Weekly Newsletter: Friday 23rd January

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another wonderful week in school, full of smiling faces, positive attitudes and a real sense of purpose in learning. The calm, happy atmosphere around the school has been a pleasure to see and is a true reflection of the kindness, enthusiasm and resilience shown by our children each day.

We welcomed two visitors from Chelmsford Diocese this week, including Carrie Prior, the Director of Education. It was a pleasure to show our visitors all of the exciting and wonderful things that happen in our school. They were able to see first-hand the excellent learning taking place and the strong sense of community that makes our school such a remarkable place to be.

During Collective Worship this week, we focused on the theme of forgiveness. After hearing about a rather messy breakfast incident involving Mrs Sillett, Mr Speller and an unfortunate bottle of tomato ketchup, the children listened to the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). Through this story, the children explored the importance of forgiveness, compassion and second chances. We discussed how forgiving others helps to heal relationships, build trust and create a caring community where everyone feels valued and supported - something we strive to live out in our school every day.

Many of our children attended Young Voices at the O2 on Tuesday. After weeks of rehearsals and learning songs, they joined thousands of other children to sing together and share their love of music. It was an unforgettable experience and a fantastic opportunity for our pupils. A huge thank you to Mr Lincoln for organising this event - experiences like this create memories that will last a lifetime.

We are excited to introduce something new to our weekly newsletter - Pupil Shoutouts! This is an opportunity to celebrate the success of children who truly deserve to have their names shouted from the rooftops. While there are so many children worthy of recognition, this week’s shoutout goes to Kenzi in Year 6. Kenzi has been learning to play the clarinet and, after flying through the music books, she is making phenomenal progress. It was a joy to watch and hear her play during band practice this week, where she took on a clear and confident leading role in the performance. Well done, Kenzi - we are incredibly proud of you!

Our Celebration Assembly will take place on Monday due to the many events happening in school this week. We are really looking forward to celebrating the hard work, achievements and school values our children have demonstrated. As always, if your child has taken part in any special activities or achieved success outside of school, such as sports, music, clubs or community events, please do let us know so we can celebrate these together as a school community.

Chapter 3 of The Mottlesnatch is attached - please encourage your children to take part. All entries receive five house points, and these points make a significant contribution towards the House Cup.

Notices and Dates

Please find attached the term dates for the next academic year for your reference.

World Book Day will take place on Thursday 5th March 2026 (after the half-term break). It’s time to start thinking about which characters from your favourite books inspire you. We are really looking forward to celebrating this special day with you all.

A polite reminder that the school gates open at 8:45am and close promptly at 8:55am. To support the safe movement of children around the school site, please ensure your child has been dropped off and that you are leaving the premises promptly.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a restful and enjoyable weekend. As we reflect on our theme this week, we are reminded:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Kind regards,

Mrs Louisa Sillett
Head of School