School News and Head's Blog
Posted on: 8/03/2024Weekly News - Friday 8th March 2024
World Book Day Celebrations!
The school was abuzz with excitement today as we celebrated World Book Day across all three sites. Our theme this year was 'Read, Reuse, Recycle' and we had asked parents not to buy new costumes but to recycle or upcycle existing clothing to help children dress up as book characters.
Children enjoyed World Book Day assemblies, quizzes and a themed lunch. Classes from Upper School visited Ducklings and Lower School to read to the younger children and to watch 1R's World Book Day assembly. In Reception, the children had a great time building reading dens. There were also book swaps and much more. Pupils had great fun trying to guess which books had supplied the quotes pinned to staff too!
Huge congratulations to Roha and Emily in Year 6, pictured here, who have written and published their own story, Colour Washed, to coincide with World Book Day. Roha even came dressed today as one of their own characters! Colour Washed is available for children to borrow from the school library. It's great to see such passion for books and nurture writers of the future.
Overall the day presented a wonderful opportunity for us all to focus on the value - and joy - of books and reading. Please, please continue to read with your children daily and to let them see you enjoying reading too. Developing a love of reading really is the backbone for educational success!
You can see lots of World Book Day pictures from across the school on our Galleries page here.
Year 3 Play
Year 3 made a big 'Splash' on Thursday evening, taking to the stage to perform their play at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham. What a treat it was for us all! Having worked extremely hard for weeks in rehearsal, the Year 3 children delivered a show stopping performance in this fun and vibrant re-telling of the story of Noah's Ark.
Every child had the opportunity to speak and they all impressed the audience with their acting and vocal skills, confidence and stage presence. It was wonderful to see the children thrive in the exciting setting of a professional theatre and truly bring the production to life. Year 1 and 2 children were lucky enough to attend the morning dress rehearsal; a great opportunity to enjoy the show and experience a taster of what is to come for them. Congratulations Year 3 for a terrific evening, you can see some pictures here.
Chamber Choir Enjoy Barnado's Competition
On Tuesday our Chamber Choir travelled to Birmingham for the day to take part in the Barnado's School Choir Finals at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Twelve junior schools and eleven senior schools from across the United Kingdom had qualified for this very prestigious event.
Our Chamber Choir and accompanying staff travelled by coach, arriving at around 10.30 a.m. for a warm up and rehearsal, then taking to the stage to perform their two songs to six judges and an audience. There followed a Pizza Express lunch, after which the choir had the chance to watch a few senior schools perform, which was very inspiring.
Late afternoon was taken up with a massed choir rehearsal, led by Douglas Coombes MBE, for which all of the junior and senior school choirs came together. This was a marvellous opportunity for our children to sing with a large group of vocalists, led by an extremely experienced and talented conductor!
The day concluded with the grand concert itself, which began at 6 p.m. and concluded with the announcement of the winners. Each choir performed a song and the massed choir performances at the start and end were a real sight to behold. There was just one winner from amongst the junior schools and one from amongst the senior schools; sadly it was not St. Helen's College on this occasion, but we were enormously proud of our Chamber Choir's performances and of how they conducted themselves throughout the day. We know that it is an occasion that will be long-remembered by all involved, as well as a tremendous learning opportunity for the children.
We would like to thank all of the parents and family members who came to Birmingham to support the children. It is typical of the loving and encouraging nature of the St. Helen's College community that every single child was supported by family who travelled to see them perform.
Author Visit - Zanib Mian
The children in Years 2 to 5 had a real treat on Tuesday - a visit from Zanib Mian, author of the popular 'Planet Omar' and 'Meet The Maliks' series. Zanib shared a fun and inspiring talk about her life as a writer, explaining how she became an avid reader as a child and loved writing stories. She involved the children in a short 'detective' activity to show how creating interesting characters is the cornerstone of a gripping story and how we can all use our observation skills in every day life for inspiration!
The event was a wonderful opportunity for the children to gain some valuable tips for their own creative writing and to have a book specially signed and dedicated to them. Zanib's parting message was a passionate call to visit the library as much as possible; books have the power to transport us to all sorts of exciting and magical places, something we heartily encourage here at St. Helen's College.
1R Class Assembly
Wednesday saw our 1R pupils perform their class assembly to an eager audience of parents and staff. Themed on World Book Day the children dressed up as their favourite book characters and celebrated the many joys of books and reading.
The children highlighted how books can help us learn about the world around us, can be wonderful practical guides, for honing skills like cooking, and how fiction can take us into amazing, new and magical worlds! The assembly was a joy to watch, all the children delivered their lines clearly and with confidence and delighted in the songs celebrating the wonderful world of books. Well done 1R for a very special assembly!
Eco Team Plastic Free Schools Project
Congratulations to our diligent Eco Team who have accomplished the fourth objective in the 'Plastic Free Schools' initiative, which is to 'challenge industry'. Our Eco Warriors conducted their own research into plastic packaging in school, at home and whilst out and about to identify three companies they felt could do more to reduce plastic use. They wrote compelling letters to food and drink giants Coca-Cola, Ferrero and Mondelez-International, to highlight the damaging environmental impact of their products and packaging. Applying pressure on influential food companies is a crucial step in the campaign to tackle plastic pollution. Well done to the Eco Team for their hard work on this important issue.
Quiz Team Semi Final
On Friday our Quiz Team took part in the semi final of the national Prep School General Knowledge Quiz. Children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 collaborated in this online event, competing with other schools from across the UK in a hotly contested competition covering history, geography, art, popular culture and more. Our team made a great effort finishing in 28th position out of 48 teams.
Well done to our team members:
Rian S (Year 3)
Armaan V (Year 4)
Sofia S (Year 5)
Anika C (Year 6)
Junior Citizens Event
On Thursday, Year 6 took the bus to Brunel University for the annual Junior Citizens event. The children participated in many interactive workshops with organisations including the London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, Bikeability, RNLI, the NHS, SCARF Lifeskills and TfL to develop safety awareness and life skills. The children learnt about travelling safely on public transport, fire safety, crime risk, safe and unsafe substances and staying safe online.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the day and gained many valuable skills to help equip them for the transition into senior school.
Exhibition Day
We would like to remind you that Saturday 16th March is our annual Exhibition Day, during which the school will be open for pupils and their families from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
All children should attend on this day in full school uniform, at the time that suits you best during the two hour slot. Pupils will no doubt be eager to show you around their classrooms and will also want to revisit previous year groups to reminisce! The day also presents a lovely opportunity to visit older year groups to see what lies in store for your child in coming years. Your children's work will be available for you to view on this day and staff will be in school, but please note that the day will not allow for detailed conversations about individual children.
This year, to tie in with our Centenary celebrations, each year group has a decade theme, so it will be particularly poignant to travel through time as you travel through the school. Refreshments will be served in the Evans Hall throughout the morning.
Friday 15th March is a half day in order to allow the school to prepare for Exhibition Day. There will be NO FUNTASIA available on Friday 15th March and children must be collected at the following times:
11.50 a.m. (Ducklings & Nursery)
12.00 p.m. (Reception)
12.10 p.m. (Y1,2)
12.20 p.m. (Y3,4)
12.30 p.m. (Y5,6)
We look forward to seeing you all on Exhibition Day and to celebrating the pupils and their work!
