ℯNEWS MAY 12 , 2023
Although only a four day week, it has proven to be an extremely busy week with plenty of news to share. It is a longer eNews than normal this week but the information held in our weekly eNews is designed to keep parents informed of the continued developments in school! Please do take the time to read through it all as we have important dates for you enclosed.
Week in review
Houses of Parliament Trip Forms Three & Four
The children had a very informative and interesting tour of the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday morning. The pupils visited both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The children were able to see the Speaker’s carriage, which was used at last weekend’s coronation and they had a workshop on Laws and Debating. They chose to debate whether homework should be banned, a juicy topic for debate indeed!
Quiz Club Maths Championship - Round One
Four Mathematicians from Form Five and Six travelled to University College School in Hampstead for the opening round of the Quiz Club Maths tournament on Tuesday. The competition comprised 30 questions of increasing complexity - with our team up against thirteen others from schools in North London. Miraculously, the team managed to get the first 25 questions correct, securing a commanding lead, only to succumb to the pressure in the final round and end in a very creditable third place with the teams from UCS and Highgate just ahead of us. Well done to Captain Riddhi alongside Estella, Alexander and Aurelia.
Uniform Donations - St. Edward’s Primary School
Thank you to Mrs Walton for bringing our uniform donations to St. Edward’s Primary School. They have expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the 45 items they received. These will be shared to their refugee families and those that need some uniform support.
Upcoming week
Bank of England Trip - Forms Five & Six
On Tuesday, Form Five & Six will be heading out to visit the Bank of England. Please ensure children arrive promptly at 8.30am as they will need to leave at 9am on the dot. Do make sure they are looking smart in their summer uniform including their blazer and they must bring a waterproof jacket whatever the weather. A packed lunch, snack and a suitable drink will be required but please do remember no nuts or hummus due to allergies.
Wetherby Y5 Football Competition
Our Form Five footballers are heading over to Wetherby playing fields to participate in a Football tournament against a number of other West London schools on Wednesday 17th May 2023. Match report and scores will be shared in next week eNews.
Important Information
Key Stage Two Play - Peter Pan
Play practice is well and truly underway! Dr Ashworth will be sending out a lookbook for costume ideas before half term for parents who are struggling with costume inspiration. The children are extremely excited and have been hard at work practising their lines, so please do continue to support them at home with memorising their parts.
Connaught House School Birthday Celebrations
Many parents have noticed that CHS is hosting a 70th Birthday / Fundraiser at the end of term. This afternoon activity will be for all the children and their parents to enjoy together in Connaught Square. We are extremely grateful to the parents that have offered to organise this event, chaired by Ms O’Keefe supported by Ms Thyselius. Any parent that wishes to help the organisation of this event can contact them at summer@gs.connaughthouseschool.co.uk. Further information will be sent next week.
Virtual Coffee Morning
Head of PSHE, Ms Galigan - 18th May 2023
Responding to your feedback from our Spring PSHE questionnaire we have scheduled an additional PSHE/RSE virtual coffee morning. Guest speaker, Ms Galligan Head of PSHE, who will guide you through the development of our PSHE/RSE curriculum this past year.
Eaton Square Senior School, Dr Rainbow - 6th June 2021
Following his recent visit, Dr Rainbow will be our guest speaker for virtual coffee morning on the 6th June for parents looking at senior schools and those who would like to know more about Eaton Square Senior School.
Maida Vale Head, Mr Bashaarat - 8th June 2023
Likewise Maida Vale Head, Mr Bashaarat will be joining Mrs Hampton on 8th June for the virtual coffee morning. We do apologise that we could not get both Headmasters on the same day in this instance but hope that the time spared to join virtually, will be useful particularly for parents in Forms Four & Five.
CHS Counsellor, Mr McManus - 29th June 2023
In preparation for the virtual coffee morning with Mr McManus on Mental Health and Wellbeing, please complete the questionnaire here.
Mrs Hampton and Mrs Walsh thoroughly enjoyed their morning at UCS meeting Deputy Head and Director of Admissions, Mr Miller and Headmaster, Mr Beard. We look forward to welcoming Mr Beard to a virtual coffee morning early next term. For parents in Forms Four & Five looking to arrange tours for boys, do contact Sarah Ryan on ssadmissions@ucs.org.uk.
Staff News
Ms Stock
We are pleased to welcome back our SENCO and Mental Health Lead. Ms Stock who has held this role at CHS since 2017 and has returned to the school after taking a sabbatical to travel the world and develop her qualifications in child mental health. The children throughout the school were delighted to see Ms Stock’s friendly face back in the building. We thank Ms Montgomery and Ms Sullivan who maintained this department whilst Ms Stock was away.
Mr Nagy and Mrs Rogers
After four very happy and successful years at Connaught House Mr Nagy leaves us at the end of the Summer Term to return to Australia. Mr Nagy has been an extremely popular member of staff both amongst the children and teachers alike and he will be sorely missed, we hope he will send us a postcard.
Mrs Rogers who joined the school in 2018 and has successfully held the post of Head of Key Stage One and Deputy Head for the past three years will also be leaving us. After five years of commuting into London from Devon each week, she has now accepted an exciting position as School Manager closer to home and the rest of her family. Mrs Rogers’ immense creativity and wonderful themed days has been a source of inspiration throughout the school.
I am sure that the whole CHS community will join me in thanking Mr Nagy and Mrs Rogers for their hard work and dedication to Connaught House School.
Mr James & Ms Wilkins
We are looking forward to welcoming Mr James (Form Three) and Ms Wilkins (Form One) in September.
Mr James, has been teaching for eight years both in South London and abroad. He will be joining us from his current post as Upper Key Stage Two teacher and Maths & Science lead from a large school in Abu Dhabi. Unsurprisingly, he lists teaching Maths and Science amongst his passions along with reading classical English and American literature. In addition to his role as Form Three teacher, Mr James will also be taking on the position of Head of Science, and we are excited to see where he will take this important subject over the coming years. Outside of teaching Mr James enjoys travelling and has visited over 30 countries. He likes to keep fit and has taken part in the London 10K run, and Tough Mudder.
Ms Wilkins already has a long standing relationship with Connaught House School having completed both work experience and teacher training placements with us over the years. In addition to her first class teaching qualification, Ms Wilkins has a masters degree in Educational Psychology specialising in children and young people's mental health. In addition to her Form One role she will also be assisting Ms Stock as assistant SENDCO/Mental Health lead. Ms Wilkins joins us from Chase Bridge school, Richmond where she has taught in both Key Stage One and Key Stage Two departments. As well as leading a very successful Spanish club at Chase Bridge, she also holds her stage one British Horse Society qualification.
We look forward to seeing what additional clubs our new members of staff will bring along with them in September.
Artwork of the Week
Alex in Junior One, for a brilliant clay sculpture of Matisse the Snail on a leaf! A wonderful spiral shell and lovely use of colour, well done Alex!
Star of the week
Junior One - Nikita, for his positive attitude to his work.
Form One - Oliver, for his wonderful recreation of the tube map along with his creative writing piece.
Form Two - Luiza, for her excellent writing using impressive suspense and wonderful punctuation.
Form Three - Lara for setting her working out neatly when solving maths problems.
Form Four - Mimi, for her excellent result in the Junior Math challenge.
Form Five - Ella, for excellent perseverance in solving ratio and proportion problems.
Form Six - Iqbal, for an insightful Geography Project on the pollution explosion in the Yamuna River in India.
Dates for your diary
16 May - Bank of England Trip (Forms Five and Six)
17 May - Form Five Football Fixture at Wetherby
18 May - Virtual Coffee Morning (PSHE/RSE, Mrs Galligan - Form Two teacher)
22 May - KPS interview (Form Five)
6 June - Virtual Coffee Morning (Dr Rainbow - Eaton Square Senior School)
7 June - Whole School Trip to Kew Garden
8 June - Virtual Coffee Morning (Mr Bashaarat from Maida Vale School)
15 June- Open Evening (For Prospective Parents)
16 June - Sports Day (Parents Required)
23 June - CHS 70th Birthday celebration, afternoon garden party at Connaught Square Gardens (Parents Invited)
27 June - School Photograph(s)
29 June - Virtual Coffee Morning (Mr McManus CHS School Counsellor)
30 June - Key Stage Two Summer Play - Peter Pan
