Dear Families and Friends,

Another busy week has flown by at St Bart’s, and it has been wonderful to see our children continuing to settle into their new classes, routines and friendships.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been talking a lot about bravery and courage: Facing a Challenge with Courage leads to Confidence to Cope.

We have encouraged children to notice the small moments of bravery that happen every day – putting up a hand, asking for help, trying something difficult, including somebody else, admitting a mistake or simply having another go. We handed out our first certificates and stickers during Friday's Achievement Assembly.

But there is another important part of learning to face challenges: we don't have to do everything on our own.

One of the great strengths of a school is the community around it – children, staff, parents, carers, governors, church and friends all playing their part.

The Bible puts it beautifully: “Encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) That is something we want St Bart's to be particularly good at.

Children flourish when the important adults in their lives work together. School will never know children quite as their families do, and families cannot see everything that happens during a school day (although Class Pages are a good insight!) When we communicate well, listen to one another and build relationships based on trust, we give children something very powerful – the knowledge that the adults around them are on the same team.

That doesn't mean we will always agree about everything! Healthy partnerships include questions, different perspectives and sometimes difficult conversations. But they are strongest when we can talk openly, listen carefully and keep the wellbeing and flourishing of our children at the centre.

That is one reason we are introducing something new this year.

We are looking for one enthusiastic parent or carer from each class to become a Class Parent Champion.

Could it be you?

Our Class Parent Champions (CPCs) will embody some of the values we want to characterise life at St Bart's – particularly Service, Community and Compassion – helping us to make sure that every family feels welcomed, supported and connected. They will help strengthen our school community by encouraging involvement, supporting good communication between families, school and FOBS, and helping parents and carers feel connected to class and school life.

The role will be friendly, flexible and manageable, requiring only a small amount of time each month. Importantly, I would also like our Parent Champions to have a voice directly to me as Headteacher. They may notice ideas, questions or themes that are being discussed by a number of families. Bringing those together can help us understand the experience of our wider parent body and sometimes spot things that we could improve.

CPCs won't be expected to resolve individual concerns or speak on behalf of particular parents – our normal school communication routes remain the best way to deal with those. Instead, I hope they will become another positive connection between home, class, FOBS and school leadership.

If you enjoy bringing people together and would like to help make a difference for the children and families in your child's class, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact the school office or speak to me directly if you are interested. Together, we can make our St Bart's community even stronger.

Come along to FOBS – Thursday, 6.00pm

There is another opportunity to get involved this week.

FOBS – Friends of St Bartholomew's School – will meet on Thursday from 6.00pm until 7.00pm at the latest, in Class 6. Every parent and carer is welcome.

And FOBS isn't simply about fundraising.

Of course, raising extra money can help us provide some wonderful opportunities for the children, but a strong Friends group can do much more than that. It can help organise events, bring families together, support school activities, contribute ideas and strengthen the sense of community around our children.

You don't have to sign up for a job.
You don't have to attend every meeting.
You don't even need to arrive with an idea!

You are very welcome simply to come along, have a listen and find out more.

The more parents and carers who take an interest in school life, the stronger that community can become.

Perhaps this gives us another small example of the courage we have been talking to our children about. Sometimes courage is tackling a difficult piece of work or standing on a stage. But sometimes it is simply joining in: walking into a meeting where you don't know everybody; introducing yourself to another parent; offering an idea; volunteering to help; welcoming someone who is new; saying, “I could perhaps do something.”

Small steps can make a surprisingly big difference.

And if our children see the adults around them contributing, serving, encouraging one another and building community, we are doing more than simply telling them about our values. We are showing them what those values look like.

Thank you, as always, for the enormously important part you play in the life of St Bart's.

Yours sincerely,
Mr Restall & The St Bart’s Team