Miss Hamalis’ Bulletin – Monday 10 March 2025

Posted: 10th March 2025

Miss Hamalis, Head Of Channing Junior School

Dear Parents

Science Week is here and the school is buzzing with excitement as the girls embark on a journey of curiosity, exploration and hands-on scientific discovery. This is a wonderful opportunity for the girls to think like scientists: questioning, investigating and making sense of the world around them in fun and engaging ways.

Fostering a love of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from an early age is paramount, and in an all-girls’ school, this takes on even greater significance. Research shows that early experiences shape children’s confidence in these subjects and we are determined to show our pupils that science is for everyone! A recent report commissioned by the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA), of which we are a member, found that 50% of girls’ school alumnae have worked in a STEM-related field at some point in their careers, an extraordinary statistic, especially considering that women currently make up only 8% of the overall STEM workforce. Donna Stevens, Chief Executive of the GSA, emphasised: “Girls from GSA schools break barriers and this is particularly evident in their uptake of and success in STEM subjects…Our confident and capable young women with their extraordinary academic achievements are a continued testament to the enduring power and purpose of girls’ schools.”

By immersing our pupils in exciting scientific experiences, we aim to inspire them to see themselves as the innovators, engineers and problem-solvers of the future. Science Week launched this morning with a dynamic assembly filled with captivating experiments from our visitor, Mother Nature Science, setting the tone for an action-packed week ahead. Throughout the week, the girls will take part in hands-on experiments and investigations designed to ignite their curiosity, deepen their understanding and bring science to life in exciting and meaningful ways.

Reception and Key Stage 1 will delve into Change and Adaptation, developing their scientific thinking as they observe, question and explore the world around them. Meanwhile, Key Stage 2 will take part in a Forces Workshop, where they will investigate how forces influence movement in sport and beyond through interactive experiments and real-world applications.

However, Science Week is about more than just exciting experiments; it’s about building confidence, fostering curiosity (just like Curiosity Fox) and developing a mindset that embraces discovery. Through active exploration and problem-solving, we hope to inspire the girls to see science as a subject full of endless possibilities. We also encourage you to continue these conversations at home, discussing the wonders of science, asking big questions and perhaps even exploring STEM activities together.

We can’t wait to see the girls exploring, investigating and discovering the wonders of science this week. Be sure to ask them all about their experiences; we are certain they will have plenty to share!

As we celebrate Science Week and the joy of discovery, we also recognise the many celebrations taking place in our community. Just as science brings people together through curiosity and innovation, these festivals bring families and friends together in joy and reflection.

For those celebrating, we wish you a joyful and festive Purim! May your day be filled with happiness, laughter and the spirit of celebration. Chag Purim Sameach!

For those celebrating, we wish you a bright and colourful Holi! May this festival bring joy, love and prosperity into your life. Happy Holi!

For those celebrating, we wish you a spirited and joyous Hola Mohalla! May this festival inspire courage, strength and unity. Happy Hola Mohalla!

With warm wishes

Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School 

Calendar & Events

School Calendar

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.

Wraparound Care: Attending Late Owls after a Club

If your child is attending an after-school club and then joining Late Owls, you only need to book the second session of Late Owls with Let’s Leap to ensure you are charged correctly. The girls will be safely supervised in Club Waiters before their club starts and will be taken to Late Owls afterward if they are registered. If you need any assistance, you can call Let’s Leap’s friendly Customer Service Team on 020 3797 6386 or email them at milo@letsleap.co.uk.

Key Stage 2 Recital Evening: Thursday 20 March, 4pm

The next KS2 Recital Evening is on Thursday 20 March at 4pm in the Music Room. This is a chance for our pupils to develop their performance skills in front of a supportive audience. If your daughter has a polished piece ready to show off, please apply here by Thursday 13 March. Please note, slots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Neurodiversity Week: Monday 17 - Friday 21 March

In celebration of Neurodiversity Week, pupils will be engaging with a number of sessions designed at promoting understanding and appreciation of neurodiversity. Depending on how our brains are wired, we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways. Neurodiversity is an umbrella term to describe alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD. However, regardless of labels, neurodiversity is about recognising and valuing those who think differently.

During the week, we will be hearing from Senior School students who will share their personal experiences of being neurodiverse, as well as engaging in interactive form activities designed to foster understanding and empathy. Pupils will participate by creating “Things That Make Me Unique” flowers, which will form part of an artwork celebrating individual differences. These activities are aimed at helping our pupils appreciate the diverse ways in which people think, learn and interact with the world around them and to recognise the importance of inclusivity and respect for all types of minds.

Football Week: Monday 17 - Friday 21 March

Throughout the week, pupils will enjoy fun and exciting football sessions led by Fergus and Sergio from ACTIVEFootball. A special highlight of the week will be the Year 3 Football Festival on Tuesday 18 March. Year 3 pupils will participate in an hour of skill-based activities, followed by an hour of mini interhouse fixtures, giving them a chance to showcase their skills and teamwork.

If your daughter is interested in taking part in football training outside of school, ACTIVEFootball will be  girls-only sessions at Channing Junior School on Saturdays (after Easter) from 10.30am – 12pm.

Year 6 Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP): Parent Volunteer Needed on Thursday 3 April

In Design & Technology, our Year 6 pupils are embarking upon their JEP journey where they learn all about how small businesses are run and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. We are looking for a parent volunteer to act as a ‘dragon’ in our Dragons’ Den event where groups of children pitch their ideas. If you have experience in starting up a business yourself, please get in touch. This will happen on the afternoon of Thursday 3 April (1.30pm – 3.30pm). If you can help with this special event, please contact Mr Fellows (Art & DT Lead) as soon as possible: rfellows@channing.co.uk

Goodwin Foodbank: Monday 17 March - Friday 28 March

This term, we will continue to support the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation (AWTF) food bank. The AWTF provides emergency food parcels to families in need and serves hot meals with fresh fruit and vegetables to over 200 homeless people in the local area.

From Monday 17 March to Friday 28 March, if your daughter is in Goodwin House, we ask that donations are placed in one of the blue, labelled Food Bank collection bins in the courtyard. There will be collection drives for all the Houses throughout the year, with girls from each House asked to contribute. However, donations from all members of the community are welcome at any time!

Suggested items for donations include: washing tablets, tinned/canned produce, pasta (and sauces), rice, spices, olive oil, juices, stocks, cereals, sugar, salt, tea and coffee. Please ensure all items are long-life produce, as regrettably, fresh items cannot be donated. Additionally, all donations must be within their sell-by and use-by dates, as AWTF cannot distribute expired food. We ask that you kindly check dates before donating.

Many thanks in advance to Goodwin House for all your support!

 

Holiday Club: Active Day Camps

Girls’ Squash Coaching

Poolside Manor: April & May Swimming Crash Courses & Activity Camp

TooledUp Courses for Parents

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

  • Tuesday 18 March 12.00pm  ~ Empowering Girls to Live Well with ADHD
  • Thursday 20 March 7.30pm  ~ Motivating Teens to Engage with Study and Revision: Tips for Parents
  • Monday 2 June 7.00pm  ~ Starting Nursery or Pre-Prep School: A Parent’s Guide to Starting on the Right Foot

Communication

Staff Contact Information

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

 

Channing Association News

Summer Fair: Sunday Afternoon 18 May - Buy Your Tickets Now!

The CA is delighted to invite your girls and their families to ChanFest 2.0 this May! Buy tickets now: https://buytickets.at/channingjuniorschool/1596217

The Junior School will again be transformed into a festival, hosting: a dance challenge party with Sharkey & George (KS1), a theatre show from The Rubbish Shakespeare Company (KS2), hair braiding, nail painting, glitter tattoos, a tombola, flower planting, badge and bunting decorating, mask making, a bouncy castle, an inflatable obstacle course, bumper cars, a surf simulator, a bucking bronco and of course, games and prizes to be won. They will also have food and drink stalls.

We look forward to welcoming you to ChanFest!

Preloved Uniform Sale: Wednesday 30 April, 7.45am until 8.30am

The CA is running a preloved uniform sale on Wednesday 30 April from 7.45am until 8.30am in the courtyard. If you would like to help set up and/or help with the sale, please email jschanningassociation@gmail.com 

Please leave donations of unwanted, clean and unlabelled uniform items (especially PE kit) in plastic bags in the blue bins in the courtyard!

Charity Swimathon in Aid of Magic Breakfast: Saturday 15 March - Sign Up Now!

The Charity Swimathon will take place on Saturday 15 March and is now open for all Junior School girls who would like to participate. You can find details of the event, including a sign-up sheet and a sponsorship form, below. All girls are welcome to take part, although for safety reasons it is recommended for those who can swim at least one length (18m).

We’re raising funds for the charity Magic Breakfast that provides breakfast for children across the UK to tackle morning hunger in schools. Please download a sponsorship form from Classlist.com.

Venue: Poolside Manor Swimming Pool, Lyndhurst Gardens N3 1TD
Time: Saturday 15 March, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Sign Up Form: 2025 Channing Swimathon Sign Up
Event details (including sponsorship form): Classlist.com Sponsorship Form
Charity: Magic Breakfast

Diary Dates

  • Saturday 15 March, 4.30 – 7.30pm: Charity Swimathon in Poolside Manor Classlist.com
  • Wednesday 30 April, 7.45 – 8.30am: Preloved Uniform Sale held in the courtyard
  • Sunday 18 May, 1.00 – 5.00pm: Summer Fair ‘Chanfest’, held in the Junior School grounds, tickets now available to buy: https://buytickets.at/channingjuniorschool/1596217
Open Days

Our Junior and Senior School Open Days have been announced:

Junior School Open Day Dates

  • Tuesday 6 May
  • Thursday 22 May

Senior School Open Day Dates

  • Thursday 24 April
  • Tuesday 24 June

Come and experience our school firsthand!
👉 Click here for more details and to book your visit.