Dear Parents/Carers,

This week has been a busy and joyful one as we head towards Christmas and the end of a busy, successful Autumn term.

At the start of the week, Year 3&4 went off site to the woodland area for their Forest School session with Mrs De and Ms Robertson. We also had a member of Hertfordshire County Council come in to review the work we have been doing to grow and develop our wrap around provision.  They visited After School Club and toured the school and in their feedback to me, they described our school as 'delightful'. It is always lovely when visitors to our school make such observations of school. Being a small school is very unique and special and I often tell visitors whilst we are a small school , we have a big heart towards each other and the world around us. 

By the middle of the week, our Christmas community events began as we had our two Nativities, Carols by Candlelight and finished the week with the Christingle. Throughout all of these events, the children sang beautifully, retold the special story celebrating the birth of Jesus with confidence as well as sharing prayers and reflections with much thought.  I was bursting with pride for all of our children during these services as I am sure you all were as well. As a Church school, Christmas is a very special event and encourages us to return to that special story which brought great news and great joy to all people.

On behalf of the staff and governors, I would like to wish you all a blessed Christmas and best wishes for the New Year ahead. I give my personal thanks to the whole school community for your ongoing support.

Please note the school office is now closed until the Spring term commences. We look forward to welcoming all children back to school on Tuesday 6th January. 

With best wishes and thanks,

Mr M. Beach

Headteacher

🗓️Events taking place at St John the Baptist Church over Christmas:

• 21st December Parish Communion @11am

• 24th December - Crib Service @3pm

(Midnight Mass will take place at Little Gaddesden)

• 24th December - Crib Service @3pm

• 25th December Family Communion @11am

Whole school attendance this week: 95%

Overall attendance so far this year: 95%

Weekly class attendance award: Well done to Year 1/2 for the highest class attendance this week!

All absences must be reported to the school either by leaving an absence message (Option 1) or emailing Mrs Redman (Pastoral Support/Attendance Lead) via absence@greatgaddesden.herts.sch.uk

Please note: in line with the statutory guidance from the Department for Education which is reflected in our attendance policy, we are unable to authorise term time holiday.

Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance 

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Applications (including those for siblings) must be made online at  www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions  by 15th January.

As a Voluntary Aided School, we manage our own determined admissions arrangements. Therefore, you will also need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is available on our website here or from the school office. This must please be returned to the school office by 15th January.

Year 3 & 4 walked up to the woods for our Forest School session this week.  We enjoyed a range of activities including den building, whittling and making ‘fairy houses’ out of natural materials found in the woodland. Well done to Bea  who won the Forest School award for being sensible and showing cooperation.

Spring 1 Forest School Dates:

• 14th January - Year 5&6 (afternoon)

• 21st January - Year 1&2 (afternoon)

• 4th February - Year 3&4 (afternoon)

• 11th February - Early Years (afternoon)

Year 3 and 4 have had a very busy end to the Autumn Term!

English

The text that we have been focusing on in our English lessons is ‘The Tear Thief’ by Carol Ann Duffy.  

We have learnt how to write expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials, similes and metaphors in our work.

Maths

For the last couple of weeks we have been learning about length and perimeter.  We have estimated and measured using centimeters and metres and calculated the area and perimeter of a range of shapes. 

Science

Our topic in science is ‘Electricity and Circuits.’  We started by sorting appliances into a Venn diagram depending on whether they are battery powered or mains powered. We then made predictions and carried out investigations using a range of equipment including batteries, wires, bulbs and switches.

History

We have recently completed our topic on The Romans.  We ended the unit by looking at the lasting impact that the Romans left in Britain when they left e.g. a network of roads, the Christian religion, running water and heating systems and organised town centres built for trade, shopping and leisure activities. 

Awards we are working towards

Outside Achievements

Well done to Rian who was awarded a new Karate belt (brown belt with two white stripes)!

Ollie was awarded his first strip in Jiu Jitsu.

Headteacher Awards

Mr Beach was visited by lots of children accross the school for completing some incredible writing! I was so impressed and proud of them all.

Well done to Ella G, Grayson, Edward, Elissa, Harry & Sebby

Keep up the amazing work! 

House Points

Well done to Oak house for the most amount of house points this term!

We would like to say a huge thank you to all the parents and carers for the fantastic support you have shown this term at the many events that have taken place. We hope the children have really enjoyed being part of them as much as we have enjoyed organising them.

Thanks to your generosity and involvement, the events held this term have raised an amazing £1,085. This support makes a real difference to our school community.

We will be meeting with Mr Beach and the FOGGs team in early January to plan events for next term and to find out what the school would like to use the money for now and the rest of the year. 

We’re looking forward to sharing more exciting plans with you soon.

Thank you once again for your continued support. Merry Christmas!

Best wishes,

FOGGS Team

Ducks!

Thank you to the Kelly family for all of the joy and happiness throughout this month with all of the little ducks hidden around the school!

The children each got to take a Christmassy duck home with them today from the Kelly family. 

Spring 2026 Clubs

• Bookings for Breakfast and After School Club are now live on Arbor. Please ensure to select 'Spring & Summer Term 2026'  when making bookings on Arbor.

• Details for all clubs we are running are on our website: https://www.greatgaddesden.herts.sch.uk/web/clubs_and_wrap_around_provision/297253 

Here you will also see the updated timings and pricing structure for our wrap around provision (following my letter on 5th November).

Support and events available locally