6 December 2024
Dear Parents/Carers,
This week, we recapped all the HT Heroes covered in this term’s assembly series before the children voted for their hero of choice. The votes are in, and Nelson Mandela was chosen as the HTPD hero for embodying the qualities of strength and grace, being known for forgiveness.
We also marked the start of Advent by lighting the first candle representing Hope on the advent crown. In true HTPD style, we also opened the first door on our bespoke Advent Calendar at the Juniors. The first door shared the bible verse from Psalm 130:5, ‘I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord’ and introduced the activity ‘Post-A-Hope', which encouraged the children to reflect about their hopes for their family, school, the world, the future and what they are waiting patiently for, as we wait with confident expectation for the birth of Christ. We are looking forward to seeing what is behind the other advent doors! The infants have loved reading a chapter a day of How Winston Delivered Christmas, it has been lovely for the whole of Pewley to be sharing one book at this special time of year.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at HTPD. The elves have been busy delivering cards in school this week. If your child would like to spread some Christmas joy, there are post boxes at both the infants and juniors. Please make sure the name and class are on the envelope.
You may be aware that new guidance on managing school attendance became mandatory from August 2024. Prior to Covid, absenteeism nationally had been on the decline, but since the lockdowns, attitudes towards attendance appear to have changed and there has been a steep increase. Thankfully at HTPD, attendance is strong – we work hard on having a curriculum that excites children and is full of opportunity, so the children enjoy coming to school. Where families struggle, support is put in place to address barriers to their child’s attendance or punctuality. The government expects all schools to proactively manage and improve attendance across their school community. We all know that attendance is the essential foundation to positive outcomes for all pupils and any day missed is lost learning. Following the change in guidance, we have updated our attendance policy. From now on, schools must consider penalty notices where the national threshold is met and sufficient support has been offered or provided (on a case-by-case basis). Please be aware that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Family holidays and trips to visit family cannot be authorised; as always, we urge you to book these within the school holidays. At HTPD, we will continue to work with you to support your children to access their education. We know that the better a pupil's attendance, the better habits they form for their working lives, and the better their educational outcomes will be.
Well done to the Year 5 choir who performed at Guildford Baptist Church on Wednesday – their singing was part of a live broadcast of Hymn Sing-Along. If you scroll to 4 minutes 30 seconds you can watch their performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VN0VYZ1x7Y The children received fantastic feedback from the church community for both their singing and behaviour – what great ambassadors for the school.
Christmas begins in earnest next week; we are really looking forward to welcoming you to the Nativity ‘Born in a Barn’ and production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Holy Trinity Church.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Vicky
Thought of the Week: “Search for the hero inside yourself.” Who would you most like to be? Do ask your child who they voted for and why.
Whole school notice:
End of term arrangements:
On the last day of term, Friday 20 December, we will be finishing early as usual, 13:30 for the infants and 13:45 for the juniors.
Infant
Christmas Post Boxes
The post boxes are now at the upper and lower entrances if children would like to post Christmas cards to their friends. Please make sure envelopes are addressed with name, surname initial and class.
Teacher-led club cancellations
The teacher-led clubs (Football and Paper Plate Craft) are cancelled on Tuesday 10 December.
Paper Plate Craft is also cancelled on 17 December.
Teacher-led clubs next term
The choice form for Year R teacher-led clubs is going out via ParentMail today. Forms should be completed by next Tuesday 10 December.
Choice forms for Years 1 and 2 will be going out next week.
Year 2, Thursday 12 December, 2.50pm
Parents are invited to come and listen to some songs which the Year 2 children have been learning based on their Great Fire of London topic.
Christmas Lunch, Wednesday 18 November
Children can wear a Christmas jumper or accessory for the lunch on 18 December, if they would like to. We will also be collecting £1 for charity.
Menu: week 2 beginning 9 December. On Tuesday 10 December children will have a school-made packed lunch.
See below for FOPS News
Junior
'A Christmas Carol’ – evening arrangements for Years 3, 4 & 5 at Holy Trinity Church
Keller and Mandela houses will be performing on Monday 9th.
Please could children from Year 3, 4 & 5 arrive at Holy Trinity Church at 6.45pm. They will need to check in with their class teacher and will be sitting with the rest of their year group during the performance. The performance will begin at 7pm.
We anticipate the performance ending at 8pm so if you are not watching, please come to pick up your child soon after 8pm and use the entrance at the back (tower end) of the church as we will have a one way pick up process and people will be leaving via the high street glass doors. They must be checked out with their teacher. We will not allow any child to walk home unaccompanied.
Shackleton and Nightingale will be performing on Wednesday 11th and the same arrangements as above apply.
Year 6 arrangements - Your child is needed for both evening performances of 'A Christmas Carol' on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th December. Please ensure they arrive at Holy Trinity Church at 6:30pm and are collected at 8:00pm. Your child should now be aware of their role in the play and what they should wear. Costume assistants, stage crew, sound crew and lighting crew should wear all black or their school uniform.
Y6 - If your child has chosen to be part of the marketing team involved in bringing our Christmas play 'A Christmas Carol' to life, your child will not be needed for the evening performances. However, they will have the opportunity to watch one of the performances of the play during the afternoon matinées.
Dates for the diary
- Monday 9 December - “A Christmas Carol” at HT Church: A matinée (1.30pm) and an evening performance (7pm) for Keller and Mandela
- Wednesday 11th December - “A Christmas Carol” at HT Church: A matinée (1.30pm) and an evening performance (7pm) for Shackleton / Nightingale
- Tuesday 17 December Christmas Lunch Y3 and Y4 (Y5 & Y6 to bring a packed lunch)
- Wednesday 18 December Christmas Lunch Y5 and Y6 (Y3 and Y4 to bring packed lunch)
**On the day of your child’s Christmas lunch the children may wear something festive, Christmas Jumpers, tinsel etc. **
Cancelled Clubs
- Monday 9 December – No Drama Club
- Wednesday 11 December – No Tag Rugby Boys and Girls
- Wednesday 11 December – No early morning running club.
PTA
FOPS News
**One week to go until the PD Christmas Fair!!!**
We really need your support to raise funds and have fun at the Christmas Fair on 14th December.
Story time with Santa - now open to siblings!
Book now for all your little ones to enjoy biscuit decorating, a gift and a story with Santa: http://tinyurl.com/pewley
Volunteer at the fair!
We can’t run the games, bar and stalls without you - please volunteer for a slot here: https://tinyurl.com/PDfairslots
Be in it to win it - Buy raffle tickets!
There are some amazing prizes to be won, with more still being added, including:
- · £100 John Lewis Voucher
- · A whole week holiday camp at Planet Soccer / 2 days each for 2 kids
- · Tickets to Bocketts Farm
- · Tickets to Fishers Farm
- · Family tickets x4 to Swan Lake at G Live
- · £50 Guildford Theatre School voucher
- · Waterstones books bundle
- · Wagamama goodie bag (worth £35)
- · Pinch of Nom cookbook bundle
- · Pizza Express voucher
- · Rogues voucher
- · £20 Fresco coffee voucher
- · Two free coffees at M&R Barbers & Brew
- · £5 Cook voucher and mulling syrup
- · Bottle of mulled wine from Wine Rack
Tickets came home in bags, but there are more available at the school office. Return completed ticket stubs with name & phone number to the Pewley Down school office by Thursday 12th December with payment in cash or cheque (payable to Friends of Pewley School).
Declutter & donate!
Please bring your donations in to the playground at drop off and pick up on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th. We particularly need:
- · Wine/fizz/beer & other bottles, even empty screw top bottles for games & a tombola
- · Small bags of sweets
- · Teddies and very small toys for lucky dip prizes (random toy cars, party bag fillers and magazine toys will do!)
- · Xmas jumpers and fancy dress for sale in Elfridges
Thanks so much for your support! FOPS
Other
- The Christchurch Christmas Comedy Musical for children, this Saturday 7 December at 5.30pm. Tickets only £3 including refreshments after the performance. Christ Church, Waterden Road, GU1 2AZ - flyer below.
- Home Start – flyer
- Science Sleuths at St Cat’s, 6 January, 10.30am to 1.30pm at Catherine’s Prep School Bramley. A day of mystery and discovery for girls in Year 2. Free event – lunch included. See flyer.
- ZERO Kids Silent Disco
- Major Manger Mayham Panto
- Christmas Crafternoon – flyer below.