Dear Parents,
It has been wonderful to welcome you all back to Eaton House and especially to all the new families joining Kindergarten. Again, this year we have many siblings joining the new year group.
I am delighted to introduce you to some new staff at Eaton House. Miss Emma Yates (1C) and Mr Jake Frieda. Mr Frieda is an old boy. Some existing staff have moved rooms or year groups. The following staff are Heads of House; Yellow-Mr Cooke, Red-Miss Alexandra, Green-Mr Carothers and Blue-Miss Kate.
Our website has recently been updated. From now on, term dates and my ‘welcome’ letter will be posted there and paper copies not sent out. The fixture list and match details will also be available. It is possible that we will further update the website and its use in the future but I hope that you enjoy the improvements thus far.
If your son is unwell and not able to come to school, please contact the office which is usually open from 7.30am or a message may be left on the answering machine. A copy of our policy on administering medicines and time that boys should be kept at home with certain illnesses (chicken pox etc) is available from Miss Natalie in the School office. You can also get a message to Miss Natalie via email ncarter@eatonhouseschools.com.
Please return white forms, medical forms and reports by as soon as possible. Please make sure that we have all up to date contact and emergency numbers.
Uniform: Please ensure that your son has the correct uniform and kit at school at all times. To avoid any confusion or unnecessary phone calls home, please make sure that your son knows that his Games kit etc is on his peg/in school. ALL items must be clearly named with tapes (not pen). There are lost property boxes in each cloakroom.
Boys must have a green cagoule which should be kept in the front pocket of the satchel. School caps are to be kept there too and always worn to and from school. All boys should keep caps in the top pocket of their satchels.
As you will know, our games kit will now be supplied by Perry. I am aware that there has been some difficulty with orders and the handover from Pro Kit so, of course, if boys are without kit for this reason, they will not be in trouble.
Parties – If you are collecting a group of boys for a party, please make sure that all relevant staff are notified in writing or given a list of boys and their classes attending the said party. Please make sure that boys are told if they are going to a party, or not, and that they know of any changes to collection. Please do not ring the school office for details of parties that parents have organized. We are not privy to this information!
There will be the usual number of matches, sporting events and choir performances this term and throughout the year. Parents, grandparents, friends etc. are all encouraged to lend as much support as possible. Support means so much to the boys and the staff and is a superb reflection of us to other schools.
*WEDNESDAY 21st OCTOBER – SPORTS NIGHT AT THE ROOF GARDENS.
There will be more information sent out to you shortly but do please put the date in your diary- our parties are now legendary! Photos of previous years will be displayed on the plasma screen in the No 3 hall in due course.
Information evenings: Please do try to attend these evenings as there is much to pass on to you about your son’s new class. In July, I shall contact you with next September’s dates so that you are able to plan time away from work or child care well in advance. We hope as many of you as possible are able to attend.
For Year Three parents, there will be a Question and Answer session and a brief talk by me and the staff in the hall, specifically about 8+. Last year the session lasted for approximately 30-40 minutes. I and the staff will, of course, be available throughout the term to talk to you specifically about your son but do please try to attend Tuesday’s meeting as we will be able to give you some useful, general information about the process or individual schools.
Long Weekend: You will note on the term dates the introduction of a long weekend in November, from Friday 20th to Monday 23rd inclusive. As you will recall from one of the Parental Questionnaires we put forward the idea of a two week half term to allow the boys time to recharge their batteries before what is always a long and tiring second half. The response to this was fairly evenly balanced yet we have opted for a slightly shorter option but one which is far less intrusive in relation to school days missed. I have no doubt that the boys will benefit from this and we will see a livelier group going though to the end of term. This also means that we will lengthen the final day of term across the year to end at 2.00pm.
Break: I encourage you to send in snacks/drinks in reusable containers. Crisps/apples/snacks should not be brought to school in a plastic bag unless really necessary so as to avoid waste. Please also discuss with your son what he would like or is willing to try for break, again to reduce waste. Boys may not bring yoghurts in for break as they can be too messy for the classroom, likewise sandwiches are not necessary.
Please remember that break/snacks MUST NOT contain any nuts, Sesame extracts/oils. Owing to some extreme allergies, please do not give your son anything like peanut butter or cereals containing nuts for breakfast during the week as this can have an effect on boys with allergies.
Collection: Please note that KG and F1 boys (only) may be collected at 3.20pm to avoid congestion on the stairs when the senior boys go home. F2s and F3s may be collected at 3.30pm. There is no exception for siblings or out of school tennis lessons etc. All boys will stay in their classrooms until 3.45pm when the doors close. At that time, they will be taken to the late/club room (the library) and a member of staff will be on duty with them until 4.00pm. If any non club/coaching boys are still in school at 4pm, they will be taken to the office and parents will be contacted. Please make sure that class teachers are notified, in writing, of any changes to collection plans.
If you are collecting boys from a club, please do not come into school before 5.00pm. If you are collecting your son from tutoring before 5.00pm, please do not let other parents/carers into the school or indeed at any other time of the day.
There may be some congestion on the stairs in the first few days of term whilst our new parents and boys find their classrooms. Please bear with them all, but please adhere to the above collection plans. The timings are for parents’ benefit as well as allowing for extra time- Year 2 and Year 3 senior lessons run until 3.30 as well as return to school from games at that time, so please help by not queuing outside classrooms before the given times. It would also help if you could walk up by the wall and down by the banisters, as the boys do.
All boys will be given a small card detailing the school address and telephone number. This should be kept in the inside blazer pocket. We do this for use on trips, if needed, and I remind you now so that you know to remove it when dry cleaning the blazers!
Any requests for individual instrument or voice lessons should be made in writing to the Head of Music, Mr. Mühlemann. He, or one of his music staff, will then notify you of details of forthcoming lessons. Places permitting, I would encourage as many pupils as possible to take individual music lessons as they have been much enjoyed and most successful in the past. (Voice, Recorder, Flute Guitar, Piano, Suzuki Piano or Violin).
Our new Head boy is Mark Pagani (3AGreen) and our Deputy Head boy is Finbar Tellwright (F3 Yellow)
I know that they and the other monitors will do a superb job to help make the school run smoothly. I thank them all very much and look forward to working with them.
I am aware that I have outlined a lot of do’s and don’ts! The essence of this letter is to welcome you but also make sure that you know what is required for the new school year.
It you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school. There will be other letters or e mails with information for you throughout the term, please check your son’s homework folder (and sometimes desk…) regularly.
I would also be grateful if you could pass on any relevant information to anyone other than yourselves who may be involved in your son’s time at school (nannies, drivers etc.)
I look forward to seeing you all and to a happy and eventful term.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Lucy Watts
Headmistress
