During our recent INSET Day our focus was on teaching Reading and Writing; surely the two most important skills that we all want our children to master during their time at Primary School. The staff heard about the ‘million word gap’ which relates to a study regarding children’s exposure to words by the age of five. Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter Reception having heard about 1.4 million more words than children who were never read to. Here are the startling statistics: 

• Never read to, 4,662 words  

• 1-2 times per week, 63,570 words 

• 3-5 times per week, 169,520 words 

• Daily, 296,660 words 

• Five books a day, 1,483,300 words 

Reading five books a day might seem like a lot to fit into our already very busy family lives. However, it highlights the importance of carving out time to read with our children whatever key stage they’re in. What better time to be thinking about this as we gear up for World Book Day next Thursday. It has been wonderful to have all the books available to purchase from the Scholastic Book Fair this week. The books are still available on Monday of next week between 3.15pm and 4.15pm if you would like to make a purchase. Each sale also raises money for the school to be able to buy new books for the school.

Our Year 6 children did a fantastic job of reading to their buddies in Reception this afternoon. 

Well done to the Year 6 pupils who completed their Bikeability Level 2 course this week. The qualification covers starting and stopping with more confidence; passing stationary vehicles parked on a road; understanding the road: signals, signs and road markings; negotiating the road: including quiet junctions, crossroads and roundabouts; sharing the road with other vehicles. 

Well done to yet another group of footballers from Year 3 and Year 4 who gave it their all in a match at Wonersh and Shamley Green this week. Thank you also to the parents who supported our Year 3 trip to Butser Farm this week. We are always keen to have more parents volunteering to help with activities at school, run a club or go on trips - please contact the office to find out about how to become a volunteer info@stcuthbert-mayne.surrey.sch.uk. 

On Sunday, 24 March we will be taking part in CAFOD's Big Lent Walk - please see below for further details. Please click here to register for the walk.

Head of School

Mr Thomas Hall

Liturgy 

It was a joy to visit the Y2 classroom this week to see their artwork depicting God’s glory – one child had even linked his piece to The Transfiguration story, which he’d heard about in this week’s Gospel during our Whole School Liturgy. We heard about how the disciples had been asked to keep quiet about what they’d seen until Jesus’ resurrection, which must have been deeply confusing for them at the time. Either way, the voice from the cloud was unequivocal: “This is my own dear Son—listen to him!” 

God of mercy, you ask us to listen to your Son, Jesus. Open our ears to hear your Word and fill our hearts with your love so that we may change our lives and so change the lives of others. Amen. 

Recognition of achievement from the DFE

ONLINE SAFETY ADVICE

WEEKLY CERTIFICATES

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.

Attendance

At St Cuthbert Mayne we place great importance on school attendance. Please see the graphic below which illustrates the cumulative effect of continued poor attendance at school. In the first instance we will always work closely with families to support improvement in attendance when necessary.

On 19 January Mr Hall wrote to parents outlining the possibility of Penalty Notices being issued to parents in the event of unauthorised absences. School attendance is rarely out of the headlines - this BBC article details plans to increase the minimum fine from September 2024.

The cost of a family holiday outside of term time can be eye-watering, but we would urge all parents to consider what sort of message they are giving their children about the value that they place on education if they choose to take their children on holiday during term time.

Useful Links:

Fines for parents for taking children out of school: What you need to know

School Attendance Policy

Xavier Trust Vacancy

Administration Assistant, Teach SouthEast Xavier Catholic Education Trust

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/

Uniform

After a considerable amount of time spent moving our uniform supplier to Marks and Spencer we have been informed that they will be discontuing their service as a provider of bespoke school uniforms.  We have already contacted an alternative supplier.  Details will be provided but it looks like it will be October when we move to the new supplier.

The new supplier have already sent a sample product and the purple is closer to the school colour than the one Marks and Spencer supply so if you do require new jumpers and cardigans you mighty want to wait for the new supplier to take over.

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. 

Summer Teaching Internship Programme

Teach Southeast are offering a new, three-week internship programme which incorporates a paid scheme for secondary maths, computing and physics undergraduates (£300 pw) and an unpaid scheme for all other secondary subjects and primary teaching. Our aim is to help undergraduates in all subjects explore how rewarding and challenging a career in teaching can be.

As part of the programme, interns will have the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of school life, including: 

· Taking part in a bespoke training programme with other interns.

· Working closely with a mentor in a placement school to observe and teach lessons.

· The chance to meet with ECTs and SCITT trainees to get their perspective on the realities of  teacher training.

Xavier Teach Southeast - Undergraduate teaching internship

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.