Young Enterprise Teams at Dickensian Evening in Ware

On a cold and rainy evening our Young Enterprise teams ‘Handmade Heaven’ and ‘Scentful Serenity’attended and worked hard at the Dickensian Evening in Ware. They successfully set up professional looking stalls which they then ran selling their products to the public. This experience provides our students with key life skills and builds their confidence as well as helps them to make profit which they donate a share to charity. We are very proud of all the hard work they put into preparing for the event, making their products and organising what they needed in advance for their stalls and attending what is a very busy event. Both teams were successful in making profit which we are sure they will move forward in the competition and continue to develop their businesses.

/by

‘Joy to the World’ – Carol Service

On a crisp December evening, the St Mary’s CE High School community gathered at the stunning St Mary the Virgin Church for our annual Carol Service, Joy to the World, A Celebration of Christmas. The medieval church, with its awe-inspiring architecture and warm atmosphere, provided the perfect backdrop for a festive celebration of music, scripture, and togetherness.

The evening featured a beautiful blend of traditional carols and captivating performances. Our talented Phoenix Singers Choir took centre stage alongside the enthusiastic young voices from Holy Trinity CE Primary School and Dewhurst St Mary CE Primary School. Together, their harmonies filled the church with a joyous and uplifting sound, leaving the congregation feeling very Christmassy.

Adding grandeur to the service, the Welwyn Garden City Brass Band provided a rich and resonant accompaniment to the carols, while Mr. Crosby on the church organ brought depth and majesty to the music.

Interwoven throughout the service were poignant Bible readings that reflected on the Christmas story, reminding us of themes of hope, peace, and joy, serving as a reminder of the sacredness of the occasion.

Presiding over the service was the Rev. Kate Douglas, whose warm words and guidance brought an extra sense of unity and community to the evening.

After the service, everyone gathered together to enjoy hot chocolate and festive treats. It was a wonderful opportunity to mingle, catch-up with friends and celebrate the sense of togetherness that makes St Mary’s so special.

This year’s Carol Service was truly a collaborative effort, drawing together voices and talents from across our schools and community. It was a privilege to share such a special evening with the families, staff, and friends of St Mary’s.

We extend our deepest thanks to all the performers, organisers, and attendees who made the evening such a resounding success. As we look ahead to the holidays, the memory of Joy to the World, A Celebration of Christmas will undoubtedly remain a cherished highlight of this festive season.

Merry Christmas from all of us at St Mary’s CE High School!

/by

Year 11 boys progress to the next round of the cup

The Year 11 boys took to the field for the first round of the District cup competition in a home fixture against John Warner.

The squad featured 3 year 10 students, Danny, PJ and Jesse. Following on from their strong performances in the last game, they were looking to impress amongst their older peers. St Mary’s started well and Danyal had a lot of success down the left hand side of the pitch creating a number of chances. The deadlock was broken by Caleb who fired the ball from distance, lobbing the keeper and sending the ball in to the top right hand corner from a free kick. The fast pace of play continued to draw fouls from the opposition and saw one of their players sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Danyal’s continued efforts were rewarded with a goal that put the team two goals up heading in to half time. St Mary’s looked settled early in the second half. The pairing of Kayden and Kye at centre back was solid and their composure on the ball allowed the team to dictate the pace of the game. Danyal managed to bag another goal in the second half following a powerful run forward from Austin that led to him rolling the ball across goal for Danyal to tap in. Late in the half, St Mary’s were awarded a penalty after PJ was brought down in the area. PJ stepped up and confidently slotted the ball past the keeper. Kye was substituted due to injury with 10 minutes left to play and this un-settled the back line. Credit to the opposition who continued to put pressure on right until the final whistle. Following a rash challenge in the box, the boys conceded a penalty late on that left the scoreline to finish 4-1. The boys face a tough test in the next round at home to Freman college.

Mr Hunt