Latest News

What's been happening at St Meryl this week?

• Autumn Term Week 1

  Fri 03 Sep 2021

   Historic times at St Meryl! After so much anticipation, and over 16 months between this time and the last, we all got to be together in the hall for our first assembly. Children settled in very quickly for the 2 days of the week that they were in for - and all teachers were so happy to see everyone. We also had a look at a new addition to out school - 178 solar panels that were put up over the summer holidays. Although we haven't quite figured out how to read them properly, we have learnt how they work, and the benefits to our school from them!

  

• 11th June

  Fri 11 Jun 2021

   Well... first week of Summer 2, and things certainly heated up! Some wonderful, creative learning was witnessed by all who visited. 

  This week's highlights:

  - A proud mathematician, who mastered finding a third of amounts.

  - A  session of Olympic-themed activities (relays and handball). 

  - Some Year 2 self-portraits (imagined if they were monsters).

  - The return of Mr Joyce and Outdoor Learning (hooray!!).

  - A special treat to the staff from our Governors for working hard this week (#bestgovernorsintheworld)

  - The inaugural St Meryl Robot Olympics - Event 1: The 2x25 metres slalom; Event 2: The 2x50 metres robot relay. Spheros and coding put to magnificent use. 

  

• May 21st 2021

  Fri 21 May 2021

   Not as many photographs to share this week as normal, as pupils completed some assessments for Reading and Maths. 

   Amongst these challenges, there was still time for...

   A visit to Year 5 from Rachel, who is training to be a vicar - part of their RE studies, and some excellent knowledge gained. Rachel was impressed with the standard of questions from the pupils.

   A study in Picasso-style art in Year 3. This particular piece earnt this aspiring artist a Star of the Week award. 

   Musical fusion created yet again in Reception - their "supply teacher" felt that it was time to investigate the new percussion instruments. Big Bear Funk has never sounded so vibrant. 

   Our esteemed House Captains announce the winning house points this week (back to back wins for Red House - the first time in many months). 

   Finally, the Makaton Champions teach the school signs for the seasons this week. Weather-wise, probably not great timing to talk about summer!

  

• 14th May 2021

  Fri 14 May 2021

   The Dining Room is reopen!! This may seem like such a small thing, but for our Reception children, they have have never eaten in there before. So we thought that we would give then the Dining Room all to themselves for Monday and Tuesday. Word quickly got around, and by Wednesday Year 1 got involved. By Thursday and Friday Year 2 joined in the fun as well. The sound of children eating together is another thing that we took for granted pre-March 2020, but we welcomed it with open arms!

   In other news... 3 authors from Nursery wowed with their latest efforts. 

   - The entries to the Panini Football Classroom Challenge have been scanned and sent in. Fingers crossed. 

  - A Year 2, that's right - Year 2, pupil was sent to me to inform me of how photosynthesis helps plants grow. 

  - Year 3 have been learning about Ramadan, and created these wonderful designs. 

  - A Year 5 child painted this beautiful water colour picture in the style of artist Georgia O'Keefe. 

   Finally, as part of our 70th Anniversary, I have pooled together some archived photographs, and some that have been sent to me. As restrictions have been eased, feel free to come in to the reception area and have a look! You may even spot a younger version of yourself in some of the photos, or even learn a bit of history that you did not previously know. 

  If you do have any pictures/ stories/ information that you think we'd find useful, then please send them to head@stmeryl.herts.sch.uk

  

• 7th May 2021

  Fri 07 May 2021

   Some more very proud children this week! Firstly, some phonics experts in Nursery, who have been showing some extra huge resilience with their teachers. Their proud expressions say it all, really. 

   Year 4 continue to persevere with learning ukulele chords - this week the difficult chord of G was the focus - a very important addition to the C and F chords to ensure that "Three Little Birds" can be enjoyed as it should. 

   A year 3 pupil showed some incredible advances in his handwriting. Keep up the good work! A year 1 pupil has really taken to enjoying his reading at school and at home. How great to see yet another child's love of books. 

   As this year is our 70th Anniversary, we are asking far and wide for ex-pupils and teachers to provide us with memories and photographs from yesteryear. Mr Reddin managed to track down the original plans of the school! They are in a fragile state, but very interesting to compare the plans from 1949 to what school looks like now! 

   Finally, some Year 1 pupils displayed some robotic programming skills by controlling the Spheros - we even opened the outdoor classroom for the first time since March 2020 to do the lesson! 

   

   

  

• April 30th 2021

  Fri 07 May 2021

  Two amazing examples of learning were sent to me this week. 

   The first being a child that has been learning Algebra in Maths. Oh, the frustration she felt of not being able to understand it! However, with our termly core value being resilience, this young lady kept going, took on every piece of feedback and guidance and managed to break down the equations to their simplest form. A real milestone for any Year 6 child. The sky is the limit, now!

   At the other end of the school, 3 writers from Reception tried their hand at not only developing their increasingly beautiful handwriting, but also beginning to create their own narrative tales. An incredible achievement for these young authors.

  

• April 23rd 2021

  Tue 27 Apr 2021

  Displays were the order of the week this week. Have a look at the fantastic efforts already made this term. As we have not had the opportunity to create learning for our display boards in SUCH a long time, we got to choose our own area of learning for this half term, instead of sticking to a school theme. Some excellent examples from St Meryl! 

  Also - 3 very proud students showing off some descriptive writing, and a Year 6 Positive Minds workshop took place!

  

• April 16th 2021

  Fri 16 Apr 2021

   First week of the summer term, and things are getting more and more "normal". 

    Our children arrived to school on Monday morning to see some new markings on the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds (chosen by the School Council). Throughout the week, Hopscotch and Target Practice were the fun games to play at breaktimes. 

   This week marked the first after school sports clubs to begin after lockdown. Gymnastics, Multisports and Volleyball were enjoyed by all those that took part, and there were new topics taught in PE, including Fitness Games in Year 5. 

   For the first time in a long time, it was deemed safe enough for the scooters and cars to be used in Early Years - much to the enjoyment of the children.

   Year 4 began some amazing weaving, and in Reception some glorious printing took place.  

   Year 2 finished and showcased their DT fire engines - they will come in very handy to extinguish the great fires of London that also adorn their classroom wall. 

   ...and I may be mistaken, but I think I heard singing from Year 6 - surely not choosing their songs for the Leavers' Show already? I was surprised to hear that a member of Year 6 had chosen "I'm a Pink Toothbrush" as a potential number. We will see...

   

  

• March 19th 2021

  Fri 19 Mar 2021

   Two weeks into welcoming the pupils back, and we have made sure that everyone is active! This week I have taken photographs of some of the activities that have been happening BEYOND the classroom, starting with...

  Our fantastic sports coaches who have been leading:

  - Tables Tennis with Year 6

  - Dodge Ball with Year 3

  - Basketball with Year 4.

  Rocksteady are back in the house - this time the bands are in their class bubbles, but still creating a wall of sound with guitars, bass, keyboards and drums.

  Early Years have some new additions to their outdoors area, including a fully functioning water pump, and a mysterious sand pit without sand..

   Other highlights of the last 2 weeks have included:

  - A Star of the Week from Early Years presenting me with my very own pine cone. 

  - A child who chose to READ TO AN ADULT during Golden Time.

  - Pupils wearing it red (and raising a lot of money) for Red Nose Day. 

  And finally, a pupil who has become immortalised on our brand new banner, and just had to have his photo taken beside it. 

   We are still open for Nursery applications - spread the word, everybody!

   

   

  

• Week 12 - The rehearsing begins..

  Fri 04 Dec 2020

   Singing was heard coming down the hallways this week. Festive singing. There may have even been the odd audition or two in classrooms as I walked by from time to time. Slowly but surely, it seems that Christmas is back on at St Meryl. 

   Amongst all this there was some excellent work completed as well. 

   - A young man from Reception who excelled at the art of cutting spirals to make a Christmas tree. 

  - A young man who independently created a windsock fit for any weather station. 

  - Some exceptional Christmas cards made by Year 3

  - Some imaginative myths written by our resident authors in Year 4 - some still completing them and up top their 3rd page!

  - A group of proud musicians in Year 5 who have made their own musical instruments. 

  - A piece of Geographical research based on North America. 

   

  Even though it's beginning to look a little bit like Christmas, the learning still doesn't stop at St Meryl!