Coombe Hill Junior School

Dear Families

It has been another busy week here at Coombe Hill, as you can see from the content of this newsletter. A huge thanks to all the staff team for their energy this week - it has been a big busy one but the children have thoroughly enjoyed it!

We enjoyed a great World Book Day in school on Thursday led by Ms Cooper, our Reading Leader. The dressing up choices were amazing, many thanks to you parents and carers for the effort and please do have a look at the photos in this newsletter!

We have been talking about the difference that regular reading can make to our achievements and life and about developing our reading super powers! As well as being part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, there are so many reasons why reading is important: we can learn new things about the world; we can enjoy a story that makes you laugh, cry or get excited; it can help us calm down. relax or get to sleep; it inspires us; we can use our imagination; we can share with friends and family; we learn new knowledge and skills; we can find out how other people view the world and learn about their experiences; it helps your brain to develop and make connections; it is a good alternative to spending time on a screen or phone; we get ideas for our own writing and stories.

It was also lovely to welcome parents and carers into school on Tuesday for the first of our two parent/carer teacher meetings afterschool. We are looking forward to seeing more of you next week as our parent/carer teacher consultations continue. If you haven’t managed to book an appointment yet, please do contact the school office.

Also on Thursday, I had the honour of attending The Exchange in Twickenham to watch some of our children perform in the Shakespeare Schools Festival. This is our 10th anniversary of performing, and like all the families and staff who attended, I felt extremely proud of them. I know the audience enjoyed every moment of their adaptation of ‘Macbeth’—they have worked so hard in rehearsals since September to put on this show. A huge thanks to Ms Voorn and Mr Tindall for all their hard work directing the cast so well. As Shakespeare himself said: "Though they be but little, they are fierce!"

At Coombe Hill our core values our CREATIVE, ENCOURAGING, ASPIRING and through our enriched curriculum we provide opportunities for all the children to discover and celebrate new areas of interest. We are always looking for new ways to develop what we offer as well as to maintain and refresh events that have become a traditional part of the Coombe Hill Junior School calendar.

I know the staff are definitely ready for a rest this weekend!

Have a lovely weekend - with best wishes

Lucy Mastrocola

Headteacher

Monday was National Offer Day, and our Year 6 children found out their secondary school places. This is such a momentous milestone for the children and their families. While it is an exciting time, we know that for some, the news may not have been what you were hoping for. If you have any concerns or if anyone needs any advice regarding the next steps or the offers received, please do contact us - we are here to support you through the transition.

On Thursday evening, our Shakespeare cast took to the stage for their final performance of Macbeth as part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation Festival. After many months of rehearsals, the children truly blew us away with their confidence, energy and commitment. Performing in a professional theatre was an incredible opportunity, and the pupils rose to the occasion brilliantly. They supported one another, remembered their lines, projected their voices and brought the drama of Shakespeare’s story to life on stage. The audience was captivated, and the children should be incredibly proud of the way they performed like a true troupe of professional actors.

This experience has helped the children build confidence, teamwork and resilience, and it was wonderful to see them shine on stage after all their hard work. A huge thank you must also go to Ms Voorn and Mr Tindall for the many hours they dedicated to rehearsals, preparation and support to make this unforgettable experience possible for the children.

Coombe Hill Juniors had a truly spectacular celebration of World Book Day 2026, and the entire school was transformed into a living library of beloved characters. From wizards and explorers to detectives and diary-keepers, the children embraced the day with imagination and enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the staff caused great excitement (and a little mischief!) by dressing as famous literary villains, prowling the corridors and posing for photographs in their wonderfully wicked costumes.

The adventure began when we discovered that several storybook characters had mysteriously “escaped” from their books and had put the library in jeopardy. Each class was challenged to take part in an escape-room style challenge, solving riddles, deciphering clues and completing reading-based tasks in order to save the library. The atmosphere was filled with collaboration, determination and a real love of reading. Thankfully, through brilliant teamwork and quick thinking, the children successfully saved the library and protected the power of storytelling!

Throughout the day, the children shared their favourite books across the school, reading together and recommending their favourite stories to one another. In class, they channelled their creativity into writing their own imaginative stories and crafting original playscripts, inspired by the characters they were dressed up as. Lunchtime brought even more excitement with our ‘Mystery Book Swap’. Wrapped books were exchanged and, as the paper was peeled back, delighted smiles spread across faces when children discovered the surprise titles waiting for them.

It was a joyful, community-spirited and thoroughly reading-filled day that celebrated not only books, but also creativity, collaboration and the magic of storytelling.

At Coombe Hill Junior School we remain proud to be a smartphone-free school. This approach helps children focus on friendships, learning and play without the distractions and pressures that smartphones can sometimes bring. We know that the digital world is now a big part of modern childhood, and our aim is not to criticise technology but to help families and pupils develop healthy, balanced habits.

