Girls That Golf!

Sandringham Golf Society is due to have a very successful half-term, with over 60 students participating in golf activities during during the break. Two of our most professional golfers are our “Golf Girls” ,Izzy and Yan, who have been giving the boys a run for their money. We would love more girls to give golf a try - so I asked our talented female golf ambassadors a few questions about their participation.

Q – Why did you join golf society?

Yan - I wanted to join the Golf society because I wanted to try something new. Additionally, because Izzy wanted me to do it with her.

Izzy - I joined the golf society because I have already played golf outside of school so I thought it would be really fun to play golf inside of school as well!

Q – What is you favourite thing about golf society?

Yan - Using a driver.

Izzy - My favourite thing about golf society is having amazing opportunities to go and play golf at many different courses and even have golf lessons.

Q – What have you learnt?

Yan - Which club to use whilst playing in different areas and positions.

Izzy - Already after my first golf lesson i have already learnt how to improve my golf swing 

Q – Why should more girls join the Golf Society?

Yan - More girls should join Golf Society because it is fun and you get to learn a new skill.

Izzy - More girls should join the golf society because it is good for more people to get involved in different golf activities and learn lots. While playing with friends 

If you are interested in trying some golf, please don’t hesitate to come and speak to Mr Smith.

New Foodbank Opening on 17th June

St Albans & District Foodbank will be opening a new distribution centre at St John's Church, Church End, Markyate, AL3 8PY on 17th June, the sessions will be held every two weeks, from 11.30 am-1.00pm (see flyer for details)

At the sessions clients will be able to collect emergency food parcels, fresh fruit and veg and hygiene items. Additionally, individuals will be able to speak with Wellbeing Advisors and a Citizens Advice Bureau Advisor.  No appointments are necessary.

Unbeaten Season Success 

Huge congratulations to Johnny and Sami in Yr 10, who have been part of something very special this season with their team Hemel Hempstead Town Youth Yellows.

The team has just completed their best season ever - winning the Hertfordshire FA U15 Boys Trophy County Cup and the West Herts U15 Division 1 League, all without dropping a single point all season. An unbeaten league campaign is a remarkable achievement at any level.

What a year - everyone is very proud of your incredible achievements.

Support for Families of Neurodivergent Young People

SPACE Hertfordshire are offering a fantastic range of free online workshops and local support groups for parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people this summer term, covering topics including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, SEND and much more.

Their St Albans Support Group also meets monthly during term time at Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre, which is a relaxed, welcoming space for parents and carers to connect, share experiences and access resources. No diagnosis necessary!

See the attached posters for the full workshop list and upcoming group dates, or visit  the website here to book your place.

Get ACTIVE This Half Term

Barracudas have launched their ACTIVE Challenge - a light-hearted initiative encouraging children to try new activities, get moving, and reflect on what they enjoy.

Children can take part in the challenge and share their ACTIVE moments for the chance to win some brilliant prizes:

1st Prize: Free week at summer camp  

2nd Prize: Free day at summer camp

3rd Prize: Free camp kit

An optional worksheet is also available for those who'd like a more structured activity over half term.

All entries must be submitted by 30th June.

For more details and how to enter, please visit their website here. 

Thank a Teacher Day 

A little reminder and encouragement for students and families to take a moment to say a BIG Thank You to a member of staff as we approach Thank a Teacher Day on Wednesday 17th June.

This is a lovely opportunity to recognise the dedication, support and inspiration our teachers provide every day. Whether it’s for helping on a tricky topic, offering words of encouragement, or simply being there when it matters most, a small message of thanks can go a long way.

If you would like to say a few words, you can leave you message via the following link

We would love to see our community come together to celebrate the fantastic work of our wonderful staff.

We’re Hiring!

Come and be part of our fantastic team here at Sandringham. We’re currently looking for:

- Teaching Assistant 

If you, or anyone you know would like to be part of our passionate and dedicated team, please visit the website here for more information and to apply.

Hemel Storm Junior Basketball - Summer Term & Half Term Camp

A final reminder that Hemel Storm Junior Basketball have their May half term basketball camp.

Sessions are available for both primary and secondary school-aged children, offering a great opportunity to develop skills, stay active and enjoy the game in a fun and supportive environment.

For more details on session times and how to book, see the attached poster or visit their website here.

Summer Music Concert 2026 

As mentioned last week - the Summer Music Concert will return this year on Tuesday 23rd June in the Sandpit Theatre at 6:30pm.

All our music ensembles and choirs are performing in our Summer Concert. The families of the students involved should have received a letter with more information.

Tickets are available from the Sandpit Theatre Box Office.

Cartoon Kids Club is Back This Summer

If you're looking for a creative and action-packed summer activity for your child, look no further! The popular Aussie Cartoon Kids Club is returning to the UK this August, with a session right on our doorstep in Borehamwood (24th–28th August).

Designed for children aged 4 - 15, each day has a unique theme packed with drawing workshops, games, prizes and plenty of fun - from Manga and Anime to Secret Agent clay modelling and a Friday talent show!

Early Bird Offer: Book four Long Days by Friday 12th June and get Friday free - saving £32 per child.

Daily sessions run from £30 (Short Day) or £32 (Long Day). All staff are DBS checked.

To book your spot or to find out more, visit illustrating-man.com or email bookings@cartoonkingdom.com.au

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 follow the link on your House Google Classroom (it will be posted on Monday at 8.a.m.) to fill out the Google Form. 

Good luck! Why not play at home and see who is the quickest to get the answer (unfortunately we can only accept answers from students).

Mental Heath Services Directory 

It’s important for students, parents and carers to know that help and support are always available should you need it. Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service Directory brings together a wide range of services that can provide help with emotional wellbeing, anxiety, stress, behaviour challenges and more. 

You can view and download the full directory here:Link

The directory lists a variety of services, including early-intervention and specialist support such as:

• School nurses and duty lines
• Counselling services
• Youth wellbeing support
• Mental Health Support Teams in schools
• Digital and online support tools
• Single Point Access for professional assessment and referrals
• and more to help when you need it. hwehealthiertogether.nhs.uk

There are also services you can contact directly without a professional referral, including free and confidential support for young people in Hertfordshire. So please don’t hesitate to reach out for support when you need it.

Parenting Support Groups

There are still spaces available on a range of online parenting groups and workshops delivered by Coram Family Lives this term, including:

Six-week groups:

• Less Shouting, More Cooperation
• Getting on with your Pre-Teen or Teenager

Two-hour workshops:

• Reducing Conflict
• Anxiety around ADHD
• Sibling Rivalry

These sessions are designed to support parents and carers with practical advice and strategies for family life and wellbeing.

Please see the posters for more information and details on how to book.

Give Padel a Go Girls 

Padelstars St Albans are running an exciting all-girls padel camp this summer, open to students in Yrs 7 - 9.

August 3rd - 7th from 9:00am - 12 noon.

It's a brilliant opportunity to try one of the fastest growing sports around in a fun, relaxed and friendly environment.

Please see the attached poster for dates and details on how to sign up or email stalbans@padelstars.co.uk

Performance at the Jersey Farm Day Centre - Tues 19th May

On Tuesday, our Yr 10 GCSE Musicians visited the Jersey Farm Day Centre, a group that meets to provide lunch and companionship for elderly people in the locality who live alone, Our students performed for 45 minutes and then spent time talking and mingling with the audience. The music ranged from classical and folk to pop classics, and finished with a sing along segment that was very well received.

We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part. 

Potential Kids - May Half-Term & June Activities

A quick reminder that Potential Kids are running a range of sessions throughout the May half-term and June for neurodivergent children and young people, their siblings, and parents/carers.

These sessions provide a welcoming and supportive space for families to connect, have fun and access tailored activities.

To book a place, please visit their website here or for further information email: info@potentialkids.org

Please see the attached poster for full details of sessions, timings and venues.

Goalball Scores for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

On Wednesday 20th May, the Old Gym was buzzing with energy as the Race Equality Society hosted a special Goalball event for Key Stage 3 students.

The lunchtime tournament was held in recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, an initiative dedicated to thinking and talking about digital, physical, and social inclusion. Students had the unique opportunity to experience Goalball - a fast-paced, thrilling team sport originally designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment.

The event was a great success, bringing KS3 students together to learn new skills, challenge their senses, and gain a deeper understanding of accessible sports. A huge thank you to Sienna P and Ms Moussaoui for organising such an insightful and exciting event, and to all the students who stepped up to participate!

Hat-Trick of Achievements 

A huge congratulations to Yr 9 students Luca and Martin (9H), who have enjoyed a truly remarkable season of football outside of school.

The pair, who play for both Saturday and Sunday teams, recently capped off an incredible campaign with three major honours - winning the JPL National Cup U14s at the Wigan Athletic Brick Community Stadium, the EJA League title, and the Herts County Cup for the 2025/26 season.

What an achievement - we're incredibly proud of you both.

Gold at the Palace

What a week for DofE at Sandringham! Almost 30 of our students headed to Buckingham Palace this week to celebrate achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award - one of the most prestigious accolades a young person can earn.

We couldn't be prouder of each and every one of them - a full report with photos and stories from the day will follow after half term so watch this space.

French: sociable

German: gregario/a

Spanish: gesellig

Thinking Question: Can you try and use our word of the week translated in a French, German or Spanish sentence? For example, he is gregarious or I like my dad because he is gregarious.

The Detention Dectives by Lis Jardin

Murder comes to Hanbridge High, and three Year Seven misfits want to solve the crime. New boy Jonno hopes playing detective will convince his parents that moving to Hanbridge was a big mistake. School reporter Lydia thinks her news story will sweep everything else off the front page. And young carer Daniel needs the police to arrest the right culprit - for his mum's sake. They may not be friends, but they're about to become The Detention Detectives.

Book reviewed by Theo S in year 9:

Overall, this is a really good murder mystery book and follows the characters well. I really like the crime aspect. This story follows a trio who tries to solve the murder of teacher Mr Baynton. This book is set in a secondary school making it relatable.

G is for… gregarious [adjective]

Definition: Fond of company; sociable.

Example: She's a gregarious person who thrives at parties and social events.

Synonyms:  Sociable, Outgoing, Friendly

Antonyms: Shy, Introverted, Reserved

Etymology: From Latin gregarius, from grex, meaning “flock” or “herd”

County League Tables

Half way through now, and our teams are looking strong. All sitting in a top four place at the moment fighting to finish top. Consistency is key.

We head into our fourth county league this week at Westminster Lodge with more points on offer but some tough opposition.

T & F Cup

Results from last Fridays Track & Field cup are in...

After competing in two events each, and gaining points for their heights, distances and times - our Junior boys finish 3rd and Junior girls 1st.

We await to find out if we qualify for regional finals but well done to all involved.

We hope you all have a lovely half-term break in the glorious sunshine, and we look forward to kicking off the second half of term with some perfect outdoor conditions for our cricket, athletic and tennis teams.

County League 4

Another excellent display of talent from all teams on Wednesday evening in the final meet before the half term break.

Solid points were secured and will support the teams in maintaining their top spots in the county.

Athletes of the meet:
U14G: M. Duncan - 1st, 1st, 1st 
U14B: T. Howitt - 1st, 1st, 2nd 
U16G: F. Randall - 1st, 2nd & 3rd
U16B: T. Russ - 1st, 1st 

A Celebration of Dance 

Gwen Hallam Dance proudly presents 'Dancing Through Life!'

Dancing Through Life is a celebration of movement, music, and imagination, showcasing the incredible talent of our dancers. Featuring an exciting mix of ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, and jazz, we will take you on a journey featuring graceful performances and high-energy routines, leaving you ready to dance!

To book you tickets visit the Sandpit website.

CMG Arts Present Dream Big 

Join us to celebrate their youngest students from CMG Arts as they take to the stage with their big dreams and spectacular stage presence.

Sunday 14th July - 11:00am and 3:00pm 

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit Theatre website.

A Journey At The Theatre

Join Theatretrain as we take a trip around the world in 60 minutes.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

AG Dance presents The World Tour.

Join us for an exciting journey around the globe featuring performances in street dance, ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. The show brings together students aged 4–17, showcasing their hard work, progress, and enjoyment of dance across a range of styles.

Sunday 5th July 

We’re pleased to be returning to the Sandpit Theatre and look forward to sharing this year’s performance with you.

AG Dance runs weekly classes in St Albans, offering a supportive environment for young dancers to develop their skills and confidence.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

NCD Dance

We're back again! Bigger and better than ever!

We're so excited to bring you our annual show once again, with the great music, choreography, and vibe you've come to know and love from NCD. This year is a collection of pieces we have been working on, so there is something for everyone.  We hope you'll love this show as much as we do. 

For tickets please visit the Sandpit website.

A True Classic Feel-Good Show

Spotlight Dance and Theatre School presents Footloose!

To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated Top 40 score, augmented with dynamic new songs, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

REFLECT – Summer Dance Showcase 

Students and staff have been working incredibly hard this term preparing for our upcoming summer dance showcase, REFLECT.

The show promises to be an exciting celebration of creativity, talent and performance, showcasing the dedication and passion of our dancers across the school.

Tickets go on sale from 9am on Wednesday 3rd June via The Sandpit Theatre website.

Save the date and we look forward to seeing you there!