This Week at St Faith’s

Celebrating Achievement, Community, and Compassion

In House Assemblies on Tuesday, we were pleased to present a large number of certificates recognising pupils’ Merits and Headmaster’s Commendations. These occasions provide an important opportunity to acknowledge effort, perseverance and the positive learning habits pupils demonstrate day by day across the school.

Alongside these celebrations, pupils across the four Houses explored a number of thoughtful and important themes, including compassion, resilience and gratitude. Through stories, scientific ideas and familiar characters — including Winnie the Pooh — pupils were encouraged to notice and appreciate small, everyday moments, and to express gratitude through kindness, patience and consideration for others. Practical suggestions for developing simple daily gratitude habits were also shared, inviting pupils to reflect positively at the end of each day.

In one House assembly, the story of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, provided a further focus for reflection. Pupils considered the importance of perseverance, teamwork and courage, and were encouraged to support one another, believe in their own abilities and approach challenges with determination and resilience.

In another assembly, pupils learned more about the Arthur Rank Hospice, which will be one of our chosen charities this year. We are proud to continue supporting the hospice in special recognition of the exceptional care and support it has provided to several St Faith’s families in recent years. Pupils learned how hospices offer specialist care to people who are seriously ill, providing comfort, dignity and support – both within hospice settings and in people’s homes. They also gained an understanding of the scale of funding required to run such services, and the vital role communities play in sustaining and supporting this work.

Through discussion and reflection, across all the assemblies, pupils developed a deeper understanding of compassion, remembrance and community responsibility, reinforcing why fundraising events such as Chaucer Choose-Day can make a genuine difference.

Two smiling girls in red and black striped blazers holding Headmasters Commendation certificates while standing outdoors with greenery in the background.

A man shakes hands with a boy on stage in front of an audience of children, with a projector screen behind them displaying a list of charity organizations.

Two students in striped blazers present on stage to an audience in a school hall, standing in front of a large screen displaying the word Mind and images of people in purple shirts.

A woman in a red top stands in front of a classroom of young children, presenting slides on a large screen. The children sit on the floor, wearing black and red uniforms, facing the presenter.

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Chaucer Choose‑Day – Thursday 5th March

Fundraising for the Arthur Rank Hospice will take place on Chaucer Choose‑Day, Thursday 5th March. On this day, the whole school community will be invited to come to school in home clothes or a World Book Day costume in return for a £2 donation.

Following a very generous donation from the SFPA, we are also delighted to be able to support a second charity this year. Pupils have been invited to nominate charities of their choice and will spend Tutor Time over the coming weeks researching and discussing these options. Each Tutor group will vote for a preferred charity, followed by a House vote to determine our final selection. The pupils are already enjoying taking responsibility for this process and engaging thoughtfully with causes that matter to them.

The Importance of House Life

Talking about House activity provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the central role the House system plays at St Faith’s. It sits at the heart of school life, shaping far more than teams or colours. The House structure fosters a strong sense of community across year groups, encouraging friendships and connections that might not otherwise form within the classroom alone.

Belonging to a House gives pupils a shared identity and a sense of collective purpose. Whether cheering one another on during Last House Standing or giving their all on Sports Day, pupils experience both healthy competition and the satisfaction of contributing to something larger than themselves. In this way, the House system does not simply organise school life, it genuinely enriches it.

‘Bright Monday’ in Pre Prep

Mrs Clarke writes,
“On Monday, Pre Prep enjoyed Bright Monday — a wellbeing day designed to spread joy, encourage self-expression and support positive mental health in a fun, age-appropriate way. Children came to school wearing bright, colourful clothes, creating a cheerful atmosphere throughout the day.

Pupils enjoyed a range of wellbeing activities. Years 1 and 2 took a gentle walk around the local area, while Preschool and Reception explored the school grounds, learning about the benefits of fresh air, exercise and spending time outdoors together. All children took part in yoga, music and creative activities, helping them to relax, move and express their feelings.

To finish the day, families were invited to join Mrs Walker for a short mindful breathing session. We all enjoyed sharing this special and uplifting day with the children, and it provided a bright and positive start to the week!”

A woman gestures upward while sitting on the floor with a group of young children, who are attentively looking and pointing in the same direction in a brightly lit room.

A woman stands with four young children in a row, all raising their arms in the air. The children appear to be following her lead in a bright room with wooden plaques and chairs along the wall behind them.

Two young girls smile outdoors. One wears a shiny, multicolored jacket; the other wears a red coat with a hood that looks like a unicorn head. They are standing on a playground with artificial grass.

A woman and four young children sit barefoot on a wooden floor, smiling and stretching forward to touch their toes in a bright room with empty chairs in the background.

Two young girls wearing winter coats smile and hold hands while standing outside on artificial grass. Behind them, science-themed posters are displayed on a wooden fence. A red slide is visible in the background.

A woman and a young girl sit at a red-checkered table, coloring with markers and pencils. The woman is smiling and engaged, while the girl is focused on her drawing. Coloring pages and supplies are on the table.

A group of children stand with arms raised in a spacious indoor room, participating in an activity together. Two children in the foreground face away from the camera, mimicking the groups pose.

Two children smiling and running together outdoors on a leafy ground. The girl wears a pink hoodie, blue leggings, green boots, and animal ear headband; the boy wears a green sweatshirt and dark pants. Both appear happy and playful.

Two young children energetically pose with arms stretched upwards in a dance studio. The boy on the left wears a pink shirt and blue pants, while the girl on the right wears a green dress with white patterns.

Two children in colorful winter jackets talk and smile outside. One child wears a bright blue hat with ears and eyes. Several other children are visible in the background, wearing coats and playing.

Four young children sit on a wooden floor indoors, clapping and appearing engaged. One child wears a unicorn costume, another has a headband and dress, and all look attentive and cheerful. A colorful toy is on the floor nearby.

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Year 2 Blast Off into Space!

Mrs Clarke writes,
“Year 2 had an out-of-this-world experience on Tuesday when a planetarium took over Ashburton Hall. The excitement was clear from the moment the children stepped inside the giant star dome.

During the 360-degree show presented by Andy Green from StarDome, pupils were surrounded by stars, planets and galaxies, creating the sensation of travelling through space without leaving the hall. The experience brought their learning vividly to life and helped deepen their understanding of the universe in an engaging and memorable way.”

A group of young children in red sweaters and plaid skirts or black pants stand smiling on a wooden floor indoors, with a man in a colorful shirt and jeans standing behind them near a large black dome.

A person wearing glasses and a colorful shirt holds up a rock while speaking into a microphone during a presentation; a projector and a screen are visible in the background.

Young children in red school uniforms sit on the floor indoors, examining dark, rock-like objects in their hands. They appear focused and curious, suggesting a classroom or educational activity.

A large, black, dome-shaped inflatable structure stands in the middle of a spacious indoor hall with wooden flooring and light-colored walls.

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STEM Careers Display

Mrs Pritchard writes,
“Our STEM Prefects have recently coordinated and installed a highly engaging new careers display in the Ashburton Hall corridor, just outside Lab 1. The display highlights a wide range of possible career pathways linked to STEM subjects, with a strong focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as sustainability, reflecting key school priorities for the year. We are very grateful to the pupils for their leadership and initiative.”

A poster on a bulletin board features Tara Houska, an environmental attorney, with facts about her work protecting the Earth and opposing pipelines. It has illustrations and colorful text blocks highlighting her accomplishments.

A poster on 3D printing in education shows a girl using a blue 3D printer, with text explaining the additive process, benefits, and steps involved in creating 3D printed items.

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RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch – 23rd to 25th January

Mrs Scott writes,
“The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 23–25 January, and we would love as many families as possible to take part. Alongside the traditional RSPB recording sheets (in the sidebar), families are encouraged to download the free Merlin App, which identifies birds by recognising their songs. This is a wonderful way to explore nature together and develop awareness of our local wildlife.”

Fun with Maths

Mrs Davidson writes,
“In the ‘Fun with Maths’ after-school activity this week, pupils were particularly engaged with the games ‘Genius Square’ and ‘Rush Hour’. Both games really challenge pupils to think logically, plan ahead and persevere through trial and error, helping to build confidence and flexibility in problem-solving.”

A classroom of boys in red and black striped blazers sit at desks, focused on playing a tabletop puzzle game in groups, with game pieces and boxes on the tables. Some boys are working closely together, thinking and discussing.

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Looking ahead

Today, the Year 8 Art and Music Group are visiting the Castle Fine Art Gallery and on Sunday our U11 and U13 Gymnastics teams will travel to Chelmsford Gymnastics Club to compete in the BSGA ‘Milano Team Trio’ Regional Round. We wish them the best of luck.

And Finally…

This has been a week where our values of Kindness, Community and Excellence have been visible in so many aspects of school life, and across all age groups. Whether you are inspired to play Genius Square, do some birdwatching or stargazing, or you are simply spending time together, I wish you all a peaceful and happy weekend.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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