Hemel Storm Juniors - Summer Camp & Autumn Launch

Looking to keep the kids active or elevate their basketball skills - Hemel Storm Juniors have some incredible opportunities coming up:

Summer Basketball Camp

Monday 3rd August – Thursday 4th August

The Hemel Hempstead School, Heath Lane (HP1 1TX)

Primary and secondary school-aged children

9am – 3pm daily (Early Bird from 8am available for £3/day - After Camp Club until 5pm for £6/day)

£40 for a single day or £160 for the full 4-day week (plus a 10% sibling discount)

Check out the attached poster for more details or scan the QR Code for more details and how to book your place.

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.

Celebrating Mr Gray - An Unforgettable Farewell to a Sandringham Legend

Last week, the Sandringham community came together for a lovely event to honour the incredible tenure of our Headteacher, Mr Gray.

To celebrate his astonishing 21 years of leadership and achievements, staff members both past and present gathered to send him off in the true Sandringham style. It was a wonderful evening filled with shared memories, laughter, and reflection on how much the school has grown and thrived under his guidance.

During the speeches, Mr Nicholls took to the stage to present Mr Gray with a very special retirement gift - a beautiful, bespoke hand-painted picture of Sandringham School. Mr Gray was incredibly touched to receive the artwork - a lovely reminder of the school community he spent over two decades building, ensuring he keeps thinking of us all even though he won't be walking the corridors every day.

It was the perfect tribute to a remarkable career. We thank everyone who attended to make the evening so special, and once again, we wish Mr Gray the absolute best in his well-earned retirement from Sandringham School. 

Shakespeare House Triumphs

The final results are in, and what a spectacular year of competition it has been! After months of hard-fought sports days, academic challenges, and community events, the tension at the End of Year Presentation was palpable.

A massive congratulations to Shakespeare House, who have officially been crowned this year's House Cup Champions!

It has been an incredibly tight contest from start to finish, but Shakespeare set the bar high early on and led the pack for the duration of the school year. It is a thoroughly well-earned victory, and the entire house should be immensely proud of their dedication, teamwork, and spirit.

We also want to say a huge well done to all of our individual house award winners who were recognised during today's presentation. 

To everyone across all houses - thank you for your incredible effort and enthusiasm.

Rest up over the holidays, because the battle for the cup resets this September!

A Guard of Honour for Mr Gray

Today marks the official end of an extraordinary era as we close the final chapter of Mr Gray’s incredible 21 year journey at Sandringham School.

Over the past few weeks, speeches from staff, parents, and alumni have beautifully highlighted the monumental impact he has had on our school. He has shaped Sandringham into the thriving community it is today, leaving a lasting legacy on every single student who has walked these hallways over the last two decades.

To mark this historic achievement, and as a true testament to everything he has accomplished, the entire school came together today for one final, unforgettable surprise. In a deeply moving moment, all of our students lined the entire route through the school grounds all the way to the front steps, creating a spectacular Guard of Honor. The air was filled with cheers, smiles, and thunderous applause as the students clapped Mr Gray all the way to the end of his final journey at Sandringham.

Mr Gray, you have been an absolute unstoppable force at Sandringham, and your energy, passion, and vision will be felt here for years to come. While we all know this probably isn’t the absolute last we will see of you here, we want to wish you the absolute best for whatever the future holds next.

First on the agenda, we imagine, is a thoroughly well-deserved break, relaxation, and watching plenty of rugby.

Thank you for everything  Mr Gray. You leave with the gratitude of the entire Sandringham community - you will always be a part of the family.

Students Take on the Olympic BMX Track

As part of our annual Fit for Life Week, we love giving students the opportunity to step outside the standard PE curriculum and challenge themselves with new, exciting physical activities.

Last week, a group of energetic students from Yrs 8, 9, and 10 did exactly that, heading down to the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark - the venue of the London 2012 Olympic Games, to try their hand at BMX racing.

Under the guidance of expert coaches, our students tackled the BMX track, learning how to handle the specialised bikes, and find their rhythm on the straightaways. It was a fantastic day of high energy, new skills, and plenty of adrenaline.

Every student threw themselves into the challenge with great determination and support for one another. Not only did they have a brilliant time, but they were also exemplary representatives of Sandringham School throughout the day, showing fantastic sportsmanship and respect.

A massive well done to everyone who took part.

Inter-School Debate Competition 

On Tuesday 14th July, students from Sandringham School and St George's School met for their second Inter-School Debate Competition. Having narrowly lost overall in our first encounter, it was fantastic to secure a draw this time – a brilliant achievement and clear evidence of the team's progress. Even more impressive was that four of our six debaters were taking part in their very first competition, facing the well-established and experienced St George's team. Amulya Iranganti and Varvara Nachaeva argued that the world is better off with billionaires, Leah Gauci and Rhys Pinder proposed that Britons should be proud of their country, while Melanie Bugosi and Oliver Louis opposed the motion that green belt land should be used for housing. Throughout the debate, our students demonstrated excellent preparation, carefully constructed arguments and confident, persuasive delivery.

Special commendation is given to Oliver Louis, the highest scoring individual for the second time.

We are incredibly proud of them and already looking forward to the next debate in the autumn. 

DANCE EXTRACURRICULAR TIMETABLE AND AUDITIONS

Please see the new timetable for 2026-27 Dance clubs and company rehearsals and the audition dates for the dance company next year.

We can't wait to welcome you all back into the dance studio!

Gold DofE Assessed Expedition 2026

The week before last, 27 students completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Assessed expedition in the Lake District. This requires students to spend a minimum of 8 hours per day for 4 days journeying through wild country. The expedition requires excellent navigation skills, fitness, teamwork, campcraft and mental toughness, as well as the determination to complete the other 4 sections of the Gold Award.

On arrival in the Lakes, the whole group do an orientation walk, reviewing map skills, bearings and walking on different terrain en route to the hostel. Where they have a long evening going over routes, checking kit and final preparations. Fortunately, there was some good weather and visibility for the orientation walk, as the next day the students were faced with totally different conditions with strong winds, heavy rain, and poor visibility for the entire day. 

On Day 1, three groups set off from the Glenridding area over the Dodds and a fourth group from Elterwater over to Borrowdale.  Despite the challenging conditions, all groups had a very long but successful first day and were relieved to reach their campsites, even with the midges, sheep and facilities. Fortunately, after such a long, tough day, it was dry in the evening at the campsites for the groups to pitch their tents and cook their evening meals.

Day 2 was slightly better weather although still poor visibility on the tops but at least mainly dry. The amount of rainfall the previous day meant that groups had an especially boggy walk up over High Tove into Watendlath with the steep, boggy terrain proving an additional challenge, while the route around Dale Head was a real test of navigation skills for the group following that route as there is no path and there was again no visibility. The students showed excellent teamwork and high skill levels expected from Gold DofE groups.

Day 3 involved another very long day – a theme of the expedition with timekeeping meaning groups were yet again walking for 10 plus hours each day which impacted recovery time. However, the visibility was excellent and the views helped boost morale, despite the blisters, achy feet and heavy rucksacks.  

The cloud descended again on Day 4 which added to the challenge, particularly for the group walking to Glenridding. However, their skill level and experience enabled them to complete their route successfully while other groups were hiking from Borrowdale over to Langdale.

In addition to developing their navigation and campcraft skills, each of the groups demonstrated excellent teamwork and determination, despite some very poor weather, heavy, wet tents and extremely long days. There were the usual blisters, sore ankles, sore knees and a range of highs and lows for each individual. As is often the case walking in the hills, walkers often stop and speak to passing hikers and it was a pleasure hearing how our students reflected on their expedition at the end.  

The staff supervising the expedition were impressed and proud of the teamwork and leadership shown by every student as they supported team members and dealt with difficult terrain, navigation and weather. Their assessment included navigation, camp craft and completing an aim for their expedition and is finished with a debrief with their assessor, drying tents and cleaning trangia’s before a well earned shower, followed by an evening meal together back at Elterwater Hostel.

The students have worked extremely hard preparing for their expedition and have been a pleasure to work with. They have also been dedicated to completing various other sections of their Gold D of E and should complete the award in the coming months.

A huge thank you to Mr Hartnell, Mr Foy, Ms Headland, Mrs Fricker and Mrs Collins for supervising the expedition which could not happen without their time and enthusiasm as well as the staff back at school covering our lessons.

Staying Safe Online

As we head into the Summer holidays, it's important to consider online safety at home. Protecting children and mitigating risk at home doesn't just mean applying a filter and changing a few app settings, it needs a layered approach, and this is where the Internet Matters 'Layering Up for Online Safety' comes in.

This helps and guides you to set up devices safely across networks, the devices themselves and the apps alongside regular conversations. There is a downloadable guide which will show you how to layer up in a simple, manageable way.

Internet Matters - Layering Up for Online Safety.

Summer Holiday Activities with Barracudas

Looking for fun, action-packed activities to keep your kids busy this summer? Barracudas offer a fantastic range of holiday clubs and activities - and as a school community, we have an exclusive discount to share with you.

Use code SANPTA26 to get £20 off your booking. Not only does this save you money, but a contribution from each booking also goes directly to our school PTA - so it's a great deal and great support for the school too.

Barracudas also offer flexible payment options, including Tax-Free Childcare, Childcare Vouchers, and Klarna, helping to make holiday childcare more accessible for families.

For more information on activities and to book your place, visit their website here or call 01480 467567.

A Prestigious Piano Diploma with Distinction

A huge congratulations to Dave in 9T for achieving a Distinction in his prestigious ABRSM Associate Diploma (ARSM) in Piano.

The ARSM is an advanced, post-Grade 8 performance diploma. Dave scored an incredible 47 out of 50 with a beautiful 30-minute recital featuring works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin, and Joe Hisaishi.

The examiner was immensely impressed, praising Dave's "obvious musicianship from the outset" alongside his accomplished technique. To achieve a post-Grade 8 diploma with such high marks in Yr 9 is an amazing achievement.

Congratulations Dave, we can't wait to see what's next in your musical career.

ParentPay Final Reminder: Check Your Account is Up-to-Date

A final reminder for everyone - we kindly ask all parents to check their ParentPay accounts to ensure that ALL payments are up-to-date before we break up for the Summer. Please also ensure that canteen accounts are cleared and topped up to avoid any issues. Keeping balances in check helps us continue to provide a smooth service for all students.

Parent Pay Instructions - End of academic year & Clearing Accounts Instructions:

1. Login to your account.
2. Navigate to the Dashboard.
3. Click Pay for Meals.
4. Enter the amount you want to pay.
5. Use One-Click Payment to complete the transaction instantly.
6. You can also set up Autopayment: When your balance falls below a threshold (£1.00 min to £50.00 max), your account will automatically top up by a selected amount (£2.50 to £100.00).
7. Store your bank card securely for easy One-Click Payments and Autopay setup.

Thank you for your support and have a great Summer!

Join Old Albanians RFC Under 14s

Old Albanians RFC is recruiting new players for the upcoming season and warmly welcomes both experienced players and those who are completely new to the sport.

If your child is in the upcoming Yr 9, they are offering:

• 8 Free Training Sessions to try it out.
• League Play - Opportunities to play within two teams in the Herts Middlesex Leagues.
• Great Coaching - Qualified coaching in a friendly, supportive, and fun environment.
• Perks - Free entry to Old Albanians’ RFU National 1 home matches.

Location - Woollams Playing Fields, 160 Harpenden Road, St Albans, AL3 6BB

To find out more, visit the website here or contact the team directly at under14s@oarugby.com

A Day In The Life...

Year 7 had a fantastic day of work shadowing on Thursday 9th July. 

They were able to spend the day at work with a family member or friend, or complete some careers related activities from home.  We have loved hearing about what they learnt from the day and brilliant questions they came up with for employers.  Pictured are Khaleed, Aasiyah,Tommy and Kaiser. Khaleed spent the day doing some plumbing and boiler maintenance with his dad and Aasiyah went to work with her dad in a skincare company lab.  Tommy enjoyed helping at a construction site, and Kaiser spent the day at The watches of Switzerland Group.  

Well done to all of Yr 7 for their efforts on that hot working day.

Culture Day Marks a Spectacular End of Term

What an absolutely vibrant, joyful, and memorable way to wrap up the school year - today, Sandringham came together for Culture Day, a spectacular celebration of the incredibly rich and diverse cultures that make up our wonderful school community.

The energy across the school was lively as students and staff marked the last day of term by sharing and celebrating their heritage. 

Vibrant Traditional Dress -The field was a beautiful sea of colour, with students and staff putting in a wonderful effort to wear stunning traditional garments representing cultures from all corners of the globe.

Global Food Stalls -The school grounds were transformed into a bustling international marketplace, featuring incredible food stalls loaded with delicious dishes and flavours from around the world.

It was a heartwarming reminder of what makes Sandringham so special, and the brilliant diversity that strengthens our community.

Thank you to every student, parent, and staff member who helped organise, cook, and bring today's celebrations to life - you made the final day of the year very special.

Have a wonderful, safe, and fun-filled summer break.

Dance World Cup Triumph

Recently, Teresa (Year 8) travelled to Dublin to represent Team England at the prestigious Dance World Cup - an incredible honour in itself.

We are very happy to share that Teresa placed 5th in the world in the highly competitive Children Solo Ballet (Non-Repertoire) category.

To compete against the very best dancers from across the globe and secure a top-five finish is an amazing achievement.

Teresa is incredibly proud to wear the Team England colours, and we are absolutely delighted for her - congratulations to Teresa for her dedication, artistry, and outstanding success on the world stage. We are very proud of all you've achieved this year.

Sandridge Community Pantry 

The St Albans Community Pantry does incredible work rescuing surplus food from supermarkets and making it available to everyone in the local area.

Based at Spencer Hall in Sandridge, the pantry operates a Community Fridge and Bread Pantry. It is open to ALL, with no vouchers or referrals required. Whether you’re looking to save perfectly good food from heading to a landfill, or could use a bit of extra help stretching the weekly food shop, their doors are open.

Opening Times (Spencer Hall, Sandridge, AL4 9DD)

• Mornings: Monday to Thursday 9.00 am – 11.00 am
• Evenings: Sunday to Wednesday 9.30 pm – 10.30 pm

The pantry is entirely run by a wonderful team of unpaid volunteers and is always looking for community support:

• Pop in: Visit during their opening hours to see what food is available and help reduce waste.
• Volunteer: They are always looking for "Packing Pals" to box fresh produce, delivery drivers, and "Rescue Rangers" to collect surplus food from suppliers. Even a few hours every now and then makes a massive difference.
• Donate: Unopened food and toiletries can be dropped off during their open sessions, or you can support them online.

To find out more about what they do, look up their opening hours, or apply to volunteer, visit their website here or email them at stalbanscommunitypantry@gmail.com.

PRIZEGIVING 2026

What a fantastic week of celebration.

This week, our Prize Giving Ceremonies gave students in Yrs 7 - 10 and Yr 12 the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and reflect on an incredible school year. It was wonderful to recognise the hard work, dedication and success of so many of our students.

A huge congratulations to everyone who received an award – you should be incredibly proud of your achievements.

Well done also to all of our Yr 7 - 10 and Yr 12 students for making this such a memorable and successful year.

Now go and have a brilliant summer break!

French: opulent

German: reich

Spanish: opuleto/a

Thinking Question: What would we lose out on if we suddenly all had to speak just one language?

The Accidental Stowaway by Judith Eagle

When Patch runs up the gangway of RMS Glorious, she isn't planning to hang around. But if she leaves her hiding place, the constable who is chasing her will ruin her reputation: sitting tight is worth the risk. Too late, she realises the ship is setting sail! Patch has become an accidental stowaway. Luckily, Patch's unconventional past has made her pretty fearless when it comes to fending for herself, and besides there are friends in high and low places to be made onboard. But hiding away becomes less and less easy: her new friends urgently need her help and a there's a mystery that needs solving, all before they reach New York.

Review by Theo S, Yr 9:

"This is a great book by Judith Eagle and super for anyone who likes boats and adventure. This book follows a resourceful 12-year-old orphan called Patch who sneaks aboard the HMS Glorious to set sail for New York. This book was really engaging and kept me wanting to read more the whole time."

Summer Reading for Staff

With the summer break just around the corner, the LRC Team have a fantastic reminder for all staff members looking to unwind with a great book over the holidays.

Staff are warmly invited to drop by the LRC and borrow from our extensive collection before we break up. To give you some inspiration, we have highlighted a small selection of our latest fiction and non-fiction titles below!

• 18 Shelves to Explore: We have eighteen dedicated shelves of staff fiction situated right over by the back library desk, fully stocked and ready for you to browse.
• Extended Summer Loans: Any books borrowed now will not be due back until September, and they can always be renewed.
• Reservations & Requests: If you would like to check the availability of a specific title or wish to make a reservation, please just let the LRC team know.

Happy summer reading everyone.

O is for… opulent [adjective]

Definition: Rich and luxurious in appearance or lifestyle.

Example: They lived in an opulent mansion overlooking the sea.

Synonyms: Lavish, Luxurious, Sumptuous

Antonyms: Simple, Modest, Plain

Etymology: From Old English nǣmel, meaning “quick to grasp”

National Success - Silver at English Schools Athletics Championships

We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate an incredible national sporting achievement by one of our own. Toby P competed in the English Schools Intermediate Boys 1500m Steeplechase and claimed the title of National Runner-Up, taking home an incredible silver medal!

Toby crossed the finish line in a new Personal Best time of 4:14, a testament to his hard work, grit, and dedication to his training.

This is an outstanding, and well-deserved achievement. We are all incredibly proud of you - well done!

Top Four in the Country

The athletic success for Sandringham continued with an outstanding performance from Luke C, who competed against the finest young athletes in the country and secured a spectacular 4th place finish nationally.

Running from the notoriously difficult lane 8 where you can't see any of your competitors ahead of you - Luke executed a brilliant race. He pushed through the challenge to cross the finish line in a blistering new Personal Best time of 53.67 seconds, finishing agonisingly close to a podium spot.

To be ranked 4th in the entire country is a phenomenal achievement that requires immense dedication and talent.

We are incredibly proud of your hard work and this brilliant performance Luke - huge congratulations.

Keep Dancing...

A heartfelt celebration of family, friendship, and 46 years of Dance Unlimited.

Through music and theatre, our young performers share the joy of friendship, reminding us that life is always a little brighter and a little better when we’re dancing together.

Sunday 19th July 2:30pm.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit 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

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 MTI: www.mtishows.com.

Tickets are available on the Sandpit Theatre website