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A Cracking Christmas Lunch!
A Cracking Christmas Lunch!
The festive season arrived in spectacular style today as the school hall hosted our annual Christmas Lunch. It was a sea of red, green, and sparkles, with everyone - staff and students - sporting their finest festive jumpers. The tables looked special, decorated with beautiful hand-drawn placemats designed by the children earlier in the week.
What makes this day truly an end of term highlight is the sense of community. It was wonderful to see teachers and support staff sitting down to eat alongside the children, while our brilliant team of volunteers served the food with a smile. We simply couldn't have done it without their help.
Of course, the real magic happened in the kitchen. Prep started on Wednesday night, and our chef, Nicola, was on site extra early on Thursday morning to ensure everything was perfect.
Speaking of the kitchen, we have to mention two incredible statistics from the day. First, in a victory for vegetables everywhere, our school community managed to devour a staggering 15kg of Brussels sprouts!
But the real labour of love was the dessert. Nicola made, hand-iced and finished over 470 Christmas tree biscuits, which looked stunning. This feat of engineering required 1kg of decorative sugar strands - by our calculations, that is approximately a million sprinkles (give or take a few!).
It was a heartwarming atmosphere and the perfect way to wrap up the term. However, our biggest, warmest thank you must go to Nicola and the incredible kitchen team. You don't just feed us; you really do look after us all so well, and we are so lucky to have you.
Sharing the Light: A Beautiful Christmas Service
Sharing the Light: A Beautiful Christmas Service
It was a joy to see the whole school community gather together this week for our Christmas church service.
Our Year 2 children took centre stage to tell the story of the Nativity, and they were simply brilliant. Their costumes were wonderful, but it was their performance that really shone. Their narration was well-rehearsed and confident, and their uplifting singing filled the church, making us all feel very festive indeed. As it is our school tradition for Year 2 to lead the Nativity, it was a special moment for the children further up the school, bringing back fond memories of when it was their turn in the spotlight. For everyone present, it was a heartwarming reminder of the Christmas story.
We were also joined by St Stephen's Children’s Pastor, Lauren, who shared a thoughtful message. She began by asking the children what comes to mind when they think of Christmas. For Lauren, it is Christmas lights.
She spoke to the children about the significance of light for Christians, exploring what Jesus might have meant when he said, "I am the light of the world." She explained that just as a light helps us see the way and provides warmth, it also inspires kindness, generosity, compassion, and connection.
It was a beautiful reminder that light is something we can all give and carry with us - not just at Christmas, but all year round.
While celebrating this special time, we also said a heartfelt goodbye Lauren, who has been a key part of our connection with St. Stephen’s Church. After six years of dedicated service, Lauren is moving on to a new chapter as she relocates to Australia. She has been a familiar and much-loved face around our school and has shared this touching message with our school community:
"Over the last six and a half years, I have had the joy of being the Kids Pastor at St Stephen’s Church and, as part of that, have had the privilege of coming into the school. From church worship to RE lessons and services at church, it has been a joy to come in weekly and be part of this amazing school community. This school will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you as a community for always being so welcoming."
We are incredibly grateful for the warmth and inspiration Lauren has brought to our pupils over the years. While we will miss her, we wish her every blessing and a safe journey as she heads Down Under!
Fond Farewells and a Warm Welcome
Fond Farewells and a Warm Welcome
As we approach the end of the term, we find ourselves preparing to say goodbye to two valued members of our staff family. While we are sad to see them go, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible contributions they have made to our school.
It is truly difficult to imagine Emma Grosvenor, Year 3 class teacher, not being a daily part of our school life. Having worked across Key Stage 1 and 2, her constant smile and encouraging presence have been felt by everyone. Emma has been far more than just a teacher; she has been a source of unwavering support for her pupils and a true friend to her colleagues over her five year tenure.
Her ability to connect with the children and make a lasting, positive impact on their lives is something we have all admired. We are so grateful for the kindness she has shown to everyone around her. Emma, we wish you the very best of luck on your next big adventure - you will be missed more than you know!
We also wish a very fond farewell to Jane Bishop, our fantastic Year 5 Teaching Assistant. Jane has been a pillar of reliability within our school, consistently going out of her way to help others and ensure everything runs smoothly.
In addition to her classroom support, we want to share a special thank you for her dedication as a first aider; her calm nature and commitment to the well-being of our children have been invaluable. Jane’s kindness and genuine care have left a lasting mark on both the students she has assisted and the staff who work alongside her. We wish her every success and happiness as she moves on to her next chapter.
We are delighted to announce that Justin Woodcock will be joining us in January as the new class teacher for Rashford Class.
Mr. Woodcock joins us all the way from Melbourne, Australia! He is incredibly eager to get started and is looking forward to getting to know his new pupils, connecting with their families, and supporting the children's growth over the next two terms.
To help the children get to know him, he has shared that he is an avid traveller and a big fan of water skiing. Also, if you ever want to chat about food, his absolute favourite dish is a Chicken Tikka Masala! Please join us in giving him a very warm welcome to our school community when we return.
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