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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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 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).
Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies
Key Stage 1/ Lower Key Stage 2 Primary Teacher
Teaching Assistant