Miss Hamalis’ Bulletin – Monday 30 September 2024

We’re thrilled to share the wonderful news that two beautiful babies have arrived! Huge congratulations to Miss Evans and her partner on the birth of their precious baby girl, and to Miss Baker and her partner on the arrival of their darling baby boy. Both families are still choosing the perfect names, but we’re all so overjoyed for them during this special time!

You can view all events for the year in the school calendar via our Parent Portal: SchoolBase login. Your calendar view should already be filtered to display the Junior School events and events which are specific to your daughter’s year group. 

The ‘School Calendar Parent View’ button shows the complete calendar, which can be viewed by each month, week or day. Events also appear on the right-hand side of the home page under ‘Forthcoming Events’ and the monthly view of the calendar also appears at the bottom of the home page.

In last week’s Bulletin, we shared information about how you can register your interest to present a talk/ workshop about a specific festival or celebration that you feel connected to and would be willing to talk about to your daughter’s year group. If you are interested in registering for the Autumn Term, please fill out this Google Form link by Friday 4 October. After this point, you will no longer be able to register your interest to present any kind of talk/ workshop for this term. Please note these talks can no longer be organised by emailing your daughter’s Form Teacher.

If you have any questions, please contact our RE Lead, Miss Parmar: dparmar@channing.co.uk.

As part of our celebration of Black History Month, all pupils  in Reception to Year 6 will be participating in an exciting series of workshops. On Tuesday 1 October, Reception pupils will be visited by Rebecca from Bigfoot Education, who will entertain them with an interactive experience linked to the story of My Friend Flo by Floella Benjamin. 

On Wednesday 9 October, pupils in Years 1 to 6 will be able to join in with ‘A Carnival of Heroes.’ The workshop is based around a character called Spirit, who has become separated from The Notting Hill Carnival Parade only to reappear in Fairseat Hall! From here a different kind of celebration and some contemplation ensues:that of black role models past and present.

We will be running a Harvest Festival collection for Food Bank Aid from today until Friday 11 October. In keeping with our community spirit, we would appreciate your generous donations. Please ask your daughter to place any donations in one of the blue labelled Food Bank collection bins in the courtyard at the front of school. 

The Year 4 Channing Association reps will deliver the donations to North London Food Bank Aid. This was set up in April 2020 to help North London food banks through lockdown. Food banks were, and still are, due to the cost of living crisis, struggling with an enormous increase in demand for their services with many reporting more than three times the normal numbers. 

Food items needed: tinned meat, tinned fish, rice, pasta, couscous, pasta sauce, tea, coffee, sugar, hot chocolate, biscuits, cereals, cooking oil, flour, tinned vegetables.  

Other items needed: toothbrushes (adult & child), toothpaste (adult & child), shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, soap, sanitary items, nappies (sizes 4, 5 & 6), baby wipes.

Food Bank Aid is a charity which supports over 30 independent food banks across North London by collecting, sorting and distributing food, toiletries and household items to over 16,000 people, including more than 5,200 children. There has been a significant increase in people attending food banks, with rising energy and food prices coming into effect, and they need our help!

We are delighted to help support such a worthy cause. We feel strongly as a school community that we should help raise awareness of food poverty and engage particularly with our pupils about social responsibility, but, most importantly, help those families who are really struggling.

A reminder that the Haringey School Nursing Team will be visiting us on Wednesday 2 October and Thursday 3 October to carry out nasal flu immunisations (there is an option to choose a porcine-free injection). They will also be returning on Friday 18 October for any pupils who were unable to attend school on these days.

If you haven’t already, please complete the e-consent form for your daughter to be immunised against the Influenza virus. This can be done by clicking the link: https://ncl.schoolvaccination.uk/flu/2024/haringey.

Even if you do not wish for your daughter to have the vaccine, please complete the online form to decline so that we can record your wishes and update your daughter’s records. 

For further information, please see the e-consent letter, and for further queries, please email: haringey@v-uk.co.uk

We will be holding Autumn Term practical music examinations over two or three days during the week commencing Monday 2 December 2024 for candidates in both the Junior and Senior School. These examinations are also open to candidates who have practical music tuition outside of school, provided their teacher has stated that they are ready to take an ABRSM practical examination this term.

We need parental consent before we enter candidates, therefore parents need to complete the online form by 4pm on Wednesday 16 October at the latest. Regrettably, we will be unable to process late applications.

We have collaborated with TooledUp Education: an invaluable digital library of evidence-based resources on all aspects of parenting, education and family life. Founder, Dr Kathy Weston, has collated the best and most up-to-date research from around the world and distilled it into usable, easy to understand resources which can be instantly applied to daily life. Channing Pin: cha0706

For more information about this resource, see the dedicated section below. 

For upcoming TooledUp courses and events please click here. 

• Wednesday 9 October 7pm  ~ What Exactly is a ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’? And How Might Parents Implement One?
• Monday 14 October 12pm  ~ The Truth about Gaming

Poolside Manor are excited to offer an exclusive discount on their upcoming October crash courses, running from 28 October – 1 November. These courses, held every half-term and end-of-term holiday, provide a perfect introduction for beginners and an excellent way for more experienced swimmers to enhance their skills. Please refer to the poster for further details and a unique discount code.

There is also a Multi-Activity Camp that offers a fun and engaging mix of activities, including sports, arts and crafts, dance, and, of course, swimming.