Understanding age restrictions

Many popular social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook have a minimum age requirement of 13. These limits exist because younger children are still developing the emotional awareness and critical thinking skills needed to manage online interactions safely. However, research shows that many children access these platforms earlier by entering a false date of birth when signing up or through the use of adult or sibling devices. We encourage you to monitor any time spent online and ensure strong parental controls are set on devices.

The challenge of fake news and online influence

Another growing concern is the spread of misinformation or “fake news.” Social media algorithms often promote eye-catching or emotional content, whether it is true or not. For children, it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. Their brains are still developing the ability to question sources and think critically about what they see online.

Supporting children to build healthy habits

For families, navigating this landscape can feel overwhelming. The most effective approach is setting clear boundaries, having open conversation and being actively involved in your child’s screen time. Some helpful strategies include:

• Setting agreed screen-time limits (days, times)

• Keeping devices in communal family areas and out of bedrooms

• Checking privacy settings and parental controls

• Talking regularly about what children see online

• Encouraging children to question whether something they see is reliable or true

Children benefit greatly from adults modelling positive digital habits too.

Balance matters

Technology has many positives. It can help children learn, stay connected with friends and explore their interests. But it is important that this sits alongside other parts of childhood such as outdoor play, creativity, reading, sport and face-to-face friendships.

Our smartphone-free approach at school is one small way we support this balance. By working together as families and educators, we can help children develop the confidence, judgement and resilience they need to navigate the online world safely.

A child or young person’s education should help their mind, body and talents to be the best they can. The children have had many opportunities to showcase their music, acting and teamwork skills at Shakespeare and the girl’s football tournament this week.

Year 6 had a brilliant time, spent outdoors, learning about survival skills. We learnt how to safely light a fire and boil water with our storm kettles - we even boiled water and made our own hot chocolate. Constructing our free-standing shelters became even more important with the rain showers this week! Year 6 based their structures on native American wigwams.

With the run up to Easter closing in, we created nests for a creme egg and hid them around the outdoor learning forest. We had a big hunt for them - some were particularly well hidden! To finish off, we created the tallest tower we could, without leaning on a tree. Miraculously, one tower measured over 3 metres tall, which begs the question: how did Year 6 get the construction material up there in the first place?!

On Wednesday, we were delighted to welcome children’s author Beverly Clarke to visit Year 3 and Year 4. She delivered an engaging and interactive workshop with each class, encouraging the children to think carefully about the importance of technology in our everyday lives. Together, they discussed where we find technology (at home, in school and even in our pockets!), explored different types of technology and considered how it helps us to learn, communicate and solve problems. Beverly also spoke clearly about how to stay safe when using technology, sharing practical tips about protecting personal information and making sensible choices online.

The highlight of the visit was when she read aloud from one of her wonderful Ava and Chip books, captivating the children with her lively storytelling and bringing the characters to life. The pupils asked thoughtful questions and showed great enthusiasm throughout the sessions. It was a fantastic experience and the children learnt a great deal while thoroughly enjoying this inspiring visit.

Our Year 6 pupils stepped back in time for an immersive World War II Day, experiencing what life might have been like for people living through the war. Using ClassVR headsets, the children explored powerful scenes from the period, including taking shelter during the Blitz in a crowded underground station and observing other key moments from wartime Britain. These virtual experiences helped bring their history learning to life and allowed pupils to better understand the challenges faced by ordinary people during the conflict.

Throughout the day, pupils took part in a range of hands on activities. They became codebreakers working “at Bletchley Park”, learning about the Enigma machine and experimenting with their own ciphers and secret messages. Outside, the children embraced the spirit of “Dig for Victory” by planting seeds in pots, reflecting the wartime push for communities to grow their own food. They also tried Home Guard drills, imagining what it might have been like for older volunteers called up to defend Britain. It was a fantastic day of historical exploration that deepened pupils’ understanding of this important period in history.

On Tuesday, Year 5 had an exciting visit from the WonderDome mobile planetarium and officially became space explorers for the day. Stepping inside the dome, the children were transported on a fascinating journey through space, learning about planets, stars and the vast universe around us. The immersive experience brought our science learning to life and sparked plenty of curiosity and questions. The children were incredibly engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to explore the wonders of space right here at school.

The book of the week

This week’s Spark! Book of the Week is The Camel Who Got the Hump, a hilarious and heartwarming story about a very grumpy camel who learns a thing or two about friendship, patience, and having a little fun along the way. It’s full of laughs, clever twists, and moments that will keep you turning the pages, perfect for sparking your imagination and love of reading.

