Newsletter 24th November 23

Saint Nicholas School

Newsletter Friday 24th November, 2023 For daily news updates follow us:

From the Headmaster's desk 'There's no happier person than a truly thankful, content person.' - Joyce Meyer

Dates for your Diary 27th November Year 3 Urban Pioneers Enrichment Day 28th November Friends Christmas Gift Sale 29th November Taster session for incoming Reception Pupils Year 10 Parents’ Evening 30th November Sibling group photo session 1st December EYFS Nativity 2.00pm

Dear Parents and Pupils, Another week has sped by, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all our families who have links across the pond. You may not be surprised to learn, that the theme of my senior assembly today revolved around gratitude and the benefits of being thankful. As I am sure you are aware, practising gratitude, as well as being a sign of good manners, has a plethora of benefits, which include relieving stress and anxiety, improving sleep and boosting feelings of positivity and happiness. Being thankful is also proven to have a positive impact on our mental health and during the assembly I introduced the idea of keeping a Gratitude Diary, as a vehicle to reinforce and record all the good things in our lives, and to practice thankfulness. To quote American professor and writer Brene Brown, 'Practising gratitude is how we acknowledge that there's enough and we're enough.'

4th December Lower School Carol Service 2pm Years 3 to 5, parents welcome 6th December Middle School Carol Service 11am Years 6-8, parents welcome Upper School Carol Service 2.15pm Years 9-11, parents welcome 7th December KS1 Nativity 2.30pm and 5.00pm Middle and Upper School theatre trips 8th December Lower School trip to the Pantomime

From the Headmaster’s desk

Dates for your Diary This week has been a busy and exciting one for our pupils in the lower school, with successful trips to Colchester Castle, the Barbican Centre, Duxford and Audley End House. Our Year 9, GCSE Art 3D pupils also enjoyed an amazing enrichment trip to the Harry Potter Studio, to explore all the visual effects and model making that have contributed to the success of the Harry Potter movie franchise. On Tuesday, it was the small screen that came sharply into focus, as we welcomed the BBC Look East team to Saint Nicholas. After a tour of the school and some filming in the classrooms, senior reporter Simon Dedman interviewed Mrs Mardel, Mrs Thomas and me, sporting my Movember moustache, about Labour's proposed policy on adding 20% VAT on school fees within its first year of government, if elected. Our message was that this would be a further tax on hardworking parents, and we would urge the Labour policy makers to spend time in our schools and review this proposed policy.

The news segment will air on BBC Politics East on Sunday at 10am and then again on Monday at 18:30 on BBC Look East regional news for those who would like to view.

11th December Christmas party for local elderly 12th December Christmas Lunch Lower School Christmas parties Year 11 mock GCSE results day 13th December Christmas Jumper Day Friends Christmas Fayre Autumn Term Ends To keep up to date with events on the school calendar CLICK HERE

As we hurtle towards December, just a reminder that next week is the last week to make your Reverse Advent Calendar donations to support our local Harlow Foodbank. In assemblies last half-term, we launched the idea of our school community reverse Advent in order to boost the Foodbank's supplies for Christmas time. There are currently more than 300 children in Harlow who rely on the Foodbank each month, and we would like to help support the extra pressure that is placed on the Foodbank over the next few months, plus bring some festive cheer to children with gifts of toys, games and books (please note that gift items must be new). If you have the means, please leave your donations either in the basket in the main entrance; thank you in advance for your support.

As we move into the final weekend of November, and one that is synonymous with spending money and beginning our preparations for December 25th, it is worth noting that this weekend is also dedicated to buying nothing. 'Buy Nothing Day' is observed annually on the day after Thanksgiving and is a movement against consumerism, urging the world to change their purchasing habits, to consume and produce less. With this in mind, why not resist the temptation to start your Christmas shopping and have a last weekend to relax, unwind and enjoy National Cake Day on Sunday. To quote an unknown author, 'Life is too short to say no to cake.'

