This week at St Faith's

I used my start of term assembly on Wednesday morning to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and explore, with the children’s input, how they can continue to make the most of their opportunities at school and just as importantly, help others to do the same. We focused on the importance of supporting and encouraging others, including showing respect and understanding towards different points of view, a theme of the Queen’s 2018 Christmas Address.  I used the opportunity to highlight two recent examples of our pupils going out of their way to consider and help others.  Over Christmas, Reuben (pictured here) and his family travelled to Uganda to support a school there, using the funds which Reuben had raised last term. What a lifetime opportunity that proved to be and one which Reuben certainly made the most of.

Closer to home, I was delighted to hear that the School Council (also pictured) has chosen to use some of their budget to enable children in a local primary school to access the Life Bus, a facility which visits our school biennially to provide lessons on life skills, linking with the children’s work in PSHCE.

It is this mind-set of philanthropy, compassion, altruism, respect and tolerance that we will continue to cultivate and focus on over the coming months, reinforcing the importance of even the smallest acts of kindness and respect such as holding doors open, looking smart, showing gratitude and encouraging and supporting others. As the Queen alluded to in her Address, these are the skills which our communities need, particularly at this uncertain time in the country’s future. I believe they will also help our young people to lead happy and fulfilling lives.

Ski Trip

In the first week of the Christmas holiday, forty of our children in Years 5 to 8 enjoyed a fantastic week of skiing in Mayrhofen, Austria.  The trip itself ran very well indeed until the return flight was cancelled owing to the closure of Gatwick Airport.  Fortunately, alternative flights were found and after a marathon 19 hour journey, the party arrived back to school safely, a day later than scheduled. My sincere thanks to the party leader, Miss Kennerley, and her team of Mr North, Ms Cox, Mr Clayton-Smith and Mr Graves for managing the trip so well, particularly the last two days.  The cabin crew on the planes were particularly complimentary about the behaviour of our children, which is always great to hear.

Uniform

In assembly this week, pupils were reminded that if they wear a coat in school (and we encourage them to do so at this time of the year), only a school uniform coat should be worn.  We also emphasised that the only jewellery which should be worn are small, plain stud earrings (of gold or silver colour).  Further details of uniform requirements are in the Parents’ Handbook and a full uniform list can be viewed here.

Last House Standing

In the previous newsletter, you may have read my report of Last House Standing, a House singing competition which took place on the penultimate day of last term.  You may be interested to see our videos (filmed by the Marketing Department) of the pupils’ singing, both the House songs and the talent acts, which can be viewed here.

Old Fidelian Engineers

When I delivered a birthday card to Lottie in Year 1 this week, I was impressed to see that the children were learning about onomatopoeias; below are pictures of the children hard at work and of some of them displaying the words they chose to illustrate.

This is the time of the year when many of our Year 8 pupils have their heads down, revising for and sitting the various entrance and scholarship assessments to senior schools. They are very well prepared but will still have more than a twinge of anxiety as the day of the exam approaches. My very best wishes to them and indeed every member of the St Faith’s community for a happy, fulfilling and successful 2019.