Mrs Wainwright's Weekly Highlights

Each week we share a short round-up of the things that have made our school shine — from learning in the classroom to special events, collective worship and achievements worth celebrating. It’s a chance to keep up to date and share in the joy of school life, to see how our vision “Journeying Together, We Shine” is lived out in the everyday moments.

Autumn 2025

Week One 

What a super first week back it has been at Thornham St James! It has been wonderful to welcome all our children into school and see them quickly settle into routines. The benefits of our separate classrooms can already be felt in the calm and purposeful learning environment across the school.

A very special welcome goes to our new Reception children and their families — what a fantastic start you’ve all made to life at TSJ! We are so proud of how confidently you have embraced your new adventure.

This week, we have been reflecting on our school vision “Journeying Together, We Shine” and our core values. Pupils have had their say on aspects of school life by voting for Friday Clubs and Pupil Council members. Keep an eye on Class Dojo and our social media next week for the announcement of our newly elected representatives!

Our first Shining Stars of the year were: Olivia, Danny, Ivy, Max, Oscar, Penelope, Lucas, Jameson, Sienna, Ollie, Lorelai, Albert, Lucas and Esmai. A huge well done to each of you for living out our school vision and values so brilliantly in your very first week back.

Looking ahead to next week:

  • Parent Forum – Wednesday, 5:30–6:30pm
    Home–school collaboration is really important to us as we live out our vision. If you would like to attend, please email Mrs Wainwright with any topics you’d like to discuss: head@stjamesthornham.oldham.sch.uk

  • Help Your Child with Phonics Workshop – Thursday, 3:00–3:30pm
    This session is for Reception and Year 1 parents. If you can’t attend, don’t worry — the workshop will be recorded and uploaded to our website.

As always, details of upcoming events can be found in the calendar provided at the end of last academic year, with updates added to Dojo and our website as the term progresses.

We are off to a flying start, and I want to thank you all for your encouragement and support in making this such a positive first week back!

 

Week Two 
This week in worship, we explored the question “How do we belong to our community?” Through Picture News, children learnt about a church in Sweden that had been moved stone by stone! We linked this to our own community, talking about which buildings are special to us, and how this connects to the British Values of mutual respect and tolerance. We thought about how, just like buildings can move, so can people—and how we can show welcome and respect to everyone. In our Heartsmart assembly, we looked at how every choice has a consequence, through the story of Jonah and the Big Fish.
Today in Celebration Assembly, we congratulated those who have shone brightly this week—well done to Izzy, Sophie, Aminah-Hayaat, Freya, Ruby, Astrid, Mollie, William, Hugo, Harry, Jack, Oliver, Ada and Alfie!


We also proudly appointed our new Pupil Voice Councils. Next week, from our Year 6 Pupil Voice Leaders Head Boy and Head Girl will be selected—who will be chosen?
Junior Faith Leaders : William, Poppy , Sienna, George , Lucas, Rosie , Ronnie, Charlotte, Esme, Rudy, Nathan and Lucas
Healthy Bodies and Minds: Harper, Oscar, Timothy, Martha , William, Frankie, Xander, Erin, Dottie, Oliver, Husayn and Lorela
Digital Leaders: Lucas, Oscar, Henry, Astrid, Cleo, Ollie, Hugo, Sophie, Missy, Parker, Ollie and Isla
Eco Council: Aminah-Hayaat, Isla, Lily, Rupert, Theo, Freddie, Esmai, Max H, Fatima, Jack, Anike and Amelia
Reading Ambassadors: Hidaya, Niall, Alabama, Oscar, Stanley, Frankie A, Jessica, Frankie, Freddie, Hanna, Halle and Abbie
Our School Council: Nathan, Lucas, Husayn, Lorelai, Ollie, Isla, Anike, Amelia, Halle, Abbie

At lunchtimes, children continue to enjoy a well-earned rest or throw themselves into adventure—with Miss Lowthian’s musical area, Miss Gillespie’s water play, bikes and scooters, and Mrs Corr’s crafts all offering lots of opportunities for fun and creativity.

Community and Families
We welcomed families into school for our first Parents’ Forum. Thank you to the parent who joined us—we explored the purpose of the forum, its link to our school vision, and how it will strengthen those all-important home–school links. Minutes will be shared on our school website this weekend.
We also welcomed families from Year 1 and Year 2 to talk about phonics. Miss McCann’s presentation will be uploaded to our website for anyone unable to attend.

Looking Ahead
Tuesday 9:30–10:30am – First Community Stay and Play session (pre-school age).
Thursday 3pm – Parents from Y2–Y6 are invited to join Mrs Martin in the hall to learn more about how we teach reading.
Friday – Our first Class Celebration Assemblies, Year 1 and Year 5 classes will span the autum term.

 

Week Three

What an amazing, amazing week we have had together!

In worship, we thought about how we are always stronger together. I used Lego figures to show this in my assembly and with Father Paul we heard the story of The Good Shepherd. Father Paul also visited our Reception class to lead Diddly Disciples — the children had so much fun worshipping through song!

Mrs Martin led a special singing assembly, teaching everyone a brand-new song called “Together” all about the importance of community.

Across school, our pupils have shone:
When I taught Year 1 maths, I was blown away by your brilliant recall of number facts and subitising.
Year 2 have loved their work on The Killer Cat and even earned 5 gems for working so well as a team and being ready for learning.
Year 3 explored myHappymind, meeting “the brain” and learning how to use your different character strengths so you can always be at your best.
Year 4 impressed us with homework that showed independent thinking and application of knowledge.
Year 5 are getting stuck into The Girl of Ink and Stars, getting to know Isa.
Year 6 learnt a fantastic song to help remember relative clauses — ask them to sing it to you!

Congratulations to our Headteacher’s Award winners this week:
Edie, Oscar, Emilai, Rosie, Bobby, Maisie and Anike.

Well done also to the children who demonstrated our school values:
Dottie, Daisy, William, Freya, Addison, Halle and Charlotte.

Big congratulations too to our new Head Pupils: Isla and Abbie, with Lucas as Deputy. Every candidate shone in their interviews — your confidence and our school values really stood out.

As a community we have also:
Held our very first Stay & Play for local families and childminders — such a joy to welcome new friends into school.
Welcomed parents for a Reading Workshop with Mrs Martin (they even joined in a lesson!).
Held our first Celebration Assemblies for Year 1 and Year 5. Thank you, families, for joining us and helping our community to shine.

Coming Up Next Week
KS2 Cross Country competition - good luck to thsoe children who have been selected
Macmillan Coffee Afternoon — Wednesday from 1:15pm. Parents welcome! Refreshments available to buy.
Help Your Child with Maths Session for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 — Thursday 3:00–3:25pm.
Reception 2026 Open Evening — Thursday at 6:15pm.
Celebration Assemblies for Year 1 and Year 6 continue on Friday.

Another wonderful week of 'Journeying Together, We Shine'!