Welcome to our newsletter for May with a busy week next week leading up to the Jubilee Celebrations. We hope the weather stays dry and that you are able to join us!
Jubilee Celebration
We are celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee here at West Hill School on Friday the 27th of May 2022. Your child can wear red, white or blue to school that day. They can also wear party clothes if they would like as we are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We look forward to seeing the children dressed for the occasion. Throughout the day, children will be engaged in exciting and creative activities to celebrate this momentous occasion. The children will be preparing an afternoon tea that they will share with parents/carers at 2.15pm on the day. Come to the school playground for 2.15pm to enjoy afternoon tea with your child. They are going to prepare a plate of cakes and sandwiches to share with you. This event will finish at 3.15pm. You are welcome to bring a picnic blanket to sit on.
This event is weather dependent. It will be cancelled if it rains.
*** Year 4 will be on a school trip on Friday 27th May so will not be taking part in our Jubilee Celebrations. They can wear their own clothes on Thursday 26th May instead***
Summer Fair - Raffle Prizes
Our Summer Fair will be taking place after school on Friday 8th July after school. We are looking for donations for our raffle prizes. Do you work for a business who would be willing to donate a prize? An experience, restaurant or cinema voucher, or any gift item suitable for a raffle would be gratefully received. Please contact pta@westhill.wandsworth.sch.uk or the school office if you can help. Thank you.
Thank You
Tips for reading with your child
• Ask your child to choose what they’d like to read. They’ll feel more interested in the story if they’ve picked it out themselves. (And don’t worry if they keep returning to the same story, either!)
• If you can, turn off the TV, radio and computer. It’s easier for both of you to enjoy the story without any other distractions.
• Sit close together. You could encourage your child to hold the book themselves and turn the pages, too.
• Take a look at the pictures. You don’t just have to read the words on the page. Maybe there’s something funny in the pictures that you can giggle about together, or perhaps your child enjoys guessing what will happen next.
• Ask questions and talk about the book. Picture books can be a great way to talk through your child’s fears and worries, or to help them deal with their emotions. Give them space to talk, and ask how they feel about the situations in the story.
• Have fun! There’s no right or wrong way to share a story – as long as you and your child are having fun. Don’t be afraid to act out situations or use funny voices… your little ones will love it!
Visit the Book Trust website for help about reading with your child. Advice is available in several languages.
Summer of Sport
In the last newsletter we published the dates for our Sports Days. Meanwhile we are making the most of the better weather and enjoying outdoor PE lessons and attending both a tennis festival and cricket festival this month.
The Children's Book Project
Holiday Activities
Bopstars are running their holiday camp as usual at West Hill during half term. Click here for information and to book. Please also visit the Wandsworth Family Information Service for more activities happening in the Borough. You can also find other ideas of things to do with children in London by visiting the Visit London website.
FREE events this half term
Be amazed at the Natural History Museum: Meet a roaring T-Rex and feel the ground shake on the earthquake simulator.
Step into the past at the Ragged School Museum: See what life was like for the poor and destitute children of London’s East End during the late 1800s.
Enjoy seafaring tales at the National Maritime Museum: Stoke the boiler of a steamship in the AHOY! Children's gallery.
Spend hours at the British Museum: Be wowed by the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies
Time travel at the Museum of London: Walk through the streets of Victorian London, head back to Roman times or explore the modern-day city.
Get interactive at the Science Museum: Spot space rockets and giant steam engines, and enjoy hands-on activities
Learn about London's trade at the Museum of London Docklands: Step into Sailortown, a reconstruction of 19th-century London
Find quirky exhibits at the Wellcome Collection: Discover Napoleon's toothbrush and Darwin's walking stick.
Wandsworth Food Bank and Crisis Assistance
If your income is too low to afford food and essentials, the Wandsworth Food Bank is there to help you. Please click here for more information and please contact Mrs Healy or Mrs Carmen who can complete a referral form on your behalf.
We are also lucky to work with local charity Dons Local Action who may be able to support you with food boxes if you are in need of help. Please contact Mrs Healy or Mrs Carmen if you would like to be referred to their service.
If you are in need of emergency assistance for food or fuel you may be able to apply for Crisis Assistance. For all the details and to apply please click here.
If you need urgent mental health support please call the NHS crisis line 0800 028 8000. Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
Support for children, parents and carers can be found on our Support for children, parents and carers page . Here you will find lots of information about local services that can help you.
Tuesday 24th May, 9.15am to 9.45am - Key Stage 2 Bookshare
Wednesday 25th May - Parent & Carer Coffee Morning - Feelings of anxiety and how to help your child deal with these
Wednesday 25th May 2.30pm - Year 4 Class Assembly
Thursday 26th May - 9am - Key Stage 1 Bookshare
Thursday 26th May - Year 4 wear your own clothes
Friday 27th May 2pm - Platinum Jubilee Celebration
Friday 27th May - Year 4 Trip to Peacock Theatre
Monday 30th May - Friday 3rd June - Half Term Holiday, SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday 6th June - First day back for children
Wednesday 15th June - Years 1 to 6 Sports Day
Wednesday 22nd June - Year 1 to 6 Sports Day - RESERVE date
Thursday 23rd June AM - Year 1 & 2 Singing Concert at Wandsworth Civic Suite
Thursday 23rd June 7pm - Year 4 Drama Performance at Wandsworth Civic Suite
Credits:
Created with images by Chinnapong - "Fair flag bunting colorful background hanging on blue sky for fun fiesta party event, summer holiday farm feast celebration, carnival festival event, park or street festa design decoration" • nali - "thank you label in yellow background"