News - 11th January 2024

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Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back! I hope you all had a peaceful Christmas break and are ready for the exciting events that lie ahead in the new year. It is wonderful to see the children returning to school, eager and enthusiastic for their spring learning.

I am delighted to announce that we have had the pleasure of welcoming education advisors from the Good Shepherd Trust, Suzanne Higgins and Jade Hills, to our school. They will be working closely with our staff over the next few weeks, attending staff meetings and providing valuable support to ensure the quality and effectiveness of our school curriculum.

This week, our Year 3 class are particularly excited as they have their Titanic Day experience planned. They will be working in collaboration with the Godalming Museum to delve into the fascinating world of life on the Titanic. The day will culminate in a First Class afternoon tea, providing a truly immersive learning experience.

All our classes have begun their new topics and are brimming with anticipation for the many exciting learning opportunities, visitors, and outings that await them. We are committed to providing a rich and diverse curriculum that engages and inspires our pupils.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that the school gates open at 8.30am, and it is important for children to be in their seats by 8.35am. Punctuality is key to ensuring a smooth start to the day for all.

As the cold weather continues, please ensure that your children come to school with a warm coat, and if appropriate, hats and gloves. We want to ensure their comfort and well-being throughout the day.

I must also stress the importance of not parking cars on or near the corner of School Lane. It poses a significant danger to our pupils and should be avoided at all costs. Please find alternative parking arrangements to keep our children safe.

Looking ahead, we are all eagerly anticipating the Chiddingfold Village Pantomime next week. It promises to be a brilliant event, showcasing the talents of our local superstars on stage. Good luck to the Panto Team!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you all a successful and fulfilling spring term.

Best wishes,
Mrs Buckley
Headteacher

THANK YOU
A huge thank you to the PTA and all parents/carers for your generous Christmas gifts, cards and good wishes. They were very much appreciated by us all.

STARTING SCHOOL
Starting School – Reception:
If your child was born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 you will need to apply for a school place. You can apply between 31 October 2023 and 15 January 2024.

If you live in Surrey, you can find out all you need to know about school admissions and apply online at surreycc.gov.uk/admissions or you can call on 0300 200 1004.

 SCHOOL LUNCHES

We are delighted to inform you that Caterlink will be our new caterers from the 15th February 2024. All GST Schools will be changing over to Caterlink following a rigorous tendering process (including a tasting session).

One of the key successes to their business is their “farm to fork journey” which demonstrates a clear path of food provenance using fresh ingredients from local and regional suppliers. Caterlink are proud to offer freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals at Silver Food for Life Standard.

Please find attached:

  • A Caterlink Welcome Poster
  • Why choose a Caterlink school meal & FAQs
  • A copy of the spring/summer term menu

If you have already paid in advance for school meals, after the 8th February, the balances will be transferred over to Caterlink. Please continue to book your choices on Scopay in the usual way. All pupils will have two choices which are listed on the menu, as well as a jacket potato option with a choice of cheese, beans or tuna (these will be available daily). Fresh bread and a salad bar will also be available daily.

If you have any questions please contact the school office in the usual way.

SCO PAY
Please review Scopay for any outstanding payments due for school trips for next term.

LOST PROPERTY:
We have a number of unnamed items in lost property. Please come and have a look. Any items left in lost property will be donated to the
clothing bank. A polite reminder to label all clothes, water bottles and lunch boxes as this will reduce the risk of losing these items.

Following Government guidelines, schools are no longer allowed to authorise requests for children to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you take your child out of school, you may face a penalty notice.

WEEK COMMENCING 11TH DECEMBER 2023
RECEPTION –99.6%
Year 1 –92.6 %
Year 2 –87%
Year 3 –90.3%
Year 4 –90%
Year 5 – 85.9%
Year 6H –83.6%
Year 6N –94.7%

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL VISION
Wisdom

Wisdom is a core Christian value in our school because we believe through wisdom good choices are made, that it encourages us to learn from our mistakes and encourages us to live our lives wisely for the benefit of all.

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’’ John 8:32

Hope

Hope is a core Christian value in our school because hope gives us energy and supports us through difficult times.

"Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.’’ Romans 12:12

To act with hope is to aspire to greater things, to promote positivity and courageous advocacy.

Respect

Respect is a core Christian value in our school because we believe that all life is precious within the image of God and deserves to be valued.

"Do to others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31

Our Christian value of respect means living up to the image of God with our school, our community and ourselves.

Community

Community is a core Christian value in our school because we know that together we are stronger and can achieve more.

"Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.’’ Romans 12:16

Everyone in our school, local and global community are needed and valued.