Sacred Heart News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the Spring term. The children have returned to school in very good form, ready for the term ahead. Thank you for all the good wishes, cards and gifts received at Christmas time.

Clubs and tutoring

Please note clubs are now posted on the school website. There will be some additions later in the term. Once again, St Mary’s University PE students will be joining us for PE lessons and hopefully they will be in position to offer clubs for the younger and older children at school.

In Spring term, the teachers are also focussing on delivering booster and tutoring groups for pupils throughout the school.

No nuts

Please remember there should be no nuts coming into school in packed lunch boxes as we have a number of children with serious nut allergies.

Parent Governor Election

You will have received a communication announcing a parent governor vacancy. All our Governors say how rewarding and interesting the role is so I would ask that you consider whether you would be able to help school in this way. You are well supported and grow in role very quickly.

Holiday dates 2025-2026

We are just finalising the holiday dates for 2025-2026 and will post these on the website early next week.

Smartphone article

I often speak to parents about their concerns around Smartphone usage for their primary-aged and teenage children. One of our parents has written a very informative article which I thought I would share; it is a very good read. Jonathan Haidt: How we can save our children from smartphones

Please note you may need to search for Jonathan Haidt as the link changes daily.

As you may likely know, we prefer the children to have a brick telephone when young. Children who are walking to and from school are only permitted to bring a phone and this is left in the school office on arrival and collected at the end of the day.

Mrs Brenda Green
Headteacher

SPRING TERM 2025

Tuesday 21st January - Reception & Yr 6 Height and Weight Measurements

Tuesday 21st January - Boys & Girls Football vs Collis

Thursday 23rd January - Yr 4 Girls Football

Monday 27th January - EYFS trip to Bushy Park

Tuesday 28th January - Netball Match vs SJB

Tuesday 28th January - SEND Parent Teacher Meetings

Wednesday 29th January - SEND Parent Teacher Meetings

Thursday 30th January - SEND Parent Teacher Meetings

Monday 3rd February - Boys Football vs Stanley

Tuesday 4th February - Girls Football vs SJB

Monday 10th February - Girls Football vs Stanley

Tuesday 11th February - Boys Football vs SJB

Thursday 13th February - Swimming Gala

Monday 17th February - Friday 21st February - Half Term

Reception Zofia for her hard work and focus given to her letter formation. Keep it up!

Albie for the amazing Maths knowledge he has demonstrated this week.

Year 1 Alfred for his fantastic start to the term, we are so proud of his hard work and positive attitude. Well done Alfred!

Oliver for his great enthusiasm and dedication towards his phonics and reading. We are so proud of you! Well done Oliver!

Year 2 Ivana for her exceptional effort across all areas of the curriculum and her dedicated approach to develop her learning. Well done!

Sophia S for settling in so well to year 2 and working exceptionally hard in lessons. What a superstar!

Year 3 Dhwani for an excellent attitude in every lesson this week especially answering questions in class. Well done Dhwani, keep it up!

Nancy for working very hard in all of her subjects and creating a fantastic description with lots of adjectives and adverbs!

Year 4 James for his brilliant use of descriptive language about the Iron Man and his great imaginative work in Maths.

Rion for his fantastic work on his times tables in Maths and for demonstrating good behaviour and attitude around the classroom and school environment.

Year 5 Lola for approaching her learning with positivity, listening carefully and trying her best.

Evelyn for her excellent use of figurative language in English and her focus and determination in Maths. Well done!

Year 6 Elliott for his excellent approach to learning, giving his best, and particularly focused work in Maths. Brilliant!

Logan for his mature approach to learning in school showing determination to try his best. Brilliant!

The Raymond Kerr Writer of the Month Award

Year 1 Alexia for her beautifully written and thoughtful retelling of the story of the Annunication.

Year 2 Orla for writing a detailed character description about the lonely Beast.

Year 3 Annabelle for fantastic writing in November, especially her acrostic poem 'Bonfire Night' which had wonderful adjectives!

Year 4 Isaac L for his fantastic recount of the 'Songs of the Spheres' from the Adventures of Odysseus.

Year 5 Rowen for writing a well structured and descriptive analysis of the character Edwin from the book Anglo-Saxon Boy.

Year 6 Isla for her excellent narrative description of Christmas Eve, including a fitting dialogue between Scrooge and Cratchitt.

Before Christmas, Key Stage 2 were all invited to take part in the Richmond Young Writers' Festival Competition. All the children planned their stories and poems in class and then were sent away to complete their work for the competition as part of their Home Learning. The entries that came in were absolutely fantastic and we were so proud of all the children as we took them off to be posted and to be judged. On Monday morning, Miss O'Brien received an email telling her that a child from Sacred Heart had been selected out of 736 entries to be one of the finalists.

