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Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing;
together shining a light
'Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go' Joshua 1:9
Courage
Courage
This week, our focus on the value of 'Courage' has encouraged children to step outside their comfort zones. This theme was further inspired by Miss Devlin's Marathon challenge. We've challenged our children with our "Value Spotters", encouraging them not only to observe others but to reflect on their own actions. They have been challenged to try something new, whether it's tackling a challenging problem in a Maths lesson, joining a different club, taking a risk on the sports field, or attempting a new activity at home. This initiative helps foster personal growth and self-esteem across various settings.
On Wednesday, Gary continued this theme by exploring the story of the disciples whom Jesus sent out to his work as well. They faced the challenge of going out into the unknown, taking little with them. Definitely out of their comfort zone!
Key Dates
Key Dates
This week...
This week...
Week 3
Wednesday 1st May - 08:45 - 10:00 - Class Parent Rep meeting
Wednesday 1st May - lunchtime - Year 4 to 6 - internal team selection for the Inter-school Maths Quiz Championships 2024
Thursday 2nd May - Polling day - emails were sent last week
This half term...
This half term...
Week 4
Monday 6th May - Bank holiday - no school
Tuesday 7th May - Ducklings arriving for Reception
Thursday 9th May - 09:00 - 10:00 - Parent Workshop on RSE (Relationships & Sex Education)
Friday 10th May - 10:00 - 11:00 - Inter-school Maths Quiz Championships 2024 - Round 1 (online)
Week 5
Monday 13th to Friday 17th May - Year 6 - SATS week
Tuesday 14th May - Year 4 class trip to Batchworth Canal
Thursday 16th May - Year 3 - class trip to Hazard Alley
Friday 17th May - Non-uniform day and Bake Sale afterschool for PlaySkill charity
Friday 17th May - Year 6 - pizza and film afternoon to celebrate the end of SATs week
Saturday 18th May - Open morning at St Mary's Church - we will be supporting this event with the Choir, children serving cakes as well as having a stall to promote us. This is an important event for us to promote how special our school is in our local community
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 - Movie Night to raise money for PlaySkill Charity
Monday 27th to Friday 31st May - Half Term
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May OR Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd June
Classroom painting weekend - we are looking at getting a painting party together for each year group to help paint your child’s classroom. Please speak to your parent rep if you can help
Next half term...
Next half term...
5Week 7
Week 8
Monday 10th to Friday 14th June - Year 4 Multiplication Check and Year 1 Phonics screening
Monday 10th June - afternoon - Year 2 trip into Rickmansworth to support their local study
Wednesday 12th June - Reception trip to Whipsnade Zoo
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
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
Shining a light on...
Shining a light on...
House Points this week
Effort & Progress in Learning Certificates
Congratulations to the children below who received a special certificate on Friday for 'Effort and Progress in Learning'.
Reception - Mira
Year 1 - Millie
Year 2 - Kathryn
Year 3 - Simran
Year 4 - Aaryan
Year 5 - Eliza
Year 6 - Caoimhe
All the children that received certificates will be celebrating with Mrs Maxwell over a hot chocolate and marshmallows on Monday.
Above & Beyond
Jay, Mia, Phoenix, Apostolos, Orla, Dylan, Louis, Charlie, Archie, Jemimah, Florence, Lily, Olivia, Annabel, Lilly G, Marly, Reggie, Linden, Jules, Willow, Harvey, Shenya, Nic, Louie, Eliza, Albert, Susan, Blake
Weekly Class Attendance
A Week in Year Six
On Monday, Year Six had their first Positive Minds session run by Watford Football Club's Education Trust. In the session, they learnt what mental health is, who might suffer with mental health difficulties, and that everyone has a mental health. They learnt about the impact that COVID-19 had on the mental health of young people and adults and were very surprised by some of the statistics! Year Six are looking forward to some of the topics coming up in our 10-week programme, such as gaming, body image and emotional literacy.
To find out more, click on the link - https://www.watfordfccsetrust.com/project/positive-minds/
In Science, they have been learning about Evolution and Inheritance. In their lesson this week, they explored the ideas of variation and natural selection. They learnt about the discoveries that Charles Darwin made on the Galapagos Islands when he studied the finches that he found. They also were amazed at the changes found in moths in the UK during and after the Industrial Revolution. Year Six then researched one species of animal in which there is variation, e.g. a fallow deer and a reindeer, and explained how they may have adapted to survive in their environment over time. Can you think of any habitats in which humans are not able to live? Have humans adapted in anyway to survive in their environment?
In Art, Year Six were taking inspiration from our Geography topic of North and South America to create imagery for our wave bowls. They began sketching their initial draft designs which reflects the range of biomes found across the two continents.
Football Team Shines in Exciting Tournament
Our football team, fresh off their triumph in the partnership final at Arnet Hills, has continued to make us proud in the next round of competitions against winners from other partnership groups. They showed great spirit and skill across several matches, clinching one victory, drawing three, and narrowly losing one. Despite a few missed opportunities to score, their performance was nothing short of inspiring. A huge well done to all our players! They've truly upheld our school's spirit of determination and excellence. We are incredibly proud of how well they represented us!
⭐️ Club of the Week ⭐️
Last Thursday, JD Club took over the kitchen/dining room and embarked on a delightful baking adventure! The children had a blast creating mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies. Working in small mixed-age groups, they tackled the challenge of reading instructions, measuring ingredients, and mixing everything together. Once the cookies were in the oven, it was time to wash up and clean the tables and floors. The dining room buzzed with activity as everyone pitched in, making sure everything was as tidy as it was when they started.
The session was filled with laughter and teamwork as they crafted their delicious treats, eagerly anticipating the moment they would pop them into the oven. It was a fun and educational experience for all involved, showcasing the joy of collaboration and creativity! 🍪👩🍳👨🍳
Year 5 - Week Five - with the 'Mini Police' Programme
We're excited to announce that our mini police assembly is almost here! Year Five have been rehearsing and perfecting their performances and speeches. We completed a successful run-through, incorporating valuable feedback to enhance our presentation. The children have shown great enthusiasm and dedication throughout this process, and we can't wait to share the results. No photographs this week as we don't want to spoil the surprise.
Spotlight on Eliza: Featured Artist in 'Phoenix' Magazine!
Check out Eliza’s feature in the 'Phoenix' magazine! Eliza, an avid artist who draws inspiration from comics, manga, and anime, is a regular subscriber to the magazine. She recently submitted her artwork to the 'Phoenix' fan base, and they were so impressed that they decided to feature her drawings in this issue.
🌍 Louie's Journey Through the Wonders of the World 🌍
Louie, in Year 5, has been impressing us all with his incredible enthusiasm for learning outside the classroom. He has embarked on an exciting journey to explore some of the wonders of the world. He has created a captivating presentation showcasing some of the most remarkable wonders across the globe. His dedication and passion for learning shine through every slide, reflecting his commitment to excellence. Let's take a moment to admire a couple of his exceptional slides below!
🛹 Spotlight on Florence's Skateboarding Progress
In September we shared Florence's successes on the skateboard with her coming second in the novice girls category at Croxley Green Skate Jam. This is a video clip of her progress!
Riding off curbs April 2024_compressed.mp4🌟 Keeping Up with Our Former Pupils: Mollie's Success in Show Jumping! 🌟
It's always heartwarming to hear updates about our former pupils as they continue to flourish in their pursuits. We recently received news about Mollie's impressive achievements in show jumping since leaving us last year.
Mollie has been making remarkable strides in her jumping abilities, now clearing 138's with finesse. She narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Royal International, showcasing her talent and dedication to the sport. With the Winter Championships approaching next weekend and HOYs qualifiers on the horizon, Mollie's journey in show jumping is filled with excitement and promise.
We're keeping our fingers crossed for Mollie as she aims to secure a spot on the England team at the Welsh Home Pony event. Despite her busy schedule and newfound success, Mollie fondly remembers her time at St Mary's and misses the school community dearly.
Let's all extend our best wishes to Mollie as she continues to chase her dreams, and may her passion for show jumping lead to even greater achievements in the future! 🐎✨
Information
Information
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
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.
G is for Guidance: There is a lot of guidance about attendance written by the government; it explains what they expect local authorities, schools, parents and others to do.
Schools are often bound by what the DfE and LA direct us to do in terms of legal guidance around attendance. As a school, we just want the children to be in school, happy and learning in order to give them the best life chances possible.
You can look at it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working- together-to-improve-school-attendance
Class Blogs
Our Class Blogs provide an extensive update that exceeds typical primary school offerings. Not only do they outline the week's homework, but they also offer insights into our class's ongoing learning journey. You'll find information about our recent lessons, previews of upcoming topics, and key dates tailored to each year group. We encourage you to invest time in reading these blogs—they offer valuable glimpses into our children'' educational experiences. These do take a significant amount of effort for staff to create.
Class Parent Rep Meeting
On Wednesday morning, we have our half termly Class Parent Rep meeting. Please send comments/feedback on the items below to your parent rep by Tuesday afternoon:
- Classroom painting - can this happen?
- Uniform - shirt & tie or poloshirt - any other feedback on uniform
- Reports - What would you like included in end of year reports?
- Homework - we are looking at ways to adapt as well as extend some of our children. For some of our children, they complete the CGP tasks quickly. What are parents thoughts on this?
Playskill Charity
We will be focussing our attention on our final charity of this academic year - Playskill. As we have mentioned previously, this is a local charity that has supported a number of our children in our school community.
Have a read of Maeve's story from the Playskill website - PlaySkill - Maeve's Story
So far, we have added in a few activities to help raise money for this amazing charity -
Friday 17th May - Non-school uniform and end of day bake sale
Friday 24th May - Movie Night in our school hall
Let us know if you have any other ideas to raise money for this fabulous charity.
Year 6 Parents
KS2 Maths SATs event in Croxley Green
Tuesday, 30 April, 10:00am at Croxley Green Family Centre
Free event
Community
Community
Representing our School at St Mary's Church Open weekend
Our school choir has been invited to perform at the upcoming St Mary's Church Open Day. This event provides an excellent platform for our children to share their vocal talent with the wider community and contribute to a joyous occasion. The choir will be performing a selection of uplifting and inspiring songs and is a wonderful opportunity for your child to gain performance experience, build confidence and make a positive impact through singing. If your child is in the school choir, please complete the school gateway confirming if your child is able / unable to attend the event.
Details of the performance are as follows:
Date: Saturday 18th May
Time: 12.00pm (Children to arrive for 11.30am and be in full school uniform)
We would love more children to be involved during the morning to show our fabulous school community. We will have a school stall as well as serving refreshments. Please let us know if you would like your child to be involved in the event.
This is an important event for us to promote how special our school is in our local community -
please sign up for your child to attend using SchoolComms
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.
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