Newsletter – 15 September 2023 - Chard School | Independent Prep School in Chard South Somerset

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Friday 8 September 2023

Word from the Head, Katie Hill

Welcome to the Autumn Term, when the weather is feeling anything but autumnal!

Our week began with Staff Training days on Monday and Tuesday when the staff worked together to input into the School Development Plan and received training on Pupil Wellbeing, Safeguarding & Child Protection, Special Educational Needs processes, Dyslexia and Mindfulness.

It was lovely to welcome your children back through our school gates on Wednesday. The children all seemed to return so happily and were delighted to catch up with their friends. We were pleased to welcome our new starters too, who settled brilliantly and are already fully immersed in Chard School life. At playtime and at lunchtime I was delighted to join the children, to hear some of their summer holiday tales and to see them all playing so joyfully together.

Despite this Newsletter reaching you on only the children’s third day of term, as a staff we have already been impressed by the way in which the children are applying themselves to their learning. In Symes the children have loved exploring their new classroom. They have enjoyed being creative with paint, been mark making in the sand, had fun sharing books in their book corner and have loved sharing their holiday photos and activities.

In Art, Harris Class have been inspired by the poem ‘Jabberwocky’. The children listened carefully to a reading of the poem and worked to create their own jabberwocky images. Meanwhile this afternoon in Wyndham Class, Mrs Halford has been using some mindfulness activities to calm and cool the children after a warm lunchtime play, as they prepare for their Music lesson.

We have now finalised the School Events Calendar for the forthcoming year in as much detail as possible. Mrs Mason has emailed a copy of this to you all, with the sports fixtures for the Autumn Term due to follow next week. Please take note of the dates of the key events for this term, with the first of these being

‘Beginning of the School Year Information Meetings’

Which are taking place on Wednesday 13^th September with the Pre-prep Meeting at 3.15pm and the Prep Meeting at 4.00pm. In these meetings the staff will deliver key messages about how your child will be taught this year and the ways in which we will help them to excel in their learning.

Next week on Wednesday the children are looking forward to their first swimming lesson of the term and after school we are holding our ‘Beginning of the School Year Information Meetings’. On Thursday Mrs Orr-Ewing is holding her first Mini Melody Makers session of the term for Pre-school aged children and their parents and on Friday Pre-prep cannot wait to go to ROAM for their first Forest School day.

Calendar Events/Clubs 11 – 15 September

Calendar Events

Monday 11th September
After School Clubs begin

Tuesday 12th September
Guest Assembly – ‘Open the Book’

Wednesday 13th September
First Swimming @ Chard Leisure Centre from 2.15pm – Whole School

‘Beginning of School Year’ information meetings – Pre-Prep Parents 3.15pm – Prep Parents 4.00pm

Thursday 14th September
NHS Flu Vaccinations @ 13.30pm – All Years

First Mini Melody Makers, Pre-School children – 10.15am to 11.15am

Friday 15th September
ROAM Forest School @9.15am – 3pm – Pre-prep class

Celebration Assembly – 3.10pm to 3.30pm

Clubs

Monday
Circuits/Manhunt & Pirates Yrs 3 – 6

Tuesday
Football Club – All Years

Wednesday
Manhunt & Pirates –Reception -Yr 2
Juggling Club – Yrs 4 – 6

Thursday
Latin Club – Yrs 4 -6

Friday
Music Ensemble – Yrs 3 – 6
Karate – Yrs 2 – 6

Everyday Clubs

Before Club 8 – 8.45am (included in School fees) Booking required

Prep Club 3.45 – 4.30pm (included in School fees) Booking required

After School Club 4.30 – 5.30pm (£5.75 Charge) Booking required

Spotlight on Mindfulness and Music

After a sunny and unusually warm playground session, Wyndham class opted for a short mindfulness exercise to refresh themselves. They focused on deep breathing and gentle stretching, all while immersing themselves in calming music.

In music class, Mrs. Orr-Ewing had the children leaping to the rhythm of the music. They began by practising without any music, and then they synchronised their movements as the music played.

OLD CERDICS ASSOCIATION

You can access the most recent Old Cerdics Bulletin by following this link.

Reminders

Please ensure that your child brings a named water bottle to school daily.
Following our school ‘healthy snack’ guidelines, please send your child to school with a ‘healthy snack’ each day. Please remember that we are a nut free school.
Whilst this warm weather remains, your child would benefit from bringing a sun hat to school daily.
Please return your annotated Data Capture Form and signed Home & School Agreement to the School Office by Friday 15^th September.