4-7 Years
This Week at St Faith’s
Assembly
Monday’s assembly set the tone for a week of inspiration and achievement, as we celebrated outstanding accomplishments across our 8 Learning Habits. It was a pleasure to award Headmaster’s Commendations to pupils from Years 3-8 for their exceptional effort and excellence last term. When I asked the assembled pupils if they could name our Learning Habits, the enthusiastic sea of raised hands was very affirming.
Mr. Davenport then introduced the theme of the assembly: ‘Understanding Ourselves and Others.’ He reminded us that everyone is unique, with their own talents. We also considered the ways in which some individual traits and emotions are not always visible. From shy and reserved, to outgoing and energetic, recognising, understanding and appreciating these differences helps us all to work together effectively. St Faith’s thrives on having a wide range of personalities and talents within our community.
Year 6 Preliminary Assessments
On Monday, very many of Year 6 pupils undertook the Preliminary Assessment for The Leys, unique to pupils at St Faith’s as they seek to receive deferred offers of Year 9 places for September 2027. We wish them the very best and look forward to the results in February. Meanwhile, Year 8 pupils continued their scholarship assessments at The Leys, earning a well-deserved rest this weekend after their diligent preparations.
Entrance Assessments
This week we also welcomed prospective pupils for our September 2025 intake. To make the occasion welcoming and enjoyable, candidates shared lunch with pupil ‘buddies’, who enthusiastically showcased our school. I am very grateful to everyone who provided this warm and friendly welcome on a day which embodied our St Faith’s values of kindness, community and excellence.
Year 6 Science – Creative Cell Models
The Year 6.2W Science class took on an innovative and educational challenge, to build cell models using materials ranging from recycled items to food. They could select human, plant or animal cells for their project. As the children stood behind their individual projects, other pupils came around with post-it notes and wrote down positive comments about their models. The results were imaginative and highly insightful, sparking curiosity and camaraderie as classmates greatly enjoyed sharing positive feedback on one another’s work. Overall, the children were creative and had fun, while investigating and learning the intricacies of cell structure. These hands-on lessons bring Biology to life and we hope will result in lasting memories to help with future studies.
Pre Prep School Council Toy Sale Initiative
Mrs Clarke writes,
“Our recently formed Pre Prep School Council has been working hard to engage with the children in Years 1 and 2, and we are excited to share our plans for our first project. After gathering ideas, we have decided to make improvements to the KS1 playground. One of the main requests from the children is to create a relaxing undercover area where they can unwind, chat, read, and colour. To help fund this project, we will be holding a toy sale during the week of 27th January. This is a wonderful opportunity for a post-Christmas clear out!
We kindly ask that children bring in any toys they no longer play with, especially small inexpensive items. A collection box will be available in each classroom until Monday 27th January, where these toys can be dropped off. We appreciate that the Foundation children are not yet involved in our Pre Prep Council, but we would like to invite everyone to take part if they wish. The Key Stage 1 playground will be theirs to enjoy very soon!”
Year 6 House Netball Matches
Wednesday brought excitement to the sports field with Year 6 girls competing in their house netball matches at Latham Road. The Year 6 girls played some excellent netball and some very effective teamwork was on display in all of the matches. The number of matches taking place during the afternoon also reminds us of the benefit of being part of a Foundation with access to such excellent sports facilities. For match highlights and to find out which house emerged victorious, please see Mrs. Shaw’s report in the sidebar.
SFPA and Old Fidelians
The start of the term also saw the first meetings of 2025 for our St Faith’s Parents’ Association (SFPA) and Old Fidelians (OF). Members of these invaluable volunteer committees give very generously of their time throughout the year, playing a crucial role in planning events and activities that enrich our school calendar. If you are interested in joining or supporting their efforts, as a committee member or for one-off opportunities, please do get in touch via sfpa@stfaiths.co.uk (SFPA) or marketing@stfaiths.co.uk (OF).
Next week
Next week the Pre Prep children are going to be very busy, as they seek to banish ‘Blue Monday’ with brightly coloured outfits and plenty of energetic outdoor play to lift everyone’s spirits. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Year 2 will embark on an interstellar journey with a visit from the Stardome Planetarium, and Year 8 Art & Design pupils will find inspiration at the Castle Fine Art Gallery.
And Finally…
If you would like to see more pictures from the school week, please do remember to follow us on our social media platforms. For example this week on the @StFaithsKitchen account you will see some behind-the-scenes pictures of pizza-making in action, as well as a new menu item this term – the very well received ‘Cheesy marmite and potato pie’!
After a busy first full week of Lent term, and with some snowdrops starting to appear through the frost, I do hope you are able to enjoy a relaxing weekend.
With all best wishes,
Crispin Hyde-Dunn