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Dear Parents and Carers
As we approach the end of the academic year, I find myself reflecting on the many journeys that have taken place, both big and small. At the Junior School, we witness these journeys every day: the steady growth in confidence, independence and curiosity that unfolds from the moment a girl joins us in Reception to the day she moves across the road to the Senior School.
Now at the end of my seventh year as Head of the Junior School, I feel especially privileged to have seen that growth right from the start first-hand. The girls who started on my very first day as wide-eyed Reception girls are now the poised, thoughtful young people preparing for their next chapter. Watching them grow into such capable and compassionate individuals has been both a joy and an honour.
A set of seven wooden stacking dolls sits on a shelf in my office. Each one represents a year of a Channing girl’s time at the Junior School, from the tiniest doll for our 4- and 5-year-olds to the tallest for those in Year 6. They serve as a gentle, daily reminder of how much the girls develop over time, layer by layer, year by year.
Getting to know each girl as an individual is at the heart of what we do. Early in the Autumn Term, I host ‘Getting to Know You’ tea parties for Reception girls in their House groups, six at a time, sharing juice, cake and conversation. Girls joining in other year groups attend too, often with a friend, giving me the chance to connect with them from the outset. At the other end of a girl’s time at the Junior School, my ‘Moving Up’ tea parties with Year 6 offer a moment to pause, reflect and share what they’ve loved, what they’ve learned and what we might do even better. These small but meaningful conversations capture what makes our school so special: a place where every girl is known, heard and supported to thrive.
Transitions are a key part of school life, not only for those joining us but for every girl moving up each year. Our annual Moving Up Morning gives all Reception to Year 5 girls the chance to spend time with their new Form Teacher, Teaching Assistants and classmates. For new pupils, it’s an early opportunity to begin building friendships and feeling part of the Channing community.
Every new joiner also receives a copy of Connie’s First Day, a storybook written and illustrated by the girls to introduce key routines, familiar faces and important places. Named after our school motto Conabor (Latin for “I will try”), the story reflects our belief that girls are most willing to take on challenges when they feel secure, supported and encouraged.
This sense of belonging is further reinforced by the Channing Promise, revised this year by pupils across both the Junior and Senior School. It continues to guide our community in showing kindness, respect and empathy, and in embracing opportunities with a positive and appreciative mindset.
Alongside the Channing Promise are our eight Channing Characters: Resilience Robin, Perseverance Squirrel, Empathy Rabbit, Responsibility Badger, Bravery Mole, Independence Owl, Respectfulness Hedgehog and Curiosity Fox. These characters are woven throughout our curriculum and pastoral care, helping the girls reflect on their approach to challenges, learning and relationships. They come to life in classrooms, assemblies, leadership roles and friendship conversations throughout the year.
Our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, stretch thinking and allow each girl to find her voice. Specialist teaching, hands-on experiences and a vibrant co-curricular programme, from cheerleading and coding to baking and debating, ensure there is something for everyone to explore. Day and residential trips further enrich learning and encourage independence and resilience.
We are proud of the many ways in which leadership is nurtured across the Junior School. Whether representing their form on the School Council, supporting others as Character Champions, or leading in Sports or Performing Arts, our girls rise to the challenge with thoughtfulness and integrity. Time and time again, I am impressed by how they step up, support one another and model the values we hold dear.
At its core, the Junior School is a deeply connected community. Pupils, staff, governors and families work in close partnership to ensure every girl feels known, supported and celebrated. From the teddy bear gifted to Reception girls by the Channing Association, to the House-coloured water bottles they receive and the many opportunities for parental involvement throughout the year, we understand how important it is to feel part of something bigger.
Thank you for the trust you place in us. Whether your daughter joined this year or several years ago, her journey through the Junior School is unique – and it is our honour and joy to walk it with her.
With warmest wishes for a happy summer
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
