Did you miss me?

I feel like I have blinked and we are already at the end of week 4!

This week we have had two thought provoking assemblies, the first delivered by Mrs O-D who has finally joined us after completing her final term.  Her theme was choices, as well as getting to know her a bit more – ask your children about the escalator video!!  This fits with our mantra to the children of ‘good choice, bad choice, it’s your choice’ where we are trying to teach them responsibility for their own actions.  If nothing else we hope this will stop the 97 phonecalls home to ask for someone to bring in forgotten kit or ingredients!!

Today’s assembly, delivered by B5, focused on our current Ralph Sadleir Learning Skill – Striving for Accuracy.

The journey today was certainly ‘Snow’ joke and took those of us from further south and west in the county by complete surprise!! However the school soldiered on and at break and lunch the children got quite creative!! The Year 8 boys even managed to complete their House League matches.

Special mentions go to Drew and Eloise in Year 5 and Niamh in Year 7 whom have received their Platinum Certificates for achieving 60 merits.  In all, 177 children have got their Bronze, 72 their Silver and 15 Gold.  All merits claimed go towards the Achievement Trophy at the end of the year, awarded to the highest totalling House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not much has really happened this week…

This biggest news of the week is that tomorrow will be the Christmas Bazaar, a day where the RSA work tirelessly on behalf of the school and we as staff can never really thank them enough for their hard work and effort!! I know when it is nearly the Bazaar because Miss Bickerstaff instigates ‘Operation Bottle Tombola’ and our office begins to resemble an outlet store of Threshers!! Soo many donations, all gratefully received – a special thank you to the whole of the school community.

Elsewhere in school this week we had SIM’s tutor group assembly which allowed the children to share with us the wide range of sporting activities that they participate in. This brings me on nicely to a roundup of recent sporting achievements: the Year 8 girls played – and ate – very well against Haileybury, winning one and drawing one; the Year 7 boys came second and girls third, in the district table tennis – Alex G being the top boy in the competition; the Year 7 & 8 boys came second in the district rugby – 2 great tries scored by Calwyn L-J; finally the Year 6 & 5 boys both narrowly lost last night to St Ed’s.

In school, last week saw the first of our Cross-Curricular Days where the focus was the world around us. A whole range of activities were enjoyed from redesigning the school site, cleaning up an oil slick, recycling, endangered animals, to making winter bird feeders. The children really enjoyed the chance to learn new skills and the wide range of experiences.

On Thursday Mrs Bush and three Year 7 children went off to Heartswood Forest in Wheathampsted to do some tree planting with the Woodland Trust. They had a great time for many reasons – which will be included in their soon to be published report.

So that’s about it for this week, unless of course you count the Bushtucker Trial-esq interview process that I endured for two days this week!! Despite wanting to cry ‘I am a deputy, get me outta here’ on numerous occasions, I was resilient and kept going. As I am sure you are all aware by now, I was successful and am delighted to be the next Headteacher, from the Summer Term. I would like to say that I have been very touched by all the messages I have received, but mostly by the reaction of the children.

As with any changes there can be anxiety or concerns for the future, the good news is that once I have modified the uniform, excluded all Arsenal fans, made everyone speak backwards on a Thursday, extended the school day to 6pm and changed the school name – I really don’t plan on making any more changes!! In reality some changes are going to happen, but as always they will be done with the best interests of the school and children in mind. I joined Ralph Sadleir because I liked the ethos and that will never change – providing a stimulating environment in which children’s learning can progress.

As I said in my interview I am 100% a Ralphie and that I get to be the ‘Head’ Ralphie is very exciting. Enjoy your weekend, I hope to see lots of you at the Bazaar.

Today is a day that makes you realise what being a ‘Ralphie’ is all about.  This morning’s assembly was all about one of our own, a celebration of the life of Mrs Shore-Nye throughout her time at Ralph Sadleir.  Mr Mikelsons produced a wonderful presentation of photos and tributes which really reminded us of who she really was.  I didn’t really know her all that well as our time here together was brief, however in that short time I was in awe of her generosity of spirit, kindness, determination and resilience.  She also had a wicked sense of humour and a razor sharp wit!!  These are all key themes that were touched on and shared by the many who knew her better than I in today’s celebration assembly – the stories of France are legendary in themselves – however it was the thoughts of the children that would have touched her the most.  It was lovely to see parents and former pupils in the assembly too, she may be gone but never forgotten – once a Ralphie, always a Ralphie!!

The staff and pupils have been taking part in a bad hair day in order to raise money for Mrs Shore-Nye’s chosen charities and I would like to thank you all for your generosity, we have raised over £700!!  The charities that will get an equal share of the money raised are: Child Sponsorship, Anti-human trafficking and Macmillan.

Sportwise we have been very busy with our Year 5&6 girls winning the district football tournament; the Year 8 boys narrowly losing in the English Schools’ Cup but the Year 7 boys made it through; the Year 6 mixed tag rugby came second in the district festival and all of Year 7 (And a certain member of staff) have run their House Cross-Country Race.

Year 7 have been very busy as on Tuesday they were visited by Anthony Glenn, who single handedly brought to life Shakespeare’s The Tempest and then gave some small group workshops – it is always a lot of fun!!

I will finish with a saying for which I think Mrs Shore-Nye would approve, it will be writen in her mother tongue – from The Peoples’ Independent Republic of Scotland – It’s a lang road that’s no goat a turnin, It’s gaein be awricht ance the pain has gane awa!!

Have a great break, see you on TUESDAY – on Monday the school is closed for INSET.

What an ‘Enterprising’ week we’ve had, well Year 8 anyway!

Our Year 8s have had an insight into Entrepreneurship, culminating in a pitch to the Dragons today.  The children did sessions on marketing, finances, writing business plans and developing their pitch.  There are a wide array of products and services on offer and you will soon be able to access them via a page on our website.  The children (and supporting staff) have worked incredibly hard this week and have got a lot out of it!!  The Dragons commented on how well prepared the children were and how well they delivered their pitches.  Two of my favourite comments from today were, ‘I’m not setting up my own business when I’m older, its too much hard work’ and ‘That dragon (Mr Parperis) was really scary, he even looks like Lord Sugar!’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Year 8s have also been out on a team building day (very corporate) at Herts Mariners Base where keeping dry was not really an option for neither pupils nor staff!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I type we are awaiting the return of Year 6 from PGL whom by all accounts are knackerred but in a good way after an exciting week of outdoor activities.  Year 7 boys won their first round match in the English Schools’ Football Cup against Aylward Academy 7-0, with goals from Austen G, Dominic G, Henry A, Noah P and an own goal, this win being all the more astonising given that 95% of the boys in the year group are injured!!  Some of our Year 7s went to Schoolympics on Thursday as Sports Leaders whilst a team of Year 5s got their first chance to represent the school in lots of different sports, the children returned with medals galore and there will be a report to follow.

Today is European Day of Languages and Mrs Frederiksen gave an assembly on how learning languages can open opportunities for people.  She used an example of a prominent football manager (whom shall remain nameless) citing the importance of speaking other languages as integral to his success.  So all that leaves me to say is adieu, ciao, auf Wierdersehen, tot ziens, hasta la vista.  Have a great weekend.

Welcome back everybody, there was a point on Monday evening where I thought that coming to work had been nice, especially as it had broken the monotony of watching Loose Women and Come Dine with Me repeats during the holiday.  Then it suddenly dawned on me…I had to do it again the very next day – with children!!

The start of a new term brings many things, not just an increase in revenue for stationery retailers, but the chance for a fresh start and new experiences and challenges.  Mrs Hinton used the two faced Roman god, Janus in her assembly on Wednesday.  One face looking back at what had gone before and one face looking forward to the school year ahead.  We hope all the children in Years 6, 7 & 8 continue to build on their previous successes and use those to overcome new challenges in the future.  For our new Year 5’s, who enjoyed ‘ruling’ the school on Tuesday, we want them to use all that they have learned in their previous schools in order to make the most of their time at Ralph Sadleir.

Over the summer holidays lots has been happening in and around school with building and decorating projects.  Miss Devine, Mr Persico and Mr Verderame and team have put in countless hours to ensure the school is looking and functioning fully.  For those whom have seen the outside of the school I hope you’ll agree it looks far smarter and now the children wont freeze in winter nor roast in summer!!  These projects are a result of accessing funding as an academy and now, nearly a year later we have begun a comprehensive refurbishment programme – more to follow!!

Before this morning’s assembly Mrs Hinton went round the pupils and staff asking them to sum up the week in one word, I shall write out both lists and leave you to guess which is which:

Excellent, different, amazing, fantastic, tiring, confusing, good (after much thought).

Fantastic, hectic, exhausting, exhilarating, positive, busy, great.

Have a great weekend, see you all on Monday (Yes it is a 5 day week next week!).