Last week in Collective Worship, Mrs. Lee introduced the theme of 'Overcoming Fear' using the powerful example of Jesus walking on water. As a school we thought about the disciple, Peter, who was fearless to begin with, as he joined Jesus on the water. However, as soon as he looked at the storm he immediately began to sink. Mrs Lee encouraged us to remember some practical tips when facing our fears, including not focusing on the situation itself (as Peter did) and breathing slowly and deeply.
On Wednesday, we had an extended Collective Worship with Gary who used all sorts of objects to help tell the story of the first Day of Pentecost, when the early Christians were gathered together. When the Holy Spirit came on each of them they became bold and confident.
Week 6 - Monday 20th to Friday 24th May - Art Week
Wednesday 22nd May - afterschool - Art Exhibition
Wednesday 22nd May - 17:30 - 18:30 - Year 6 Parent Meeting - Residential Trip
Thursday 23rd May - Year 1 class trip - Brooklands Museum
Friday 24th May - am - Year 4 field trip to Rickmansworth
Friday 24th May - Movie Night to raise money for PlaySkill Charity - POSTPONED
Monday 27th to Friday 31st May - Half Term
Week 7
Week 8
Monday 10th to Friday 14th June - Year 4 Multiplication Check and Year 1 Phonics screening
Wednesday 12th June - Reception trip to Whipsnade Zoo
Friday 14th June - 14:00 - 15:00 - Choir singing at Riverside Lodge
Week 9
Monday 17th to Friday 21st June - Year 6 Residential
Monday 17th to Friday 21st June - Years One to Five - English and Maths assessment week
Saturday 22nd June - Summer Fair - We will have performances from the Year 4’s that performed at the Three Rivers Dance Festival, before school gymnastics club, Karate club and the KS2 choir
Week 10 - Monday 24th to Friday 28th June - Science / STEM Week
Tuesday 25th June - afternoon - Year 2 trip into Rickmansworth to support their local study
Thursday 27th June - 9:30 - 15:00 - Years 3 & 4 - Aquadrome activities with Three Rivers District Council running the sessions for us
Week 11 - Monday 1st July to Friday 5th July - Sports Week
Monday 1st July - afternoon - Year 5 at the Aquadrome with Canoe Sports Trust - Katacanoes (6 to a boat) & Open Canoes (3 to a boat)
Wednesday 3rd July - afternoon - Year 6 at the Aquadrome with Canoe Sports Trust - Stand Up Paddle boards & Sit on Top Kayaks
Thursday 4th July - Sports Day - KS1 - morning followed by picnic lunch; KS2 - picnic lunch followed by sports afternoon
Thursday 4th July - 15:30 - 17:00 - Year 6 leavers party
Week 12
Thursday 11th July 9.30 - 11.45 - Transition morning
Week 13
Monday 15th July - Year 6 production - evening performance for parents
Tuesday 16th July - Year 6 productions - afternoon performance for parents
Thursday 18th July - afternoon - school disco and end of term activities
Friday 19th July - Year 6 Leavers Service at St Mary’s Church - all children to be dropped off at the church at the start of the day
Friday 19th July - 13:15 - End of term - No JD Club
House Points this week
Total House Points for the Term
Effort & Progress in Learning Certificates
Congratulations to the children below who received a special certificate on Friday for 'Effort and Progress in Learning'.
Reception - Olivia
Year 1 - Erin
Year 2 - Roman
Year 3 - Francesco
Year 4 - Zoya
Year 5 - Sheya
Year 6 - All of Year 6 for their fabulous attitude during SATs week
All the children that received certificates will be celebrating with Mrs Maxwell over a hot chocolate and marshmallows on Wednesday.
Above & Beyond
Emma, Reggie, Dylan, Darcie, Aavani, Aleyna, Lola- Rose, Luke, Florence, Lily, Henry, Jeremy, Suri, Mariam, Nicole, Scarlett, Paul John, Ella, Ben, Amber, Tilly, Zainub, Amelie, Alessandro, Sebastian, Saskia, Henry, Pato, Freya
Weekly Class Attendance
YEAR SIX
Last week marked a significant milestone for our Year Six's as they completed their SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in Reading, SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar), and three Maths papers. We have been so impressed by their mature attitude, their keenness to do well and their support for each other. It has also been lovely to share a delicious breakfast with them each morning toast, cereal and fruit. Thank you for your help with getting them in early and supporting them.
Amidst the excitement of our non-school uniform day on Friday, our Year Six's found out what their end of term production is going to be and they enjoyed a well-deserved celebration afternoon. which included pizza, treats, and a movie.
Our Year Six's have lots to look forward to over next half term including their upcoming residential.
Playskill Charity
On Tuesday, Jill, Maeve's mum, talked to the whole school about Playskill. As a volunteer at Playskill, Jill shared the incredible ways the charity supports children and families, illustrating with a touching video showcasing a younger Maeve's determination to conquer a step.
Our Friday was buzzing with excitement as we hosted a non-school uniform day and a bake sale after school. Heartfelt thanks to all who contributed through baking and purchasing, resulting in a fantastic £534 raised!
Please note, we've postponed the Movie Night. Stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled event. More details to follow soon...
Church Open Weekend
Over the weekend, St Mary's church hosted an open event filled with community spirit and fun. Among the various Rickmansworth organisations featured, our school proudly participated with its own stall. As part of the festivities, the church organised a unique parachuting teddy activity from its tower. In line with our value of the half term, Courage, we brought our beloved school mascot, Tedzie, to take a brave leap from the tower!
Our choir delivered a wonderful performance, showcasing their talents and the vibrant spirit of our school community. At our stall, we offered games and colouring activities for children, providing a space for creativity and enjoyment.
It was a wonderful weekend that beautifully demonstrated our commitment to community involvement.
A Week in Year One
This week in science, year One created detailed 3D flower models, enhancing their learning by labelling each part with key vocabulary. They embarked on a 'tree hunt' around the school, identifying various trees by their leaves and learning the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees. The adventure continued with a visit to the Reception class, where Year One met the ducklings and read aloud their recounts of "Little Red and the Hungry Lion."
Year Three Class Trip
Linking to our PSHE theme for this half term, 'Being my Best', our Year 3's embarked on an educational journey to Hazard Alley in Milton Keynes. Amidst the bustling Education Village, they delved into essential safety skills.
Throughout the day, our Year 3s navigated through nine safety scenarios in small groups, each offering invaluable lessons. For instance, at 2 Brook Street, they learned about fire safety protocols, including the three outs, smoke alarm awareness, and the importance of regular testing. They also practiced the Green Cross Code for road safety and gained insights into estimating stopping distances during emergency car stops.
Furthermore, students learned essential first aid techniques, such as placing an unconscious person in the recovery position. They engaged in activities sorting safe and hazardous crossing locations, as well as planning safe routes using designated crossings and underpasses.
During the day, they participated in a classroom-based session focused on Online Safety, equipping them with crucial knowledge for navigating the digital world responsibly.
Year Four Class Trip
On Tuesday, Year 4, walked down to Batchworth lock to learn about the history of the canal and its impact on Rickmansworth. The class divided into three groups to participate in a number of activities. These activities included a canal boat trip down to the next lock, looking for local animal and plant species. At the same time, another group learnt about the locks and opened the gates to let the boat through. Another group explored a historic working boat called 'Roger' and we were amazed to see what a small space up to five people inhabited as they carried huge amounts of coal from Birmingham to London.
In addition, we had a history talk where we learnt about life in the 17th century. We dressed up, we considered what foods we might have eaten, (surprisingly, hedgehog was popular) and we practiced the arduous task of washing clothes.
The children were fabulously behaved and asked thoughtful questions. Thank you to the volunteers at Batchworth Canal Centre for such a fun and varied day as well as the parent helpers!
⭐️ Club of the Week ⭐️
Our Key Stage 2 Choir has been exceptionally busy this year. They've graced audiences with their performances during the Christmas and Easter services, and recently showcased their talents at the Church open weekend. The choir is looking forward to their upcoming visit to Riverside Lodge, where they will perform and engage with the residents.
The club explores a diverse repertoire, mastering a mix of songs and hymns, which they diligently practice every Tuesday at lunchtime. This consistent effort not only enhances their musical skills but also enriches their sense of community and belonging. A massive thank you to Mrs Wilson for her work with the choir.
Stay tuned for more melodious updates from our talented singers!
Update on our 'Secret Garden'
Our 'Secret Garden' is teeming with new growth and vibrant life! The entire school community has been actively involved, with children from every class visiting the garden to check on their plantings. Notably, some of our Key Stage 2 children have dedicated their lunch breaks to weeding, watering, and nurturing the plants. Have a look at the photographs that show our living classroom where learning and growth go hand in hand!
Bird Rescue
In a heartwarming display of compassion, a group of our Year Four and Five's recently found a bird struggling to fly in the school car park. Demonstrating quick thinking and empathy, they rescued the bird and carefully placed it in the Narnia area of our Secret Garden. The children continued to check on their feathered friend regularly, ensuring it was safe and recovering. This act of kindness not only reflects the caring spirit of our children but also their commitment to nurturing all forms of life in our school community.
2024 - 2025 Term Dates
Autumn Term
Autumn Term
Thursday 5th September 2024 - Autumn term starts
Monday 28th October to Friday 3rd November - Half Term
Friday 20th December 2024 - Autumn term finishes
Spring Term
Wednesday 8th January 2025 - Spring term starts
Monday 17th to Friday 21st February - Half Term
Friday 4th April - Spring term finishes
Summer Term
Thursday 24th April - Summer term starts
Monday 26th to Friday 30th May - Half Term
Friday 18th July - Summer term finishes
Important Reminders
Fingers crossed this beautiful weather is here to stay. Please remember to suncream your child before coming into school and a hat is packed for playtimes. Children without a hat on sunny days will need to stay in the shade.
For safety reasons, please note that children should not be using the playground equipment before or after school. During drop-off and pick-up times, it's crucial to supervise your child and ensure their whereabouts are known. Additionally, bikes or scooters are not used on the playground.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school environment safe for all.
Attendance at school is the foundation to a child's future success and happiness. Over the coming weeks, we will be taking a letter from the alphabet, in turn, in order to highlight the importance of being at school and advice for parents and carers.
J is for Journey to Success: This week emphasises the significance of each day in your child's educational journey, recognising that every moment counts towards achieving academic excellence and personal growth.
Data shows that primary school children in Key Stage 2 who didn’t achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and maths missed on average four more days per school year than those whose performance exceeded the expected standard.
Specifically, data from 2019 shows that 84% of Key Stage 2 pupils who had 100% attendance achieved the expected standard, compared to 40% of pupils who were persistently absent across the key stage.
Being in school is important to your child’s achievements, wellbeing, and wider development. Make your child's future a priority!
Parenting Courses
We have such an amazing school and are looking at ways to promote ourselves in the wider community. To do this, we will be developing our use of social media. Please like our new Facebook page and any posts that you enjoy.