Dear Parents
It was lovely to see so many of you and your daughters at drop-off this morning after the half-term break. The courtyard and playground were filled with happy chatter and smiling faces as the girls caught up with their friends – and it is amazing how many seem to have grown taller in just two weeks!
There is a wonderful energy around school, and it certainly feels as though everyone has returned refreshed and ready for the busy and exciting weeks ahead. As we make our way towards the festive season, there is so much to look forward to, with all the learning and everyday life of the Junior School alongside some very special moments for our community to enjoy. Reception’s Winter Performance of The Nutcracker, our Winter Celebration and, of course, the Channing Association’s Grinch-themed Winter Fair are just some of the highlights ahead.
Before we get swept up in all the festivities, I also wanted to give a final enthusiastic nudge to sign up for our new Parent Forums. I first spoke about these at our Welcome Evenings at the beginning of term, and I am really looking forward to getting them underway. Our partnership with you matters enormously, and I hope the forums will give us another valuable opportunity to listen to one another, share perspectives and have open and constructive conversations about life at Channing Junior School. At the heart of them is something very simple: we all want the very best for the girls.
The forums will be hosted by me alongside members of our Junior School Senior Team and will take place in Fairseat Hall:
- Reception: Tuesday 17 November, 8.30 – 9.15am – Register here
- Years 1 & 2: Friday 20 November, 8.30 – 9.15am – Register here
- Years 3 & 4: Monday 30 November, 8.30 – 9.15am – Register here
- Years 5 & 6: Thursday 3 December, 8.30 – 9.15am – Register here
If you would like to join us, please register for your Parent Forum(s) and submit any questions you would like us to consider by Monday 9 November. This is the deadline for both registering to attend and submitting questions in advance. Having your questions beforehand will give us time to gather any information we need and help us make the conversations as useful and meaningful as possible. I would really encourage you to come along and be part of the conversation; it would be wonderful to see as many of you there as possible.
I am also delighted to introduce Mrs Goh, our new Teaching Assistant, who joins us this week and will be working primarily with Year 5. It is a real pleasure to have her joining our community, and I know that the girls, staff and families will give her the warmest of welcomes.
This week also brings a special moment of celebration within our community. To all our families celebrating Diwali, I wish you a very happy Diwali. May your celebrations be filled with light, joy and togetherness, and with special moments shared with family and friends. We hope it is a wonderful celebration for you all.
With so much to look forward to, I am very much looking forward to sharing another busy, joyful and increasingly festive half term with the girls and with all of you.
With warmest wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School

