Nash Mills CofE Primary School

School News

Friday 14th February 2025

A reminder that next week is our half term break and school will be closed.

We look forward to seeing all of the children back at school on Monday 24th February!

Young Voices

Something that bought us immense joy this week was seeing our Key Stage 2 choir perform at the Young Voices concert at Wembley Arena. The pupils joined with thousands of others to become part of the largest youth choir in the world. The children, who have been practicing since September, performed a number of songs including pop favourites, songs from films and one or two tear jerkers (Little Blue was a highlight of the evening).

"It was amazing! Everyone was really happy and the singing was incredible! We were so proud to be there. The dancers were brilliant!" Ray

"When the lights turned off, it looked like a starry night. It felt magical when we sang Beautiful Things in the pop Medley song. We also saw a number of celebrites and sang some of the songs with them." Phoebe

"Despite it being a tiring day, it was worth all the effort! I loved it when we all sang the songs from Hairspray!" Ava

As always, our Nash Mills pupils were fantastic role models and we were incredibly proud of how they performed. A huge thank you goes to Mrs Barrett, who has worked tirelessly to prepare the children for this amazing experience!

World Book Day 2025

As shared last week, this year's World Book Day will be held on Thursday 6th March and the children are encouraged to show their love of books by dressing as a favourite book hero, a famous scientist, or a creative outfit! This year's joint Science Week and World Book Day focus will provide a range of experiences and experiments, all around the theme of Space!

On 12th March, you are welcome to visit our Space Exhibition after school, where you can see some of the learning that has taken place.

Competition Time!

As part of our build up to World Book Day, we have teamed up with Nash Mills Parish Council to run a reading competition at school. Today, your child should have bought home a reading card. Between now and World Book Day, they are challenged to read 5 brilliant books, noting them on their card. They should then bring the card back and hand it to their teacher before 6th March.

During World Book Day, we shall draw three cards from those that have been returned. 2nd and 3rd placed will be able to choose a new book each. 1st place will be able to choose a new book and help Miss Brewer and Mr Maher in choosing £100 of books for their class.

Nash Mills in the Community

Many of you may have seen that a new Tesco Express on Lawn Lane is in the process of being created. Two of our pupils, James and Lily, were invited to open the store earlier this week.

They were treated to a tour of the store and also got to see behind the scenes and even had breakfast in the staff canteen. The store staff were friendly and very welcoming. It was a lovely way to start the day.

Staffing Update

As we shared last week, we have, today, said 'goodbye' to Mrs Paduchak, who has been supporting various pupils from our Reception and Year 1 classes. We wish her all the best in her upcoming studies. We are delighted to share that a new SEND Teaching Assistant, Mrs Gabor, will be starting with us after half term.

We look forward to welcoming Mrs Gabor to the Nash Mills family!

Attendance

Thank you all for your continued efforts with attendance. As we come to the half way point in our school year, overall attendance stands at 95.4%, a 1% increase on this time last year. This equates to an additional 215 days of learning so far this year!

In this week's attendance match, Year 1 emerged as the front-runners with an impressive 95.5%, marking a commendable improvement over last week's performance. Both Year 2 and Year 4 put in solid efforts, each achieving a steady 95%. Nursery maintained their consistent form with a 95% attendance rate as well. Year 3 delivered a strong effort with 92.7%, though they faced a slight dip compared to their previous standing. Reception made progress with a 93% attendance rate, showing improvement from last week. Year 5 recorded 94.5%, reflecting their ongoing commitment. Year 6 faced some challenges this week, coming in at 92%, but they remain dedicated and resilient.

As we continue to navigate through the cold and flu season, it's important to reinforce good hygiene practices such as regular handwashing and using tissues. Your continued support and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Let's hope that with a bit of rest and recouperation over half term, our attendance figures can be even stronger as we move towards the summer!

Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots!

Our TTRS leader board reflects improvement in accuracy of answers over the last week. Well done to the 3 leaders!

Our Numbots leader board is the most correct answers in a week, 1,892 correct answers between our top 3!

Well done to all of our leaders this week.

Mr Shane

Leader board this week

1st - Jamie (Y2)

2nd - Mohammad (Y2)

3rd - Sasha (Y2)

Leader board this week

1st - Thomas (Y5)

2nd - Amber (Y4)

3rd - Amaya (Y3)

Star of the Week!

Nursery

Frankie

For showing pride in his work and trying really hard in Nursery this week. Keep it up Frankie!

Reception

Tomos

For some great focus in class this week and for working

co-operatively with your friends every day. You set a fantastic example for others to follow. Well done!

