Welcome back to the start of another exciting academic year! Let's jump straight into life at the Junior School where girls returned to school in a new class(room) and some starting school for the very first time (Reception). Miss Hamalis, Head of the Junior School, explains all in her first Bulletin.

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome you [the parents and carers] and your daughters to school during the morning drop-off. I am always struck by how much the girls in Years 1 to 6 have grown, both in height and maturity, over the summer. At the same time, it’s a gentle reminder of just how small our new Reception girls are as they begin their Channing journey – hard to believe they’re the Class of 2038!

As we embark on a new school year, I wanted to share with you my plans for our first assembly tomorrow. This assembly is designed to encourage the girls to reflect on the concept of new beginnings and the fresh opportunities that come with them.

I will present a series of pictures, all of which share a common theme: each depicts a new start or fresh beginning in some form. From the hatching of chicks to the first breaths of a newborn, these visuals are designed to inspire the girls to think about the exciting possibilities that a new school year brings. I will guide them through this theme by exploring examples such as:

• Athletes beginning their races at the starting line.
• Chicks starting their lives as they hatch from eggs.
• Kittens being born and beginning their journey in the world.
• Birds taking their first flights.
• Caterpillars going through various stages, each representing a new beginning.
• People around the world celebrating the start of a new year with hope and optimism.

Just as these images symbolise new beginnings, the start of a new school year offers each girl the chance to embrace her own fresh start. Whether they are settling into a new form, getting to know a new teacher, or starting school for the first time, every one of them has the opportunity to set new goals, try new activities, and build new friendships.

I encourage you to discuss the assembly with your daughter and explore how she might approach this school year with a sense of excitement and possibility.