Embedded Files
School News
Thursday 28th November 2024
Reminder - INSET Day tomorrow!
School will be closed due to staff training.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
With the start of advent this weekend, Christmas has begun seeping into our school this week. It is definitely beginning to feel a little festive!
Please see below the poster for our fantastic PTA Christmas Fayre. Santa has confirmed that he is coming and many other preparations are well under way! It is a great way to help fundraise for key school projects so we do hope that you and your families or friends can make it!
Christmas Reminders!
Community Christmas Parcels - if you are able, next week please send in a small gift, for example some mince pies or Christmas biscuits for our community parcels. These will be distributed to people in the local area who deserve a 'thank you' for something that they do. If you would like to nominate someone, please click here!
Christingle - Next Friday, please send your child to school with an orange for our Christingle afternoon
Year 4 visit Flamstead Church
On Monday, Yr4 went to Saint Leonard’s Church in Flamstead to see the history of the church and to look at the graffiti art carvings . We investigated the carvings on the wall with a torch in the dark and some of them were faces. We also made our own graffiti art on pieces of wood and used stencils to paint things about ourselves. Outside, there were wooden carvings of an owl, a bat and a falcon and we found massive spiders on our bug hunt! We had lunch at Flamstead Primary School and even had time to visit a local playground!
...and the Salvation Army!
On Wednesday, Year 4 went to The Salvation Army Church and we had a tour around the church and we learned about the history of the Salvation Army. DID YOU KNOW that William and Catherine Booth started The Salvation Army in London 1865? We saw adults and toddlers playing in the church. The Major of the Salvation Army also told us why the SA flag looks how it does because-Jesus = blood = red, Spirit of God = fire = yellow and God=blue. Then we wore some old uniforms from many years ago. We also got to play the instruments they use to play in the streets and Mrs Barret showed us a song on a trumpet!!! After that, we had some biscuits and juice.
Sophia, Archie & Pyper
New Mental Health Provision at Nash Mills
As you may know, we have a range of things in place at Nash Mills with regard to mental health and wellbeing, to ensure that our children and families are able to access help if it is needed. This includes many of the things that are in place within classes, such as our feelings boards, and wider school activities including the work done by Miss Bentley. This led to us being awarded the Hertfordshire's Emotional Mental Wellbeing in School's Mark earlier this year.
We are pleased to share that recently, our school was accepted to be part of the NHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST). This means that shortly, we will have a trained professional working within our school for a day each week to provide help to children and families. I am sure that you will all welcome Shania McKoy as part of our team!
What is an INSET day?
As you will know, tomorrow is a planned INSET day. Each school in the country has 5 IN-SErvice Training (INSET) days to plan into each school year. These can be used together or as one-off days. We try to ensure that they are used at times which could be useful for families, such as at the start of end of a term, which may help some of you to get slightly cheaper holiday deals! We also decided to plan this day at a point where traditionally attendance has been lower, with lots of colds and runny noses in the school. Hopefully this will give some the chance for a little R&R!
Most members of staff will be in school tomorrow, doing some learning of their own! A group of staff will be taking part in First Aid Training, whilst most others will be taking part in training around phonics, reading and writing. This will be used to ensure that all children in our school get the best possible support available to them.
Attendance
Attendance
A shorter week this week due to tomorrow's INSET day, but in this week's attendance showdown, Year 3 emerged as the undisputed champions, achieving a flawless 100% attendance rate and setting the bar high for the rest of the school. Hot on their heels, Year 5 put on a commendable performance with an impressive 98%, while Year 4 also held their ground with a solid 96.7%. Year 6 showed a strong effort, clocking in at 95.5%, maintaining their steady form.
Lower down the school, was not quite such a positive picture, with lots of winter bugs being passed around, as happens around this time of year, which has impacted on all of the classes. Both Year 1 and Year 2 shared the spotlight with identical attendance figures of 93.5%, demonstrating consistency in the middle of the table. Reception and Nursery, however, faced a challenging week, rounding up the standings with 90% and 89% respectively.
As the school community rallies for the next week, all eyes will be on Year 3 to see if they can maintain their winning streak!
Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots!
Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots!
Our leader board for TTRS this week focuses on studio speed, that's how long it takes to answer a question correctly! I am thrilled to announce we have two new entries into the under 1 second club! Well done Edward in Year 4 and Noah in Year 6!!
Our Numbots leader board reflects the number of stages passed with 3 stars - this shows how quickly children are able to complete a stage.
Mr Shane
Leader board this week
1st - Erin (Y1)
2nd - Felix (Y2)
3rd - Alex (Y2)
Leader board this week
1st - Ivy (Y5)
2nd - Edward (Y4)
3rd - Noah (Y6)
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
30th November - Choir at St Mary's Church (Saturday 1-2pm)
2nd December - Full Governor Meeting
2nd December - Community 'thank you parcel' donations this week
3rd December - Year 3 Class Worship (9am)
5th December - Nursery Parent Coffee Morning
6th December - Reception Parent Coffee Morning
6th December - Christingles (send pupils in with an orange)
9th December - Christmas Jumpers can be worn with uniform from today
12th December - Last clubs of term
13th December - PTA Christmas Bazaar (3.30-6.00pm)
13th December - Year 6 Carol Singing in Hemel Hempstead
16th December - Grandparent Afternoon (School Hall - 1.45-3.00pm)
17th December - KS1 Nativity (9am) and EYFS Nativity (11.15am)
18th December - EYFS Nativity (9am) and KS1 Nativity (2.30pm)
19th December - Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children
19th December - Carols around the Tree (9am) all invited
19th December - Christmas Dinner in school
20th December - Christmas Church Service
20th December - School closes at 1.30pm for Christmas
Good Shepherd Booking
Good Shepherd Booking
Good Shepherd Club—to book spaces at Breakfast or After School Club, please visit
http://www.goodshepherdclubs.co.uk/
Pupil Premium
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
Clothing Bank
Thank you for your donations towards our clothing bank, which was filled within two weeks! It has now been emptied so if you know of anyone with clothes to donate, please encourage them to come and drop bags off!
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
Final Thought
What is the kindest thing that someone has said to you or done for you this week?
If you have never seen the book 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' by Charlie Mackesy, it is a great Christmas stocking filler!
Page updated
Report abuse