Well done Anna in Year 6 who will be heading off to the Exchange in March to hear her story being read and acted out. She will also meet Anthony Horowitz (famous for the 'Alex Rider' books) who has formed part of the judging panel this year and the mayor who will both announce from the finalists, the winners from each age group and present prizes. Anna will also have her story published in a book!

James Watson from Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club (HWRCC) is providing a fantastic opportunity for girls to get involved in playing cricket. HWRCC has a thriving juniors section that caters for children aged 5 upwards. This year they have set up a girls section and are looking to grow it. They have entered the Middlesex softball league and Surrey hardball league for girls and have hosted a Surrey SMASH event at the club, with a number of clubs from across Surrey attending. Last year HWRCC won both the u10s and u11s events. Girls training takes place on Sundays 1-3pm, starting on 19th January. All ages and standards are welcome. HWRCC have kindly waivered all girls’ memberships this year! James' contact details can be found on the flyer.

There is also the opportunity for boys to get involved in HWRCC too and join an already thriving club. If boys from Sacred Heart are interested in playing cricket they should contact Dom Spray on juniorcricket@hwrcc.co.uk. Boys training takes place at Tiffin Boys on a Sunday.

It would be great to have representatives from Sacred Heart school on these teams and playing this brilliant sport, perhaps even at the highest levels!

We had a wonderful visit from Fr. Stephen and Mr. John Lunt to Year 5 today, thanking the children for their Caritas work in supporting the Christmas Lunch event at Elleray Hall organised by Sacred Heart Parish. The children were delighted to hear about the success of the day and see the photos of the people really enjoying themselves on Christmas Day. The children were presented with certificates for their efforts. Well done, Year 5.

Dear God,

Thank you for a special Christmas this year. The joys of that happy day i will never forget.

There was hope, peace and love inside me as I prepared with my family for this special day and for Jesus' arrival.

Bless my family and friends as we begin a new year. Bring them health, love and happiness.

Amen

Year 4 pupil

Tel: 020 8977 6591

Email: info@sacredheart.richmond.sch.uk

Website: www.sacredheartteddington.co.uk

Address:

St Mark's Road,

Teddington,

Middlesex,

TW11 9DD

Sparks Film School at Sacred Heart School on Saturday morning during term time and also the school holidays. Details at

teddington - Sparks Film School (sparksarts.co.uk)

Connect with Your Kingston - New Whatsapp Channel

There is a new convenient way to stay up-to-date with the latest news, exciting events, and activities and services in your local area directly on your smartphone. Your Kingston Whatsapp channel from Kingston Council is a secure, private way to follow what matters.

Click here for more information.

Public consultation on the admission arrangements for Tiffin School for the academic year 2026/27

The Governors of Tiffin School are proposing changes to the School’s 2026 admissions arrangements.

Notice of the updates to the clarification in the order in which places will be offered for Year 7 Admissions and offers that will be made on GCSE Results Day for Sixth Form Admissions can be found on the school’s website here.

The consultation will run until Monday 20 January 2025.

Please support the school by raising awareness of the consultation in your newsletter to parents.

Public consultation on the admission arrangements for St Richard Reynolds Catholic High School for the academic year 2026/27

St Richard Reynolds Catholic College is currently publicly consulting on the admission arrangements for St Richard Reynolds Catholic High School for the academic year 2026/27.

Details of the consultation and the proposed admission arrangements from September 2026 can be found on the school’s website.

Please support the school by raising awareness of the consultation in your newsletter to parents.

Richmond Coder Dojo

Click here to view flyer.

Junior Sports Courses – places available book now!

Book now for our spring term starting in September. Courses include gymnastics, karate, judo and new junior boxing.

Available across our sports centres: Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre, Teddington Sports Centre and Shene Sports & Fitness Centre.

New for this term – courses available at Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre including
girls football!

Please call 020 3772 2999 to book or visit our website for more info.

Join now and get up to two months half price*

New Year New You! Sign up today and get up to 2 months half price.

Available at Pools on the Park, Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre, Shene Sports and Fitness Centre, Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre and Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre.

Free specially tailored programmes for those new to or returning to exercise. Over 200 fitness classes available including Indoor Cycling, Zumba and Pilates.

Offer is valid from 2 January to 7 February 2025 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and can be withdrawn at any time. *This offer is only applicable for fees charged in January and February 2025.

Way2Work apprenticeships - Open day 2025

Way2Work's apprenticeship open day will be taking place at Twickenham Training Centre on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 February 2025. If you or if you know any young person who would be interested in apprenticeships then please click the link below to book.
Book here

If you work within a school and would like to bring some students then please directly contact Way2Work.