Another busy and purposeful week here in leafy Kent has ended today with the first Open Day of the academic year for prospective parents. Even more compelling than our amazing setting, incredible facilities and knowledgeable and nurturing staff were our pupils, especially the Year 6 prefects who expertly guided the parents and children on their visits and generally waxed lyrical about all things SVPS! Our thanks to all our ambassadors, including the younger and equally compelling children, as they made the prospective families feel both welcome and excited to be here.

Next week is the week before Half Term and also the start of the School providing snacks for the children; a range of healthy fruit, vegetables and crackers from which to choose will be available either in classrooms (Little Lambs to Year 2) or from the playground at morning break (Years 3 to 6). Not only will this save parents money and time, but it will also stop the plastic mountain that we showed the children in assemblies this week, the consequence of discarded or lost tupperware! I am sure the children will have much to say about the new arrangements and we look forward to hearing the feedback in due course – or probably immediately from the children! If any parents would like to collect any missing tupperware too, it can now be found in the School office.

Those of you who were able to attend one of the Meet the Head events will also recall that I mentioned that we would like to re-establish the Parent Consultation Group (PCG). The PCG, different to the SVPSPA, is a small group of critical friends may provide feedback on behalf of their fellow parents, as well as act as a sounding board for ideas from the School. A more formal terms of reference and potentially, if we have too much interest, guidance about the numbers for each year group will be established in due course but, for now, if parents would like to express their interest in membership of the PCG then please email Mrs Leckie by no later than Sunday 6th November. The first meeting will be held on Friday 18th November at 3pm.

Finally, with next Friday being the last one before Half Term begins, we are inviting all children to wear wellies in aid of Winston’s Wish – giving hope to grieving children (www.winstonswish.org.uk). They may also wear their own clothes and we will invite parents to make a small donation, either via a link to be shared by the SVPSPA, or by bringing in a £1 coin to School on the day, to be given to their form teacher.

In the meantime, have a lovely weekend.