This Week at St Faith’s

Remembrance Day

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent, marking the armistice and bringing an end to the First World War. At St Faith’s, at 11 o’clock on 11 November, the whole school stood together in stillness outside, joining the nation in observing the two-minute silence.

This moment of reflection was marked in the traditional way by three pupils playing The Last Post on the trumpet, followed by Reveille to conclude the observance. Both pieces were performed again at our afternoon assembly, which we were pleased to share with The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation Chaplain, Reverend Simon Coleman.

Reverend Coleman spoke movingly about the difference between memory and remembrance, illustrating his words with four carefully chosen poems, including In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. On Tuesday, our school community also paused to remember, by name, the Old Fidelians who lost their lives in conflict. As the roll of honour was read by our Year 8 pupils, each child held a large poppy—one for every name remembered.

The Chamber Choir performed a beautifully expressive rendition of the anthem The Road Home. The assembly closed with the timeless words of the Kohima Epitaph:
When you go home
Tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today.

The entire occasion was observed with the utmost respect by our pupils.

Five people stand outside on grass. Three children in red-striped blazers and shorts or skirts hold trumpets. Two adults, one in a dark coat and one in a suit, stand on either side. All wear red poppy pins. Houses are visible in the background.

A chaplain speaks at a podium in a school assembly hall, addressing students in red and black striped uniforms. A screen behind him reads An address from the Chaplain. Faculty sit nearby, and students listen attentively.

A large group of children and adults, many in red and black clothing, are gathered outside on a school playground under a cloudy sky. Some are standing in lines, while others are in groups, with trees and houses in the background.

A black silhouette statue of a soldier stands in front of bushes and trees, with a sign below reading LEST WE FORGET and featuring poppy symbols, commemorating fallen soldiers.

A group of boys in red and black striped blazers hold red poppy shapes on stage during a school assembly, with teachers standing behind them and an audience seated in front.

Three children wearing red, black, and white striped blazers play trumpets outdoors on a grassy field, with trees and buildings in the background.

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World Diabetes Day – Wear Blue to Show Support

Today in Pre Prep, pupils and staff alike could be seen wearing an abundance of blue. That is because blue is the official colour of World Diabetes Day and we wanted to show our support and raise awareness among the school community. Millions of people worldwide are living with diabetes. Awareness and understanding remain key to improve prevention and management.

Six adults stand smiling in front of bookshelves filled with colorful books. They are wearing blue-themed outfits and ID badges. One person holds a toy dog, and another wears a blue cowboy hat.

Three women sitting and smiling; the woman in the center wears a light blue cowboy hat and holds a stuffed dog with a blue ribbon, while the other two wear glasses and blue-themed outfits.

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Gratitude

Mrs Clarke writes,

“This Week 2JC presented a thoughtful and uplifting class assembly on the theme of gratitude. We have been reflecting on what we are thankful for and exploring what gratitude means to others in our school. The children confidently performed a song and a poem and even explained the science behind feeling grateful.

I am very proud of their wonderful presentation and thankful for the enthusiasm and confidence showed.”

A group of school children in red uniforms and chef outfits pose together indoors, smiling and sitting or standing in two rows. A sign saying “GRATITUDE” is displayed in the background.

Two schoolchildren in red uniforms sit at a table with a sign reading The Gratitude News LIVE BREAKING NEWS in a hall with wooden plaques on the wall and several empty chairs in the background.

Two children wearing white lab coats stand at the front of a room, with three other children in red school uniforms seated in the background. The setting appears to be a classroom or school hall.

A young girl in a white lab coat reads from a picture book on stage, while other children in costumes, including a firefighter and doctor, sit and watch.

A medical anatomical model showing internal human organs, including the brain, lungs, heart, liver, stomach, and intestines, with a blurred classroom and a person in the background.

Two young boys stand together, one in a red shirt and one in a white lab coat, with other children dressed in white coats and red uniforms seated behind them, possibly during a school performance or presentation.

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Pre Prep Hindi Club Assembly

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights held in the period October to November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. On Monday, parents were invited to the delightful and vibrant Pre Prep Hindi Club assembly, overseen by Mrs Amin. Wearing beautiful traditional dress, the children read a short poem in Hindi and performed the ‘Garba’ dance. The Garba is a folk dance from the Indian state of Gujarat, performed in a circle during the nine-day festival of Navaratri. It is a dance of love, joy and good energy, celebrating and thanking the goddess, Durga. The occasion was greatly enjoyed by all in attendance.

A group of children and two adults, some in colorful traditional South Asian clothing, pose together indoors. One child is in a wheelchair. They are all smiling in front of a blank projection screen.

A woman in a vibrant maroon and gold traditional outfit stands smiling beside a young girl in a light blue and navy dress. Both are wearing jewelry and look happy indoors at an event.

A group of young children, including one in a wheelchair, stand on stage smiling and performing in front of an audience. An adult stands behind them, also smiling. The children wear colorful outfits.

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Light Refraction

Mrs Pritchard writes,

“This week, Year 8 have truly demonstrated their learning habits of resilience, curiosity, and ambition. Tasked with interpreting a set of rules and applying them to draw a ray of light refracting through a glass block, the students faced a particularly challenging activity. Rather than simply finding the correct answer, they were encouraged to uncover the process and understand the concept behind the theory.
This approach not only deepened their scientific understanding but also strengthened critical thinking skills, which is an invaluable asset as they prepare for the next stage of their education.”

Young Minds

Our senior pupils in Years 7 & 8 hosted a charity tuck shop during breaktime on Thursday. All profits will be donated to support the charity Young Minds which provides mental health support for young people. It was heartening to see such enthusiasm for such an important cause.

A cafeteria worker wearing gloves serves food to a line of smiling students in red striped blazers and ties at a counter with cups and coffee pots.

A group of schoolchildren in red and black striped blazers sit around a table, eating cookies and drinking from paper cups, engaged in conversation near a window.

Three boys in red and black striped blazers and ties stand together indoors. One boy holds a yellow book while the others look on. Other students in similar uniforms are in the background.

A classroom filled with students wearing red and black striped uniforms, sitting and standing around wooden tables, engaged in various activities, with large windows and red wall panels in the background.

Four boys in matching red and black striped blazers sit at a wooden table, talking and holding cans, with other similarly dressed students visible in the background.

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Swimming Gala v. Kimbolton School

Mrs Critchley writes,

“On Tuesday we hosted U12 and U13 pupils from Kimbolton School in our second swimming gala of the academic year. It was a keenly contested event, which resulted in a Kimbolton victory by 110 points to 95. One highlight of the evening was seeing the boys’ U13 50m butterfly school record broken in a time of 30.30 seconds, the first one this year. It was wonderful to see all our pupils approach the fixture in fine spirit and a friendly, competitive manner. Congratulations to all involved; it was a fun and enjoyable occasion.”

Year 6 IAPS Boys’ Rugby Festival

Mr Gillick writes,

“Last Friday the Year 6 boys attended the IAPS Rugby Festival at Stamford. The boys were wonderful ambassadors for the school and although it was a day spent on either side of the win/loss metric, there were massive positives for the boys’ learning and enjoyment. The whole squad shared equal game time and a fair share of scorers. Steps were certainly made in the right direction, and I am incredibly proud of their commitment and progress.”

A group of boys in black rugby uniforms smile and pose together on a grassy field, some kneeling and some lying on the ground, with trees and houses in the background.

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ISGA 2-Piece National Championships

Mrs North writes,

“On Sunday 9^th November, 30 gymnasts representing St Faith’s took part in ISGA 2-Piece National Championship at Haberdasher’s Boys School in Elstree. The facility was huge but nevertheless, absolutely packed, with over 103 teams and nearly 600 children. The spectators exceeded 800 over the course of the day. Every section was fully subscribed and 12 teams fought to achieve success in each of the girls’ sections while U11 boys boasted 6 teams for the first time ever. The gymnasts from St Faith’s were very well prepared, courageous and hardworking. They supported and encouraged each other and proved themselves to be worthy ambassadors for St Faith’s. Special thanks go to Miss Butler and Mr Mageean for their dedicated coaching and to Mr Mageean and Mrs Nickerson for their fantastic volunteering on the door and selling t-shirts.”

The Purcell Ensemble meets Emilia Benjamin: A Masterclass in Renaissance Music

Mr Gorick writes,

“On Monday, St Faith’s baroque chamber group, The Purcell Ensemble, had the extraordinary opportunity to work with Emilia Benjamin, one of the world’s leading viol players. Emilia brought a wealth of expertise and passion to the rehearsal, offering students a rare insight into the stylistic intricacies of Renaissance performance. A highlight of the session was the chance to play a treble viol—an exquisite instrument crafted in England, believed to date back to the early 17th century. This hands-on experience brought history to life and deepened the ensemble’s understanding of the music they are preparing. For more details about this memorable occasion, please see the side bar.

We look forward to hearing the fruits of this inspiring workshop at the upcoming St Cecilia Concert on 20th November in Ashburton Hall, where The Purcell Ensemble will share their interpretation of Dowland’s Lachrimae Antiquae with the school community.”

A music teacher instructs three students playing cellos in a classroom. The students wear red striped uniforms and sit near music stands. Instrument cases and posters are visible in the background.

Four students in red-and-black striped blazers play violins together in a music classroom, seated in a semi-circle with sheet music stands in front of them. Soundproof panels and bulletin boards line the walls.

Three images show a young student in a striped blazer learning to play a cello in a music classroom, receiving guidance from a teacher in the middle image. The student focuses on playing in each scene.

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Year 3 & 4 Taster Morning

For prospective pupils considering joining St Faith’s into Year 3 or 4 for September 2026, we will be hosting a Taster Morning on Monday 24^th November from 09:00 to 12:45.

This event offers an excellent opportunity for children to experience life at St Faith’s first-hand, including sessions in Art, Engineering/Maths, Library and Sports, as well as time with our Year 8 ‘buddies’.

If you know of families who might be interested in exploring what a St Faith’s education can offer, please encourage them to register via our website under Visits & Open Mornings – St Faith’s Cambridge.

New Initiative from the SFPA (St Faith’s Parents’ Association)

The SFPA has launched a clever, sustainable, and community-minded solution: Costume Donations.

This is how it works:

Drop your costumes for donation into the labelled box by the chequered mat. This week it was Roman costumes in preparation for next week’s Year 4 Roman Day.
Label with size and boy/girl.
And please note, we accept donations only (no loans).

Please ensure that everything is clearly marked as above, and please contact the SFPA with any queries. Thank you for supporting our school community!

Two people stand smiling outside a brick building. The woman on the left wears a yellow safety vest and holds a Roman-style helmet with a red plume. The man on the right wears a red jacket and holds a container filled with objects.

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SFPA Fireworks

The SFPA fireworks evening, which took place last Friday, was a wonderful extravaganza of colour, light and sound. Once again it was sell-out evening and I do hope that you enjoy these photos from the event. My sincere thanks go to the SFPA and all the staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event possible, and to the many parent volunteers who gave their time both during the event and the following morning to help ready the school for Monday. The SFPA collected a total of £359.72 in the leaving collection for the nominated charity: Cultivating Change. Thank you for your generosity.

A large crowd of people stands on a grassy field at night, illuminated by lights, with trees and a house visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Colorful fireworks burst against a dark night sky, with bright pink, gold, and white sparks radiating outward. The lower edge shows silhouettes of treetops, framing the vivid display above.

Bright, colorful fireworks burst in the night sky above dark, silhouetted trees, with pink, green, yellow, and white sparks radiating in all directions.

Bright fireworks in red, green, and gold burst across a dark night sky, creating colorful trails and smoke. Some tree tops are visible in the lower left corner of the image.

Bright fireworks burst in the night sky, creating streaks of light above a dark, silhouetted landscape with some smoke visible near the bottom of the image.

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And Finally…

This evening the Sports Hall will host a lively five-a-side football match between Old Fidelians, parents and staff—an occasion that promises good humour, healthy competition, and plenty of cheering from the sidelines.

On Sunday at noon, a number of our pupils will be performing festive music in the Grand Arcade to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season. If you happen to be nearby, please do stop to lend your support – I am sure they will be delighted to see familiar faces in the crowd.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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