My very best wishes for a thrifty weekend,

Lower School News

Year 2 Congratulations to Daniel and Isaac in Year 2, who have gained their gold Mathletics certificates.

A fantastic outdoor lesson this week for Year 2 pupils, who worked together to fire build. They learnt about the fire triangle and how to respect fire. The children independently lit their fires and then had the challenge of keeping them going

Lower School News

Year 3 Year 3 had a fantastic morning last Friday at Mayfield Bakery, learning all about money. Pupils enjoyed picking their own gingerbread, paying for it at the counter and checking the shopkeeper had given them the correct change.

Year 5 Year 5 have been studying the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist.

As part of Tuesday’s lesson the pupils used role play and freeze framing to look at the characteristics of two of the main characters, Oliver and the Artful Dodger.

Middle and Upper School News

Year 6 Year 6 pupils have been learning how to make architectural models in their 3D Design lessons this week.

Year 7 Pupils in Year 7 have been working with our artist-in-residence, artist Simon Keenleyside, to create a collaborative Christmas art installation, inspired by the Brazillian artist Beatriz Milhazes. All pupils in the school will contribute to this festive installation, which will be erected in the school grounds.

Middle and Upper School News

Year 8 Trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon Last week Year 8 pupils enjoyed a fantastic residential trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was packed full of activities. Find out about the visit from our pupils!

We had an incredible time. We went to the theatre, which was so good, to see ‘The Box of Delights’. We also went to a workshop and had so much fun with freeze frames and learnt a lot about ‘Romeo and Juliet’. We then went to Shakespeare’s birthplace which was fantastic, and visited the chapel and saw loads of medieval paintings. We even heard the lovely sound of the organ being played. We went to Shakespeare’s school room which was really cool. We got to write with a quill and completed lots of challenges. During the trip we visited Henley Street, saw some nice statues and did some shopping. We all had so much fun!

Ben, Year 8

This school trip started with us going to the Guildhall Chapel and hearing all about the paintings that were once on the wall. After that, we went to Shakespeare’s school room, had the experience of being in a Shakespearean classroom and we learnt some Latin. After that we wrote with a quill, dressed up and did puzzles - it was fun! After that, we went to Pizza Express for dinner and saw 'The Box of Delights' at the RSC theatre, which was brilliant.

The day after, we had a tour of Shakespeare’s family home which was very informative. We learnt that superstition in Shakespeare’s times said that if you slept lying down, Satan would take your soul, so they slept sitting up! We then took part in a 'Romeo and Juliet' acting class which was extremely enjoyable. Finally, we went to Henley Street to do Christmas shopping.

Preet, Year 8

Middle and Upper School News

On Thursday 16th November, we were lucky to be taken to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon to see ‘The Box of Delights’. This was about the story of a schoolboy who was an orphan who was given a small wooden box by a magician that gives the owner magical powers, such as shrinking and going back in time. He had to protect the box from another evil magician. It was very clever there was a car that turned into a flying aeroplane and a burning phoenix that came out of the box. It made us all feel very Christmassy!

Freddie, Year 8

Saint Nicholas School News

Pupil News Every year Tom in Year 7 raises money for Children in Need. Last year he completed a 6 hour walk to London, and this year he has climbed to the top of the O2. Tom has raised an astonishing £400.00 for this worthy cause. Saint Nicholas School community is very proud of Tom’s achievements. Keep up the great work, Tom.

Christmas Carol Services We would be delighted for parents to join us for our Christmas Carol Services at St Mary’s Church, Old Harlow. In order to accommodate pupils and parents, we will be running three separate services.

Lower School (Years 3 to 5) - Monday 4th December 2:00pm Middle School (Years 6 to 8) - Wednesday 6th December at 11:00am Upper School (Years 9 to 11) - Wednesday 6th December at 2:15pm As there is limited parking at the Church, we ask parents to park in the Arena Car Park and walk to the church in Churchgate Street.

