St Mary's News
Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing;
together shining a light
Embedded Files
Welcome Back
Welcome Back
Welcome back to a brand new term and a brand new year at St Mary’s. It has been a joy to welcome the children back into school and to see classrooms full of energy, curiosity and smiles as we begin our journey into 2026 together.
To mark the start of the New Year, the children explored New Year traditions from around the world. They were fascinated to learn that in Denmark, people jump off a chair at midnight to leap into the New Year with hope and courage. We also looked at a tradition from Colombia, where people walk around with an empty suitcase to show their hopes for travel and new adventures in the year ahead.
These traditions helped us reflect on the year that has passed and think thoughtfully about the year to come. As part of this reflection, the children created candles to represent how they can shine their light by helping, supporting and caring for others – a theme that sits at the heart of our school vision.
We also celebrated the end of last half term by awarding Changemaker Project stickers, recognising the wonderful ways children lived out our previous value. At the same time, we introduced this half term’s Changemaker Project, which will focus on our new value of Trust – thinking carefully about what it means to trust others and to be trustworthy ourselves.
Over the course of this week, we will be sending out the parent curriculum overviews along with the optional writing tasks, so you can see what learning is coming up and how you might support your child at home if you wish.
There is already so much to look forward to this term, including Art and Book Week, a house singing competition, and our exciting production of Oliver! More details about these events will follow very soon.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support as we begin another busy and joyful term together.
Key Dates
Key Dates
There are lots more dates to add to the calendar but we wanted to get these to you as soon as possible to put into your dairies...
This Week ...
Week 2 - Enrichment Clubs start back
Tuesday 13th January - pm - Fun run Y5 at King George V Play Area (Shepherds Lane)
Wednesday 14th January - am - Year 6 visiting Rickmansworth School for Guys and Dolls Jr production
Wednesday 14th January - pm - Year 6 Watford FC Positive Minds
Thursday 15th January - 9:00 - 10:30 - Parent workshop with Lynn Turnball from PINS Project
Thursday 15th January - Year 1 - please bring a toy into school for our topic on 'Toys'
SpringTerm...
Week 3
Monday 19th January - pm - Y5 Mini Police - Bullying and Internet Safety Sessions
Week 4
Wednesday 28th January - 9am - Parent Rep meeting
Week 5
Monday 2nd February - pm - Year 5 Mini Police - Road Safety
Tuesday 3rd February - Year 2 - Geography Rickmansworth Walk
Tuesday 3rd February - afternoon & evening - Year 4 & choir - Young Voices
Thursday 5th February - Year 6 - WW2 Themed Day in school
Week 6 - Themed Week - Art week
Monday 9th Febraury - pm - Year 5 Mini Police - Interactive session, drill and equipment
Monday 9th February - pm - Year 4 - Dance Festival rehearsal at Rickmansworth School
Tuesday 10th February - evening - Year 4 - Dance Festival at Rickmansworth School
Tuesday 10th February - 3:00 - 3:45 - Parent Book Look
HALF TERM - Monday 16th to Monday 23rd February
Week 7
Tuesday 23rd February to Thursday 25th February - Scholastic Book Fair
Thursday 25th February - am - Years 4 & 6 - visiting Neasden Temple
Friday 27th February - whole school watching the M&M Productions - Wizard of Oz
Week 8 - Themed Week - Book Week
Thursday 5th March - World Book Day - dress up as a book character
Friday 6th March - afternoon - St Davids House celebration
Week 9
Monday 9th March - pm - Year 5 - Mini Police - Parent assembly
Tuesday 10th March - 9:00 - 10:30 - Parent workshop - PINS Project
Sunday 15th March - Years 3 to 6 - Oliver production - Dress rehearsal
Week 10
Monday 16th March - pm - Years 5 & 6 - K'Nex Challenge in school
Tuesday 17th March - Parent Target reports to parents
Wednesday 18th March - afternoon and evening - Oliver production
Thursday 19th March - afternoon - Oliver production
Friday 20th March - St Patrick's House Celebration
Friday 20th March - evening - Oliver production
Week 11
Tuesday 24th March - Parent Consultations
Wednesday 25th March - Parent Consultations
Thursday 26th March - 2pm - Parent Rep Meeting
Thursday 26th March - 6pm - Easter service in Church for Years 1 to 6
Friday 27th March - Last day of term - House singing competition - finish at 1:15
Summer Term...
Week 1 - Breakfast & afterschool Clubs starts back
Wednesday 15th April - children back in school
Week 2 - Enrichment Clubs start back
Friday 24th April - afternoon - St George's House celebration
Week 3
Week 4
Monday 4th May - Bank Holiday - no school
Week 5 - SATS Week
Week 6 - Themed Week - STEM week
Tuesday 19th May - 3:00 - 3:45 - Parent Book Look
HALF TERM
Week 7
Tuesday 2nd June - children back in school
Week 8 - Year 1 Phonics Screening; Year 4 Multiplication Check
Week 9 - Year 6 residential
Week 10 - Themed Week - Diversity Week
Saturday 27th June - Summer Fair
Week 11
Week 12 - Themed week - Sports Week
Monday 6th July - afternoon - Charity Mini-Marathon at the Aquadrome
Thursday 9th July - Secondary Transition day
Friday 10th July - Sports Day
Friday 10th July - afterschool - Year 6 Leavers party
Week 13
Monday 13th July - Reports to parents
Wednesday 15th July - evening - Year 6 performance to parents
Thursday 16th July - afternoon - Year 6 performance to parents
Week 14
Monday 20th July - Year 6 Leavers assembly for parents
Tuesday 21st July - Leavers Service at St Mary's Church
Personal Development Blog
Personal Development Blog
Emotional Literacy - FEELIT! Programme
At St Mary’s, we believe that children learn best when they understand their emotions and feel confident talking about them. That is why emotional literacy is a key part of our personal development provision and is taught explicitly through our FEELIT! programme.
Each academic year, children are introduced to twelve carefully chosen emotion words. Learning to name an emotion is a powerful first step. When children can put a name to a feeling, it helps them make sense of what is happening inside them and gives them the language to explain their behaviour or ask for help.
Through FEELIT!, children learn:
what each emotion means
how it might show on the outside (facial expressions, body language, behaviour)
where they might feel it in their body (a tight tummy, fast heartbeat, heavy shoulders)
Importantly, children are also taught that feelings are not fixed. Once a feeling has been named, children learn that they can begin to manage it. They explore how their thoughts influence their feelings, and how changing what they are thinking can help change how they feel.
This growing emotional awareness supports children to:
regulate their emotions more effectively
develop empathy and understanding for others
build resilience and confidence
feel calm, safe and ready to learn
Emotional literacy is a vital life skill. By helping children to notice, name and manage their emotions, we are equipping them with tools they will use far beyond the classroom – enabling them to flourish as confident, compassionate individuals.
Information
Information
Shining a light on...
Shining a light on...
Above and Beyond
A massive congratulations to the children below who achieved Above and Beyond!
Cooper, Felix, Juniper, Elijah, Willow, Elle, Celine, Amelie, Louis, Margot, Siddharth, Maeve, Scarlett, Ava, Giana, Alina, Eryk, Dylan, Orla, Erin, Giana, Sylvie, Harry H, Sadie, Florence, Lilly G, Fletcher, Paul John, Quinn, Marly, Charlie, Lilly D, Oscar, Austin, Willow, Esmee, Ava, Anna, Amber, Tobias, Linden
Attendance Award
St Mary’s Highlights: Don’t Miss a Moment!
Stay connected and dive into the excitement at St Mary’s! Our social media pages are buzzing with all the amazing activities our children have been involved in over the past couple of weeks. From vibrant class projects and special assemblies to heartwarming community events, there’s so much to see and celebrate!
Click on our social media links to catch up on all the fun, unforgettable moments, and proud achievements. Don’t miss out—follow us and be part of the joy that makes our school community shine!
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