Latest News

Headteacher's Cup Winners

• This week's Headteacher Cup Winners - 30th January 2015

  Fri 30 Jan 2015
  This week’s Headteacher Cup Winners
  Pufflings:  Ruby  -  Improving
  Wow!  Ruby’s writing is coming on in leaps and bounds.  She is using capital letters, finger spaces and full stops.  What a wonderful writer you are Ruby!
  Kangaroos:  Ellie-Mae  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Ellie-Mae has produced some superstar writing where she is challenging herself to improve with each new task.
  Chipmunks:  Phebe  -  Don’t give up/Work hard and concentrate
  Despite facing a few obstacles this week, Phebe has persisted and put in 100% effort.  As a result, she produced some fantastic writing in Big Write.  What a superstar!
  Penguins:  Theo  -  Try new things
  For showing such an interest when the intrepid explorer visited.  Theo was keen to ask lots of questions to find out new things.
  Spider Monkeys:  Dylan  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Dylan has enjoyed his Maths this week.  He focussed for long periods rounding his numbers to 10 and 100.  Well done Dylan!
  Wolves:   Yasmin  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Yasmin always puts 100% effort into her learning and when she finds work challenging will persevere until she succeeds.  Fantastic  Yasmin.  Keep it up!
  Owls:  Katy  -  Work hard and concentrate
  It has been wonderful to see you putting so much into your homework, Katy!  What a super Owl, flying so high in your learning.
  Brown Bears:  Marshall  -  Improve
  Marshall has really focussed on his Reading, Writing and Maths and is making secure improvements.
  Sports Cup:  India  -  Respect yourself and others
  India loves the quicksticks hockey club where she has worked so well with the Yr. 5 girls.  Her energetic and enthusiastic play has given them the confidence to have a go too.  Thank you, India, for leading the way.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

   

  

• Orienteering - New Tracksuits

  Tue 27 Jan 2015
  

• BRAND NEW TRACKSUITS : BRAND NEW ORIENTEERS

  Mon 26 Jan 2015
  Many thanks to SASHA for purchasing a new stock of St. Andrew’s team tracksuits. With their help it was possible to provide kit for 32 orienteers this weekend. Our 8 latest young recruits, Lily, Alesha, Harvey, Gracie, Amelie, Emilie, Daisy D and Holli, were lucky enough to be the first children to wear the new tracksuits ... and didn’t they look smart! The striking royal blue jackets attracted the attention of the Suffolk Orienteering Club organisers and it wasn’t only the kit which impressed them. Everyone was in great form with a fantastic total of 6 children scoring maximum or near maximum points – Lucy (110), Tom M (103), Harrison (100), Amy (100), Rosy (99) and William (99). So for the second week running the team total exceeded the magic 600 points. Katie-May and Izzy demonstrated how much their confidence has grown by guiding Katy and Sophie round the white course. Also in action on the white route were Louis, Tom L, Evie, Jamie, Seb, Ryan, Tom W and Abigail. A very brave Daisy H tackled her first yellow course unaided whilst Liam, Oliver, Zac, Ben and Oliver showed their mastery of these more challenging trails. Thank you to all our parents for their wonderful support. The next appearance of the tracksuits will be on Wednesday, 11th February when 48 KS2 children will be taking part in the Level 1 cross country competition on the Ramsey fields.  

• This week's Headeacher Cup Winners - 23rd January 2015

  Fri 23 Jan 2015
  This week’s Headteacher Cup Winners
  Pufflings:  Jack  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Jack counted and recorded all the numbers from 1 to 100.  You are amazing Jack  -  we are very proud of you!
  Kangaroos:  Jasmine  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Jasmine has been an excellent role model for our class this week.  She has been keen to challenge herself in writing and determined to produce some whizzy writing with connectives.
  Chipmunks:  Sam  -  Respect yourself and others
  Sam has made a conscious effort to do the right thing over the last few days.  He has thought carefully about his actions and managed distractions.  What a responsible young Chipmunk, you can be, well done.  Keep it up Sam!
  Penguins:  Elsie  -  Imagination
  Elsie has used her imagination to think about where Pirate Pearl may have hidden the treasure.  A great attitude in class too.  Keep it up Elsie! 
  Spider Monkeys:  Ryan  -  Respect yourself and others
  Ryan is a great friend to all Spider Monkeys.  We were impressed to see you help your friend using the inverse in Numeracy.
  Wolves:  Jacob  -  Work hard and concentrate
  A polite and helpful member of the class.  Jacob gives his best consistently in everything he does.  A ‘Wolf’ to be proud of!
  Owls:  Chloe  -  Improve
  Chloe’s reading is coming on in leaps and bounds  -  she is putting in the hours at home, making the most of opportunities to work with her peers and certainly rose to the challenge in guided Reading this week!
  Brown Bears:  Lenay Vanstone  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Lenay is really focussed in class  -  she always tries so hard.  What a superstar!
  Sports Cup:  Ryan and Thomas  -  Try new things
  Ryan/Thomas have graduated from the security of paired orienteering, waved goodbye to their partners and made the brave decision to go it alone!  They had brilliant runs!  Well done!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

• WEATHER TURNS COLD BUT THE COMPETITION HOTS UP

  Mon 19 Jan 2015
  With only 3 events remaining, the orienteering league is proving to be a very close-run competition this season. In particular the older boys' category is highly contested and at this stage the outcome is very uncertain. At least 10 boys have a chance of claiming the league title and St. Andrew's is also in the running for the team award. Harrison and Tom M. re-established themselves as serious contenders with impressive times at Pods Wood on a mixture of white, yellow and orange courses. Tom L. had another great run and finds himself up in 3rd spot. Determined to improve both fitness and navigation skills he then ran the yellow course with Amy, who has opened up a sizeable lead in the girls' competition. Lucy managed to dodge the rabbit holes this week and completed her trail without mishap and in a very fast time! Our younger orienteers were also out to impress. Tom W. whizzed round on his first solo run, while speed merchants, Seb and Oliver, claimed 100 points apiece. It is great to see more girls joining the league and newcomers Sophie and Katie did extremely well together. St. Andrew's team score reached the magic 600 points for the second time this season. Congratulations and thank you to the rest of the team for their contribution: Evie, Rosy, Louis, Daisy, Ben M, Ben P. Liam, Oliver and Ryan. The action continues at Knettishall Heath next weekend.

• Ofsted Update 16th January 2015

  Fri 16 Jan 2015
   St Andrew’s CofE (Aided) Primary School
  Mathews Close Halstead Essex CO9 2BH
  Telephone 01787 475699
  Fax            01787 478477
  E-mail              admin@st-andrews-halstead.essex.sch.uk
  Website           www.st-andrews-halstead.co.uk
  Headteacher:   Bridgette Gough Deputy Headteacher: Susie Price
  
  16th January 2015
   

  Dear Parents

  
  Ofsted Inspection 14th and 15th January 2015

  As you are aware, over the past two days the school has been inspected by Ofsted to
  judge the quality of education that we are providing for your children. Throughout
  the inspection your children and the school staff have all worked extremely hard to
  show inspectors the work that is going on in school and the standards that are being
  achieved. We would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for
  completing the Parent View questionnaires, which have also been an important part
  of the inspection process as well as other comments that have been sent to the school
  for the inspectors by parents and carers.
  
  The inspection report is now in the process of being written by the inspection team.
  It will then be checked by Ofsted before it is able to be published. We expect the
  report to be available in about three weeks time and as soon as we have it, we shall
  ensure that parents, staff and governors have access to it.
  
  Unfortunately, until the report has been written and checked the outcomes and
  judgements have to remain confidential. We acknowledge that everyone wants to
  know the result but we have to adhere to Ofsted guidelines. What we are able to say
  immediately is that the inspection went well for the school and was a positive and
  engaging process. The hard work of your children, their teachers, TA’s, school
  leaders, other staff and indeed parents has been recognised.
  
  We look forward to sharing the report with our parent community when it is
  available. In the meantime we would like to thank everyone for their hard work and
  contributions during the past two days during which everyone has given of their very
  best.
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Kind regards,
  
  Bridgette Gough                                              Mike Gee
  Headteacher                                                   Chair of Governors
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• This week's Headteacher Cup Winners 16th January 2015

