Dear Parents/Carers,

It has been a busy week this week as Year 5&6 ventured off to PGL from Sunday to Wednesday. The children had a wonderful time taking part in a wide range of activities such as: canoeing, abseiling, orienteering, archery, survival skills and toasting marshmallows around the campfire. A big thank you to Mrs Redman and Ms Harding for all of your help and making this opportunity for our children possible. 

Please see  just some of the many highlights below:

On Thursday, it was National Poetry day. I enjoyed hearing what poems the children had been exploring and enjoyed hearing a group of Year 3&4 practising performing 'On the Ning Nang Nong' at lunch time. 

Next week it is World Space Week and we have planned for a planetarium to visit on the Friday. As a small school, we have a smaller budget and rely on parents support to make additional enrichment activities possible. Unfortunately, we currently do not have enough contributions for this to be viable. If payments could please be made via Arbor by Monday and a decision will be made about whether this will be able to proceed. Thank you in advance for your support with this.

Have a good weekend.

Kind regards,

Mr M. Beach

Headteacher

📩Communication sent out this week

• Flu Vaccinations

• SENDCo update

🗓️Things happening next week:

w.c 5th October: World Space Week

• Friday - Planetarium @St John's Church

Whole school attendance this week: 96.4%

Overall attendance so far this year: 96.5%

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

For appointments, we ask where possible that these are not during the school day. If this is not avoidable, please kindly share the relevant information for this appointment in order for us to be able to authorise this.

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. For safeguarding reasons, we must be notified in advance in writing if you plan to take your child out during term time.

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

Linked to their learning in History lessons, Year 3 and 4 had a ‘Stone Age’ themed forest school this week!  We made traps for catching wild animals, had a go at dying material using berries, whittled sticks into spears for catching fish, created bows and arrows for hunting, made charcoal on the campfire and used this to draw our own cave paintings!

Next week is Week 3 of the menu below:

PGL

All of Year 5&6 were awarded a certifcate for their hardwork, determination, team work and skills developed during the PGL trip. 

Well done everyone!

Star Learners

The following children were chosen for being persistent in their learning and working really hard:

• Hedgehog Class - Maxwell

• Squirrels -  Iustin

• Badgers- Joshua

Value Ambassadors

The following children were nominated for living out this month's value 'Responsibility':

• Hedgehog Class - Charlie

• Squirrels -  Savannah

• Badgers- Priscilla

Dear God,

Thank you for the world you have made for us to share, and for all the special gifts and talents you have given to each of us.

Help us to show responsibility in everything we do today:

In our choices: help us to do what is right, even when it is hard, and to admit when we make mistakes.

In our words: help us to speak with honesty, gentleness, and encouragement.

In our actions: help us to care for our school, look after our planet, and help those who need our support.

When a task feels big or difficult, give us the patience and courage to do our best. Show us how to be reliable friends and trustworthy members of our school family, using our hands and hearts to make a positive difference.

In Jesus name, Amen

Outside Achievments

Well done to Elijah who was awarded 6 medals at a recent sports camp he attended- brillant!

Missions Ambassador

Well done to Pippa who lived out all of the 3Be's during our time away at PGL.

House Points

Prospective Parent Tours have begun for September 2027 Nursery & Reception places. 

If you know of any families looking for a Reception or Nursery place, please let them know and share the School Office contact details

Tel: 01442 255734            Email: admin@greatgaddesden.herts.sch.uk

Please click the buttons below for more information including our admissions arrangments and prospectus. Applications can be made online from 2nd November 2026 via Hertfordshire County Council's website.  A supplementary information form must also be completed and retured to the school office. Copes are available on our website or a paper copy can be provided by the school office.

Our annual Harvest Service will be taking place on 22nd October at 2pm. This year we will be collecting for The Salvation Army's food bank. We politely ask for donations to come into school w.c 19th October. Below is a list of tems The Salvation Army are in need of. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. 

SEND/Inclusion 

External Clubs