St Mary's Weekly
Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing;
together shining a light
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"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Friendship
Friendship
This week in Collective Worship, we’ve been learning about the importance of being a good friend by focusing on how we can really listen to each other. Mrs Lee and Mrs Martin kicked things off with a fun challenge. Mrs Lee spoke about one of her favourite subjects - visiting different countries in the UK. Afterwards, Mrs Martin shared three facts she remembered from listening to Mrs Lee and explained how she actively listened.
We also explored the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42 where Martha is busy organising the house for Jesus, while Mary sits and listens to Him. Martha becomes frustrated, but Jesus explains that Mary had chosen well by listening attentively. This passage teaches us the importance of active listening—setting aside distractions and giving full attention to the person speaking. Just like Mary, we are reminded to pause, focus, and listen carefully to others, showing respect and care through our actions.
Together, we discussed key skills for being a good listener: turning to face the speaker, making eye contact, pausing, and responding thoughtfully to what is being said. These skills help us show care and respect in our friendships.
Remember to get involved with our Friendship display
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 5
Wednesday 2nd October - 09:00 - Harvest Festival for Years 1 to 6 at St Mary's Church (smart uniform)
Friday 4th October - Year 4 trip - Science Museum
Autumn term (First half term)...
Week 6
Monday 7th October - Individual photographs (smart uniform)
Monday 7th October - 13:30 - 14:30 - Year 6 - Positive Choices with Herts Police
Tuesday 8th October - Choir - Harvest Festival at St Albans (smart uniform)
Wednesday 9th October - Year 5 trip - Matilda in London (workshop & matinee performance)
Thursday 10th October - am in school - Year 1 - Materials workshop
Friday 11th October - 09:00 - Parent workshop - How do we feedback/report to parents about children's progress
Saturday 12th October - 10:00 - 12:00 - Come and Play for prospective Reception children 2025/2026
Week 7 - Black History Month focused week
Tuesday 15th October - KS1 target report sent to parents in preparation for parent consultations
Wednesday 16th October - 09:00 / 18:00 - Parent Coffee and Chat with Mrs Maxwell
Week 8
Tuesday 22nd October - Year 3 trip - Stoneage trip to Chiltern Open Air Museum
Tuesday 22nd October - Year 2 - Pirate Day in school
Tuesday 22nd October - Reception and Key Stage 1 parent consultations
Wednesday 23rd October - 09:00 - 13:00 - KS2 School Council members to Rickmansworth for a School Council Forum
Wednesday 23rd October - Reception and Key Stage 1 parent consultations
Thursday 24th October - Year 1 trip - Bekonscot Model Village
Friday 25th October - 9:00 - 10:30 - Reception, Years 1 & 2 - perform workshop in school
HALF TERM
Autumn term (second half term)...
Fireworks Night - 3rd November - 16:00 - 18:30 - FoSMS - tickets on sale shortly
Week 9
Thursday 7th November - Morning - Archdeacon visiting school
Sunday 10th November - Remembrance Service at St Mary's Church - Head and Deputy Girl, Head and Deputy Boy will be involved
Week 10 - Anti-bullying Week
Monday 11th November - Remembrance Extended Collective Worship - children to wear their scouting uniform to school
Tuesday 12th November - Odd Socks Day (children to wear school uniform with odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique)
Wednesday 13th November - Reception Trip - Odds Farm
Thursday 14th November - 09:00 - Wellbeing coffee morning on 'Regulation' with Mrs Budd
Friday 15th November - Year 4 Trip - St Albans Verulamium
Week 11
Tuesday 19th November - KS2 target report sent to parents in preparation for parent consultations
Friday 22nd November - 13:45 - Parent Rep meeting
Friday 22nd November - Year 6 - World War Two Day in school - dressing up as an evacuee
Week 12
Monday 25th November - evening - Wreath Making session - FoSMS - more details shortly
Tuesday 26th November - KS2 parent consultations
Wednesday 27th November - KS2 parent consultations
Friday 29th November - 14:00 - 15:00 - St Andrews House celebration
Saturday 30th November - 12:00 - 15:00 - Christmas Fair - FoSMS
Week 13
Wednesday 4th December - No Pens Day (children will be taking part in lots of oracy and active learning)
Friday 6th December - 09:00 - Parent Workshop on Writing
Week 14
Monday 9th December - KS1 Nativity dress rehearsal to school
Tuesday 10th December - KS1 Nativity performances to parents x 2 performances
Wednesday 11th December - Reception Nativity dress rehearsal to school
Thursday 12th December - morning - Reception Nativity performance for parents
Thursday 12th December - afternoon - Whole school - Watersmeet Panto - Jack and the Beanstalk
Friday 13th December - Christmas Jumper Day
Week 15 (No enrichment clubs)
Tuesday 17th December - KS2 Carol Service - evening - St Mary's Church
Wednesday 18th December - 15:15 - 17:00 - Years 1 to 3 - Christmas Disco
Thursday 19th December - afternoon - Reception Disco (in school time)
Thursday 19th December - 15:15 - 17:00 - Years 4 to 6 - Christmas Disco
Friday 20th December - term finishes at 13:15 - No JD Club
Spring Term...
Week 1
Wednesday 8th January - Back to school
Wednesday 8th January - Writing Day
Week 2
Week 3
Wednesday 22nd January - 09:00- Parent Rep meeting
Week 4
Week 5 Art Week
Week 6
Monday 10th February - Young Voices - Year 4 and choir from Years 5 & 6
HALF TERM
Week 7
Thursday 27th February - 09:00 / 18:00 - Parent Coffee and Chat with Mrs Maxwell
Friday 28th February - 14:00 - 15:00 - St David's House Celebration
Week 8 Book Week
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day - dressing up
Week 9
Friday 14th March - 14:00 - 15:00 - St Patrick's House Celebration
Week 10
Monday 17th March - 13:45 - Parent Rep Meeting
Tuesday 18th March - Years 1 to 6 - Mini report to parents in preparation for parent consultations
Wednesday 19th March - evening - Matilda production performance
Thursday 20th March - afternoon & evening - Matilda production performance
Week 11
Tuesday 25th March - Parent consultations
Wednesday 26th March - Parent consultations
Week 12
Thursday 3rd April - Years 1 to 6 - Easter service at St Mary's Church at 18:00
Friday 4th April - term finishes at 13:15 - No JD Club
Summer Term...
Week 1
Thursday 24th April - Back to school
Friday 25th April - 14:00 - 15:00 - St George's House celebration
Week 2
Tuesday 29th April - Year 4 trip - Farmer Gows
Tuesday 29th April - Year 2 trip - Royal Academy of Arts
Week 3
Monday 5th May - Bank Holiday
Week 4 Year 6 - SATs Week
Thursday 16th May - 13:45 - Parent Rep meeting
Friday 17th May - afternoon - Year 6 - pizza and movie afternoon
Week 5 STEM Week
HALF TERM
Week 6
Monday 2nd June - INSET Day - no school
Week 7
Year 6 residential
Reception Phonics Screening
Year 4 Multiplication Check
Friday 13th June - 9am / 6pm - Parent Coffee and Chat with Mrs Maxwell
Week 8
Thursday 19th June - evening - Music Concert - Years 1 to 6
Week 9
Monday 23rd June - Neurodiversity Day
Week 10
Saturday 5th June - Summer Fair
Week 11 Sports Week
Monday 7th July - afternoon - Mini Class Marathon event at the Aquadrome
Thursday 10th July - Sports Day
Thursday 10th July - 15:15 - 17:00 - Year 6 Leavers activities
Week 12
Monday 14th July - Reports to parents
Monday 14th July - evening - Year 6 performance for parents
Tuesday 15th July - afternoon - Year 6 performance to parents
Thursday 17th July - afternoon - Year 6 Leaver's Assembly
Friday 18th July - 09:00 - Year 6 Leavers Service at St Mary's Church - all children in Years 1 to 6 to be dropped off at 08:50
Friday 18th July - term finishes at 13:15 - No JD Club
Shining a light on...
Shining a light on...
House Points
This year, children will continue to earn House Points to fill their house team's bucket. Each week, the house with the most points will be awarded four points, the second place will receive three points, and so on. At the end of each term, the winning house will enjoy a non-uniform day as a special reward for their efforts.
Class Attendance
Effort & Progress in Learning Certificates
Congratulations to the children below who received a special certificate on Friday for 'Effort and Progress in Learning'.
Year 1 - Daisy
Year 2 - Lois
Year 3 - Scarlett
Year 4 - Quinn
Year 5 - Dolly
Year 6 - Megan
All the children that received certificates will be celebrating with Mrs Maxwell over a hot chocolate and marshmallows this week.
Above and Beyond
A massive congratulations to the children below who achieved Above and Beyond on Friday!
Niven, Siddharth, Angelos, Daisy, Fletcher, Phoenix, Scarlett, Kaiden, Mariam, Suri, Jaycee, Dillon, Francesco, Paul John, Reggie, Marly, Esmée, Amelie, Issy, Heidi, Jules, Lilly, Lottie, Kezia
Year One's Poetry Performance
Doodle Learning Success!
Information
Information
Please note that collection times are set, similar to our enrichment clubs: 16:15, 17:15, or any time after 17:15.
JD Club Timetable:
15:15 - 15:30: Please provide your child with a small, healthy snack
15:30 - 16:15: Free play outside and inside
16:15 - 17:15: *High Tea (provided by school) and themed activities
17:15 - 18:00: Homework, reading and free play
*High Tea will vary depending on the season. Please note, this is not their main evening meal.
Examples include - selection of sandwiches with a variety of fillings; pasta and sauce; pizza; soup and bread roll; hot dogs. There will be fruit and crudites available everyday.
Attendance at school is the foundation of a child's future success and happiness. Over the coming weeks, we will be focusing on a letter from the alphabet in each newsletter to highlight the importance of regular attendance, along with helpful advice for parents and carers. In this newsletter, we are reviewing the A to Z of Attendance so far, emphasizing how each aspect contributes to your child’s overall well-being and progress in school.
O is for On Time – Being on time is essential for a smooth start to the school day. Arriving promptly helps children settle into their routine, ensuring they don’t miss important learning or disrupt others. Teaching the importance of punctuality sets a strong foundation for good habits in the future.
Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner Workshops
October-December 2024
Workshops are open to all young people & parents/carers of children and young people who attend a school or are registered to a GP in Hertfordshire. A referral is not needed to access a workshop. All workshops are currently being delivered online via Microsoft Teams. For more information about what each workshop covers and to book a place onto a workshop, visit the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/hct-childrens-wellbeing-practitioners-33494371787
Supporting your Child’s Self-Esteem and Resilience
A workshop focused on parents/carers supporting their child to improve their self-esteem.
Monday 28th October 6-8pm
Wednesday 11th December 10-12pm
Supporting with Sleep Difficulties
A workshop supporting children and adolescents with managing their sleep difficulties and how parents/carers can help.
Wednesday 2nd October 6-8pm
Monday 2nd December 6-8pm
Developing your Child’s Emotional Literacy
A workshop focused on parents supporting their child with developing emotional literacy.
Tuesday 1st October 10-12pm
Monday 4th November 6-8pm
Thursday 12th December 10-12pm
General Emotional Wellbeing and Regulation Tips for Parents
A workshop focused on parents supporting their child’s general emotional wellbeing and emotional regulation.
Tuesday 15th October 10-12pm
Monday 11th November 10-12pm
Tuesday 17th December 6-8pm
Copy of Family Lives Autumn Term 2024 Groups.pdfNOS Poster Childrens Mental Health (1).pdfYear Six - Secondary Transfer 2025
Moving On Leaflet 2025 FINAL.pdfReminder about Parking
This is a reminder that there is NO parking down Stockers Farm Road or Juniper Gate at drop off and pick up. If we use this road for parking, we will have to pay for this use which would be over £2,000. It is also incredibly dangerous and we all want to keep our children safe.
Social Media
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.
We've added an Instagram account - check it out!
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