Gaza Charity Day
A reminder that next Friday 15th March we will be raising money for Save The Children, to support children currently suffering in Gaza. We have been thinking about how lucky we are to have warm homes and cosy beds and so on Friday 15th, pupils and staff may come to school in pyjamas in return for a donation of their choice to Save The Children. You can make donations via our JustGiving page here. We thank you in advance for your support.
Sports News
The football team travelled to St. Andrew's School on Wednesday afternoon for another fixture. The team won 3-1, with Aaron B scoring two goals and Ryley J adding the third. At times the boys played some good football on a poor pitch, but once again the story of the match was our missed opportunities in front of goal. This is something on which we will continue to work, in the hopes of improving our league position and making things easier for ourselves in the league next season. Man of the Match, for an outstanding second half performance, was Daynan C.
Co-curriculum Clubs Summer Term
Booking opens today for co-curriculum clubs for the summer term. Please login to SchoolsBuddy to make your choices.
Holiday Club (Easter)
Holiday Club will run from Monday 25th March - Friday 12th April (Excluding Good Friday - 29th March and Easter Monday - 1st April). Bookings open on Friday 8th March at 4 p.m. Please login to SchoolsBuddy to make a booking.
RoboThink Easter Workshops
RoboThink will be running special Egg-ineering robotics workshops during the Easter holidays at St. Helen's College Lower School. There are options for half or full day sessions. You can find out more and book here.
Baby Mindfulness Classes
Mrs. McLaughlin's next set of FREE Baby Mindfulness classes will begin after the Easter break. These classes are for mothers and babies (aged from six weeks until crawling). They run on Wednesday mornings at St. Helen's College Upper School and provide a safe space for mums and babies to bond, taking part in breathing, gentle yoga and other mindfulness exercises. There is also the opportunity to meet other local mums and babies and to socialise with them. If you have a baby of the right age (or will do by mid-April) and are interested in 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.
Messages From The PA
Uniform Donation Bins / Uniform Stall / Charity Bake Sale
Do you have any good condition SHC uniform that you no longer need? If you would like to donate it to the PA, you will be able to drop it in the donation bins which will be located outside the school entrances from Monday 11th March until Friday 22nd March.
A second hand uniform stall will be set up and run in the Upper School car park on Parkway from midday to 3 p.m. on Tuesday 26th March (the first Tuesday in the Easter holidays). If you'd like to pick up a bargain, make sure you come along and visit the stall.
A cake stall will run alongside the uniform stall, selling delicious sweet treats to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Please do come along and treat yourself and your family!
Next Week And End of Term Events
Monday 11th March - Year 5 (U10) netball v. Highgate School (H)
Thursday 14th March - Year 1 Trip To Gunnersbury
Thursday 14th March - House Assembly
Friday 15th March - Half Day - NO FUNTASIA
Saturday 16th March - EXHIBITION DAY 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Monday 18th March - District Cross Country
Monday 18th March - Year 4 Senior School Transfer Meeting in Evans Hall 6 p.m.
Tuesday 19th March - Reception Poetry Recital (coffee from 8.15 a.m.)
Tuesday 19th March - Year 5 Trip To Bletchley Park
Tuesday 19th March - Beechwood Park Year 6 Netball Tournament
Tuesday 19th March - Year 5 Isle Of Wight Information Evening (6.30 p.m.)
Wednesday 20th March - Nursery Poetry Recital (coffee from 8.15 a.m.)
Wednesday 20th March - Orley Farm Year 5 Netball Tournament
Thursday 21st March - Speech Competition (9.00 a.m. Y1/2, 1.50 p.m. Y3/4, 2.50 p.m. Y5/6)
Thursday 21st March - Planetarium Visiting Reception
Thursday 21st March - Year 3 PACCAR Information Evening (6.30 p.m.)
Friday 22nd March - Year 2 - 6 Easter Service At All Saints Church (11.00 a.m.)
Friday 22nd March - End Of Term (Half Day)
Posted on: 1/03/2024Weekly News - Friday 1st March 2024
Online Safety Session For Parents
Thank you to those parents who attended the Online Safety training on Wednesday. We appreciate the positive feedback and are really glad you found it informative and helpful.
Speech Competition
It is almost time for our annual Speech Competition for pupils in Years 1 to 6 and, as usual, the standard promises to be very high. We have provided the children with interesting and challenging poems to learn off by heart and we are looking forward to hearing them recite these over the next few weeks. As ever, the judging criteria are threefold: expression, projection and clarity. Semi-finalists will be chosen by class teachers and finalists will be chosen by senior members of staff. Parents of finalists will be invited to attend the finals, which will take place on Thursday 21st March at the following times:
Year 1 & Year 2 9.00 a.m.
Year 3 & Year 4 1.50 p.m.
Year 5 & Year 6 2.50 p.m.
It is inevitable in any competition that some children will be disappointed. Please support your child to learn and recite their piece to the very best of their ability, and to enjoy the process whatever the outcome.
Every Nursery and Reception child is also busy learning a poem and all Nursery and Reception parents are warmly invited to join us for their recitals which will take place on:
Reception - Tuesday 19th March at 9.00 a.m. (coffee served from 8.15 a.m.)
Nursery - Wednesday 20th March at 9.00 a.m. (coffee served from 8.15 a.m.)
JTA Dragons Den Pitch
On Thursday, our Year 5 Junior Travel Ambassadors visited the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, where they made a Dragons Den style pitch to Cllr. Jonathan Bianco, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport. This was a terrific opportunity for St. Helen's College, alongside neighbouring schools, to pitch for funding to be used for a school initiative supporting road safety and/or sustainable travel activities within the school.
The JTA team researched and presented an exciting initiative for a bike safety workshop to be held at St. Helen's College for pupils, but also the wider community, in association with Bikeability. Our road safety leaders demonstrated brilliant research skills and budget management when considering the advertising, promotion and incentives for the scheme. They delivered their pitch with confidence and were able to answer the questions put to them sensibly and maturely. In the end, they were awarded £550 - more than they had originally asked for - to use for their initiative. They will now begin organising and promoting the bike workshop. Very well done to our JTAs - what an experience and what an outcome! You can see more photographs here.
Kingfishers Class Assembly
A big well done to our Reception Kingfishers class, who presented such a wonderful assembly on Thursday. The theme was 'Do the little things in life' celebrating the life of St. David, the Patron Saint of Wales, whose last words in his final sermon before he died on the 1st March were: 'Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.’
The children shared a visual representation of a wall built on the solid foundations of values we at St. Helen's College cherish: patience, helpfulness, courtesy, determination, co-operation, courage, kindness, perseverance, friendliness, respect, forgiveness, gratitude and honesty. They also shared simple ways we can all help to change the world for better, for example by picking up litter and recycling. The children were a joy to watch, delivering their lines with great confidence and singing together beautifully. You can see more photographs here.
