School News and Head's Blog
Posted on: 14/07/2023Honk!
At the end of this hugely successful year for the children of St. Helen’s College I would like to leave you with the short speech which I gave this morning at our final assembly at Upper School. The Year 6 pupils have been building up to their production of ‘Honk’ the musical based upon the story of the The Ugly Duckling and they performed this three times this week to a packed auditorium at The Compass Theatre.
The underpinning message which I have attempted to convey in this speech to Year 6 applies to us all….children and adults!
Have a wonderful summer everyone and thank you all for your unfaltering support this year.
Ladies and gentlemen, parents, teachers, and most importantly, our remarkable Year 6 leavers, today, we come together for our final assembly at St. Helen’s College of this academic year and to bid farewell to our Year 6 pupils as you prepare to embark on a new journey. And what better way to commemorate this moment than by drawing inspiration from the incredible musical 'Honk.'
'Honk' tells the heartwarming story of a little duckling named Ugly who finds himself on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance and embracing one's unique qualities. Just like Ugly, each one of you possesses extraordinary talents and capabilities that make you shine in your own way.
Throughout your time here, we have witnessed your growth, individually and as a group. You have showcased your talents on the stage, in the classroom, on the sports field, and in countless other endeavours. 'Honk' teaches us that our differences should be celebrated, for it is our unique qualities that make us truly special.
In the musical, Ugly encounters a myriad of characters who try to bring him down, questioning his worth and making him feel like an outsider. But Ugly never loses hope. He discovers a resilience within himself, a belief that he is destined for greatness. And our wonderful Year 6 leavers, that same resilience beats within your hearts as well.
As you prepare to take the next step in your educational journey, remember the lessons from 'Honk.' Embrace the challenges that come your way, for they will only make you stronger. Embrace your individuality, for it is what sets you apart from the rest. And most importantly, embrace the power of kindness and empathy, for those qualities have the ability to change the world.
Just as Ugly finds acceptance and love from unexpected sources, be open to the friendships and connections you will forge in the years ahead. Cherish the bonds you have formed here and treasure the memories that will forever remain etched in your hearts.
As you step into the unknown, know that we believe in you. Believe in your abilities, your dreams, and your potential to make a difference. Each one of you possesses a unique voice and it is through that voice that you can create a lasting impact on the world around you.
In conclusion, Year 6 leavers, as you spread your wings and venture forth, remember the tale of Ugly from 'Honk.' Be proud of who you are, embrace your talents, and have the courage to stand tall in the face of adversity. With resilience, compassion and a dash of humour, you will conquer any obstacle that comes your way.
Congratulations, Class of 2023, and may the echoes of 'Honk' guide you to a future filled with joy, success, and the fulfilment of all your dreams.
Posted on: 7/07/2023Weekly News - Friday 7th July 2023
Cancer Research UK Charity Week
Thank you so much to every member of the St. Helen's Community who has been involved in raising money for Cancer Research UK this week.
Our Year 5 children held a cake sale on Tuesday morning at Upper School which was very popular!
The school was pink and blue all over on Thursday when the pupils and staff wore their own clothes in CRUK colours in return for making a donation. Ducklings and Lower School children took part in a Danceathon on this day and the Upper School children enjoyed a walk around Court Park.
Lower School children will also have the opportunity to 'Soak The Teacher' next Friday!
The total raised so far by the SHC community is well over £1000. It is not too late to donate if you would still like to do so. Our JustGiving page remains active and you can donate by following this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/st-helens-college-1688112386262
Sue Blackstone
We are devastated to share the news of the death of our former St. Helen's College colleague Sue Blackstone. Many families will remember Mrs. Blackstone who worked with the school for around thirty years, most recently as our Wraparound Care Manager. She dedicated so much time and love to the children of St. Helen's College before her retirement a few years ago and had been enjoying time with family and friends before her death. She will be very fondly remembered and very greatly missed by all.
Ducklings Sports Day
Today our youngest St. Helenians enjoyed their first ever St. Helen's College Sports Day in the Ducklings grounds, where they took part in several different activities designed to develop their future sporting prowess!
Wimbledon!
On Monday 8 of our Year 6 children were lucky enough to go to Wimbledon for the first day of the tennis championships. We saw some fantastic tennis and had a great day out. The children were a credit to the school and really relished the opportunity to be inspired by some of the best tennis players in the world!
Year 1 Trip To Mad Bess Woods
Despite the heavy showers, rain did not stop play for Year 1 at Mad Bess Woods on Wednesday! The children had lots of fun playing on the lawn before going on a mini trek in the woods. Due to the damp weather they were unfortunately able to find many different minibeasts.
After lunch they explored Mrs. Hunt's garden and found some of the sunflowers we had planted in the spring. One of them is now nearly six feet tall! They finished the trip with a visit from Pino and his ice cream van! All agreed it was a wonderful way to celebrate a great year.
Prizegiving
On Thursday evening we enjoyed a marvellous evening reception and Prizegiving ceremony in The Evans Garden at Upper School, at which our leaving Year 6 children were recognised for their hard work, talents, personal development and contribution to the school. Our Guest of Honour was Peter Cregg who inspired the pupils by speaking about self belief and how to make the make the most of one's potential. It was very special to celebrate our leavers' achievements and personal qualities with such a ceremony, which included beautiful performances from the Chamber Choir and a stunning vocal solo from Minaya W. Thank you to all of the parents who attended, to the Chamber Choir and Minaya for their musicality, and to all of the staff involved in organising the evening.
Year 6 Projects And Teacher For A Day
The Year 6 children have produced some wonderful independent projects this year and on Wednesday these were exhibited around the school for parents and the other Upper School children to see.
On Friday, Year 6 took control of the school as they became 'Teacher For A Day'. According to the teacher role they were assigned, they led assembly, taught lessons at both Upper and Lower School, assisted with supervision, experienced a morning of office work, cut grass or did other maintenance jobs, toured prospective parents, helped run the kitchen for a morning and much more. Everyone had a lot of fun and learnt a lot too! The Year 6 pupils also raised £447 for CRUK by buying raffle tickets in advance for the teacher they wanted to be!
Hillingdon Chess Tournament
On Sunday 2nd July, some of our keen chess players took part in the Hillingdon Chess Tournament. Mr. Foale reports that it was a fun, hard-fought tournament. St. Helen's College came third and individual successes were:
Kamran-Cyrus A came third in Year 6 and got a bronze medal.
Leonard S got first place in Year 2 and got a gold medal.
It was a Year 2 player from another school who won the tournament overall, beating much older players to take the title, which goes to show that it is always worth uncovering a new talent and working to develop it, no matter how young you are!
All the players behaved well and showed determination combined with sportsmanship. We are proud of all the participants.
Musical Success
Minaya W (Year 6) auditioned at the Guildhall Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) on Saturday, playing her viola, and was offered a place! Minaya is looking forward to playing with the CYM Symphony/Chamber Orchestra while exploring composing and music technology. The Guildhall Centre is super-selective and ranked number one in Arts, Drama and Music in the University Guide 2023 so this is a fantastic achievement. Well done, Minaya!
Pupil v Staff Rounders
On Friday afternoon, the staff took on the Year 6 pupils in our annual rounders match at Court Park, cheered on by the other classes from Upper School. As usual, it was a fiercely contested game and an enormously fun afternoon! The staff were victorious on the day.
Move Up Mornings
The teachers all very much enjoyed meeting the pupils they will be teaching next year during our annual 'Move Up Mornings' this week. We hope that the children also enjoyed seeing their new classrooms and meeting their new teachers.
Nursery and Ducklings Parents' Evenings
It was lovely to see many Ducklings and Nursery parents at the parents' evening on Thursday. We hope that you found the conversations useful.
Year 6 Musical - Honk! Jr.
Our Year 6 classes have been working very hard to prepare their grand summer musical production, Honk! Jr, which they will be performing at The Compass Theatre on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July. Tickets are now on sale and must be booked directly with The Compass Theatre's box office.
There is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Thursday 13th July and if you are able to do so, we encourage parents to take child(ren) to see this show. You will be permitted to collect them early from school on that day in order to do so. It will be particularly valuable for the children in Years 4 and 5 to see the production as it will be their turn to stage their own Year 6 musical soon!
There are also performances at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July.
The link for ordering tickets is here: Honk! | Hillingdon Theatres.
Calendar Reminders - Last Week Of Term
Wednesday 12th July - Reception class outings to Oak Farm Library
Wednesday 12th July - 7.30 p.m. Year 6 performance of Honk! Jr.
Thursday 13th July - 2.00 p.m. & 7.30 p.m. Year 6 performances of Honk! Jr.
Friday 14th July - End of Term (Half Day)
End of term pick up times are:
11.50 a.m. Ducklings and Nursery
12.00 p.m. Reception
12.10 p.m. Year 1 and Year 2
12.20 p.m. Year 3 and Year 4
12.30 p.m. Year 5 and Year 6
Funtasia will be running on the last day of term for Nursery to Year 6, located at Lower School - please ensure that you book a place for your child if you need it. Year 2 to Year 6 children will be escorted across to Lower School.
Summer Library Events
Oak Farm Library are running some events and schemes to help children continue with their reading over the summer and to inspire them to try new and different books. You can find full details on their summer newsletter here.
Summer Netball Camp
Blaze Netball Club will be running a summer camp for children from Reception to Year 9 at Douay Martyrs School from 21st to 24th August. You can find details here.
Hillingdon Leisure Complex Fun Weeks
There will be two fun weeks at Hillingdon Sports Centre this summer. You can find details here.
Posted on: 30/06/2023Weekly News - Friday 30th June 2023
PA Summer Fete
Wow! What a wonderful day it was last Saturday when the St. Helen's College community came together in the sunshine for the PA Summer Fete. The children clearly enjoyed showing off their talents on the stage and visiting all of the stalls, and there was a real buzz as parents and staff spent time together too. Many, many thanks to the PA Committee and all of the parents, staff and pupils who gave up their time and made generous donations to support the event.
The PA Committee have sent this message to be shared with the community:
We extend our sincerest thanks for your contributions to the success of the summer fete. Your support, efforts and participation made the event truly remarkable. From setting up stalls and organising activities to performances and creating a lively atmosphere, your dedication was instrumental in creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic time at the summer fete. It was a pleasure to witness the strong sense of community as families, teachers, and children came together to celebrate and enjoy the festivities. Your enthusiasm and positive energy made the event truly memorable.
Furthermore, we would like to express our appreciation for the funds raised during the summer fete. Your generous contributions will have a significant impact on supporting the enhancement of the learning environment and providing valuable opportunities for our children. We are grateful for your continued support and the positive difference you are making in the lives of our students.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all the teachers, parents, and children who made the summer fete an exceptional success. Your dedication, hard work and support have left a lasting impression and we are excited about the future events and collaborations that await us. Together, we have created cherished memories and strengthened our community bonds.
Prep Sports Day
Thank you to all of the parents and other spectators who came along to Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex today to support the children in Years 3 - 6 at their Sports Day. As always, it was a wonderful occasion. We will share further details and pictures when we have them!
Chess Club News
This week the chess players in Year 4/5/6 participated in a fun chess tournament . The winner was Ayush. There were three runners up: Mustafa, Zak and Jacob.
On Sunday we wish the following students good luck as they will be participating in the Hillingdon chess tournament.
Avyuday
Kamran
Leonard
Parth
Rayhan
Verity
Reception Trip To Whipsnade
On Thursday our Reception classes enjoyed an outing to Whipsnade Zoo where they very excited to meet and learn about many different animals!
Ducklings And Nursery Parents' Evenings
Thank you to those parents who came into school on Tuesday for the Ducklings and Nursery parents' evenings. We hope that you found the conversations useful.
Charity Week - Cancer Research UK
Next week, the St. Helen's College community will be raising money for Cancer Research UK. There will be various activities going on around school to raise money for this most important cause, which is close to our hearts.
On Tuesday in Upper School, there will be a cake sale run by Year 5. Charlee and Sienna will also be selling handmade bracelets again this year. Upper School children may bring money into school in order to buy cakes and bracelets.
On Thursday the children at all three sites may wear their own clothes with the CRUK colours of pink and blue. On this day, Upper School children will be taking part in a walk around Court Park while the Lower School and Ducklings children will be involved in a Danceathon. There is a suggested minimum donation of £3 for the tog day and activities, but all contributions will be most be gratefully received for Cancer Research UK. You may donate online by following this link:
âhttps://www.justgiving.com/page/st-helens-college-1688112386262
Year 6 Musical - Honk! Jr.
Our Year 6 classes have been working very hard to prepare their grand summer musical production, Honk! Jr, which they will be performing at The Compass Theatre on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July. Tickets are now on sale and must be booked directly with The Compass Theatre's box office.
There is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Thursday 13th July and if you are able to do so, we encourage parents to take child(ren) to see this show. You will be permitted to collect them early from school on that day in order to do so. It will be particularly valuable for the children in Years 4 and 5 to see the production as it will be their turn to stage their own Year 6 musical soon!
There are also performances at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July.
The link for ordering tickets is here: Honk! | Hillingdon Theatres.
Summer Holiday Club
Holiday Club bookings for the summer holiday will go live at 6 p.m. today. Please log in to your SchoolsBuddy account to make your bookings. Bookings must be made by Wednesday 12th July to allow us to organise Holiday Club staffing.
Uniform & Equipment
The Uniform & Equipment list for the 2023-2024 academic year has been posted to the School Documents page of the website. There are a few changes to required uniform which have been made to reduce the costs for parents and to reduce the weight of school bags for the children at Upper School. The changes are summarised below. In all cases, existing uniform may be used during a transition period so that nothing has to be replaced unnecessarily.
At Upper School, the green 3-in-1 coat is no longer a compulsory item; the black SHC rain mac may be worn over school uniform from September. It is fine for Upper School children to continue wearing the green coat if they still have one. The green coat remains a compulsory item for Lower School children.
The senior tracksuit is being introduced from Year 2 so that all Upper School children wear the senior tracksuit. If your child has a green junior tracksuit in good condition they may continue to wear this until they have grown out of it.
A new portrait style book bag is being introduced for children in Years 2-6. If your child already has a rucksack that is in good condition they may continue to use this, but the rucksacks will no longer be sold by the uniform suppliers. We would like to urge parents to check your child's school bag and ensure that they are not carrying unnecessary items into school, as they should not be carrying unnecessary weight. In particular, please refer to the uniform & equipment list and ensure that pencil cases contain only the items listed.
Calendar Reminders
Here are some reminders of upcoming events next week:
Monday 3rd July - Year 1-5 'Move Up Morning'
Tuesday 4th July - Nursery and Reception 'Move Up Morning'
Tuesday 4th July - Upper School cake sale and bracelet sale for CRUK (please allow Upper School pupils to bring in some money if they would like to buy cakes or bracelets)
Wednesday 5th July - Year 1 trip to Mad Bess Woods
Wednesday 5th July - Year 6 coffee morning and project exhibition
Wednesday 5th July - Year 6 v. Staff rounders match at Court Park (p.m.)
Thursday 6th July - Ducklings and Nursery Parents' Evenings from 3.45 p.m.
Thursday 6th July - Year 6 Prizegiving Evening from 6.15 p.m.
Friday 7th July - Year 6 'Teacher For A Day'
Friday 7th July - Ducklings Sports Day from 2 p.m.
Posted on: 23/06/2023Weekly News - Friday 23rd June 2023
Amazing Year 1 and 2 Productions!
On Thursday, we were treated to two wonderful dramatic productions at The Compass Theatre.
Our Year 1 classes performed their musical play 'Change The World Together' in which they took us on a journey to explore the effects of deforestation and how we can all work together to help preserve trees. For children aged 5 and 6 to deliver such a powerful message in such a mature way was most impressive. There were brilliantly delivered whole-cast songs and amazingly confident solo and small group performances too. Well done Year 1!
Year 2's performance of 'The Bee Musical' was also themed around the environment and taught us all about how crucial bees are to the food chain. With colourful costumes, excellent acrobatics, beautifully choreographed dancing, super solo performances and large group numbers, this was another stunning show. The audience left filled with pride and with huge smiles on their faces. Congratulations Year 2!
Ark Farm Visit Ducklings
Our Ducklings enjoyed a visit from Ark Farm on Monday and were delighted to be able to meet and talk about the different farm animals!
Tadpoles
We would like to extend our thanks to Hana H (Year 5) and her family, who have donated some tadpoles to the school! The children at Upper School all enjoyed meeting the tadpoles before they were released, and then watching them be released into the pond in the Maxwell Garden.
We are all looking forward to seeing them grow and transform into frogs!
Summer Fete - Message from the PA
Tomorrow is the day we've been waiting for - the PA Summer Fete at St. Helen's College Upper School from 1 - 4 p.m.
Get ready for an unforgettable day filled with fun activities, delicious treats, and entertaining performances for the whole family.
Special thanks to our amazing Year 6 students for coordinating and volunteering to run the stalls. Their dedication is truly commendable! We're grateful to all of the parents who have already contributed their time, effort and resources to make this event happen. Your support is invaluable. If you would like to volunteer, it’s not too late!
Donations of cakes, cookies and biscuits are most welcome. Please feel free to bring them along tomorrow, and we'll ensure they find their way to the correct stall.
