Dear Parents and Carers,

We’ve had a slightly quieter two weeks since my last communication with you.  Here are the highlights of the last fortnight:

Year 5 Cinema Trip – Kensuke’s Kingdom

Year 5 enjoyed a fantastic visit to the cinema this week to watch Kensuke’s Kingdom. This text forms a key part of their spring term English curriculum and seeing the story brought to life on screen was a brilliant experience that we really hope will deepen their understanding and enthusiasm.

Beam and Beech Class Assemblies

A huge well done to Beam Class and Beech Class for their fantastic class assemblies. All of the children performed with confidence and energy, and it was lovely to see how much hard work had gone into preparing it. 

Year 3 Wagamama Workshop

Year 3 had a wonderful time visiting Wagamama in Watford for a hands-on workshop. The children learned about food, nutrition and even had a chance to get involved in some food preparation activities. It was a tasty experience for all.

Non-Uniform Day – Thank You.

We rounded off the week with our non-uniform day to help raise prizes and donations for our School Fair on Friday 6th December after school. Thank you so much for your generosity—your support helps make events like the fair a great success for our whole school community.

Assemblies and Safeguarding Updates

I have led several assemblies recently and wanted to keep you updated on the focus of these.

Safeguarding:
As always, I have reminded all children of who the Designated Safeguarding Persons (DSPs) are in school and ensured they know they can talk to us—or any trusted adult—if they ever feel worried or unsafe.

Road Safety – “Be Seen, Be Safe”
With the darker mornings and evenings, we have been discussing the importance of wearing high-visibility or reflective items to stay safe on the roads. We explored practical tips and key messages to help children stay aware.

Please take a moment to chat with your child about the following key points:

• Be seen, be safe

• Stop

• Look

• Listen
  
  

These simple habits can make a big difference during the winter months.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Kind regards

Mrs Wright

Reception
Reception have been busy preparing for their upcoming Nativity show.

Year 1
At the start of this term, we welcomed Mrs Johanna Nieuwelinl Jordan from the Watford School Trust, who delivered an interactive lesson on Creation. The children had the opportunity to create their own Creation storyboards using a variety of materials, including cotton, stickers, coloured paper and crayons.

We have also been exploring Christianity through the Christmas story. The children have enjoyed reading the story, sequencing the events and reflecting on the idea of giving meaningful gifts. It has been wonderful to see their thoughtful discussions about the true spirit of Christmas.

Year 2
We have been learning about why Christmas is important to Christians and how they prepare for it. We explored that not everyone celebrates Christmas and that this is okay. We looked at different ways people get ready for Christmas, learned about Advent and watched an example of how one family prepares for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

We have also been learning about Christian beliefs about Jesus as the saviour. We revisited stories showing Jesus’ kindness and discussed how Christians believe he helped and cared for others. We explored how Christians think Jesus “saved the world” and practised writing simple sentences to explain these ideas. Throughout the lessons, we used key vocabulary such as Christian, Jesus, kindness, love, saviour and Advent.

Year 3
In Year 3, we have been discussing whether Christmas has lost its true meaning. We have had discussions about how each of us spends the holiday season and what Christmas means to us. The Christmas story has helped us understand how many people celebrate Christmas in ways that link to the story of Jesus’ birth, for example, by giving gifts like the Three Wise Men did.

Year 4
We have been learning about the Nativity story and have examined different symbols, why they are used and which may be more important to Christians. We have also completed a lesson on Christingle and explored the symbolism behind it.

Year 5
In Year 5, we have been exploring the Christmas story in depth by looking at different versions found in the Bible. We have compared the accounts, identified similarities and differences, and discussed why these variations exist. This has helped us think critically about how stories are told, what Christians believe about the Nativity, and which elements are based on scripture rather than later tradition.

Year 6
In RE this term, we have been deepening our understanding of different beliefs and how they are lived out in practice. During Autumn 1, we explored Buddhism and learned how Buddhists show commitment to their beliefs through practices such as meditation, following the Eightfold Path and showing compassion for others. In Autumn 2, we have moved on to Christianity and are investigating the question, “How significant is it that Mary was Jesus’ mother?”, exploring her role, importance and influence within Christian belief and worship.

The “Supporting your child’s wellbeing” area on BBC Bitesize offers a helpful toolkit for parents and carers, providing practical advice and reassurance to support children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. It includes guidance on topics such as worries and anxiety, friendships, online safety and sleep, as well as ideas for encouraging positive routines and open conversations at home. These resources can help families better understand their child’s feelings, build resilience and confidence, and create a calm, supportive environment where children feel safe and listened to. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cw9v6l8d0q6t