Christmas Fair

Last Saturday, the Friends of St James hosted the Christmas Fair and what a fabulous event it was. With a huge range of activities and stalls, spinning cup rides and of course the Santa's Grotto in Hagrid's hut. 

I would like to say a huge thank you to: 

• Mrs Cowden, Mrs Michaelides, Mrs Powick, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Doyle, Mrs Moore and Mrs Wales who gave up their Saturday to run the bouncy castle stall; 

• all the parents and carers who supported by running a stall for their year groups;

• all the families who came out to enjoy the festivities and support the school; 

• and finally massive thanks to Gemma, Claire and Shaun for all their organising efforts. 

Welcomes

We would like to offer a warm St James welcome to Mrs Sweeting who has joined the St James team to work in Reception. Mrs Sweeting works in the morning supporting the children across both classes. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend. 

Best wishes, 

Mrs Murphy

What is the Winter Mini Challenge? 

The Winter Mini Challenge is an online, bitesize version of The Reading Agency’s annual Summer Reading Challenge. This summer, The Reading Agency teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust and public libraries to bring you Ready, Set, Read! – a Summer Reading Challenge that empowers hundreds of thousands of young people to read and play, keeping minds and bodies active over the summer break. Following the success of Ready, Set, Read!, The Reading Agency are delighted to extend the theme into the Winter Mini Challenge. With the holidays approaching, now is the time to encourage children to discover the joy of reading and to build on good reading habits! 

It is easy to take part in the Winter Mini Challenge. Children simply read three books or more of their choice between 1 December 2023 and 19 February 2024 and add them to their online profile on wintermini.org.uk. Reaching their reading goal will unlock a limited-edition virtual badge and a special Winter Mini Challenge certificate to print off and keep.


Prize for every child reaching their goal 

Surrey Libraries are encouraging every child and their responsible adult to visit their local Surrey library to pick up their books and start reading! Besides picking up books from their Surrey library, children can borrow books from their school library, and download for free Surrey Libraries’ eBooks, eAudiobooks and eComics. All reading counts! Once a child has reached their online goal, they can collect a prize in one of our libraries*. They can bring along their printed certificate or show the e-certificate to a staff member or volunteer on a device like a mobile phone, and they can collect a prize (suitable for 3+ year olds, available in most of our libraries, and as long as stock lasts). Please note that a child must be a library member to collect their prize. If someone isn’t a member yet, they can join the library online or at their local library. Library membership is free.  

Please find below the Autumn/Winter menu. This is a three week rolling menu. All children choose from one of the three meal options at the start of each school day.  

If your child is in KS2 and has a school meal, please remember to pay for and book their meals in advance using the SCOPAY app.  

Royal Holloway 7 a side Year 6 Girls Football Competition

St James’ Year 6 girls football team represented the school at the Royal Holloway 7 a side Year 6 Girls Football Competition on Thursday 23rd November. The team were drawn in a group with Manorcroft and St Judes. The first match was against Manorcroft, at team that eventually went on to play in the finals, which the girls lost 5-0. This made the team more determined to do well in the second group match in order to qualify for the quarter finals. The match v St Judes went well for the girls as they applied lots of pressure and eventually Ava D scored. The match ended in a 1-0 with for St James which then gained us a place in the quarter finals. This quarter final match was played against Bell Farm and was tightly contested throughout, at full time it was 0-0 which meant penalties were now needed to settle the knock out tie. After penalties St James were knocked out 3-1. The girls had a thoroughly enjoyable day and up held St James school values throughout.

The team that represented the school were: Daisy R, Isobel WS, Ava D, Lilly M, India T, Poppy O, Keylie May S, Isla T, Ella W, Ava L.

