The latest project of KS3 STEM Club came to an egg-cellent end on Monday. Students have been designing and building containers with the aim of keeping an egg whole when dropped from 3 metres. There was no yolking around in the design process, as no one wanted to crack under the pressure. Plans were hatched, and some designers really came out of their shells!  Some last minute scrambling to finish their designs on Monday meant a few teams safely kept their precious cargo in one piece. Sadly, not all survived, and there might be some poaching of the best engineers to new teams in the future!

Round of applause please!

Over half term, 50 year 12 and 13 students & 7 staff visited Sri Lanka. The 6th form expedition always strives to combine experiencing a different culture, conservation / voluntary work & inspire & give students confidence to travel in the future. The expedition achieved this in abundance and every student was exemplary, always engaging positively in every activity, open minded, cheerful and superb ambassadors for the school and UK.

On arrival at 3.00am, we set off immediately to Sigiriya climbing the near vertical Sigiriya rock at breakfast time, admiring expansive 360degree views over the forest. From there we visited the amazing Dambulla Cave Temple before heading to Kandy for a cultural show.

After a welcome sleep, we were up early & after visiting the Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple, headed south to Ratnapura via a tea factory. The next day, with an early start, we drove on very minor roads, swerving tuk tuks and pot holes to Sinharaja rain forest / biodiversity hotspot & UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we walked through the rainforest heading to a waterfall, we enjoyed the sounds & environment as our guides pointed out snakes, monkeys, spiders & numerous other creatures and interesting plants.

The following day we visited an elephant transit home where orphaned elephants are rehabilitated, develop small herds & released. After another excellent lunch of curry, an expedition highlight for many of the students was a visit to a Buddhist community school. We were made very welcome as the students performed a dance, sang and made a welcome speech. We presented the school with some science textbooks, exercise books and pens as well as painted a room which will become a library for the school and planted several trees creating a natural habitat for fruit bats. However, the time around these activities where the students from both schools could interact was most memorable. 

The following morning, we left in the dark, before breakfast for a an early morning safari in Yala National Park where some students managed to see an elusive leopard and others saw elephants, water buffalo and mongoose amongst other birds and animals. After lunch, we proceeded to Galle and Galle Fort, built by the Portuguese.

The next started early with a coach journey and then transfer by Tuk Tuk to Mirissa harbour in the hope of seeing Blue Whales. We were lucky to see numerous dolphins, turtles & a Fin Whale, the 3rd biggest whale. After a restful lunch back at the hotel, we visited the Foundation of Goodness, set up after the tsunami of 2004 to support local community through various projects including sporting scholarships and education.

Our final expedition day involved planting mangrove trees and learning their importance of their role in coastal erosion and creating eco systems and carbon sinks, followed by a visit to a turtle hatchery where turtle eggs are rescued from being sold on the black market, hatched and the turtles returned to the sea. Our evening finished in Colombo where students enjoyed bartering in a local market before arriving at the hotel for a final delicious meal of the expedition of several choices of curry.

Overall, the expedition was extremely enjoyable with a range of cultural and conservation activities creating many amazing memories for the students and staff. 

We are delighted to celebrate one of our talented students, Lauren P for her Underwater Hockey achievements over the past few weeks.

The week before half term, Lauren captained and coached the U19 St Albans team in the East Anglian tournament. Under her leadership, the team secured a well-earned gold medal in a hard-fought match against Guildford. Lauren then continued her success the following weekend, and straight from the ski trip, she travelled to Leeds to compete in the national qualifiers with the adult St Albans team. Over two intense days of competition, Lauren helped her team defeat the Midlands team, securing a fantastic bronze medal. To top it all off, Lauren scored the winning goal in this thrilling match!

Everyone is incredibly proud of Lauren’s determination, leadership, and commitment to the game and her team. Keep up the great work, Lauren.

100 Years of Hertfordshire Libraries.

Hertfordshire Libraries are celebrating 100 years of libraries in the county, and there’s a fantastic line-up of events happening across Hertfordshire to mark this milestone.