Seating for parents will be limited so please be prepared for the need to stand at the rear of the church for the duration of the service. Unfortunately, we are unable to reserve seating on this occasion.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Saint Nicholas School News

Save the Date Friends Christmas Fayre Wednesday 13th December

Saint Nicholas School News

The Friends Christmas Gift Sale Tuesday 28th November Next Tuesday, pupils will have the opportunity to purchase a gift for their families and friends at the Friends Christmas Gift Sale. If they would like to make a purchase, pupils should bring their money in a named purse or wallet. Prices will range from £1 to £5.

Fairtrade Foundation’s Fairaware Award This year Saint Nicholas School is working towards gaining the Fairtrade Foundation's Fairaware Award. We are beginning this with a Fairtrade raffle, where you could win a hamper full of Fairtrade goodies. Raffle tickets will be on sale from Monday morning in the coffee shop. Raffle tickets cost £1 each or £2 for three tickets.

Find out more from the digital leaflet - https://stories.fairtrade.org.uk/what-isfairtrade/index.html

Saint Nicholas School News

Reverse Advent

As we are fast approaching the festive season, we would like to remind you that we are supporting two local charities: Harlow Foodbank and Bump to Five.

Last half term, we launched the idea of our school community Reverse Advent. The pupils learned what a Reverse Advent is, and how we will be using the concept to make donations to Harlow Foodbank and Bump to Five, to boost their supplies for Christmas time. There are currently more than 300 children in Harlow who rely on the Foodbank each month, and we would like to help support the extra pressure that is placed on the Foodbank over the next few months, plus bring some festive cheer to children with gifts of toys, games and books (please note that gift items must be new).

Throughout November, pupils have been asked, if they would like to participate, to bring food, toiletries and children’s gifts, to follow the idea of the twenty-four days of Christmas, with twenty-four items being donated (of course, any number of items will be very much appreciated).

Below is a list of food items that are required by the Foodbank. Please remember that food needs to have a long shelf-life and, therefore, fresh fruit and vegetables should not be donated. Bump to Five would be very grateful to receive new toys, games and books. Donations can be suitable for children of any age; they must be brand new and unwrapped as they will be wrapped up by the volunteers at Bump to Five, and passed on to families with appropriately aged children.

Pupils were shown an example of a Christmas tree planner that they could use to help organise their twenty-four items. A copy follows for printing at home, or you can collect one from the school office.

The deadline to make your donations is Monday 4th December. Lower school pupils can leave their food and gift items in the basket in the coffee shop, and middle and upper school pupils can put their items in the basket in the main entrance of Hillingdon House.

Thank you so much for your support.

Mrs Oakley PE Department

Saint Nicholas School News

Sports News

Basketball Match report On Tuesday 21st November the Year 10 basketball team played six Harlow schools, in a basketball tournament hosted by Stewards School. We are really proud of our efforts as we were mainly against Year 11 pupils. The games lasted 4 minutes each. We managed to win 2 games, draw 3 and lose 2. The best team there were STEM who had some outstanding players. However, we played our best game against them, with some unbelievable defence. We were drawing with them until unfortunately in the last 20 seconds they scored to win. Everyone played really well, considering we had no subs, well done boys.

Cooper, Year 10

Rugby Year 11 rugby, U16 Essex Cup Match reports On Tuesday 7th November we played against Great Baddow. We tried to play to the best of our ability but just lacked a bit of confidence. The score was 33-0.

Hopefully in our future games with the training we’ve been given there will be a better outcome.

Jack C, Year 11 On Tuesday 7th November the Year 10/11 team went to Harlow Rugby Club to play Great Baddow in the Essex Cup. It was our first game of the cup and was a very important match. The boys were very focused, but the score didn’t go our way, being 33-0 at the full time whistle. We held our heads in the game but lacked some confidence with the ball in hand, but hopefully in the next fixtures we can learn from our mistakes and move forward as a team. Thank you to Mr Brown and staff for facilitating our match and giving us the opportunity to get a game.

Thomas, Year 11