School News
Friday 5th December 2025
Christmas is coming!
As advent has now begun, things have started to look very Christmassy in school! It has been fantastic to see such vibrance and colour in classes as many of the children (and staff) have begun to choose to wear their Christmas jumpers. The school has also been decorated to bring a little cheer!
In worship, the children have started spending time to explore the Christmas story and what it might mean to them. As our value this half term has been 'faith', the children have thought about how Christmas is a time of waiting, trusting and hoping for good things to come.
Christingle
Today we held our annual Christingle afternoon in which the children worked with their partner classes to make and think about the significance behind Christingles.
This is a great way to begin thinking about Christmas in school in more depth (and what better way than with sweet treats!).
Choir perform at St. Mary's
Last Saturday, our wonderful school choir showcased their fabulous singing as part of the church's Christmas Bazaar. They gave a confident and energetic performance which was enjoyed by everyone who was there.
A big thank you to all the families and children who made it possible.
Mrs Barrett
As you know, reading regularly at home with your children is incredibly important. A good bedtime story is not only helpful in maintaining a strong routine in the evening, it also helps children to develop their imagination and vocabulary.
Each week, we will ask our staff what their current recommendations are for the best bedtime reads. We hope that it provides you with some ideas!
Reading is one of the most powerful tools we can give our children. It helps build vocabulary, strengthens imagination, improves concentration, and supports learning across every subject — not just English. But most importantly, reading together creates a special moment to bond, share stories, and foster a lifelong love of books.
At home, I've been making reading part of our routine by spending time each evening reading with my son, who is in Year 5. It’s become something we both look forward to — a calm moment at the end of a busy day, which is very much needed for both of us!
Right now, we’re reading Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, by A.F. Steadman, and we’re already on chapter five. The story is full of adventure, magic, and mystery — and the unicorns are definitely not what you’d expect! Instead of gentle mythical creatures, they are fierce, wild, slightly gruesome and bloodthirsty creatures and incredibly exciting. My son loves the feeling of anticipation the writer creates and enjoys predicting what might happen next in the story.
Sharing a book like this has sparked lots of conversations, interest, and curiosity about the words the author has used— and that’s the magic of reading.
So whether it’s a long novel, a short chapter book, a comic, or even a magazine, making time to read with children can make a huge difference.
INSET
Whilst the children had an extra day to their weekends last week, staff were busy in school, working to further develop our provision to make it the best it can be.
Our support staff spent the morning taking part in a training course about how we can further develop our outdoor play provision. They had lots of fantastic ideas about what we can do next and how we can use more of the school site during lunchtimes. Watch this space for upcoming changes!
Teachers spent the day working on our curriculum and thinking about how we can help each child to know more and remember more in each subject. You may have seen on the news that OFSTED have changed the way that they work and there has been a government review of the curriculum. Whilst we feel well prepared for many of these changes, last week was a good opportunity to consider how we can further improve our curriculum as we work through the coming year. Please do remember that there is a raft of information about our curriculum on the school website.
Staffing Update
From time-to-time we welcome new members of staff to our team, mainly to provide extra support where it is needed in classes. From Monday, we will be joined by Mrs Phillips, who will mainly be working in our Nursery class. We are sure that the children will give her a warm welcome!
Well done to everyone for their efforts this week! Year 5 take the top spot with a fantastic 100% attendance—a brilliant achievement!
Close behind are Year 4 with 97.5%, Year 2 at 96.9%, and Reception at 96.7%.
Nursery also did well with 96.5%, followed by Year 3 at 96.1%. Year 1 and Year 6 had slightly lower figures at 93.8% and 93.1%, so let’s keep working together to boost those numbers.
Thank you for your continued commitment to excellent attendance as we head towards the festive season!
This week's TTRS leader board is for the most correct answers over the last week, between them they have racked up a total of 4,515 correct answers!
Our Numbots leader board reflects the number of correct answers in challenge mode, our top 3 amassed a total of 1,884 correct answers! Well don to all of our leaders.
Mr Shane
Leader board this week
1st - Hamdan (Y2)
2nd - Francis (Y2)
3rd - Mia K (Y2)
Leader board this week
1st - Bella (Y3)
2nd - Fatima (Y6)
3rd - Katy (Y4)
As Reverend Dave settles in to his new role working with the local community, he has asked us to help with an important survey project that is being undertaken at St Mary’s Apsley End. They are currently running a community survey and would be enormously grateful for the ideas and feedback of more local families.
The survey link is: https://forms.gle/eUBeqD1kuTv9kJsF8
Whether you are currently linked to the church or not, we hope that you can manage to spend a few minutes providing some feedback.
Nursery
Ema
For her patience with waiting for her turn during carpet time activities. Well done Ema!
Reception
Bluebell
For your growth in confidence over the last few weeks and for showing us what you are capable of. Your willingness to shine has impressed us all. We are so proud of you!
Year 1
Jaid
For showing big effort, growing into a better listener, and spreading kindness throughout the class. Well done Jaid!
Year 2
Lana
For making a positive change to her attitude towards her work – we can see how hard you are trying, and the results are showing.
Keep it up Lana!
Year 3
Harriet
For her determination to achieve higher standards in all her subjects and her amazing execution in the math's lessons.
Keep it up Harriet!
Year 4
Freddie
For his outstanding effort and focus in every lesson - we love your thirst for learning!
Year 5
Sophia
For her infectious enthusiasm in all her lessons - always striving to do her best. Keep it up Sophia!
Year 6
Elijah
For always showing a positive attitude towards every task. We are so proud of the kindness and joy you bring to the classroom each day!
As previously advised, there are a few things to remember next week in relation to the upcoming festivities in school:
Monday 8th December - deadline for nominations for Christmas Parcels https://forms.gle/AgvD97HYY51NkWZF8
Wednesday 10th December - Deadline for PTA Raffle Tickets
Thursday 11th December - Last Clubs of Term
Friday 12th December - Year 6 Carol Singing in Hemel Hempstead (during school day)
Friday 12th December - PTA Christmas Fayre (3.30-6.00pm) - please do come along!
9th December - Y5 Class Worship
11th December - Last clubs this term
11th December - Y5 rearranged trip to British Museum
12th December - Y6 Carol singing
12th December - PTA Christmas Fayre
15th December - start of Art week
15th December - Christmas Grandparents' Afternoon
16th&17th December - EYFS Nativity
16th&17th December - KS1 Nativity
18th December - Christmas Lunch
18th December - Christmas Jumper Day
18th December - Christmas Church Service
19th December - Whole School Carol Service (9am)
19th December - End of term at 1.30pm for Christmas Holidays
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!
In worship, we spent time this week thinking about how Christmas had been promised hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus and that many people had faith that something brilliant would come.
And while we wait for Christmas to come over the next few weeks, this period is a great time to reflect on all that we do have and how fortunate we are for this.
What are you most grateful for?