16th May 2025
Dear Parents
Year 6 SATs
Firstly, a huge thank you to our Year 6 parents who stepped up this week to provide the Year 6 with breakfast each morning of their SATs. The children and staff really appreciate the time and effort put into making the mornings so special for the children. I was talking to one of our governors this week who was making sure that all of our SATs procedures were correctly in place. Her daughter, now firmly at secondary school, said that SATs week was one of their favourite weeks due to the breakfasts! It has turned into a rite of passage for the children and parents alike as it is a little step forwards, before they fly the Harpenden Academy nest into the next stage of their education.
SATS Breakfast
Smartphones
On Wednesday parents were sent a letter from all of the Harpenden and villages schools supporting the decision that Primary aged children will not be allowed to bring a smart phone to school. You will be aware that Harpenden and village schools are not the first to change the rules on smartphones and this rule is now in place across St Albans and the majority of Primary schools in London. We know that this alone will not protect children from many of the issues which arise from smartphone use and access to social media and we will continue to ensure that we educate children throughout their years at school.
The letter asks that, where possible, you consider delaying giving your child a smartphone until they are older and if you feel your child needs a phone for safety reasons, consider a phone without internet connectivity (a ‘brick’ phone), such as a Nokia 3210 (now available online and in some well-known stores, in a variety of colours).
We know that many of you are keen to delay giving your child a smartphone, so we hope that the position we are adopting as a group of local schools will support you in your decision.
Ancient Greece Day
Team Dahl had such an awesome day on Monday, spent delving backwards into Ancient Greece! Thank you so, so much to all the parent volunteers who gave up their time to help out - as always it makes such a difference!
The children were incredible and created some wonderful mosaics, clay sculptures, wax tablets, medallions, soap carvings and more. I was especially proud of the performances they put together. Including the Greek tragedies of Prometheus & Pandora, Agamemnon & Kassandra, the Greek comedy Odysseus and the Cyclops and an original dance routine based on Poseidon, God of the sea!
Mark the Science Man - Family Science Event - Hands On Science, Thursday 22nd May 6.30pm-8.00pm
Just a quick reminder that Mark will be in school for the family event on Thursday evening, 22nd May 2025. Please don't worry if you haven't signed up - just turn up and we will help get you into groups. Family groups is a very loose term and anyone can be in the family group. It’s a huge amount of fun and the children often come in their PJs or onesies for the evening as it finishes at approx. 8.00pm.
Aspens Catering, Thursday 22nd May 2025, 2.45pm-3.45pm, Taster Session
Aspens Catering are holding a free taster event for parents and children alike on Thursday 22nd May. The menu has changed for this term and they are keen to hear your thoughts and options regarding the food but also allowing parents to meet the catering team . If you can attend, the event starts at 2.45pm and finishes at 3.45pm. Aspens are working hard to correct some of the issues regarding school meals and I hope to see many of you there.
Traffiic Light Creative and Performance Arts, May Half Term Club
Booking is now open for May Half Term Holiday Workshops. We expect this to be a popular week, so please book early to secure your place!
Friday After School Creative Arts Club
We’re back for the summer half term with Friday After School Creative Arts Club. There are a few spaces available, so if you’d like to come along and join us, we’d love to see you!
Happy birthday this week: Muneeb (Yr 1), Henry (Yr 3), Myles (Yr 2), Inaaya (Yr 2)
Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies
Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies
