Hemel Storm Juniors Summer Basketball Camp

Looking for something fun and active to do over the summer? Hemel Storm Juniors are hosting a Summer Basketball Camp from Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th August - a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, make some new friends and have an active couple of days.

For full details on the camp and how to book your place, check out the attached poster.

New Foodbank Opening on 17th June

A reminder that 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.

The Bronze Expedition Departs

This morning, our Yr 10 DofE students set off from school to begin their Bronze expedition.

We wish everyone taking part the very best of luck - we hope the weather is kind to you and that soggy socks are kept to a minimum!

Enjoy the adventure, and we can't wait to hear how you all get on in nexts week edition.

Open Evening - Monday 6th July

We are excited to welcome prospective families to our Open Evening on Monday 6th July between 4.00pm - 7.00pm here at Sandringham. It's a wonderful opportunity to explore the school, meet our staff and get a real feel for life here.

Booking for the Headteacher talks opens on Tuesday 9th June. To book your slot and for more information, please visit our website here or call main reception on 01727 799560.

We look forward to seeing all the new and familiar faces then.

Visual Arts Exhibition

We warmly invite you to come and see a selection of work presented from our Year 13 Visual Arts students who have just completed their examinations. The show will be an opportunity to view their Fine Art, Photography and Textiles work. The show is a great opportunity to come and see their outstanding work and we encourage all of our students to come and view their work, especially students who are currently completing exam courses in Fine Art, Photography or Textiles.

Tuesday 23rd June: 4.30pm - 6.30pm in the Visual Arts Studios

Dance World Cup Success 

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievement of Teresa L from Yr 9, who has delivered outstanding results at the Dance World Cup.

Teresa secured 2nd place in her ballet solo and 4th place in her ballet en pointe solo, which is a truly impressive performance.

As a result of her success, Teresa will now represent Team England in the Dance World Cup Final in Dublin this July, where she will compete against dancers from around the world.

Congratulations Teresa, and a huge good luck for the final.

Golf Society 

This week's Golf Society session took place at the fantastic Wheathamstead Golf Club - and what a great session it was. With Wheathamstead set to host our KS3 Championships in July, it was the perfect opportunity for everyone to get some valuable practice in on the course they'll be competing on. With the sun (mostly!) on our side, spirits were high and the swings were looking sharp.

Watch this space as we count down to the championships.

Parenting Workshop

Coram Family Lives, funded by Herts County Council, will be delivering a free online parenting workshop via Microsoft Teams this summer. The workshop is designed to support separated and divorced parents in protecting and maintaining their relationship with their children. Topics covered include understanding parental alienation, recognising patterns and behaviours, exploring the emotional impact on children and parents, developing communication and de-escalation skills, and building confidence when working with professionals.

Two sessions are available to book and will be held online via MS Teams

• Tuesday 7th July 9:30 - 11:30am 
• Thursday 9th July 7:00 - 9:00pm 

To book your place, please complete the online referral form here or scan the QR code on the attached poster.

You can also email services@familylives.org.uk or call 0204 522 8700 / 0204 522 8701 for more information.

A Brand New Cricket Pitch

Over half term, an exciting new addition was made to our school grounds - a brand new cricket pitch!

We partnered with OA's Cricket Club to make this happen, who will also be making use of the pitch at weekends.

This fantastic facility will not only support the development of cricket at Sandringham, but will also have a positive impact on the wider local community.

Our talented Cricket captains are pictured here, and are very excited to start testing it out over the next few weeks.

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).

Rewards Week - It's Here!

Next week is Rewards Week, and it's a great opportunity to make your mark on the House Cup.

Every house point earned between Monday and Friday will count double, so there's never been a better time to give that extra bit of effort.

On top of that, every house point earned puts you in with a chance of winning a prize draw for your year group - so the more points you collect, the better your odds!

Let's make it count... double!

HOUSE POINTS 

As we head into the last half of the summer term, and the school year, Shakespeare are still leading the race to claim victory over the House Cup... can Rewards Week make a difference to the top spots?

1. Shakespeare 23,686
2. Turing 22,179
3. Fawcett 20, 217

Special mentions this week:  

• A Chiong (7J) - (18) – Most points this week
• T Tearle (7S) 327 - Highest scoring year 7
• M Altiganer (8F)- 261 - Highest scoring Year 8
• T Somers (9S) - 280 - Highest scoring year 9
• G Birkin (10s) - 188- Highest scoring year 10
• W Magson (12F) 56 - Highest scoring sixth former
• 12S - Highest quiz score - 200/235
• E for most house points this week - 379

Important Changes to Free School Meals Eligibility from September 2026

From September 2026, the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals (FSM) will be changing. From the start of the new school year, all parents/carers who are in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of the amount received. 

Applying takes around 5 minutes, and you will need your National Insurance number. Applications can be made using the following link.

There is no requirement for pupils who are already receiving Free School Meals to re-apply.

Applications for the new school year can be made now and we strongly advise that you do this before the end of term in July. We encourage you to apply even if you have previously been told you were not eligible. Not only will your child receive a hot, nutritious meal at lunchtime, but the school may also receive additional funding to support pupils. If you require any further information or support with your application, please contact us at admin@sandringham.aetrust.u

Football Success

Congratulations and good luck to Sam M who has signed a two year contract with Colchester United. Sam has had a huge impact on Sandringham sport over the last five years, picking up multiple team and individual accolades. His dedication, commitment and excellence in the sporting arena will be remembered for years to come.

A big loss for Sandringham sport but Colchester are gaining a very hard working and talented young man.

Good luck for the future Sam, and do stay in touch. 

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy

When a series of murders target the highest achievers at an elite school, the race is on to find the killer.

The students at Morton Academy are high-achievers, selected based on academic excellence. So, when a series of murders target the school's brightest and best, the pressure is on. Someone is determined to stop at nothing to clear their path to the top. But who is it? And can they be stopped?

Reviewed by Hayley M in Yr 8:

"This book is one of the best murder mysteries I have ever read! Every character felt suspicious at some point, and just when I thought I had figured everything out, the story completely surprised me. The plot twist was incredible and genuinely unexpected - I did not see it coming at all! Looking back, the clues were there, but they were hidden so well that the reveal still felt shocking."

Recommendations Galore 

Our Year of Reading continues positively at Sandringham. Before the half term break, it was the English faculty’s turn to share book recommendations with their students. In many ways, this happens naturally through the curriculum but teachers took time to share their personal favourites across the week including Divergent and Girl, Woman, Other. Thank you to Ms Summers and the whole English faculty for supporting this. 

In addition, the Geography faculty also shared their top reads with students. The recommendations included the fascinating Prisoners of Geography and We Have a Dream. Many thanks to Ms Pratley and the Geography team for their support

French: orgeuil démesuré

German: arroganz

Spanish: soberbia

Thinking Question: What would we lose if the whole world was made to speak one language?

H is for… hubris [noun]

Definition: Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall.

Example: His hubris made him blind to his own mistakes.

Synonyms: Arrogance, Pride, Egotism

Antonyms: Humility, Modesty, Meekness

Etymology:  From Greek hybris, meaning “outrage” or “excessive pride”

County League Tables

4 out of 6 county meets completed, and we are still in a good position for a Cup Final place for all four teams. Two teams lead the table with our other two in close second.

County League 5 was yesterday, which kick starts an incredibly busy 2 week period. 

Good luck to those competing.

Athletics Fixtures

We have a very busy month or so for our athletes with National, County and District competitions still to play for.

Please be organised and prepared for the following schedule.

Saturday 6th June - Herts County Champs
Monday 8th June - County League 6
Wednesday 10th June - Regional ‘B’ Final (Junior Girls)
Thursday 11th June - District Championships 🏆
Monday 15th June - Regional A’ Final (Inter Girls)
Tuesday 30th June - County League Finals

District Friendly

Our last District meet before the Championships on Thursday 11th June, allowed our athletes to fine tune performances. We look forward to the busy next few weeks with County Leagues, Regional Finals, District Championships and County Finals.

Athletes of the meet:

Year 7G - A Dennis  1st, 1st, 2nd 
Year 7B - N Foster 1st, 2nd
Year 9G - E Turnham 2nd + PB
Year 9B - J Ridgeway 2nd, 2nd, 3rd

County League 5

Our penultimate meet survived the weather, and led to some good points for all four teams. Our boys sides were brilliant tonight picking up around 60 and 67 points respectively. Girls performed well again against some good competition.

We go again Monday in what is a very busy week.

Athletes of the meet:
U14G - I Kelly 1st, 1st & A Powell (big PV PB)
U14B - N Williams 1st, 1st, 1st
U16G - E Power 1st
U16B - W Hunt 

A busy few weeks now leading up to the end of term - athletics and tennis dominate the fixtures over the next week, so good luck to everyone taking part.

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.

A Journey At The Theatre

Join Theatretrain as we take a trip around the world in 60 minutes on Sunday 12th July.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

Summer Music Concert 2026

Sandringham School presents their annual concert.

This features all their choirs and instrumental clubs, including the ever-growing show choir, the famous jazz band, and sinfonia orchestra.

Tickets are on sale on the Sandpit Theatre website.

Summer School Production of Alice in Wonderland

Cassana Performance Academy present this classic story on Sunday 2nd August.

Tickets are available on the Sandpit Theatre website

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.

Limitless Academy of Performing Arts

After 2025's smash-hit, Sweeney Todd, Limitless Productions returns to St Albans with something a little more sweet!

Step into a world of pure imagination with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical - a dazzling stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic.

When young Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to the mysterious Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, he embarks on a fantastical journey filled with astonishing inventions, mischievous competitors, and life-changing lessons. Bursting with catchy songs, colourful characters, and magical surprises, this heartwarming musical celebrates imagination, kindness, and the joy of dreaming big—perfect fun for audiences of all ages. 

This amateur production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTIwww.mtishows.com.

Tickets are availble on the Sandpit Theatre 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.

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.

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 are now on sale via The Sandpit Theatre website.

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

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.