Newsletter December 2023

St Philomena’s School December 2023

Newsletter

Headteacher's Half Term Round Up… What an action packed and wonderful half term it has been – full of learning and full of fun!

Thank you to the class teachers for planning and delivering engaging and challenging lessons, producing Nativity performances and assemblies, supporting pupils to perform in public, organising educational visits and encouraging every child to try their very best in all aspects of school life. Thank you to the support staff who assist pupils and teachers in class, help parents, accompany school trips and sports fixtures, drive the minibus, administer first aid, supervise pupils at lunchtime or outside on a bitterly cold day, grit the playground so the children can still play outside when it is icy. Support staff play a vital role in school and it is important they don’t go unnoticed.

My thanks also to every single parent who has helped this term: Attending Parent Rep meetings; helping with educational visits and sports events; supporting sports fixtures; opening the pre-loved store; serving hot lunches; making the wonderful Christmas mugs; organising mulled wine and mince pies in the last week of term – your support is endless and is very much appreciated.

As always, the final two weeks of term can only be described as a glorious Christmas overload and we certainly did our best to embrace the spirit of Christmas and create school memories that we hope will last a lifetime: Forms III to VI put on a Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, we watched Nativity performances from Reception and Forms I and II, enjoyed Christmas parties, hosted an ‘All Things Christmas’ morning for our local community, sat down to Christmas dinner together, visited the Princes Theatre in Clacton to watch Aladdin, celebrated the achievements of the term and had a visit from Father Christmas.

As we come to the end of another year, I wish you all a new year full of peace, hope, love and joy. I look forward to welcoming you all back to school in 2024.

Form IIUpper Visit The Munnings School Run Art Museum On Thursday 7th November, Form II visited The Munnings Art Museum in Dedham as part of their learning in History. The pupils enjoyed looking at his paintings and had the opportunity to create their own piece of art in his actual studio.

Form I Visit Hollytrees Museum On Thursday 16th November Form I had a fabulous trip to Hollytrees Museum in Colchester. They learnt about life in Victorian times and enjoyed playing with toys from the era. Pupils dressed up in Victorian clothing and were introduced to some of the chores and activities they would have done in the past – most of them couldn't believe how the washing and ironing was done!

Form V Visit Imperial War Museum Duxford On Thursday 16th November Form V visited the Imperial War Museum Duxford as part of their learning in History. As well as looking at all the exhibits, they visited the Battle of Britain Hangar to make their own documentaries and interviewed Reg, an amazing 91 year old gentlemen who lived in Brixton during the Blitz.

Museum staff praised pupils for their exemplary behaviour and manners.

Reception Class Go Out for Lunch Thank you to the Asano-White family who treated Reception class to a delicious lunch on Tuesday 5th December. The pupils enjoyed travelling on the school minibus, ate a really good lunch of pie and mash followed by apple pie and ice cream and then enjoyed time at the park before returning to school.

Walking Wednesday Reception class continue to enjoy ‘Walking Wednesday’. This half term they walked to Lilley's Bakery in Connaught Avenue to buy a loaf of bread as part of their work on ‘The Little Red Hen’. They also walked to the Post Office to post their letters to Father Christmas.

St Philomena's Remembrance Service Form V led the school in our Service of Remembrance on Friday 10th November.

An important day in the St Philomena’s calendar, the readings, prayers and hymns allowed us to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who have defended, and continue to defend, our freedom and protect our way of life. Thank you to: Mr Blake for playing The Last Post as the whole school fell silent for 2 minutes; Mia Jensen who represented the Police Cadets and laid the poppy wreath; the pupils who came to school wearing the uniform of the uniformed organisations they belong to, the enormous number of parents, relatives and members of the local community who joined us on the day, and to everyone who contributed to the Poppy Appeal - we raised an impresseive £341.85 for the Royal British Legion.

1:1 Music Lessons

Form VI Assembly

Congratulations to Form VI who delivered a fantastic assembly to the whole school and their parents this term. They took us on a journey through The Americas and really showcased their hard work in so many subjects this term.

Opening of The Timber Tower This half term Head Boy Luca and Head Girl Precious were delighted to open the ‘Timber Tower’ in the Lower School Garden.

Thank you to Mr Dellow and his team for creating another fantastic outdoor learning area at St Philomena’s.

Charity Fundraising

This half term we held a 'Getting Ready for Christmas Day’, with pupils coming to school wearing Christmas pyjamas or a Christmas jumper in exchange for a donation to local charity N.E.S.T (North Essex Support Team). Luca and Precious were delighted to pass on our donation of £120 to Les Nicol. £120 should provide one local family a Christmas free from poverty.

CHRISTMAS AT ST PHILOMENA'S December is always an incredibly busy month in school and this year was no different: Reception and Forms I and II put on Nativity performances to packed audiences, and Forms III to VI filled St Mary’s Church for our annual Carol Concert. The school choir performed at the Rotary Carol Service and to members of the local community at our ‘All Things Christmas’ event in the last week of term. Pupils enjoyed festive games at Breakfast Club, danced the night away at the school disco’s, enjoyed a visit to the pantomime in Clacton and received a visit from Father Christmas on the last day of term. Meanwhile parents enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies to celebrate the end of another successful term.

SPORT @ ST PHILOMENA'S

U11 Netball v Frinton Primary Congratulations to our U11 netball team who played their first match against Frinton Primary School and won 16:1. It was a fast paced match with some great passing, defending and shooting. A big thank you to Maisey Smith, a Year 11 PE student from TTC who coaches them each week.

U11 Football Tournament Well done to the U11 football team who represented St Philomena's at a football tournament at Clacton Leisure Centre. They may not have returned victorious, but they worked hard as a team, made some impressive passes, defended well and displayed great sportsmanship.

U11 Girls Football v Tendring Primary The U11 girls football team travelled to Tendring Primary School for their first league match of the year. A tough game for the girls, resulting in a final result of 7:0 to Tendring, but they battled hard and played well as a team. Thank you to coach Mia Jensen who trains them each week as part of the after school enrichment programme.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS As a non-selective school, our academic results will vary each year. We use a selection of assessments to monitor the progress of our pupils to make sure they are achieving to the best of their ability.

Pupils from Reception to Form VI sit progress tests in English and Maths each term. These standardised, externally marked tests allow individual pupil performance to be assessed against national benchmarks.

Our Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 results for the academic year 2022-2023 are as follows:

WHAT’S ON…DIARY OF EVENTS January

Event

Wednesday 3rd January

INSET: Non pupil day

Thursday 4th January

New term: Return to school

Friday 19th January

Form IV to The Tower of London

Thursday 25th January

Fish and Chips - tbc

February Thursday 1st February

Event Parent Rep Meeting

Philomini Stay and Play, 9am to 10.30am Friday 2nd February

Pre-Loved Sale, 3pm to 4pm Tuesday 6th February

Safer Internet Day

Friday 9th February

Mental Health Day: Non uniform

Holy Day of Obligation: Ash Wednesday Wednesday 14th February

Road Safety Sessions – Reception and Form V

Thursday 15th February

Fish and Chips - tbc

Friday 16th February

Break up for half term

All dates are subject to change so please remember to check the school calendar for updates and future events that have been calendared for the rest of the academic year:

http://stphilomenas.com/calendar/