Miss Hamalis’ Bulletin – Tuesday 30 June 2026

Posted: 30th June 2026

Miss Hamalis, Head Of Channing Junior School

Dear Parents & Carers

As another wonderful year draws to a close, I have found myself reflecting on one of the greatest privileges of being Head of the Junior School: watching our girls grow.

This year feels especially significant. As I complete my eighth year as Head, our Year 6 girls are the very first cohort I met during my first round of 4+ assessments. I can still picture many of them arriving as curious, excited three- and four-year-olds, clutching a parent’s hand, full of questions and just a little unsure of what lay ahead. Seven years later, they leave us as confident, compassionate and capable young women, ready for the exciting adventures that await them. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of their journey.

Of course, this story is not unique to Year 6. Every day, across the Junior School, I see the same transformation taking place. I see Reception girls proudly reading their first book, Year 2 pupils discovering new passions, Year 4 girls growing in confidence and Year 6 pupils leading with kindness and maturity. Watching our girls discover who they are, and who they can become, is what makes this school such a special place.

While academic success is important, I am proudest of the young people our girls become. Our Channing Characters continue to shine in countless everyday moments: showing resilience when learning feels difficult, bravery when trying something new, empathy towards friends, curiosity about the world around them and responsibility as they grow into leaders. These qualities cannot always be measured, but they are the foundations upon which happy, successful lives are built.

This year has also been filled with unforgettable moments. From the wonderful productions of The Snowman, The Jungle Book and Oliver!, to inspiring music concerts, sporting triumphs and creative projects, our girls have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, determination and joy. They have represented the school at national sporting events, maths and poetry competitions, performed with confidence on stage, achieved musical success and raised money for charity. Above all, they have celebrated one another’s achievements with kindness, generosity and genuine delight.

None of this would be possible without the remarkable partnership between our staff and families. Thank you for the trust you place in us and for working alongside us to help your daughters flourish. Together, we create a community where girls feel known, valued and encouraged to be the very best version of themselves.

As we reach the end of term, we also say goodbye to several much-valued members of staff. We thank Mr Davies (Deputy Head), Mr Westerman (Form Teacher), Miss Crossdale (Teaching Assistant) and Miss Moore (Teaching Assistant) for the dedication, care and enthusiasm they have shown during their time at the Junior School. We wish them every happiness and success in the future.

We are also delighted to celebrate with Miss Jackson, Miss Kitsis and Miss Micallef, who are all getting married over the summer. We wish them wonderful celebrations and every happiness in this exciting new chapter.

Finally, to all our girls: thank you. Thank you for your curiosity, your laughter, your kindness and the energy you bring to our classrooms and playgrounds every single day. You make the Junior School the warm, vibrant and joyful place that it is, and we could not be prouder of each and every one of you.

I wish you and your families a happy, restful summer. We look forward to welcoming you back in September for another year of learning, friendship and, above all, Girls Enjoying Success.

With warm wishes

Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School

Staff Contact Information

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.

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.

Calendar and Events

Dance and Cheer Showcase Photos

Should you wish to see photos of the Junior and Senior School’s recent Dance and Cheer Showcase, which took place earlier this term, please see here.

End of Term Dismissal Times: Friday 3 July

Please make a note of the dismissal times and locations below for the last day of term, Friday 3 July. Please can all of the girls wear school uniforms on this day, as they will attend Mark Reading (a joint Junior and School Celebration Assembly).

There will be no Late Owls on this date.

Dismissal times: 

11.45am: Reception (side gate) 

11.55am: Year 1 (main gate)

11.55am: Year 2 (side gate) 

12.05pm: Year 3 (main gate)

12.05pm: Year 4 (side gate) 

12.15pm: Year 5 (main gate)

12.15pm: Year 6 (side gate)

Courses for Parents

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 1 July 12.30pm ~ Student Finance for Parents: Understanding the Costs and What Really Matters
  • Thursday 2 July 6.30pm ~ Parenting Neurodivergent Children Through The Summer Months

Save the Date: Welcome Evening: Tuesday 15 September (6 - 8pm)

Please save the date for our annual Welcome Evening which will take place on Tuesday 15 September from 6.00 – 8.00pm. As part of the evening, Miss Hamalis will lead a talk and introduce the Form and Specialist Teachers, Teaching Assistants and some of the Support Staff. You will also visit your daughter’s new Form Room to meet the year group Form Teachers and Teaching Assistants to learn more about the expectations for the year ahead.

