School News
Friday 2nd May 2025
School News
Friday 2nd May 2025
Electric Umbrella
On Monday this week, each class took part in a fantastic music workshop, led by Electric Umbrella. In line with much of the work of the charity, the workshops focused on valuing each other and supported the children to reflect on why they are important and what they bring to their class, family and community.
The children all had a fantastic time singing, dancing and composing their own music to reinforce these key messages.
At Nash Mills, we work so hard to support our pupils in recognising each individual and being proud of who they are. Work such as this shows the children what a diverse world we live in and how they can be an important part of their community moving forward.
Football Tournaments
Football League Success!
Our Year 5 & 6 team played for the Aspire and Develop shield on Tuesday evening. In what can only be described as blistering heat the boys equipped themselves fantastically to see out a 1 - 0 victory.
Despite the searing heat the team gave everything they had until the final whistle to secure a much deserved victory. They displayed the same spirit and teamwork that they have had all season and we are incredibly proud of their achievement.
Year 3 and 4 Tournament
On Wednesday, a team of Year 3 & 4 boys attended the DSSN football friendly tournament, the boys played 6 games and won them all conceding only 2 goals in the entire tournament. It was a fantastic opportunity for the boys to develop their skills and build their confidence. They showed fantastic teamwork throughout the day and deserved the results they achieved.
In another fantastic week of attendance, our pupils have continued to excel! Year 3 leads the way with an impressive 98.3%, up from last week's 96.8%. Year 1 also showed strong performance, maintaining a solid 98%. Year 6 improved to 97.3%, while Year 5 posted a commendable 96.6%, slightly down from last week's perfect score. Year 4 and Nursery both achieved 96.3% and 96.6%, respectively, showcasing their consistency. Year 2 held steady at 96%, and Reception saw a slight increase to 93.5%.
Our pupils' efforts to be in school every day is fantastic. High levels of attendance mean more time with friends and more opportunities for learning. Let's keep up the fantastic work and aim for even higher scores next week!
This week's leader board for TTRS is the most correct answers in a week, the top 3 amassed 3,751 correct answers between them. Well done!
Our Numbots leader board is also for the most correct answers. Our top 3 had a combined score of 4,195 correct answers! Well done to all of our leaders.
Mr Shane
Leader board this week
1st - Erin (Y1)
2nd - Alex (Y2)
3rd - Joshua (Y2)
Leader board this week
1st - Bella (Y2)
2nd - Emel (Y4)
3rd - EJ (Y4)
Nursery
Maxwell
For his super helpful tidying and managing his emotions really well. Good job Maxwell!
Reception
Yaseen
For showing outstanding initiative in keeping spaces tidy and for being wonderfully kind to friends and sharing resources with them. Your helpfulness and teamwork make a big difference every day Yaseen!
Year 1
Jasmine
For being such a kind-hearted person and for always putting in your best effort. Keep shining brightly Jasmine!
Year 2
Caspar
For his outstanding progress in writing simple sentences in English. You have shown great effort and dedication in learning English. Keep up the fantastic work!
Year 3
Mya
For her consistent determination to improve in all her work.
Keep it up Mya!
Year 4
Jonathan
For his brilliant behaviour and attitude to learning demonstrated consistently throughout Year 4 - well done Jonny!
Year 5
Iris
For always putting her best effort in and showing resilience with everything she does. Well done Iris!
Year 6
Melissa
For her resilience and hard work in maths, particularly in reading and interpreting pie charts. Keep it up Melissa!
Snacks and Water
As the weather warms up towards summer, please remember to send your child into school each day with a named water bottle. Please also encourage them to ask a member of staff if they need help refilling their water bottle during the school day.
Please could we also remind you that snacks for break time and lunch box contents should be healthy, nut-free foods. To help the children make the most of the breaktime, when we would like them to be able to run around and play games with their friends, we are trialling allowing them time to eat snacks at the start of the next lesson. This will also help them to be safer whilst eating as they are not running around.
Transition
Over the last few weeks, the families of children who will be starting at our school in Nursery or September have been offered places. This is the same too for our Year 6 pupils moving on to secondary schools.
Transition times can be difficult for some pupils; even for those moving from one class to the next, there will be some adjustment and maybe a worried thought or two.
It is good to begin speaking to your child soon about this. How do they feel? Who do they think their teacher might be in September and what are they looking forward to?
We endeavour to share our staffing plans for September with you as soon as they are confirmed. This will help further in making sure that everyone is as ready as they can be for any upcoming changes!
School Milk - New Supplier
Parents and Carers have been emailed an information letter this week confirming that "Cool Milk" will be supplying our milk after the Easter break.
Please note that even if your child is entitled to free milk, you will still need to register an account if you would like your child to receive milk in school. To do this, you can use the QR code on the adjacent flyer, or see the letter for instructions.
If you have any questions or need help regarding this, please visit www.coolmilk.com or contact Cool Milk directly on 0800 321 3248.
We are excited to let you know that a Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity for children to explore new books and support our school at the same time. Every purchase helps raise money for more books in our classrooms and library.
The Book Fair will be open on the morning of Friday 2nd May and finish the morning of Thursday 8th May.
Before school: 8:40 – 9:00 AM
After school: 3:15 – 4:00 PM
Please come to the Gate at front of the school during the above times and the fair will be in the library.
Please remember to bring your phone, as all payments will be made by scanning a QR code at the fair.
We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for supporting our school’s reading journey!
Miss Brewer
2nd-7th May - Book Fair
5th May - School Closed - Bank Holiday
6th May - Y6 Parent Catch Up (9am)
7th May - Y2 Parent Catch Up (9am)
8th May - Y3 Parent Catch Up (9am)
12th-15th May - Y6 SATS Week
14th May - Y3&4 Tag Rugby Event
19th May - Y6 Residential Meeting (2.45pm)
20th May - Y3 Trip to Verulamium
21st May - Y4-6 Skateboard Workshops
23rd May - Whole School Sponsored Bubble Run!
26th-30th May - Half Term (school closed)
Good Shepherd Club—to book spaces at Breakfast or After School Club, please visit
http://www.goodshepherdclubs.co.uk/
Thank you to those who have now managed to log child absences on Arbor. It has really helped the office, meaning that we know where all of the children are more quickly in the morning. If The instructions on how to do this are set out below.
If your child is unwell, Hertfordshire Attendance team require that the nature of the illness is recorded, so please include this in your message (cough, cold, temperature, vomiting etc.). Please note that any absence requests for future dates will still need to made through the school office. In line with our attendance and safeguarding policies, a reminder to report your child's absence every morning, by 8.30am, until your child is well enough to return to school.
Step 1 -Click on Quick Actions button and then click Attendance followed by the green Log Absence button (top right).
Step 2 - Enter the absence details. If your child will be absent all day, there is no need to edit the start and end times that will automatically appear. If your child is ill, please ensure that you enter the nature of the illness and then press the green Log Absence button.
Step 3 - Once you have logged the absence, the school office will 'accept' it. Approved absences then appear in the Attendance tab of the Arbor App. It is not possible to edit an absence once it has been approved, so if you have any queries, please email the school office who will be able to help.
Did you know that your child may be able to receive additional support in school in addition to free school meals, if you qualify for certain benefits?
If you receive any of the following, your child may well be eligible for the Pupil Premium. This provides them with free school meals throughout their time at school, but also a range of additional things in school to help with their learning and engagement. If your child might be eligible, please visit the following site (https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ufs/HCWH.eb?ebd=0&ebz=1_1717745705707) or speak to the school office who will be happy to help.
Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don't get more than £16,190 a year)
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get).
The application process only takes a few minutes and we are more than happy to provide support if it is needed.
Thank you for your donations towards our clothing bank. If you have any old clothes following clear-outs, please drop things in. The clothing bank is emptied regularly so should be ready for more donations.
The school carpark is open between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Members of the local community are more than welcome to use it too so please spread the word!
Next Thursday marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Victory in Europe Day marked the end of a conflict that had brought so much loss to so many. For those who lived through it, VE Day was one of relief, joy, and hope.
This weekend, take some time to think about those who fought for our freedom and for a world of peace and kindness. Let us remember and reflect on this significant milestone, and think about how we can help to be part of a future where we can be courageous and hopeful, living in peace with those around us.
Despite the difficult times, we have so much to be grateful for.