Newsletter 1st March 2024

Saint Nicholas School

Newsletter

Friday 1st March, 2024

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From the Headmaster's desk

Dates for your Diary

'We do not learn from experience we learn from reflecting on experience '

- John Dewey

Dear all,

A busy first week back has rushed by and I trust that you have all shaken off any lingering, half term lethargy. As I feel certain that you are aware, this half term only has another three weeks and three days to run, so we will be very much squeezing a quart into a pint pot in the coming weeks!

Alongside the numerous sporting fixtures that take place every week and Year 5's Space Enrichment Day, this week there was a particular focus on Spanish, with our Year 8 and Year 10 GCSE pupils visiting the British Film Institute for a day of Spanish Cinema. The benefits of learning a second language are well-documented and I was delighted to accompany the Year 10 pupils on Wednesday, as we immersed ourselves in Spanish film and culture; todos tuvieron un gran dia!

26th February - 8th March

Second Year 11 mock GCSE examinations fortnight

1st March

Lower school progress reports issued

Prefect application launch

Year 5 trip to the French Institute, London

4th March

Year 2 trip to Tower of London

5th March

Reception Mother's Day workshop

Year 6 trip to STEM Centre, Stevenage

6th March

Lower school parents' evening

7th March

Whole school World Book Day

8th March

International Women's Day

Year 7 interim reports issued

I ended the week on the theme of Happiness. On Sunday we mark 'National I want you to be happy day', and my lower and senior school assemblies both explored the concept of what makes us happy. In my lower school assembly, I concluded by reading a book called Find Your Happy by Emily Coxhead, and in my senior assembly we delved a little deeper into the secret of happiness and I showed the pupils a TED talk which you can view by clicking on the LINK HERE:

English writer, William Penn, is quoted as saying, 'The secret to happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles', and at the end of both my assemblies, I encouraged pupils to always take time out of each day to be grateful for all the opportunities they have; a sentiment that I am certain has benefits for us all.

As we move into the weekend, I would draw your attention to the National Day of Reflection this Sunday. The National Day of Reflection marks the anniversary of the first UK lockdown, but this year it moves from its original date of March 23rd, in line with the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration's recommendation that the day be held on the first Sunday in March each year. Charity, Marie Curie, the UK's leading end-of-life charity will again be leading the nation in asking individuals and communities to remember the people who died during the Covid pandemic, whatever the cause, and to show support for everyone bereaved. You can learn more about the National Day of Reflection by clicking on the LINK HERE:

My very best wishes for a reflective weekend.

Dates for your Diary

7th - 14th March

School book fair

11th March

Pre-school Mother's Day pamper session

Spanish and French mock GCSE speaking exams

12th March

Spanish mock GCSE speaking exams

14th March

Year 6 to Crucial Crew

Year 9 and Year 10 boys

Spurs coaching session at Spurs Academy

Year 11 GCSE drama practical performance and moderation

15th March

Rotary Club Young Chef cook offs

Year 10 full reports issued Year 1 trip to Paradise Wildlife Park

Year 11 self defense session

To keep up to date with events on the school calendar

CLICK HERE

L o w e r S c h o o l N e

Reception

This week in reception, the children have had fun smoothie making.

Year 2

This week in French, Year 2 have been discovering the human body, with the help of Puppet Gaston. Pupils delved into new vocabulary and engaged in collaborative learning through games and activities. They enjoyed singing and dancing to Tête, Épaules, Genoux et Pieds, the French version of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Bravo to all pupils who worked with fantastic effort and enthusiasmwhat a wonderful way to develop communication skills!

Infant Eco Club

This week, the infant eco club were very excited to welcome Mrs Perrin, who brought in a collection of plants including Pelargoniums, Wallflower, and Spider Plants. The children were keen to learn that plants do not only grow from seeds, and to take their own cuttings before planting them in water. Thank you to Mrs Perrin for this wonderful session.

Junior Eco Club

Eco club was all about teamwork and fire safety this week, as they worked in small groups making their own campfires. They had so much fun building their fires and then keeping them alight long enough to toast the marshmallows!

Year 2 and Year 3

Scoring goals for Spurs, then onto inspiring our Year 2 and 3 pupils to pick up a book and read, our partnership with Spurs continues to develop. A big thankyou to Oliver Irow, James Rowswell, Maeson King and Carey Bloedorn (U18 scholars), for providing our pupils with an amazing experience over the last two weeks.

Year 4

This week in mathematics, Year 4 were recapping their skills on angles. They had to identify acute, right, obtuse and reflex angles.

Mathletics

Congratulations to Emma, Safia, Esther and Joshua who have all achieved a mathletics certificate this week. Keep up the great work.

Lower School Art

This week we were extremely pleased to welcome the artist Julian Opie into the school. Julian worked with a selection of lower school pupils from Reception through to Year 4.

On the day, small groups were Instructed and encouraged by Julian to walk as naturally as possible across a stage (dressed in summer clothing as this is intended for a summertime project). But walking is not always as simple as it sounds when a camera is on and the lights are shining! However, every pupil performed brilliantly, and their individual personalities shone through.

Julian intends to use the footage of the pupils walking to make a variety of works, including films, sculptures and paintings, and also an outdoor sculptural project with a company in Japan.

Aside from the series of people walking, Julian also has an ongoing project of portraits in the format of paintings, sculptures and printed limited editions. Over the years, Julian has captured famous faces, his cover for the Blur Album is now in the National Portrait Gallery, and his outdoor sculptural works are interacted with by millions daily, like the video work on Carnaby Street, London. Julian took the opportunity whilst filming to also photograph the pupils’ portraits, so one day they will be added to this amazing project.

When back in his London studio, Julian remarked on what a great time he had had and was really pleased with all the footage captured. Julian passes on his thanks again to the star pupils and to Saint Nicholas for accommodating his ongoing work.

We look forward to seeing the results in the coming weeks and months.

More on the work of Julian Opie

The work of Julian Opie is known throughout the world. With public commissions from New York to Seoul, London to Calgary, and an uninterrupted flow of international museum exhibitions, Opie’s distinctive formal language is instantly recognisable and reflects his artistic preoccupation with the idea of representation and the means by which images are perceived and understood. “Everything you see is a trick of the light,” Opie writes. “Light bouncing into your eye, light casting shadows, creating depth, shapes, colours. Turn off the light and it’s all gone.

He is represented by 12 galleries worldwide and has presented many public projects in cities around the world, notably in the Dentsu Building in Tokyo 2002.

Opie’s works can be found in many public art collections, including the Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, British Museum, National Portrait Gallery in London and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o l N e

Pupil News

Congratulations to Dorothy and Agatha who have recently passed their Musical Theatre Performance examinations with The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Dorothy passed Grade 2 with a Merit and Agatha passed Grade 1 with a High Pass. Congratulations to both pupils on such a fabulous achievement.

Easter Bonnet Parade - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

s World Book Day 2024

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o l N

World Book Day 2024, is Thursday 7th March. Lower school pupils will be given a physical voucher, and seniors, can use an e-voucher which can be downloaded from THIS LINK

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o

We will be holding a book fair from Thursday 7th through to Thursday 14th March. Full details of which will be emailed to parents today.

s Summer Ball

It is that time of the year again when we start thinking about our Summer Ball. This year it takes place on Saturday 6th July, and Blakes in North Weald is our brand new venue. For further information please contact the Friends on 07841 366753 or email thefriendsstn@gmail.com

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o l N e w s

S a i n t N i c h o l a s S c h o o l N e w s

Athletics

Last week pupils enjoyed competing in the Harlow schools sports hall athletics.

Netball

On Tuesday 27th February, Year 7 played Joyce Frankland Academy at a netball match. The score was very tight with Saint Nicholas starting strong, and by the end of the first quarter we were winning 2-0. Then Joyce Frankland fought hard and the final score was a draw, 5-5. Well done to Casta, Kayla , Alys, Tia, Clementine, Amelie and Isabelle. I won player of the match. Great effort from everyone that played, we are looking forward to the next match with such a great team.

Casta, Year 7

s On Tuesday, the Year 9 netball team played Joyce Frankland Academy, it was quite a tough match, but Saint Nicholas was victorious with a win of 22-12 thanks to Annabel (GA) and India (GS) with their excellent shots on target, and their coordinated and tactical play in the defence. Great attacking with lots of strong passes, from Eve (C) and Amelie (WA) who moved the ball down to the shooters with very fast play in the mid court. The defenders Emily (WD), Fleur (GD) and Hollie (GK) gave brilliant performances, intercepting lots of passes, turning over the ball and getting rebounds. The player of the match was Fleur. Thank you to Mrs Oakley and Mrs Sanders for taking us. As a team we look forward to our upcoming matches.

Fleur, Year 9

On Tuesday, 27th February, the Year 10 girls played an intense game of netball against Joyce Frankland Academy. We got off to a strong start but Joyce Frankland put up a fight in the second quarter. They were strong in attack but Saint Nicholas did very well to defend the D. It was a fast paced and energetic game but the girls withstood the pressure very well. For all 4 quarters we were able to keep the lead and eventually won 19-14. I was fortunate to be voted Player of the Match but this wouldn’t have happened were it not for the excellent team work demonstrated by the Year 10s. It was a good experience to play against a team we have not played before, and we thank Mrs Sanders and Mrs Oakley for organising the game!

Mia, Year 10