  Fri 16 Jan 2015
  Pufflings:  Ruby  -  Improve
  Who once took small steps, this week has made giant leaps and her writing has blossomed.  Ruby I am so proud of you and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of your special learning journey
  Kangaroos:  Adam  -  Don’t give up
  Throughout this week Adam has shown plenty of perseverance to stick at a task.  He chose some brilliant vocabulary for Big Writing and used his sounds to spell tricky words.
  Chipmunks:  James  -  Respect yourself and others
  James has made such an effort to think about his actions and listen carefully this week.  Keep it up James.  We’re proud of your efforts!
  Penguins:  Harry  -  Improve
  Harry’s writing is getting even better, so many wow words in a week!
  Spider Monkeys:  Thomas  -  Improve
  Thomas has been striving to improve and is always keen to do his best.  Thomas has produced some amazing writing.  What a super spider monkey!
  Wolves:   Katie  -  Improve
  Katie has shown a keen desire to improve her work this year, with great results (particularly in writing).  She readily listens to and acts on advice and consistently tries her best.  Well done Katie, keep it up!
  Owls:  Ella Masterson  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Ella has put in the hours at home and went the extra mile to create the most wonderful ‘Memory Box’ inspired by our discussion about memories in Philosophy last week.
  Brown Bears:  Head boy and girl:  Rosy and Ewan  -  respect yourself and others
  Rosy and Ewan represented the school during a really hectic week  -  both children spoke to visitors to the school with great maturity.  Super role models!
  Sports Cup:  Oliver  -  Improve
  Following the launch of St. Andrew’s fitness competition this week, Oliver has already shown his intentions.  He demonstrated an amazing time of 8.25 on the white orienteering course.  Great commitment, Oliver!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

• Ofsted Inspection

  Tue 13 Jan 2015
   We have been informed we have an Ofsted Inspection on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th January 2015. 

• ORIENTEERS BATTLE ON TO THE BITTER END

  Mon 12 Jan 2015
  Congratulations to the orienteering team who braved the elements and ran in the bitterly cold wind at Belhus Woods Country Park. With the launch of St. Andrew’s fitness competition this week it was great to see some incredibly fast times recorded on both the white and yellow courses. The children certainly proved that orienteering is an excellent way of increasing their stamina. Representing Year 6, Oliver had a brilliant run with a winning time of 8.25 on the white course, a very well-deserved victory for him and a just reward for his commitment. Hannah and Rosy were only a matter of seconds behind and they, in turn, were closely followed by Jamie and Tom. Together they formed a very impressive quintet of St. Andrew’s runners. Ryan bravely set off on his debut solo run and was spot on with his navigation. Meanwhile Thomas formed a great partnership with Sophie for her first independent course. Year 4 boys, Ben and Oliver, showed how their map-reading skills have improved as they made short work of a very challenging yellow course. Well done to the rest of the team: Evie, Katie-May, Charlotte, Daisy, Tom, Izzy, Liam, William, Amy, Lucy and Harrison who, despite his non-scoring run, showed exceptional speed and great potential. At the mid-point in the league season St. Andrew’s are in a very strong position thanks to the dedication of all our team members and their parents.   

• This week's Headteacher Cup Winners - 9th January 2015

  Fri 09 Jan 2015
  Pufflings:  Henry  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Henry produced some wonderful independent writing about his Christmas presents.  Great work Henry.  You are a star!
  Kangaroos:  Oliver  -  Improving
  Oliver has had a brilliant start to the new term.  He has definitely been making positive steps to improve his work and has produced some super writing.
  Chipmunks:  Bella  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Bella is so eager to learn, she not only completed her homework in the holidays but also wrote the whole nativity story!  Keep putting in the hours Bella.  The sky’s the limit!
  Penguins:  Fynn -  Imagination
  For an imaginative treasure map, fantastic features!
  Spider Monkeys:  Marty  -  Work hard and concentrate
  Marty has worked tremendously hard to improve his Maths, specifically his times tables.  Well done Marty, you are a times tables star!
  Wolves:   Sam  -  Respect yourself and others
  Sam has ‘gone that extra mile’ this week to help others in the class.  He has shown kindness, patience and caring.  What a superstar!  Well done Sam.
  Owls:  Harrison  -  Improve
  Harrison is working so hard to be the best that he can be and is always looking out for opportunities to improve.  We are so proud of you, Harrison!                      
  Brown Bears:  Charlotte  -  Respect yourself and others
  Charlotte is an excellent role model for younger children.  She is always polite and courteous  -  a real asset to our class!
  Sports Cup:  Katy  -  Try new things
  Katy has started the new term bubbling with enthusiasm.  She loved having a go at the circuit challenge this week.  Anything sporty ..... Katy will be there!