3rd October 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today started with a smile as we celebrated WORLD SMILE DAY.

The motto of the day is "do an act of kindness. Help one person smile!" - so try do something to make someone happy. Today the children had time to share jokes with each other and their teachers and take part in activities which made us all smile. Some children would have received a note when they were spotted making others smile.

The photos below are just a glimpse of the day we have had in school raising a smile!!!!

October means ….Harvest Festival

Our Harvest Festival Assembly will be on Friday, 24^th October and we will again be working Kings Pantry. Our Harvest Festival is at 9.00am at normal assembly time on 24^th so that means for that week we won’t be doing birthday cards. The children’s birthdays will be celebrated the week before.

We are hoping to have our local Reverend and representatives from Kings Pantry with us on the day to celebrate our wonderful Harvest Festival.

As we get closer to the date, we will send more information out to parents but below is a selection of goods we ask parents to donate to our festival assembly:

FoHA Halloween Disco

On Thursday 23rd FoHA will be holding a Halloween Disco after school. Please see further details in the FoHA section of the newsletter. 

In order to support FoHA, during the day I am really happy for the children to come into school in their normal school uniform, but the children can have spooky makeup and hair, but no face masks.

Rather than paying a donation for this we are hoping to start a 'Come Gardening' club with Mr Marshall, so any donations of bulbs or  gardening related equipment would be much appreciated.  Please just drop these to the school office. 

Parking reminder

It has come to our attention that some parents have been parking on Victoria Road, opposite the EYFS gate, on the single yellow line during drop-off times.

We would like to remind all parents that this area is a no-waiting zone from Monday to Saturday, 8:00am–6:00pm. Parking here during these hours is not permitted, and traffic wardens regularly patrol the area. Parking illegally not only risks receiving a fine but also creates congestion and safety risks for all children and families.

To help keep everyone safe and traffic flowing, please use the Bowers Way car park when dropping off your children. If you have a valid permit displayed in your window, you are allowed up to 30 minutes to park while dropping off your child.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school environment safe and accessible.

Parents' Evening, 14^th & 16^th October - deadline to book your appointment is today

Parents' Evening dates have now been live for a week, so I do hope that parents have been able or sign up to these days and times. It is important that we meet with parents to discuss how your child has settled in and start letting parents know the expectations for your child during the year.

Please book your child's appointment using MCAS and click on the 'parent evening' function to access your child's appointments. 

On parent’s evening we finish school at 2.30pm with the choice of options regarding childcare between 2.30-3.20pm. If you need to sign up to childcare between 2.30pm-3.20pm then please complete this e-form by 3rd October 2025. You must sign up your child for the childcare - this will not automatically happen. 

No clubs on Tuesday, 7th October and 14th October and Thursday, 16th October

Due to a teacher training event on Tuesday next week at Roundwood school we are unable to facilitate teacher clubs after school - choir, chess and girls football.

The following week, due to parents evening on Tuesday 14th and Thursday 16th, we will not be running the Tuesday and Thursday co-curricular clubs after school.

Parent EDI group

Mrs Withers is hosting a meeting for anyone interested in supporting our work on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and belonging. Thank you to the parents who have alerted the office that you intend to come to this meeting. The meeting will take place on Thursday 16th October at 2:00pm. If you would like to attend, please contact the school office to let them know.

Medical Appointments

Our records are showing that we are having an increasing number of parents collecting children from 2.30pm onwards to attend medical appointments either for the children or themselves.  This cannot continue.  Please can any medical, dental, eye appointments be after school hours (ie 4pm) or school holidays, to stop this from happening.  Thank you. 

Flu Vaccinations

All parents need to complete this consent even if you do not give your consent you need to follow the link to say this. 

An email went to ALL parents regarding the flu vaccinations. The school nurse team will be visiting us on the morning of 7th October 2025. Please do not ignore the flu letter as ALL parents need to either give consent or decline via the NHS flu vaccination link.

The NHS school nurse team will contact you on the day if you have not responded so to avoid any confusion please can ALL parents complete this admin task.   

Be Bright and Be Seen Campaign

It’s that time of the year again and ‘BE BRIGHT AND BE SEEN’ is an important message for the whole school community. The Active and Safer Travel Team are continuing to promote this as a key part of the road safety and active travel programme, especially over the Autumn and Winter months.

As the days are getting shorter, now is a good time to remind everyone of the importance of wearing bright and reflective clothing when out and about, to make them more visible to traffic. 

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 7 November 2025. 

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, 

Historically we have done really well in this competition so I encourage you all to have a go - it would be lovely to see Harpenden Academy well represented again. 

Harpenden Police Art Competition

The Knife Angel is a 27ft tall monument made of over 100,000 blunted and sterilised knives surrendered to police services across Britain serving as a stark and emotive reminder of the dangers and impact of knife crime. Throughout October, there will be a month of awareness as the Knife Angel aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact knife crime can have on young people. Hertfordshire Police are running an art competition for any resident in Hertfordshire under 25 years. Submissions can take the form of any medium – photography, art, poetry – anything that allows young people to express how the Knife Angel and the wider issue of knife crime makes them feel. The Chief Constable will shortlist entries and display them on their website to allow the public to vote for their favourite artwork throughout December. To enter, participants must submit an application form along with high-quality photographs of/files containing their entries by email to knifeangel@herts.police.uk before 5pm on Friday 7th November. The final winners in either category will be announced in January, and celebrated at the Youth Commission’s Conference on the 29th January 2026 with the artwork continued to be displayed locally as a legacy to the Knife Angel.

Hertfordshire Constabulary and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council are delighted to announce that the county will play host to the Knife Angel, in Welwyn Garden City town centre during October 2025. 

Traffic Lights Workshop

Traffic Light Arts - New Diary Dates

Family Festive Fun - Christmas Wreath Making

Traffic Light Arts and Friends of Harpenden Academy invite you to a joyful afternoon of festive creativity!

For adults: Create your own beautiful foliage Christmas wreath with expert guidance.
For children: While you get creative, Traffic Light Arts will whisk the kids away to make their very own crafty Christmas wreath in a fun, supervised session.

Come along as a family, or drop the little ones off and enjoy a couple of hours to yourself.

Adults: £30 | Children: £12.50

For more information and tickets, please visit: www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/events 

Christmas Holiday Entertainment!

Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd December - Christmas Crafty Party Workshop Days. Two days of festive Arts & Crafts projects plus Christmas Party Games & Activities. A fun-filled start to the Christmas holidays! Age: 5-11 years (Half days available for 4 year olds). Harpenden Academy, 8.45am-5pm. £37 per day. Booking open! 

A "K-Pop Demon Hunters” themed Workshop Special!

Saturday 3rd January - 'It’s Gonna Be Golden!’  We’re teaming up with Tiger Cheer to present a one-day Workshop Special inspired by the movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters!”  Get ready to ‘Takedown’ the morning learning a Dance & Pom routine to music from the movie soundtrack and create some of your own Choreography too!  The ‘Huntr/x’ fun will continue into the afternoon with K-Pop themed T-shirt Design & Printing and creating matching accessories. At the end of the day, you’ll get to take home your Golden Glitter Poms along with the T-shirt & Accessories you’ve made, so you can continue being a K-Pop Star! Age: 5-11 years. Harpenden Academy, 9.30am-3.30pm. £30 for the day. Booking open!

For all enquires and bookings please email admin@trafficlightarts.co.uk

Wreath Making at Harpenden Academy 

We are excited to share the details of two separate wreath making workshops — a family-friendly Sunday afternoon on 30th November (including a drop the kids off option!) and a festive Friday evening just for adults on 5th December.

Family Wreath Making – Sunday 30th November, 3–5pm - with Traffic Light Arts

Adults can make a beautiful foliage wreath while Traffic Light Arts take the children off to make a crafty Christmas wreath in a supervised session. Come along as a family or drop the kids off and enjoy a couple of hours to yourself.

Adults £30 | Children £12.50

Adults-Only Wreath Making – Friday 5th December, 7–9.30pm

Enjoy a relaxed evening of creativity, complete with a glass of fizz and festive nibbles, while making your own bespoke Christmas wreath.

£35 per ticket

Both workshops take place at Harpenden Academy. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance.

For more information and tickets, please visit: www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/events

Spooktacular Halloween Disco! 

Broomsticks at the ready… Harpenden Academy is hosting its annual Halloween Disco on Thursday 23rd October in the School Hall!

Timings:

• Reception to Year 3: 5:00 – 5:50pm
• Year 4 to Year 6: 6:00 – 7:00pm
  (Siblings are welcome to attend either session.)

Tickets: £5 per child (must be purchased in advance)
Preschool children attend free

The ticket price includes squash, popcorn, a Halloween craft gift, music, dancing, and entry into the fancy-dress competition with prizes to be won!

Adults must stay during the event — refreshments for grown-ups and a tuck shop for children will be available (card payment only).

Get your costumes ready – it’s going to be fang-tastic!

For more information and tickets, please visit Halloween Disco — Friends of Harpenden Academy

Fireworks Night - Sunday 2nd November 

Harpenden Rugby Football Club’s spectacular Fireworks Night is back on *Sunday 2nd November* – bigger and better than ever! Expect dazzling fireworks, a fun fairground, delicious food & drinks, plus a shuttle service from town.

Early Bird discount available until midday 31st October

Even better – if you buy your tickets through our unique link  https://buytickets.at/hrfc/1843837/r/academy, 25% of every ticket goes straight back to FoHA, helping to enrich our children’s experience at Harpenden Academy.

Please share this far and wide – with friends, family, your street WhatsApp, and any parent groups you’re part of. The more tickets sold through our link, the more money we raise for our children!

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Friends of Harpenden Academy – Annual General Meeting 

Tuesday 7th October, 7pm at The George, Harpenden
The evening will begin with the AGM, followed by informal drinks.

Why come along?

• Hear what we’ve achieved over the past year
• Join the discussion about events and fundraising for the year ahead
• Vote on key issues and help shape our PTA’s future
• Elect (or stand for!) committee positions – all posts are open

Get involved – big or small!
There’s a role for everyone, whatever your schedule:

• Committee roles: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Sub-Treasurer, Secretary, Sub-Secretary, Event Managers
• Flexible support: Website & digital help, Communications, One-off events, Uniform shop

We need YOU!
No experience needed – just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.
Not sure what’s involved? We’re happy to have an informal chat first – no strings attached.

To put your name forward, email Gwendoline at friendsofharpendenacademy@gmail.com before the AGM.

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Last year was a fantastic year for FOHA - together we raised vital funds that enriched our children's school experiences both in and out of the classroom. From exciting events to a visit from a Gladiator, it was all thanks to the energy and support of our amazing parent community. 

Take a look below to see what we achieved - and imagine what more we can do this year with your help!

FOHA CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Quiz & Chips 7 Feb 2026
• Harpenden Easter Egg Hunt 3 April 2026

Happy Birthday to:Lillia S (R), Florence B (R), Eva B (2), Millie T (Yr4), Rex D (Yr5) 

Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies

Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies

 

Date change to Harpendens Apple Fest

The date for the Apple Fest has been changed from the 3rd October to the 11th October due to the imminent arrival of Storm Amy and a Amber Weather Warning!!

Harpenden Youth Choir

My name is Jenni Cresswell, I am a qualified Primary School teacher who currently specialises in teaching music in primary schools. I grew up in Harpenden, have taught here and run a Brownie Pack. I still teach in nearby Hertfordshire schools.For the last two years I have been involved in a Christmas charity concert for the AT Society (who are based in Harpenden - https://atsociety.org.uk) and this year I am looking to put together a children’s choir to be involved.

Cost: FREE

• Concert date: Thursday 4^th December
• Concert time: 7pm – 9pm (choir will need to meet for rehearsals at 5.30pm)
• Concert venue: St John’s Church

Rehearsal dates: Thursdays

• September – 25^th
• October – 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd
• November – 13^th, 20^th, 27^th

Rehearsal time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Rehearsal venue: Southdown Performing Arts Centre (the old Methodist Church opposite Co-op, 116 Southdown Rd, Harpenden AL5 1QQ)

Choir members will have access to Sing Up at home to help them learn and remember the songs.

Any questions or queries please do not hesitate to email me at the address below.

If your child is in Years 3-8 and would like to be involved please fill in the form below and send to cresswelljenni@gmail.com

Child’s name:

Age:

Year Group:
Illnesses, disabilities, pre-existing conditions, allergies or medications:

Emergency contact number: