This Week at St Faith’s

House Assemblies

On Monday, the theme of the house assemblies and Buddy sessions was ‘Generosity’. Mrs North explored with pupils the meaning of generosity and what it truly means to be generous, both in our behaviour towards one another and in the words that we use. Drawing inspiration from Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, she encouraged pupils to reflect on kindness and selflessness. During this week, pupils have been following the 7 day ‘Generosity Challenge’, encouraging them to try to undertake a different act of generosity each day. Perhaps you could ask your children at home which act of generosity they found most rewarding.

Five students in striped blazers stand in a classroom. One stands near a smart board displaying a screen interface. They hold paper and appear to be smiling. A stack of papers sits nearby, and bins with labels are along the wall.

Students in striped blazers stand in a classroom, pointing at a screen displaying animated characters and text about emotions. Another student sits at a desk. Bright posters decorate the walls.

A young child in a red jacket is sitting at a small table in a classroom, focused on writing with a pencil. The classroom has colorful walls, some scattered books, and chairs around the table. Other people are partially visible in the background.

A classroom with students in uniforms. A large screen displays a character from a Pixar film. Some students are seated at desks, engaged in the scene, while others sit near the screen. The room is decorated with educational posters and artwork.

Two students are standing in a classroom; one is wearing a red and black striped blazer, and the other is in a grey sweater. They are in front of a screen displaying the text Our emotions Y3/4. Children are seated, watching the presentation.

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Liverpool Music Trip

Mr Gorick writes,

“On the Wednesday prior to half term, 47 pupils and 5 staff embarked on the FAB TOUR to Liverpool. The tour featured performances at Liverpool Parish Church, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in a joint charity venture with Tom’s Trust, and culminated in an afternoon performance at Liverpool Cathedral, followed by the singing of evensong in the Lady Chapel.

The tour was accompanied by a substantial number of ‘groupies’ disguised as parents, who followed us to all locations to support the performances and participate in the service of evensong. It was fitting that on the anniversary of Ray Pallister’s passing, he was remembered and prayed for during the service, with a candle lit in the Lady Chapel in his memory. (John Donne’s prayer was said after silence was held and is printed in the sidebar.) It was particularly moving that the anthem for evensong was a setting of Pie Jesu from the requiem by French composer Duruflé.

Clergy and staff praised the Chamber Choir’s singing of evensong for its beauty and sophistication, with some exceptional moments of poise that will remain with staff.

The children also enjoyed engaging visits to the Beatles Story and the British Music Experience, where they were immersed in the evolution and development of British popular music and culture, of which Liverpool has played such an important role. Over the three days, the Concert Band, the Purcell Ensemble, Senior Brass, Chamber Choir, and several soloists performed.

Staff, patients, parents, and carers were moved by the ‘injection of joy and hope’ that St Faith’s musicians brought to the grand atrium of Alder Hey Hospital. A particularly moving moment was when a member of the medical team commented that the children’s music was a much-needed tonic.

The tour once again galvanised St Faith’s talented Music Department, encouraging us all to continue making music with the understanding that it is not just for our personal gain, but that our music making positively impacts the world around us in immeasurable ways. “

Liverpool Music Trip photos

A large group of people, mostly teenagers, are sitting and standing on a low stone wall outside a modern building. Some are holding colorful symbols representing different countries. They are posing and smiling for the camera.

Instrumental Soloists Festival

On Thursday, musicians once again graced the stage, this time in Ashburton Hall, for the Soloists Music Festival. This event, more very much a festival, rather than a competition, allowed soloists to celebrate and showcase their progress and musical achievements. Mr Richard Tanner, Director of Music at Rugby School, was overwhelmed by the breadth of talent and the quality of musicianship on display at St Faith’s.

The Intermediate Class featured pupils from Years 4 to 8, demonstrating that age is no barrier when it comes to making music and performing together. Mr Tanner’s comments included praise for the performers’ “characterful playing and singing,” “dramatic music making with the whole body,” and “making the tuba sing.”

Despite being a regular visitor to Cambridge, this was Mr Tanner’s first visit to St Faith’s. He was very impressed with the quality of music making at St Faith’s. As he left, he remarked, “Given the close proximity of our two music departments, I believe we should collaborate and have our pupils making music together.” This is certainly a venture we are keen to pursue.

The festival was a resounding success, highlighting the incredible talent and dedication of young musicians. It was a celebration of music, progress, and the joy of performing together.

Instrumental Soloists’ Festival videos

A boy in a blue polo shirt stands in a room with wooden name plaques on the wall behind him. Hes speaking or performing, and theres a microphone to his left. Two empty chairs are visible in the background.

A person is playing the flute in a room with wooden plaques on the wall. They are standing in front of a music stand, next to a grand piano. The scene appears to be a recital or practice session.

A boy plays a large brass tuba while seated on a chair in a room. Theres a music stand in front of him and a microphone on a stand to the side. Wooden plaques with engraved names are mounted on the wall behind him.

A young girl in a red jacket and black pants sits on a bench playing a grand piano in a room with wooden plaques on the wall. Sheet music is open in front of her, and she is focused on the keys.

A young person in a light blue shirt plays a trumpet, standing behind a music stand. Theres a piano in the background and a board with names on the wall.

A young person playing a cello sits on a chair in a room with wooden flooring. A music stand holds sheet music in front of them. Plaques with text are mounted on the wall behind, and a microphone stand is visible to the left.

A young person in a blue shirt plays a brass instrument behind a music stand with sheet music. In the background, there is a grand piano and wooden plaques on the wall.

A person wearing a black hoodie is standing and speaking or singing into a microphone on a stand. Behind them is a grand piano and wooden plaques on the wall.

A young boy is playing a cello, focused on the sheet music in front of him. He is seated in a room with wooden floors and walls, and there are microphones and folding chairs in the background.

A young person in a red shirt stands playing a musical instrument behind a stand, with a microphone nearby. Wooden plaques with engraved names hang on the wall in the background.

A person wearing a red jacket and black pants is playing a grand piano in a room with wooden plaques on the wall. The scene is set in a well-lit indoor space with a wooden floor.

A young person stands in a room, wearing a red, black, and white striped blazer with a tie and black skirt. They are singing near a piano, with wooden plaques on the wall and folded chairs in the background.

A young person in a green shirt plays the violin in a room with wooden plaques on the wall. They stand next to a black grand piano and a music stand, with a few empty chairs in the background.

A young girl is seated in a wooden hall, playing a cello with a music stand in front of her. She is wearing a black and red outfit, and empty chairs are visible in the background.

A person wearing a red and black striped blazer and a striped tie stands in a room with several empty chairs and wooden plaques on the wall. They have short hair and glasses, and appear to be speaking or performing.

A person stands speaking or singing in a room, wearing a red and black striped blazer with a matching tie. Wooden plaques with names are on the wall behind, and two folded chairs and a podium are visible.

A young person in a red jacket plays a trumpet on a small stage. They stand next to a grand piano with an open sheet music stand in front of them. Wooden plaques with engraved names are mounted on the wall in the background.

A young girl in a red outfit and headband plays the violin behind a music stand. Shes standing next to a piano, with wooden plaques in the background. A microphone is positioned nearby.

A person seated at a grand piano plays music. The room features wooden plaques on the wall and a polished wood floor. The pianos lid is open, and the players focused demeanor suggests concentration.

A young boy in a red jacket sings in a room. A grand piano is on his left, and a music stand is in front of him. Wooden plaques with names hang on the wall in the background. Folded chairs are lined up nearby.

A young girl with a red hair ribbon plays a grand piano in a room with light wood floors and walls. She wears a red and black striped shirt and black pants. In the background are framed plaques with gold-colored text.

A person wearing a black hoodie and track pants sings into a microphone on a stand. Behind them are wooden boards with text, and a piano is partially visible.

A young person wearing headphones plays a drum set in a room with wooden plaques on the wall. The bass drum has St Faiths Cambridge printed on it. Musical instruments, including a cello, are visible in the background.

A young girl in a red sports jacket is singing with an open mouth in front of a stand microphone. Behind her, a wall displays numerous wooden plaques with engraved names. Folding chairs are on either side of her.

A young boy in a blue shirt plays a trumpet in front of a music stand. He stands in a room with wooden plaques on the wall and a grand piano nearby. Chairs are arranged in the background.

A person in a red jacket plays the violin while standing in front of a music stand. Wood plaques with engraved names are mounted on the wall in the background, and a grand piano and chairs are visible.

A child in a yellow shirt sings in a music room. A wooden board with names is on the wall behind, and a piano and stand are nearby. Folded chairs are visible in the background.

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Intermediate Maths Challenge

We are delighted to share the excellent results of the Intermediate Maths Challenge: 3 Gold awards, 9 Silver awards and 9 Bronze awards. In the first half of this term, a selection of Year 8 pupils chose to participate in the Intermediate Maths Challenge. The challenge is aimed at Years 9 to 11 pupils; it involves a range of problem-solving tasks encouraging mathematical reasoning. There are 25 questions, including 10 that are penalised with negative marking! Pupils worked diligently through the problems with resilience and precision. We wish those who were invited to the subsequent ‘Kangaroo Round’ paper the very best of luck. If you would like to have a look at the style of questions, please follow the link to find past papers along with solutions: Competition Papers – UKMT

A group of schoolchildren in red and black striped blazers pose for a photo outside a brick building with large windows. They are arranged in rows, smiling and standing on a paved area.

Schools Allergy Register

We are proud to share that St Faith’s has earned the Schools Allergy Register Trust Mark. This award highlights our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for pupils with allergies and our dedication to wellbeing throughout the school. This Allergy Trust Mark is crucially important and is also very reassuring for pupils, parents, governors, and staff. The Allergy Team’s advice is to ‘exclude the allergen, never the child’ and to join the Allergy Register, we needed to demonstrate that we follow the Schools Allergy Code and have implemented the following:

Allergy and anaphylaxis training for all members of staff
An anaphylaxis drill to practice emergency response
A comprehensive Allergy and Anaphylaxis Policy, and other robust procedures
Fostered a school-wide allergy awareness and understanding
Appointed a designated allergy lead and put in place clear governance and reporting structures

Entrance of St Faiths School in Cambridge, featuring a tree and the building labeled The Hub. Text highlights the schools enrollment in the Schools Allergy Register. A logo with a dragon is visible at the bottom left.

Year 5 Humanities

In the classroom, pupils have been engaging in hands-on learning experiences that bring their studies to life. In Year 5 Humanities, pupils explored the significance of the Sefer Torah. They carefully handled artefacts like the yad (or hand) and tallit (a prayer shawl with 613 tassels as a reminder of 613 commandments) to deepen their understanding of the Jewish faith and traditions.

Six children wearing red and black striped blazers and ties stand indoors, smiling. Two hold trophies, one holds a yellow certificate, and another holds a white sheet of paper. They are standing on a blue carpet, with doors in the background.

Three children in red and black striped blazers stand in a classroom. They smile while holding booklets and a paper. One child in the background is seated at a desk. Classroom desks and a window are visible.

Three boys in red and black striped blazers and ties stand in front of a presentation screen. They are wearing traditional white shawls with blue stripes. One boy has tefillin on his forehead and arm. A slide behind them has text about recognizing symbols.

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Year 5 Science

On Friday 14th February our Year 5 students were very fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to and engage with the expertise of Mr Kevin Reid, an avid and expert astronomer.

Pupils were able to replicate a scale model of the planets within our solar system, helping them to visualise the distances between the planets and their relative sizes; they were truly enthralled by the concept of space and had numerous questions that they posed to Mr Reid – testing his extensive knowledge of the solar system, space exploration and constellations.

A teacher stands in front of a classroom of students wearing red and black striped uniforms. The teacher gestures towards a projection of a large, round, grey image on the screen. Students are seated at tables, and one student raises their hand.

A teacher stands at the front of a classroom, addressing a group of students seated at long tables. The students wear red and black uniforms and are raising their hands. Various objects are on the tables, including bottles and a hula hoop.

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In the classrooms

Across year groups, I have enjoyed visiting a range of classrooms this week. Year 2 have been learning all about the solar system and have been enthusiastically designing moon buggies. Meanwhile, Year 4 have been exploring the science of sound, whilst Year 8 have been mastering the surface areas of 3D shapes including cuboids and cylinders. In English, Year 5 have been learning all about words ending in “ough”, whilst our budding musicians in Foundation have been busy associating musical sounds with different animals.

Bikeability

Over the half term we ran Bikeability courses for pupils in Years 5-8, equipping our more senior pupils with essential cycling skills. As always, I am very grateful to the staff who supported these events.

A group of five individuals wearing helmets and reflective vests stand with their bicycles on a paved pathway. Trees and a sign with a red map are in the background, and a yellow pedestrian symbol is painted on the ground.

Weekend Sporting Events

This weekend, the girls’ gymnastics teams will be taking part in the U9, U11 and U13 ISGA Five-Piece Premier National Gymnastics Championships and our chess players are sharpening their strategies to take part in in Cambridgeshire Chess League Fixtures. We wish them all the very best.

And Finally…

As February turns to March, the first signs of spring are beginning to appear — lighter evenings, budding trees, and the promise of warmer days ahead. Whether you are enjoying some Spring sunshine or making some last-minute costume preparations for World Book Day next week, I wish you a happy and relaxing weekend.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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