We are happy to be back and learning at Cypress Upper! At the Upper School, we’ve been reflecting on the idea of service—what it means to go above and beyond, to put others first, and to be committed to making a positive difference. We’ve been learning about the many people who serve our community every day, and we’ve been thinking about how we can show gratitude for their efforts. As a school, we’ve been inspired to carry out our own small acts of service—whether that’s picking up litter when we see it, helping our parents tidy up at home, gardening and caring for our shared outdoor spaces, or even walking our dogs (or a neighbour’s!). These small actions help us look after the people and places around us and remind us that everyone can make a difference.
🌿 The Garden is Growing at Cypress Upper! 🌻
What started as a dream on a funding application has now burst into life—literally! Thanks to generous grants, amazing support from our PTFA, and the hard work of our incredible school community, the once-unused garden space at Cypress Upper School has been transformed into a thriving hub of growth, learning, and joy.
The vision was simple but powerful: to create a garden where children could connect with nature, learn about where their food comes from, and enjoy a calm, inclusive space. Over the Easter holidays, Rona and Jemma from Goldfinch Garden Design helped bring that vision to life. They dug in (quite literally!), planting, watering, and turning the space into something truly beautiful. We’re so grateful for their time, talent, and green thumbs!
Our pupils have been just as involved. Gardening has become a hands-on part of the curriculum, with students learning to plant seeds, spot garden pests, and explore how plants support our planet. Along the way, they’ve also been working together, developing communication skills, and fostering a strong sense of care for their environment. The garden is now more than a learning space—it’s become a real community project. Gardening days have brought together children, parents, and staff, with muddy boots, big smiles, and a shared sense of pride.
We’re so proud of how far the garden has come—and even more excited for what’s ahead. A huge thank you to everyone who’s helped make this happen: from the original grant writers and tireless PTFA members to our amazing volunteers, staff, and of course, the children.
Let’s keep growing—together! 🌼
Cypress Superstars
A huge well done to Ray in Year 6 Larch Class for his beautifully descriptive and atmospheric introduction to his narrative based on Wolf Brother. His writing really captured the imagination and showed great attention to detail—fantastic work, Ray! We’d also like to celebrate Lewis, who has been practising diligently on his violin over the break. His hard work has truly paid off, with his teacher commenting on the incredible progress he’s made. We’re all looking forward to hearing Lewis play us into assembly on Monday—what a wonderful start to the week that will be!
A big shout-out to our cross country runners who, alongside Ms Hassan, led an engaging assembly to launch next week’s sporting initiative: the TCS Mini Marathon! All pupils will be taking part during their PE lessons, and the excitement is already building. Huge thanks to Ms Hassan for organising this brilliant event.
Over in Cedar Class, Jocelyn, Rose, Ivy, and Roscoe impressed us all with their informative and well-structured non-chronological reports about the Stone Age. Their use of technical vocabulary and clear diagrams really helped support the reader’s understanding—excellent work! And finally, a big well done to Bea, Emilia, Tom, Kerim, and Omari for their thoughtful and creative values posters. Each poster reflected the personal qualities and beliefs that matter most to them, and it was inspiring to see such maturity and reflection in their work.
A big well done to Oak Class, who recently took part in additional testing for the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), commissioned by the government to help ensure the validity of end of Key Stage assessments. The pupils approached the task with a positive attitude, worked cheerfully, and gave it their very best effort. We are incredibly proud of their focus and resilience—brilliant job, Oak!
Have a great weekend.
Mrs Carpenter and the Cypress Upper team
