to recite their poems. Mrs Hampton and guest judge Mr Magnus Bashaarat Headteacher of Maida Vale School, were impressed with the hard work the children showed. There were a few nerves but the children showed great resilience resulting in many fine performances. A selection of poems from the classes will be performed, alongside class choral poems at the Poetry recital on Friday 8th March.
A huge congratulations to the following children who were chosen by Mr Bashaarat to perform their chosen pieces at the Poetry Recital; Freya J1, Dylan J1, Talia F1, Ilan F1, Sami T F2, Bruno F2, Poppy F2, Luca F3, Michael F3, Maxine F4, Atia F4, Ivan F5, Kira F5, Mimi F5, Oscar F6, Meera F6, Jeremy F6, Principal’s choices Darcy F5 and Delia F5.
Upcoming
Virtual Coffee Morning - Online Safety, Thursday 29th February 10 am - 11 am
We have booked Gareth Cort, a specialist in Online Safety from the London Grid for Learning, to join us for our Virtual Coffee Morning next week to share his expert knowledge on ensuring the online safety of your children at home. Gareth has previously conducted training sessions for our teachers on this topic, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Following this training, Mrs Hampton recognised the value of extending this information to parents. Please mark this date on your calendars, and a link for the session will be circulated early next week.
Form Six Visit to TfL for Junior Citizenship Scheme - Monday 4th March
Form Six has been invited to participate in the annual Junior Citizenship scheme designed for Year Six pupils. The programme, featuring workshops provided by emergency services and TFL, aims to prepare Year Six children for independent travel as they approach the transition to secondary school. We have always found the day to be an informative experience. It takes place at The London Transport Museum.
CHS Book Week - 4th - 8th March
CHS Book Week will take place from the 4th - 8th March. This week emphasises the importance of reading and encourages the children to share their favourite books and authors and to try something different.
Dressing up and bringing books into school is a big part of Book Week celebrations and is something that the children particularly enjoy. We invite the children to dress up on the 6th March as a character or even a setting from a book they have enjoyed. It is one of the exciting ways for children to get book recommendations from each other. It is important your child can tell their classmates about who or what they are dressed as and what book it comes from; even if it’s just a prop or a clue make sure your child is recommending something to read with their costume. We encourage you to use things you already have at home to make a creative costume or arrange a costume swap with your child's classmates.
During Dress Up Day, children will be taking part in a range of activities hosted across the age range - a great way to bring our community together.
We will be welcoming author Zohra Nabi on the 5th March and James Allen on the 7th March. They will be reading to the children, telling them about the process of writing as well as hosting a Question and Answer session.
The week will round off with a celebration of Poetry at the Victory Services Club.
Poetry Recital - Friday 8th March, 2.30 pm
Following the Poetry competition this week, as mentioned above, we will conclude the upcoming CHS Book Week with a Poetry Recital at the Carisbrooke Hall, located in The Victory Services Club next door to us. This is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the beautiful poems our children have dedicated time and effort to perfect. Each class will perform their class poem as well as a selection of the children who were commended by Mr Bashaarat, our judge this year.
Please note the children should be wearing their school uniform, not their PE kits on Friday for the Poetry Recital.
*Please note this is not a suitable event for babies or toddlers as the children have worked hard to prepare for this recital and their voices may not carry over excessive audience noise.*
Second-Hand Book Sale
The CHS Parents Committee will organise a second-hand book sale before and after the Poetry Recital on Friday 8th March 2024 at The Carisbrooke Hall. We invite you all to contribute by bringing in donations of children's books in good condition to school during the week beginning Monday 4th March. These books will be sold during the event, and any remaining books will be donated to the Children's Book Project. As usual, the proceeds from the sale will go towards the Bursary Fund and UNICEF.
Daunt Book Event - Lauren Child in Conversation, Friday 15th March
Daunt Books will be welcoming children’s author Lauren Child to talk about her new novel Clarice Bean: Smile. The novel addresses the fears that many children have about the environment and the future of the planet. This event is part of the Daunt Book Festival held on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th March. For further information follow the link below. https://dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/events/lauren-child-in-conversation/
Reminders
Contacting us
I would like to remind parents if for any reason your child is going to be absent from school, if you are running late to collect your child or for anything else please contact Miss Cho in the school office either on the phone: 02072628830 or by email: secretary@connaughthouseschool.co.uk. The main reporting mechanism is via Miss Cho in the office who works full time.
The email address office@connaughthouseschool.co.uk is managed by Ms White who works part-time, and is therefore not as frequently checked.
Open Day - Friday 22 March AM Only
We look forward to welcoming you on the morning of Friday 22 March for Open Day. You will have the opportunity to view your child’s work and the children will have the pleasure of giving you a tour of their classroom and school. The children will remain with you for the duration of the tour and there will be no school in the afternoon.
Artwork of the week
Izzy in Form Five, for a brilliant drawing of a sihek, a bird. Excellent use of the grid method and carefully applied tone. Well done Izzy!
Dates for the diary:
Februrary
29 Feb - Virtual Coffee Morning - Online Safety
March
4 - 8 March - Book Week
4 March - F6 trip to TFL museum for Junior Citizenship Scheme
5 March - Zohra Nabi Author visit
6 March - Dressing Up Day
7 March - James Allen Author Visit
8 March - Poetry Recital, 2.30 pm at The Carisbrooke Hall all parents invited
22 March - Open Day, parents must remain with their children for the morning. There is no school in the afternoon.
27 March - End of term (Midday Collection)
April
23 April - Start of Term
May
24 - 31 May - Half Term
