headlines 17g

St. Lawrence
Headlines

June/July 2018 “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control”
GALATIANS 5. 22-23

Dear Parents/Carers

We have finally made it to the end of term and the end of the first year in our fantastic
new school. We have had to adapt and change many things throughout the year but
the staff and children have pulled together incredibly well and things are much

smoother now. There will be lots of snagging over the summer and when we return in
September we will hopefully be finished, with no more building works. We hope!

At this time of year we usually say our goodbyes to some staff and this year is no
different. We are saying goodbye to Miss East (only for a year) as she is going
travelling. We wish her a safe journey wherever she goes and will, no doubt, hear from
her while she is away. We also say goodbye to Mrs Sweet-Day who is leaving to spend
more time with her family. We wish her well. I also want to wish Mr Parker good luck
on his impending nuptials. He gets married in August and we hope the day goes
smoothly. As most of you will know, we will be welcoming Mr Hall to the school in

September where he will be teaching in Year 4.

It has been a very busy but very successful year. We have had a successful Ofsted
Inspection that showed how well the school is doing. We have recently had an external
writing moderation that showed how well our children are performing and how well our

staff know the children. We enjoyed a fantastic Year 6 production where the pupils
excelled and entertained us all. The building work has taken up a great deal of time
but we are now in a state-of-the-art building with a great new MUGA pitch and it is a
much improved environment to work in. We have had, arguably, our best SATs results
since I became Head here and the children should be rightly proud. Well done to all

the Year 6 teachers on great results but also to those other staff who have been
so instrumental in their learning over the years.

I know we are all ready for a break and I hope that if you are going away you
have a restful and relaxing time. We wish our fantastic Year 6 pupils all the

very best as they join their new schools, and we look forward to seeing
Years 3, 4 and 5 children on Thursday 6th September at the usual time.

All the best,

Congratulations to Elm House who were the house cup winners
this year earning themselves a mufti day
on Wednesday 18th July!

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 2

Year 3 Events This Year

Polka Theatre “Snow Queen”
Prehistoric Day

Chertsey Museum
Prehistoric Workshop
Kingston Liberal Synagogue Trip
Hampton Court Palace Trip

Kew Gardens Trip
Rachel Rooney Poet Visit

Victorian Day
Chertsey Museum
Victorian Workshop

Year 4 Events This Year

Hindu Temple Trip
Riverhouse Barn Christmas Show/Workshops
Christmas Production ‘The Magical Christmas Jigsaw’

Swimming
Bikeability1
PGL Activity Day Camp
Roman Day
East Wittering Trip

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 3

Year 5 Events This Year

Greek Day
British Museum Trip

Swimming
Strangeface Mask Workshop

Learning Dome
Flute Lessons and Recitals

Drama Dance Workshop
Bikeability 1
Mosque Trip

Butser Ancient Farm Trip
Chertsey Museum Anglo-Saxon Workshop

Year 6 Events This Year

Maths Challenge at Hampton Court House
Royal Courts of Justice Trip
Bikeability 2
Riverboat Project Trip
Flour Babies
PGL Residential Trip
Junior Citizen Scheme

Leavers Service at Guildford Cathedral/St Pauls Church
Summer Production ‘Zombie Gran’

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 4

Whole School Events This Year

There have been so many events and activities
this year including:

European Day of Languages
No Pens Day Wednesday
Christingle Service at St Pauls
Golden Boot Challenge
School Choir performed locally and at the
Dorking Halls Concert
Maypole Dance Troupe performed at the Riverhouse Barn/MayFair
Whole School Art Exhibition
Book Week including—Author Visit—Stan Cullimore/
Readathon Challenge/Dress up Character Day
Safer Internet Day
Easter Passion Play
Election Day/Head teacher for the Day (see below)
Spelling Bee
Photographs of the events that each year group and whole school
have participated in this year can be found on our school website at:
www.stlawrence-junior.surrey.sch.uk/gallery

As you probably know, today (8th June) was the ‘Head
Teacher for the Day’ and I was appointed as the
temporary Head due to my party (The You Party)

succeeding with a total of 208 votes. Today I have finally
been watching my manifesto promises coming true,
starting with all of the teachers gathering together in

assembly to sing a teacher parody of the song ‘Let It Go’
from the film Frozen in front of the whole school! In their
lessons this morning, children have been allowed to work
with friends and request music and after lunch they have
not had to do any writing at all, instead taking part in fun

activities such as
decorating their lockers.

My day as Mr Tucker’s
replacement has been jam

packed and interesting
with me greeting everyone

into school, observing
classes, interviewing
students and giving out
prizes for the best lockers
in each class. I have really
enjoyed it and hope

everyone has too.
Thanks, Alex T (Head
Teacher for the Day)

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 5

School News

We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all your support this year. A
special mention to Amanda Bishop and Lisa Gill for running the Maypole Club for the last few
years and to Mr Barrington-Brown for assisting with Athletics club. Also to all of you who have
helped with the library, walking to swimming, helping with school trips and reading in school.

We truly are grateful! To our fabulous PTA; thank you for all the wonderful events, fund-raising
and support.

Along with help in school are the contributions that you have made financially—we have raised
hundreds of pounds for charities such as Children in Need, Save the Children and Sport Relief
along with our own chosen charity Surrey Deaf Children. With the school fund contributions we
have, amongst other things, purchased IT equipment and the inspirational wall art you may have

seen around the school.

This term we say goodbye, good luck and bon voyage to three We are very proud of one of
members of staff: our Year 5 pupils Liam who
has raised nearly £1000 in just
Mrs Sweet-Day has been teaching in Years 3 and 6 two weeks for the Children's
this year along with having her son, Joshua, and Cancer Leukaemia Group.

being on maternity leave and is now leaving to spend He wanted to support a
more time with her family. We will miss her. worthwhile cause close to him
. due to one of our other year 5
pupils being diagnosed with
Leukaemia. This has included

dying his hair multi colours!

Well done Liam for your
fantastic effort!

Good luck and best wishes to Mr Parker who is
getting married to his fiancée, Laura, next month.

We hope the day goes well for them.

Finally, we are wishing Miss East ‘Bon Voyage’ as she If you would like to help
embarks on an adventurous trip beginning with the support Liam with his efforts
please donate on his page at:
Trans-Mongolian railway from Moscow to Beijing.
Miss East is a seasoned traveller and during her eight https://
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/
years here at St Lawrence (six of which have been
Head of Year 6) we have enjoyed her stories and look sarahmaccarthy

forward to hearing all about the next chapter
after her sabbatical.

Here is where our Year 6 children are moving onto next: Congratulations to Owls

Esher High—51 Notre Dame—1 class for having the
Thamesmead—2 Haliford Boys—2 highest attendance this
Three Rivers—3 Reeds—1
Cobham Free School—1 St Catherines—1 half term with an
Surbiton High—2 ACS—1 impressive 99%
Sir William Perkins—2 Hampton Court House—1 Very well done to
Tiffin—1 Out of Area—2 Peregrines class for
having the highest
attendance for this
academic year with 98%

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 6

Sports News by Mr Davis

We have had a very successful year for sport at St Lawrence. Our children are always
enthusiastic about the sporting events and clubs that we run and attend.

There are many teachers who run various teams throughout the year and attend
district leagues and competitions. They put in a lot of effort throughout the year
and take time out of their busy schedules to take the children to different events.

Also, a big thank you to any parents who have helped out with clubs run in the
school and for those parents that have helped out. Well done to all children who

have represented the school so well.
We have been very successful this year in our football leagues, bringing home 2
trophies. The very competitive (and cold) cross country saw a second place medal
and the always popular District Athletics earned us another 14 medals (see below).

Let’s look forward to another successful year next year.
Thank you for your continued support.

On Thursday 5th July, Mrs Whitfield and Mrs Rey took a squad of 32 children to
Kingsmeadow Stadium in Kingston for the annual District Athletics event. 13 schools

attended which meant that around 400 children took part! St Lawrence children performed
brilliantly, winning a total of 14 medals, including 6 golds, across both track and field
events. All our sprint teams reached the finals and the Boys Year 5/6 team won a silver
medal, narrowly missing gold in a very close finish. A special mention to Freya S, who
showed amazing determination and bravery when competing in the high jump and
to Beau B and Oliver R, who both overcame their nerves to do some excellent running.

Thank you to all the parents who came to support their children and a special thank you to
Mr Barrington-Brown for his help with athletics club this term and for
making the gazebos so comfortable at District Sports.

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 7

Sports Day

Congratulations to Beech House for winning the Sports Cup this
year and well done to all the pupils for their
determination and team spirit!

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 8

Year 6 Production—Zombie Gran

Whilst the evening of Wednesday 11th July may be remembered for other reasons, my wife and I,
together with a full house of other Governors, parents and relatives, will remember the magnificent

performance of “Zombie Gran”, a new production by Mr & Mrs Langwade.

The story centred upon Dulton, a normal town where nothing out of the ordinary happened, being
attacked by the evil genius, Edgar Grimwood, who had discovered how to create zombies, which would

react to his commands and allow him to achieve world domination. Gran is an old age pensioner,
who, with a group of similarly aged, tea-drinking friends, are attempting to push against trendy

coffees. Throughout there were council officials, led by Kevin Jobsworth, interfering with no effect but
Gran somehow had a resistance to becoming a zombie. This resistance was exploited by Professor
Pilse, who developed an antidote, administered by sticker, which enabled the zombies to recover and
thwart Edgar Grimwood’ ambitions. Gran returned to her tea-drinking activities and Professor Pilse
found she was the long lost love of Edgar, who was reformed and
thus we had our traditional happy ending.

All of Year 6 were involved as narrators, actors and singers and held the audience enthralled
throughout, with an enormous number of original songs, performed with talent and enthusiasm. The
stage settings were very well painted and the costumes and make-up required substantial effort from
those offstage. Whilst I normally feel that it would be unfair to single out any individual performer or
group as everyone contributed with skill and gusto, I will break that convention by mentioning Edgar G

as the evil “Edgar Grimwood” and Alex T as “Gran”. A production of this nature requires substantial
input from parents, relatives and particularly, the teachers Miss East, Miss Carter, Mrs Sweet-Day and

Mr Davis, with considerable support from the rest of the staff. I would like to express our grateful
thanks to all of them and, of course, the children for a memorable performance which will truly be
long remembered after they have moved to their new schools. Finally I should mention that Mr Tucker
is well protected against becoming a zombie as he was liberally stickered by enthusiastic children!

Words by George
Cameron (Chair of

Governors)
July 2018

Achieving | Believing | Caring Page 9

Library News by Mrs Heffernan

It was wonderful to move into our new dedicated library in September.
We carried out a purge ahead of the move – removing old and out of date books.
During the year, through donations and the Scholastic Book fair money, we have been able

to buy 200 new books for the library.
We are very proud of the range of books we have in the library. We are always listening to the

children and have been able to order some new books that they have requested.
We always try to keep up with the latest trends and have many complete series of the most

popular books, Tom Gates and Wimpy Kid!
It is wonderful to welcome the children in at lunchtime and help them to choose a book.
We are very grateful to our dedicated team of volunteers, and this year we say goodbye to four
of them, as their children leave the school. Many thanks to Mrs Baker, Mrs Balloch, Mrs Doak,

and Mrs Moore- Harper for all their help and support.
Here’s to another great year for the library.

SEN News by Mrs Uwai

I am pleased to share the results of our recent Parental Questionnaire, thank you very
much to everyone who contributed. I believe the positive results and comments are a

fair reflection of our school and am looking forward to addressing the suggestions
made as we move ahead to the next academic year. A copy of the results is attached

along with this newsletter
Dr Kathy Weston will be at Hurst Park school between 7pm and 9pm on 12th September

2018 to give a talk for parents on the importance of raising resilient children and
providing lots of evidence-based tips on how to do so. Tickets are £5 each and are

available by clicking on the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-raise-a-resilient-child-a-parents-guide-tickets-

48024067278

Wishing you all a restful summer break.

Wishing you all a lovely sunny and
restful summer holidays

School returns:
Thursday 6th September
Summer uniform may be worn