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13/11/24

Thanks to for their support on our most recent project. has recently brightened its premises with an innovative addition: new window wraps aimed at enhancing the school's aesthetic while fostering a creative and welcoming environment. pic.twitter.com/KwCFeDuWJ2

12/11/24

Year 2 have been using counters and tens frames to ‘add by making 10’. Using concrete resources really helped the children to understand the strategy. pic.twitter.com/HbfHS88DIY

12/11/24

Year 4 investigating how long it takes to turn a liquid into a solid. pic.twitter.com/vhtDVZcK0x

12/11/24

Year 3 exploring key texts in our new fable unit. We brought in some of our reading skills and performance read extracts. pic.twitter.com/V2mCJZO7XL

12/11/24

**Reception Parent Tours - book yours now and join us in September 2025** pic.twitter.com/0LQYhYK5yL

11/11/24

Team Dahl really outdid themselves at our Harpenden Academy Remembrance Day assembly with their gorgeous performance of ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon.#Oracy pic.twitter.com/bhtqzSLQzq

25/10/24

The eco council have been working hard to create an eco- code for our school to follow. pic.twitter.com/ekjangqzZN

22/10/24

So proud of our Y5&6 girls who took part in the ‘Saracen’s Foundation Tag Rugby Festival’ today. They all worked hard as a team on communication, finding the pass and developing resilience! As a result, the girls smiled their way through the afternoon, picking up tags and tries. pic.twitter.com/LC9NYIBm9z

22/10/24

A really productive science lesson today as the children investigated whether mixing can be a reversible change! pic.twitter.com/EuABEO1fjg

18/10/24

Our Ladybirds have fully embraced our school values and remembered to show kindness to each other when getting stuck in the mud pic.twitter.com/J9gPiz9Jog

18/10/24

Year 3 using co-operation and team work to create carrot cars, pic.twitter.com/3OaEDPqd4w

18/10/24

Such a brilliant English lesson in Team Dahl today - we made a conscience alley to debate between two positions using subordinating clauses! pic.twitter.com/HCWZVi24Qg

18/10/24

Team Dahl was lucky enough to be visited by a Sicilian parent to teach us about Italian - our language of the month! pic.twitter.com/QXnn5joTk4

18/10/24

Ladybirds are exploring the pumpkin farm this morning, picking pumpkins, hunting for worms and squelching in mud on our very first school trip. pic.twitter.com/bQhjm15jBb

16/10/24

Year six athletes enjoying their gym session with Fitkidz. pic.twitter.com/a2TyFWnQpY

16/10/24

Year six athletes enjoying their gym session with Fitkidz. pic.twitter.com/EFSsBp7mGy

16/10/24

Moomin class had some great discussions today about how our actions can affect others pic.twitter.com/2TALG0Sfr1

16/10/24

This morning, Year 3 have enjoyed their ‘fit kidz’ PE session. pic.twitter.com/zuAdqrEKND

08/10/24

Year six enjoying a visit from a local Diversity group which focused on prejudice and unkind and unfair behaviour towards vulnerable groups. The talk focused on the importance of being an upstander when witnessing prejudice or bullying. pic.twitter.com/KUM0azoLvn

08/10/24

Today Ladybirds have been exploring the different spatial patterns to represent the number 3. We enjoyed describing them in our carpet session then recreated our own using stickers during our child-initiated learning. 🐞 pic.twitter.com/MKPLyPdsE5

07/10/24

Our lovely parent visitor sharing how she celebrates Diwali with her family. pic.twitter.com/2fD9qMeO7i

07/10/24

Team Dahl partaking in a brilliant diversity workshop! pic.twitter.com/u3BxsrLBtI

07/10/24

Moomin class have enjoyed their ‘Diversity Role Models’ workshop this morning ! pic.twitter.com/ou356DwkzE

04/10/24

TeamDahl were so lucky today to come into contact with real-life Hindu artefacts from their homes of two of our students! pic.twitter.com/52YFgp4pnW

04/10/24

Happy World Smile Day from Team Dahl! pic.twitter.com/SiVtxg7BgJ

7th June 2024

Dear Parents

Welcome back to the final summer half term - where has the year gone? It's quite amazing that we are in June already.

This summer half-term brings a period of transition as we begin to bid farewell to our Year 6 children and welcome our new Reception class. With new children joining us and new teachers to become familiar with, there is naturally a lot of speculation about who is with whom. To avoid unnecessary rumours and concerns, please disregard any information about next year's classes unless it is announced in the newsletter. This will help prevent a great deal of hearsay and worry.

Once I am able to confirm classes for next year I will of course do so.

Victory

We have won another trophy – joy of joys – we are going to need a trophy cabinet which of course our lovely Dermot will be able to create.  We are now the proud owners of the ‘Under 9 Scholars' Cup’.  This is the very first year this sporting event has happened and we managed to win it.

Miss Harvey has written a short report below:

A group of Year 3 and 4 children participated in the first-ever Scholars' Cup for Football and Tag Rugby. Both teams demonstrated exceptional skills and dominated their matches against Buntingford and Samuel Ryder.

In Tag Rugby, we had tries from Seb, Alby, Evie, Luca and Ben. The team displayed excellent defence and attack, winning two games and drawing one. They created numerous opportunities, made crucial tags, and found all the gaps.

In football, we had goals from Rex, Jacob, Alfie, and Ellie. The team started nervously with a 0-0 draw but quickly found their stride, securing two wins. Harpenden Academy made it to the final against Samuel Ryder. Although Samuel Ryder took the lead, Harpenden Academy equalised with a sensational quick goal. Samuel Ryder scored again, but we managed to level the score at 2-2.

The match went to penalties, heightening the tension. With the score at 3-3 after four penalties, Mollie M showed immense courage despite her nerves and scored the winning goal.

Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon. Mr. Pope, the SRA Head of PE, remarked on what a credit our children were to the school.

Slide1

Tag Rugby and Rounders

​It was my pleasure to take 9 budding rugby players to a Tag Rugby event on Wednesday at Harpenden Rugby Club. This was the children's first taste of tag rugby and they learnt and adapted to this sport really well.

We had huge fun - the children loved it! We had plenty of laughs and shouts of 'Defend the line!'and 'Run with the ball!' echoing around the field. We scored plenty of 'tries' and found we had plenty of new skills. This was a great introduction to this fabulous team game and I encourage any parents to join a rugby club for their daughters and sons. It has been the making of my own daughter. 

Year 6 went to Redbourn for the HDSA rounders tournament. Miss Harvey was so impressed with the team's positive attitude and determination and they greatly improved with their tactical awareness. 

Slide2

Good News

We are now able to share some lovely news, Mrs Newcombe - our terrific Office Receptionist, is having a baby. She is upgrading her son, Harry, to a big brother. We are delighted for her and her growing family. 

Year 6

Next week Year 6 will be off on their school residential trip to Norfolk Lakes.  This is a huge step for them towards being Year 7.  We wish them and the accompanying staff Mrs Watson, Miss Alshamari and Mrs Duncan the best week, and we look forward to seeing all of the photos on twitter.

Phonics Screening

Year 1 will be having their phonics screening tests next week. If your child is in Year 1 please make sure they are in school.  If for whatever reason they are ill please let us know and we can rearrange which children are tested when.

List of Dates

These are the dates this term which parents will need to have for the remaining half term:

Monday 10 - 14th June – Yr 6 School Journey

Monday 10 - 14th June – Phonics Screening

w/c Monday 17th June – Sports Week

Wednesday 19th June – Sports Day

Monday 24th June – Inset Day – no school

Tuesday 25th June – Trust Conference – no school

Friday 28th June – WWF day – Dress up day, come to school dressed as an animal.

Thursday 11th July – Move Up day/Teddy Bear's picnic for new Reception. 

Friday 12th July – Reports out

Thursday 18th July – School  finishes 12 noon

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT FOR HARPENDEN ACADEMY FAMILIES - TUESDAY 25TH JUNE (INSET DAY)

We have sent out an email this morning via Edulink to all parents as FoHA has secured a fantastic price for families to visit Legoland Windsor on Tuesday 25th June, which is an Inset day. And even better - £2 from every ticket sold will be donated back to the school! Limited tickets will be available for purchase from Monday 10th June - Thursday 13th June.

Please check your emails or Edulink account for further instructions on how to book your discounted tickets. 

Photo Legoland ad 2 converted 1

Baroness Floella Benjamin - 'Coming to England'

We had the most amazing surprise when we returned back to school after half term.  In the Spring term, as a whole school project, we all studied the book “Coming To England” by Floella Benjamin.  A selection of children's work remains in the entrance hall.

Year 4 children chose to write to Baroness Floella Benjamin and they got a reply! Below is a copy of the letter the children received, and it is such a lovely one too. The original will be put on the display board in the entrance area.  Well done to the children of Milne class and Miss Harvey.

Floella2

Attendance Matters                                            

It is through good attendance that children maximise their full potential, enhancing their life chances for the future. Missing school means missing out on learning and this can have an impact on a child’s development and attainment. There is a strong statistical link between attendance and attainment.

Children of statutory school age who are on roll at a school or academy must, by law, attend that school or academy regularly and punctually. Regular attendance is important, not just because the law requires it but also because it is the best way of ensuring children make the most of the educational opportunities available to them.

Schools use the penalty notice process for 15 or more unauthorised sessions in the current or previous term (a session is either am or pm registration). The penalty notice requires the parent or carer to pay a fine of £60 within 21 days. If this fine is not paid within the time limit, the penalty rises to £120, which must be paid within 28 days. If the fine is still not paid, the parent or carer will be liable for prosecution for this offence.

A1

Requests for absences during term time

Requests for absence are only granted in exceptional circumstances.As a parent or carer, you are strongly urged to avoid booking holidays during term time. If your child is absent from school because of a holiday that has not been agreed, this will be classified as an unauthorised absence and this may lead to a penalty notice. By taking family holidays during the designated holiday periods, you will be supporting your child’s full school attendance, learning and development. There are 13 weeks of the year to take holidays out of term time.

Attendance every minute counts

Eco-Council

Non-Uniform/Animal Dress Up Day, 28th June 2024, World Wide Fund for Nature | WWF

The Eco-Council are passionate about taking care of our planet and its wildlife so they have been considering how we as a school can contribute to the world wide efforts. As a result they have decided to host a Non-Uniform/Animal Dress Up Day on Friday, 28th June. Children have the option of dressing up as an animal/wearing animal print or just wearing non uniform and a donation of £1 made which can be paid via Parentpay and will be a donation to the charity, World Wide Fund for Nature | WWF

Eco Council

Earth hour

In addition we are also going to honour a one hour time slot (2.00-3.00pm) on the same day, Friday 28th June, where all lights and technology are turned off and time is instead spent on activities reflecting on wildlife/wild spaces. We are hoping it will have a positive impact not only on the schools electricity bill but also an appreciation of nature.

Piano Lessons 

Learn to play piano with one to one weekly lessons, available for Year 1 - 6 at any level during the school day. Lessons cover different styles of playing, learning to read and understand music, theory, exams, and most importantly, are fun!

Please email Simon at si.gargrave@gmail.com for more info.

Harpenden Plus

Harpenden Plus Partnership, who offer a free and confidential support service to parents/carers in our schools, has successfully applied for a Tesco's Stronger Starts grant for counselling which will provide free, professional 1:1 support for 6 weeks to local school children to explore their mental health and emotional wellbeing.  The number of children on the waiting list for this service is far more than our budget can support, so we are appealing for your help to get the maximum grant of £1500.

If you shop at Tesco, please could you consider collecting the blue tokens and voting for Harpenden Plus Partnership between the first week in July and the end of September this year?  The stores include the Harpenden Express on the Luton Road close to Roundwood, the one in the garage on the Lower Luton Road, the Express store in Wheathampstead plus stores in St Albans. 

Happy birthday banner landscape

Happy Birthday this week to: S Nicholls (R), Phoebe B (R),Arley C (Yr1),Austin S (Yr3),Yousaf A (Yr4),Winston B (Yr4),Elsie T (Yr 6), Joshua P (Yr6).

SET (1)

Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies 

Key Stage 1/ Lower Key Stage 2 Primary Teacher

Teaching Assistant

Blue green illustrated community helpers book creator cover 1

 

Harpenden Colts Year 1 girls flyer

SCHOOL20 General

Beats HarpendenAcademy BSU24 1

Stevensons

 

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