4th July 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are now in the last few weeks of the summer term and its not just the weather that has been heating up. Teachers have been writing the end of year school reports and we have been meeting new parents and children who will be joining our school in September.

The end of the school year is just around the corner so our minds are turning to September which automatically means looking at staffing for the next academic year.

Staffing for classes September 2025

This year we will be saying “Goodbye” and “Hello” to some teachers. Below is a chart for parents indicating their child’s class teacher for next year.

Goodbye to……

Miss Fairweather

Miss Fairweather has chosen to step away from teaching to pursue a position with the Department of Justice. This was a carefully considered decision, and we wish her the very best of luck in her new role.

Mr King

Mr King and his wife have decided that they are going to move back to South Korea, where his wife is from, to put down roots and ultimately to try to start their own little family. Again, this is a huge decision and we all wish Mr King - and his wife - the very best in their future together.

Miss Alshamari

Miss Alshamari moved to North West London a little while ago and is finding the commute to Harpenden and back too much, especially now her own daughter is at school. We are fortunate to have kept her so long as I know that the journey has started to take its toll.

We wish all of our leaving teachers the very best in their new endeavours and they will always be part of the history of Harpenden Academy.

Hello to………

Miss Fielding

Miss Fielding is returning to teaching having had a couple of years away from classrooms, but the call of the classroom has called her back and we welcome her back into the profession.

Miss Pratchett

Miss Pratchett comes to us from Hillingdon where she has been working in a college and has a background in primary schools and education.

Miss Copas

Miss Copas is also an experienced teacher working previously in Watford. She too comes from a primary school background and will be moving closer to our school ready for September.

Please view our class pages to see our teacher passports.

Current class	New class	Class teacher	Teaching assistant
Ladybirds	Elmer	Miss Patterson	Mrs Dobbin Miss Boothe
Elmer	Moomin	Miss Fielding	Mrs Fraser Miss Rymill
Moomin	Potter	Mrs Wong and Mrs Moss	Mrs Bowyer
Potter	Milne	Miss Pratchett	Mrs Ross
Milne	Dahl	Miss Copas	Mrs Vaidean
Dahl	Shakespeare	Mrs Watson and Mrs Curnow	Mrs Duncan

Parent Meetings

As we start to move your attention to next academic year, we feel it is important to hold parent meetings for specific year groups. The reason for selecting these year groups is we know that these transitional years can be more demanding on the children that other year transitions.

Monday 7^th July: 9.00am meeting for parents of children who are moving from EYFS to Year 1

Monday 7^th July: 2.30 pm meeting for parents of children who are moving from Year 2 to Year 3

Key dates coming up:

As we approach July there are a few dates that I would like parents to be aware of:-

Nut Free School

As you all know we have a very strict 'nut free policy' in the school as we do have children with allergies.  Please can you all ensure that any snacks or items in lunch boxes  have been checked  thoroughly, and are totally nut free, as it is not always obvious on the packaging that some biscuits/snacks have traces of nuts in them.  Thank you for your co-operation with this very important part of  adhering to school policy.

Year 6 Norfolk Lake Trip

Our Year 6 children had an unforgettable time during their residential trip to Norfolk Lakes Manor Adventures! The children participated in a wide range of activities, from testing their aim at the archery range to paddling in the waters while kayaking which was a welcome relief from the heat! The children challenged themselves at the rifle range and many tackled axe-throwing for the first time. They also enjoyed friendly competition playing darts and working in teams to build floating rafts. 

In the evenings, the children gathered around the campfire to share stories and enjoy additional games. The staff at Manor Adventures kept the children busy and provided an experience that will stay with them as they move on from primary school. Throughout the trip, there was plenty of laughter, teamwork, and adventure, all contributing to lasting memories for our Year 6 pupils. A heartfelt thank you to Miss V, Mrs Watson, Mrs Ross, and Miss Alshamari for their time and unwavering support, which made the trip a lor of fun and a big success for everyone involved.

Fundraising Day, Tuesday 15th July 2025

On Tuesday 15^th July, our eco leaders and school council will be joining forces to host a fundraising day. The eco leaders have chosen to raise money for the charity Save the Children who have fought for a fairer world for children for over 100 years. One of the areas they support with is the impact of environmental changes on the everyday lives of children. During the day the children will take part in an activity in their classrooms, and we ask for a suggested donation of £1 per child to come to school wearing non-school uniform. 

At the end of the school day, the school leaders will be running a teddy tombola and a bottle tombola to raise money for new outdoor resources for break times. We ask that all children bring a bottle donation on the day (or before!) as part of the fundraising. If any family has teddies that they would like to rehome, please drop them to the office before 15^th July.  

Leavers' Event, Wednesday 9^th July, 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Year 6 parents get ready for a delicious treat! Year 6 will plan, prepare and be serving a spectacular three-course meal to their families on this special day. To ensure everyone has plenty of time to enjoy their meal and get organised, pick-up will be at 12:15pm on Wednesday, 9th July.  Full details are on Class Dojo for Year 6 parents.  

Traffiic Light Creative and Performance Arts

Summer Holiday Workshops are here! Places are filling up so book now to secure your space. Please book directly with Traffic Light Arts. admin@trafficlightarts.co.uk

 

REMINDER OF FOHA - Summer Movie Night

Thanks to all who have already purchased tickets. If you would still like to join us, please make sure you get your tickets by Thursday 10 July from https://www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/p/summer-movie-night 

We’re also still looking for volunteers to help make these events a success. If you’re able to lend a hand, please sign up to volunteer here: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ADA92EA5F4C25-57420544-foha 

Thank you for your support, we can’t wait to see you there!!

Grab Your Popcorn - It’s FoHA Summer Movie Night!

Join us for a fun-filled evening with a family-friendly movie, snacks, and great company.

• Monday 14th July - Reception and KS1
• Wednesday 16th July - KS2

Time: 3.30-5.30pm on both evenings

Venue: School hall, Harpenden Academy

£3.50 per child including a drink and snack

Don’t miss this chance to relax, have fun, and enjoy a night at the movies - FoHA-style!

Happy Birthday to:-  Taylor G (Yr1), Nathan M (Yr3), Seilan L (Yr4), Isabella F (Yr4) 

Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies

Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies