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We have had another fantastic week in the Early Years & Primary section, with the winter shows happening next week, it has been wonderful to see the children wearing their costumes and the stage becoming more festive!

We have also had a number of other events this week which have been successful and contributed to the buzzing atmosphere.

Collaborative STEAM Learning Experience with Secondary STEAM Club, Primary Community Club, and Community Partner – Mary Ward School

Our Primary Community Club recently collaborated with the Secondary STEAM Club to host an exciting hands-on learning session for students from our community partner school, Mary Ward. The afternoon was filled with creativity, innovation, and teamwork as children explored two engaging STEAM activities: scribble bots and the buzzer game.

Secondary STEAM students had been preparing for several weeks, designing the activities and learning how to guide younger learners through each step. Their goal was to teach both our primary students and the visiting Mary Ward children how to build, experiment, and play using these simple yet fascinating projects.

This collaborative experience not only strengthened STEAM learning but also fostered leadership, communication, and meaningful partnerships within our wider community. We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and enthusiasm, and we look forward to many more enriching activities in the future.

Primary Expeditions

The youngest explorers enjoyed an enriching overnight stay in Shivapuri. Their adventure included a hike from a monastery, emphasising environmental protection through litter picking. Team-building games fostered cooperation and friendship, complemented by the fun of making their own momos for dinner and preparing lunch for the following day.

The next morning featured yoga amidst the forest scenery and wildlife spotting. The children demonstrated resilience and enthusiasm, supporting each other throughout. Back at camp, they tidied cabins and reflected on their increased independence, responsibility, and environmental awareness.

This expedition strengthened friendships, built confidence, and instilled valuable life skills. We are proud of their curiosity, respect, and eagerness to learn, witnessing their individual and collective growth. The Shivapuri trip was an immersive learning experience focused on teamwork, environmental consciousness, and self-reliance. We thank our dedicated staff and parent volunteers for ensuring a safe and memorable adventure and eagerly anticipate next year’s trip.

Our Year 4 adventurers began their expedition in Sankhu. They made new friends and played games with children at a school in the town and then enjoyed a heritage walk exploring Sankhu’s traditional architecture and local history. Next, they journeyed to Nagarkot, where they were fortunate to have amazing Himalayan views from their hotel and during an adventurous nature walk exploring the local environment. To complete the expedition, the children also participated in art and drum workshops with local artists, making music and masterpieces to remember!

Year 5 enjoyed a wonderful four days at Himalika where they hiked, made art, played by the riverside, sang around a campfire, and ate lots of delicious food. For many, it was their first time sleeping away and everyone showed great bravery in trying new things – particularly sleeping in tents!��

For the hike, students walked a huge 7km! This included walking along the river bed, crossing two massive suspension bridges, exploring rural farmland, and a wonderful riverside lunch where students made their own sandwiches. The guides from Himalika were very impressed with our students walking and said, at times, we had to slow down as we were simply too fast!��

Students also experienced gardening at a local BBQ spot where they helped to clear land ready for crop rotation, as well as planting potatoes and seeds for future harvesting. Students then made their own paneer, tofu and vegetable skewers and cooked for themselves on bbq stoves – yum yum!��

The river provided beautiful beaches which everyone loved playing on. From frisbee to football, paddling in the river to making land-art, everyone loved being outside and experiencing what Nepali nature has to offer.��

In the evenings, students were able to play board games, relax in their tents, play football, and even traverse the campsite obstacle course, which proved harder than it looked! The camp fire provided space for singing and sharing riddles and jokes, and on the final evening even a pajama catwalk!��

All in all, a highly memorable experience that was shared by students and staff alike. Year 5 truly demonstrated they are up for any challenge, all the while supporting each other with kindness, encouragement and a sense of teamwork that the students will carry forward throughout their time at Ģ����Ƶ.��

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Year 6 also had a wonderful time!

I will never forget the moment we saw the terrifying crocodile and the huge rhino. The jeep safari was so much fun as our team (Miss Wiggers’ group) spotted all the unique and amazing animals.��

I especially enjoyed crossing the river, it was shaky but really fun! The moment we saw the rhino up close is something I’ll remember forever. It was scary, but also exciting. I could hear the animals all around us, and when I reached out, I could even feel some of the leaves dancing in the breeze.

The safari was truly fun and exciting, and I had an amazing time. Written by Mayukh��

As soon as I arrived at school on departure day and saw all my friends, I knew this week was going to be one of the best I’ve ever had. We were traveling somewhere so far from home, but with my friends beside me the long bus ride felt like only a minute; time really flies when you’re having fun. When we finally reached the resort and saw our villa, I felt a rush of excitement as we looked around and laughed together.

On the first night we could hardly sleep! We were so excited, not just because of the trip, but because we had four whole days together instead of just six hours at school. Everything we did was amazing, from seeing the vultures to StandUp4Elephants to watching the sunset. But I have to admit, what made it all truly fun and thrilling was experiencing everything with my friends. Written by Kasvi��

I will never forget the moment when we entered the SU4E elephant sanctuary and set our eyes on the two elephants, Eva and Lhamoo. Walking towards the elephants, we could admire the verdant area, smell the animal dung, and hear the munching of the elephants. Taking a seat, we all stared at the elephants; our jaws dropping to the floor from their colossal size and the sheer amount of hay that they were consuming.�� Then, one of the friendly staff members started explaining all about these magnificent animals. Some facts that we learnt were that these elephants were 45 and 55 years old, they weigh between 4.5 to 5 tons, they cool down by moving blood to their ears and their trunks can hold up to 8 to 10 litres of water at once! Then, we made some games for the elephants. First, we got some hay and fruits. Shoving the hay into sacks or boxes, we put some fruits and vegetables in between as a treat for the elephants. Finally, we added a final layer of hay on top. Content with our efforts, we took a break and went for a tomatoes and cheese sandwich.

Then, we returned back to SU4E. Soon after settling down, they explained that we were going to watch medical training with the elephants. The method the staff were using to treat the elephants was called “Positive Reinforcement”. They let the elephants do whatever they want while using this method. Some cool things that we experienced were that the elephants understood the staff when they gave orders. There would be two “surgeons”, primary and secondary. The primary one would feed the elephant fruits and relay their emotions on to the secondary worker. The secondary worker would do the treatment. Also, after the training was finished, the elephants understood “Bhayo”, translating to “Done” in Nepali. After their successful medical training, the staff gave the elephants the games which we made for them. I really enjoyed the massive “THUMP” which we heard after the elephants stomped on the boxes. Finally, reluctantly saying “Bye” to the elephants and staff, we made our way back to the resort. Written by Ayaan��

Supporting Your Child’s Learning: Assessment and Reports Information Session

On Wednesday, we held a parent information session focused on Assessment and Reports at Ģ����Ƶ. It was wonderful to see so many parents attend and engage in meaningful discussions about their children’s learning journeys.

At Ģ����Ƶ, we believe that when parents and teachers work together with a shared understanding of children’s learning, every child thrives. Thank you to all the parents who joined us for this important conversation about supporting your children’s educational journey. If you were unable to attend, you will have received the materials via email, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms Alex Yates who led the session.

What We Covered:

Understanding Assessment at Ģ����Ƶ

• The different types of assessment we use: formative, summative, and diagnostic
• How ongoing assessment informs teaching and supports each child’s individual learning needs
• The role of self-assessment and peer assessment in developing independent learners

Making Sense of Reports

• How to read and interpret your child’s report, including attainment levels and progress indicators
• Understanding the difference between effort, progress, and attainment
• What the data and teacher comments tell you about your child’s strengths and areas for development

Supporting Learning at Home

• Practical strategies for using report information to support your child’s continued growth
• How to have meaningful conversations with your child about their learning
• Questions to ask and goals to set together as a family

Next Steps and Action Planning

• How to prepare for parent-teacher conferences
• When and how to reach out if you have concerns
• Resources available to support your child’s learning journey

Key Takeaways

The session was aimed at giving a deeper understanding of how assessment works at Ģ����Ƶ and practical tools to support your children’s learning at home. The questions and discussions highlighted the importance of the home-school partnership in celebrating progress, setting meaningful goals, and fostering a growth mindset.

Assessment is not just about measuring what children know—it’s about understanding how they learn, celebrating their progress, and identifying the next steps in their educational journey. When parents and teachers share a common understanding of assessment, we create a powerful partnership that benefits every child.

Little Yetis

This week, our children celebrated all things Yeti, discovering what happens when Yetis get stuck in the ice! The children were fascinated as they investigated tiny school Yetis frozen inside blocks of ice, although we think the grown ups might have enjoyed this more… Through sensory exploration and problem-solving, they observed melting, changes in temperature, and cause and effect in action.

Our creative focus supported early letter formation as children designed their own fluffy Yetis, using chopped white wool and soft cotton wool to fill in Yeti outlines. This hands-on craft encouraged fine motor development, creativity and early writing skills.

It was a joyful week of exploration, creativity, movement and early learning — all through the magical world of the Yetis!

Secondary Winter Concert Tuesday 9 December – Hall 5:30pm��

Join us for our Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 9, beginning at 5:30pm! This festive evening will feature performances from the KS3 Choir, Senior Choir, talented soloists, duets, and our lively rock bands. You’ll enjoy a vibrant mix of music from Classical to Pop to Jazz, along with exciting dance and rhythm routines, and even some communal Christmas carol singing to bring everyone together!

Doors open at 5:15pm.
We hope you can join us for what promises to be a joyful and memorable celebration of music and community!��

KS3 textiles club

The KS3 textiles club have now all finished their pencil rolls. We have had some amazing outcomes as you can see. Students have learnt how to use the equipment, screen print, tie dye and block print as well as how to construct a product from scratch! They are currently working on making light up winter decorations and next term we will be making bucket hats!

Universities Fair Thursday 4th Dec

On Thursday afternoon Ģ����Ƶ will host 15 universities from the UK, USA, Japan & Europe. Sixth form students will have the opportunity to hear about university systems in different regions, followed by an open fair outside the library from 3.30pm. The fair is open to all students and parents, but we would request that if possible anyone attending does not park at school since this will be a busy evening with the Year 5 and 6 show also taking place.��