Miss Hamalis’ Bulletin – Monday 17 March 2025

Posted: 17th March 2025

Miss Hamalis, Head Of Channing Junior School

Dear Parents 

Our Unitarian ethos is rooted in inclusivity, kindness and respect, values that shape the way we support and celebrate every individual in our community. This week we will be marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a time to recognise and appreciate the many ways in which people think, learn and experience the world. While designed for children, I recommend watching this short insightful video: What is Neurodiversity? 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is about recognising and valuing those who think differently. It is an opportunity to celebrate the strengths, talents and determination of individuals with neurodiverse minds. Many people who faced challenges in school have gone on to achieve great success, often crediting their unique way of thinking as a key factor in their accomplishments. These include Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a space scientist with Dyslexia, Daniel Radcliffe, an actor with developmental coordination disorder (known as Dyspraxia or DCD), Robbie Williams, a singer with Dyscalculia, Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants, who has ADHD and Greta Thunberg, a climate activist with Autism. Their stories serve as powerful reminders that different ways of thinking can lead to incredible achievements.

When it comes to inclusion, neurodiversity refers to a world where neurological differences are recognised and respected like all other human variations. Depending on how our brains are wired, we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways. Some people use neurodiversity as an umbrella term for alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (DCD), Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD. But beyond labels, neurodiversity is about embracing and valuing those who think differently. Whether in a school or workplace, different thinkers bring enormous value to their environments.

Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference. Instead of focusing on deficits or disorders, neurodiversity encourages a balanced view of an individual’s unique strengths and challenges. Many of the ‘challenges’ neurodivergent people face are not inherent to them but rather stem from environments and systems that have been designed for the majority population.

No two people are the same and everyone has a different profile. While we may talk about specific neurodifferences such as Autism and Dyslexia, these can co-occur and every neurodivergent individual has a unique pattern of strengths and challenges. Too often, diagnosis and labels emphasise difficulties rather than the many strengths and talents neurodivergent individuals possess. As a school committed to inclusion and respect, it is essential that we recognise and celebrate each child’s individual abilities, fostering confidence and self-esteem so that every child can flourish.

This week promises to be an exciting and enriching experience for our pupils. Tomorrow in assembly, Senior School pupils will share their personal experiences of being neurodiverse, offering real-life insights into Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia. The girls will also engage in a range of form activities designed to celebrate individuality and deepen their understanding of neurodiversity. Through interactive discussions and exercises, they will explore the importance of empathy while learning about inspiring neurodiverse role models who have harnessed their unique ways of thinking to achieve success. As part of a collaborative artwork, they will create Things That Make Me Unique flowers, highlighting individual strengths and differences. They will also have the opportunity to get creative by making neurodiversity-inspired bookmarks, reinforcing the message thateveryone has their own strengths and challenges.

At the heart of our Unitarian ethos is the belief that every individual is valued and worthy of respect. This week is an opportunity for us to live out this principle by championing kindness, empathy and understanding. As represented by our Channing Characters, Empathy Rabbit and Respectfulness Hedgehog, we want to inspire our pupils to be supportive and inclusive, recognising that small acts of kindness can make a significant difference to someone who may be facing challenges. By fostering a culture where everyone feels seen, heard and celebrated, we are ensuring that the Junior School remains a place where all minds are valued.

As we celebrate the diversity of minds and talents in our community, we also take a moment to recognise the cultural celebrations happening this week. Happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone marking the occasion and Nowruz Mobarak to our Iranian families celebrating the Persian New Year later this week.

Thank you for your support in helping us create an environment where every pupil feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We look forward to a wonderful week of learning and celebration.

With warm wishes

Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School 

Calendar & Events

Attendance Policy

Please click on the link to read the updated Attendance Policy.

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.

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.

Goodwin Foodbank: Monday 17 March - Friday 28 March

Today is the first day of the Goodwin House food bank drive, which will run until Friday 28 March. All donations will go to the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation’s food bank. 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. This term, AWTF are particularly in need of the following items: long-life milk, tinned fruit, pasta and cereal. 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!

 

Easter Bonnet Parade: Friday 4 April

On the last day of term, as per tradition, we invite the girls to take part in our much-loved Easter Bonnet Parade! In keeping with tradition, they are encouraged to bring in a homemade Easter Bonnet to wear with pride. A simple sun hat decorated with flowers, bunnies, eggs or chicks is perfect – and reusing a favourite from previous years is absolutely welcome! We can’t wait to see their wonderful creations as they parade with their friends. Please ensure all girls come to school in their full uniform.

Easter Wallace Chess Camp

The Easter Wallace Chess Camp kicks off in just three weeks and there are still spots available. The camps are both fun and educational, welcoming children aged 4 to 14 of all skill levels from complete beginners to tournament players. To book: https://wallace-chess.class4kids.co.uk/

Dates: Full-week bookings only – 4 days

  • Week 1: March 31 – April 3 (Mon–Thurs)
  • Week 2: April 7 – 10 (Mon–Thurs)
  • Week 3: April 14 – 17 (Mon–Thurs)

Timings: Half-day: 9.00am – 1.00pm / Full-day: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Locations: Swiss Cottage, Kensington

Gymnastics Easter Camp

Juliette and coaches will be hosting a gymnastics camp this Easter holiday at Coldfall Primary School (N10 1HS) on Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 April. For more info and bookings click the link: https://jth-sport.classforkids.io/camp/5. If you have any further questions, email Juliette jthsport@gmail.com.

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!

Charity Swimathon In Aid of Magic Breakfast: Post Event Update

Thank you to all the girls (and parents!) who participated in the charity swimathon on Saturday – a huge well done and thank you. It was an amazing effort, with over 1,600 lengths collectively swum for Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides breakfast for children across the UK to tackle morning hunger in schools.

How to donate the funds you’ve raised: 

We will update on the fundraising total in due course.

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!

Diary Dates

  • Wednesday 30 April, 7.45 – 8.30am: Preloved Uniform Sale held in the courtyard
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

  • Tuesday 24 June

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