18th October 2024
Dear Parents
Today was a special day as Ladybirds went on their first school trip ever. We all went to the Pumpkin Patch in Rebourn and had a terrific time running across the pumpkin fields trying to pick up pumpkins bigger than our heads!
Afterwards we learnt all about different pumpkins and generally had a great time. Thank you to the parents who organised transport for your children, it made the event really smooth to organise.
FoHA is delighted to announce details of our new committee as follows...
Chair: Ellie Ratliff
Co-Treasurers: Gwendoline Manley and Niki Jones
Secretary: Jackie Clode-Dickens
Sub-Secretary: Lauren Hughes
Independent Examiner: Adam Badi
The success of FoHA is heavily reliant on the wider support from our families. There are many ways to support FoHA, including volunteering at events, offering IT support, providing administrative help, utilising business contacts and resources and so forth. Helping out on just one task or one occasion per year makes a massive difference, and it is very much a 'many hands make light work' situation. Being involved in FoHA is also a fantastic way to meet parents and socialise, and feel involved and invested in your children's school experience. A survey will be coming out from FoHA in the next couple of weeks and we would be extremely grateful if all our parents and carers could take the time to provide your responses. If we do not have the support from the wider community, we simply cannot continue to provide enriching experiences for the children or raise the funds needed to support the school.
Fit Kidz come to Harpenden
The children in KS2 were treated this week to Fit Kidz Circuit Training. The hall was full of activities ranging from weight lifting sand bags, catching balls in huge nets, trampette and flipping huge wheels.
Hopefully, we will be able to incorporate this activity into our PE curriculum moving forward. Over this term we have tried to incorporate sports which our school site lends itself too, rather than focusing on sports which we find demanding due to the physical space.
To date we have had Round Net and Fit Kidz into School. This will be added to soon by having a boxing taster day for Year 5 & Year 6 children only. This will become an after school club if there is enough support.
Please watch this space as we develop our wider curriculum still further over the next few months.
Parking
We've received concerning reports of parents parking on double yellow lines on Victoria Road, directly across from the EYFS Reception entrance. This not only leads to parking tickets but also raises serious safety concerns for our children, who are being released onto the road amidst traffic congestion.
For the safety of everyone, please utilise the Bowyers Way car park, which is free with our parking permit. Your cooperation is essential to ensure a safe environment for our children. Thank you!
Reminder - Parent Coffee Morning - Behaviour
On Thursday 24th October at 9:00am, Mrs Curnow will be holding a coffee morning to share the school's approach to behaviour management and how we aim to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of our children. Please note, this will not be an appropriate forum to discuss individual children or incidents.
Parent Tours
After half term we will be starting tours for Reception places for September 2025. It’s shocking how time flies. If you have a child of Reception age and you would like them to come to Harpenden Academy please remember that you do need to apply – it’s not automatic.
You can book a school tour via our school website.
Secondary Admissions
The applications for secondary/upper school places to start in September 2025 opened on Friday 1 September 2024 for children in Year 6. On-time applications close on 31 October 2024 although Herts County Council encourage families to apply before this closing date as the application portal will be busy on the deadline date.
All the information you need is available on the website www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions
Harvest Festival Reminder
Harvest Festival is a week today – Friday 25th October, which coincides with our last day of half term.
After assembly I know that FoHA would appreciate support in boxing up the product collected so that Kings Pantry will be able to fit it into their vehicle to take it away. If you feel you could help please let Ellie Chair of FoHA know. Thank you.
This year we shall again be supporting ‘The Kings Pantry’ who are a charity that provide families in the local area with food parcels, hygiene parcels and all manner of other items.
Each year we ask if parents and families will kindly donate any of the items below to this special event. If the children can bring in donations on the morning of Friday 25th October we will display it all for the assembly. Thank you.
| Jars of Pasta or other Sauces | Rice, both Microwave and Larger bags |
| Tinned or packet soups | Crisps and snacks |
| Tins of Potatoes or Instant Mash | Tins of Meat / Pies |
| Tins Peas, Carrots and other Veg | Pasta |
| UHT Milk | Instant Coffee |
| Tea Bags | Hot Chocolate |
| Couscous | Noodles (pot noodles, dried noodles) |
| Biscuits | Spreads - Jam, Peanut butter, Chocolate |
| Squash / Juice | Desserts & Custard |
| Tins of Rice Pudding | Tins Fruit |
| Sauces - Tomato etc | Tinned Tomatoes |
| Tins Kidney Beans, Chick Peas etc | Tins Spaghetti |
| Baked Beans |
Remembrance Assembly, Save the Date, Friday 8th November 2024
Our school leaders will be selling items for the poppy appeal at lunchtimes on Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th of November. Children can bring in an appropriate donation for the items they wish to purchase. Our Remembrance assembly will be held on Friday 8th November 2024. We will send out a reminder to parents over half term.
We are delighted to be supporting Childline by taking part in the Kindness Challenge next week.
By supporting the Kindness Challenge you’re helping to power Childline. Childline is there for all young people online, on the phone, anytime.
On average, a child contacts Childline every 45 seconds.
Our Kindness Challenge
We’ll be spending a week creating more kindness in our school community by working through various kindness acts and recognising random acts of kindness.
Fundraising
If possible, we ask that families make a small donation a which will go to the NSPCC.
It all adds up
If you are able to, the NSPCC appreciates all donations. You can donate directly via their website: Donate to Charity Online | Give to NSPCC today | NSPCC
Flu Vaccinations
This week, we sent out via Edulink the parent letter from the Immunisation Team to request parents to sign up for the flu vaccinations.
Please be advised that the Hertfordshire Immunisation Team will be visiting the school on the morning of Friday 5th November 2024 to offer the flu vaccine to all children, from Reception to Year 6.
You can access a copy of the parent letter by clicking here - the Immunisation Team gives further details on the flu vaccine process and what parents need to do prior to their school visit. Please click on the link in the attached letter to give consent for your child to have the flu vaccine. If you do not wish for your child to have the vaccine, please complete the online form so that the team can record your wishes.
If you have any issues accessing the link, please contact the school office.
There are still places! - New club after half term - starting w/c 4th November 2024
Mrs Marchment is starting up her own Creative Arts Club on a Friday after school from 3.20pm-4.30pm starting Friday, 8th November 2024. If you are interested then please see flyer below for further details. We have opened up the club now to Year 5 and Year 6 too to cover both key stages.
HRFC Fireworks Tickets
We're proud to once again support the Harpenden Rugby Club's Fireworks Spectacular on Sunday 3rd November! This is always a great event for the entire family - with fireworks, funfair, great food & bar! Historically, this event has sold out so get your tickets now. Early bird ticket offer is available until 20th October.
Harpenden Academy will receive 50% of each ticket bought using this link - Click Here to Buy Your Tickets
Traffic Lights Holiday Club
Mayor's Christmas Card Design Compeition
Please find below a flyer for this year's Mayor's Christmas Card Design Competition.
The closing date is Friday 8 November.
As well as the chance for the winner to switch on the Christmas Lights at this year's Christmas Carnival and for their design to be used as the Mayor's Christmas Card, the winner will also receive 4 tickets to see this year's Christmas Panto 'Sleeping Beauty' at the EMC!
Historically we have done really well in this competition so I encourage you all to have a go - it would be lovely to se Harpenden Academy well represented again.
Happy Birthday this week to: Samuel J (R), Arlo C (Yr1), Faith S (Yr 2), Elliana M (Yr2), Anna G (Yr2), Lara B (Yr3), Yazhnila S (Yr4)
Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies
