Dear Parents and Carers,

This Week at St Margaret’s

• Congratulations to our Shining Stars Award Winners. One child from each class was chosen this month for demonstrating our school values and truly shining brightly. To celebrate, the children enjoyed ‘tea and cake with Mr Lumley’ on Tuesday afternoon. This new monthly award recognises and celebrates the efforts of our pupils, giving everyone something to aspire to each month.
• This week, we welcomed our School Adviser from WSCC into school. As part of the visit, we completed a learning walk to see all the fantastic work taking place across our classrooms. It was wonderful to observe exemplary behaviour, highly engaged learners, and excellent progress being made throughout the school.
• A huge well done to our Year 3 and Year 4 pupils who took part in the basketball tournament this week — the team secured an impressive 2nd place! Congratulations also to the children who represented our school at the Littlehampton Academy last Friday in the inclusion sports event. We are very proud of you all.
• In Collective Worship, we focused on our school value of Aspire. We reflected on the verse from Colossians: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord.” We discussed what this means for us — the importance of always trying our best and working wholeheartedly, whether in our schoolwork, hobbies, helping at home, or in our friendships.
• This week was Dyslexia Awareness Week, and we spent time learning about what makes each of us unique. We reflected on how everyone has different gifts and talents, and how people with dyslexia are often fantastic problem solvers, creative thinkers, and excellent communicators. We also explored how the right support can help every learner thrive.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

• Reception 2026 - we have a stay and play session this Saturday 11th October at 10am, and also on Wednesday 15th October at 3:15pm.
• Please see attached letter from the Immunisation Team about missed flu vaccinations. 
• Our Reception classes are enjoying their Forest School sessions - if you are able to volunteer to help out during these sessions, please get in touch!

Important Notices & Attachments

• Please see attached an advert for an exciting opportunity to join our team in an administrative role as our clerk to governors. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
• We are reviewing our approach to homework. Please can you take a moment to complete this short survey from Mrs Keates and Mrs Parris so we can understand your views on homework at St Margaret's. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyql14-UOIHmRRiHomnR57wDPFgZn4nRjI_sB5zKl0_JVx4g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103161978332498339464
• We are excited to announce as part of our sustainability agenda at St Margaret's, that we are going to be offering second hand uniforms for sale. Around 350 tonnes of plastic from school uniforms end up in the UK landfills annually. Experts estimate 1.4 million wearable school uniforms are discarded each year. We want to embrace our mission to be a shining light of love by loving our school uniforms and our planet. You will be able to purchase items every Tuesday before and afterschool. The uniform will be on display in the main reception. We are asking for a donation of £1 per item, which can be paid into the honesty box located on the reception desk. In order to support stocking this provision, please could we ask our families to donate any outgrown uniform to the school office. Items need to be in a washed, good used condition. If you wouldn't buy it for your child, then please do not donate it. We are also looking for hanger donations to support with storing the items.
• The Reception 2026 application process is now open. Please see the admissions section of our website for more information or do speak with the office team.
• Please see the flyer from Mrs Darby for parents and educators on how to support children through traumatic and challenging events. 
• We are working in partnership with Littlehampton Foodbank - both in giving donations, but also in referring families who may need some support and access to the foodbank. There is a donation station at the front office for long-life goods, and please speak with Mrs Darby if you would like more information about how to access Foodbank support.

• Attachments (see links below!):  Immunisation team letter re. missed flu vaccines, flyer from Mrs Darby, opportunity for table tennis holiday club, dyslexia awareness week resource, Activ8 Holiday Club.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to enable every child at St Margaret's School to shine brightly. If you have any questions or concerns, please do get in touch with us.

Best wishes,
Mr. Lumley
Headteacher