Music News
Congratulations to the 23 students who took their ABRSM exams in school last Saturday. If your child has taken a music exam outside of school this term, please let Mrs. Fawbert know so that the results can be celebrated at the end of the term.
If your child is interested in learning a musical instrument in school, please use this Google Form to register interest.
Sports News
On Tuesday, our Year 3 and Year 4 netballers all took part in a series of small sided friendly netball games at Orley Farm School. This was, for some pupils, their first ever fixture so excitement levels were high! The children represented St. Helen's College with confidence and demonstrated how their technical skills have developed and progressed since the start of term.
On Wednesday, the football team met Heathrow Primary School. Despite playing well the boys lost 3-1. Thank you to Kal-El for stepping in at late notice and to Mrs. Thompson who helped at the fixture. The Player of the Match was Aaron B, who scored the St. Helen's College goal too.
6L have very much enjoyed their intensive week of swimming and their water skills have certainly developed during the sessions.
Spring Garden In A Box
Our latest House challenge is for pupils to create a 'spring garden in a box'. Pupils are asked to find an old shoe box or similar and, using only natural or recycled materials, to create their own mini spring garden. The children may be as colourful and creative as they like - not all gardens are the same! They might like to include paths, ponds, fences, plants and wildlife. The garden creations should be brought to school on 18th and 19th March. Each entry will receive two house points. Winners for each year group will receive more and will appear on the school website!
Waste Week
Next week we will take part in National Waste Week, with a focus on electricals and batteries.
Recycle to Read Batteries Collection
Our school is recycling batteries (and other unwanted tech) to protect the planet, and for a chance to win book vouchers for the school.
Please encourage your child to carry out a 'Tech Treasure Hunt' at home. Please can your child bring any old/used batteries into school for their house boxes. Two house points will be given to them per battery. The boxes will be available from next Monday until the following Monday (4th to 11th).
We are also keen to help with any unwanted 'tech'. Your child can also bring these items into school or you can use this website to find your local electrical and battery drop off points: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk. Please remove batteries from electricals and recycle them separately.
You can find out more information on the these links:
Material Focus hello@materialfocus.org.uk
www.recycleyourelectrical.org.uk
facebook.com/recycleyourelectricals
@recycleelectric
@recycleyourelectricals_
linkedin.com/company/materialfocus
Author Visit: Zanib Mian
On Tuesday 5th March, children in Years 2 to 5 will be visited by author Zanib Mian, who will inspire them with a talk about becoming an author. There will be an opportunity to pre-order copies of Mian's books which can be signed and dedicated on the day. Full details, including the order link, are available here. Listen to a review of a Planet Omar book by one of our Year 4 pupils here.
September Entry 2024 - Ducklings and Nursery
If you have a sibling due for entry in September to either Ducklings or Nursery, and have not yet registered him/her, you must do so now. Places are filling up quickly and we are unable to reserve spaces for siblings who are not registered. You should register using the online registration form here.
Gaza Charity Day
On Friday 15th March we will be raising money for Save The Children, to support children currently suffering in Gaza. We have been thinking about how lucky we are to have warm homes and cosy beds and so on Friday 15th, pupils and staff may come to school in pyjamas in return for a donation of their choice to Save The Children. You can make donations via our JustGiving page here. We thank you in advance for your support.
World Book Day Menu
Accent catering team have created a special World Book Day menu, including 'wormy spaghetti' inspired by The Twits and carrot cake in honour of Peter Rabbit, which will be served on Friday 8th March. For more recipe inspiration, our red-themed 'Eat The Rainbow' recipe cards for March can be found here.
Parenting Support
The Parent Practice, with whom we have been working for some years, have sent us details of a session on Wednesday evening entitled Generational Healing: Tools For Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns. This session will take a look at how our parenting style is often affected by our own childhood experiences, offering an in-depth exploration into how to heal our own childhood wounds while offering our children loving, secure attachment. The material covered in this class will help parents of toddlers through to young adults.
The session will take place on Wednesday March 6th at 8 p.m. A replay will be available soon afterwards, with no expiration date.
If you are interested, you can find out more information and book your place here.
Next Week
Monday 4th March - Monday 11th March - Waste Week (bring in old batteries for house points)
Tuesday 5th March - Author Zanib Mian visiting Years 2 - 5
Tuesday 5th March - Chamber Choir at Barnado's National Finals in Birmingham
Wednesday 6th March - 1R coffee morning and class assembly 8.15 a.m.
Wednesday 6th March - Football v. St. Andrew's School (A) 4.00 p.m.
Thursday 7th March - Year 6 Junior Citizens visit to Brunel (a.m.)
Thursday 7th March - Year 3 Production at Compass Theatre 7.00 p.m.
Friday 8th March - World Book Day
Posted on: 23/02/2024Weekly News - Friday 23rd February 2024
Owls Class Assembly
Our Owls Reception class delivered a charming assembly to parents on Thursday all about the effect of climate change on the ice caps of Antarctica. They shared a story about Eddie the penguin who was on a journey to find out why his home was melting. He visited many countries, exploring how we could help stop the earth getting warmer and save the polar regions. The solutions he found, communicated by the Owls through wonderful songs, included walking or cycling to school, recycling our rubbish and turning off lights to save energy. The children finished with thoughtful messages about how important it is to protect our amazing planet and a prayer that we might find helpful in doing so.
The Owls children told us before the assembly about some of the topics they have been exploring in class. You can see a short video here.
Month End Music Recital
We rounded off the week with another super Month End Music Recital in the Evans Hall, where children from Years 1 to 6 entertained us by singing and playing piano, violin and guitar. Very well done to everyone involved. It is a testament to the music department that so many children wish to perform after school on a Friday - these recitals are growing and growing! Thank you also to the families and friends who came along to watch. You can watch a clip of one of our fabulous musicians rehearsing here.
Cookery Club
Cookery Club is back! This week the children from Year 5 enjoyed whipping up a tasty feast of nachos with cheese, cauliflower buffalo wings, chicken wings and Mexican rice. This is a terrific opportunity for pupils to get 'hands on' with food preparation and put into practice many aspects of food science they learn in the classroom.
Languagenut Success
We are very proud of how hard the children have been trying on Languagenut, the online learning platform where they practise their modern foreign language (Spanish and French) vocabulary and grammar skills.
Our top five achievers in the school are currently:
Aiden T (Year 6)
Giuseppe D (Year 5)
Riya S (Year 6)
Anika C (Year 6)
Vansh K (Year 5)
Not only are the pupils achieving individually, but in the last fortnight St. Helen's College placed 12th overall in the United Kingdom primary schools challenge, which is a considerable success!
Another LAMDA Distinction!
Congratulations to Anika C (3B), who achieved a distinction in her recent LAMDA exam, scoring 90% overall!
Re-Purposing Heroes In Year 1
Year 1 are thoroughly enjoying re-purposing old t-shirts into useful bags. They have shown dexterity and control when using the real sewing machine and we have all been delighted with the finished product!
You can see some 'before and after' pictures of their creations here.
Could you be a re-purposing hero too?
TCS Mini Marathon
The TCS Mini London Marathon is back on Saturday 20th April, the day before the 2024 TCS London Marathon. We can’t wait to make this amazing event bigger and better in its third year! We have only been allocated 50 tickets in the 1 mile race and 50 tickets in the 1.6 km race. So if you would like to join us, please fill in this form as soon as possible.
The deadline for this is Friday 1st March. It is open to children from Reception to Year 6. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and you may be given a place in either distance. If at any point you are no longer able to attend, please contact Mr. Harrington as there are sure to be pupils on the waiting list.
Short Story Competition
We hope that pupils aged 8-11 will want to enter a fabulous short story competition being run by the Royal Mint Museum. Children are invited to write a story (under 500 words) about a ship carrying a cargo including gold coins, which runs into a storm. What happens next? You can find inspiration and details of how to enter at the link below. Good luck!
https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/learning/short-story-competition/
Author Visit: Zanib Mian
On Tuesday 5th March, children in Years 2 to 5 will be visited by author Zanib Mian, who will inspire them with a talk about becoming an author. There will be an opportunity to pre-order copies of Mian's books which can be signed and dedicated on the day. Full details, including the order link, are available here. Listen to a review of a Planet Omar book by one of our Year 4 pupils here.
World Book Day
We will be celebrating World Book Day on Friday 8th March. Our theme this year is Read, Recycle, Reuse.
Children may dress up as any book character (no superheroes or footballers please!) We urge you NOT to buy a new outfit for your child; instead, please reuse or recycle outfits where you can. Parents might find Classlist useful for this purpose.
There will be a variety of book themed activities in school on that day, including a house quiz, and pupils may bring in a book to swap with a friend (something appropriate to each child's year group, please).
We are looking forward to celebrating all things book-related and thank you, in advance for your support.
IAPS iArt Competition
The annual IAPS iArt 2024 competition is now open for submissions. The theme this year is 'Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together', a translation of the Olympic motto to celebrate this summer's games. Submissions may be inspired by the Olympics or the theme may resonate in another way; children are encouraged to be as creative as they wish! Shortlisted entrants will receive vouchers for local independent bookshops. There is no set format for entries and artwork can be submitted in any medium; paintings, drawings or models, and of any size and using any art supplies. Full submission details can be found here. To submit an entry, please email a photograph of your named artwork to Mrs. Pruce including the art materials used, your name and class by 19th April. Pupils must complete the following sentence as part of their submission (using 100 words maximum): The theme 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together' inspired me to create this piece because... Shortlisted entries will be invited to an awards ceremony in London in June. Good luck!
Online Safety Evening
We would like to remind you about our upcoming Online Safety session for parents from Ducklings to Year 6 on Wednesday 28th February 2024 at 7.00 p.m. We hope to see as many of you there as possible to discuss what is a growing and vitally important area of child safety in the modern world. The joining link has been sent via SchoolsBuddy.
Gaza Charity Day
This year our school are not going to be taking part in Red Nose Day. Instead, on Friday 15th March, we will be raising money for Save The Children to support children currently suffering in Gaza. We have been thinking about how lucky we are to have warm homes and cosy beds and so on Friday 15th, pupils and staff may come to school in pyjamas in return for a donation of their choice to Save The Children. We will share a JustGiving page in due course and would prefer donations to be made in this way, but children may also bring money into school which will be paid into the same account. We thank you in advance for your support.
New Funtasia Telephone Numbers
From Monday 19th February the new Funtasia contact numbers will be as follows.
Lower School - 01895 699845
Upper School - 01895 699835
Blaze Netball
Our Year 2 pupils thoroughly enjoyed taster sessions run by Blaze Netball Club during their PE sessions today.
Blaze run sessions on Saturday mornings at Douay Martyrs School for boys and girls looking to start or develop their netball skills, as follows:
Year 1 - 4: 9.30 - 10.30 a.m.
Year 5 & 6: 10.45 a.m. - 12 noon.
If your child is interested in joining in, you can find full details on the Blaze Netball Club website here.
Mini-Me Camps
Mini-Me Camps are running an Easter holiday camp at PACCAR Scout Camp. There are limited spaces left available and all friends and family are welcome! Full details, including booking details, are available here.
Next Week
6L swimming all week
Tuesday 27th February - Year 3/Year 4 netball v. Orley Farm 2.30 p.m. (A)
Wednesday 28th February - Football v. Heathrow Primary School 4.00 p.m. (H)
Wednesday 28th February - Online Safety Seminar for Parents 7.00 p.m.
Thursday 29th February - Kingfishers coffee morning/class assembly 8.15 a.m.
Thursday 29th February - JTA Dragons Den pitch at The Battle of Britain Bunker
Friday 1st March - Year 5 netball v. Highgate School 2.45 p.m. (H)
Posted on: 23/02/2024The Five Pillars Of Wellbeing
Health and wellbeing are of the utmost importance to us all. While it is absolutely normal for everyone to experience poor physical and/or mental health sometimes, generally keeping ourselves ‘well’ is most people’s goal. Parents often ask how they can best support their children’s academic and co-curricular endeavours, friendships and happiness. The answer is, focus on the five pillars of wellbeing, which are: Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, Purpose and Connections.
Pillar 1: Sleep
No child will be able to enjoy life to the full, maintain their emotional equilibrium or reach their potential if they are chronically sleep-deprived. Every child therefore needs a regular, appropriate sleep routine. The NHS guidelines on how much sleep children should have in each 24 hour period are:
Infants 4 to 12 months 12 to 16 hours including naps
Children 1 to 2 years 11 to 14 hours including naps
Children 3 to 5 years 10 to 13 hours including naps
Children 6 to 12 years 9 to 12 hours
Teenagers 13 to 18 years 8 to 10 hours
A child’s bedtime routine should start at a consistent time each day, around 30-60 minutes before bedtime. Screens and other distractions should be avoided during this time; the focus should be on bathing, brushing teeth, reading, practising mindful breathing or simply cuddling/chatting. When bedtime comes, there should be no electronic devices in a child’s bedroom to distract them from sleep. If a child does rouse after their bedtime, they should be re-settled as quickly as possible. With consistency, all children can adopt a healthy and enjoyable sleep routine.
Pillar 2: Nutrition
NHS research shows that children who stay a healthy weight are fitter, healthier, better able to learn and more self-confident. They are also less likely to have health problems in childhood and later life.
Children learn by example, so adults should model enjoying a balanced, healthy diet at regular mealtimes. We should all ‘eat a rainbow’ every day! When offering a balanced diet for children, adults may need to be patient. Children may need to try a certain food over and over again before they grow used to it. We can start off by serving children fairly small portions, giving more if they are still hungry after finishing.
Just like adults, children should eat at least five portions of fruit/vegetables every day (fresh, tinned, frozen or dried fruits and vegetables are fine, but fruit juice and smoothies should be limited to a combined total of 150ml per day as these contain so much sugar).
Starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread and potatoes should make up around a third of a child’s diet and wholemeal/wholegrain varieties are best. With potatoes, skins should be kept on whenever possible as these are a good source of fibre.
A child’s protein portion at each meal should be around the size of their palm. Meat, fish, pulses, beans and eggs are good sources of protein and the NHS recommends including one or two portions of oily fish per week and avoiding processed meats like sausages, bacon and ham. It is better to opt instead for lean meat or fish, limiting red meat.