For questions, information or to volunteer, please contact your class rep, who is here to assist you. Alternatively, you can email us at pa@sthelenscollege.com.
Let's make this Summer Fete unforgettable. See you tomorrow!
News From The Library
Please return ALL overdue books next week by Thursday 29th June (the day before Sports Day). Remember pupils may post books through the door when you arrive at school! All library books on loan should be returned during the following week.
Please remember that payment may be requested for any books still outstanding by 29th June; this especially applies to Year 6 who are leaving us soon.
Whilst our School Library rests and reorganises in the summer, libraries across Hillingdon and beyond are inviting children to take part in this year's reading challenge! The theme is `Games, sport and play'. Children are encouraged to make four visits to the library during the holidays and can collect a host of stickers and small gifts. Events will be held in some libraries too.
SHC is lucky to have such well appointed libraries on our doorstep, with lovely air conditioned spaces and facilities for all the family, and we urge you to find yours! Information on the reading challenge can be found here: Hillingdon Summer Reading Challenge.
To find your local library Click here.
Classlist
If you have not already done so, please follow the instructions in the email you have been sent to join Classlist. When joining, you should select your child's current class. Classlist will be used by the PA committee and PA reps to communicate with parents from now on, as well as to organise events and rotas. It also has capacity for car-sharing organisation and second hand uniform sales.
Calendar Reminders
Saturday 24th June - PA Summer Fete (1 - 4 p.m., Upper School)
Tuesday 27th June - Ducklings and Nursery Parents' Evening
Wednesday 28th June - New Year 1 Meet The Teacher/Information Evening (6 p.m.)
Wednesday 28th June - New Year 2 Meet The Teacher/Information Evening (7.30 p.m.)
Tuesday 29th June - Reception trip to Whipsnade Zoo
Friday 30th June - Prep Sports Day at Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex (see reminders below).
Prep Sports Day
Here is a reminder of the arrangements for Sports Day on Friday 30th June.
The event will run all day and children in Years 3-6 will need to be dropped off by parents at Hillingdon Athletics Stadium between 8.00 a.m. and 8.40 a.m. on Friday 30th June. There will be no Breakfast Club available for Years 3-6 on this day.
On the morning of Sports Day, the pupils will be split into 8 different groups, one group per event. Each year will be split into gender groups. They will stay in their group and move to the next event every 25 minutes. The pupils will score points per event according to the distance they throw or the height they jump. By the end of the events, they will have 6 separate scores and those points will all go to their individual Houses. There will be awards for the boy and girl who achieve the best throw, the best jump and the quickest time per event in each year. There will also be a Victor Ludorum and Vitrix Ludorum trophy for the boy and girl with the highest scores in both Junior School (Y3/4) and Upper School (Y5/6).
Lunch will be from 12.00 p.m. to 12.30 p.m. Pupils will be able to sit and have a picnic with their families or with a nominated friend’s family or a packed lunch can be provided by the school.
The Year 3/4 events include: High Jump, Long Jump, 60m hurdles, 60m sprint, Vortex Throw, Javelin.
The Year 5/6 events include: High Jump, Long Jump, 60m hurdles, 80m sprint, Shot Put, Javelin.
After lunch, the six fastest boys and girls in each year will race in a 60/80m final and there will also be a 400m final for Years 3 & 4 and an 800m final for Years 5 and 6. The children in these finals are selected from their times recorded in PE lessons earlier in the term. There will also be a ‘Through the Years 4 x 100m Relay’ and a whole school house relay.
We anticipate finishing at approximately 3.00 p.m. Parents should take children home directly from the stadium after the prize giving ceremony. There will be no Funtasia After School Club available for Years 3-6 on this day. We hope very much that parents will be able to attend the event but, if you are unable to attend, please make arrangements for your child to go home with friends on this day.
You are warmly invited to join us for Sports Day to watch your children compete and enjoy a picnic with them. We hope to see you there.
Holiday Club
Holiday Club bookings for the summer holiday will open on Friday 30th June at 4 p.m. Please login to your SchoolsBuddy account to make your bookings.
Chess Tournament
We hope that many SHC chess players will be interested in entering the Hillingdon School Finals chess tournament taking place in Uxbridge on Sunday 2 July.
Details of the arrangements can be found here. Each child makes an individual entry and includes the name of their school. The competition organisers will aggregate the results and schools which have at least five pupils in the competition will qualify for the school competition.
Posted on: 16/06/2023Weekly News - Friday 16th June 2023
Singers' Concert
Our annual Singers' Concert took place on Monday evening at All Saints Church and, as ever, this was a very special evening. There were many solo performances as well as performances from the Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Chamber Choir. Our departing singing teacher Mrs. Hawkes gave a solo rendition and we ended with the massed choirs singing 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'. What a wonderful evening of musicality. Well done to all of those who performed so confidently and with such talent.
We will be holding auditions for next year's Chamber Choir on Wednesday 28th June. Information will be posted to the pupils' Google Classrooms in due course.
Reception Class Assembly
On Thursday the children of our Kingfishers Reception class performed their summer class assembly to their parents, which was themed around Africa. They told us all about what they have been learning about Africa with lots of interesting facts, played some African instruments for us and sang traditional 'call and response' songs beautifully in African languages. They also re-enacted the story of Handa's Surprise and counted to ten in Swahili. This was such a confident, impressive and enjoyable assembly. Thank you Kingfishers and very well done!
Author Visit
Meanwhile at Upper School on Thursday the children in Years 4 to 6 enjoyed a visit from author Nazneen Ahmed Pathak who spoke about her book City of Stolen Magic and answered pupils' questions about being an author and the writing process. This was a very inspiring event for the children and we are sure many of them are going to enjoy reading City of Stolen Magic.
Young Author Award
Atom Learning is launching the second annual Young Author Award to celebrate the generation’s upcoming young writers. With the chance to win incredible prizes (including a trip to Disneyland and free Chromebooks), the competition is open to 7-11 year olds. We would love for some of our amazing St. Helen's College writers to enter. Please find all of the information about entering by following the link below...and please let us know how your children get on if they do enter.
https://atomlearning.com/young-author-award?utm_campaign=pri_no_no_te_re_ALYAALaunch_1_A&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=72806180&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8GuuETBCmydSRkVCs-6fA0YT0WM4LHJF6UDsQ7WHcUJeX9dzRDxaEQID0Sfy-DJn7LlLDfHGRhBCg8dV2e_-9GDsuQ31Y3VuxYIJYj9ZZ5L-jVcpE&utm_content=72806179&utm_source=hs_email
Ducklings and Nursery parents evenings
Bookings for the forthcoming Ducklings and Nursery parents evenings are now open. Parents can book appointments here.
Prep Sports Day
If you have a child in Years 3-6 and have not already done so, please complete this form as soon as possible to confirm your child(ren)'s lunch and collection arrangements for Sports Day on Friday 30th June.
The event will run all day and children in Years 3-6 will need to be dropped off by parents at Hillingdon Athletics Stadium between 8.00 a.m. and 8.40 a.m. on Friday 30th June. There will be no Breakfast Club available for Years 3-6 on this day.
On the morning of Sports Day, the pupils will be split into 8 different groups, one group per event. Each year will be split into gender groups. They will stay in their group and move to the next event every 25 minutes. The pupils will score points per event according to the distance they throw or the height they jump. By the end of the events, they will have 6 separate scores and those points will all go to their individual Houses. There will be awards for the boy and girl who achieve the best throw, the best jump and the quickest time per event in each year. There will also be a Victor Ludorum and Vitrix Ludorum trophy for the boy and girl with the highest scores in both Junior School (Y3/4) and Upper School (Y5/6).
Lunch will be from 12.00 p.m. to 12.30 p.m. Pupils will be able to sit and have a picnic with their families or with a nominated friend’s family at lunch, or a packed lunch can be provided by the school.
The Year 3/4 events include: High Jump, Long Jump, 60m hurdles, 60m sprint, Vortex Throw, Javelin.
The Year 5/6 events include: High Jump, Long Jump, 60m hurdles, 80m sprint, Shot Put, Javelin.
After lunch, the six fastest boys and girls in each year will race in a 60/80m final and there will also be a 400m final for Years 3 & 4 and an 800m final for Years 5 and 6. The children in these finals are selected from their times recorded in PE lessons earlier in the term. There will also be a ‘Through the Years 4 x 100m Relay’ and a whole school house relay.
We anticipate finishing at approximately 3.00 p.m. Parents should take children home directly from the stadium after the prize giving ceremony. There will be no Funtasia After School Club available for Years 3-6 on this day. We hope very much that parents will be able to attend the event but, if you are unable to attend, please make arrangements for your child to go home with friends on this day.
You are warmly invited to join us for Sports Day to watch your children compete and enjoy a picnic with them. We hope to see you there.
Calendar Reminders
There are a number of events to look forward to next week, as ever!
Monday 19th June - Ark Farm visit to Ducklings.
Tuesday 20th June - Year 1/2 play rehearsals; Year 3/4 Sports Day practice.
Wednesday 21st June - Year 1/2 play rehearsals; Year 5/6 Sports Day practice.
Wednesday 21st June - new parent information evenings for:
New Ducklings parents (5 p.m.)
New Nursery parents (6 p.m.)
New Reception parents (7.30 p.m.)
Thursday 22nd June - Year 1/2 summer play performances at The Compass Theatre.
Details for the Year 1/2 summer play arrangements have been sent to parents previously.
TVC Basketball Sessions For Girls
Thames Valley Cavaliers are starting an All-Girls basketball session this Saturday, 17th June. The sessions will be running at Uxbridge College from 12-1.30pm every Saturday. The first session is free!
Full details are on this flyer.
Staff Lantern Making
Several members of staff followed in the footsteps of Year 2 and created their own stunning lanterns in the Upper School art studio at the end of last week! Many thanks to Mrs. Pruce for organising this social event...it was lovely to see staff creativity being inspired after school on a Friday!
Posted on: 9/06/2023Weekly News - Friday 9th June 2023
Eco Schools Green Flag Retained!
We are delighted to let you know that St. Helen's College has once again been awarded the Green Flag by Eco Schools, recognising our commitment to the environment. In our award statement, Eco Schools said the following about our school.
Electing an Eco-Committee democratically is a mature and fair approach that will raise the status of committee members, building their confidence and empowering them to deliver environmental action...It’s great to read that minutes were kept from your committee meetings...It's brilliant to read that the Environmental Review helped you and your pupils to highlight and celebrate everything that your school is already doing to benefit our environment whilst also allowing you to identify areas to work on in the future. The comments on your uploaded document were thoughtful and pertinent and gave our team a glimpse into the discussions that took place amongst young people whilst completing it, and eco-life at your school. Great work everyone! It's fantastic to read that your Eco-Schools work and your Action Plan in particular were used as a means to get the entire school community involved in work to help protect our planet. This will surely have helped to achieve maximum impact and raise awareness amongst the school community. Your Action Plan is ambitious and substantial. The real highlight for us was the whole-school activities planned for the Energy topic to reduce your energy consumption. You have provided some brief descriptions of curriculum sessions linked to Eco-Schools topics and environmental issues. We are pleased to see these spanning many different areas of the curriculum and the EYFS Framework, and the activities and lessons planned sound interesting and practical. We loved seeing your Eco-Board – this really brought your application to life for us. It’s a really attractive and engaging display and it’s good to see all of your efforts being celebrated...Time is a common challenge, familiar to all educators. It creates a pressure and takes resilience to keep going. Within this context, your achievements this year are even greater and we feel lucky that you’ve committed to our programme and worked hard to produce some fantastic results. In particular, your efforts to reduce single-use plastics across the school are to be commended; well done.
Everyone at St. Helen’s College should be proud of the Green Team and the amazing and inspiring work that they’ve delivered this year. You’re more than worthy of your Eco-Schools Green Flag. Congratulations.
Maths Day
Nine children from Years 2 and 3 attended an A.I.M. High Mathematics Day at Colham Manor Primary School on Wednesday. They spent the day collaborating on mathematical challenges that made even the adults attending have to think carefully. They thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and meeting the children at Colham Manor.
Sports News
Pre-Prep Sports Day
Our Pre-Prep Sports Day took place on Thursday at Court Park. The children from Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 had a super time in the sunshine competing in their round robin of events and were very proud of the rosettes they achieved!
The overall House Shield was won by Hibernia and the points totals for each house were as follows.
Hibernia 95
Windsor 82
Cambria 79
Caledonia 78
Borough Best Team Cricket
On Wednesday, our cricket team attended the Borough Best Team Cricket tournament. The team played brilliantly and won all of their games, scoring 888 runs. We were very proud of their efforts!
Karate Achievements
KML Karate Club have contacted St. Helen's College this week to express their admiration for the outstanding achievements of some current and former St. Helen's College pupils. Their remarkable performances have earned them national and international recognition, with many securing podium finishes in the past six months. Myla K (Year 6) is now a fully established member of the EKF SE squad team, and Old Helenian Kylah O-A is currently on a three-month trial with the EKF national team. Once completed, Kylah will be eligible to compete at next year's European Championships.
The KML team, comprising a number of St. Helen's College pupils, will be competing at the British International Championships and the International Banzai Cup in Berlin. The selected team members from St. Helen's College are Myla K, Inaya S, Grace O'H, Avleen P, Freya K, Naiya L, Dylan C, Daynan C, Aleya S and Rania Q.
KML Karate Club have agreed to perform a demonstration at the upcoming summer fete, where they will showcase their team's talent and skills.
Pupil Performance
Ashvika A (Year 4) was one of the performers in Dreamcoat Stars last Friday at The Beck Theatre. She had an amazing time and was so pleased to share the stage with professional actors. She also received a signed poster for being a part of the cast. Well done Ashvika.
PA Summer Fete
The PA Summer Fete is only two weeks away and preparations are almost complete. To help make this the best event possible, we really need parents to help man their class's stall (if you are unsure what timeslots still need to be filled, speak to your class rep). We also need parents to help set the fete up (we'll be there from 8am and any help will be gratefully received) - if you can help, please get in touch with your class rep or email us at pa@sthelenscollege.com.
If you are able to, we are also looking for general donations of:
cakes
soft toys for the toy tombola
new and nearly new toys
old school uniform in good condition for the uniform stall
new items or unwanted gifts for the tombola and hoopla stalls
These events are only possible to thanks to the amazing support from parents! We hope to see you there.
Calendar Reminders
Our Singers' Concert will be on Monday 12th June at 7.00 p.m. at All Saints Church. We hope many of you will be able to join us for the evening.
The Kingfishers coffee morning and class assembly will take place on Thursday 15th June in the Lower School Hall.
Also on Thursday 15th June we have a Year 3 - 6 author visit. Details were circulated last week and are copied below. Don't forget to pre-order your child's book for signing if you would like to buy a copy.
Author Visit
On Thursday 15th June, author Nazneen Ahmed Pathak will be visiting us to speak to the children in Years 4-6 about her book City of Stolen Magic and to answer their questions about being an author and the writing process. We are sure this will be very inspiring for our children.
There will also be an opportunity for the children to buy a signed copy of City of Stolen Magic. If you would like to pre-order a copy of the book ready to be signed and dedicated at school on the day, please click the link below and place your order through Chiltern Bookshops by 5 p.m. on Wednesday 14th June. Please note that only books purchased through this link will be signed and dedicated on the day. All orders will be delivered free to St. Helen's College.
Please note that new advice from the bookshop is that this book is age appropriate for children in Year 4 and above. If you had pre-ordered a book for a Year 3 child, you will have been refunded and the book will not be supplied.
https://schools.chilternbookshops.co.uk/events/nazneen-ahmed-pathak-15th-june/
Uniform & Equipment
The uniform and equipment list has been updated for the next academic year. Please take a look at the new list here and ensure that children have the correct equipment from September. We are working to reduce the amount that children carry to/from school and parents of Upper School children are reminded that, while children have a free choice of pencil case itself, pupils are not permitted to bring pencil case items to school which are not on the list.
School Run Reminders
Please would all parents be sure to follow the school's parking, drop off and pick up regulations which are permanently published to the website here.
Parents picking up from 227 Long Lane are asked to ensure that children, including siblings, do not kick or play with the gravel/stones on the driveway there.
The Tempest - Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
One of Miss Rackham's friends is an actor and his upcoming show is The Tempest - reimagined for children aged 6 and up - at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. If you are interested in taking your children to see this production, you can find details at the link below.
https://openairtheatre.com/production/the-tempest-reimagined
Summer Netball Camp
Blaze Netball Club, which is attended by many St. Helen's College pupils, will be running a netball camp over the summer holidays (21st to 24th August) at Douay Martyrs School. This is open to children from Reception upwards and you can find full details here.
Posted on: 26/05/2023Weekly News - Friday 26th May 2023
Year 6 Residential Trip to Chateau De La Baudonniere, France
Our Year 6 classes have had a wonderful week in Normandy staying at the Chateau De La Baudonniere. After a good ferry crossing and coach transfer, they soon settled into their immersive week of French. They have enjoyed meeting their pen pals, visiting a local market and creperie, taking a trip to Mont St Michel and undertaking all sorts of fun activities at the Chateau itself. They return tired and happy today!