One of the first exciting events will take place at Marshalswick Library and features a return visit from Sam Blake (pen name of Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin), an award-winning crime and thriller author. Sam Blake was born in St Albans, attended school locally, and spent time at Marshalswick Library as a child.

On Thursday 13th March at 7:00pm, Sam will be discussing her career as a writer, the inspiration behind her books, her characters, the locations in her stories, and much more. This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of crime fiction and a great chance for local residents, including parents, to connect with an accomplished author and learn more about the world of crime thrillers.

You can find the details in the attached poster. For more information feel free to contact Ian Dignum, Library Manager, at ian.dignum@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

UK Mathematics Trust – Intermediate Mathematical Challenge.

Last  month students in Yr 9, 10 and 11 took part in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge run by the UK Mathematics Trust. The Intermediate Mathematical Challenge is a 60-minute, multiple-choice competition. This was a fantastic opportunity which offers students the chance to develop their mathematical problem-solving skills. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.  The problems on the Intermediate Challenge are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience. 

Students that perform well are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates, with the best performing students being invited to take an additional challenge. Overall, 38 students received a Bronze award, 34 students received a Silver award and 15 students received a Gold award, with 9 students being invited to participate in subsequent rounds.

Special mention goes to Peter F for achieving Best In Yr 11, Caleb M for Best in Yr 9 and Oliver S for Best in School.

Well done to everyone who took part.

We are thrilled to share that thanks to the generosity of school community, Mr. O'Connor has now reached his funding target of £350 for the National Literacy Trust! A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far – your support means so much. For those who still wish to contribute, the NLT would of course still welcome any further donations to help fund their vital projects that support literacy development across the UK.

As a reminder, Mr. O'Connor will be running a half marathon in early April to raise money for this amazing cause. If you'd like to support him and the National Literacy Trust, a JustGiving page has been set up here. Thank you again for your incredible support.

Head Student Application Process: Calling Year 12 Students!

This week we are excited to the launch the Head Student application process for Year 12 students. This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a leadership role and represent your school in the most meaningful way!

If you are interested, the first step is to submit a short letter outlining why you would be a great fit for this important position. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a brief presentation and attend an interview with Mr Gray and members of the Sixth Form Team.

Why wait - step up and make a difference to your school. We look forward to seeing your applications!

Emotionally Based School Anxiety Drop-In Sessions.

DSPL7 and Services for Young People, in partnership with The Pioneer Club, are 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: 11th March, 14th May, and 19th June. Further information, including contact details can be found in the flyer.

Today, some lucky Yr 12 and 13 students will be attending the Pinewood Futures Festival 2025.

This event is set to be Europe’s largest free careers festival for anyone interested in starting a career in the Film & TV industry.

Held at Pinewood Studios, the iconic home of film franchises like James Bond, Star Wars, and Marvel, students will have the chance to meet employers and industry professionals, participate in workshops, and attend insightful panels. The festival aims to inspire, engage, and encourage students to explore careers in the screen industry, from behind-the-scenes production to on-screen talent.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain valuable insights into the dynamic and creative world of Film and TV. We hope all the students attending make the most of this experience and are inspired to consider the many exciting career paths within this industry. Enjoy the day!

Year 9 into 10 Options

We were really pleased to welcome Yr 9 and their families to school on Tuesday this week. Having explained the options process in the Hall, the students made their way to each GCSE and Vocational subject to learn more about what they entail in Yr 10 and 11. Many thanks to all the students and their families for engaging so positively with this exciting step in students’ journey through school.  This link will direct you to the school’s option booklet and a reminder of upcoming important dates. We look forward to seeing you all next year at PTC.

Help us make our sustainable garden a reality!

