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Dear Parents & Carers
Last week was a vibrant and joyful one in the Junior School, filled with curiosity, creativity and real-world learning as the girls immersed themselves in Maths Week. The focus on money and financial understanding brought classrooms to life, with the girls exploring spending, saving, budgeting and calculating change through practical, hands-on activities. It was a pleasure to see the girls approach these challenges with such enthusiasm and growing confidence, applying their mathematical thinking to everyday situations while developing valuable life skills that will support them beyond the classroom.
That same spirit of curiosity and imagination shone beautifully during Year 3’s assembly this morning, where the girls retold the story: The Ancient Egypt Sleepover, by Stephen Davies. With confidence and wonderful stage presence, they brought to life the tale of Mo and his unforgettable overnight adventure at the British Museum. The girls skilfully captured both the excitement of exploring ancient treasures and the suspense of protecting them from a mysterious thief. Their teamwork, expressive storytelling and evident enjoyment made it a truly memorable performance and a wonderful reflection of how deeply they had engaged with their learning.
Watching the assembly stirred some very special memories for me. As a child, my grandmother took my brother, cousin and me to Cairo and it remains one of the most extraordinary adventures of my childhood. I still vividly remember seeing the pyramids slowly rising from the desert sands and feeling completely awestruck by their scale and history. Visiting the Egyptian Museum and seeing Tutankhamun’s artefacts left a lasting impression and sparked my lifelong fascination with history and storytelling. Even now, I can remember the sense of wonder I felt walking through those galleries and imagining the lives, traditions and stories behind each artefact. It is incredibly special to see that same sense of wonder beginning to flourish in the girls as they explore ancient civilisations and the stories that help us understand the world and our place within it.
At the Junior School, we are passionate about nurturing curious, confident and compassionate learners. Opportunities such as Maths Week and curriculum experiences like Year 3’s exploration of Ancient Egypt encourage the girls to think deeply, ask thoughtful questions and develop the confidence to share their ideas and perspectives with others, gently reflecting the qualities we celebrate through our Channing Characters.
Across the school this half term, I have been immensely proud of the many ways the girls continue to demonstrate kindness, determination and growing independence in their learning and friendships. Staff regularly share wonderful examples of the girls supporting one another, embracing new challenges and taking increasing ownership of their learning journeys. These everyday moments truly capture the warmth and spirit of our school community and reflect the strong partnership we value so highly between home and school.
This week, we also say a fond farewell to Mr Brimsley, our much-loved Assistant Chef, as he retires and begins an exciting new chapter in Jamaica. Over the past seven years, he has played a special role in school life, in helping to prepare delicious meals enjoyed by the girls and staff each day and always doing so with great care and pride. We thank him sincerely for his dedication and commitment to our community and wish him every happiness in his well-deserved retirement.
As we look ahead, I would like to extend warm wishes to families marking important cultural and religious occasions over the coming weeks. We wish those celebrating Shrove Tuesday a very happy day and extend our warmest thoughts to those observing Ash Wednesday. We also send our very best wishes to families celebrating Lunar New Year and hope the year ahead brings happiness, prosperity and good health. In addition, we extend our warmest wishes to families preparing for Ramadan and wish you a peaceful and reflective time.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support, encouragement and partnership. It makes such a difference and helps us create the joyful, nurturing environment in which every girl in the Junior School can flourish.
I hope you all have a restful and happy half term. As always, the school will feel a little quieter without the girls’ energy, laughter and curiosity filling our corridors. We very much look forward to welcoming them back refreshed and ready for the next stage of their learning adventures. Like the explorers and storytellers who once uncovered the treasures of Ancient Egypt, the girls continue to discover new ideas, ask bold questions and uncover the wonders of learning, and it is a privilege to watch those journeys unfold each day.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
