Dear Parents and Guardians,
I do hope that you have enjoyed the warmer weather this weekend! Last week, we came together as a school community to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. This important event reminded us of the significance of nurturing our mental health and well-being. It was truly heart-warming to witness the enthusiasm and creativity displayed by our pupils as they designed their own calm corners in their classrooms. I must admit, the request from one class for a hot tub brought a smile to my face! Our children’s imagination knows no bounds, and we are dedicated to supporting their emotional well-being.
In addition to our focus on mental health, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Talent Show. Once again, the pupils never cease to amaze me with their incredible talents. The school hall was filled with a variety of performances, showcasing the diverse abilities and skills our children possess. It was particularly delightful to see our dedicated staff members embracing the opportunity to showcase their own dance moves. I on the other hand, kept complaining about my knees throughout the whole performance! I must give a special mention to Mrs Warwick and Mrs Aguiar whose skilful moves left us all in awe!
This week, we will be focusing on assessments. However, I want to assure you that our approach to assessments is designed to be supportive and stress-free. We understand that each child is unique and that their development encompasses much more than test scores. Therefore, we will ensure a range of other engaging activities that will foster their growth and provide a well-rounded educational experience this week.
Governors Meeting – Thursday 25th May:
Just a reminder that the Governors would like to meet the school community and stakeholders on Thursday 25th May at 7pm. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to discuss and present our plans for the upcoming academic year. Your presence and input are highly valued as we shape the future of our school. I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Together, we have created a nurturing and inclusive environment where our children can truly flourish. If you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to attend the meeting or reach out to me personally. It is important that we have open lines of communication, and I am here to address any queries or alleviate any concerns you may have.
SCHOOL VALUE OF THE WEEK (W/C 22nd May 2023): Cooperation
Values Roll of Honour: (W/C 15th May 2023):
| Resilience | Thomas, Lucca, Stephanie, Philip, Chloe, Aaron R, Thandiwe, Nathan A-C, Thiago & Rutendo. |
| Acceptance | Eva, Lerato, Philip, Hayli, Idelle, Micah W, Orla, Sophia G & Shemilore. |
| Independence | David, Stefan, Matthias, Parshva, Giovanna, Hana, Ved, Nathan R, Israel, Aniyah, George, Nathan A-C, Zachary & Austin. |
| Curiosity | All of Nursery, Aaron W, Mahlon, Zara, Philip, Aaron R, Martin, Israel, Diya, Unami, Tim & Amy. |
| Excellence | Mehdi, Aurelia, Hayli, Michaela, Evelyn, Elisha, Micah A-C, Barbora & Nomsa. |
| Self-Control | Ezekiel, Aurelia, Parshva, Sophia M, Ved, Thandiwe, Christiana & Rutendo. |
| Respect | Richard, Lerato, Davi, James, Hana, Micah W, Elisha, Marqueza & Austin. |
| Cooperation | Naomi, Gabbie, Stefan, Joycellin, Krisztian, Hana, Micah W, Aniyah, Diya, George, Timothy & Finley. |
| **Growth Mind-set ** | Phineas, Lucca, Matthias, Truthi, Martin, Nathan R, Orla, Rhea & Shemilore. |
Stars of the Week (Headteacher Awards) W/C 15th May 2023
| Nursery | Mehdi |
| Reception | Aaron W |
| Year 1 | Joycellin |
| Year 2 | Fatima |
| Year 3 | Evelyn |
| Year 4 | Elisha |
| Year 5 | Micah |
| Year 6 | Amy |
Keep letting your light shine! I am so proud of you all.
Attendance W/C 15th May 2023:
Each school under the local authority has a designated attendance goal, and this year, our school’s target is to achieve a 96% attendance rate. Naturally, we do not anticipate unwell children to attend school as they need ample rest to recuperate and prevent the spread of illness to others.
If a child arrives after the register’s closing time, it will be marked as an unauthorised absence unless a valid reason is provided and approved by the Headteacher. Any child arriving late (after 08.50am) must go to the school office and be signed in by an accompanying adult. If a pattern of tardiness becomes frequent, the Headteacher will address the matter with the parent. It is important to note that being only 5 minutes late each day could result in your child missing the equivalent of three school days over the year.
| Year Group | Attendance % |
| Nursery | 87.3% |
| Reception | 88% |
| Year 1 | 95% |
| Year 2 | 88.18% |
| Year 3 | 97.5% |
| Year 4 | 85.9% |
| Year 5 | 100% |
| Year 6 | 96.67% |
Congratulations to Year 5 for having 100% attendance last week. All classes with 100% attendance will receive an additional 15 minutes of playtime this week.
Our current attendance rates are concerning. It is crucial that children are absent from school only in cases of illness or family emergencies. Our attendance target is set at 96%, and it is essential that we collaborate to achieve this goal. In the upcoming days, I will be sharing the school calendar for the next year, which has been adjusted to allow for sufficient time away from school. Considering this, I regret to inform you that no holiday requests will be granted during term time next academic year and all absences will be marked as unauthorised. Thank you, for your co-operation and support in helping us to ensure that children are in school learning and thriving.
Medical/Dental Appointments:
To ensure accurate attendance records, please provide a written note to your child’s teacher or the school office, alternatively you can call the office to report any absences. It is important to follow our school policy and inform the office by 10:00am if your child is unable to attend school. Thank you for your cooperation.
Reminder South West Herts Consortium – Year 6 – 2023/24:
The online registration for the transfer is currently available and will remain open until Friday, June 16th, 2023. To get more information about the transfer process and significant dates, please visit the following link: https://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/calendar We strongly recommend that all parents take note of the registration deadlines and make sure to register their child during the designated period.
Afterschool Club Collection Reminder:
Our after-school clubs finish promptly at 4:45pm Monday to Thursday and at 2:45pm on Fridays. It has come to our attention that some children have been left waiting for collection after this time and we kindly ask that you make arrangements to collect your child within the allotted time.
If you anticipate that you may be late, I would like to ask that you kindly contact the school office to inform us of the expected delay. If you are unable to reach our office team, please leave a message and they will endeavour to forward it to the staff on duty.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that late collections may result in additional charges to cover extended staff hours. We are keen to avoid this where possible, and your cooperation and consideration is greatly appreciated.
Key Dates:
| Date | Event |
| 26th May 2023 | Summer Term (first half) Ends |
| 29th May – 2nd June | HALF TERM – SCHOOL CLOSED |
| 5th June 2023 | INSET DAY – SCHOOL CLOSED |
| 6th June 2023 | Summer Term (second half) Begins |
| 7th June 2023 | Class & Whole School Photographs |
| 7th June 2023 | Pupil Progress Evening 4-6pm |
| 8th June 2023 | Pupil Progress Evening 6-8pm |
See the link for our school calendar – https://www.stanboroughprimary.org.uk/calendar/
Finally, let us remember, ‘Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, I urge you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.’ Ephesians 4:1-3, NLT
Love and Blessings,
Tiann Madden (Headteacher)
