This week’s Student Spotlight features the inspiring Kelsi in Yr 11, who recently shared her journey of personal growth, career exploration, and stepping outside her comfort zone. She reflects on her experiences, following the Year 11 ELD, which is an excellent example of initiative and perseverance. She encourages others to take risks and embrace new opportunities: “Step out of your comfort zone and don't doubt yourself. You have so much potential.” Well done for inspiring us all with your determination and growth.

Be sure to read her full write-up below:

"Hi, my name is Kelsi, and I'm in 11H. One thing that I find extremely important as a young adult is learning about our future and careers. Luckily, at our school, we have the privilege of being taught about this. Unfortunately, some people take these opportunities for granted, but one piece of advice I would give is to take as many opportunities as possible. So, here’s a bit about me and what I’ve done.

Growing up, I was very optimistic about the various jobs I wanted to pursue when I was older, and of course, we will never fully know what we want to do, but all of you have plenty of time to figure it out. I changed my mind multiple times! At first, I wanted to be a medic in the army, but then I suddenly had a change of heart and became interested in law. I was so adamant that law was what I wanted to do and in Year 9 I picked my GCSEs based on that. Eventually, I decided I wanted to become more confident and join the police cadets, which I absolutely loved. And I would highly recommend it if you're interested.

I took my law idea further and thought I wanted to pursue forensics in the police force, but I doubted myself since science isn’t one of my strongest subjects. However, I remained passionate and worked hard. In Year 11, we did work experience, and I chose mine through the Link2+ placement, for which I was grateful for. I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to try hairdressing. I worked in a hair salon for one week, and it opened up a new pathway and gave me an insight into what I wanted to do. The staff and clients were all so welcoming, and this really boosted my confidence. I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to shadow on the Saturday during my placement. I was eventually offered a job, which I took straight away.

Definitely get yourself out of your comfort zone and try new things because sitting around doubting yourself is the worst feeling. Everyone at Sandringham has potential, and you can succeed at anything you set your mind to if you work hard towards it every day. I believe all of you can smash your GCSEs and A-Levels, especially if you plan to take the next step into sixth form. I still work in the salon and enjoy every bit of it. I’ve also applied for a Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing at college, which I’m so excited to do.

All of you are capable of anything, and we are given so many opportunities at this school that not many schools offer. Get yourself out there, volunteer somewhere, or join cadets, scouts, etc., because it can be truly life-changing and eye-opening. The future holds so much for you and I'm excited to see what every single one of you accomplish in the future. Don't give up! And remember our school quote: "Everybody can be somebody!""

We'd love to hear about any students who are going above and beyond in the community, sports, the arts, or other areas. If you'd like to nominate someone for a Student Spotlight, please email me at dowlingt@sandringham.aetrust.uk with a brief description and any photos you’d like to share. I look forward to hearing from you.

Last Chance to Join the "Talking Teens" Course!

There’s only a few session left of the free in-person "Talking Teens" course, offered by Supporting Links, designed to help parents and carers navigate the challenges of raising 12-19 yr olds. This course is open to all parents, carers, grandparents, and guardians in Hertfordshire.

The final session will take place on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Gade Community Room, Oakleaf Primary School, Hemel Hempstead.

This course has already covered a lot, including:

• Understanding the teenage brain and its impact on behaviour
• Exploring the connection between behaviour and difficult emotions
• Strategies for maintaining strong communication
• Navigating risk-taking behaviours
• Techniques for effective conflict resolution

It’s not too late to join and benefit from these practical insights and strategies, plus connect with other parents and carers!

Click here to secure your space or for more information

As we gear up to launch our new Golf Society in the summer term, we’re looking for donations of second-hand golf equipment to help support our beginner players who don’t have their own gear. If you have any golf clubs, balls, or bags that you no longer use - especially junior sets that have been outgrown - please consider donating them. To donate please email Mr. Smith (PD YR11) at smithda@mysandstorm.org. We can also arrange collection if needed.

Hertfordshire Schools' Gala Concerts – Featuring Sandringham Students!

The Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra (HSSO) and the Hertfordshire County Youth Choir will be performing two concerts as part of the Hertfordshire Schools' Gala on Sunday 23 March 2025, with two performances at 1.45pm and 7.45pm. A number of talented students from Sandringham will be participating in the HSSO, including R Tune on the violin, along with other students who play the oboe and cello. 

One of the highlights of this performance will be the HSSO’s recent appearance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. In this special concert, they will be performing a variety of pieces, including songs from Matilda, which will accompany choirs from several Hertfordshire schools. Other music on the programme includes works by Richard Strauss, Saint-Saëns, as well as specially commissioned pieces for the event.

It no doubt be a fantastic celebration of local talent, and we encourage you to come along and support our students and the wider Hertfordshire music community.

St Albans Youth Council - Giving Young People a Voice

Hertfordshire County Council is offering young people aged 13-17 the chance to get involved in the St Albans Youth Council, an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in their local communities. They meet every Monday from 6-8pm at the Harpenden Young People’s Centre (27 High Street, Harpenden, AL5 2RU).

This program empowers young people to have their voices heard, design social action projects, and get involved in meaningful debates. Members work together to determine local priorities, develop action plans, write funding bids, and actively participate in local decision-making processes.

If you are passionate about creating change and want to be part of an exciting group of young leaders, the St Albans Youth Council could be the perfect opportunity for you. To join, simply complete the SfYP referral form by scanning the QR code on the poster or contact the St Albans Team for more information.

It’s been an exciting and inspiring week here at school as we celebrate British Science Week 2025! From hands-on experiments to fascinating demonstrations, the week has been full of amazing science activities that have sparked curiosity and creativity in students of all ages.

A few highlight so far:

• Students explored Machine Learning & AI by training their own models.
• KS3 STEM Club began redesigning the Wheatfields Juniors Garden Area. 🌿
• KS3 students created icosahedrons from paper 🧩 to test their shape knowledge.
• Danny Jackson from Sandoz UK shared his engineering career journey with Sixth Form students.
• KS3 students built pinhole cameras to safely view the solar eclipse.
• Amgen Biotechnology equipment was used for a micro-pipetting workshop, thanks to the University of Hertfordshire.

There’s been so much happening, and we can’t wait to share all the details with you. Keep an eye out for a full write-up of all the wonderful and interesting events in next week's Sandprint!

What a great way to celebrate the wonders of science!

It’s time to grab your sponges and get ready for a fun-filled lunchtime challenge during Newton and Johnson House Charity Week! On Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th March, join us on the Tennis Courts for the ultimate showdown – Sponge the Teacher!

This is your chance to raise money for a great cause while getting your lovely teachers soaked! Who has the best aim? Who can hit the target and leave the teachers drenched? For just £2, you can take your shot and make a splash!

Teaching team, be sure to bring your waterproofs – you’re going to need them!

Come along, have fun, and help us support our charity efforts.

This week, Yr 12 had an awareness assembly by a representative from the Apprenticeship, Support & Knowledge Programme to learn more about Higher & Degree Apprenticeships. Students gained an insight into the vast array of employers offering apprenticeships and advice on next steps.  We look forward to further sessions in the summer term about searching and applying, and what else to consider for pursuing this route.

With the Yr 11 and 13 practical exams just around the corner, we’d like to take a moment to wish our GCSE Drama students the best of luck in their final performance exams. Our Yr 13 students will take to the stage first on Thursday, 20th March, followed by Year 11 on Thursday, 27th March (during the day). Tickets for the Yr 13 performances can be booked through the SandPit Theatre website here. We look forward to seeing their hard work come to life on stage!

After careful consideration, the school has made the decision to close our X account on social media. While we recognise that X (formerly known as Twitter) has been a useful platform for quick updates, we no longer feel that it aligns with the values and goals we aim to uphold as a school community.

Moving forward, we will be focusing on more secure and inclusive communication channels. The primary platform for school updates will now be Instagram, where we will continue to share news, announcements, and important information. We will also continue to use Facebook to post updates for the main school account, Sandringham School.

Please make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates. In addition to these, the main social media accounts we will be using going forward are:

• @sandringhamsch1 – Main School Account (Instagram)
• @sand_pe – All Sports/PE Updates (Instagram)
• @sand_artsteam – All School Arts Updates (Instagram)

There will also be a separate Instagram account for all Sandringham School Trips. This handle will be confirmed in next weeks Sandprint.

We are excited to connect with you all and look forward to engaging with our community on these platforms. Thank you for your continued support.

When you see a headline like "Win an egg bigger than Mr. Clarke!" you know it’s a competition you don’t want to miss. This is just one of the exciting events happening during Johnson and Newton Charity Week, running from Monday, 17th March to Friday, 21st March. Make sure to get involved in the fun – it's bound to be an eggcellent time!

Get ready for an exciting evening of talent and creativity at Sandringham's Got Talent, happening on Thursday, 20th March as part of Newton and Johnson House Charity Week. If you’ve got star quality and are eager to showcase your talents, this is your chance to shine!

Whether you sing, dance, perform magic tricks, or have another unique skill, we want to see what you’ve got! Sign up to perform by scanning the QR code on the event poster. It’s your moment to take the stage and wow the audience.

Tickets for this fantastic event, which will be held at The Sandpit Theatre, are just £2 and can be purchased at the door.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your talent and enjoy the entertainment. 

We are thrilled to celebrate D Tse from Yr 8, who has recently achieved outstanding success in the music world. For the second consecutive year he has won 1st place in the Grade 8 Piano Performance Championship at the Watford Festival of Music, Speech, and Drama. Additionally, he secured 1st place in the Classic Piano Solo Advanced category at the Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts for Dance, Music, and Drama.

His remarkable achievements are a testament to his dedication and talent, and we couldn’t be prouder of his continued success. Congratulations, and we look forward to seeing even more great things from you in the future.

We'd love to hear about any students who are going above and beyond in the community, sports, the arts, or other areas. If you'd like to nominate someone for a Student Spotlight, please email me at dowlingt@sandringham.aetrust.uk with a brief description and any photos you’d like to share. I look forward to hearing from you.

Hertfordshire County Council is excited to offer young people the opportunity to participate in the Supporting You Project, which is designed to build resilience and emotional well-being.This project is aimed at 13-17 yr olds, takes place every Thursday from 6-8pm at the Pioneer Young People’s Centre in St Albans (Heathlands Drive, AL3 5AY).

The Supporting You Project provides young people with the tools they need to help themselves navigate challenges and develop positive mental health. Over the course of the project, attendees will learn 12 CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) skills, as well as a method for planning and achieving personal goals. These valuable skills are delivered by Youth Workers who are specially trained in CBT techniques.

If you or someone you know would like to join, you can complete the SfYP referral form by scanning the QR code in the poster or contact the St Albans Team for more details.

Emotionally Based School Anxiety Drop-In Sessions.

DSPL7 and Services for Young People, in partnership with The Pioneer Club, are still offering free drop-in support sessions (booking required) designed for parents/carers and young people in Years 7-11 facing challenges with school attendance related to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Please do come along to The Community Café, Suets Yard at The Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Alban, AL3 5AY, between 9:30-11:30am. Sessions are taking place on the following dates: 14th May, and 19th June. Further information, including contact details can be found in the flyer.

The Puzzle of the Week is a Mathematics challenge run weekly. This week's puzzle is shown above. For every entry you will receive 1 house point, if you answer correctly you will win 2 house points and if you are the fastest person to answer the puzzle correctly then you will win 5 house points!  To enter, simply scan the QR code and fill out the google form.  Good luck! Why not play at home and see who is the quickest to get the answer?

On Friday, March 21st, we’ll be celebrating 40 Years of Comic Relief with a non-uniform day! Students are invited to come to school in their own clothes for a minimum donation of £2, with the option to contribute more if they wish. Donations can be made through ParentPay, and any additional amounts donated will be greatly appreciated.

All funds raised will go to the wonderful Comic Relief charity, supporting vital causes both here in the UK and around the world. It’s a great opportunity to show our school’s support for this fantastic cause while having some fun along the way. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity – we look forward to seeing some red noses!

We’re excited to spotlight K Hill from Yr 11, who recently showcased his exceptional talent in the British Schools Judo Championships 2025 held in Sheffield. Competing for Sandringham, he earned a well-deserved bronze medal, placing 3rd out of 28 in the largest group of the day. His only loss came at the hands of the eventual gold medallist, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. His determination and skill have made us incredibly proud, and we can’t wait to see where his judo journey takes him next. Well done!

We'd love to hear about any students who are going above and beyond in the community, sports, the arts, or other areas. If you'd like to nominate someone for a Student Spotlight, please email me at dowlingt@sandringham.aetrust.uk with a brief description and any photos you’d like to share. I look forward to hearing from you.

An Evening of Music and Magic.

I recently had the absolute pleasure of attending an unmissable evening at Southwark Cathedral, where I had the rare opportunity to experience Bridgerton by Candlelight. If you're a fan of the hit series, this is an event you absolutely must add to your list.

The concert, which took place in the beautiful Southwark Cathedral, featured a talented string quartet performing the iconic Bridgerton soundtrack. I was transported to the world of 19th-century British high society, surrounded by the flicker of hundreds of candles, creating a truly magical atmosphere. The performance, a fusion of classical music with a modern twist, was magical.

For those who enjoy classical music but with a modern edge, this concert is a must-see. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves great music and a touch of elegance.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.

The Chemistry Show!

Sandringham’s annual Chemistry Show came back with a bang this year! Students from Wheatfields Juniors were treated to a special preview show in the afternoon where they saw the Iodine Clock in action and sent some bottle rockets whooshing towards the ceiling of the SandPit. The evening show was just as lively, with more fantastic experiments and mind-blowing reactions. Even Mr Gray and Mr Nicholls got involved! A huge thank you to Mr Reynolds and Mrs Haseler for presenting the show, and to our team of amazing Science Technicians, without whom the show would not be possible. Thank you also to the SandPit team for their help with organising and advertising the show! 

HOUSE POINTS

Exciting news this week in the House Points race – Johnson has made a strong move, climbing into 3rd place! Johnson is now firmly in the mix, showing that every point counts in this ongoing competition.

Hepworth House continues to hold the lead, but as we can see, the rankings are tightening up, and anything can happen.

1. Hepworth 18,707
2. Austen 18,041
3. Johnson 16,451

Special mentions this week:  

• L Federici (8E) (18) – Most points this week.
• Fawcett for winning this weeks house points – 851
• Turing for leading this months house points – 1,216
• 7A for the highest average points in their tutor group (135.5).
• 9E & 9J the highest quiz score total – 122/160
• H Wong 8A -Top of the school (220 points).
• Turing for winning Staff badminton.
• Austen for winning the KS3 science competition.

Well done all.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the FOSS team for their outstanding efforts in organising the Comedy Night held last week. The event was a resounding success, bringing laughter and enjoyment to everyone who attended.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the FOSS team, the evening raised an incredible £750, which is fantastic news and will go a long way in supporting our school community. The feedback from those who attended has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the fun atmosphere and talented performers.

Tara MacDoonald says; "FO$S would like to thank everyone who came to the comedy night on Friday. We've had a great night and you helped raise £750. All.the money raised goes towards supporting the students at the school."

We can’t wait for the next event and are truly grateful for the continued support from FOSS. Well done to everyone involved.

French: décliner

German: verblassen

Spanish: declinar

Thinking Question: The French and Spanish translations this week are very similar, why do you think these two languages have so many similarities?

Turtle Moon, by Hannah Gold.

When Silver’s dad is invited to paint at a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, she hopes it’ll be just the adventure the family needs. Under the hot tropical sun, Silver settles into life at the animal centre. She even witnesses a rare sighting of a leatherback turtle nesting on the beach. But when the turtle’s eggs are stolen, events take a dark and dangerous turn. Can Silver and her new friends track them down before it's too late?

I Kearvell, Yr 7 who has recently read Turtle Moon says, ‘I really enjoyed the adventure in this book. The story gives you a sense of what it is like to live in a very different place in the world. It’s a fictional story but linked to lots of facts.’

W is for … wane [verb]

Definition: Decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker.

Example: My confidence waned towards the end of the race.

Synonyms: Diminish, Lessen, Subside

Antonyms: Develop, Extend, Strengthen

Etymology: From the Old English ‘wania’ "make or become smaller gradually, diminish, decline, fade," 

Congrats to N. McKinstry and her U14 @HertsSchoolsFA team for making the National final. Well done girls, an unbelievable effort and we look forward to hearing how get on. 

A week dominated by football ahead. Good luck to all our students involved, we look forward to seeing those results on socials as the week goes on.

Cross country: D Kennedy in Yr 7 and T Pritchard in Yr 10 help their Herts team to a top 10 finish at the UK Inter County Cross Country Championships in Nottingham last Saturday. Brilliant running from both boys, congratulation!

Congratulations to the U19 Netball Performance Squad for being crowned County Champions! The squad had a fantastic run in the competition with impressive performances against Berkhamsted and STAHS, then claiming the title with a 46-24 victory over Herts and Essex in the final. It is testament to their dedication and hard work across the season that they have achieved this accolade and we are extremely proud of them. Well done girls!

An amazing couple of days for L Carlin in Sheffield at the EA Indoor Combined Events Championships, finishing 6th in the U17 National Heptathlon with 3 new PBs. A brilliant achievement and performance, you should be incredibly proud. 

Yr 7: An amazing Saturday morning seeing 21 boys representing the school for the first time! Two great games with lots of goals and fantastic performances. Both teams playing some good football and enjoying school sport. Well done all.

Y8: A great game of football last Saturday saw the Yr 8 team win their friendly with RPS. Some excellent football on display and a game played in great spirit.

Yr 9: A brilliant Saturday morning for the U14’s away at Roundwood Park. A first half goal from D Molnar decided the game in a 1-0 victory. Well done to all the boys involved for their spirit.

Yr 10: An even game last Saturday against Roundwood Park ending in a 2-0 win for Sandringham. Lots more game time for players as Anfield & Richards grab the goals. Richards also picks up Man of the Match.

Yr 10: A big win in the District cup 1/4 final on Monday as Sandringham came out victorious with a 5-4 win on penalties. After an even 80 minutes where chances were few and far between, the game finished 0-0. Our five kept their nerve in the shoot-out to beat SJL. J Miklas for Man of the Match.

Yr 10: A great performance by the U15 netball team in the semi final of the County Cup, but unfortunately losing to a very strong STAHS side. A brilliant effort girls, you should proud to get this far. CPM - A. Curtin OPM - E. Cox-Larsen

Yr 7: What a team of superstars! These girls have had a tough season in the District League, but on Tuesday they played their socks off and reached the semi final of the District Tournament. So much progress over the year...the future is bright for this team. Well done, you should be proud.

Yr 7: Fantastic work from our U12B Team at the district tournament this afternoon getting to the semi final. They have worked so hard in training throughout the season and last Tuesday showcased all that they have learnt! Excellent attitude and gameplay from everyone, we're very proud, well done.

Yr 8: Another win for our U13 Girls Team. Amazing play both attacking and defensively from every single player that led to another success. Well done girls, great work.

Yr 8:Our U13 Boys Team grabs a well fought overtime victory over Hitchin in their County Cup Semi final to earn a place in next Wednesday’s final. Well done boys, looking forward to hearing how you get on next week.

Yrt 10: A tough game for the U15 Girls Team against Beaumont, but there were some moments of brilliance, and 3 pointers from E. Cavanagh and R. Critchlow! Well done girls.

1st Team: Another game, another win - the Senior Boys Team beat Christs College in the Basketball All England National Quarter Final to seal their place in the last 4 in the country. What a team. Good Luck Boy!

Join us at the Sandpit Theatre on Tuesday, March 18th at 6:30pm for a night of incredible performances!

Tickets are just £4/£5 – so don’t wait. Get yours now here and make sure you don’t miss out.

See you there!