Issue 7
Autumn Term
17th Oct 2025
Happy Half-Term - Have a wonderful break and we look forward to seeing you on the 3rd November !
Pastoral Pause And that is one sixth of the school year completed. Five sixths left before Year 6 become Senior pupils and Year 5 are our last year group. What a packed half term we have had – full or learning, fun and experiences. Let’s continue to resolve to be Optimistic for the remainder of October, over our half term break. Some of the challenges you could take on during the next two weeks: • Find joy in tackling tasks • Let go of expectations of others • Focus on what matters to you • Plan some fun and exciting activities • Identify three things that give you hope for the future • Set a goal for November (a 1,000 press ups for charity; growing a decent moustache for Movember; setting aside 10 minutes a day for yourself – that’s 6 hours over the month – imagine what you could do with 6 hours…) Have a great half term together as a family,
Gareth Tindall
Autumn Term, Key Diary Dates 2025-26: Fri 17th Oct Mon 3rd Nov Mon10th Nov Tues 11th Nov
Half Term begins Term Resumes Effingham Trust Swimming Gala Remembrance Day Service Performing Arts Scholarship 11+ Prep Entrance Exams Odd Socks Day Subject Revolution Maths Workshop Primary Maths Masterclass 6RG Class Assembly Winchester Science Trip FOST Christmas Fair Carol & Christmas Concert Yr. 5 Museum of Egyptology Santa Fun Run Christmas Jumper Day End of Term
Wed 12th Nov Fri 14th Nov Fri 21st Nov Wed 26th Nov Thurs 27th Nov Fri 28th Nov Thurs 4th Dec Wed 10th Dec Thurs 11th Dec Fri 12th Dec
18:00 08:00 15:30 - 18:30 10:45 13:15 08:30 All Day 09:00 -12:15 13:45 - 15:30 08:30 - 09:00 All Day 16:30 –19:30 18:30—19:30 08:30 - 09:00 08:30 - 09:00 All Day 16:15
This week you have received the following communications on SchoolPost: Year 6: Year 5:
Maths Masterclass (Selected Pupils Only)
Whole School:
Half-Termly Report Collection and After School Care - Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th October 2025
St Teresa’s SchoolPost Communication System Go to: https://stteresas.schoolpost.co.uk/ Please remember to check your inbox, including your junk/spam, as the email may go to your junk box the first time it is sent. If you have any questions please email prepinfo@st-teresas.com
Golden Book Well done to all of the girls in our Golden Books this week: 5AB Flossie H for working hard on comparing numbers and solving multi-step problems this week during Maths. Eloise K for her detailed and informative description of what life was like for the people living during the Shang Dynasty. 5HT Millie G for excellent comparing of calculations in Maths this week. Monica H for a great understanding of the half term's work in RE on the Covenant. 6MK Abby VR and Carys D for their engaging and informative fact files about the Sami and Innuit - indigenous people who live in the Arctic Circle. Cara AS for her outstanding attitude towards learning this half term, especially in English, where she has shown perseverance, as well as creativity and flair in her narrative writing. 6RG Rosie M for her fantastic VR and super, diligent attitude. Sophia D for her super attitude towards her work and for taking responsibility for her learning.
Drama Stars Year 5:
Year 6:
Sophia C and Ellie BS for their creativity when performing their piece with two group members missing. They were able to perform different roles and tell the story in an impressive manner. Charlotte E for her amazing characterisation as a robot, both in her physicalisation and vocals.
FOST 2nd HAND UNIFORM SHOP Submission forms are under FOST 2nd hand uniform on the St Ts website: Second-hand Uniform Shop REMINDER: CASH or CHEQUE only please for the foreseeable future. Open Fridays 8.30am-9am and First Saturday of every month 10:30am — 11.00am by appointment only: Please contact Wendy or Camilla: Fostuniform@gmail.com
Prep News
As we continue to develop our use of Atom Learning for Schools: Atom School, some of you have reached out to Atom enquiring about use of Atom Home, their platform to support learning for children and parents. Please find below some links shared with us by the team at Atom to support your understanding of the differences and how Atom can support learning at home. • • •
Atom Home Information Sheet A video on the differences between Atom Home and Atom School A short Atom Home platform demo
Parent FAQ guide: FAQ document with parents Atom Home discount: We’re offering families 20% off Atom Home this half term. Please use the code OCTHT2025 for 20% off your first month. Please note the code will expire on 26th October.
Changes to Bus Schedules or End of Day Plans To make things smoother and safer, we've introduced the Vectare Travel App. If you haven't registered yet, please sign up at this link: Vectare Travel using your email address from iSAMS. You can make all the necessary changes on the website. If you need further help, please reach out to the transport team at effinghamschoolstrust@vectare.co.uk or transport@effinghamschools.org / 01372 750255. Any end of day changes, please email your class teacher and copy in the school office prepinfo@st-teresas.com.
Absence Notification & Evidence Form A reminder to complete this form if your child will be absent from Prep due to illness or other valid reasons. To ensure accurate attendance records, please upload evidence (e.g. appointment text, letter, or email) if the absence is due to a medical appointment. Wherever possible, appointments should be made outside school hours. We will not necessarily respond to them unless there is extra information or evidence required for attendance records.
Trip/Workshop Form & Payment Completion As part of the upcoming Prep School trips/workshops, we kindly ask that you complete both of the following steps as soon as possible: Microsoft Online Form – This form is essential for confirming your child’s participation and providing necessary details. Payment via Evolve – Please ensure payment is made through the Evolve system. Please note that our accounts team operates separately within the Trust. This means that even if you have already made the payment, we do not automatically receive confirmation of it in the Prep School. Completing both the form and the payment ensures your child is fully registered for the event.
Internet Safety Competition We’d like to extend huge congratulations to all pupils who took part in our recent Internet Safety Competition, where they were challenged to design a character to accompany internet safety information. The creativity and effort shown in all entries were truly impressive! And a big congratulations to Megan S, our overall winner, whose imaginative clay model and logo captured the judges’ attention. A special mention goes to Millie G for her standout submission. Well done to everyone involved!
Remembrance Poppies After the half-term break we will have poppies for sale at school for a suggested donation of £1.00. In addition to the poppies, there will also be bracelets and key rings available for a suggested donation of £2.00 per item.
Key Dates 2025 - 26 As outlined in the Parent Handbook, and reiterated at the Parent Welcome Reception, there are three key dates in the school calendar that are compulsory for all the girls to attend. This is to help them understand the importance of team work and collaborative responsibility as these are events where they are all involved and need to support each other. These dates are as follows:
Christmas Service Thursday 4th December, 18.30 to 19.30 Spring Concert Thursday 12th March, 18.30 to 19.30 Prep School Prize Giving Thursday 2nd July, 19.00 to 20.00 We would be grateful if you could keep these dates free so that all girls can be present at these important community events.
Winter Uniform All the girls should return to school after half-term break in their winter uniform.
Year 5 Science Last week, Year 5 investigated the amount of friction under their shoes on different surfaces. Great investigating, girls!
Gardening Club Pupils have been planting pots and baskets that have been placed around the school. They planted winter flowering plants including pansies and violas.
Shang Dynasty On Monday, Year 5 travelled back to 1600 BC when the Shang Dynasty ruled over China. The workshop used drama to help embed the learning from this half term. The girls created body sculptures of important scenes and buildings, and re-enacted the story of Fu Hao, the wife of King Wu Ding and also an important military general and high priestess. We were so impressed by the knowledge the girls demonstrated and the new learning they absorbed. What an exciting way to round off this interesting topic.
Music News
Orchestra What a fun rehearsal, exploring new modern jazzy repertoire; quite a change in style from the classical genre we have previously learned. Excellent sight-reading all round - well done.
Musician of the Week Year 5: Ava B, Well done, Ava, for your enthusiastic contribution to class discussions and for providing a clear, concise and accurate definition of dynamics. Year 6: Isla S, Well done for creating some wonderful evocative and expressive improvisation in our keyboard class.
Year 5 This week, Year 5 have started a new topic focussing on listening to a wide range of musical styles and recognising the various musical elements, using appropriate musical vocabulary. We have explored dynamics, texture, structure and tempo and created our own descriptive sound sequences from a graphic score. 5HT have discovered the magic of the pentatonic scale and all had a go at leading the class in a vocal exercise. In our ukulele groups we have continued to consolidate our knowledge of C, F, G and Am chords, incorporating different strumming patterns and checking for quick and accurate finger work. We’ve revisited some favourite tunes from the term so far including The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Waka Waka, Can’t Stop the Feeling and Ho Hey.
Year 6 Full of hot chocolate and marshmallows from the ‘hug in a mug’ morning break, Year 6 burned off their excess energy with a series of two-part step dance rhythms, exploring ways of combining and structuring rhythms through dance. We listened carefully to different group combinations and compared different textures and rhythm patterns that emerged.
In our keyboard groups, Year 6 have started to explore traditional rhythm notation and relative pitch patterns, responding to finger number and melodic shapes.
STE Website
ECPro Booking Website
Happy Half Term The first half of the term seems to have flown by in a blur. We can’t believe it’s already half term. Thank you to everyone for a great start to a new academic year of riding and Stable Management sessions. We hope you all have a restful half term.
Equine Fun Fact Horses carry 58% of their weight on their front legs. This is why if a horse needs to wear horse shoes they will always wear front shoes and maybe hind shoes if needed. Question (answer below) What is the name of the tradesperson who fits horse shoes?
Pumpkin Pony October Half Term We are very much looking forward to half term and the Pumpkin Pony activities. With gymkhana-style fun, disco dressage and autumnal arena activities in our Pony Mornings/ Afternoons as well as hacks and lessons, there is something for everyone. Please do check our booking website for last minute availability.
A Farrier
This Week Bible Reading A reading from the Gospel of Matthew Jesus taught his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns. And yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you add a single moment to your life by worrying about things like that? Reflection This week we focus on the Festival of the Harvest. Across the Trust we have sought to live out our value of Compassion by collecting donations for the Dorking and Cranleigh Foodbanks as well for the LeatherHEAD START Homeless Hostel. At this time of year let us seek to be thankful for all we have received and grateful for all we have been given. We are also encouraged to be open hearted to the needs of others and recognise more fully that it is giving we receive. Prayer Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is error, the truth; where there is doubt, the faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Amen. "Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society." ~ St Francis of Assisi
Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2025 Donate a shoebox gift for marginalised and needy families in Romania. Refer to leaflet section titled “How to pack your Christmas Gift SHOEBOX”. Drop-off in the chapel, from Monday 6th October to Friday 17th October.
Prep Clubs Autumn Term 2025 MORNING
LUNCH
END OF SCHOOL
EARLY EVENING
(12.45—13.15)
(16.15 – 17.00)
(17.00-18.00)
Years 5, Forest School Years 6, Forest School MON
School Council
Orchestra, by invitation Grade 1+ standard)
Years 5 & 6, Prep GK Club (Astro)
Chaplaincy Team meeting
TUE
Years 5 & 6, Netball Club (7.50 - 8.20, Sp. H)
Equestrian Riding (16.00 – 17.00)
Year 6, ESTA Tennis Coaching (16.15 - 17.15) Young Voices Choir (16.15 - 17.00, until January) Years 5 & 6, Art Club (16.15 - 17.00)
Years 5 & 6, Lego Club
Years 5 & 6, LAMDA Lessons (30-minute lesson between 16.15 - 16.45)
Years 5 & 6, Netball Shooting Club
Equestrian Riding (16.00 – 17.00)
Year 5 & 6, LAMDA Lessons (30 -minute lesson between 16.45 - 17.45)
Pony Stars (16.30 – 17.30) Years 5 & 6, Swim Squad (7:45 - 8.30)
WED
Years 5 & 6, Prayer Group (10.55 – 11.15)
Wind Group (10.55 11:15)
Years 5 & 6, Chess Club
Years 5 & 6, Hockey Club (16.15 - 17.30) Years 5 & 6, Recreational Netball
Schola Cantorum (by invitation)
Years 5 & 6, Football Club
THU
Years 5 & 6, Hockey Club (7.50 - 8.20, Sp. H)
Years 5 & 6, Drama Club (16.15 - 17.00)
String Group
Equestrian Riding (16.00 – 17.00) Years 5 & 6, Ballet Dance (16.15 - 17.15)
Year 5, ESTA Tennis Coaching (16.15 - 17.15) Years 5 & 6, Art Club (16.15 - 17.00) Year 5, Swim Squad (15.45 - 16.45) Year 6, Swim Squad (16.45 - 17.30)
Years 5 & 6, Running Club (Astro)
Equestrian Riding (16.00 – 17.00)
Years 5 & 6 Frisbee Club (16.15 - 17.00) Chamber Choir FRI Touch Typing
Years 5 & 6, Netball Club (16.15 - 17.30) Equestrian Riding (16.00 – 17.00) Pony Stars (16.00 – 17.00) Schola Cantorum (16:30 – 17:30, by invitation)
Years 5 & 6, Street Dance (17.15 - 18.15)
Menu—w/c Monday 3rd November Hot lunches include a selection of family favourites and suitable alternatives for children with allergies and intolerances.
Week 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Soup
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Ham & Sweetcorn or Pepperoni Pizza
Hunters Chicken
Roast of the week with Yorkshire Pudding, Stuffing & Gravy
Beef Massman Curry
Soup of the day Freshly Battered Fish or Fish Cake with Ketchup and Tartare Sauce
Margherita Pizza
Texan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Autumn Vegetable Bake with a Cheddar and Herb Crumb
Creamy Quorn and Vegetable Panang Curry
Cheese and Onion Frittata
Pasta Bar
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Pasta with Tomato & Basil or Bacon Carbonara Sauce
Pasta with Tomato & Basil or Bolognaise Sauce
Pasta with Tomato & Basil or Spicy Salmon and Prawn Sauce
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Sides
Potato Wedges Sweetcorn Cesar Salad
Herby New Potatoes Broccoli
Skin on Roast Potatoes Steamed Carrots
Prawn Crackers Steamed Rice Green Beans
Skinny Chips Garden Peas
Main
Vegetarian
Additional
Dessert
Jacket Potato Jacket Potato Jacket Potato Jacket Potato Jacket Potato & Baked & Baked & Baked & Baked & Baked Beans Beans Beans Beans Beans Freshly Freshly Freshly Freshly Freshly Baked Bread Baked Bread Baked Bread Baked Bread Baked Bread Salad bar Salad bar Salad bar Salad bar Salad bar Shortbread Finger
Cherry and Coconut Sponge with Custard
Fresh Fruit Platter
Rocky Road
Sticky Toffee Pudding and Custard
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher