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Dear Parents & Carers
Last week was a truly wonderful and memorable one at the Junior School. As I reflected on the many moments of celebration, growth and excitement across the school, I was struck by how much the week felt marked by important rites of passage for our girls – moments that remind us just how far they have come and the many exciting steps still ahead of them.
One of the absolute highlights of the week was seeing our Reception girls take to the stage for their very first year group assembly. Having already impressed us all with their Winter performance earlier in the year, it was wonderful to see just how much the girls have grown in confidence and independence since then. Their performance of ‘Supertato’ was an absolute delight from beginning to end and there was such a wonderful sense of pride radiating throughout the hall.
The assembly was bursting with colour, energy and personality as vegetables, fruits, Evil Peas and heroic Supertatos brought the story to life. The girls spoke clearly and confidently, sang beautifully and fully embraced their roles with such excitement. It was impossible not to smile watching them perform with such commitment and enjoyment. The audience particularly loved the mischievous Evil Peas causing chaos in the supermarket and, of course, the brave Supertatos swooping in to save the day.
Alongside the wonderful performance itself, what stood out most was the important message at the heart of the assembly. Themes of kindness, helping others, bravery and teamwork shone throughout and reflected so many of the values we work hard to nurture every day at school. The girls reminded us all that we can each be heroes in our own small way through the choices we make, the words we use and the care we show to others. It was such a lovely example of our Channing Character values in action.
For our Reception parents, I know this assembly will have felt particularly special. It only seems like yesterday that many of the girls were arriving for their very first days at school and yet there they were, standing proudly in front of an audience, speaking with confidence and performing with such independence. The growth we see during the Reception year is always remarkable and moments such as these provide such a lovely opportunity to pause and celebrate just how far the girls have come. I was enormously proud of every single girl and incredibly grateful to the Reception team for all the care, creativity and preparation that went into making the assembly such a success.
At the other end of the school, last week also marked another major milestone for our Year 6 girls as they headed off on their residential trip to the Isle of Wight. There was huge excitement around school on Monday morning as suitcases were loaded, final hugs were given and the girls set off together for a week of adventure, challenge and friendship. Residential trips are always such a significant moment in Junior School life and this one felt especially poignant as our Year 6 pupils approach the final stages of their Junior School journey.
The itinerary for the week was packed with fantastic experiences and opportunities for the girls to challenge themselves, work together and create memories that I know they will talk about for years to come. The trip included visits to the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House, alongside surfing sessions at Sandown Beach, fossil hunting adventures and time at the Tapnell Farm Aquapark.
Already, we have heard wonderful reports from staff about the girls’ positivity, resilience and willingness to embrace every opportunity. Whether tackling new activities, encouraging friends, trying something outside their comfort zone or simply learning to navigate life away from home for a few days, these experiences are so valuable in helping children grow in confidence and independence.
Trips such as these are about so much more than the activities themselves. They are about learning to support one another, developing resilience when things feel challenging, building friendships and discovering strengths that perhaps even the girls themselves did not know they had. They are often the moments the girls remember most vividly from their time at Junior School and it is lovely to know that our Year 6 pupils returned having made such special memories together.
What felt particularly special last week was seeing these two important milestones side by side: our youngest girls confidently performing in their very first assembly while our oldest girls embarked on one of their final Junior School adventures together. In so many ways, it captured the very heart of school life: growth, courage, belonging and the gradual journey towards independence. It was a lovely reminder of how much the girls develop during their time with us and how privileged we are to walk alongside them during these formative years.
As we move towards the half term break, I would also like to send warm wishes to all families celebrating Shavuot, preparing for Hajj and looking ahead to Eid al-Adha. These are deeply meaningful occasions for many within our community and we wish all those celebrating peace, joy and special time together with family and friends.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