Students from the Year 9 horticulture module have been working on designs for a forest/shaded garden in our environmental area. To maximise sustainability, we intend to use a variety of repurposed building and organic material. We are seeking reclaimed materials such as:

• complete bricks/brick pavers
• broken up concrete/rockery stones
• cobbles, chippings, play bark
• tree trunk slices and stumps
• old tyres
• spare weed-stop fabric
• paving stones (complete or broken)
• timber (sleepers or edging)
• unwanted bird baths or stone features

In addition, we would welcome any shaded plant cuttings such as heucheras, hostas or ferns.

If would like to donate, please contact Mrs Staples via admin@sandringham.aetrust.uk to arrange collection.

Thank you!

The annual Sandringham Chemistry Show is back with a bang! Tickets are on sale on the SandPit website to join us for an evening of fantastic demonstrations and experiments, led by our Head of Chemistry, Mr Reynolds. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please note: Wheatfields students in years 5 and 6 will be seeing the show in the afternoon. 

Please can families support their year 10 students in adding their private work experience placement details to Unifrog by Tuesday 11th March.  For those unable to find a placement, please don't worry, further support for this will be provided later in March.

This week two groups of students from Yr 7 entered the Team Maths Challenge run by Herts For Learning. The challenge is a mixture of challenges, problem-solving, teamwork and fun.  All teams take part in one of the preliminary heats, with the best-performing teams going through to the Final.

In their heat, one team finished 10th and the other team finished 5th. We are still waiting to see if either or both of them have qualified for the final, so we'll keep everything crossed for the results.

Congratulations to Clement D,  Matthew V,  Toby C, Juliette D, Maria Z, Leo K, Isabel C, and Hayley M.

Supporting Links is offering a FREE in-person six-week "Talking Teens" course designed to help parents and carers navigate the challenges of parenting 12-19 year olds. It's open to all parents, carers, grandparents, and guardians in Hertfordshire,and will be held on Wednesdays, 7.00 - 9.00pm, from 26th February to 2nd April 2025 at the Gade Community Room, Oakleaf Primary School, Hemel Hempstead. The course will explore the teenage brain, explaining the physical and emotional changes that influence behaviour. It delves deeper into the connection between behaviour and difficult feelings, offer practical strategies for maintaining strong communication, discuss understanding and navigating risk-taking behaviours along with providing effective techniques and tools for conflict resolution. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to gain insights and connect with other parents and carers. For more information and to secure your space please click the links provided.

We’re Hiring! come and be part of our fantastic team here at Sandringham! We’re currently looking for:

- Theatre Technician.

- Teaching Assistant.

- Teaching Assistant (Visual Impairment Support).

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

Yr 8 Students Gain Career Insights at Special Assembly

Before Half Term, our Yr 8 students had the exciting opportunity to attend a careers assembly hosted by Renee from Computacenter. This was part of a series of careers assemblies for Yr 8, to help them begin thinking about careers they might be interested in pursuing later on. Renee shared her own career journey, offering valuable insights into her professional experiences and the paths she has taken to get where she is today.

During the assembly, Renee also introduced students to the various opportunities and apprenticeships available at Computacenter, providing them with a glimpse into potential career paths within the tech industry. Her talk was both inspiring and informative, giving students with a better understanding of the career options open to them in the future. Also pointing out that you do not always need an IT background to work in the industry

A huge thank you to Renee for taking the time to engage with our students and for inspiring them to consider the many possibilities ahead. We look forward to more career-focused events that help guide our students on their journey to success!

On the 10th February, our fantastic English Faculty arranged a private viewing of ‘Macbeth’ at The Odyssey Cinema for our Yr 11 GCSE English Literature students. With plush swivel chairs and tables, The Odyssey is no ordinary cinema experience and this ‘Macbeth’ was no ordinary production. Starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, this was the sold-out West End stage production that received rave reviews and for good reason. Acting royalty David Tennant truly brought Macbeth’s character to life for our Yr 11s, who are studying it at GCSE, whilst Cush Jumbo’s Lady Macbeth, clad in pure white, was brilliantly cunning. With a few unexpected scenes, watching this production was an unforgettable experience. A huge thanks to the English Faculty for organising.

