St Cecilia's News
October 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope that this first month of the school year has gone well for you as the children settle into their new classes and routines. A very special welcome to our new children and families in Nursery and Reception Classes and to all our new entrants across the school.
We have got off to a good start this term with lots of successful events already completed, including our amazing Year 5 Bushcraft residential, more news on that below.
We have our traditional Marsden Morning coming up next week on Tuesday morning, we are happy to accept donations of cakes on the morning. The staff are geared up to serve the crowd quickly at the serving points so please pop in before work. It's a great chance to catch up with other parents after the summer break. All funds raised go to the Marsden our local cancer centre.
We look forward to welcoming parents to the Parent Teacher Meetings (known as Guardian Consultations on the Arbor App) taking place on 6th and 11th November (3.30-6.30pm) this term. Appointments will become available on the Arbor App a few days before, we will contact you via Class Dojo when booking opens.
We welcomed the CEO of Sancta Familia Catholic Academy Trust, Mr Michael Feely to the school a few days ago, he toured the school and met with staff and children. It looks positive that we will transfer to academy status on 1 November, only a few weeks away! You may notice on some government websites that the school is marked as "closing," this is simply part of the transition process, the name of the school will not be changing and we open as a new academy school on 1 November.
A little request - please help us at the end of the day by keeping children off the play castle in the front playground, we are trying to prevent an accident and if it is used by a number of children without proper supervision an accident or injury could happen.
Lots of news and dates below, best wishes for the school year ahead,
Vince Burke
Headteacher
We have a PTA Meeting tomorrow morning (Friday 3rd October) in the school library, please drop your children off and walk down the side of the building to the library for the meeting. Sign in at the library.
There will be discussing the year ahead, making plans, reviewing possible expenditure and getting to know each other and making friends.
Our first parent workshop of the year is being provided by the Education Wellbeing Service, I would be grateful for any other suggestions for possible speakers or agencies at this meeting. We are also looking for parents who could come into classes and speak to the children or read a story during Black History Month. Please contact us through the PTA or to the school office directly.
We welcome poet Tomos Roberts to the school next week, he will be working with the children over two days on both Wednesday and Thursday. Signed copies of his books can be ordered if you so wish, I will chat to him on Wednesday about the best way for parents to order.
Tomos has written a number of beautifully illustrated books, he is also renowned for the style in which he presents his poetry.
Thanks to all our parents who have funded this lovely activity through the PTA.
In the Catholic Church, October is known as the Month of the Rosary. This is because 7 October is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and so the whole month is dedicated to this beautiful prayer.
The Rosary is a way of praying that helps us to think about the important moments in the life of Jesus and Mary. As we pray the prayers we know so well – the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be – we use rosary beads to keep count and to guide us.
The Rosary is sometimes called a “prayer of the family” because it is simple and can be prayed together at home, in the car, or even just a decade (ten Hail Marys) before bedtime. It helps children learn the main prayers of the Church and gives families a chance to reflect together on God’s love.
During October, children in school will be encouraged to pray parts of the Rosary, either in class or in rosary club with our Pupil Chaplaincy Team, and we invite families to try praying it at home too. Even a small step, like one decade, can be a lovely way to bring prayer into family life.
St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
Contact us:
General queries - office@stcecilias.school
Report an absence - absence@stcecilias.school
Anything finance - finance@stcecilias.school
Extra Curricular Activity booking - eca@stcecilias.school
Childcare - childcare@stcecilias.school
Special educational needs - send@stcecilias.school
Admissions - admissions@stcecilias.school
Website www.stcecilias.school
Phone: 020 8337 4566
October
October is the month of the Rosary - children can join the Chaplaincy Team for lunchtime rosary sessions.
Thursday 2nd - Year 4 visit to Butser Farm
Friday 3rd - PTA Meeting 8.45am in the library - all parents welcome!
Friday 3rd - Y6 Young Shakespeare Workshop
Monday 6th - Climbing Wall installation begins!
Tuesday 7th - Marsden Coffee Morning - supporting our local specialist cancer centre.
Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th - Visit from Poet and Author Tomos Roberts
Friday 10th - Years 5&6 PTA Disco
Monday 13th - Y6 Young Citizenship Day - Sutton Library
Thursday 16th - Y1 Harvest Festival - supporting the Dons Local Action Group (South West London foodbank)
Friday 17th October - Big Assembly
Wednesday 22nd - Y1 Knights & Castles day
Monday 27th - Friday 31st October (Half Term)
November
In November we remember those who have died and we pray for them.
Saturday 1st- We become an Academy!
Monday 3rd - School Closed INSET day, no childcare.
Thursday 6th - School Photographer for Years R to 6
Thursday 6th - Attendance, Reading, Writing and Maths reports published via email.
Thursday 6th - Guardian Consultations - 3.30pm-6.30pm. Book via the Arbor app a few days before.
Friday 7th 9.00am PTA Meeting in the library
Tuesday 11th - Guardian Consultations - 3.30-6.30pm.
Tuesday 18th November - Y3 Early Briton's Day and Y6 WWII Workshop
Friday 21st - National Year of Hope Celebration Day
Friday 21st - Chocolate donations for the PTA Christmas Fair and non-uniform day.
Saturday 22nd - St Cecilia's Day
Friday 28th November - PTA Bottle Donations for the Christmas Fair - non uniform day.
Saturday 29th - PTA Christmas Fair 11am - 2pm.
December
In December we prepare for Christmas with Advent.
Monday 1st - Final week of ECAs
Tuesday 2nd - Y2 Discover Christmas
Friday 5th - Girls 7-a-side football tournament
Thursday 11th - Y2 Nativity at 2pm in aid of the Catholic Children's Society, our advent charity. Children helping children.
Monday 15th - Christmas Lunch (Christmas Jumper Day)
Tuesday 16th - Class Christmas Party Day
Thursday 18th - End of term for Nursery
Thursday 18th - Candlelit Carols Concert - Mince pies and mulled wine - in aid of the Catholic Children's Society.
Friday 19th - School closes at Midday for Years R to 6 - no childcare after school, breakfast club as usual.
Friday 19th - National curriculum levels report published for Years 1-6 through Arbor via email.