Year 6 Boys Royal Holloway 7 a side Football Tournament

On Thursday 9th November the Year 6 boys football team played in their first tournament of the school year at Royal Holloway Sports Centre. There were 11 school in attendance including St James who got drawn in a group with Cardinal Newman, Manorcroft and St Charles primary schools. It was a day of enjoyment with high energy 10 minute matches. The three group matches the boys played we well contested. The boys lost the first games to St Charles, drew the second game to Manorcroft and lost the final match to Cardinal Newman. This meant the team unfortunately didn’t progress to the knock out stages. A few friendly matches were played at the end in which the team acquitted themselves very well in. The buys that represent the school at this event were: Patric O; Ben W; Cole O; Luke Y; Lincoln CHS; Tom G; Vlad K; Cooper H; Stanley P;

School Football Y 5 & 6 Girls League Match Report v Stepgates Community School

On Monday 6th November our Year 5 and 6 girls football team played their first league fixture against Stepgates Community School at home. It was an exciting end to end games with Stepgates scoring first and quickly against the St James team. St James levelled quickly which ended up being the theme of the match, going 1 behind and the drawing back level. At 4 – 4 St James girls started to edge ahead for the first time to make it 5 – 4. The girls then continued to stretch ahead ending with a winning score of 7 – 4. Lottie H and Ava D ended you with a hattrick each and India T scored one. The Player of the Match went to Isobel WS for here excellent defending. It was an exciting a good start to the football season for the girls’ team. The girls that represented the school for this match were: Lottie H; Leila K; India T; Isobel WS; Harriet W; Poppy O; Ava D; Daisy R; Evelyn S.

Year 3 and 4 Dodgeball Festival, Cleves

On Friday 17th November, 12 children across Years 3 and 4 competed in an Aspire Dodgeball Festival and Cleves school. The whole group had lots of fun and enjoyment while playing this fast paced and lively game. The children played in 3 matches against Grovelands, Cleves and Burhill primary schools. The team started well by winning the first match versus Grovelands but found the next two matches tough against the strong teams of Cleves and Burhill. Cleves went on to win the tournament. Enjoyment and learning were the main aims of this event with the children learning and furthering their sending and receiving skills within a competitive game situation. All of the children really enjoyed their afternoon of dodgeball.

The children that represented the school were: Olivia P; Yegor Y; Tilly H; Leonel I; Mabel R; Mason S; Katelyn R; Joshua C; Riley T; Avie S; Edwin C; Darcie R.

Year 5 and 6 Girls Cup Football Match at away v Ashley Primary School

On Wednesday 22nd November, St James Year 5 and 6 girls football team played against Ashley Primary School away in ERPSSA Girls Schools Cup Competition. Ashley was a strong but the St James girls battled and ran hard throughout the match. The game ended in a 5 – 1 win for Ashley School knocking St James out of the Cup competition in the first round. The goal was score for St James by Lottie H and St James player of the match was India T for her consistent hard work and defending. The girls’ team were Anna K, Keylie May S, Isla T, Leila K, Evelyn S, India T, Lottie H, Issi WS.

The next girls team match is against Ashley School in the ERPSSA Year 5 and 6 Girls Open League on Wednesday 29th November. Thanks to all of the parents who have come to support so far.

Year 5 and 6 Girls Open League Football Match v Ashley Primary School

On Wednesday 29th November, St James Year 5 and 6 girls played Ashley Primary School in the Year 5 and 6 Girls Open League Football Match v Ashley Primary School. Having lost 5-1 against the same team last week in the cup this was always going to be a tough match. Improvements in play are showing with the team and the girls acquitted themselves excellently throughout the game. Ashley School went 2 – 0 up but the team rallied to 2-1 with a goal from Lottie H. St James kept on pushing for the second goal however at the very end of the match Ashley scored to make it 3-1. It was a very good contest despite the final score line.

The team that represented the school were: Anna K, Ava L, Lottie H, Isobel WS, Ava D, Isla T, India T, Poppy O. The POTM was Lottie H for scoring the goal and keeping the team in the game.

Year 6 Boys Open League Football Match at Home v St Annes

On Monday 20th November our Year 6 boy football team played against St Annes Primary School at home in the ERPSSA Boys Open League. St Annes started strongly and scored 3 goals against St James in the first half. The boys team then picked themselves up and started defending with more resilience. This defence gave the team something to build on in the second half and attacks then started to be created. After a lot of pressure from St James, St Annes countered with a corner and managed to score a 4th goal. The result ended in a 4-0 loss to the St James team. The team were Patric O, Ben W, Cole O, Luke Y, Lincoln CHS, Tom G, Vlad K, Cooper H, Stanley P.

The next league match is against Burhill away on Thursday 7th December.

See website for more dates. INSET Days have been set for the academic Year 2023/4. More information can be found on the website here: https://www.stjames-weybridge.surrey.sch.uk/term-dates-1/  

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