Sometimes it’s difficult to fit everything into the school week - that’s particularly true of a four day week! This week we drew attention to Children’s Mental Health Week through an assembly delivered by Mrs Woodhams, our Mental Health Lead. The aim of this week is to equip and give a voice to all children and young people in the UK. Some children in Years 5 & 6 are being trained as Mental Health Ambassadors and they helped with the assembly. More information contained in this newsletter.

On Tuesday we welcomed a dance instructor who brought a fantastic lion costume with her. The children had a wonderful time learning traditional Chinese dances, which some could be seen performing in the playground at the end of the day. Mrs Kay Russell also brought in some typical Chinese decorations that might be seen in the home to show children in Year 2.

This Tuesday was Safer Internet Day, but with all the dancing taking place we couldn’t squeeze in an assembly - this will be a focus during the week after half term. In the meantime please do take a look at the materials in this newsletter which highlight ways in which you can help your children to stay safe online.

Well done to our Y5 & 6 netballers who made it to the semifinals of a tournament at Rodborough school; they came fourth out of ten schools. Thank you to Cranleigh Prep School for providing transport to the tournament. Also at Rodborough on Saturday six of our children took part in a Cross Country event organised by Waverleigh Harriers - unfortunately competition rules specified that school staff weren’t allowed to attend so we couldn’t cheer them on. Well done to William K and Orlaith who both placed.

I hope you have a peaceful half term and that your children are able to recharge their batteri

Thomas Hall,

Head of School

With Easter being early, there is little time to hear about the time that Jesus spent out an about preaching and healing people. Last week’s Gospel story saw Jesus healing lots of people and was tired afterwards. The following day he needed time and space alone to pray. Children typically have lots of energy and are not great at spending time resting during the day without a screen. This year Ash Wednesday falls during half term - perhaps this is a good day to pause without distractions.

Merciful God, look after all those who are sick. Help us to bring them comfort and make them feel better in any way that we can. Watch over all doctors, nurses and carers and give them strength in their difficult job. Amen.

This week we celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week in school. The theme this year was ‘My Voice matters’. In our Assembly, we looked at Article 12 from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says, ‘Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.’

We also looked at the story of Kesz Valdez, from the Philippines, who at the age of seven, used his voice to make a difference when he asked his guardians to give street children slippers, to protect their feet, when they were working on dumpsites. From that action, he created a charity, which continues to supply children with essential items and provides information about children’s rights, nutrition and hygiene.

Currently, some children in Years 5 and 6 are training to be Wellbeing Ambassadors. They are meeting weekly and three of the children helped with the Assembly. The children are looking at ‘The Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and discussing ways to raise awareness of mental health issues and to improve wellbeing in school. This is the children sharing ideas at a weekly session.

In our classes, we continued with the Children’s Mental Health Week theme.

In Years 3 and 4, the children used their voices to share proud moments with each other.In Year 6, the children wrote letters thanking one another for helping them to feel that they mattered.

ST CUTHBERT MAYNE BOOK FAIR

Wednesday 28th February - Monday 4th March

Saturday 24th February

Come along to a youth focused Mass at CROM at 5pm. All welcome, especially Year 5 and 6 and secondary school aged youngsters. If you would like to get involved in the music, readings or prayers you would be most welcome. Please  contact Rachael or Deb on rachaeljfuller@gmail.com debmcguiness@btinternet.com

For Year 2 Parents - First Holy Communion for baptised Catholic children starting Year 3 in Sept 2024

As parents you will be aware that supporting your children through their FHC is an important part of their faith formation.  To support you in this we invite you to attend a parents’ preparation course on 28/2, 13/3, 10/4 and 24/4 from 7.30 to 9 pm.  The meetings will be held in person in the Cranleigh Parish Meeting Room and will be a necessary part of strengthening our faith community as you as parents prepare for this important moment.  This a requirement of your child being accepted onto the First Holy Communion Course which will start in September 2024. Please book your place by emailing cranleigh@abdiocese.org.uk by 30 January 2024.

TRAIN TO TEACH WITH OUTSTANDING ITT PROVIDER XAVIER TEACH SOUTHEAST 

Take a moment to flick through XTSE's prospectus here or watch some of our 'success stories' here.

Want to find out more before applying? Attend one of the following up-coming events:

Wednesday 17^th January 2024 9.30-11am : SCITT Open morning event @ Salesian school, Guildford Road, KT16 9LU. Register here

Tuesday 30^th January 11.00-11.30am: Online information event. Join using this link

NEW* Wednesday 7^th Feb  - School Experience Day at St John the Baptist school in Woking. For those looking for a chance to get into a secondary school and observe some lessons. Sign up here

Follow XTSE on social media to find out about more events, or just pick up the phone today to the Xavier Teach SouthEast team on 01932 578 682 or email j.crome@xaviercet.org.uk 

Cupcake Baking and Decorating Classes

As part of the 2024 Parish Talent scheme, our family is offering cupcake Baking and Decorating Classes. Before I started as a TA at SCM I spent 10 years running my own successful celebration cakes business from home, and I thought that I could pass some of that knowledge on to anyone that would like to learn and have fun whilst we are at it!

5 sessions are welcoming children in school years Y4 to Y8. (I am fully DBS checked) (please check the dates below carefully)

The remaining 5 sessions are welcoming any Y9 youth or above and adults that would like to learn.

All sessions are being held in the Parish Room.

The dates and learning are as follows:

Sunday 24th March 2-4pm Easter themed Chocolate cupcakes (children)

Sunday 28th April 2-4pm Kawaii themed Carrot cake cupcakes (children)

Sunday 19th May 2-4pm Zoo themed Lemon cupcakes (children)

Sunday 23rd June 2-4pm Floral themed Lemon curd cupcakes

Sunday 14th July 2-4pm Hawaiian themed Lime cheesecake cupcakes

Sunday 1st September 2-4pm Beach themed White Chocolate & Raspberry cupcakes

Sunday 29th September 2-4pm Autumn themed Bakewell (almond and cherry) cupcakes

Sunday 20th October 2-4pm Halloween themed Salted Caramel cupcakes (children)

Sunday 17th November 2-4pm Christmas themed Triple chocolate cupcakes

Sunday 1st December 3-4pm Christmas themed Vanilla cupcake surprise (children)

Each person will come home with a presentation box of six fully decorated cupcakes and a recipe from that week.

Price : £15 per person

Equipment required: please bring with you an apron, a good sized mixing bowl and a hand held whisk! Everything else is provided. You will be learning a mixture of baking, decorating, piping and sugar modelling skills.

NB: 1. I am afraid that I am unable to cater for food allergies due to it being a class, and the cakes will be baked all together.

NB: 2. I can only accept 8 participants in each class, so please indicate which classes you are interested in attending when booking with me, I cannot guarantee that there will be a space in every class you request. If there is a lot of interest, I will endeavour to ensure that everyone who enquires attends at least one class.

Please contact: Kirsty Kay-Russell on WhatsApp 07563 140611 or email kirstykayrussell@googlemail.com to book your space/s!

Positive Parking

We continue to be very grateful to all our parents that park and stride/cycle/walk to school, and to those that park safely and respectfully around the neighbouring roads.

We are aware that some people continue to park on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school and the church car park. Rule 243 of the Highway Code states that road users must not park near a school entrance; for the safety of all the children at St Cuthbert Mayne, we would ask that all members of our community adhere to this rule and do not park on the yellow zig-zag lines.

We must also ensure that we are polite and respectful to local residents at all times.

Please show your children, by your actions, that positive and respectful parking is a way to show that you care about other pedestrians, neighbours and road users. Be a good role model!

For helpful information about road safety please visit: https://www.think.gov.uk/

GET ACTIVE SHOUT OUT BOARD

Each week our Sports Captains are out and about in the playground keeping a look out for children who are exhibiting a particular school value through the way that they play during breaktime. The slide below is displayed during our Celebration Assembly on Fridays. Congratulations to the children listed below.

Classlist

Classlist is the most effective way of staying touch with other parents. Please click this link in order to sign up.

Safeguarding

We know this time of year can put pressure on families and loved ones. For that reason we just wanted to draw your attention to some websites and resources that may come in helpful now and in the future:

Family Lives – very useful parental information website, provides lots of links and resources - they also have a telephone support line for parents/carers. Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus)

Mental Health support – suitable for lots of families, especially at this time of year. Mental health support - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

NHS Talking Therapies – it may be helpful for any parents to be able to talk to someone and this is a self referral service Home Mind Matters Surrey - NHS Talking Therapies (mindmattersnhs.co.uk)

Family Conflict – SCC pages for parents. Our resources for reducing conflict between parents - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

Your Sanctuary – Domestic Abuse Support Services. YS Home (yoursanctuary.org.uk)

Relate – resources for relationships –

Get Help | Relate

Find your online centre Relate

Drug and Alcohol Support Services

i-access Drug & Alcohol Service : Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (surreydrugandalcohol.com)

Catalyst – substance and mental health support

Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Service in Surrey (catalystsupport.org.uk)

Citizens Advice – another more general link but useful for newsletters at this time of year

Citizens Advice

Family Information Service – Families can search for services near to them

Family Information Service - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

Online Understanding your child guides – Free for all Surrey residents – use access code ACORN.

Online Learning (heiapply.com)

Our Safeguarding Team: Mr Hall (DSL), Miss Wilkin (DDSL), Mrs Chalstrey (DDSL)

As a team we are always here to support, to be a listening ear, and guide in anyway you feel appropriate. Do get in touch with any member of the team via phone 01483 274961 or email DSL@stcuthbert-mayne.surrey.sch.uk

You are not on your own and many individuals or families do come and ask. 

Mary’s Meals would like to invite you to collect all your foreign currency* no matter how old or obscure.  Clear out your drawers and have a look under the sofa.  Currently, the charity feeds over 2.4 million young children one good meal every day in their place of education – by giving Mary’s Meals your foreign coins and notes, you can help feed the next hungry child.

Mary’s Meals feeds in over 18 countries.  Because of our low costs, we can do this for as little as £19.15 per child per year!  *We will also take UK coins/notes that aren’t legal tender

Donations can be left in the Cranleigh Parish Office, which is outside the SCM green school gates - double white patio doors - on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday mornings.   With thanks from Tracy in the parish office.

Our calendar for the term can be found here.