We’re also thrilled to announce that our very first official judge badges and stickers have been handed out, and the excitement around books at Coombe Hill is absolutely buzzing! Children are already sharing their thoughts, recommendations, and reading adventures, and we can’t wait to see even more of you join in the fun. Pick up a copy of The Camel Who Got the Hump, dive into the story, and discover why this cheeky camel has captured everyone’s imagination!

We are pleased to be taking part in a clothing collection fundraiser with The Little Recyclers, helping us raise funds for school while also supporting sustainability. The collection will take place on Wednesday 25 March.

Families are invited to fill any bags with good quality, clean clothing and bring them into school on the day. Items that can be donated include adult, children’s and baby clothes, paired shoes, bags, hats and scarves, belts, fashion accessories, jewellery and perfumes. Please note that school uniform and duvets or pillows cannot be accepted, along with dirty or damaged clothing and household items.

All donations will be weighed, with the school receiving £0.45 per kilogram, so every bag really does make a difference. Thank you for supporting this simple and effective fundraising opportunity while helping unwanted items find a new home.

Our wonderful PE Co-ordinator, Ms Epstein, is running the Brighton Marathon in April next year to improve, update and expand our sports facilities and equipment across Coombe Hill Schools to give our young athletes the equipment they truly deserve. So far the GoFundMe has raised a massive

£1,755

If you would like to donate please use the following link:

https://gofund.me/b49332c9a

*Spring Disco!*

Coombe Hill Junior School PTA is hosting a *Spring Disco* on *Friday 17th April*

Expect fun, games, music, and plenty of activities!

Costumes/sparkly/party clothes are very welcome!

*Helpers Needed*

We’d love some extra hands to make the event special for the children. If you can help, please let us know!

We will need 12 - 15 helpers at the party, unfortunately, if we do not reach this number, the party will not be able to go ahead due to safety reasons.

Please contact *Rachel on 07977502391* if you can help during the party, or if you have some time before the event creating some new games for the children to play.

If you have streamers or bunting to decorate the hall, we'd be grateful to receive donations during the week of 13th April please.

Thank you!

Friday 17th April

Location: Coombe Hill Junior School Hall

Costumes/sparkly/party clothes all welcome!

From 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Tickets will be £6.50 to be purchased via ParentPay

*Only 120 tickets available across all year groups!*

Prizes for Best Spring Outfit, Best Costume, Best Dancer & a Kindness award on the night.

Let’s make it a fun party for the kids!

As we move into the second week of Spring 2, this is a good time to check in on your child’s attendance. If you have already downloaded the Arbor app, you will now be able to see your child’s attendance information there, which can be a helpful way to keep track across the term.

Getting children to school on time every day really does matter. Even a few minutes late each day can quickly add up to a significant amount of learning time lost. For example:

• 5 minutes late each day = around 3.5 days of learning lost (approximately 20 lessons)
  
  

• 10 minutes late each day = around 7 days of learning lost (approximately 41 lessons)
  
  

• 15 minutes late each day = around 10 days of learning lost (approximately 55 lessons)
  
  

• 20 minutes late each day = around 14.5 days of learning lost (approximately 82 lessons)
  
  

• 30 minutes late each day = around 22 days of learning lost (approximately 123 lessons)
  
  

Arriving on time helps children settle calmly into their day, take part in the start of lessons and feel ready to learn alongside their classmates.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support in ensuring children attend school regularly and arrive ready for the day ahead.

Attendance for the week:

The whole school attendance this week is 96.4%

The classes with the highest attendance 5 Poplar class who achieved attendance of 98.7%.

Thank you for your continued support.

We have an ongoing Amazon Wish List which was started after families wanted to contribute items to school. There is no obligation to buy anything, but any purchases are very much appreciated as finances are stretched. The list is updated regularly with various items to enhance school life. The link is: Link

At the moment we are very much in need of tissues, and GLUE STICKS!!!

March

Monday 9th March - Year 5 Outdoor Learning Week/Year 6 cooking week

Thursday 12th March - 3 Pear Good Work Assembly @ 9.00 am

Friday 13th March - Year 4 Ancient Islamic Day

Monday 16th March - Year 3 DT week/Year 4 Outdoor Learning Week

Thursday 19th March - 6 Ash Good Work Assembly

Friday 20th March - Year 3 Roman Day

Monday 23rd March - Year 3 Outdoor Learning Week

Thursday 25th March - Strictly Rehearsal

Friday 26th March - Strictly Coombe Dancing

EASTER HOLIDAYS - Monday 30th March - Monday 13th April

Safeguarding our young children is our priority and all staff are trained to keep children safe. However, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and if you are concerned about a child or young person please call Children's Services on 020 8547 5008.