School News and Head's Blog

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Posted on: 13/10/2023

Weekly News - Friday 13th October 2023

As we reach the end of a very busy first half term of the academic year, we are feeling very grateful to the whole St. Helen's College community and very proud of all that has been achieved so far! We wish you all a happy, restful half term. Reception and Year 1 Harvest Assemblies On Tuesday and Wednesday, Lower School classes helped us to reflect on the importance of gratitude and sharing.  Year 1 performed a super assembly on Tuesday, telling us about harvest time around the world. The children described how different cultures and countries celebrate and give thanks for the food they are able to produce and eat. We were also reminded of the importance of sharing with those less fortunate. The pupils sang with gusto and spoke individual lines with confidence. There was some wonderful dancing too! The following day, our Owls and Kingfishers Reception classes presented their harvest assembly, themed around colours. Through song, choral verse and individual lines, the children explained how farmers use combine harvesters and other machinery to help grow, gather and prepare crops, before considering the 'rainbow' of produce we can eat. We remembered together that we are lucky to have plenty and to be able to help those who do not have enough. After each performance, Reverend Ken Kingston told the children a short story to demonstrate how even the smallest contribution can make the biggest difference. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed food for our harvest collections during this half term. As usual, the St. Helen's College community has been hugely generous in supporting those in need, of whom there are many in our local community. All donations are being distributed to people in Hillingdon. 3M Class Assembly The 3M class assembly on Friday looked at all of the connections between people: in our immediate and extended families, in our school and wider community, and around the world. The children reminded us all how important it is to nurture and enjoy these connections, and how we can all make a difference to others' lives by being mindful of the world that connects us. They took us to Antarctica, the Sahara Desert and the Amazon Rainforest, educating us on how important it is to protect these endangered places. We were asked to remember that it is possible for every single person to make a difference and that no difference is too small, because 'the greatest threat to our planet is believing someone else will save it.' Well done, 3M. You spoke your lines with great confidence, projection and clarity and gave us all plenty to reflect upon. Sports News Tuesday saw our U11 girls' football team take part in a tournament at Radlett Prep alongside five other schools. The girls really enjoyed the experience and made the most of the opportunity to compete and develop their matchplay against some tough opposition. The team lost their first game 2-0 to Radlett Prep, won the second 1-0 against Monksmead, with Alexia C the goal scorer, lost 6-0 to Manor Lodge, lost 1-0 to Quainton Hall and lost 1-0 to Cowley Hill. This put the team fifth in the league table which meant a fifth/sixth place play-off against Monksmead. The girls were excited to put their boots back on for the final game and they had saved their best performance until last, winning 3-0 with goals from Eva J, Riya S and Alexia C. Thank you to the parents who came along, both for the amazing support and with the help in transporting the girls to and from the competition. On Wednesday, the U11 boys' football team travelled to Manor Lodge to take part in a tournament. The team produced a mixed set of results, losing their first game 2-1, then winning 3-0, losing 2-0 and losing the last game 3-1. They finished fifth out of seven teams. This was good preparation for the team as the league season is starting very soon. At times the team played very well and they certainly have a strong foundation upon which to build. Many thanks to those who came along to support them. The netball team was also in action on Wednesday with a home match against St. Bernadette's, their second league match of the season. It was an exciting game from start to finish, with the teams being very well matched. Unfortunately St. Helen's College lost 3-4 to St. Bernadette’s, but the girls all played brilliantly and made improvements on their match last week. Nya was awarded player of the match for her fantastic interceptions throughout.   Congratulations to Hana H (Year 6) and her brother Samir H (an Old Helenian), who were recently runners up in their tennis club finals at Dukes Wood Tennis Club in Gerrards Cross. Hana entered the U10 mixed competition and Samir was in the U14 boys' competition. They were both beaten by county players but enjoyed the challenge.    News From The PA Quiz night: Thank you to all of the parents and teachers who participated in Quiz Night. The event was a lot of fun with lots of new parents joining in. These events play a valuable role in fostering a sense of community and collaboration within the school. We appreciate everyone who attended.  Uniform Stall: The uniform stall will be held during the half term on Tuesday 24th October from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Upper School car park, via Parkway.  Christmas Party: The PA has organised two Christmas parties for St. Helen's College children on Sunday 26th November. Your child/children can attend either time slot together, despite being in different year groups. We are not holding parties for specific year groups on this occasion. As spaces are limited, they will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Each party will consist of party food and soft drink, a disco and a gift from Father Christmas. PARTY OPTIONS: Sunday 26 November 2023 PARTY 1: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PARTY 2: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Please complete your booking here: PA Christmas Party 2023 (google.com) PRICES: £15.00 per child £5.00 per adult PAYMENT Please make payment of £15 per child and £5 per adult using the Child 1 Name and Class as your reference. Please note that payment must be made within 24 hours and is only accepted by bank transfer to: Account Name: SHC Parents Association Bank: Natwest Sort Code: 60-02-60 Account No: 10315152 VENUE: Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre, 228 Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton UB7 9JL PARKING FACILITIES: Some parking available on site. Please ensure that you include all the information on the form as requested and make payment within 24 hours of booking. BOOKINGS WILL BE OPEN UNTIL THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER. Book early to avoid disappointment. If there are any queries, please email pa@sthelenscollege.com. Parents' Evenings It was good to see so many parents of our Lower School children at the second round of Ducklings, Nursery, Reception and Year 1 parents' evenings this week. We hope that you found the conversations useful. Please keep communicating with your child's class teacher regularly in order to support their progress. Parents' Evenings for Years 2 to 6 will take place on: Thursday 2nd November (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) Tuesday 7th November (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) To book appointment(s), please use the following link. https://sthelens.schoolcloud.co.uk/   Road Safety And Sustainability Gold Kitemark We are delighted to report that St. Helen's College has once again been awarded a gold kite mark by Transport for London to reflect the school's excellent work concerning road safety and sustainability. As usual, our JTAs (Junior Travel Ambassadors) have been instrumental in gaining this accolade. This keen and responsible group of pupils meets regularly to come up with new and inventive ways to reduce pollution and congestion in the area, as well as to promote the safety of all road users. Well done all! Hillingdon's Active Travel Movement This year the Hillingdon STARS team are offering Hillingdon schools the chance to be involved with their Active Travel Movement 2023 campaign. By being part of the movement, school communities can participate in active travel activities, reduce car use, improve air quality and improve the overall physical and mental well-being of everyone involved. There has never been a more important time for the young minds of today to help shape the fate of our environment and travel behaviours for the future. Watch the 2-minute video to get a sense of what it's all about!  October Walk to School Month Competitions The STARS Team will be running an October Walk to school month competition. There are different competitions for children up to Year 2 and children in Years 3 - 6. All entries must be handed into school by Tuesday 31st October. Winners will be announced and contacted in November. Winners will be chosen from each key stage and will have their design digitally recreated and framed as well as receiving an Amazon gift card! EYFS/KS1 Active Travel Art Competition (Early Years and Years 1 & 2) Children are asked to create a piece of art to show a safe and sustainable way to travel to school. This could be walking, scooting, cycling etc. They should show in their drawing how they keep safe when travelling to school actively.  KS2/KS3 Road Safety Invention Design Competition (Years 3 - 6) Children are asked to come up with a new "Road Safety Invention Design" which could make roads safer. They should draw the design as well as explain how the road safety invention would work and how it makes roads safer.  Thames Valley Cavaliers - Free Tickets Thames Valley Cavaliers will be playing a home match against Loughborough Riders this Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. at Uxbridge College. All St. Helen's College pupils are welcome to attend free of charge! You can find details here. Music Spaces We currently have spaces available for flute, trumpet/trombone and singing lessons for children in Years 2-6. Please use this Google Form to register interest. Please note that there are currently no spaces available for piano lessons; however, the form can be used to add your child's name to a waiting list for any instrument.  Upcoming Dates The second half term promises to be as busy as the first, if not more so! Here is a reminder of upcoming dates/events for the first week back: Monday 30th October - Year 5 pedestrian training (during school hours) Monday 30th October - Year 5 and Year 6 netball v. Highgate (A) Tuesday 31st October - Year 3 pedestrian training (during school hours) Wednesday 1st November - Orchestra trip to Northwood College Wednesday 1st November - Football match v. Laurel Lane (H) Thursday 2nd November - PA coffee morning in Evans Hall (8.15 a.m.) Thursday 2nd November - Year 2 - 6 parents' evenings (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) Friday 3rd November - 3B coffee morning/class assembly (8.15 a.m.) Friday 3rd November - Nursery trip to The Play Train
Posted on: 13/10/2023

