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Posted on: 28/03/2025

Weekly News - Friday 28th March 2025

St. Helen's College Easter Service Many thanks indeed to everyone who joined us at our Easter Service this morning - what a wonderful occasion it was! We were so proud of the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra and Year 6 readers who all played their parts in the service with great confidence and demonstrated so much talent. The music was of an exceptionally high standard and it was really very special to be led through the Easter story and its meaning by our pupils. It is so easy to forget that the children 'performing' in this service were aged between 6 and 11 - their musical talents, their skills in performance and their self-discipline mark them out as exceptionally mature and well-rounded for their age. You can listen to a short clip from the Chamber Choir here.  Speech & Poetry Recitals/Competitions It has been an astonishing week of public speaking here at St. Helen's College, with the culmination of our poetry/speech competition for Years 1 - 6, and our annual poetry recitals in Nursery and Reception. On Wednesday, our Nursery children recited their poems to an audience of their parents and peers in their Nursery classrooms. Supported by teachers and friends, they spoke their memorised poems aloud. What a wonderful introduction to public speaking for such young children! They were delighted to receive applause and it was clear to see how proud they (and their parents) were at their bravery.  Meanwhile, every Reception child took to the stage in the Methodist Church Hall to recite their poem to an eager audience of almost 100 family and friends. They spoke their pieces clearly and with growing confidence and it was a joy to see the pleasure the children are beginning to take in speaking publicly. On Thursday, we held the finals of the Year 1 & 2, Year 3 & 4, and Year 5 & 6 competitions. As always, the standard was extremely high and the children had learnt some very sophisticated poems for their ages. Our judging criteria, this year applied by guest judges Mr. & Mrs. Crehan, places an emphasis on projection, clarity and expression, and it is no surprise that the finalists each showed great skill in each of these areas. The margins were fine and the judging difficult, but in the end the winners were: 1C: Colette T 1O: Hasan J 2C: Aahana G 2S: Aarya G Overall Pre-Prep Winner: Aarya G   3B: Siara R 3M: Zakariya S 4C: Emily K 4T: Eliana D Overall Junior Winner: Eliana D 5G: Ella K 5R: Gurdaya J & William B 6H: Evie J 6R: Rohan F & Inaaya S Overall Senior Winner: Ella K Many congratulations to every child who took part in the competitions and a special well done to the winners. We are grateful to Mr. & Mrs. Crehan for judging the competition and to all of the parents and other friends/family who have helped the pupils with their rehearsals! You can find some photographs from the event on our Galleries page. Year 1 Visit Natural History Museum On Tuesday, Year 1 visited the Natural History Museum in Tring as part of their history topic 'Significant Explorers' and their science topic 'Animals'. They attended an exciting workshop on the polar regions, where they examined specimens of different animals from the Arctic and Antarctic. They were amazed by a whale’s rib, penguin feathers, reindeer antlers and a walrus skull, to name but a few. The children thoroughly enjoyed looking around the museum at all the different animals and were in awe of all the wonderful creatures they saw and how huge they were up close!      Planetarium Visit Reception On Thursday our Kingfishers and Owls Reception classes were treated to a visiting Planetarium to enrich their learning about space! The children had great fun dressing as astronauts and learning about science through exploration and discovery. Inside a portable planetarium, they were presented with a 360 degree view of the night sky, evoking a sense of awe and wonder. It was a fascinating and inspiring workshop which thoroughly engaged the children to gain a deeper understanding of the wider world around them.   TfL Explorers Attend Dragon's Den Event  Our committed TfL Explorers (formerly known as JTAs) visited the Battle of Britain Bunker on Thursday morning to make a pitch for some money for their latest project. They plan to produce a professionally made video educating parents and neighbours about road safety around our school, and about all that the school does to promote road safety. You can hear about their pitch here. It was a daunting endeavour for the group of Year 5 children, who had to stand up in front of Councillor Tuckwell, Councillor O'Brien, Michael Kitchen from London Transport Museum and the London Borough of Hillingdon Head of Transport, David Knowles and speak persuasively about why their project deserves funding, explaining its benefits and the processes they would follow to produce the video. However, they clearly did a fantastic job because they have been awarded £400 and if they can fund raise themselves, London Borough of Hillingdon have also committed to match-fund another £50. We can't wait to see how the video turns out once the children get their project underway! On The Right Road: Hillingdon Road Safety Sessions For Years 1 And 2 Year 1 and 2 pupils spent Thursday afternoon learning about road safety. They enjoyed a fantastic puppet show from Wizard Theatre who reminded the children about commuting safely in the community and being safe on the school journey. Afterwards, Year 2 enjoyed a workshop based on their understanding on how to stay safe using different modes of transportation, including walking to school.        St. Helen's College Pupil Places Second In National General Knowledge Competition! Earlier this term Years 4, 5 and 6 all participated in the annual SATIPs Challenge Junior General Knowledge Quiz. Over 1000 students took part from independent schools across the country and the competition was stiff. We are delighted to share that Ashvika A (6R) reached second place scoring 88/100 (pipped to first place by just one point!). Mustafa F (6R) also scored highly acheiving a score of 74/100 and reaching the prestigious leader board. Huge congratulations to both children for their terrific achievement and well done to all the pupils who completed the quiz.  On Thursday children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 represented St. Helen's College in the semi-final of the inter-school General Knowledge Quiz. The children worked in teams to tackle a broad range of challenging questions in this fun and competitive quiz hosted online by the Quiz Club. Out of the 46 teams who competed, our two teams placed 29th and 30th which was a very creditable effort indeed! Well done to the pupils involved: Melissa Do R, Mia S (3B), Rian S, Anjali S (4T), William B (5R), Armaan V (5G), Amelia L, Rohan F (6R). PA Easter Gifts/Raffle Many thanks to the Parents' Assocation, who have generously provided an Easter gift for every child in the school and have also organised their annual Easter Egg raffle. The raffle winners were: Ducklings: Kabir J Nursery Robins: Siya K Nursery Wrens: Clara P Reception Owls: Noah K Reception Kingfishers: Anaika U Year 1: Oliver N (1C) and Cameron G (1O) Year 2: Amaya A (2S) and Aan G (2S) Year 3: Feyi A (3B) and Sienna K (3M) Year 4: Emily K (4C) and Laksh K (4T)  Year 5: Aadhya M (5G) and Jana A (5R) Year 6: Diya B (6H) and Aaran P (6R)  Staffing We are delighted to announce that from September 2025 we will have two new Deputy Heads as part of our Senior Leadership Team.  We had a very strong field of applicants and candidates were put through a rigorous process last week.   Mr. Roche has been appointed as our new Deputy Head Academic. Mr. Roche has been with us for the past four years, is our current Head of English (and will remain so) and has also driven our teaching and learning over the past few years in developing our 'learning skills' throughout the school. Mr. Roche is currently working alongside Mr. Lewis for a smooth transition. We will also be welcoming Mrs. Gilbert as our new Deputy Head Pastoral who will be taking on the role from Mr. McLaughlin. Mrs. Gilbert comes with superb experience as she is currently Deputy at St. Hilda's School in Bushey. Mrs. Gilbert will be spending time in school next term and there will be opportunities for everyone to get to know her before September.   We will be welcoming Mrs. Reid back to Year 2 at the start of next term following her maternity leave. We are delighted that Mrs. Sohail will also remain with us to teach across Year 1 and Year 2. Mrs. Asia Aslam has recently joined our Nursery team and Mrs. Manni Pawha our Ducklings team. They are both enjoying getting to know the children. Singing Competition Our very exciting Singing Competition final will take place on Friday 13th June 2025. The competition is open to all children from Years 2-6.  The categories this year are as follows: Middle School Competition: Year 2 Solo, Year 3 Solo, MS duet/group and Best Overall Performance. Upper School Competition: Year 4 Solo, Year 5 Solo, Year 6 Solo, US duet/group and Best Overall Performance. Finalists will be chosen and announced on Friday 6th June 2025 in the school newsletter. For full competition details, key dates and to enter please complete this form. All entrants must complete a song approval form before entering which can be found here.  ABRSM Results The children have achieved another brilliant set of results in ABRSM examinations this term. Many congratulations to all entrants and thank you to our music team for supporting the children to succeed.  Spring 2025 Class Instrument Grade Result Ella C 3B Piano Prep Pass Callum B 2M Singing Prep Pass Mulenga M 2M Singing Prep Pass Ajit J 3B Cello Initial Merit Shriyan P 3M Cello Initial Distinction Shayla R 5G Piano Initial Merit Siara R 3B Piano Initial Merit Joshan D 2C Piano Initial Distinction Yaheeya K 5R Piano Grade 1 Pass Aaran P 6R Piano Grade 1 Pass Mahi B 5R Piano Grade 1 Merit Shanaiya K 6H Piano Grade 1 Merit Connor L 4T Piano Grade 1 Merit Anika S 3B Singing Grade 1 Merit Aayan B 3M Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 1 Merit Saskia O 4C Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 1 Pass Ajooni G 4C Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 1 Pass Eleanor G 4T Piano Grade 2 Pass Avleen P 5R Piano Grade 2 Pass Alba M 4C Piano Grade 2 Merit Amara B 5R Music Theory Grade 2 Distinction Aryan S 5R Piano Grade 2 Pass Dhani C 5G Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 2 Merit Zoe Fan 4T Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 2 Pass Parisa S 5R Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Merit Zinnia M 6H Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Merit Alicia Z 4T Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Distinction Anoushka B 4C Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Merit Shaylen P 5R Piano Grade 3 Merit Avleen P 5R Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Merit Leo A 5R Singing Grade 3 Merit Alex A 6H Singing Grade 3 Merit Avleen P 5R Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 3 Merit Eleanor G 4T Singing Grade 3 Merit Zoe F 4T Piano Grade 4 Merit Alyssa P 5G Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 4 Merit Gurdaya J 5R Singing for Musical Theatre Grade 4 Distinction Alicia Z 4T Violin Grade 5 Merit   Open Morning Our next Open Morning for prospective parents/families will take place on Wednesday 7th May. If you know of anyone who might be considering St. Helen's College for their child(ren), please do encourage them to book in for a tour on this morning. The booking form is available here. Baby Mindfulness Classes Mrs. McLaughlin's next set of FREE Baby Mindfulness classes will begin after the Easter break on Wednesday 30th April. These classes are for mothers and babies (aged from six weeks until crawling) and are held at St. Helen's College Upper School. Classes provide a safe space for mums and babies to bond, take part in breathing, gentle yoga and other mindfulness exercises. This is a great opportunity to meet other local mums and babies. To find out about joining these classes, please email Mrs. McLaughlin on pmclaughlin@sthelenscollege.com. The classes are open to everyone, whether they have a child at St. Helen's College or not, so please do spread the word! Summer Menu The menu for the summer term is now available to view here and there are some fun Easter recipes here which you may like to cook together with your children over the holidays.  Easter Holiday Library Events  Our local public library, Oak Farm Library, have some lovely events for children over the Easter holidays. Why not take your children along to explore this super resource and/or take part in one or more of their planned activities? You can find details here and a special workshop with The Dogs Trust here. Ickenham Youth Girls' Football If you have a girl who might be interested in trying football for the first time or developing her skills further, you might like to attend a free taster session at Ickenham Youth Girls' Football. Details can be found here.  Perform Classes Introductory Offer We were very pleased to receive a visit from Perform a few weeks ago. The children had a wonderfully energetic time exploring the theme of Under The Sea and using drama, dance and singing to help develop their confidence, concentration and social skills. Perform run regular weekly classes in the local area and they are offering a special introductory discount to all parents of St. Helen's College if they come along for a free trial session before Saturday 5th April. To claim your discount, call Perform on 020 7255 9120 quoting SHLE050425 or visit perform.org.uk to find out more. Happy Eid Mubarak We would like to wish Happy Eid Mubarak to all our families and children celebrating this weekend. We hope everyone enjoys all the festivities and special time with family and friends to mark this special celebration. Next Term We will hit the ground running as usual for the busy summer term ahead! Please take the opportunity over the holidays to check your child's uniform and equipment and to replenish as necessary so that they have all they need for the new term and so that uniform is smart and clean! Children should return to school in their summer uniform. Please remember that the girls' summer dress must be worn with white socks (ankle or knee length) and must NOT be worn with tights. Here are a few reminders of dates for the first two weeks of term: Thursday 24th April - Term begins Monday 28th April - Friday 2nd May - Year 5 residential trip to Isle of Wight Wednesday 30th April - Year 4 Flatford Mill information evening - 6.30 p.m. Thursday 1st May - Y5/6 UKMT Junior Mathematical challenge Thursday 1st May - House assembly Friday 2nd May - 4C coffee morning/class assembly We will continue to add reminders of forthcoming dates each week to the news, but please also make a note now of these major dates for later on in the summer term. We very much hope that parents of the children involved will be able to join us for these events.  Nursery/Reception Sports Day - Thursday 12th June (p.m.) Year 1/Year 2 Sports Day - Thursday 12th June (a.m.) Year 2 - 6 Singing Competition - Friday 13th June Year 1 Production at Compass Theatre - Thursday 19th June Year 3 - 6 Prep Sports Day - Friday 20th June Year 6 Musical Production at Compass Theatre - Thursday 26th & Friday 27th June PA Summer Fete (all year groups) - Saturday 28th June Year 2 - 6 Art Exhibition/Concert at Winston Churchill Hall - Tuesday 1st July Ducklings Sports Day - Thursday 3rd July Year 6 Coffee Morning/Project Exhibition (a.m.) and Prizegiving Evening - Tuesday 8th July
Posted on: 28/03/2025

Reflections On My First Term By Mr. Reilly

This term we welcomed Mr. Reilly to St. Helen’s College as a new member of the teaching staff. Throughout this term we have touched base several times to ensure that all was going well, that Mr. Reilly felt supported being new to the school but also that the children were benefiting from Mr. Reilly’s input at St. Helen’s College. It is with pleasure that I share his reflections on his first term below.   It is a testament to the community that a new member of staff already has appreciated who we are and is contributing to the life of St. Helen’s College with such energy, enthusiasm and professionalism. Have a wonderful Easter break with your families and friends and we look forward to seeing you all for a lively and action packed summer term! Ms Drummond   As I look back on my first term at St. Helen's College, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. What a remarkable first term it has been! From the moment I arrived, I've been struck by the warmth and support that permeates every aspect of the school. The staff have been incredibly welcoming, making my transition into the school community seamless and comfortable. Their support has been instrumental in helping me find my footing and feel at home in this vibrant educational environment. My class has been nothing short of fantastic. During my first few weeks when everything felt new and slightly overwhelming, they were patient and kind, helping me navigate the intricacies of the school day. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn have been amazing to observe throughout. One aspect that has truly amazed me here is the children's remarkable oracy skills school-wide. Their ability to communicate, express ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue is exceptional and is certainly a testament to the school's commitment to developing well-rounded communicators. St. Helen's College is not just a school; it is a lovely site that offers an incredible array of opportunities for children to grow and explore. I very recently had the chance to pop into Lower School and was blown away by their site. The extra-curricular activities are particularly impressive, providing students with chances to develop skills and interests beyond the traditional classroom setting. Some of my personal highlights this term have been truly memorable. Leading the girls' football team and taking them to a tournament was a wonderful experience. Watching them demonstrate teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship was incredibly rewarding. Another exciting moment was the Intermediate Maths Challenge, where several of our children performed brilliantly, showcasing their mathematical talents and problem-solving skills. I have a real sense of anticipation when looking forward to next term. There are so many exciting activities and learning opportunities on the horizon, and I can't wait to continue this enjoyable journey with my students. This first term has been thoroughly enjoyable and a great reminder of why I became an educator – to inspire, to learn, and to be part of a community that values growth, curiosity and potential. Mr. Reilly Year 6 Teacher
Posted on: 21/03/2025

Weekly News - Friday 21st March 2025

Exhibition Day  We are looking forward very much to welcoming parents to the school tomorrow, Saturday 22nd March, for our annual Exhibition Day. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to show parents, siblings and extended family members all that they have been working on. Ducklings, Lower School and Upper School will all be open and staff will be ready to greet you at each site. All children (in full, smart school uniform) and parents should arrive at school between 10.00 and 11.00 a.m. to allow enough time to visit your children's current classroom to see their work, and also to tour the rest of the school. The pupils love to reminisce by visiting their previous classrooms, and the day also presents a good opportunity to see what is in store for the children in the future as they move up through the year groups. Refreshments will be served in The Evans Hall at Upper School from 10 a.m. until approximately 11.30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you all there.  House Quiz Results! Congratulations to the finalists who took part in the culmination of the House Quiz on Thursday morning. There was one finalist for each House and year group and it was a fun and close-run competition! The children's general knowledge was of a very high standard indeed and it was clear to see that they had enjoyed learning even more facts in preparation for the final. Well done to the winning team, Caledonia, who just pipped the other Houses to the post and won 40 valuable House points! Hibernia were in second place (winning 30 House points), Windsor in third place (20 House points) and Cambria in fourth place (10 House points). All points will be added to the totals for the year so far. The finalists were: Caledonia Y2 Mulenga M Y3 Ali A-R Y4 Eleanor G Y5 Armaan V Y6 Avar D Cambria Y2 Amelia A-K Y3 Shriyan P Y4 Zora B Y5 Yuvraj R Y6 Amelia L Hibernia Y2 Shivansh P Y3 Sophie B Y4 Abir G Y5 Reyansh C Y6 Ayush A Windsor Y2 Hadi A Y3 Advik A Y4 Ivaan M Y5 Rayhan R Y6 Mustafa F Do you know who wrote The Secret Garden or which Roman leader was famously assassinated on the Ides of March? Why not try the Quiz for yourself to see how many questions you can answer correctly? Good luck! Easter Service Our annual Easter Service (for children in Years 2 - 6) will take place on Friday 28th March at 11.00 a.m. at All Saints' Church, Long Lane. We very much hope that parents will join us for this special occasion, at which our Upper School choirs and musicians will perform. Poetry Recitation And Speech Competition The St. Helen's College Poetry Recitation and Speech Competition is always eagerly anticipated and is a terrific opportunity for the children to hone their oracy skills and build confidence and resilience in the process. Next week all Nursery and Reception parents are warmly invited to come and hear your children perform their poems on Wednesday morning (26th March). Invitations have been sent out to the finalists of the Year 1 - 6 Speech Competition and we will look forward to seeing those parents on Thursday 27th March.  Sport News On Wednesday the Upper School football team won 1-0 against St. Mary's Primary School at home. The team played extremely well and delivered their best performance of the year so far. The boys dominated possession throughout the match and created lots of chances to score. This morning the football team visited Aldenham Prep School for the ISFA U11 Sevens South East Regional Tournament. The boys arrived anticipating to play four matches but actually played six matches in total as two schools had withdrawn. It was a tough morning for the team as the standard of the other prep chools was extremely high. However, St. Helen's College persevered and, finally, in their last match against Widford Lodge Prep School scored their first goals; Jack K (6H) 2, Daynan C (5R) 1, and won the match 3-1. It was a great experience for the team and hopefully they have learnt a great deal from playing at this level. Mr. Harrington and Mr. Dyson are very proud of the team for working hard and making terrific progress to develop their skills this season.  On Thursday a group of  Year 6 girls travelled to Newnham Primary School to participate in the Aspire Netball tournament. The girls played five matches in total, three of which they won. They worked brilliantly as a team and really improved throughout the games, making some fantastic interceptions and showing versatility when playing in different positions. Well done to all involved!        PA Mother's Day Stall  A huge thank you to the St. Helen's College Parents' Association which organised fundraising gift stalls for Mother's Day at Upper and Lower School on Thursday. There was a buzz in the air as the children patiently queued up to carefully select their gift for someone special. The stalls raised a grand total of £335 to fund extra activites / gifts for the children. We wish everyone a very happy Mother's Day for Sunday 30th March.       Red Nose Day - Comic Relief  Today St. Helen's College was awash with red noses as the children celebrated Red Nose Day and raised funds for Comic Relief. At Lower School the children were very excited to donate £1 to have their noses painted red! At Upper School Year 6 and the charity reps co-ordinated sales of red noses, home made bracelets and raffle tickets for a special draw. It was terrific to see so many children queuing up to support the fundraising effort. Congratulations to the raffle winners, Ali A-R (3B) and Lana Z (4T) who won a hamper of toys and a £20 Amazon voucher respectively. Well done to everyone who was involved in making Red Nose Day a big success!   Open Morning - Wednesday 7th May We are looking forward to welcoming prospective families into St. Helen's College for our next Open Morning on Wednesday 7th May from 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the school at work so if you have friends or family who would like to visit then please direct them to register online here.  Co-Curricular Clubs  Please be reminded that there will be no co-curricular clubs after school next week. The new co-curricular timetable will begin next term.  Next Week Tuesday 25th March - Year 1 Visiting Natural History Museum, Tring Tuesday 25th March - Easter Service Rehearsal at All Saints' Church Tuesday 25th March - Year 5 Isle of Wight Information Evening  Wednesday 26th March - Nursery/ Reception Poetry Recitation Thursday 27th March - Year 1-6 Speech and Poetry Competition Thursday 27th March - Planetarium Visiting Reception Thursday 27th March - JTA Dragon's Den Event  Thursday 27th March - Year 3 PACCAR Information Evening  Friday 28th March - Year 2-6 Easter Service at All Saints' Church Friday 28th March - Term Ends (11.50 a.m. Ducklings; 12.00 Reception; 12.10 p.m. Y1/2; 12.20 p.m. Y3/4 and 12.30 p.m. Y5/6)  
Posted on: 14/03/2025

Weekly News - Friday 14th March 2025

Year 3 Visit Kew Gardens On Monday Year 3 visited Kew Gardens to enrich their learning about plant life. The children had a wonderful day exploring the gardens and participating in a range of interactive activities. They had great fun entering a specially constructed 'beehive' to experience the vibrations bees use to communicate. In the Princess of Wales Conservatory pupils explored different types of plants including lily pads, cacti and the Venus flytrap. In the Palm House, alongside cocoa and banana plants, the children were delighted to discover a rather unusual plant specimen; the 'smelly foot tree' whose leaves have a definite whiff of smelly socks!  Overall it was a terrific educational visit and an illuminating opportunity to see the true breadth of impact plant life has on the world around us.  Year 5 Trip to Bletchley Park Meanwhile, our Year 5 pupils spent the day at Bletchley Park, the world famous code breaking headquarters which changed the course of history during World War 2. The children toured the museum and discovered the vital work of the diligent code breakers who took top secret postings at Bletchley Park. They visited the huts to see the Enigma and Bombe code breaking machines and learnt about the development of modern computers, including the revolutionary work of Alan Turing. Later the children participated in an interactive workshop creating their own cipher and exploring radio communications. It was a fascinating day and a valuable educational trip which brought to life a critical episode of modern history.  Owls Class Assembly Wow! What an accomplished, mature performance we were treated to from our Owls Reception class at their assembly this week! Watched by families, friends and staff, the children presented their knowledge about space and shared some fascinating facts about the solar system. They spoke beautifully and we were very impressed with their colouful alien figures!  You can hear from some of the children here.        6L Class Assembly On Friday it was the turn of our oldest pupils to present their class assembly. The children of 6L did a wonderful job of planning, researching and presenting their work on the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. The assembly cleverly drew together work the children have been covering about the rise of the Nazi party and the onset of World War 2 in history, and race relations and discrimination in RE. The children delivered their acting and speaking parts perfectly and shared an important message of overriding hatred with resilience, determination and enduring friendship. Well done 6L!   Chamber Choir Visit Sweetcroft Care Home Wednesday saw the Chamber Choir make a lunchtime visit to Sweetcroft Care Home as part of a calendar of events initiated by the St. Helen's College charity representatives. The children performed a selection of pieces accompanied by the piano and enjoyed speaking to the residents inbetween numbers. There were tears of joy from two of the residents as the performance evoked happy memories of singing in a choir. It was a lovely visit, well done to all of the children who took part for being such superb representatives of St. Helen's College.    Red Nose Day - Comic Relief It is Comic Relief Red Nose Day on Friday 21st March and Year 6 are co-ordinating fundraising activities. At Lower School the children may bring in £1 on Friday to have their nose painted red! At Upper School the Year 6 children will be selling the following items in the gazebo every day next week: Red noses - £2.50 Homemade bracelets - £1 Raffle tickets (to win a special prize) - £1 At Upper School the children can also donate £1 to tell a joke, so we hope they will enter into the spirit of things and come along with a hilarious joke to amuse their friends!  In addition the catering team will be providing special red nose cookies at lunchtime.  Sports News It has been a busy week for the Upper School girls this week!  Last Friday to mark International Women's Day the Upper School girls' football team participated in a football festival at Radlett Prep School. The girls faced stiff competition against seven other independent schools, but worked well together as a team and managed to draw three of their eight games. The girls had a thoroughly enjoyable time and even had the opportunity to meet Watford FC player ambassador Anna Filbey! Well done to Shayla in Year 5 who won best player for the St. Helen's College team and was awarded a special medal.     On Thursday our Year 4 netballers travelled to Newnham Primary School to take part in a dedicated netball event. The girls took part in lots of netball activities and small sided matches and demonstrated great teamwork, determination and resilience throughout.         Last Saturday the Year 6 netball team took part in the league netball tournament at Ryefield School. The weather was perfect and the girls played brilliantly throughout their group matches despite having some tough teams in their group. Unfortunately they were a few points short so didn’t progress to the finals on this occasion. However, it was a great way for them to finish off the season so well done to all involved!       Speech Competition The semi-finals of the Years 1 - 6 Speech Competitions are underway! Ms Drummond and Mrs. Smith are enjoying hearing the class semi-finalists recite their pieces and are, as ever, finding it extremely difficult to make decisions about which children to put through to the finals. Well done to every child who has learnt and recited their poem, whether or not they have made it through to the next stage of the competition. The experience of memorising and reciting poems and other pieces is such an important one for the development of oracy skills including projection, clarity, expression, audience engagement and stage presence/confidence. In a competition not everyone can win, but certainly every child will have gained so much from taking part. Although we have been unable to pinpoint its exact start date, we know that the St. Helen's College Speech Competition has been running for decades and that it plays no small part in what inspectors recently declared to be our school's 'significant strength' - the oracy and communication skills of our pupils. Many thanks to all of the parents who have supported the children in learning their poems. Parents of finalists will be contacted as soon as the semi-finals are complete and the finals will take place on Thursday 27th March. Nursery/Reception Poetry Recital If you have a child in Nursery and/or Reception, please make sure to keep the morning of Wednesday 26th March free so that you can come and watch them recite their poems. The development of public speaking skills starts from the Early Years here at St. Helen's College and your support at your children's performances means the world to your children and to us here at school! Online Safety Day Our Online Safety Day on Tuesday presented a valuable opportunity to teach and/or remind pupils, parents and staff about the potential risks associated with the online world. All children from Year 1 to 6 received a bespoke online safety workshop from specialist provider ECP Safeguarding exploring the online risks relevant to their specific age group. The session also celebrated the positive opportunities available in the online world if used safely.  The pupil sessions were followed by a teacher session after school and a parent event in the evening, covering a range of important topics for this vital area of safeguarding and readiness for the modern world. Summer Term Co-Curricular Clubs The timetable for co-curricular clubs for the summer term is now available. Please make your selections for your child(ren)'s co-curricular activities by logging into your SchoolsBuddy account. Baby Mindfulness Classes Mrs. McLaughlin's next set of FREE Baby Mindfulness classes will begin after the Easter break on Wednesday 30th April. These classes are for mothers and babies (aged from six weeks until crawling) and are held at St. Helen's College Upper School. Classes provide a safe space for mums and babies to bond, take part in breathing, gentle yoga and other mindfulness exercises. This is a great opportunity to meet other local mums and babies. To find out about joining these classes, please email Mrs. McLaughlin on pmclaughlin@sthelenscollege.com. The classes are open to everyone, whether they have a child at St. Helen's College or not, so please do spread the word!   Holiday Club Holiday Club bookings for the Easter holiday period are open from 4 p.m. today and will close on Wednesday 26th March at 4 p.m. Please log in to your SchoolsBuddy account to make your bookings. Next Week Tuesday 18th March - Year 4 Senior School Transfer Meeting Wednesday 19th March - Football v's St. Marys (H) Thursday 20th March - PA Mother's Day Gift Stalls at US/LS Thursday 20th March - Y6 Netball Tournament Newnham Primary School Friday 21st March - ISFA U11 Sevens South East Regional Tournament at Aldenham School Saturday 22nd March - Exhibition Day   
Posted on: 7/03/2025

Weekly News - Friday 7th March 2025

World Book Day Celebrations School has been brimming with excitement and activity today to celebrate World Book Day. Our theme this year is non-fiction and the children have been very imaginative in their choice of costumes! Inspiring ideas included scientists, astronauts, animals, doctors, nurses, cooks and famous historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Coco Chanel.  Lessons across school were filled with special themed activities to celebrate books and reading. At Upper School there was a book-themed treasure hunt in the library and school grounds and a dedicated non-fiction assembly led by the English prefects. In lessons the children had a fun day making cupcakes from cookbooks, creating factual board games based on animal habitats, recording podcasts about space, and writing and presenting journalistic news reports on famous figures.        At Lower School the children made colourful bookmarks, wrote their own book reviews and enjoyed exploring the library. Kingfishers presented a charming themed assembly for parents to mark World Book Day. The children showcased the variety of subjects non-fiction encompasses and sang beautifully about the joy of books. Their final message was one we feel passionately about here at St. Helen's College: reading together makes us happier. To see more pictures of World Book Day celebrations from across the school click here.    Out of This World Author Visit! One of the highlights of World Book Day celebrations this week was a visit from the author and University College London astrophysicist Professor Raman Prinja. Professor Prinja shared a fascinating presentation with children in Years 3, 4 and 5 explaining some of the very latest exciting discoveries and thoughts on the Universe. The children were rapt listening to his explanation of black holes and dark energy, and tested Professor Prinja with some very searching questions! Afterwards he generously made time for an informal question and answer session with a smaller group of children in the science lab. The afternoon finished with a book signing in the library where he dedicated copies of his books, Our Cosmos and Wonders of the Night Sky, for an enthusiastic queue of children.   Books are generally pre-order only, but for anyone who would like to order a signed copy Chiltern Bookshops have kindly offered to organise this, please order here.  Year 3 Porridge Production  Wow, what an amazing night! On Thursday evening the Year 3 classes performed their fabulous production of Porridge to an enthralled audience at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham. The children gave their absolute all in the fun musical comedy, with every child taking an acting part and participating in the song and dance routines. They displayed perfect comic timing and composure well beyond their years, and soaked up the thrilling experience of performing on the stage at a professional theatre.  Earlier in the day the children performed to Years 1 and 2 who were thoroughly entertained and had a glimpse of the fun that awaits them in the coming years!  Year 6 Junior Citizens Event  On Wednesday Year 6 visited Brunel University for Junior Citizen training. This event brings together many organisations including London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, Bikeability and TfL to equip children with vital life skills as they gain increased independence. The children thoroughly enjoyed participating in workshops and interactive activities to develop their awareness of travelling safely on public transport, fire safety, crime risk, safe and unsafe substances and staying safe online. The visit is part of our carefully managed transition programme for Year 6 pupils, to help to prepare them for the move to senior school with confidence and essential knowledge and skills. Music Lessons A range of one-to-one music lessons are offered at school taught by our team of specialist music teachers, many of whom work professionally in the music industry. There are currently spaces available for the following instruments: flute, trumpet and trombone.  Please contact Mrs Fawbert for further information: cfawbert@sthelenscollege.com.  The waiting list is now open for all other instruments for September 2025 allocation, please complete this Google Form for further information and to register your child. Please note spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Online Safety Session We are pleased to invite parents to an in-person online safety workshop in partnership with ECP, designed to help navigate the ever-changing digital world and keep children safe online. The event will be held on Tuesday 11th March at 6.30 p.m. in the Evans Hall at Upper School. This engaging session will cover a range of important and topical online safety matters, to equip parents with practical tips and strategies to support your child's digital well-being. We heartily encourage all parents throughout the school to attend this valuable session and look forward to seeing you there! PA Mother's Day Gift Stall The St. Helen's College Parents' Association will be running fundraising gift stalls at Upper and Lower School on Thursday 20th March from 8.00 - 8.30 a.m. Children will be able to purchase a range of lovely gifts priced between £1 - £5. Please note the stalls are cash only, please bring only small notes and change.  Pilates  Sarah Flemming's Pilates classes held in the Evans Hall on Monday evenings can now be booked online here. Classes begin on Monday 10th March and will run weekly at 6.30 p.m. Sarah's classes are open to all levels so whether you are new to Pilates or looking to deepen your practice, her goal is to leave you feeling challenged, energised, and more connected to your body. Classes are £12 each.  Next Week Saturday 8th March - Year 6 Netball Tournament at Ryefield School Monday 10th March - Year 3 Trip to Kew Gardens Monday 10th March - Year 5 Trip to Bletchley Park Thursday 13th March - Owls Coffee Morning and Class Assembly Thursday 13th March - Year 4 Netball Event at Newnham Friday 14th March - 6L Coffee Morning and Class Assembly
Posted on: 28/02/2025

Weekly News - Friday 28th February 2025

LAMDA Examination Results Huge congratulations to all of the pupils who recently entered LAMDA examinations. All the entrants worked extremely hard and we are delighted to share their excellent results as follows: LAMDA Entry Level Award in Performance (Entry 3): Harleen S, Y2 - Pass Tanavya B, Y2 - Merit Ari P, Y3 - Distinction Aayan B, Y3 - Distinction Kiran S, Y3 - Distinction Kyan K, Y3 - Merit Aarav L, Y3 - Merit LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 1): Tanavya B, Y2 - Merit Elisa K, Y4 - Distinction Sienna K, Y3 - Distinction Ivaan M, Y4 - Distinction Anika S, Y3 - Distinction LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2): Eleanor G, Y4 - Distinction Mustafa F, Y6 - Merit Naiya L, Y5 - Distinction LAMDA Level 2 Award in Performance (Grade 4): Zoe F, Y4 - Merit Shanaiya K, Y6 - Merit LAMDA Level 1 Award in Communication (Grade 1): Aryan S, Y5 - Distinction LAMDA Level 1 Award in Communication (Grade 3): Aadhya M, Y5 - Distinction Wrens Class Assembly On Thursday our Wrens Nursery children charmed the audience at their class assembly which was all about the weather. The children took us through the seasons with a collection of songs and accompanying actions, singing with gusto! It was wonderful to see them brimming with excitement and confidence, and hard to believe that they really are only of Nursery age - they are such accomplished performers already!       Bicycle Workshop On Wednesday the JTAs (Junior Travel Ambassadors) organised a Bicycle Workshop at Upper School to promote safe and active travel to school. It was wonderful to see so many children on their bikes, with more than 30 children travelling into school by bike to take part. All the bikes were serviced by experts from Bikewise in Ickenham who kindly visited to check they are all in safe working order. The children taking part all had the chance to join the 'Bikers' Breakfast' after dropping off their bike and entered a special draw for a chance to win vouchers to spend on bike accessories. Well done to the following raffle winners: First prize £50 - Andrew (6H) Second prize £25 - Siara (3B) Third prize £10 - Tanu (2C) Fourth place £5 - Naiya  (5G), Amari (2C) and Nikita (3B) Thank you to our hard-working JTAs who are so passionate about promoting healthy and sustainable travel. We hope to see many more children travelling by bike on a regular basis now that spring is on the way! AI Summit  Earlier this month four Year 6 children, Ashvika A, Mustafa F, Alexander A and Avar D, attended the world's first Children’s AI Summit at Queen Mary University of London. This high profile event brought together children from across the UK to share their messages for global leaders, policymakers, and AI developers on their vision for the future of AI. You can watch a short video about the event here and see a story featured on Sky News here. You may be interested to hear the presentation from our school representatives at the event and the response from panel members here. Well done to the participants for representing the school so brilliantly.    Year 1 Pedestrian Training On Friday Year 1 participated in an important indoor pedestrian training session from Hillingdon Borough Council STARS team. The children learnt about the Green Cross Code and put into practice their observation skills in role play with their peers. They learnt about walking on paths responsibly and crossing the road safely using a zebra crossing, at traffic lights and with a lollipop person. The session was finished off with a lively song!        Month End Music Recital Also on Friday, we were delighted to welcome residents from Woodlands Residential Care Home in Ickenham to the regular Month End Music Recital. Once again we were treated to an accomplished display of musical and vocal talent from across Middle and Upper School. Well done to all the children who took part and performed so confidently.  Royal Academy Of Arts Young Artists Scheme We are pleased to announce that St. Helen's College has signed up to the Royal Academy of Arts' Young Artists scheme. If your child is a keen artist, they may like to submit a piece of artwork; submitting artwork is completely free and can be done online at home by parents/pupils. Each pupil may submit one piece of work and there is no theme. When you enter, you will be asked for an image of the artwork plus some information about the piece such as title, size and some text written by the artist to explain why they created the work and what it means to them. A Royal Academy of Arts panel of judges will see the artwork and the selected pieces will be shown in an online exhibition. Some of the artworks will also be shown at the Royal Academy of Arts! You can find full information and submission links here: https://youngartists.royalacademy.org.uk/get-involved#howitworks Author Visit  We are looking forward to welcoming Professor Raman Prinja, author of Our Cosmos and Wonders of the Night Sky, to school next Wednesday 5th March. There will be a book signing after the event and you have the opportunity to pre-order one or more of these beautiful hardback books for the author to sign for your child! Please order your books as soon as possible via Chiltern Bookshops here. The timing could not be better as Professor Prinja's visit coincides with the planetary parade, a rare phenomenon beginning this evening, whereby seven planets appear to line up together. Thank you to Year 5 for their illuminating assembly today where they shared their knowledge of the solar system with their fellow pupils. We hope everyone will take the opportunity to see this amazing spectacle over the next few evenings!  Themed Lunches There will be two special lunch options available in the school refectory next week to mark Shrove Tuesday and World Book Day which is celebrated in school on Friday 7th March. The pancake bar will be offering exciting fruit selections on Tuesday 4th March and, to tie in with the non-fiction World Book Day theme, there will be 'amazon rainforest stir fry' and 'moon rock brownies' amongst the offerings available on Friday.  First News Offer To mark World Book Day next week, the children's newspaper First News are running a special offer to order a copy for just £1 (no subscription required) valid until Sunday 9th March. First News is a fun and informative weekly publication perfect for Upper School children which covers current affairs, global news and other entertaining topical stories. The school is championing non-fiction for World Book Day this year and this is the perfect introduction to news media for children interested in the world around them. Reading a trusted weekly newspaper can also help develop literacy, oracy, world knowledge, critical thinking and reading for pleasure. Sports News On Tuesday the Year 3 and 4 netball players travelled to Orley Farm School to play a series of small sided netball matches. The children enjoyed playing lots of short matches against different teams and demonstrated how much they have progressed so far this year as well as having plenty of fun. It was fantastic to see so many of them participating in a great afternoon of sport!        Water Aid Fundraiser Year 5 organised an exciting fundraiser across the school today for the charity Water Aid. Each class at Upper and Lower School took part in a fun competition to see who could make the longest coin trail! Congratulations to the winning classes: Wrens at Lower School and 3M at Upper School. Well done to the runners up at US: 5R in second place, and 2S in third place.  All the coins will now be collected together and counted, we look forward to revealing the total raised for Water Aid very soon! Many thanks to everyone for your coin donations for this vital charity.   Perform Drama Classes Drama specialists Perform recently visited Lower School for special workshops which the children thoroughly enjoyed! Now they are are offering children a free trial class for local sessions which are held at a variety of venues in Uxbridge, Ickenham, Ruislip and Iver. The classes combine drama, dancing and singing and are a fun way to improve confidence and make new friends!  Pilates Classes Sarah Flemming, a former member of staff at St. Helen's College, will be returning to run her own regular Pilates classes in the Evans Hall. Classes start on Monday 10th March and will run weekly at 6.30 pm. Pilates helps to build strength, mobility, and confidence through controlled movement and breath awareness. Whether you're new to Pilates or looking to deepen your practice, Sarah's goal is to leave you feeling challenged, energised, and more connected to your body. Classes are £12 each and bookings can be made here.      Next Week Saturday 1st March - ABRSM Examinations  Tuesday 4th March - Year 3 Play Rehearsals at Compass Theatre Wednesday 5th March - Year 3 Play Rehearsals at Compass Theatre Wednesday 5th March - Year 6 Junior Citizens Event at Brunel University Wednesday 5th March - Year 4, 5 and 6 Author Visit from Professor Raman Prinja Thursday 6th March - Year 3 Play Rehearsals at Compass Theatre Thursday 6th March - Year 3 Play at Compass Theatre 7 p.m. Friday 7th March - World Book Day  Friday 7th March - Kingfishers Coffee Morning and Class Assembly Friday 7th March - Girls Football Tournament at Radlett Prep Saturday 8th March - Year 6 Netball Tournament at Ryefield School    
Posted on: 14/02/2025

Weekly News - Friday 14th February 2025

Robins Class Assembly On Thursday Robins celebrated love, kindness and friendship in their class assembly to mark St. Valentine's Day. The children sang a heart warming collection of songs on this theme and recited a special poem which you can hear here. The assembly was the perfect time to reflect on how we can all spread love and kindness with friends, family and the world around us. Thank you Robins for a lovely assembly.        5R Class Assembly On Friday 5R whisked us off to Hogwarts for their hugely entertaining class assembly. The children explored one of the school's key values, friendliness, taking inspiration from the Harry Potter books and characters. The children displayed fantastic acting and vocal skills whilst inviting us to consider some of the vital elements which contribute to successful friendships; kindness, empathy and thoughtfulness. The children brought their characters to life and each projected their lines with immense confidence. Overall the assembly shared an important message; good friends encourage and support one another to reach the greatest heights of success. Well done 5R for your terrific performance! Lower School Drama Workshop  On Friday the Lower School children thoroughly enjoyed getting active in a dedicated drama workshop with Perform. The children loved these energetic sessions which involved fun role play and practising voice projection. These classes are designed to help develop coordination, performance and oratory skills. Sports News On Thursday the Year 6 netball team played a competitive match against St. Andrew's School in Uxbridge. Despite their best efforts, the team faced a 5-3 loss. The match was fast paced and both teams worked hard to find space and gain possession of the ball. The girls managed to score three well deserved goals with some excellent teamwork and quick passes. Well done to the team! 2S have enjoyed their swimming programme at the pool this week and have certainly enhanced their water skills and confidence.     On Friday eight girls from Year 5 and 6 participated in the St. Helen's Spring Biathlon event at St. Helen's School in Northwood. The girls completed a timed 50 metre swim and an 800 metre run, competing against four other independent schools. The combined times will be amalgamated for an overall score, we look forward to hearing their position in due course!  Well done to the following for taking part: Year 5 - Ella K, Dhani C, Alana F, Shayla R Year 6 - Evie J, Shanaiya K, Roshni J, Simrina N    TCS Mini Marathon There are still some places available for the TCS Mini Marathon which takes place on Saturday 26 April 2025, the day before the 2025 TCS London Marathon. This year, due to popular demand, places for the 1 mile and 2.6 km races are open only to children in Year 4, 5 and 6. Tickets will be allotted by ballot, so please enter by completing this form by Friday 14th February when the runners will be drawn. Please note that children may be offered a place in either distance and may required to run on their own dependent on the number of adult places available.      World Book Day & Author Visit  We will be marking World Book Day here at St. Helen's College on Friday 7th March. To reflect the non-fiction theme this year we are asking children to dress up as any aspect of their favourite non-fiction book, and to bring the book along if possible. Please be as creative and sustainable as possible; let your imagination run riot! Suggestions include: famous scientists, explorers; an iconic building; an animal; a historical figure; planets, mountains and ocean creatures! We can't wait to see what you choose.  As part of our World Book Day celebrations we will be welcoming the author and astrophysicist Professor Raman Prinja, author of Our Cosmos and Wonders of the Night Sky to school on Wednesday 5th March. Professor Prinja will be taking Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils on a spectacular journey through the Universe and many of the children have already enjoyed browsing his astronomy books in the library! There will be a book signing after the event, please order copies via Chiltern Bookshops in advance here.  Library News Please return any overdue school library books after the half term break. Book loans may be renewed as many times as needed and start at two weeks. Please note, any books deemed lost may need to be replaced by school. Please do visit the local libary at Oak Farm where there are various special events running for children over the half term holiday.  Water Aid Charity Year 5 are planning an exciting fundraiser for the charity Water Aid after half term and are requesting that pupils and parents save coins in preparation. On Friday 28th February each class at Upper and Lower School will be creating a coin trail as part of a fun competition to see which class can make the longest trail. All the coins will be collected together at the end and donated to this important charity. Please start collecting coins now to make this fundraiser a big success!        Bicycle Workshop The school JTAs (Junior Travel Ambassadors) are organising a Bicycle Workshop at Upper School on Wednesday 26th February to promote safe and active travel to school. The children are invited to travel by bicycle into school on the day where they can enjoy a free 'Biker's Breakfast' whilst their bike is safety checked by experts from Bikewise in Ickenham. Please sign up here by Sunday 23rd February. Every bike checked will receive a free raffle ticket with a chance to win travel accessories! Staff News We will be bidding farewell to several long-standing members of staff at the end of the current academic year. We are very sad to do so, but there are exciting times ahead for our leavers. We are delighted to share the news that Mr McLaughlin has been appointed as the new Headteacher of Kew Green Prep School from September 2025.  Mr McLaughlin has dedicated himself to the school for the past nine years and his leadership skills have gone from strength to strength as Deputy Headteacher.  He will bring expertise and energy to his new role and we congratulate him on his exciting new post.  After 25 years of service to the school, our Head of Lower School, Mrs. Hunt, will be stepping away this summer to relocate with her family to the West Country. Mrs. Hunt has been an integral part of our Lower School for many years and has made an invaluable contribution. We are pleased to announce that Miss Matthews, who is currently Head of EYFS, will take on the additional responsibilities from Mrs. Hunt from September and become our new Head of Pre-Prep.   Mr. Lewis, our Director of Studies, will be retiring at the end of the academic year after 19 years with St. Helen's College. Mr. Lewis has been reducing his working hours over the last few years and has now decided that the time is right to enjoy his retirement.  Having begun her PhD studies in October, Mrs. Smith, our Director of Administration, will also be leaving us to focus full time on her academic and writing career. Mrs. Smith has been at the heart of St. Helen's College for 15 years. Mrs. Bool, our Finance Manager, will also be leaving us in May.  Mrs. Bool has been with us for seven years and has transformed the financial operations of the school during this time. She will now have time to focus on her other interests outside of school and utilise her incredible financial skills and strategic vision in other arenas.  These valued colleagues, and members of the Senior Leadership Team, have all made huge contributions to the strategic direction of the school over many years. They have lived and breathed the St. Helen's College values and have brought commitment, enthusiasm and creativity to their roles. They will be sorely missed by colleagues, pupils and parents. We know that you will join us in wishing each of them well in their future adventures. The recruitment process is underway and we will share details of new staff joiners, and announce our new leadership team, in due course. St. Helen's College Nursery Expands Provision! We are excited to announce that, in response to demand, from September 2025 the St. Helen's College Nursery will be open for 50 weeks of the year, providing continuity of educational care for those attending throughout their pre-Reception year. The Nursery will continue to be staffed by our St. Helen's College Early Years specialists and will continue to offer core pre-school education, specialist teaching sessions and plenty of extra opportunities.  Easter Mini-Me Camp There are still a few places available at Mr. Harrington's Mini-Me Camp at PACCAR Scout Camp over the Easter holidays. These weeks are very popular and include lots of exciting activities such as zip wires, laser tag, giant swing, archery, climbing, abseiling and caving which help to build and enhance friendships, improve fitness and foster a love of activity and outdoor fun! There are many St. Helen's College children already signed up and it is also a great opportunity for your children to make new friends from outside of school. Full details and bookings are available here.  PA Uniform Sale The PA will be holding a uniform sale in the Evans Hall at Upper School on the afternoon of Sunday 23rd February from 3.00 - 4.30 p.m. There will be plenty of uniform items available in various sizes, additional donations are not required at this time.  After Half Term Tuesday 25th February - PA Coffee Morning in Evans Hall  Tuesday 25th February - Year 4 Netball v. Orley Farm Wednesday 26th February - School At Work Open Morning  Thursday 27th February - Wrens Coffee Morning and Class Assembly Friday 28th February - Year 1 Indoor Pedestrian Training Friday 28th February - Month End Music Recital Saturday 29th February - ABRSM Exams
Posted on: 7/02/2025

Weekly News - Friday 7th February 2025

1O Class Assembly On Thursday 1O presented a thoughtful and inspiring class assembly about life skills and personal growth. The children shared the importance of the personal values we embed every day here at St. Helen's College; patience, self discipline, perseverance and determination. They used a clever analogy of a tree to explain how planting the seeds of these values inside ourselves helps us to grow strong and resilient. Well done 1O for sharing a vital lesson and singing so brilliantly about striving to be the very best version of ourselves. You can hear more from some of the children here.      5G Class Assembly Year 5 presented a fascinating class assembly today about the concept of spatial reasoning and how we can develop our awareness of the world around us by building this vital skill into daily life. Tasks such tying shoe laces, reading maps, playing games and puzzles, and fitting objects into the correct sized containers are all problem solving activities based on spatial reasoning skills. In the classroom 5G have been working with angles and 3D shapes in maths (they are pictured here with their colourful tangrams), created complex origami models and have been exploring spatial vocabulary in English.  Developing strong spatial reasoning can open the door to many diverse and interesting career paths; architecture, medicine, visual art and engineering are just a few avenues where these skills are utilised. Well done 5G for a very informative insight into all of your hard work and a very polished assembly.  UKMT Maths Challenge Success Last week nineteen pupils from Year 5 and 6 participated in the UK Maths Trust Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. Today we were delighted to award all the children certificates of achievement in assembly and celebrate their success in this demanding test. Huge congratulations to the following pupils who achived bronze and silver certificates in recognition of their excellent results: Bronze certificates - Rayan S (Y6), Shanaya P (Y6), Rohan F (Y6) Silver certificates - Aaryav K (Y6), Mark DR (Y6), Saayan S (Y6), Ashvika A (Y6), William B (Y5), Mustafa F (Y6), Avar D (Y6), Rohaym U (Y6), Amelia L (Y6) General Knowledge Quiz On Tuesday twelve children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 represented St. Helen's College in the first heat of the annual inter-school General Knowledge Quiz. This hotly contested 60 minute online event is organised by the Quiz Club and is an brilliant opportunity for members of the school Quiz Club to put their knowledge to the test, competing against 72 other schools.  Congratulations to Team 3: Melissa D R (Y3), Rian S (Y4), William B (Y5) and Amelia L (Y6) who finished in 18th place with 1385 points, and are through to the semi-final in March!  Well done to Team 1: Mia S (Y3), Alicia Z (Y4), Armaan V (Y5) and Rohan F (Y6) who finished 25th with 1310 points and still have a chance to make it through to the next stage, watch this space! Team 2 finished in a very respectable 32nd place with 1240 points, good teamwork from Aayan B (Y3), Anjali S (Y4), Reyan C (Y5) and Rohin M (Y5).  AI Summit On Tuesday, four Year 6 children, Ashvika A, Mustafa F, Alexander A and Avar D, attended the world's first Children’s AI Summit at Queen Mary University of London, which brought together children from across the UK to share their messages for global leaders, policymakers, and AI developers on their vision for the future of AI. The children participated in interactive sessions and even had the opportunity to present on stage! They very confidently shared their own views on how AI can positively impact their lives and voiced their concerns about the emerging technology. The children's thoughts and messages will be carried to the Paris AI Action Summit next week.    Dinosaurs Visit Robins and Wrens! On Friday Robins and Wrens travelled back in time for a fun interactive workshop with 'Dino Girl' from the Travelling Natural History Museum. The children had a roaring time discovering fascinating facts about the different types of dinosaurs, learning how they protected themselves and how they used their senses to hunt. They especially enjoyed examining giant dinosaur teeth and claws! There were lots of laughs and happy faces as they explored the dinosaur models. The session culminated with a thrilling meteorite explosion to demonstrate one of the theories about why dinosaurs became extinct.    Y5 Pedestrian Training On Thursday Year 5 enjoyed an informative pedestrian training workshop led by the Hillingdon Borough Council STARS Team (School Travel and Road Safety Education team) to equip the children with pedestrian skills to aid safe independent travel. Thank you to the STARS team for this vitally important workshop.          Year 6 Riot Act Workshop (Road Safety) On Friday it was the turn of Year 6 to participate in a road safety workshop. The children took part in an interactive workshop with The Riot Act to educate them on potential dangers whilst using the roads and how to actively stay safe. The performance prompted some lively and engaging discussion considering the perspectives of many different road users; cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.        World Book Day & Author Visit  We are excited to announce that the theme for this year’s World Book Day at St. Helen’s College on Friday 7th March will be non-fiction! To celebrate, we encourage children to dress up as any aspect of their favourite non-fiction book (no football kits, please) and, if possible, bring the book along to share with classmates. Costume ideas could include dressing up as a famous inventor from a book about scientists or as a globe from a book about our planet. Throughout the day, students will enjoy a variety of fun, non-fiction-themed activities designed to spark curiosity and learning. We look forward to seeing their creative costumes and the wonderful books they bring! To support our focus on non-fiction we are looking forward to welcoming the award-winning astrophysicist Raman Prinja, author of Our Cosmo and Wonders of the Night Sky, to Upper School on Wednesday 5th March for a special talk and book signing. From planets and moons to black holes and asteroids, Professor Raman Prinja will be taking Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils on a spectacular journey through the Universe to discover the seven wonders of our cosmos. This promises to be a fascinating talk and will include an interactive question and answer session at the end. There will be a book signing after the event, please order copies via Chiltern Bookshops in advance here.  TCS Mini Marathon The TCS Mini London Marathon is back!  This exciting event which offers school children the opportunity to run part of the official marathon route takes place on Saturday 26 April 2025, the day before the 2025 TCS London Marathon. This year due to popular demand we have been allocated only 25 tickets in the 1 mile race and 15 tickets in the 2.6km race, therefore the event will be open only to children in Year 4, 5 and 6. To enter the ballot for tickets please complete this form by Friday 14th February when the runners will be drawn at random. Please note that children may be offered a place in either distance and may required to run on their own as we are awaiting feedback on the number of adult places available.  Mindfulness Activity Cards At St. Helen's College we support the children's emotional regulation with a range of mindfulness techniques and see the huge benefits it can bring to their overall wellbeing. With this in mind parents may be interested in Mindfulness Activity Cards, produced by The Children's Yoga Co, which can be used as a fun and engaging tool to practise mindfulness at home. The cards are suitable for children aged three and above and encourage calmness, focus, and emotional awareness through simple activities that require little or no props, for example crafting, breathwork, visualisation and movement. The cards can be purchased here.  Parents' Evening Thank you to all the parents from Ducklings, Nursery and Reception who attended Parents' Evening this week. We hope it was useful and thank you for your continued support.  Healthy Snacks Please may we remind parents to adhere to our Healthy Eating Policy and send a small snack for morning breaktime consisting of only fruit, vegetables or plain crackers. Please avoid plastic packaging where possible to support our sustainability goals and kindly be reminded we are a nut free school.  Next Week 2S swimming all week Wednesday 12th February  - Football v. Ryefield  Thursday 13th February - Robins Coffee Morning and Class Assembly Thursday 13th February - Y6 Netball v. St. Andrews (A) Friday 14th February - 5R Coffee Morning and Class Assembly  Friday 14th February - Perform Visit To Lower School   
Posted on: 31/01/2025

Weekly News - Friday 31st January 2025

1C Class Assembly 1C took us on a whistle stop tour of Brazil in their class assembly on Thursday. The children shared their knowledge of this vibrant country, including the carnival culture and famous landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain, and the diverse plant and animal life in the Amazon Rainforest. They retold the story The Great Kapok Tree, sharing an important message about preserving the rainforest and they sang beautifully on this theme. Well done to all of the children for each reading their lines clearly and confidently in a very accomplished and enjoyable performance.      UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge On Wednesday, nineteen children from Years 5 and 6 completed the online UK Maths Trust Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. This demanding sixty minute test aims to stretch the children's knowledge and application of mathematical reasoning and provides a great opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving abilities. Well done to all of the children who took part; we were very impressed by their positive approach. Certificates will be awarded in due course once the results have been processed.    Junior Travel Ambassadors Meet The Mayor of Hillingdon On Wednesday four of our Year 5 Junior Travel Ambassadors attended a special STARS (School Travel and Road Safety) workshop at Hillingdon Civic Centre in preparation for their Dragon's Den funding pitch in March. Alongside children from a small number of other local schools, our St. Helen's College pupils were trained in valuable sales and pitching skills. They participated in activities to analyse postcode data and the results of a recent parent survey which highlighted the travel issues facing local families. The children also had the opportunity to visit the council chamber where important meetings take place and to meet the Mayor, Cllr. Colleen Sullivan, in her parlour!  We wish the children all the best for their Dragon's Den pitch to councillors in March to secure funding to put their travel solution ideas into practice. Police Visit Reception Our Reception classes were lucky to have a visit from the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday. The children sat attentively and listened to the police officers speak about safety and stranger danger. They also very much enjoyed exploring the police van with its sirens and flashing lights!          Pets As Therapy Sessions This week, Buddy the dog and his owners (Harpal and Harpreet, former SHC parents and local residents) completed their first Pets as Therapy sessions with St. Helen's College children. The sessions involve reading to and playing with Buddy. Year 3 were chosen as the pilot year group, and other year groups will also be able to take part in sessions in the coming weeks.The Pets As Therapy sessions aim to build confidence around dogs, enhance self-confidence and also provide reading practice in a different way.   Month End Music Recital We were delighted to welcome some visitors from Ryefield Court Care Home to our Month End Music Recital today. As usual we were treated to a wonderful variety of musical talent from children in Year 1 right through to Year 6 including performances on the piano, violin, cello and a selection of accomplished vocal pieces.  This event is a fantastic opportunity for the children to gain performance experience in an informal and nurturing space. Well done to all the musicians for working so hard on their pieces, it was a privilege to share such a high quality performance with our special guests.      House Quiz Last week the children at Upper School took part in the eagerly anticipated first round of the House General Knowledge Quiz. Each child completed twenty questions and the winner from each year group in each House will now go through to the hotly contested final. Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to the finalists, who are as follows: Caledonia Y2 Mulenga M Y3 Ali A-R Y4 Eleanor G Y5 Armaan V Y6 Avar D Cambria Y2 Amelia A K Y3 Shriyan P Y4 Zora B Y5 Yuvraj R Y6 Amelia L Hibernia Y2 Shivansh P Y3 Sophie B Y4 Abir G Y5 Reyan C Y6 Ayush A Windsor Y2 Hadi Q Y3 Advik A Y4 Ivaan M Y5 Rayhan R Y6 Mustafa F Speed Awareness Poster Winner Towards the end of last term, St. Helen’s College ran a 'Design a Sign' competition in collaboration with Hillingdon Council to create a speed awareness poster for Parkway. We received lots of excellent entries and our Junior Travel Ambassadors took their judging responsibilities seriously, scrutinising all of the entries very carefully. The team picked their top ten finalists which were then submitted to the School Travel and Road Safety team at the London Borough of Hillingdon who decided on a final winner. Huge congratulations to Ivaan in 4C for his fantastic and informative poster design which you can see here. Well done to the top ten entrants who all received a special certificate. The Borough's designers are now working on Ivaan's design to produce an actual sign which will be installed along Parkway in the near future. We look forward to seeing the sign in situ very soon! Sports News The Year 6 netball team played a tough and intense match on Thursday against St. Catherine's School. Our opponents had a very fast paced attack and sharp shooting however, despite the pressure, our defenders remained composed and resilient throughout the game. In the end St. Helen's College conceded the game but there were plenty of positives to take away and areas to focus on to improve our game going forward. Well done to all involved! On Tuesday the Year 5 and 6 boys football team played against Ryefield Primary School and achieved a 3-1 win. It was an very good performance in challenging conditions with a goal from Mark DS and two goals from Daynan C. Congratulations to the team.  Well done to 2C who have completed a week of swimming lessons at Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex and are making great progress.  Parents' Evenings  Thank you to all of the parents from Ducklings, Nursery and Reception who attended parents' evening appointments this week. We hope that you found your conversations helpful. Holiday Club - February Half Term Holiday Club bookings will open today at 4 p.m. and close on Wednesday 12th February at 4 p.m. Please ensure that you make your bookings promptly by logging into your SchoolsBuddy account. Next Week 6H and 6L swimming all week Tuesday 4th February - General Knowledge Quiz Wednesday 5th February - Ducklings/Nursery/Reception parents' evening (4 p.m. to 7 p.m) Thursday 6th February - 1O Coffee morning/class assembly (from 8.15 a.m.) Thursday 6th February - Year 5 Pedestrian training Friday 7th February - Year 6 Road Safety Workshop - Riot Act Friday 7th February - 5G Coffee morning/class assembly (from 8.15 a.m.)    

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