22nd November 2024

Dear Parents

Well the week started with the excitement of nearly a snow day!  Thankfully the snow disappeared but it did remind me to send out the school process for dealing with snow.

Firstly, because of our location we do try to stay open on days which are snowy.  This however all depends on the number of staff able to get into school, plus whether our catering staff can get in.

If due to lack of staff on site and we are not able to stay open here is how parents will be informed:-

In the unlikely event of closure we will always try to give parents as much notice as possible.  The most reliable source of information is the school website.

A decision will be made in the morning by 7.00am on:

• Whether to open
• Time to open
• Arrangements for drop off/pick up

This decision will be posted on the website by 7.15am.  All parents will also receive an Edulink email notification. 

Anti Bullying Conference

The anti bullying conference was a huge success for our representative last week.  A film was made of the whole day which can be viewed by clicking here.

Reminder

Monday 25^th November is an occasional day off and therefore school will be closed. Please ensure that this date is in your diary.  Thank you

Governor Coffee Mornings for parents - all welcome

Our Chair of Governors, Dhanmita and our Parent Governor, Helen will be doing 2 coffee mornings meeting for parents from 8.30am. Please just turn up - you will be warmly welcomed. 

• 29th November at Gail's Bakery, Harpenden High St
• 10th November at the Silver Palate, Vaughan Rd

Congratulations Wilbur!

We are delighted that Wilbur has been awarded Commended in this year’s Harpenden Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition! The Town Mayor invited Wilbur to a Presentation Ceremony at the Town Hall on Monday 18th November.

New Clubs

Magical Maths and Traffic Lights Creative and Performing Arts

Traffic Light

Traffic Light Arts is now offering priority booking to pupils of Harpenden Academy for a range of new upcoming events. If your child would like to attend any of these, please book to secure a place.

School Sibling & Individual Photos - date change to Wednesday 20th November 2024

All school photos were completed on Wednesday this week and the children will have come home with a QR card so that you can access their photos. Please contact the school office if your QR code has not made it home and we will contact the company to get a further copy.  The photos take approx 5 working days to show on your child's login so they should be ready to view on Tuesday. 

Christmas is coming!!!

KS2 Christingle, Monday 9th December at St Nicholas' Church at 6.30pm, All Welcome

School Jumper Day,  Thursday 12th December 2024

Christmas jumper day is looming so we are again asking for the donations of old jumpers that no longer fit your children.

I have previously explained that dress up days are meant to be great fun, but for some children it is a day of dread as parents cannot provide a new jumper.  This leads to pupil absence when children would rather pretend to be ill than face embarrassment of no jumper.

If you do have any old spare Christmas jumpers you no long need please bring these to the school office where we will make sure that they make their way to the right places.

We will be wearing them on Thursday 12^th December as well as Christmas Cinema day and Christmas Lunch Day.

Odyssey Cinema Trip, Wednesday 18th December 2024

The deadline for payment and consent is today, Friday 22nd November. Please note if the payment is not made then your child will not be included in the final numbers. Unfortunately the office do not have the capacity to ring around to chase payments. There are 51 children still to pay for the trip on Parentpay. 

Christmas School Lunch, Thursday 19th December 2024 

The menu for Christmas Lunch Day has been set and is below.  Christmas lunch is available for all children in school, including the children who historically have packed lunches.  The cost of the Christmas lunch is £2.60 and if you wish your child to take part please use Aspens Select to order your meal. 

Christmas lunch days is a real celebration so please encourage your child to take part. 

This is the only option of food on that day, so we really hope that as many of your children will join us. Please place your orders by Monday, 2nd December 2024. 

If the children don't want to join in with Christmas lunch then please send them in with a packed lunch for the day.

Please also ensure your 19th December 2024 school dinner option is selected. 

As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, the success of FOHA is entirely reliant on support from our whole community. We would be extremely grateful if you could take the time to fill in this short survey, the purpose of which is to gather information in order to improve on how FOHA can support the school, children and wider community.

Please click here to access the survey

Christmas Tree Fundraiser

Fundraising Christmas trees are now on sale!

Selling super fresh, locally grown trees is one of our biggest fundraisers across the whole school year. Trees are cut to order the day before delivery...they are amazing value for beautiful trees and Friends of HA receive generous commission for each one sold.

Please place your orders online and feel free to share with friends and family...https://www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/p/christmastrees

Please spread the word!

Save the Dates

• Saturday 8th February 2025 - Pub Quiz Night (replacing Comedy Night)
• Friday 18th April 2025 - Easter Egg Hunt 

Happy birthday this week to: Tin Yu N (R), Noah W (R), Lucas L (Yr2), Evie Mae D (Yr5), Vuksa T (Yr6) 

Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies

Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies