I start by saying a big thank you for supporting our collection today for 'White Lodge' in Chertsey, who work to provide services that enable those with a range of disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.
Today's pilgrimage that all your children took part in was led by Amethyst Class who today completed their Mission Week.
They also led this morning's whole school assembly to remind us of all that we have done so far in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
I hope to see many of you on Sunday at our start of year family Mass led by Fr Richard (12:30pm).
Have a lovely weekend,
Gerry Flower
Catholic Life
Family Prayer Session
Please join us for our Family Prayer Session, which takes place every Friday morning from 8:15-8:30am in the school chapel. The aim is for families to gather and pray, the session is led by parents and all are welcome - please bring your children.
Please can we kindly remind you mobile phones should not be used onsite for safeguarding reasons. Thank you for your co-operation.
News/notes
Family Mass
Our annual Family Mass will be taking place on Sunday 28th September at 12:30pm and parents, grandparents and siblings are all warmly welcomed to attend.
Sickness
The health and safety of our children and staff is paramount; we therefore remind you that in line with our school policy, children who have vomiting or diarrhoea must be kept at home for 48 hours after the last episode. It is important that this rule is followed to prevent the spread of infection across the school.
Please email all absence related messages to absence@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk and not office@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk, or alternatively, you can ring the absence line to leave a voice message.
Further information on reporting sickness and absence to school can be found on our website here.
St Erconwald's First Holy Communion Programme 2026
St Erconwald’s First Holy Communion Programme 2026 application form is available now from their website. Last day of enrolment will 31st of October. However, in order to be able to run the sessions, we need Catechists and helpers. If you can spare a bit of time from January to June 2026, please contact Susana at the Parish office either by email walton@abdiocese.org.uk or by phone on 07494 749833. We really want to hear from you! Thank you and God Bless
Curriculum consumables fund
As you may know, we have a long tradition at Cardinal Newman of organising exciting hands-on activities for the children, such as cooking and gardening and themed days. These have traditionally been funded by a small annual parent donation ("Cooking Money"). If you would like to support this initiative, you will find a "Curriculum Consumables fund" option on your Scopay account which will allow you to make this donation for your child's class this year. Please logon to Scopay.com rather than using the Scopay app which does not show everything correctly.
Winter Uniform
Children are required to wear full winter uniform from Monday 3rd November (first day back after Half Term).
Scooters
A reminder that scooters are not allowed to be ridden on the playground. Please walk your scooter to the scooter parking area as soon as you have reached the school gates.
School Lunches
Booking school lunches
If you would like your child to have school meals, please book via the Impact Food app. If your child is in YR, Y1 or Y2 they are entitled to a free school meal. If they are in Y3 - Y6, you will need credit in your account before you are able to book.
Our catering provider is Impact Food. If you have any issues with booking meals please email primary@impactfood.co.uk. Please be advised that the school office is unable to book or change meals for your child.
Food Allergies
Food allergies must be updated via the Impact Food app. Please also ensure that you have updated these on Arbor so that the school is aware.
Free School Meals
If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals please enquire at the school office.
Tissue box donations
We would welcome any donations of boxes of tissues. Please can you drop them into the Office. Thank you
PA School Uniform Unit
We are delighted to let you know that our new PA School Uniform Unit will soon be opening. This fantastic initiative, led by the PA, will make second-hand uniform more easily available to all parents-more often and more conveniently.
The unit will be open on the last Friday of each month, where you will be able to browse the rails and drawers for any items you may need. Payment will be made via QR code, removing the need for cash.
To help us maintain the unit, we are also introducing a new uniform donation policy. Donations can only be accepted via the school office on the first Monday of each month. Please note that we can only accept items in excellent condition, suitable for resale. We are particularly looking for branded items (excluding old PE kit), and ideally items that may still have tags.
We greatly appreciate your support and hope that you will find the new unit useful. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting the school, while also giving good-quality uniform a new life.
At Cardinal Newman, we love birthdays… with this in mind, we have implemented the 'Birthday Book' initiative. Many parents generously send class treats into school when it's their child's birthday. Instead of sweets or chocolates though, you may like to support our idea to donate a lasting treat…a new book for the school/ class library! By donating a book on your child's birthday, pupils across the whole school will benefit and the gift will be treasured and shared for many years to come.
Children are invited to write a small note in their book, or we can always add a beautiful book plate to the inside front cover, so we know who has donated it. It is our aim to enable all pupils to enjoy reading for pleasure, and with your support, our library shelves can be boosted with the latest releases!
What book will you donate for your birthday? It doesn't have to be a brand-new book. It could simply be a pre-loved book from your own collection that you wish to donate; a book from a charity shop; or you may wish to purchase a new book to donate. It is entirely up to you. If you are looking for inspiration, the website https://www.booksfortopics.com/booklists/recommended-reads/ has a fantastic selection of age-appropriate books for each year group or you can talk to your child's class teacher for recommendations.'
Please note if you do send sweets/treats into school they will be returned to parents.
Thank you for your continued support with reading at Cardinal Newman.
Parking
Parking is available in the Coronation Rec car park which is just a short walk away from school. Alternatively, you can park for free at Hersham station car park on Walton Park with a permit which you can obtain by emailing the school office your car registration plate.
Please also note that parents dropping their children off for Breakfast Club or any morning clubs are not allowed to park in the school car park.
Miss Ward came in to speak to YR1 about Cardinal Newman School in the past. She told them about changes in the building, equipment, rules and routines. The children loved listening to her interesting stories! Click here for more photos.
The Governors’ Fund has been renamedSchool Development Fund which more accurately describes what it does.
As a reminder it ismade up completely of voluntary donations (regular or one off) from parents, grandparents and carers of children at Cardinal Newman. There is no other fundraising activity to top it up.
The fund enables the school to develop both buildings and resources to provide the best education for our children. It covers items beyond what government funding can cover.
Over the past few years it has funded:
a set of iPads to support learning
New interactive whiteboards
As we start the new school year, if you are in a position to donate, the easiest way to do this is through the CAF donate link. As we are part of a charity it can be gift aided and also if your employer does match giving please talk to your HR department.
Thank you for your generosity and for being such an important part of the Cardinal Newman community. We will continue to keep you updated with how your donations are being used to help support our school.
If you don’t already give to the School Development Fund, may we ask that you consider it for 2025? You can donate to the Governors’ Fund here.
The Cardinal Newman School Governors
Parents Association Notes
To contact the PA, please email: PA@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk
PA School Uniform Sale
Glow Disco - October 17th
Reception starters 2026
Please click here for more information on school applications if you have a child starting Reception in 2026.
Year 7 starters 2026
Brooklands Museum - School Membership card
If you would like to book the Brooklands Museum card for a weekend, please contact the office.
National Online Safety: Wake Up Wednesday Guides for Parents
We would like to make you aware of our ‘online safety’ advice, guidance and support page called ‘Wake Up Wednesday - what parents / carers need to know’.
Wake Up Wednesday, created by The National College, aims to inform parents and carers on topics such as social media platforms, gaming, and IPad security. They include top tips, important reminders and reality checks on a wide range of online safety topics. They are a great resource to keep up to date with the issues children may encounter.
We will post relevant articles of interest that should help you and your child here on our website.
We thank you for your ongoing support in assuring the safety of our pupils online.
Vacancies
Vacancies at Cardinal Newman
There are currently no vacancies.
Teach Southeast Teacher Training
TRAIN TO TEACH WITH OUTSTANDING ITT PROVIDER XAVIER TEACH SOUTHEAST
We always welcome people who want to discuss routes into teaching – we might be biased but we believe there is no better job than teaching young people and shaping the next generation! We would encourage anyone thinking of teaching to get in touch so that they can come to visit and find out more.
We are proud to be a partner school of Xavier Teach SouthEast, a SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) provider working in and around our local area. Xavier Teach SouthEast provides all trainees with high quality training, in both primary and secondary settings, to enable them to develop into competent and confident professionals.
Trainees are well prepared through first-rate complementary placements which ensure that they gain substantial practical experience, developing their evaluative and practical teaching skills effectively. In-school expert mentors and external subject trainers have consistently high expectations and work collaboratively to ensure training is coherent and highly relevant to the needs of trainees.
Xavier Teach SouthEast have had two consecutive Outstanding judgements and are highly regarded in the local area; we love working with them and hope you will too.
For more information please call them on 01932 578 682
Or visit the website to view their prospectus or sign up to a SCITT open morning www.teachsoutheast.co.uk
Teach SouthEast
Please find a list of the forthcoming recruitment events for Xavier Teach SouthEast. If you know of anyone considering a career change or who would like to know more about getting into teaching, please encourage them to come along! Additionally, our fast track form is now live on the website, so if you know someone already wanting to become a teacher or a brilliant TA or similar in one of our schools, they can use this link to apply now before DfE Apply opens for applications in October.
Judo class - Please contact Diane Capon on 07960 699 077 or email diane.capon@sky.com
Mini Dance Performers - Please click here for more information
Planet Soccer - Please click here for more information.
Spanish club - Please click here for more information.
Ukelele Club - Please find flyer here and book via Scopay
Homework Club (Y3-Y6)
Homework club runs from 3.15 pm - 4.15 pm Monday - Friday, cost is £5 (free if your child attends Whizz Kids after-school club). Please book and pay for via Scopay.
Music lessons
During school hours, music lessons can be arranged through Surrey Arts. Please contact them directly by telephone on 01483 519303, by email at surreyarts@surreycc.gov.uk or visit the Surrey Arts web page for more information. You can subscribe to the Surrey Arts newsletter here.
Lost Property
Please collect lost items from the lost property box in the KS1 playground. Please label everything clearly so it can be returned to the owner. Please note it can take some time for items to reach the lost property box depending on where they were lost.
Items not claimed from the lost property box will be disposed of periodically as it quickly builds up. Thank you.
Communicating with your child's teacher
Messages for teachers can be put in your child's reading/homework diary/bookbag, eg. pick up arrangements, homework issues, lost property, requesting a meeting with the teacher or anything else you would like the teacher to know.
For KS2 children, please remind your child to tell the teacher that the message is in there.
Absences should still be communicated via the office. (see below)
Pick-up notes
Please note that if someone other than a parent/carer is picking your child up, you need to let the teacher or the office know. Please put pick-up notes in your child's reading/ homework diary or bookbag.
For KS2 children, please remind your child to tell the teacher that the message is in there.
Children will not be released with someone else unless we have been notified of it.
If you do need to let the office know about a last minute pick-up change, please do so before 2 pm if possible.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Y6 Independent Walkers
If your child is in Y6 and you would like to let us know they will be walking home from school independently, please email the office.
Y6 Mobile Phones
If Y6 children wish to bring their mobile phone to school, they just need to drop the phone at the school office before school and collect it after school. Phones should be switched off please and not switched back on until children are off site.
No need to complete any form or email the office.
How to report your child being absent or sick
Please notify the school office every day your child is absent from school before 9 am so we can adjust dinner figures and complete the registers. Please either ring the school office on 01932 222536 and leave a voicemail or email absence@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk. If you email us about an absence, you will not receive an acknowledgement reply due to the large volume of emails we receive in relation to this daily.
If your child has a stomach bug, they should not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode of illness.
Absence Request
If you require a school absence for your child for some reason, please email the school office with the details.
Wellbeing
Surrey Adult Learning
NHS Parent Portal
At the start of the new academic year, we would like to remind you of the NHS school and parent resources available oninourplaceto ease moving up transitions.
easy-to-follow video resources for parents to help support emotional wellbeing during school transitions
online learning and resources with tailored material for supporting children with additional needs and considerations
signposts for practical support and ideas to ensure smooth transitions, including information on mobile phone use and technology
extensive additional e-learning content for parents on childhood development and emotional health from 0-19+
Crisis Helpline
Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service
Sleep and why it matters
Please click here for information on Sleep and why it matters. More videos can be found on the Childrens Health Surrey website here
National Sleep Helpline: We are here to help
At any given time up to 40% of adults and 50% of children (this rises to 80% with a SEND diagnosis) have difficulties with their sleep. Yet in a recent survey, almost 60% of adults felt there was a lack of support for sleep issues. Sleep problems can leave people feeling isolated and lonely.
Our free helpline is run by trained sleep advisors, many of whom are specialists in working with SEND. We can talk to young people directly, or parents (we can also talk to adults, including older people, about their sleep issues).
The helpline is open 5 times a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings 7-9pm, and Monday, Wednesday mornings 9-11am. The number is 03303 530 541.
Support groups and workshops for parents and carers
Parent Wellbeing Service, Barnardo's Referral Form
Please see information flyer here and referral form here for support from Barnardo's Parent Wellbeing Service.
Parish News
St Erconwald's Mass times
Weekday masses
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday - 9.30am, Tuesday - 7pm (Adoration & Reconciliation at 6:30pm)
Thursday No Mass
Weekend masses Saturday
Italian mass 4.45pm (except during August)
Vigil Saturday - 6pm Sunday
Family mass - 9.15am
Traditional mass - 11.15am
On the first Sunday of the month, we have our Polish Mass at 1pm
For updates, please check St Erconwald's website here.
St Barnabas and All Saints Mass times
All Saints, Hersham
5:30pm Saturday, Vigil Mass
9:00am Sunday, Mass
St Barnabas, Molesey
11:00am Sunday, Solemn Mass
6:00pm Sunday, Mass
For updates, please check St Barnabas' website here.
eSafety and Safeguarding
Reminder: Keeping children safe online and in the real world
At Cardinal Newman School we are always reminding the children how they can keep themselves safe whether in the real world or in the virtual world. Class teachers regularly use the Zones of Regulation to assess how the children in their classes are feeling. Children are encouraged to share their worries using the ‘What I want my teacher to know boxes’ which are in each Key Stage 2 classrooms and the Worry Monsters which can be found in the Keys Stage 1 Classrooms.
Information to support parents can be found on the school website here.
Please continue to report any safeguarding concerns to Mr Flower (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Mobile phone use onsite
St Erconwald’s First Holy Communion Programme 2026 application form is available now from their website. Last day of enrolment will 31st of October. However, in order to be able to run the sessions, we need Catechists and helpers. If you can spare a bit of time from January to June 2026, please contact Susana at the Parish office either by email 
gistration plate.
National Online Safety: Wake Up Wednesday Guides for Parents 
Please collect lost items from the lost property box in the KS1 playground. Please label everything clearly so it can be returned to the owner. Please note it can take some time for items to reach the lost property box depending on where they were lost. 
Communicating with your child's teacher 
Pick-up notes 
Please notify the school office every day your child is absent from school before 9 am so we can adjust dinner figures and complete the registers. Please either ring the school office on 01932 222536 and leave a voicemail or email absence@cardinalnewmanschool.co.uk. If you email us about an absence, you will not receive an acknowledgement reply due to the large volume of emails we receive in relation to this daily. 