With the Year 6 children away, our Year 5 pupils have had a taste of what it will be like next year to be the oldest classes in the school. They rose to the challenge admirably, setting a great example for the younger children.
Year 4 Residential Trip To Flatford Mill, Suffolk
Our Year 4 children spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on their residential trip to the beautiful Flatford Mill in Constable Country. They undertook geographical and artistic studies, spent plenty of time with nature and certainly developed their independence and cemented their friendships.
JTA Trip To The Oval, Kennington
On Monday, our eager Junior Travel Ambassadors travelled by tube to Oval in Kennington to attend the TfL STARS Top School Awards.
The day included two interactive sessions that aimed to celebrate and inspire students. In the first session, "Ambassadors for Change", the children were asked to create a poem that would influence parents and students to choose active travel and to campaign for changes to our local streets. They explored the language and techniques of poetry and how to use their voices and words to communicate with their community on sustainability.
The second session focused on "Planning your World" and the children were challenged to become urban designers. They designed a street that met the needs of different people and vehicles, that was safe, improved air quality and encouraged and supported local wildlife. The St. Helen's College JTAs got really involved in these sessions and produced some great ideas.
The most exciting part of the day was the awards ceremony and St. Helen's College won the TfL Top Influencers Award for the West London region which is a huge achievement. Many congratulations to the JTAs for their hard work and commitment.
Wrens Class Assembly
Thursday saw the Wrens Nursery class perform their final class assembly of the year to a group of excited parents and staff. The children told us the story of 'Billy No Buzz', a bee who was rejected by the other mini-beasts because he was different. In the end, the animals learned to accept Billy for who he was and understood the importance of respecting each other's differences and of offering friendship. Watching the children it was hard to believe that they are just three and four years old. They spoke lines with confidence and from memory, sang loudly and tunefully and even performed many actions along the way. This was a colourful, uplifting assembly and was very much enjoyed by all who watched. Well done Wrens and a special thank you to Rylo S who stepped in at the last minute to take on the role of Billy No Buzz due to a friend's illness. What an amazing thing to be able to do at such a young age!
Bikeability
Before setting off for France, the Year 6 children had their final Bikeability session last Saturday. Bikeabilityâ¯is the government’s national cycle training programme which helps children learn practical skills and understand how to cycle on today’s roads.â¯
Bikeability cycle training equips children with vital life skills. Pupils not only learn to cycle, they gain independence, social skills and a sense of wellbeing. After Bikeability, children are better at responding to risk and report increased confidence. As a result, more children cycle to school which in turn improves mental health and wellbeing.
Well done to the children who completed their cycle training!
Calendar Reminders
Next week is half term and we wish you all a happy break! Please encourage your children to rest and recharge ahead of what will be a very busy second half of term.
On Tuesday 6th June, all classes from Ducklings to Year 6 will be having their class photographs taken. Children should all be in full, smart summer uniform with long hair neatly braided/tied back please.
On Wednesday 7th June at 6.30 p.m. there will be a senior school transfer evening for Year 5 parents in the Evans Hall.
Pre-Prep Sports Day will take place on Thursday 8th June in Court Park. Year 1 and 2 classes will have their Sports Day in the morning with Nursery and Reception taking part in the afternoon. Full details will be sent by class teachers.
Our Singers' Concert will be on Monday 12th June at 7.00 p.m. at All Saints Church. We hope many of you will be able to join us for the evening.
The Kingfishers coffee morning and class assembly will take place on Thursday 15th June in the Lower School Hall.
Also on Thursday 15th June we have a Year 3 - 6 author visit. Details were circulated last week and are copied below. Don't forget to pre-order your child's book for signing if you would like to buy a copy.
Author Visit
On Thursday 15th June, author Nazneen Ahmed Pathak will be visiting us to speak to the children in Years 3-6 about her book City of Stolen Magic and to answer their questions about being an author and the writing process. We are sure this will be very inspiring for our children.
There will also be an opportunity for the children to buy a signed copy of City of Stolen Magic. If you would like to pre-order a copy of the book ready to be signed and dedicated at school on the day, please click the link below and place your order through Chiltern Bookshops by 5 p.m. on Wednesday 14th June. Please note that only books purchased through this link will be signed and dedicated on the day. All orders will be delivered free to St. Helen's College.
https://schools.chilternbookshops.co.uk/events/nazneen-ahmed-pathak-15th-june/
News From The Library
It has been a busy half term in the library. It was great to see four children in Year 3 being awarded with a variety of reading challenges in assembly today; Aria and Avleen (3M) and Dhani and Reyan (3B) had their impressive reading achievements recognised with 5 points for their houses. Their awards recognise the very positive attitudes to reading they are developing, consistently reading from a range of styles and authors. Well done Year 3!
Hillingdon boasts excellent libraries in convenient locations, all with comfortable children's areas, welcoming all ages. Complete with cafes and magazines available for the grown ups it's an excellent choice for half term! Enjoying time in a library helps children learn the independent skills of browsing and exploring, as well as provide an opportunity to choose and discuss books with each other.
For more info on finding your library and to discover the online services too click here.
At this time of year our School Library is starting to plan for the next injection of fresh books. Please would all parents - especially in Year 6 - assist by being aware of books that may have been overlooked at home or even in the depths of school bags! A growing number are mislaid or damaged each term which need to be replaced. We would obviously prefer to add additional books to the library rather than replacements, and so a charge may need to be made in some circumstances.
Message From The PA - Summer Fete
It’s that time of year when the PA are busy with “all hands on deck” preparations for our flagship event, the PA Summer Fete. We would like to ask you to save the date:
Date: Saturday 24 June 2023
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Upper School playground
One of the aims of the PA is to encourage community, friendship and fun for our children, parents and guardians and the wider St. Helen's College family. Over the years, the school fete has been a great event where the school community has come together by bringing their ideas, giving their time and providing much enthusiasm.
