Weekly News - Friday 24th June 2022
Posted on: 24/06/2022Year 1 and 2 Summer Plays
Wow! We were treated to first class performances at The Compass Theatre this week when our Year 1 and Year 2 classes took to the stage to perform their summer plays to parents, pupils and friends.
Year 1 performed 'Stella The Starfish', a colourful production in which they took us on a tour of the ocean, sharing some very interesting facts about our seas and acting their parts beautifully. There were clownfish, rainbow fish, seaweed characters, a shark and a snapping turtle as well as the human characters and, of course, the starfish. The Year 1 children sang their songs beautifully and with meaning, and there were even some solos. From children so young, this was a very impressive production indeed.
Year 2's play was 'The Emerald Crown', all about the destruction of the rainforest. The children presented their important message with skill and tunefulness, performing solo and small group numbers as well as the whole cast song performances. There was some accomplished acting and beautifully clear speaking and it was obvious that they relished the opportunity to perform on stage in a real theatre.
Very well done to all those involved.
Mrs. Belvoir was joined by her family at her last St. Helen’s College production yesterday as Year 2 performed.
Mrs. Belvoir’s contributions to the drama and musicality of the school will be sorely missed after her 22 years of commitment. Both her children Alice and Harry attended St. Helen’s College and the family were very proud to support Mrs. Belvoir yesterday.
PA Summer Fete
The summer fete last Saturday was such a wonderful community event and we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the PA for all of their hard work in organising it, and to all of the parents, pupils and staff who attended, ran stalls and performed on the day.
There was a charity fundraising aspect to some of the stalls at the fete and the following funds were raised on the day.
Ukraine appeal: £146.60
GOSH stall: £132.69
CRUK donations: £77.04.
Year 6 Play - 'Singin' In The Rain Jr.'
Next week, our Year 6 leavers will perform their grand musical production, Singin' In The Rain Jr., at The Compass Theatre. Performances will take place on:
Thursday 30th June (7.30 p.m.)
Friday 1st July (2.00 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.)
If you would like to buy tickets, the booking link is here. Parents will be permitted to take children out of school for the Friday matinee performance if they would like to do so.
Year 4 Swimming Week
Our Year 4 children have enjoyed an intensive week of swimming at Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex this week and it has been super to see the development of their technique and confidence in the water.
Morning Meditation
Arshia in 5A led the Upper School in a beautiful meditation practice called 'Be the Pond' this morning. You may wish to try the practice yourself - see below.
First let's be comfortable. You can sit on the floor with crossed legs or if you prefer you can sit on a chair. If you are sitting on a chair, sit tall with your feet on the floor and your shoulders relaxed. If you want you can close your eyes.
Take deep breaths in from your nose and out from your mouth. We will do this three times. After these nice deep breaths you should feel calm and relaxed.
I would like you to imagine that you and your mind is a big pond. In the pond there are many fish which are your feelings, all swimming around together. There is a happy fish, a sad fish, a sleepy fish, an excited fish, an angry fish, a worried fish, a playful fish, a calm fish, a kind fish and a selfish fish. There are so many fish which are your feelings.
All of them are swimming around the pond. We are here to observe our feelings and be the pond. It is wonderful being the pond. You be the pond and let the fish be the fish.
Sometimes you can become the fish, the angry fish and you will hurt somebody. Stop and convert your mind back to being the pond. You do not need to do anything else but just be the pond.
See if you can let the fishes, your feelings pass by without you losing your focus.
Just be the pond.
Slowly we open our eyes and come back to the here and now.
Marvellous Moneyboxes!
Thank you to all of the parents who have helped children to create their marvellous money boxes and collect spare coins for Cancer Research UK. You can see some of their creations here.
The total raised so far through the money box scheme across all three sites is almost £1900! Thank you to you all for these generous donations.
We would like to remind you all that the St. Helen's College community is supporting Cancer Research's Relay For Life. We encourage pupils, parents and staff to join our team and to attend the Relay itself which will take place on Saturday 16th July at Harrow School. This is a 24 hour event but you can come for as long or short a time as suits you. Our team and others will walk the track in relay throughout this time to show that cancer never sleeps, and nor does the fight against it.
We encourage you also to dedicate a candle of hope. Details are here. It is one of the most poignant moments at the Relay for Life when lit candles are placed around the track as night begins to fall. Everyone is invited to dedicate a candle to someone no longer with us, a friend or family member living with cancer, a loved one who has survived, or perhaps as hope for the future - a world where all cancers are cured.
There is also a link here if you would like to make a donation to the St. Helen's College team.
There will be a tog day at school on Monday 11th July in support of CRUK. Children are encouraged to wear the Cancer Research UK colours of pink and blue, and to make a donation. Further details will be provided nearer the time.
We thank you all for your support.
Cookery Club
The children of the Upper School Cookery Club had a great time in their last session yesterday when they made spring rolls. They have certainly become budding young chefs during the course of the term!
Reverend Sarah Smith
We are sending Rev. Smith (Mrs. Smith, 3B) our best wishes this weekend as today is her last day as a Deacon. Tomorrow she will be ordained as a Priest at St. Mary's Church, Aylesbury. As Rev. Smith prepares for this major event in her life she has been listening to Andre Rieu - I Will Follow Him - such a beautiful composition and one which reflects Rev. Smith's strong faith.
Sparks Summer Shoots
Some of the St. Helen's College children have enjoyed workshops from Sparks this year. The company is running summer camps this summer, where children produce their own movie production in a five day workshop. Children devise an original storyline, direct their scenes, shoot their shots, crew their set, star in their movie and edit it too. At the end of the week, they share their work with family in a special presentation and later celebrate with a red carpet premiere event too. There are spaces for ages 5-18.
Further information can be found here:
https://www.sparksarts.co.uk/product/summer-shoots-2020/
Sports Summer Camps
Thames Valley Cavaliers Basketball Club and Blaze Netball Club are also running summer camps. Details can be found here:
