This Friday, we celebrated our student councillors, who had represented St Andrew’s so well on their day of meeting Oxford City Council, and our school ‘good neighbours/ citizens’. As well as the usual certificates, we had something out of the ordinary – no birthdays to celebrate!
On Friday, we had our usual celebration assembly – we also had one on Thursday for World Book Day, celebrating books and reading! Evelyn, who is sadly moving, has always upheld our St Andrew’s values. We felt that she should get the Headteacher’s Award before leaving, in recognition of what a good neighbour she is.
The arrival of some sunshine has been something to celebrate alongside our pupils. It is wonderful to hear about when St Andrew’s pupils have represented the school well on trips, being great ambassadors for the school (Year 3 and 6 fell into this category this week). The achievement certificates continue to reflect the variety of skills and abilities being celebrated in the classrooms, from being young mathematicians, to poets, scientists and historians. Well done to Year 1 for winning the Doodle star, through keeping on with your Doodle Maths through the half term holiday.
We finished this half term with our celebration assembly, celebrating those who have been good citizens both in the school and outside of the school (when on a trip or event). We took some time to think about one thing we were proud of for this term and one thing we would like to improve on for next term.
Today Year 4 had the opportunity to share some of their learning with their adults in our celebration assembly. Parents and carers were able to experience how we celebrate good citizens, achievement certificates, Year 6 award and Headteacher’s award, alongside some sports and a debating award. What a wonderful way to finish the week!
This week, instead of our usual celebration assembly, we had a skipping assembly, after all the classes had taken part in a skipping workshop during the day. It was wonderful to see the stamina and tricky moves during the final assembly. Hopefully, the children can continue to develop their skills during playtimes at school, when the skipping ropes will be back out on the playground.
Our Friday assemblies have been an opportunity for much celebration: from class achievement certificates to our Headteacher's Award and Year 6 Award. Mrs Suzanne Walker was the most recent member of staff to be presented with the 'Adult of the week' award from our school council. We also celebrate sporting achievements. Recently we were excited to share the news that Esther (in Year 4) has been offered the opportunity to join the Oxford United Elite Development Centre due to her 'great focus, respect to coaches and teammates... great ability to dribble the ball and keen eye for goal with her finishing.'
Friday 5th December was our Christmas Fair. All the Year 6s did an incredible job of planning, preparing and then running their stalls; each class set up a different part of the fair, including a Santa's grotto, tombola, winter woolies, lantern making, books and a cafe. For a solid two hours, Mrs Graham accompanied our young musicians as they provided entertainment for the cafe with Christmas carol and song renditions.
In Friday 21st celebration collective worship, Year 5 shared with their adults about what they had been learning, alongside our usual certificates and awards. A huge amount had been learnt about Mars, which was presented in a very clear and informed way.
On Friday 14th November, we supported Children in Need, with dressing in spots and bringing a donation to the charity. Our celebration assembly was a lovely time to recognise how we can do things for others, that 'everyone is our neighbour'. Most celebration assemblies provide the opportunity for our musicians to play as children walk in and out of assembly. This Friday, Hamish (Yr 5) played his double bass, accompanied by his dad on the piano.
On Friday 7th November, we celebrated our Festival of Faith. This year, we were looking at special places and spaces. We heard about special places and spaces in all these faiths and world views: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Humanism, Sikhism. It was wonderful to learn about different perspectives and recognise that most, if not all, of these world views are represented amongst our school community. What a wonderful way to truly celebrate that 'everyone is different, everyone is special and everyone is our neighbour'.
On Tuesday 11th November, we held our Remembrance Day collective worship. Mother Emma shared a story and led the prayers after our hymn. Helena and Mia (Yr 6 school councillors) laid a poppy wreath. We then held our moment of silence, with Emma (Yr 6) playing the cornet for the last post. Governors, who joined our time of remembrance, were impressed how everyone was able to share in this special time of respectful remembrance.