You will have received information from your class rep about the stall that your class will be running this year and the donation that we would really be grateful for from your class. You will also have a link to the rota so that you can sign up to help run your class stall - we cannot run the stalls without the help of parents. We rely on parents' help for the fete, so please let us know if you can lend a hand with other things like the set up in the morning (we'll be starting at about 8 a.m.). Even half an hour to help with set up would be greatly appreciated. We would love to have you on board.
We would also be really grateful for donations of the following (NO BOOKS PLEASE)
New, nearly new or good condition toys including teddies - for the teddy / toy tombola
Good condition used / new school uniform – for the uniform stall
New items or unwanted gifts - for the tombola
Cakes, pastries and biscuits - for the cake stall
If you work for a company who might like to donate anything to the fete please let us know.
Fete collection bins will be put out at the entrances and exits on all three school premises after half term (Ducklings, Lower School and Upper School) for you to bring your donations, so please have a good sort out over half term. We will empty the collection bins on a daily basis.
We run a tuck shop where we sell drinks, popcorn, sweets, ice pops and crisps. If you own a shop or can get reduced/discounted rates, we’d love to hear from you!
If you have any ideas or suggestion for the fete, we’d love to hear from you and embrace these. We can only put this event on with your help so please do get in touch. It's an event that is really enjoyed by the children and the whole St. Helen's College community. Contact us at pa@sthelenscollege.com Thank you in advance for all of your help and support to make this year's fete a really special event for everyone!
Half Term Chess Club
Uxbridge Junior Chess Club are running a three day half term camp for children which may be of interest to some pupils. Mr. Foale, who runs the St. Helen's College Chess Clubs, will be amongst the staff leading the camp. You can find full details including timings, daily programmes and booking information here.
Posted on: 26/05/2023Residential Trips
Over many years at St. Helen’s College, I and the other staff have seen so many cohorts of children benefit from the opportunities offered here. We have, for example, seen the quietest, least confident Lower School children gradually develop their performance and public speaking skills until they have turned into stars of the Year 6 summer musical. We have seen children struggle with concepts or particular subjects in the classroom, only to have that lightbulb moment of understanding when something is explained to them in a new way. We have seen children practise and develop their musical skills from - and forgive my honesty, here, which is no criticism - somewhat tuneless scraping of violins to the playing of incredibly beautiful movements from concertos. It never ceases to amaze me how much the pupils’ knowledge, skills and talents grow during their time with us.
What has always impressed me the most about St. Helen’s College and its pupils, though, is the journey of personal development that each child goes on during their time with us. The school’s programme of education and enrichment activities is constantly evolving to ensure that it absolutely reflects the St. Helen's College core belief that happiness and personal growth are key to a child’s success. Our residential trips, two of which have taken place this week, are a perfect example of this. The Year 6 children have spent this week at the Chateau De La Baudonniere in Normandy, France, while our Year 4 pupils have been at the stunningly beautiful Flatford Mill in Suffolk. Earlier this term, Year 3 enjoyed a residential trip to PACCAR Scout Camp and Year 5 spent a week at Little Canada on the Isle of Wight.
The educational aspects of these trips are carefully planned to enrich the children’s learning at school in many subject areas including geography, history, art, creative writing, science and languages. There is no doubt that the children gain new academic knowledge and skills during their stays away. But perhaps the most important gains they make from the residential trips are personal ones. Friendships are cemented and new life skills are developed such as making one’s own bed, developing the resilience to cope in a new environment, understanding that others may be finding things hard, being brave enough to try new things and learning to look at the world differently. The confidence and self-esteem that arise from being pushed out of one’s comfort zone and experiencing the success of overcoming personal challenges should not be underrated. The child who is afraid but survives that fear learns how to manage uncertainty and to trust in his or her ability to cope. The child who is supported by friends or teachers during a difficult night or through an illness away from home learns that it is alright to express needs and depend on other relationships outside of the home. The child who tries something new - whether that is eating a snail in France, taking the ‘leap of faith’ on the activity equipment in the Isle of Wight or anything else - develops the courage to have a go at things without, or despite, fear of the unknown or thoughts of failure.
It sounds like an overstatement to say that we physically see the difference in classes of children back at school after residential trips, but it is not. Sometimes the children actually stand taller; sometimes they display more courage; sometimes they are better at articulating their thoughts or their needs. We often notice that they are more tolerant, more self-aware and more outward-looking. Always their friendships are strengthened and often their circle of friends is expanded. We hope that they also return home with a new appreciation for their parents and wider families and all that you do to support them on a daily - and nightly - basis.
Mr. Lewis and I have been in school this week but we have been in touch with the staff who are away on the residential trips with the children. Their commitment to the children’s care and development has, as always, been outstanding. Like the children, they will return today extremely tired but very happy and they too will have gained new skills and new knowledge, tried new things and developed their friendships. They will also have gained a deeper understanding of the children’s characters which will enhance the relationships between staff and children back at school.
Meanwhile, staff at school have also worked extremely hard as a team to cover those staff away on residential trips and to ensure that the school has remained a lively, energised, interesting and productive environment for those children who have been here. It has been wonderful to see staff pulling together as always and I know that Ms Drummond is delighted that it has been such a super week at ‘home’ as well as ‘away’!
The benefit of the St. Helen’s College programme of residential trips is enormous and long-lasting. We know that the trips can be exhausting for those involved and that Year 4 and Year 6 will spend the first days of half term recovering but it will have been worth it. Like Year 3 and Year 5 earlier this term, the Year 4 and 6 children will be - whether it is obvious immediately or not - more independent, more resilient, more responsible, more self-disciplined and more confident. Each of these qualities will underpin and enhance their self-worth and happiness. In short, they will have grown. Personal development like that is priceless.
On behalf of Ms Drummond (who has been in France) and all of the staff, we wish you a happy, restful half term.
Mrs. Smith
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