Year 9 Students go on a Parisian Adventure!

52 Year 9 students embarked on a memorable school trip in Paris between the 6th and 9th March. Our students immersed themselves in the rich history, culture and beauty that Paris has to offer. The itinerary was packed with iconic landmarks, including visits to the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre and much more which could be seen in the views from the scenic boat cruise along the river Seine and from atop the Montparnasse tower, coupled with a visit to the Disneyland parks the next day!

Beyond these famous sights, students had the opportunity to engage with the local culture, sampling local cuisine, strolling along picturesque streets and gardens, and even offering some brave students a chance to practice their language skills in authentic settings! This immersive experience helps foster a deeper appreciation for other perspectives and broadens students’ worldview.

Throughout the trip, students demonstrated great behaviour and enthusiasm. The trip was a resounding success, and means the memories created will undoubtedly stay with students, and contribute to their personal and academic growth.

We look forward as a school to being able to offer more enriching experiences to our students. To Paris, we say “au revoir” for now, until the mantle is taken up next year by the current Year 8s…

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This is me: I Am… Poetry competition

This Is Me: I Am… was a poetry competition run by ‘Young Writers’, which encouraged students to express themselves through verse. With no limits on length or poetic style, the competition gave students the opportunity to take control of what and how they wanted to write, and how best to describe themselves. Who they are and what they want to be.

The competition was open to all 11-18 years olds in the United Kingdom and winners faced a tough selection process.

Y7 student Oliver, wrote a wonderfully positive poem about himself and his life and was selected for publishing in the book, along the many other winners from across the country

Congratulations to Oliver, we are all immensely proud, this is a great achievement to have work published at such a young age.

There is a copy of the book in the LRC if any students would like to read Oliver’s poem.

Ms Andrews

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Girls Year 7 & Year 8 football friendly match

Well done to the Year 7 & Year 8 girls football team who were narrowly defeated by Leventhorpe school.

The final score was 3-2, with St Mary’s not able to capitalise on the many chances they had throughout the game, hitting the post twice as well as missing some clear cut chances to extend their 2-0 lead in the first half.

There were some excellent individual performances as well as great team work and encouragement from all who played.

Well done to the whole squad: Frankie, Alexia, Sofia, Andra, Yasmin, Itohan, Filomena, Michaela, Kheira, Eva, Kayla, Ruby, Chelsea, Shumaila and Rihana.

Ms Andrews

 

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Young Enterprise Teams attending Watford Trade Fair

Our two Young Enterprise teams, Embrace (selling bracelets) and ReCorked Charm (selling sustainable products from cork) attended a trade fair at the Atria Shopping Centre in Watford where they competed against other schools whilst selling directly to the public.

Despite the earlier Saturday morning start the teams were bright and alert and once we arrived they immediately managed to set up their stalls ready for a full day of selling. Throughout the day the students faced many different potential customers and they were consistently polite and engaging and sales were soon taking place with many products nearly selling out.

During the event presentations our team ReCorked Charm won the Best Trade Stand Award which was well deserved as it looked incredibly professional and customers were drawn to their stall to see what they were selling. Our team Embrace had a very successful day, with a high number of sales resulting in excellent profits for their business.

Both teams are working towards another trade sale with the aim to attend the Area Final at the end of April. We are incredibly proud of them and wish them luck getting into the final.

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Young Writers competition

We are delighted to announce that the books have arrived for our last Young Writers writing competition, and Oliver from Year 7 has had his story published.  The writing competitions are quite challenging. The theme of the story is set by the competition organisers and entrants are limited to only 100 words to make their story work.  Not many students of his age are published authors!

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Year 7 interschool Hertfordshire competition

A small team of Year 7’s took on a series of mathematical challenges against 36 other schools in Hertfordshire. The team got a respectable score of 156 points placing them in 19th place. There were some exceptionally demanding tasks and activities in the challenge, so all students can take considerable pride in the way they approached the afternoon.

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Fine Art & Photography

Our Year 12 Fine Art and Photography students had a fantastic treat this week. UAL (University of the Arts, London), the second most prestigious art university (after the Royal College of Art) in the world, came to St Mary’s to talk to our Year 12 artists about the courses they offer, the application process and preparing them for portfolios and interviews. It was an inspiring talk which left so many of our students wanting to visit the campuses and the end of year exhibition.

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Year 10 Work Experience Week: Building Skills and Confidence for Future Success

We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of our Year 10 students during their recent work experience week. This invaluable opportunity provided them with hands-on exposure to the professional world, fostering essential skills and boosting their confidence for future pathways.

Throughout the week, students honed various skills vital for success in any career path. One notable area of development was communication. By interacting with professionals in diverse settings, students learned to articulate their ideas effectively, listen actively, and collaborate with colleagues. These communication skills are fundamental not only in the workplace but also in everyday life.

Additionally, the experience emphasised the importance of timekeeping and organisation. Students navigated demanding schedules, met deadlines, and managed tasks efficiently. By mastering these essential skills, they gained a deeper understanding of the importance of discipline and prioritisation, qualities that are highly valued in any profession.

Moreover, the feedback from employers has been overwhelmingly positive, reaffirming the students’ remarkable contributions and adaptability in the workplace. Employers praised their aptitude, quick understanding of tasks, and exceptional work ethic. Quotes such as, “one of the best work experience students we’ve ever had,” and “they’re better than many of the agency staff we’ve been getting,” underscore the students’ outstanding performance and professionalism.

It is evident that work experience plays a vital role in shaping students’ career aspirations and preparing them for the realities of the professional world. By providing them with real-world exposure, we empower our students to make informed decisions about their future paths.

At St Mary’s, we are committed to offering a comprehensive careers education program that equips students with the skills and understanding necessary to thrive in their chosen fields. Work experience is an integral part of this program, enabling students to explore various career options, build networks, and develop essential employability skills.

As one of our students stated, “it couldn’t be any better; it was the best week.” We are immensely proud of our students’ achievements and remain dedicated to supporting them on their journey toward success.

 

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