Dear Parents and Carers 12/01/2023
Values Champions
Reception: Noah and Agnes
Years 1-6: Robert, Rita, Eva, Amos, Harley, Zaraan, Noah, Beth, Matias, Isabelle, Anna L, Emma P, Jamie, Sophie, Tallulah, Nicolas, Aylin, Eesha, Alfred, Freya, Lili, Noah and Isobel.
Polite Request from a resident in Sheen Common Drive
I had a call from a local resident who lives in Sheen Common Drive who politely asked if I could appeal to those of you who park on this road to ensure that you do not block, or even partially block, their driveways. The resident was not requesting that the road is not used for parking but rather that those who do could show consideration to those that live there. Thank you in advance for your support with this.
Deadline for applying for Reception Class for September 2023 entry
The deadline to apply for entry into Reception in September 2023 is Sunday 15th January 2023. Parents of children born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 should apply on the eAdmissions website. https://www.eadmissions.org.uk/
Parent Governor election
Thank you to those of you who have voted already. If you haven’t yet done so, please consider doing so. You will have been sent an email with a unique voting code, and details of the two candidates. Under each candidate’s name will be a link to their statements with some background about them. You then press one button to vote.
Parents who prefer to use non-electronic means to vote are invited to obtain a paper ballot form from the school office.
Voting will close on Tuesday 17th January at noon.
Online Safety
At this time of year, many children discuss what they got for Christmas and answers will include ‘a Fortnite battle pass, a new PC, a PlayStation 5 etc’. These devices all allow both unfettered access to the internet and expose children to voice chat, text chat and photo sharing with complete strangers. This year presents an acceleration of vulnerability window as, VR headsets, connected to Facebook’s Metaverse have been released onto the marketplace. The Metaverse seeks to link users to the internet as a Virtual Entity through the use of Virtual Reality Headsets. This amplifies the danger children are exposed to online. To help you understand this new, fast changing issue the NSPCC has published a guide to both the Metaverse and VR headsets. To find out more please follow the link:
Since its release 2017, Fortnite, has become ubiquitous in classrooms and playgrounds throughout the world. As a result, more children than ever are exposed to multi-player chatting with strangers, and financial exploitation via the game’s spend-to-gain-advantage operating style. Allowing children to use real world money to gain perks and costumes. From criminal blackmailing, to the coercion of nude exchanges by online ‘friends’ posing as children, the danger this game presents from a safeguarding perspective is clear. As an added complication, the verbiage surrounding the game used by pupils is near-incomprehensible, frustrating adepts to secure their safety. Internetmatters.org has published a guide to understanding the game and its terms. You can find the link below:
Fitness Offer
Sign up to Feel Good Fitness today and get up to 2 months half price. Available at Pools on the Park, Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre, Shene Sports and Fitness Centre, Whitton Sports and Fitness Centre and Hampton Sports and Fitness Centre. Free specially tailored programmes for those new to or returning to exercise. Over 200 fitness classes available including Indoor Cycling, Zumba and Pilates. The offer is valid from 3 January to 6 February 2023.
https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/sports/feel_good_fitness_memberships/fgf_offers
Adult Personal Safety Course
Shene Sports and Fitness Centre will run this course with tuition from an experienced instructor. Sessions will include personal safety, improve social awareness, anticipate dangerous situations and information on personal belongings and property protection. The course will run on Thursdays 6.30- 7.30pm. Call 020 3772 2999 for more information and to book your place click here.