Children should have some dairy (cheese, milk, yoghurts) or dairy alternatives (e.g. soya drinks and yoghurts) as these provide protein, calcium and some vitamins. Ideally, these should be whole/natural versions and it is best to avoid flavoured yoghurts or fromage frais packed full of sugar.
When using oils/fats for cooking or in spreads, we should all choose unsaturated fats such as vegetable, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils.
For everyone, high sugar items such as cakes, biscuits or ice creams should be a ‘once in a while’ treat.
The full NHS Eat Well guide is available here:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/
Pillar 3: Exercise
Regular exercise is essential for keeping bodies and minds fit and healthy. There are many distractions in the modern world which might encourage children to stay indoors: televisions, computers, tablets and other screens, exciting indoor toys. It is up to adults to schedule time in the great outdoors for younger children and to inspire children to be active. This might include going for walks, using play equipment at local parks, cycling, skipping, scooting, swimming, trampolining or taking part in organised sports. Many traditional childhood outdoor activities are free, such as climbing trees, catching falling leaves, collecting rocks, pebbles or twigs, going on a bug hunt or jumping in puddles!
Children will inevitably spend lots of time indoors too, and much of this can also be active. Rather than sitting still while staring at a screen, children could build indoor dens, do some cooking, try a bit of yoga or other stretching, or take part in active online games such as those based on sports or dancing. Tidying up, laying the table or helping to hang clothes on the line or put the laundry away are activities which inspire responsibility as well as movement! Gardening is good for the soul and it is never too early for children to learn how to plant, water and care for growing things.
When a child is tired, even worn out, by being active, they - and their adults - can really appreciate the still, quiet times. There is something special about curling up after an active day to read a book, watch television, listen to music, do puzzles or simply sit and focus on our breath. Being active will also support children in getting enough sleep, as a tired child is more likely to sleep soundly.
Pillar 4: Purpose
Children are physically and mentally supported by a good sleep routine, a balanced, healthy diet, and a good amount of activity. The two final pillars of wellbeing are purpose and connections. If sleep, diet and exercise are the ‘hows’ of our lives, purpose and connections are the ‘whys’. Giving a child purpose is not as daunting as it might sound; here are some tips.
Adults can help children to discover the joy of creativity with activities such as drawing, painting, learning to sing or play music, planting and nurturing a seed, building Lego structures or car/train tracks, making up stories or doing some cooking. Creating home-made items such as birthday cards and wrapping paper are a great starting point even for very young children.
We can also inspire children’s curiosity, the basis for their lifelong learning, by talking with them about the world around them. For children, everything is a question. Why is the sky blue? What’s that girl doing? What makes the bubbles in water? Why do bees buzz? Adults might help children to uncover the answers for themselves, or perhaps join them on the journey of discovery! A curious child is likely to enjoy their educational journey and enjoying something is likely to make us do well at it.
Children should be encouraged to find inspiration and wonder all around them. From the beauty of blossom to the enormity of elephants, from how sand feels between toes to the smell of freshly cut grass, there is always something to notice and appreciate. Adults should help children to recognise the beauty and wonder in the world, such as the new shoots in spring or the beauty of freshly-fallen snow, so that children may develop a sense of the wider world and of spirituality, awe and faith.
Pillar 5: Connections
This should, perhaps, be Pillar 1, because with strong and healthy connections, everything else becomes easier. Connections are relationships and our earliest relationships form the blueprint for healthy relationships throughout the rest of our lives.
Relationships are not perfect all of the time, and we should not expect them to be. We should aim not to be perfect, but to be ‘good enough’. Healthy relationships are formed and enhanced by showing kindness, respect and patience, by listening attentively and communicating clearly. It is also important to set and maintain the right boundaries for both participants’ wellbeing. Between adults and children a crucial boundary is this one: ‘I am the adult, you are the child. I have knowledge and experience that you do not yet have. So, while I will listen to you with respect and kindness, I may not be able to grant your every wish.’
Helping a child with building their five pillars of wellbeing is not always an easy job. Often adults must spend time explaining the reasons for their decisions or justifying the boundaries they set. The good news is that if we can consistently ensure that children get the right amount of sleep, good nutrition, enough exercise, a sense of purpose and healthy connections, we will be enhancing their mental and physical wellbeing not just during their childhood but for their entire life. Which is, perhaps, the best gift of all.
Posted on: 9/02/2024Mindfulness in Schools
There has been a lot in the news this week about the tragic murder of Brianna Ghey and the way in which her mother has responded. The BBC have reported that she has launched a local campaign in Warrington which has raised £50,000 to deliver Mindfulness training in schools, and is now backing a nationwide campaign which is calling upon the government to fund Mindfulness training for every school in England. You can read their report here and find out more about the Mindfulness in Schools Project here.
While it is enormously sad that it has taken such a tragedy to bring this issue to the fore, I could not agree with Brianna's mother more. There is an urgent need for all children, and school staff, to be taught Mindfulness principles and techniques, and to use these regularly.
Those who know St. Helen's College well know that we have been teaching Mindfulness to the children for many, many years. More than this, we have embedded Mindfulness as a school principle and staff and children practise Mindfulness daily, using a toolkit of techniques to combat the inevitable strains of modern, busy lives. Children here take on the role of Mindfulness ambassadors and over the last few years have led meditation sessions in assemblies and written about the effects of Mindfulness upon them.
This week, some of the Year 3 children have been talking about what being a part of a mindful school is like for them. They described how they have mindful moments in their classroom on Thursdays, when they lie down and put cucumber slices on their eyes. They also talked, unprompted, about liking how calm it is when they go into their classroom, about mindful moments in assemblies and about practising finger breathing to help them to stay calm and be in the present moment. One boy explained how our breath is always with us, and can be relied upon to calm us down if we can slow down and notice it. These ideas are clearly not unusual to St. Helen's College children, and it was obvious from the way they spoke that they do not see being mindful as something they have learnt, but as something they are. For children aged 7 and 8 to be able to articulate how and why Mindfulness is used in their day to day lives is wonderful and gives us all great hope for the future. I have no doubt that children throughout St. Helen's College feel the same, given that we have been embedding Mindfulness right from the start of a child's journey with us for so many years. This includes at Ducklings, our 2+ setting, where we use age-appropriate sessions such as teddy breathing to help our youngest children to experience and enjoy moments of calm self-awareness.
You might like also to read a piece that I wrote about Mindlessness v. Mindfulness from 2021 here.
There is no guarantee that Mindfulness training would have prevented Brianna Ghey's terrible murder. But there is certainly evidence that Mindfulness can help children and adults to push away negative thoughts and to embrace the positive, to ground themselves and to experience peace, self-awareness and acceptance. Mindfulness can help us all deal with impulses which may not be productive or good for ourselves or others, and give us time to examine and process our thoughts before acting upon them. I hope that Brianna's mother is successful in her efforts to bring Mindfulness training to all schools, and to all children, in the United Kingdom. Our love and thoughts go with her.