Year 1

Romeesa

For showing more resilience and growing in confidence to ask for help. Keep it up Romeesa!

Year 1

Nathan

For communicating more efficiently and for always having the biggest smile on your face, especially when reading a whole story out loud! I’m so proud of you!

Year 2

Daniel

For writing a good non-chronological report including lots of interesting facts. Well done Daniel!

Year 3

Khloe

For continuously building confidence and striving to do better.

Well done Khloe!

Year 4

Isla

For her brilliant work ethic in every lesson and for her developing confidence at school - keep shining!

Year 5

Charlie

For his infectious enthusiasm in every lesson, he brings joy every day. Well done Charlie!

Year 6

Ifan

For his persistence and focus in solving challenging maths problems. Keep it up Ifan!

Help to win £1000 for our school!

To celebrate the launch of the Equal Play initiative by Paralympics GB to encourage access for all children to take part in school sports, Riverside Shopping Centre are offering our school an exciting opportunity to take part in a ‘Design a Flag’ competition to WIN £1,000 for your school to spend on PE equipment and disability inclusion training. They are looking for a brilliant flag design that promotes inclusivity for everyone, whatever their challenges.

What you need to do:-

Design a flag on an A4 piece of paper

Use felt tips or paints (the flag will be digitally re produced)
Put child’s name, age, school, and your schools’ contact details on the back
Submit to Centre Management, Riverside Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1BT
Closing date – Friday 4th April 2025

Nursery Admissions Now Open - New 30 Hour offer for September 2025

Please share with family and friends in the local community that from September 2025, we will be offering a 30-hour provision for our school nursery. For working families in receipt of 30-hours government funding, we will be able to offer daily provision from 8.50am-2.50pm, with the option to extend the day to 3.15pm.

To book a tour and find out more about our fantastic setting please contact the school office (admin@nashmills.herts.sch.uk). Tour dates are available on our website www.nashmills.herts.sch.uk/nursery-admissions/

Lunchbox and Snack Reminders

Just a reminder, please to ensure that snacks provided for breaktimes should be healthy - fruit or vegetables are ideal. Some children have been taking other items out of their lunchboxes, for example packets of crisps, which are not suitable as a quick snack on the playground. After half term, pupils taking other items will be asked to return them. There is still a daily bagel offer across the school and fruit available to our younger pupils.

We would also like to remind parents that lunchboxes should have a range of foods for children, not chocolate or sweets please. Drinks should be kept to water. If you would like some ideas on what you can pack, please visit this website: https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes// .

Thank you for your support!

Information for half term: Below are some restaurants where children can eat for free or for a heavily reduced cost during half term.

Upcoming Dates

17th-21st February - Half Term (school closed)

24th February - School opens

27th February - Nursery Forest School sessions start weekly

4th March - Reception Coffee Morning

4th March - Y6 Class Assembly

5th March - Nursery Coffee Morning

5th-12th March - Science Week and World Book Day (6th) - space focus

10th March - Y3 Trip to Hudnall Park

11th March - Governor morning in school

11th and 12th March - Parent Consultations

14 March - Red Nose Day

14th March - Nursery and Reception visit to London Zoo

18th March - Y1 Class Assembly

19th March - Y6 visit to Bletchley Park

24th March - Full Governing Body Meeting

25th March - Y5 visit to Kew Gardens

25th March - Reception Class Assembly

26th March - Y2 visit to Roald Dahl Museum

27th March - Last clubs of term

28th March - PTA Thank You sale

31st March - Start of Art Week (Sculpture focus)

31st March and 1st April - Y3&4 Production

2nd April - Y4 River study trip

2nd April - Y3 Easter Egg competition at Longdean

2nd April - Y5&6 KNEX Challenge

4th April - School closes for Easter

Good Shepherd Booking

Good Shepherd Club—to book spaces at Breakfast or After School Club, please visit

http://www.goodshepherdclubs.co.uk/

Logging Same-Day Absences

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.

Pupil Premium

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.

Clothing Bank

Thank you for your donations towards our clothing bank. If you have any old clothes following Christmas clear-outs, please drop things in. The clothing bank was emptied again this week 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!

Final Thought

This half term, our school has embraced the simple but powerful idea that spreading joy can make a big difference in the lives of others. Whether it’s through a kind word, a helping hand, or sharing a smile, each small act of kindness can brighten someone's day. We encourage you all to think about ways they can bring joy to others, whether it's at school, in the community, or at home.

Remember, the more we share happiness, the more it grows! Let’s continue to make kindness and joy part of everything we do, spreading positivity and making our world a brighter place for all. Have a fantastic half term break!

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