We’re excited to announce the return of the LDCA October Half Term Cheerleading Camp – the perfect opportunity for your daughter to make new friends, build confidence and learn exciting new skills in a fun, energetic environment.

Camp Details:

• Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November
• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Haverstock School, NW3
• Open to children from Reception to Year 11
• £55 per day or £260 for the full week (service fee applies)

Booking:

• Camp – Full Week : https://www.ldcacademy.co.uk/product/ldca-october-half-term-camp-2024/
• Camp – Selected Days : https://www.ldcacademy.co.uk/product/ldca-october-half-term-camp-2024-day-rate/

Halloween Party 2024:This event invites children aged 4-15 to dress up in creative costumes, enjoy spooky games with prizes and dance the night away.

Party Details:

• Wednesday 30 October
•  4:15 PM – 6:15 PM
•  £15 per ticket (all guests will require a party ticket)

Booking:

To secure your place book via : https://www.ldcacademy.co.uk/product/ldca-halloween-party-2024/

The Specialist Gymnastics Camp, led by Juliette and her team of expert coaches, is designed for gymnasts of all abilities. Whether your daughter is a beginner or more advanced, she’ll have the opportunity to learn, improve, and refine gymnastics skills in a fun, motivational environment.

With a combination of equipment-based activities and floor work, participants will explore a variety of gymnastic techniques, helping them develop skills that are not only beneficial for gymnastics but also transferable to other physical activities. Book here: https://jth-sport.classforkids.io/camp/3

Here’s an example gymnastics camp day timetable:

• 9.30am – 10.00am Registration & warm up game
• 10.00am – 10.45am Focus skill work 
• 10.45am – 11.00am Snack 
• 11.00am – 12.00pm Gymnastics activity/circuit 
• 12.00pm – 1.00pm Lunch & playtime 
• 1.00pm – 1.30pm Gymnastics game & Warm up 
• 1.30pm – 2.30pm Gymnastics activity/Circuit
• 2.30pm – 3.00pm Cool down & prepare for dismissal

Please find the email contact details of the staff: JS Key Contact information. Please could we ask that your specific query is directed to the appropriate individual and anything of a more serious nature is directed to a member of the Senior Team. Please note that Miss Hamalis needs to approve all requests for absences so please send them via the Junior School Office: jsoffice@channing.co.uk. 

In order to prevent unnecessary awkwardness and/or embarrassment, please remember to address members of staff by their title and surname. 

Please be mindful that staff may not pick up emails immediately (teachers will, of course, not be checking emails when they are teaching, running clubs or supervising pupils at break and lunchtimes) and may choose to take time to investigate the matter before responding. However, they will endeavour to answer your queries within 24 hours. Please do not think that a lack of instant response means a lack of interest on the part of the member of staff. 

Please note that staff are not expected to reply to emails outside normal school hours, weekends or during school holidays. If you have an emergency which needs to be dealt with before school next opens, please email: jsoffice@channing.co.uk. Please do not send communications or information to communication@channing.co.uk or info@channing.co.uk.

The Child Accident Prevention trust has been in contact to highlight the dangers of water beads if swallowed by young children. Please read the information provided carefully.

The CA parent (and staff!) Quiz Night is on Wednesday 9 October, and tickets are now on sale! You can buy individual tickets and be allocated to a team, or buy a full table. 

Doors will open at 7pm for an evening of questions, curry, drinks and socialising! 

Buy tickets: https://buytickets.at/channingjuniorschool/1384974

The Channing Association Parent and Teacher Choir is regrouping to prepare to sing at the Channing Junior School Christmas Concert at 2pm on 6 December.

Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings in November (7, 14, 21 and 28) from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at St Michael’s Church in Highgate, and on Thursday 5 December, time TBC. 

The choir is open to all and there is a one-time £15 sub per person to cover venue hire and sheet music.

For any questions and to sign up please email jschanningassociation@gmail.com and you can be added to the Whatsapp group.

The CA will be running a charity fundraising raffle for GOSH at the Winter Fair on 29 November, and they are looking for fabulous prizes to list! If you have a product, service or experience you could donate, we would be most grateful. Please email jschanningassociation@gmail.com. Tickets will go live in due course. 

Prizes so far include a tea party with Miss Hamalis for a girl and friend of her choice, a beautiful gold bangle, 2025 comedy tickets, Pacifica beauty products, Everyman cinema tickets, and a gym pass.

The CA is collecting items for the Winter Fair PreLoved Stall – any toys, hair accessories, stationery, puzzles, books, games, etc in good condition that you would like to donate we will gratefully receive.

Please leave items in the labelled bins in the entrance courtyard. Thank you!

• Wednesday 9 October, 7:30pm ~ Quiz Night Parent Social, Senior School Dining Room last chance to buy tickets: https://buytickets.at/channingjuniorschool/1384974
• Monday 14 October, 7-8pm – AGM in the Senior School, all parents welcome to attend
• Thursdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 November & 5 December, 7:30pm – 9:30pm and on, time TBC, St Michael’s Church in Highgate – Parent & Teacher Choir rehearsals
• Friday 29 November, 2:50-5:00pm – Winter Fair
• Tuesday 28 January 2025, 7:45-8:30am – PreLoved Uniform Sale
• Saturday 15 March, 4:30-7:30pm – Charity Swimathon in Poolside Manor