 HOUSE POINTS

After the half term break Hepworth remain on the top spot. Let's see if things can change over the next few weeks leading up to Easter.

1. Hepworth 17,244
2. Austen 16,791
3. Newton 15,736

Special mentions this week:  

• Eleanor West (10J) (14) – Most points this week
• Johnson for winning this weeks house points – 397
• Hepworth for leading this months house points - 1285
• 7A for the highest average points in their tutor group (127.3)
• Turing for winning the vertical house quiz number 1. (gained 200 points for Turing)
• 9E the highest quiz score total – 106/140
• Eugene V (12T) – Fastest answer in POTW

This week 30 students and 3 staff headed to Hamburg for our 16th exchange with the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Gymnasium, Quickborn. A strong partnership through challenges. You can follow all of the news @SandringhamMFL and read a write up of the trip next week in the Sandprint!

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?

‘Vote for Nature’ Fashion Show.

This is an exciting community collaboration aimed at raising awareness about wild animals and their natural habitats, which are under threat from climate change.

Local fashion students from Oaklands College, in partnership with Tommy & Lottie and The Pioneer club, have been working hard to create sustainable fashion garments using only natural and organic fabrics. The highlight of this project will be the ‘Vote for Nature’ Fashion Show, taking place on Friday 7th March 2025, from 7-9pm at The Pioneer Club.

The students have designed unique, eco-friendly pieces that showcase their talent, with no plastics or synthetic fabrics used. Limited edition ‘Vote for Nature’ t-shirts designed by the fashion students will also be available for purchase, alongside selected pieces from the designer’s own collection.

What a fantastic opportunity to support the next generation of fashion designers, all while promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.

Click here to get your tickets!

An Incredible Trip to The Gambia: A Visit to Our Partner School

Miss England, Mr. Gray, Ms. Lyons, and 16 Sixth Form students recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to The Gambia, where they visited our partner school in Farafenni. The trip was packed with wonderful experiences, including sightseeing, spending time with the students at the school, participating in a cultural show, and even playing water polo in the heat! Despite the soaring temperatures of 37°C and the challenges of bucket showers, our students were nothing short of exemplary, showing incredible resilience and enthusiasm throughout the trip.

We are also incredibly grateful to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to donate a total of £5,000 to the school. This contribution will go towards increasing the capacity of the borehole, ensuring that clean water is readily available for the school, and will also help start the construction of a sports pitch for activities such as football and basketball. Some fantastic memories were made along with some invaluable learning experiences for our students and staff.

The link between our schools will continue, with another visit planned for 2027. If you're in Years 10 and 11, keep an eye on Google Classroom for details on how to apply for this exciting opportunity!

Thank you once again to everyone who made this trip possible and supported our cause!

This week’s whole school theme celebrates the school’s long standing connection with The Gambia. The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland Africa and is surrounded by Senegal, except for its western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Sandringham has had a relationship with a school in The Gambia, Farrefeni High School, since 2008. The students received a brilliant assembly from Technology teacher Ms England and some of the Year 12 students who visited Farrefeni in the February half term. The students spoke about the positive relationships they built with Farrefeni students and how much they enjoyed learning about the cultural differences between our two countries. Look out for opportunities to travel to the Gambia in the future and/or fundraise to support our partner school.

On Tuesday 11th February the Economics Society welcomed Hannah Barnes from the Bank of England, who delivered a talk to Yr 13 students.  The talk covered the Bank’s role in controlling inflation through monetary policy and ensuring financial stability through macroprudential regulation. Ms Barnes then discussed her role in at the bank, which involves looking at financial stability and bank stress testing and resilience.  She then talked about her route into her career at the Bank of England, undertaking a degree apprenticeship with the bank. A special thank you to Eden Y for his role in organising the visit.

Help Us Shape the Future of FO$S: New Chair and Secretary Needed.

As we reflect on an amazing year of fundraising, we want to thank all the parents who supported FO$S through events like the Christmas Fair, Welcome BBQ, Quiz Night, and second-hand uniform sales, raising an incredible £15,000. This has gone directly to supporting our students, and funding some amazing projects.

As we move forward, we are looking for a new Chair and Secretary to join our team. These roles are essential to continuing the work of fostering a strong, connected community within the school. As Brian Solis wisely said, “Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.” This is your chance to be part of something meaningful, making a real impact on our students’ experience.

We’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our current team:

Tara Macdonald – Co-Chair and Secretary

Nick Fingland – Co-Chair (transitioning to Treasurer in September 2025)

Kathryn Caswell – Treasurer (serving since 2011)

Their hard work and dedication have been instrumental in building the strong community we are today. If you are interested in learning more about these roles, please email friendsofsandringhamschool@gmail.com or visit our website for more information:

The Fo$S team is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming fundraising event. We’ve teamed up with Jest Another Comedy to bring you a hilarious night of stand-up comedy. The show will feature 4 fantastic acts, along with a fully stocked bar for your ultimate enjoyment!

Date: Friday, 7th March 2025
Doors Open: 6:45 PM
Show Starts: 7:30 PM

Don't miss out on this fun evening – grab your Tickets today!

Look forward to seeing you there!

The body seemed to fall for a long time. There was no splash, or if there was it was lost in the waves. Isobel was frozen to the spot for a moment - and then her common sense caught up with her, and she stepped back quickly into the shadows. When Isobel Petty is orphaned, she finds herself being taken away from her home in India and sent to live with a distant uncle in England.

On board the S.S. Marianna, she witnesses a shocking act - somebody being thrown overboard in the middle in the night. But when the ship's captain insists that nobody is missing, Isobel and her two new reluctant friends must solve two mysteries - the identities of both the murderer and the victim - before they reach England and the culprit has the chance to escape.

Theo S in year 8 has recently read the book and says, “There was a great plot twist near the end. This book really showed how you don't have to be smart to solve a crime.”

French: omniprésent

German: überall

Spanish: ubicuo/a

Thinking Question: Nouns in French, German and Spanish have genders. Do you know any of the rules about linguistic gender? How does German differ? from French and Spanish in terms of grammatical genders?

U is for… ubiquitous  [noun]

Definition: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Example: His ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family.

Synonyms: Ever-present, Omnipresent, Universal.

Antonyms: Rare, Scarce.

Etymology: From the Latin word ubique, meaning “everywhere.”

Well done to our U14 A Team who won the first fixture of the new half term! Congratulations to Player of the Match Isabella P. Well done all, great effort.

Hopefully everybody is feeling well rested after the half term break and the sports teams are ready to leap back into action. Another big week ahead for everyone, including Football, Netball, Basketball and a spinkle of Cricket for good measure. Good luck all.

Year 7: A massive achievement from our youngest Basketball team who won the county rally to become County Champions. What a fantastic start to your Basketball careers, a brilliant performance for the whole team. 

Year 9 Girls: A great win in the first round of the District Cup for the U14 Team. Goals from Nell (3), Lillia (2) and Lucy. Player of the Match - Holly P.

Year 9 Boys: Thursdays game V's KWS in the first round of the district cup was amazingly a rerun of the 2024 district final. After being down 1-0 at half time, the visitors secured a convincing win. Credit to every student for fighting until the final whistle, it was a great game.

Year 10 Boys: A tight match V's KWS on Thursday this week for the Yr 10 team which saw Sandringham win 1-0. An Anfield penalty as the decider, and a meeting with SJL in the quarter final.

We are excited to let you know that the GCSE Dance Evening Performance will be taking place in the Sandpit Theatre on Thursday 6th March at 4:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and their families to see the hard work and creativity of our GCSE dance students come to life on stage.

The performance will showcase a variety of pieces, reflecting the diverse talents and skills our students have developed throughout the course. We look forward to seeing you there to support our talented dancers!

Get ready for the Spring Concert!

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 and make sure you don’t miss out.

See you there!