Newsletters

Dear Parents,

Welcome back after the half-term break! I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable time with your families. It has been wonderful to see the children return to school refreshed and ready for the busy weeks ahead.

A special thank you to the parents who joined us for our Wellbeing Coffee Morning on Wednesday. It was lovely to come together and share ways to be supportive in our school community.

This morning, we were treated to a thoughtful and inspiring assembly by our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. They reminded us of the importance of kindness, who to talk to if we ever need support, and how to use the anonymous online form on our school website to seek help. Their message was a powerful reminder that we all play a role in creating a safe and supportive school community.

We have an exciting and busy half-term ahead, with plenty to look forward to. Here are just a few of the highlights!

Lower Trans will be heading off to the museum for an exciting trip, while Upper Prep will be visiting the historic Windsor Castle. EYFS have a wonderful few weeks ahead, with a theatre group visiting and the arrival of duckling eggs, which is always a special experience for the children.

This Thursday's World Book Day will be a fantastic celebration of reading and storytelling, and our Lenten Family Breakfast will be running throughout Lent, bringing our school community together. Mr. B and the PE team are eagerly preparing for both the St Bernard’s Football Tournament and the Catholic Schools Tournament, which promise to be great sporting events. Upper Trans and Remove are also looking forward to their theatre trip, and to top it all off, we will be rounding off the term with our much-anticipated Spring Music Concert and Remove's Easter Assembly.

It is shaping up to be a fantastic half-term, filled with exciting learning experiences, creativity, and community spirit!

As part of their studies on Islam, our Transition children visited The Jamia Masjid & Islamic Centre in Slough on Thursday to deepen their learning. They were warmly welcomed by a fantastic volunteer from the mosque, who gave an insightful talk before the children took part in a carousel of engaging activities.

The children had the opportunity to taste Shifa Foods—a selection of snacks and foods mentioned in the Quran, including dates, figs, melon, grapes, and olives. They also explored the Five Pillars of Islam through an interactive presentation, tried their hand at Arabic calligraphy, and examined a variety of fascinating artefacts.

The visit was incredibly informative, leaving the children with a much richer understanding of Islam. We are truly grateful to the volunteers at the mosque for providing such a valuable and memorable experience.

Quotes from children

I had never tasted figs and learnt that figs are a special food in Islam and I learnt to write my name in Arabic! (Viyona)

I had a great morning visiting the mosque and learnt so much from the volunteers! (Darissa)

The Big Chick Knit

This year, we are excited to once again back Alexander Devine's Big Chick Knit campaign. We will be collecting small Crème Eggs to fill handcrafted knitted chicks or bunnies, which will be sold to raise funds for this worthy cause. We would greatly appreciate any donations of eggs, and as always, we are truly thankful for your continued support.

Achievements

Congratulations to Siddhartha (Y4) and Akaal (Y5) on their fantastic musical achievements! Siddhartha earned a distinction in Grade 5 drums, while Akaal achieved a merit in Grade 1 guitar.

Congratulations to Viyona (Y4) for achieving badge 6 in Gymnastics. Her commitment to mastering new skills and improving her techniques is inspiring. Keep reaching for the stars, Viyona.

Wellbeing Weekend Wisdom Starry Night Adventure

This evening marks the grand finale of a spectacular celestial event that has unfolded throughout January and February, featuring a rare alignment of six planets. Mercury makes its appearance this week, completing the lineup. Such an opportunity to see all the planets together won’t come again until 2040.

Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune can be spotted with a telescope. In light of this incredible phenomenon, this week’s wellbeing activity is inspired by the wonders of the night sky.

Activity Name: Planet Spotting & Star Gazing

Objective:
Spend a peaceful evening outdoors, appreciating the night sky and spotting planets, stars, and constellations together as a family.

What You’ll Need:
A cosy blanket or reclining chair
A stargazing app (like SkyView or Star Walk) or a simple star map
Binoculars or a telescope (optional)
Warm clothes and a hot drink (if it’s chilly)

Instructions:

1. Choose a Spot – Find a dark, open space away from city lights, such as a park, garden, or even your backyard.
2. Settle In – Lay out your blanket or set up chairs. Take a moment to breathe deeply, relax, and enjoy the fresh air.
3. Look Up & Observe – Start by noticing the brightest objects in the sky. Some of these may be planets!
4. Use a Guide – Use a stargazing app or a printed star map to help identify planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn.
5. Make it Fun:
   Challenge each other to find the first planet.
   Spot constellations like Orion, the Big Dipper, or Cassiopeia.
   If you have binoculars, try to see the craters of the Moon!
6. Reflect & Connect – Before heading home, share what you found most magical about the experience. Encourage children to describe how the stars make them feel.

Wellbeing Benefits:
Promotes mindfulness and relaxation
Encourages curiosity and learning
Strengthens family bonding through shared discovery

Bonus Idea: Afterward, invite children to draw or journal about their favourite part of the night sky!

Sports News

Under 9 Football vs Thorpe House:

On Tuesday, we took 3 teams to Gerrard’s Cross to play in an Under 9 Football fixture against Thorpe House School. Our players were filled with enthusiasm and focus, leading to remarkable results. We won all 3 of our matches, scoring a total of 24 goals and conceding just 6. Our Under 9A Team won 4-2. A special recognition is deserved for Saarth's exceptional contributions. He scored two goals and then took on the goalkeeper position in the second half, making four remarkable saves that significantly helped us secure victory in the match. Our B team played outstanding and won 10-1, whilst the C team also put up a fantastic show by winning 10-3.  Congratulations to all the players and well done to Saarth, Karanveer and Shivaay for being nominated as the MVP's for their teams.