In Assembly this week Mrs Ludwick and students Caitlin F (8N), Hayley D (7W), Jeannie J (7N) and Alexia E (7S) gave a presentation that enabled us to think more about, and reduce, food waste. Telling us that UK households waste 6.6 million tonnes of food, we learned that the amount of edible food wasted in the UK could fill eight Wembley Stadiums!

Highlighting that wasted food is wasted resources, the presentation drew our attention to a number of simple actions that could help us to reduce food waste, live better and help the planet:
Use leftovers – to make a delicious second meal.
Freeze groceries – to keep supplies longer.
Put fruit in the fridge – to prolong shelf-life.

The presentation also drew our attention to a number of useful apps:
Too good to go – an app that sells leftover boxes of fruit and vegetables which restaurants and supermarkets are unable to use.
Odd box – a food company selling fruit and vegetables that farmers are not able to sell to supermarkets as they are misshapen or the ‘wrong’ size.
Karma – an app selling leftover food from coffee shops and restaurants at discounted prices.

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As is now customary, we came back from the break to practice the hymns and songs we shall sing in Chapel until the end of term. Having honoured our Scottish neighbours last term, Mrs Jackson led us in singing the national anthems of Wales (The Land of my Fathers) and Ireland (O Danny Boy) in preparation for St David’s Day (1st March 2024) and St Patrick’s Day (17th March 2024) respectively. Mrs Jackson also led us in singing traditional Lent and Easter hymns: Forty Days and Forty Nights, There is a Green Hill, Were You There? and Thine Be the Glory. In closing, we sang Sam Ryder’s Eurovision hit – Spaceman – in preparation for the forthcoming Science, Maths and DT week in Chapel.

Please join us in prayer this week:

Provider God, having fed many people with not very much, you told us to ‘gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost’ (John 6:12).

Therefore, we pray that you will help us to be good stewards of our resources that there will be enough water, food and shelter for all.
Amen

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Stamp Family Service

I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the families and friends who attended the Stamp Family Service on 16th February 2024.  Feedback suggests that the service was much enjoyed by those who attended and who took part.  A special thank you is extended to the staff who made the event possible – Mrs Ludwick, Mr Booth, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Khan, Mrs Warren and Miss Phillips – and the students whose contributions perfectly illustrated God’s love, the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.

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Charity activities

We are pleased to announce that students and staff have raised more than £5,500 for charities to date this academic year.  House Suppers have so far raised more than £1,500 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice; in addition, more than £475 has been raised for Herts Young Homeless and £1,182 was raised for Crisis at Christmas.  Other beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Care, Royal British Legion, Ella’s, Save the Children, The British Bee Charity and The Brain Tumour Charity.  Donations of toiletries were made to Hatfield Food Bank and shoeboxes filled with toys were donated to Operation Christmas Child.  In addition, £172 was raised by girls to help pay for their World Challenge Trip.

Reverend Kate Douglas
Chaplain