Disney’s Aladdin Jr.
The Year 6 production is always an exciting and uplifting finale to the Lent term at St Faith’s. This year’s sell-out musical production of Disney’s ‘Aladdin Jr.’ was no exception. The children and staff have worked tirelessly throughout the term, both in Drama lessons and during rehearsal times. In getting ready for the two performances Year 6 have truly risen to the challenge – learning choreography, lines and music with true dedication. Pupils have really taken ownership of their roles and have enjoyed bringing each character to life.
Aladdin Jr. is set in the atmospheric desert city of Agrabah, and tells the tale of a boy called Aladdin – described as both a ‘street rat’, and a ‘diamond in the rough’. With the help of the friends he meets along the way, Aladdin learns that his true worth is not determined by appearance, but lies deep within. The audience were invited into a land where magic carpets exist and where a genie could be waiting to be summoned from a lamp, to grant them three wishes!
A drama production on this scale involving a whole year group would not be possible without the support and work of the whole school community. Thank you to all of the staff who have been so generous and flexible with their schedules to make sure that rehearsals took place and for stepping in to attend to each detail, however small. Thank you too to all the parents, family members and friends of Year 6, for their support of this memorable production.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO
Speech and Drama Tea-time Recital
Last Friday, more than 20 pupils from Years 3 to 8 took part in a Speech and Drama recital in front of parents in Ashburton Hall. The pupils performed with professionalism and confidence, demonstrating the skills they have learnt this term. Parents were treated to a range of performances that included solo and duologue acting scenes, a devised scene, prose readings written by Jeremy Strong, and an extract from a recital on the theme of magic and public speaking. The audience at this most enjoyable event was very appreciative.
After-school Signing Club
In signing club this term, some children have enjoyed learning to sign using the Signalong communication system that is based on British Sign language and the spoken word. Some of our Year 5s would like to share their recording of their signing of the song ‘I can sing a rainbow’
CAN SING A RAINBOW
Year 4 Studying Sikhism
This half term Year 4 have been studying Sikhism and they have looked at places of worship for the Sikh community, as well as learning about the Sikh holy book and why it is believed to be so special and sacred. They have also been examining the ‘5Ks’, which are physical markers of Sikh identity – Kesh, Khanga, The Kara, The Kachera and The Kirpan. The pupils have been able to appreciate a warrior’s sword that is tiny and is worn as a symbol of dignity and respect. This week, the children looked at Sikh festivals and carefully drew the symbols onto the tennis courts in collaborative groups. We hope that you enjoy the photo medley.
Elements and the Periodic Table
In their current Science topic, Year 6 are learning about different elements and The Periodic Table. Some pupils made their own clues using different elements – can you find the correct symbols for each of the colourful words to complete their sentences?
Try the quiz here
Year 8 English
The Year 8 pupils have studied the novel, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. In the novel Cassie Logan, a young black child, finds it hard to understand why the family farm means so much to her father. As she witnesses prejudice and racial inequality all around her first-hand, she begins to understand why she must find strength in the people she loves and stand up for what she believes to be fair and just.
The Year 8 children have worked on creative tasks such as posters, poems, power points, play scripts and models, reflecting the different themes in the novel. Here are some examples of their work to give you a flavour of their project.
E-Safety Workshops and Social Media Presentation
Across The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation, we are committed to keeping all pupils safe online. On Thursday, Karl Hopwood visited us to talk to pupils across the Foundation in Years 7, 8 and 9 about e-safety. Mr Hopwood is a former headmaster and now works as a leading international e-safety specialist with over 15 years’ experience of working with schools, teachers, pupils and parents in addressing challenges posed by modern technology. He also sits on the UK Council for Child Internet Safety and the education advisory board for CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
Mr Hopwood’s presentation to the pupils included topics such as misinformation/disinformation; scams and how to spot and deal with them; cyberbullying; online sexual harassment; how to report a problem; sharing images; banter and bullying, upstander versus bystander; online influence and how to manage this; online reputation and managing screen-time.
In addition, during the evening, parents from both Foundation schools were invited to hear Mr Hopwood give some updates about the latest issues in e-safety.
Charity Tuck Shops
This week pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8 have enjoyed being able to visit charity tuck shops at break-time. They are raising money for Farms for City Children a charity established by the famous children’s author, Michael Morpurgo.
Chariots of Fire
Last Sunday members of staff, Old Fidelians and families took the opportunity to test their paces around the historic streets of Cambridge in the annual ‘Chariots of Fire’ event. This year there were some 1600 runners and 300 teams, including the Veterans and Mixed Runners teams from St Faith’s. We are delighted that their hard work contributed to the fundraising campaign for the Arthur Rank Hospice, with the amount raised for the Hospice so far being in the region of £42,000. Thank you also to the many people who turned out to support the teams.
Year 3 and 4 Easter House Challenge
On Tuesday, the Sports Hall reverberated with the sounds of Year 3 and 4 pupils, dressed as Easter bunnies, taking part in a range of games and challenges, all with an Easter twist! ‘Bin the Bunny’ and ‘Race to Bunny Island’ were the crowd favourites and the children’s excitement grew as House points were awarded for performances in each team game.
Prizes for the most splendid bunny ears were also awarded to each tutor group. This was a tough choice, as they were all very impressive! After an exciting afternoon of hopping, dancing and racing, the scoreboard concluded that this year’s Easter House Challenge champions were Latham House.
Congratulations to all members of Years 3 and 4 who took part superbly, with kindness and a commendable sense of fair play evident amongst all participants.
Year 5 Maths Easter Egg Hunt
Solving Maths puzzles to find the hidden Easter eggs in Tom’s Garden was a challenge faced by Year 5 yesterday. Problem solving is core to the curriculum here at St Faith’s and what an enjoyable way to put that into practice!
Year 7 and 8 Swimming Gala
Last Friday we held our annual Year 7 and 8 House Swimming Gala. There were 63 pupils competing over the two year groups, which is the largest number of competitors participating in recent memory. It was an excellent occasion and very inspiring to see pupils from all four Houses spurring on one another, although it seemed Newton House had the loudest cheerleaders! They won the cannon relay at the start, and then going from strength to strength, they emerged as overall winners of the whole gala.
U13 Boys’ IAPS National Hockey Finals
On Monday, morning the U13 Boys’ Hockey A team travelled to CharterHouse School in Surrey to defend the title they won as an U12 side the previous year. Our hockey coach Mr Thompson writes:
“With games being extremely short it is paramount that you take your chances in front of goal. Whilst some fantastic hockey was played, a poor day at goal-scoring cost us our place in the QF of the Cup. However this was when the team displayed the character we have come to expect from them.
In what turned out to be an extremely tough plate competition, our boys defeated both Felsted and Cranleigh School to reach the final where they faced Framingham. Unfortunately, the team’s captain had to withdraw due to injury in the first half, but the team played on bravely and they managed to keep creating chances, although conversion proved difficult. Ultimately, we lost 2-1 in a ‘golden goal’ period. The boys gave everything they could, both physically and emotionally. They leave St Faith’s with an incredible legacy having won the Nationals last year and finished 10th in the country this year. They have much to celebrate and have proved themselves great ambassadors for their school. They are young men of whom any parent would be proud”.
U12 Boys’ IAPS National Hockey Finals
Yesterday our U12 boys’ team competed at Taunton School in the U12 IAPS National Finals. Despite wind and rain, the boys played some beautiful flowing hockey to finish third. Our hockey coach Mr Thompson writes:
“Having qualified out of the group we faced Bromsgrove School in the quarter final. A dominant but edgy performance saw us eventually emerge as winners in sudden death penalty strokes. Awaiting us in the semi final was a very good team from King’s Hall school. Despite an excellent second half, our performance in the first half cost us a place in the final. A great game but King’s Hall were deserved winners. Soaked and understandably a little deflated, our boys regrouped and showed amazing resilience to overcome Cheltenham College, one of the favourites, 3-1, for the bronze medal and the honour of saying we are the third best side in the country. Fantastic memories created by a lovely talented group of boys. Roll on next year!!”
The St Faith’s Team of Volunteers
We would like to thank our wonderful team of parent volunteers for all that they do, literally in all weathers as we have recently experienced, to support the school in so many ways. Our volunteers provide fantastic support to the St Faith’s Parents’ Association (SFPA), the School Second Hand Shop, the Pre Prep drop-off, the Newton Road drop-off, on some trips and on some curriculum enrichment activities. Their support is so very much appreciated by us all, and indeed, reflects the wonderful sense of school community that we are so blessed to be a part of.
Please do thank our volunteers if you have an opportunity to do so (they are often very distinguishable in their Wyvern crested reflective jackets). If you would like to volunteer to support the school in any way, please do contact the PA to the Bursar, Mrs Tracy Parr (bursarspa@stfaiths.co.uk).
And Finally…
As we reach the end of a busy term, there will be a wealth of activities happening on our school site throughout the Easter holidays. These cater for all tastes, and include Art & Design, Code Camp Computing, Cookery School, Little Wyverns, Multi-Activity, Bikeability and Trampolining. Thank you to all those staff who are contributing to the provision of these opportunities for our pupils.
As we look forward to the joyful season of Easter with family and friends, we can also look ahead to next term, when it will soon be time for cricket kits, strawberries and long summer evenings. Summer term’s highlights include our Year 8 production, Prizegiving, Sports Day, Summer concerts and SFPA summer event, not to mention several keenly-anticipated school trips, including the Goodwood Gathering of Goblins!
Wishing you a very relaxing and restful holiday and a happy Easter season. I look forward to welcoming all our pupils back on Tuesday, 18th April for the first day of term.
With all best wishes,
Dr Crispin Hyde-Dunn
