Foodbank Support
Parents/carers can self-refer to the foodbank over the 6 week summer holiday by calling 0808 208 2138.
If you find yourself struggling to buy food during the summer holiday period please contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) (England and Wales) Foodbank Referral Helpline on 0808 208 2138. As well as providing advice on general support issues they can also issue an e-referral code that you can take along to your local Trussell Trust Foodbank.
CoG Head Teacher Farewell
7th July 2020
Dear Parents and Carers
I welcome this opportunity to put on record my thanks and appreciation to Geraldine Constable for her incredible contribution to the life of St George’s School. As Chair of Governors I have worked closely with her for ten years and have seen first-hand the inspired leadership that has taken this school from struggling to thriving.
Mrs Constable has always had a strong vision for the school, and this vision of an exciting, inclusive learning community has been at the forefront of plans and decisions all through her thirteen years of leading the school.
I was recently asked how I could sum up her career at St George’s. That’s difficult! There are so many activities and ideas that fit into the vision – like the daily walking a mile, to the annual International Evening, to the layout of the quadrangle with its interesting features that stimulate imagination.
So here is my summing up in three points. First, she has based her improvement of the school on developing an exciting and engaging curriculum. Second, she has been able to deliver this curriculum through an emphasis on high quality teaching underpinned by sound educational research. And third, she has always paid full attention to the whole child, including their family.
I have seen her commitment to each child in the school on a regular basis often as she has worked diligently behind the scenes to improve the lives of individual pupils at the school. This commitment has led to the development of the Parent Advisor post, which has made such a difference to the life chances of our pupils.
Therefore it is with real sadness that we are coming to the end of Mrs Constable’s time at St George’s. And particularly sad that because of coronavirus we cannot celebrate her retirement this summer. Also because of coronavirus we have been unable to hold interviews for a new headteacher, so Ms MacAlpine has been appointed Interim Headteacher. She will fulfil that role admirably. During the autumn term Mrs Constable will be working in the background to support Ms MacAlpine, so we will not be saying goodbye to her just yet. Hopefully we will be able to celebrate her retirement at Christmas!
This brings me to add point four to my summing up of Mrs Constable’s career here. She has always been exceptionally good at developing staff and leading them on to successfully take up roles they did not think they were capable of. The school will go forward in extremely good health with a strong leadership team and a highly committed staff. I would like to thank them all for their varied contributions.
It has been a real privilege for me to work so closely with a person of such integrity, intelligence, commitment and warmth. I thank Geraldine for that privilege. I hope you will join me in wishing her well for her retirement.
Yours,
Jill Bray
Chair of Governors
Covid-19 Wider reopening
For help and advice please contact the Parent Advisor Lee Franklin 07710701878 Monday – Friday 9am-11am
This page will be updated with any correspondence from the school regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Please read the Head Teacher’s latest newsletter regarding the latest Covid-19 information here.
Parents Letter September Arrangements
Keeping Children Safe Test and Trace Updates
Behaviour Policy Covid-19 Addendum
Letter to Campbell Class Parents 25th June 2020
Head Teacher’s Newsletter and Update 8th June 2020.
Wider Reopening of school 21st May 2020
School Reopening year 6 parents 21st May 2020
Covid-19 Update 20th March 2020
Covid-19 Update 19th March 2020
RSE Consultation
60 Active Minutes
We are proud to say that we have won our first Most Active School Bronze Award for January 2020!
Well done to all staff and students! Lets keep up the good work.
As part of the Government’s Sports Plan and Activity Action Plan, all schools are being encouraged to provide children with opportunities to take part in 30 minutes of activity in school on top of the current provision. The other 30 minutes should be taken outside of schools and the Youth Sports Trust are working with the Government to support this programme including activities that parents can encourage and support their child to participate in. At St George’s school the children already do 15 minutes extra by taking part in the daily mile and to make up the other 15 minutes, teachers are using programmes such as TeachActive and Go Noodle which allow children to be more active when they learn.
Useful Links
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/why-we-need-take-60-minutes-every-day-get-children-active
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-physical-activity-guidelines
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people/
https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities/indoor-activities
Spring Term Events
Nursery Places Available
St George’s C of E Nursery
We have 15 and 30 hour funded places available at our Nursery.
If you interested in a place at our Nursery please fill out our Registration of Interest Form and email it to nursery@stgeorges.lewisham.sch.uk
Alternatively you can come to the school office to pick up a form.
School Games Gold Award 2018/2019
The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community. Schools in England are able to assess themselves across bronze, silver and gold levels of the Mark.
Scooter Safety Training
Key Stage 1 children took part in Scooter Safety Training sessions on Friday 14th June. Topics covered included scooter safety checks, advice on wearing helmets, speed control, safe road crossing and pavement etiquette with pedestrians. We worked in groups and had a fun morning!
Remembrance for Neville
Before the half term holidays we passed on the sad news that our chef, Neville, had sadly passed away. As Neville had been preparing our meals for 8 years, he had become an important member of our school community and will be missed by many – children and adults alike. On Thursday 6th June, Father Richard led an assembly with celebrated and remembered Neville. Members of St George’s school Faith group read out poems and prayers that they had written especially for the occasion.
Pyjamarama 2019
On Friday 7thJune 2019 we dressed in our pyjamas and celebrated books and bedtime stories.
We raised money for Book Trust. Every year Book Trust supports children and families to experience the joy of reading and all its benefits. Every year they provide books for thousands of children.
Lent Call & NSPCC Workshops
It has been a busy week at St George’s.
All week, every class has been raising money for the Lent Call. From selling popcorn to pizza, to games such as ‘How many sweets in the jar?’ and ‘Pin the nose on the rabbit’ competitions, everyone has enjoyed it and raised money for a good cause.
On March 21st the NSPCC came into St Georges to deliver their Speak OUt, Stay Safe programme. KS1 and KS2 children had an assembly and Year 5 and 6 had a follow-up workshop. The key messages were to ensure school aged children :-
- have an understanding of abuse in all its forms
- know how to protect themselves from abuse
- are aware of how to get help and sources of help including Childline.
Our non-uniform day raised a fantastic £200.46 for the NSPCC!
Phonics Workshop
On January 11th St George’s ran a Phonics Workshop for parents of children in Reception led by Ms MacAlpine. It was to give parents an understanding of how we teach Phonics in school and to demonstrate some ways they can support their children at home.
Service of Re-Dedication
On Sunday 11thNovember 2018, staff and children from St George’s School (formerly known as Christ Church), took part in a re-dedication service at the memorial to local men who died during the First World War. The memorial is situated in the grounds outside of Christ Church Chapel in South Road, Forest Hill. The memorial has the names of over 60 local men who died during the conflict, including a number of sets of brothers.
During the past few weeks at school, children have been learning about the centenary of the end of the First World War and have also been learning about a Christ Church School ex-pupil, John Lynn who is named on the memorial.
Here is the information that researched by Janet Killeen, a local resident author who organised the re-dedication service:
‘John Lynn VC, DCM, Private, Service no. 1272, 2ndBattaliion. The Lancashire Fusiliers.
DCM Citation: ‘For gallant conduct. Took charge of an isolated machine gun when his seargeant was killed, took it out of action when jammed and brought it back to the firing line when repaired 17.12.1914.
VC Citation: On 2ndMay 1915 near Ypres Belgium when the Germans were advancing behind their wave of asphyxiating gas Private Lynn although almost overcome by the deadly fumes handled his machine-gun with great effect against the enemy and when he could not see them he moved his gun higher up the parapet so that he could fire more effectively. This eventually checked any further advance and the outstanding courage displayed by this soldier had a great effect upon his comrades in the very trying circumstances. Private Lynn died later from the effects of gas poisoning in the Vlamertinghe Field Hospital.’
He died of gas poisoning aged 28 years on 2/5/2015. John Lynn was the foster son of Mrs E Harrison of 20 Hindsley Place, Forest Hill. He spent some time as a child in Lewisham Workhouse, which indicates great hardship in his circumstances. He was a pupil at Christ Church School (now known as St Georges). His resting place is at the Vlamertinghe Churchyard (grave lost) and there is a Memorial Headstone in Grootebeek British Cemetery Reninghelst. He is also commemorated in St Mary’s Church, Bury, Lancashire, where his fiancée lived.’ <
The Service was a very moving one and was attended by representatives from the local community including, St George’s church congregation, school, local MP Ellie Reeves, Bishop Karowei Dorgu,the Bishop of Woolwich, local police, representatives of the armed forces, including the London Irish regiment, as well as local councillor John Paschoud and the Lewisham Mayor, Damien Egan.
Bishop’s Visit
On Thursday 1st November the Bishop of Woolwich visited St George’s and led Collective Worship with Father Richard.
Royal Wedding Party
On 18th May, we celebrated the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in style with a party in the Quad. Everyone dressed as Kings & Queens, Brides & Grooms or fancy wedding guests. There were sandwiches, cake, sunshine and dancing. We even had a couple of very special guests! It was a fantastic afternoon.
The International School Award
We are proud to announce that St George’s has received a British Council International School Award
The International School Award is a prestigious badge of honour for schools that can bring an international dimension to teaching and learning. The accreditation shows our school’s international dimension and celebrates the work that we have been doing as a whole school and with our partners around the world.