IAPS Conference 2023

As we approach our half term I have been reflecting on what has been an incredible start to our academic year. A couple of weeks ago I joined four hundred other Headteachers at our annual IAPS Head’s conference in Liverpool to return to the classroom to hear about developments and current trends in education across the world and nationally. The theme of the conference was ‘Venture Out’ and, as I attended keynote speakers and seminars, I felt so much pride in what we already do here at St. Helen’s College.   There were a host of speakers who shared their wealth of knowledge on topics, which included: Ben Edmonds who has just stepped down as one of the principal designers at Dyson to launch his own company. He reminded us of the skills and creativity which our children will need to be innovative in their future lives. Sarah Horrocks who shared her expertise on developing a digital strategy and tranforming the curriculum and the impact of blended learning. Needless to say, St. Helen’s College is already quite a front runner with our digital learning and our successful online platform throughout the pandemic was testament to this.   The Scary Guy (yes, that is his name) - please do look at his website. He gave us all food for thought and challenged us all to take part in the seven day challenge, during which everything that comes out of our mouths should be positive and not be derogative and negatively judgemental. If you do find yourself saying something ‘mean’ your challenge starts again. As adults we can find this difficult so how hard is this for children! Paul Main discussed his work developing his passion and research into the science of learning and we shared the tools and strategies that he has developed to enable children to ‘think for themselves’. These speakers are only four of many with whom I engaged over the duration of the conference. Although I found them all interesting, I did come away after my few days incredibly proud of what we already have embedded and other aspects we continue to develop at St. Helen’s College. It highlighted for me how innovative and committed the staff at SHC are in always keeping informed about research, pedagogy and being the best they can be to inspire your children. It is the drive and commitment of the team around your children who enable them to make such great progress and of course the parental support which helps the children to thrive and strive for excellence every day. The pupils and staff all now need to recharge over the half term break in order to return for the next half term to continue following their passion for learning. Happy half term to all! Ms Drummond
Posted on: 6/10/2023

Weekly News - Friday 6th October 2023

Year 3 Trip To St. Albans On Monday, Year 3 had their first school trip of the year to St. Albans Cathedral. When they arrived the children met a Roman soldier before taking part in a mosaic making workshop and a drama workshop, where they acted out the life of St. Alban as they toured the cathedral. IAPS Clay Art Workshop Also on Monday, Mrs. Pruce had pleasure of hosting a Clay Workshop at St. Helen's College in her role as subject leader for IAPS. It was a fantastic day of sharing creativity with other art teachers. The course lead was Emma Collins, with whom we have had the pleasure of working previously here at St. Helen's College. The day began with exploring the different ways to make and shape different types of clay and then, in the afternoon, a sense of calm and quiet came over the room as the delegates became mindful of the activity and embraced the opportunity to be active artists themselves. Feedback from the delegates was superb.   Open Morning On Tuesday morning, we welcomed many prospective new families to tour the school and meet current staff and children. Our Year 6 pupils did a wonderful job of showing new families around at Upper School and, as always, really impressed our visitors with their confidence and love for St. Helen's College, their studies and their extra-curricular activities. Year 2 Stone Age Day On Wednesday our Year 2 children enjoyed an immersive day of learning about the Stone Age. The day was a huge success. The children looked amazing in their Stone Age costumes and they enjoyed an action packed day of activities which included Stone Age Maths, Nature Collages, We Will Rock You Music, Cave Painting, Rock Painting, Food Tasting and Clay Faces. The day enriched their history learning and everyone had a Yabadabadoo time! Netball Result The Year 6 Netball Team played a great first netball match on Wednesday afternoon, finishing with a 3-2 home win. The team rotated through positions and showed great versatility. They went into the last quarter drawing 2-2 and kept calm, maintaining possession and securing a well deserved win. Well done to all who played and congratulations to Sofia K, who was awarded player of the match by the opposing team's players and coach. 4B coffee morning/class assembly On Friday, class 4B performed a super assembly, celebrating the fact that our school is turning one hundred years old this year. The children told us about school in the 1920s which seemed to be very strict! They showed us a traditional dance which children would have learnt at that time and gave us a taster of what life was like then, with no school kitchen, smart boards or cars to travel in. We thought about how we can learn from the past and how we do not know what the future will hold for us. The children were excited to tell the audience about their parents and older siblings who had attended St. Helen's College. The assembly ended with a rousing performance of our school song. Well done, 4B, on an enjoyable and informative performance! Ducklings/Nursery/Reception parents' evenings Thank you to all of the parents who joined us for the first Ducklings, Nursery and Reception parents' evenings of the year on Wednesday evening. It was lovely to see you all and we hope that you found the conversations about your children interesting and helpful. The next parents' evening for our Early Years classes will take place next week on Thursday 12th October. Messages From The PA Please mark your calendars for our upcoming uniform stall on October 24, 2023, during the half-term break. We have placed uniform donation bins outside the Upper and Lower School buildings. Please drop off any unwanted uniform there before the half-term holiday. Let's support one another, save on uniform costs, and promote sustainability! Quiz Night at The White Bear! Date: Wednesday, October 11th Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: The White Bear in Ruislip Join us for an evening of fun, trivia, and friendly competition. Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your spot by using the Google Form link: https://forms.gle/cPnxNAbvxb7kX3oDA.  If you would like to join but do not have a team, please let your class rep know via Class List and we will do our best to link you in to a team. Looking forward to seeing you there!   Staff News Congratulations to Mrs. Smith, who discovered today that she has been awarded a distinction for her MA! Class List The Parents' Association have adopted the Class List app for all of their communications. If you have not already downloaded Class List and signed up, please do so as soon as possible so that you do not miss out on communications from the PA about events and more. Parents are encouraged to use Class List to communicate with parent class groups and/or with other parents from across the school.  Next Week 4B swimming all week Tuesday 10th October - Year 1 coffee morning and Harvest assembly (8.15 a.m.) Tuesday 10th October - U11 girls' football tournament at Radlett Prep School (1.00 p.m.) Wednesday 11th October - U11 boys' football tournament at Manor Lodge School (1.00 p.m.) Wednesday 11th October - Y6 netball match v. St. Bernadette's (3.45 p.m.) - home Wednesday 11th October - PA Quiz Night at The White Bear, Ruislip (7.00 p.m.) Thursday 12th October - Ducklings, Nursery and Reception parents' evenings at Lower School (5.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.) Friday 13th October - 3M coffee morning/class assembly (8.15 a.m.) Term Dates 2024-2025 The term dates for the academic year 2024-2025 have now been published to the school website and are available here. BBC 500 Words Competition 500 Words, the UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, has now opened for submissions and will run until Friday 10th November. Children of all abilities are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to write a story they would love to read. You can find out more on the BBC website here, or on the information poster. Good luck submitting your entries - do please let us know of any successes as not only are there excellent individual prizes to be won (including going to Buckingham Palace and being on The One Show), but the school also stands to win a range of books for any successful entries! Half Term Chess Camp Uxbridge Chess Club are running a half term camp which might be of interest to those looking to improve their chess skills and have fun at the same time. Full details are here. Football Development Sessions For Girls Ickenham Youth FC are running some mini development sessions for girls on Saturday mornings. If you have a daughter in Reception to Year 3 who might be interested in joining in, you can find details here.

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