Dear All,
Spring is certainly in the air with many beautiful flower blossoms around Cambridge and the clocks going forward this weekend. A busy final week of term has seen the children participate in a wide range of activities – in and outside of school – with their characteristic energy and enthusiasm.
Pre Prep News
For the newly formed Pre Prep strings group there was an opportunity to share their instrumental skills with their friends this week. Our beginner strings players supported one other and built their confidence in performing as they played four pieces tremendously well as an ensemble. Well done to all our musicians – we look forward to their progress and to hearing the ensemble again soon.
Pre Prep Walk Through Easter
Year 1 and 2 furthered their understanding of the Easter story during an interactive assembly, walking through the events of Easter Week. Pupils reflected on the Christian belief that by washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus humbled himself and demonstrated that to be human was to serve others. Pre Prep have been thinking about what this means and how the idea of serving others in our community can be applied in modern life.
Year 3 and 4 RE
In RE this week, Year 3 have been learning more about the Bible, the life of Jesus, special celebrations and parables. Meanwhile Year 4 have been studying some of the festivals the Sikh community celebrates each year. The children decorated the tennis court in symbols important in Sikhism, as well as with flowers and lanterns, similar to decorations used in homes during the Sikh festivals of Bandi Chhor Divas and Vaisakhi.
Year 5 Passover Meal
As part of their studies of Judaism, this week Year 5 pupils experienced the Passover Meal, traditionally eaten at this celebratory Jewish festival. Pupils took part in some interactive activities which helped them understand the significance of the meal and preparations. They tasted the charoset (an apple paste), parsley dipped in salt water, unleavened matzah crackers and bitter horseradish, all of which remind Jews of the sadness and hardship the Jewish slaves endured. They searched high and low to find the chametz (yeast) – something that Jewish people do today to remind them that the slaves did not have time to let their bread rise. Finally, the children drank some grape juice and leaned to the left, symbolic to show happiness and freedom!
Pupils were struck by the fact that everyone in the family takes part in this feast, and that it is so much more than just a meal. It was a poignant reminder that happiness and freedom should not be taken for granted, but instead be celebrated!
Year 5 English
Year 5 have been reading CS Lewis’s wonderful and inspiring novel, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ this term. Alongside this, they have been completing many different project tasks based around the story, from creating annotated models and maps of Narnia to designing advertisements for Turkish Delight!
One group also created their own magical sweets, as requested by The White Witch! After designing and ‘making’ their own sweets, they wrote jingles and slogans, and even created commercials. Some of their final advertisements were filmed, with pupils creating their own props; you can view a selection here.
Year 5 Maths Easter Egg Hunt
Monday morning was a Maths Year 5 Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs, each with a different number, were hidden in Tom’s Garden and the surrounding bushes and trees. Pupils were given a question which they had to solve and then match to one of the eggs. Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed finding their egg and then helping others to find theirs. Of course, eating the eggs at the end was a highlight!
Years 3 & 4 Easter House Challenge
On Tuesday Year 3 and 4 donned their decorative Easter bunny ears and took part in The Easter House Challenge in our Sports Hall. They played a range of Easter-themed games, including Bunny Disco Freeze and the Egg and spoon relay, with House Captains supporting the children throughout. The children even had a special visit from the Easter Bunny herself and wonderful time was had by all. Congratulations to Latham House who were the overall winners.
Year 5 and 6 – After School Clay Club
We have enjoyed some beautiful sunshine this week – perfect weather for some very realistic ice cream sculptures – made by the Year 5 and 6 pupils who have been attending the after-school Clay Club. They look remarkably real, as if their favourite ice is melting in the sunshine, but is actually made completely from clay and painted with colourful glazes.
Year 6 Production of ‘Matilda’
This week we have been treated to a truly outstanding production of Matilda by our Year 6 pupils. Performances were enjoyed by parents and friends on Wednesday and Thursday. I had the pleasure of attending on both evenings and would like to commend the Year 6 children and all the staff involved for providing such uplifting, enjoyable and remarkably polished musical performances. There were thoroughly well-deserved standing ovations from the audience and I am sure I am not the only one who will be humming the melodies over the Easter holiday!
Cambridge Coding Competition
On Tuesday, a group of our Year 8 pupils went to the University of Cambridge Department of Computer Science to take part in the inaugural Cambridge Coding Competition. Twenty teams from various schools, including The Perse, Netherhall, Sawston Village College, and North Cambridge Academy, tackled a series of extremely difficult Python programming challenges on Raspberry Pis against the clock. They solved tasks such as calculating the centre points of stars, computing numerical sequences, and encoding messages using prime numbers.
It is wonderful to announce that a team of four St Faith’s pupils solved the most challenges correctly within the allocated time to be crowned champions, proudly bringing the much-coveted Francis Hookham Trophy back to St Faith’s. This is a hugely impressive achievement, and many congratulations to all involved.
Year 7 PSHCE
Our Year 7 pupils spent this week’s PSHCE lesson in an enriching and energetic mindfulness dance workshop. Pupils first learnt the moves to Latin, African, Modern and Pop classics in tutor groups before assembling all together for a fun mini danceathon in the sports hall. It was a chance to have fun experimenting with dances from across the globe, as well as learning to feel happy through dance. Edible prizes were awarded to all four tutor groups for best in rehearsal and performance.
Year 7 & 8 Swimming Gala
The keenly anticipated Year 7 and 8 House Swimming Gala took place after school on Tuesday at The Leys Pool. Large swimming galas are always highly enjoyable, enthusiastically competitive and very noisy, and this one certainly did not disappoint! Well done to the 58 swimmers who took part, with Chaucer finishing in 1st place, Newton in 2nd, Bentley 3rd, and Latham in 4th place.
Continuing with the sporting theme, we look forward to hearing how our U13 Girls’ cricket team enjoy the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) Indoor Cricket Competition taking place at the Cambridge University Sports Centre today.
SFPA Event Update
Our St Faith’s Parents’ Association have been very busy organising a range of events for us all to look forward to when we return after the Easter holiday.
The SFPA Easter Egg Hunt for Pre Prep and Years 3 & 4 takes place on Saturday 23rd April (09:00 – 13:00). If you haven’t booked your tickets yet please click here.
The final SFPA event of this academic year will be the SFPA Summer Party on Friday 17th June. The party is being held at the Graduate Hotel in the centre of Cambridge. There will be a BBQ buffet meal served in the grounds of the hotel next to the river and fabulous entertainment provided by a live Jazz Trio and Big Band. Tickets are selling fast, with over three quarters already gone, so if you’re thinking of booking please click here now for further details. It is sure to be a memorable summer evening and I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this very special and long-awaited occasion.
With the Easter holidays now upon us, the children can be very proud of all their efforts and achievements this term. Thank you for all your support of during the Lent term which is greatly appreciated across our school community. I do hope you are able to find time for some rest and relaxation over the holidays, and with very best wishes for a happy and peaceful Easter,
Dr Crispin Hyde-Dunn