I wish you all a mindful, happy half term break.
Posted on: 9/02/2024Weekly News - Friday 9th February 2024
Class Assemblies
The children of our Wrens Nursery class delighted parents and staff at their class assembly on Thursday. The children delivered a charming performance all about the weather. They sang beautifully about snow, rain and suitable clothing before reciting, in unison, a poem about the wind. They finished with a gorgeous rendition of 'I Can Sing A Rainbow', using coloured scarves for corresponding colours of the rainbow. Well done Wrens, it was a delight to watch you all perform.
On Friday it was 6L's turn to present a thought provoking class assembly on the concept of 'community'. The children demonstrated the importance of social responsibility, emphasising that everyone has a part to play if our communities are to thrive. Exploring British values and democracy, Year 6 wrote and delivered impassioned speeches as prospective MPs, promising improvements in key areas of the local community including education, the NHS, road safety, transport, housing and accessibility. The sentiment to count our blessings was a fitting end to the assembly, alongside a reminder that we can all do small things within our communities to make a big change. Well done, 6L, for a very confident and accomplished assembly.
Sports News
Football
The U11 football team played two matches this week. On Monday they took on St. Mary's. They played extremely well but were unable to take their chances and ended up losing 0-1, with Sean R named the player of the match. On Wednesday the team battled hard again to draw 1-1 against a very strong St. Bernadette's team, and Marco K was the player of the match.
The House football competition took place this week and the results were:
Year 3/4
1st - Windsor
2nd - Cambria
3rd - Caledonia & Hibernia
Year 5/6
1st - Windsor
2nd - Hibernia
3rd - Cambria
4th - Caledonia
Netball
House netball was also played this week. The results were as follows:
Year 3/4
1st Caledonia
2nd Windsor
3rd Hibernia
4th Cambria
Year 5/6
1st Cambria
2nd Windsor
3rd Hibernia
4th Caledonia
Karate News
Several St. Helen's College pupils attended the English Karate Federation Kyu Grade National Championships over the weekend as part of KML Karate Club. The KML squad was crowned EKF National Champions in an impressive seven categories and secured 4th position on the association leader board. Nya O-A became the EKF Kyu Grade National Champion, while Avleen P, Rania Q and Naiya L won the team silver medal. In addition, Freya K and Aleya S earned team bronze medals and also earned individual bronze medals. Well done to all involved!
Free Basketball Tickets
St. Helen's College pupils are being offered free tickets to the London Lions women’s Eurocup quarter final game on Wednesday 28th February at 7 p.m. at the Copper Box Arena. To redeem the offer, please click here and enter the code ‘LYG783’ as your promo code.
The Thames Cavaliers are playing the Birmingham Rockets on Sunday 11th February at 5.30 p.m. at Uxbridge College Sports Centre, and tickets to this game are also free for St. Helen's College pupils. Details are here.
Yuvraj Receives Award From Mayor
Yuvraj R (Year 4) received his award from the Mayor of Hillingdon this week for his entry in the recent walk to school road safety competition. What a special event. Well done, Yuvraj!
Author Visit: Zanib Mian
On Tuesday 5th March, children in Years 2 to 6 will be visited by author Zanib Mian, who will inspire them with a talk about becoming an author. There will be an opportunity to pre-order copies of Mian's books which can be signed and dedicated on the day. Full details, including the order link, are available here.
Half Term Holiday Club
We have a new telephone number for Holiday Club. If you need to contact Holiday Club staff during the half term week, you can reach them at 01895 699835.
Rainbow Recipes - February
Chef Soula has shared these 'Eat the rainbow' recipes for February, themed around the colour purple. We hope you will enjoy making some of these with your children.
Robotics Half Term Camp
Robothink will be running a February half term robotics camp in the Lower School Hall at St. Helen's College from 12th to 16th February. Details, including how to book, are available here.
Upcoming Dates
Monday 19th February - 6H swimming all week
Tuesday 20th February - PA coffee morning in the Evans Hall
Wednesday 21st February - Football v. St. Matthews
Thursday 22nd February - Owls coffee morning and class assembly
Friday 23rd February - Month End Music Recital
Posted on: 2/02/2024Weekly News - Friday 2nd February 2024
Class Assemblies
Our Robins Nursery class took to the 'stage' on Thursday to perform a 'winter' themed class assembly to an excited audience of parents and staff. The children were dressed for the chilly weather in cosy hats and scarves as they sang beautifully about this magical season. There were even some mini snowmen and penguins to add to the wintery scene! The singing and accompanying actions were a joy to watch. Well done to Robins for a great performance; it is a privilege to observe every child growing in confidence.
The children of 5G presented their assembly on Friday which, most impressively, they had written themselves. The theme was a question: What Makes A Good Life? Each of the children shared their thoughts about what makes a good life, and it was heartening to hear them tell us, in their own words, what they think is most important. Their ideas included kindness, love, family and friends, helping others in need and being creative. They also considered questions about what leads to happiness, and which careers they might choose when they are older. They sang and danced for us all beautifully and led us in thoughtful prayers too. Well done, 5G. There is no doubt that the future is bright for you all. You can view some clips of the children here and here.
Tree Planting Workshops
Ahead of the Trees for Cities public tree planting event tomorrow at Court Park, we were delighted for St. Helen's College to be invited to make our own special contribution to this important community project.
Years 2 and 5 donned wellington boots and embraced the muddy conditions for a bracing outdoor workshop, learning how to plant successfully for sustainability and putting it into practice by planting maple and dogwood saplings on the northern boundary of the park.
Thank you to Trees for Cities and to our green-fingered pupils for representing the school. We hope to see the saplings grow into thriving trees for people to enjoy for many years to come.
We hope many other pupils and parents will join the community tree planting day tomorrow, Saturday 3rd February, in Court Park. There will be food and hot drink provided for volunteers and the aim is to plant a mix of both small and large trees in the park. The groups of small trees will increase the diversity and resilience of the existing woodland areas by adding new species and younger trees to the space. The new trees will eventually add depth to the northern border of the park and assist with drainage in the often waterlogged soil area.
We encourage your children to wear their school PE kits to take part in this event so that it is obvious which children are from St. Helen's College. You can sign up to take part here:
https://www.treesforcities.org/hillingdon-court-park.
Travelling Natural History Museum Visit Nursery!
On Friday our Nursery children were enthralled when the Travelling Natural History Museum came to visit, complete with dinosaur models, exploding interactive experiments and even fossilised dinosaur faeces! The workshop, led by 'Dino Girl', included fascinating facts about the food different dinosaurs ate, how they hunted and their enormous size. The children were thoroughly engaged and particularly enjoyed an exploding meteorite experiment demonstrated to explain one of the theories about why dinosaurs became extinct.
Year 6 Riot Act Workshop (Road Safety)
On Monday our Year 6 children enjoyed a visit from The Riot Act, who delivered an interactive workshop about road safety and active travel. The lively, engaging performance certainly got the children thinking more deeply about how they travel and how important it is for each of us to play our part in reducing pollution as well as keeping ourselves healthy and safe.
General Knowledge Quiz
On Wednesday, two teams from our popular Quiz Club represented St. Helen's College in the annual inter-school General Knowledge Quiz. Children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 collaborated in this online event, competing with 70 other schools from across the UK in this hotly contested competition.
From questions on the Great Plague to Harry Potter, our team members had great fun demonstrating their knowledge under strict time pressure. Congratulations to Anika (6L), Sofia (5R), Armaan (4B) and Rian (3B), whose team reached twelfth position and are through to the semi-final! Well done also to Ashvika (5R), Mustafa (5R), William (4T) and Oliver (3B) who put in a great effort and reached a very respectable 41st place.
LAMDA Results
Mrs. Moore's LAMDA pupils have been taking their first set of exams and we are delighted to report the following results.
Eva J - Entry Level (Distinction)
Riya S - Entry Level (Distinction)
There are several more LAMDA pupils entering for examination soon and we wish them all the best of luck.
Sports News
It has been a busy week of sport.
Last Friday girls from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 attended a football festival at Radlett Prep School. They all really enjoyed taking part in this fun event and developing their skills. During the afternoon, the U9s won a game, lost a game and drew a game and the U11s were undefeated, drawing two games and winning one.
On Wednesday the boys' football team met with Cowley St. Lawrence. Despite dominating the game, the St. Helen's College team struggled to convert their chances and the end result was a 1-1 draw.
On Tuesday this week the Year 6 netball team played Laurel Lane School in their last league match of the year. The girls showed how far they have progressed as a team since September, communicating well with each other, making some fantastic attacking plays and delivering some very sharp shooting. They won 9-1, finishing on a high!
On Wednesday, Year 5 and 6 netball players travelled to Orley Farm School for an away fixture. It was great to see all the pupils representing St. Helen's College so brilliantly. The games were competitive and well matched, enabling the pupils to put everything they have learnt during games sessions into practice on the court. Well done to all involved!
Parents who are looking for something active for children to do over the half term break might be interested to know that Pro Soccer Coaching will be running a February half term camp from Monday 12th to Friday 16th February at Swakeleys School. You may book for a full week or single days, and there is a reduced price for additional brothers and sisters. The course is run by FA qualified coaches and at the end of the week, each child receives an engraved trophy. The company, its staff and the course have no affiliation with St. Helen's College but if you are interested you can find details here.
News From The PA
Comedy Night
The date of the upcoming PA comedy night at Uxbridge Golf Club has now changed to Friday 19th April. Details are here.
The booking link is open and will close at the end of term before we break up for Easter holidays. Please book your tickets here: https://forms.gle/4GjXNdkAxmDsTYZG9.
Applications Invited For PA Chair
As we are now halfway through the academic year, it is time to begin reflecting on the incredible dedication and leadership of Nikki O'Halloran, our current PA Committee Chairperson. Nikki has steered us through many successful initiatives and as her tenure draws to a close, we extend our deepest gratitude for her tireless efforts and invaluable contributions.
Looking ahead to the academic year commencing in September 2024, we are now seeking a new Chairperson to lead the Parents' Association Committee. This role is vital to the continued success of our school community engagement efforts and the enhancement of our school experience.
If you have a passion for fostering connections, organising events, and contributing to the betterment of our school community, we invite you to consider stepping into the role of PA Committee Chairperson. Your enthusiasm and commitment will be instrumental in shaping the future of our school community.
To express your interest, please contact sthelenscollegepa@gmail.com. We encourage all interested individuals to apply and be part of this rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Those who express an interest will have the opportunity to be voted into the position. This democratic process ensures that our community has a say in selecting the individual best suited to lead the PA Committee.
Sick Child Training
Several parents attended a Sick Child Training session on Monday evening with Dr. Dharsi. This workshop taught parents about common childhood illnesses, how to recognise them and when it is (and is not) necessary to consult a doctor. We hope that it helped to give parents confidence in dealing with childhood health issues.
Early Years Parents' Evenings
Thank you to all of those parents who attended our Ducklings and Nursery parents' evenings on Wednesday. We hope that you found the conversations useful.
Next Week - Reminders
Wednesday 7th February - Football v. St. Bernadette's (H)
Thursday 8th February - Wrens coffee morning and class assembly
Friday 9th February - 6L coffee morning and class assembly
Posted on: 2/02/2024Fairness by Mrs. Kahol
Our school value over the past couple of weeks has been Fairness and we have had several opportunities in assemblies and around the school to discuss and see fairness in action and reflect on how we perceive fairness.
Many of you may know that I am an avid supporter of an organisation called WomenED and one of the key principles associated with this organisation is ‘fairness’. See the link here on the four WomenEd Campaigns.
I have had many conversations with parents regarding equality and fairness and I am aware that many of you are active proponents of this in your work places and home lives. I am delighted to share this blog written by Mrs. Kahol, a parent who works at GSK. It is written with the pupils as an audience but so relevant for us all.
Ms Drummond
Dear Pupils,
As you start the new year, I wanted to discuss the important topic of equality with you.
Did you know that only around 100 years ago, women weren’t allowed to get a proper education? You might be surprised to know that the first college which allowed women to get into higher studies was the University of London, and that the first women ever to receive degrees got them in 1878. Education, which is now a basic right for all, wasn’t granted to girls in this country just one hundred years ago.
Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, these issues still exist. While the right to vote for women arrived in the early 1900s in the UK as a result of the suffragette movement, true equality for women is far from achieved, both in the UK and globally. Let me give you an example to explain more clearly. Two girls and two boys participate in an activity and receive the same score. Should they receive the same award for it – say two chocolates each? How would you feel if the boys were given three chocolates each and the girls were given only two? Would that feel fair? This idea of rewarding men and women differently for doing the same job is called Gender Pay Discrimination and it has been illegal in the UK for 45 years. But it still exists in some other parts of the world.
However if, in the above scenario, girls were asked to complete five more tasks in parallel to the tasks they have been given, they would of course take longer hours to complete the tasks, get more exhausted and likely leave the initial two tasks to the boys. This would lead to the boys getting all the chocolates. This is what is known as the Gender Pay Gap: because women still do more of the unpaid work of a family (e.g. childcare and housework) than men do, they have less time for paid work. The causes of the Gender Pay Gap are complex and overlapping. While some women may choose to work less and earn less, others may be forced into this situation and may not be happy.
According to the Women in Work Index 2021, at the rate the Gender Pay Gap is currently closing, it will take more than 50 years to reach gender pay parity. For every 100 men in the workforce, 69 women are in the workforce in the UK. That number is much lower for developing nations. Currently in the top 500 companies of the world (Fortune 500) only 9% of the CEOs are women. This equates to fewer role models for women which may lead women to have lower aspirations overall for their careers, a phenomenon called The Glass Ceiling.
Inequality like this between men and women at work may have a negative impact not only on women but on men too. It boxes men and women in to assume that they want to take on gender roles as they were defined centuries ago, with women staying at home and men outside. Things have changed in the last few centuries. Both men and women can work now if they want to, they can take care of a family together and support each other. Financial freedom is no longer limited by gender.
Boys and girls, you all have the opportunity to change this world. Each one of you can help in continuing to close this gap. It is important that the pupils of St. Helen’s College study hard and have equal opportunities to make names for themselves in fields of their choice in the future. Don’t let stereotypes box you into gender roles. You are the future and a good education from an esteemed school such as St. Helen’s College puts you in a great position to make your dreams come true. The world needs role models like you, prepared to call out any discrimination you see around you.
Mrs. Kahol
Posted on: 26/01/2024Weekly News - Friday 26th January 2024
Month End Music Recital
We were treated to another hour of musicality at the end of the day today, as children from Years 1 to 6 once again had the opportunity to perform vocal and instrumental pieces to parents, siblings and staff. This is always such a wonderful way to round off the week and the month.
There is something very touching about watching a child summon up the courage to perform (sometimes for the very first time) and in seeing the pride each child takes in the achievement when they manage it. At St. Helen's College we know that these informal opportunities to perform are crucial in developing confidence and self-esteem. A big well done to everyone who took part today!
Trunk Theatre Visit Y2
London's burning, London's burning! Trunk Theatre made a special visit to Y2 this week to present a thoroughly entertaining production of 'The Great Fire of London'.
Continuing classroom work on this topic, the interactive play was full of fun, bringing to life this momentous event in history. Beginning in Tom Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, and including recollections from the famous diarist Samuel Pepys, it was a riotous re-telling of the story, interspersed with songs, dances and games. The children loved joining in to sing and dance, and even fire a few water pistols!
1C Class Assembly
1C have been learning about significant explorers in their history lessons. On Thursday they performed a wonderful assembly about Neil Armstrong, who was the first man to step foot on the moon in 1969. They had lots of fun exploring his journey and finding out about the important people who contributed to this significant moment in history. The children had learnt so many interesting facts about the Apollo 11 mission and the moon. They delivered their lines with enthusiasm and confidence. The children sang with gusto, played musical instruments, had video clips of the children from the 1930’s (when the astronauts were born) and even had a quiz show! It was a thoroughly entertaining assembly that reflected the children’s enjoyment of their learning. Thank you and well done 1C!
6H Class Assembly
It was inspirational this morning to see the children of 6H present their assembly all about the future and what they would like to be when they grow up. Many of them have interesting ideas for future careers in business, the medical professions, sports or the arts; some do not yet know what they want to do, and reminded us all that it is fine to decide later! Ms Drummond noted at the end of the assembly that there are many, many careers open to children now which did not exist when she was young; no doubt there will be even more new pathways by the time the current St. Helen's College children are adults.
The children also reminded us, through a beautiful performance of the song 'SOS From The Kids', that we must all act now to look after our planet in order to safeguard their future and enable them to realise their dreams. This was a poignant, enjoyable assembly which got everyone thinking in the best way about the future and all it holds in store. If you would like to see a video montage of some of the children telling us what they want to be when they grow up, you can see this here and here.
Year 4 Amersham Field Trip
Year 4 experienced a fun trip to Amersham Field Centre this week. It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny day which allowed for plenty of time to explore and learn outdoors. The children thoroughly enjoyed soaking up the great outdoors and being in the natural environment.
The day started by meeting ‘Michael Faraday’ and learning about electricity, its uses, dangers and how the substation in the vicinity works to provide power to our homes. The afternoon was spent learning about the way animals conserve energy by creating well-insulated homes and how animals like squirrels try to survive winters by hiding their food.
The outing finished with a short walk looking for evidence of animal activities on the grounds, pointing out excrements from different animals and their footprints. Every child has made great progress in their knowledge of one of our curriculum topics, as well as having a fun outdoor learning experience.
Centenary Challenge
Don't forget that we are keen to see any photographs of your children completing the list of '100 things to do in our centenary year'! You can email these to Mrs. Smith at susmith@sthelenscollege.com. We are hoping to use these in school displays and/or the end of year school magazine.
Year 6 Girls on Board
The Year 6 girls have taken part in their first empowering Girls on Board sessions. This is a short and effective programme to support girls to understand and navigate the dynamics and complexities of friendships. We are piloting the programme with the current Year 6 girls, and hope to expand it in the Upper School in the near future. We feel the approach will help to equip the girls with some useful tools for managing and enjoying their friendships, now and in their transition to senior schools. For more information you can watch an introductory video here.
Atom Learning Gold Award Unlocks Discount For Parents
We are delighted to share that St. Helen's College has reached the academic milestones to become an Atom Learning Gold School.
Parents wishing to extend their child’s personalised learning journey beyond the classroom may wish to consider Atom Prime’s home learning companion, Atom Nucleus. As a Gold School, St. Helen's College parents can now enjoy a 20% discount code across all Atom Nucleus subscriptions. Click here to access your discount code.
Community Tree Planting Day
Trees for Cities are hosting a community tree planting day on Saturday 3rd February in Court Park. There will be food and hot drink provided for volunteers and the aim is to plant a mix of both small and large trees in the park. The groups of small trees will increase the diversity and resilience of the existing woodland areas by adding new species and younger trees to the space. The new trees will eventually add depth to the northern border of the park and assist with drainage in the often waterlogged soil area.
We hope that many St. Helen's College families would like to join in with this initiative, and we would encourage your children to wear their school PE kits on that day so that it is obvious which children are from St. Helen's College. We are so very fortunate to have this beautiful park on our doorstep and would love to show the community how much we appreciate it by taking an active part in improving it for the future. It is, of course, also a wonderful chance for the children to put their eco pledges into action and to learn or practise the skill of planting.
You can sign up to take part here:
https://www.treesforcities.org/hillingdon-court-park
Welfare News
Here are some seasonal reminders from our Welfare team.
Please ensure that all children have gloves, scarves, hats and coats with them during cold weather and that all items are named.
There are, as usual at this time of year, some winter bugs 'doing the rounds'. In order to limit the spread of these, please do not send your child to school:
if they have a temperature;
within 48 hours of a bout of vomiting/diarrhoea;
after giving them medication for cold/flu/sore throat/viral symptoms;
if they have a persistently bad cough.
If you do need to keep a child at home for health reasons, please remember to email absence@sthelenscollege.com by 8.30 a.m. with the reason for absence.
Holiday Club
The St. Helen's College Holiday Club will run at half term from Monday 12th to Friday 16th February. Please log in to your SchoolsBuddy account to make your bookings from 4 p.m. today.
Next Week
Monday 29th January - Active Travel and Road Safety
Monday 29th January - Football v. St. Mary's
Monday 29th January - Sick Child Course 7.00 - 9.00 p.m.
Tuesday 30th January - Year 2 and Year 5 tree planting workshop
Tuesday 30th January - Year 6 individual and class photos
Tuesday 30th January - Netball v. Laurel Lane
Wednesday 31st January - General knowledge quiz
Wednesday 31st January - Netball v. Orley Farm School
Wednesday 31st January - Football v. Cowley St. Laurence
Wednesday 31st January - Ducklings, Nursery & Reception parents' evenings
Thursday 1st February - Robins coffee morning and class assembly
Friday 2nd February - Natural History Museum visiting Nursery
Friday 2nd February - 5G coffee morning and class assembly
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