Lost Property: Checking & Reclaim

Lost Property Reclaim: Thursday 2 & Friday 3 July

Any unclaimed and unnamed lost property (both uniform and non-uniform) will be out in the courtyard on the days and times below:

  • Thursday 2 July: 7.30am-8.30am & 2.50pm-5.30pm
  • Friday 3 July: 7.30am-8.30am & 11.30-12.30pm

Any unclaimed items still remaining will be donated to charity (non-uniform) or the pre-loved uniform sale (uniform).

Lost Property at Home

From time to time, items of uniform are taken home accidentally. We would be very grateful if parents could check the labels in their daughter’s clothing to ensure that everything belongs to them.

If you do come across any items labelled with another pupil’s name, please could these be returned to school so that we can reunite them with their rightful owners.

Summer Reading

Information

One of our favourite things to do over the summer is to sit and read a great book under a shady tree. So we have put together some fantastic suggestions for summer reading here on Firefly. Our recommendations include the new Channing Junior Reading Lists created by Miss Jupp, our Librarian with the help of pupils, the national Summer Reading Challenge, Read to the Beat, which you can join at your local library, the Week Junior Children’s Book Awards shortlist, ePlatform – our online library of over 2,000 ebooks and audio books for you to borrow, and much more. 

The girls are very welcome to borrow library books over the holidays, but we would be very grateful if they could take extra care of them if you are taking them on holiday and we ask that you return books promptly in the first week of the Autumn term.

Challenges & Competitions for the Girls

Calling all keen Photographers from Key Stage 2

Here is an opportunity for pupils from Year 3 up (including those who are entering Year 3 in the Autumn Term) to take some snaps over the summer break and submit their favourite to the annual GSA Photography Competition. The theme this year is Light the Way: Female Leadership Guidance.

Please submit your daughter’s entry via the link by 11 September. You should include the email address of our Art and DT Teacher, Mr Fellows, as the ‘supervising teacher’ required for submission. This is rfellows@channing.co.uk

Lauderdale House Young Photographers Competition

Lauderdale House is delighted to invite young photographers aged 25 and under to enter the Lauderdale House Young Photographers Competition.

Entry is free and this year’s theme, “Everyday Life”, is open to each participant’s own interpretation. Deadline: Friday 10 July. Selected photographs will be professionally printed, framed and exhibited at Lauderdale House this August, with finalists and the overall winner announced at a special exhibition launch.

Whether your daughter is an experienced photographer or simply enjoys taking pictures, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase her creativity.

How to enter: email one JPEG photograph to gvassallo@lauderdale.org.uk with the subject line “Young Photographers Competition”. Please include your daughter’s full name, age and the title of your photograph.

For more information see: Young Photographers Competition

Summer Camps

LDCA Summer Dance & Cheer Camp

The LDCA Summer Dance & Cheer Camps are back, with two weeks of camp fun planned for this summer for all athletes from Reception – Year 11. They will be split into three age groups: Little Leaguers, Juniors and Seniors – and will spend the week working on: various dance styles, cheer stunts, tumbles and cheer jumps. The week finishes with the much-loved end of camp show, always a crowd favourite and the perfect way to celebrate everything learned during camp. To book a place:

Week 1 – Finchley N2: Monday 27 – Friday 31 July
Junior (Reception–Year 2 & Year 3–Year 6) – Click here
Senior (Year 7+) – Click here

Week 2 – Chalk Farm NW3: Monday 3 – Friday 7 August
Junior (Reception–Year 2 & Year 3–Year 6) – Click here
Senior (Year 7+) – Click here

Channing Association

Year 6 Events

  • Wednesday 1 July, 8.30am; Y6 Leavers’ Assembly, Fairseat Hall. Parents invited.

Diary Dates

  • Sunday 6 September – pre term picnic, Highgate Woods