Miss Hamalis’ Bulletin – Monday 3 November 2025

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.

You can find the Channing Promise on the school website. This is something the whole school community upholds and underlines our values of respect, tolerance and inclusivity. We know you will be nothing short of respectful in your communications with staff and you can expect the same in return.

This year, we will again be marking the start of Anti-Bullying Week by inviting all members of the school community to wear odd socks on Monday 10 November. Girls, staff and parents are invited to wear a pair of odd socks as a celebration of our individuality, highlighting that our differences make us a stronger and more united community. 

The day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying, and helps us celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in a fun and positive way. Please join us by wearing your most colourful odd socks when you drop off and/or pick up your daughter(s). In addition, the girls will pledge to spread kindness across the school with their words and actions.

The organisers of Odd Socks Day have created a resource pack to support parents and carers, who have a unique role to play in guiding and supporting children through their school years. The resource pack is designed to give you information about bullying, tips about what to do if you’re worried about bullying, and the tools to help you talk to your children about bullying.

The theme for Anti-Bullying Week this year is ‘Power for Good’ to empower everyone to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt bullying causes. Throughout the week, all of the girls will be guided through sessions to consider ‘What is power?’ and ‘How can you use your power for good?’. The girls will be challenged to do one kind thing everyday, to reinforce that together, we can spread kindness and be inclusive of everyone.

Next Tuesday, we will mark Remembrance Day, which is observed on 11 November. At 11am, we will all gather together in the playground as a school community. Here, we will hold a moment of reflection, accompanied by the poignant sound of ‘The Last Post’. It will be a time to remember all those who have fought or are currently fighting in conflicts worldwide, and to show our deepest respect and gratitude for those who have made such significant sacrifices. From today, poppies and poppy merchandise are available in the School Office in exchange for a small donation.

We are delighted to invite all parents of girls in Reception, to a Tea Party taking place in the Drama Studio on Friday 21 November, from 8.30am to 9.00am, following morning drop-off. This informal gathering provides an opportunity to meet members of the Junior School Senior Team, enjoy a cup of tea and engage in friendly conversation. We very much hope you will be able to join us.

This half term, we are delighted to welcome parents of Year 6 & Year 5 pupils into school to watch their daughters perform as part of their Year Group Assemblies. The performances will take place in Fairseat Hall to pupils and staff on Mondays and then to parents on Wednesdays, 8.30 – 9.00am. To watch your daughter’s performance, please arrive no earlier than 8.25am. On arrival, you will be asked to sign in and then directed to Fairseat Hall by our Specialist Teachers. The dates of the Year Group Assemblies this term are:

• Year 6: Wednesday 12 November
• Year 5: Wednesday 26 November

The next KS2 Recital Evening is on Thursday 27 November 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 20 November. Please note, slots will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

We regret to inform you that our upcoming Parent Workshop, Supporting English from Home (Y1–Y6), scheduled for this Tuesday 4 November, from 6.00pm to 7.00pm in Fairseat Hall, has been postponed due to an unforeseen staff absence. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We will be in touch soon with an alternative date for the evening and hope you will be able to join us then.

We are pleased to invite all parents and carers to a series of Curriculum Information Evenings, led by our Subject Leads and members of the Junior School Senior Team, in Fairseat Hall. These sessions will offer valuable insights into key areas of the school’s curriculum, including: Mathematics, English and Drama. They are designed to help you better understand what your daughter is learning and how you can support her progress at home. Each evening will provide practical advice and an opportunity to engage directly with the staff who lead these subjects. If you would like to attend one or more of these sessions, please sign up using the Google Form linked below.

Schedule of Talks

• Parent Workshop: Supporting with Mathematics from Home (Y1 – Y6): Tuesday 25 November, 6 – 7pm 
• Drama at Channing (Reception – Year 6): Tuesday 17 March, 6 – 7pm 

We look forward to welcoming you and appreciate your ongoing support in helping your daughter achieve educational success, as we strive for all of the girls to be ambitious, realise their full potential and become the very best version of themselves.

We have collaborated with Tooled Up 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 Tooled Up courses and events please click here. 

• Wednesday 5 November 1pm ~ The Power of Reading for Children’s Outcomes: What Every Parent Needs to Know
• Tuesday 18 November 12.30pm ~ Supporting Children and Young People Through Loss
• Tuesday 18 November 8pm ~ Is my Child Really Resilient?

Occasionally, clubs need to be cancelled in advance, particularly when whole-school events are taking place. If this happens, you can sign your daughter up for Late Owls, or she can be collected at her usual dismissal time. You will also receive a reminder text the day before so that you can make the necessary arrangements.

Same-day cancellations are rare and we always try to avoid them. However, they can sometimes be unavoidable, whether the club is a free, a staff-run activity or an externally run, paid-for session. In these cases, your daughter can be collected at her usual dismissal time, be signed up for Late Owls or remain in Club Waiters free of charge until the club’s normal end time, at which point she will be brought to the door for dismissal.

Please note that if a paid-for club is cancelled, whether in advance or on the day, you will not be charged.

Please see below for the clubs that will be cancelled this term. This list will be updated weekly, so please check this section carefully: 

• Wednesday 5 November: KS1 Art cancelled
• Monday 10 November: Y2 Bee Netball cancelled
• Wednesday 12 November: KS1 Doodle cancelled
• Friday 28 November:KS1 Multisports cancelled
• Monday 1 – Friday 5 December: All Gymnastics cancelled
• Wednesday 3 December: Reception Mini Makers cancelled
• Friday 5 December: KS1 Multisports cancelled

As part of our Extra-Curricular Programme, we ask that pupils commit fully to the clubs they sign up for each term. When registering, please note that sign-up is for the whole block of sessions, not on a week-by-week basis. Many of our clubs have long waiting lists, and regular attendance is important. This is not only to ensure fairness, but also to help pupils develop responsibility and commitment.

For externally run clubs, fees are charged for the full block of sessions. If your child decides to withdraw partway through the term and there is no one on the waiting list to take their place, the full charge will still apply. These clubs are run by external providers who rely on these bookings, and we are unable to make changes at short notice.

We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a consistent and fair system for all pupils.

The deadline for the Seasonal Cards is today. You will be able to order cards with your daughter’s design, and Miss Hamalis will also choose some of her favourite entries to become her seasonal cards too.

The Stanhope Road Fireworks are back after a year away. They will take place this Saturday 8 November from 5.30pm. 

https://bit.ly/chanfireworks25

Well done to the winners of the annual festive pudding competition. Orders close today, so this is your final chance to purchase them. Puddings will be delivered to your daughter at school in early December. 

https://channingchristmaspuds.myshopify.com/password

The Frozen themed Winter Fair is taking place after school on Friday 28 November. Buy your tickets here for the girls and your families!

The school will be transformed into Arundale for a wonderful afternoon, where the girls and their families are invited to discover the wonderful wintery world of Frozen. 

The girls are invited to wear Frozen or winter themed clothes for the day. 

Please note that all after school clubs and wrap around provision will be cancelled due to the fair, and that all children must be accompanied by an adult to the fair.

The CA are currently collecting items for the Winter Fair’s pre-loved stall and would be grateful for any donations of toys, stationary, accessories, puzzles, books, games or other items in good condition. 

Please drop your donations off in the clearly labelled bins located in the entrance courtyard. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.