24 January 2024
Dear Parents/Carers
It’s been another busy week full of ‘zest for learning and love of life’ with house chess, three large cross country meets and netball fixtures allowing the children to represent the school. Meanwhile, Donna has been busy creating lots of artwork to decorate the school ready for Chinese New Year next week. To go along with this, Lilja has pushed herself out of her comfort zone admirably and has been teaching the children a song – I need to work on my pronunciation!
We are always reviewing our extra-curricular provision and would like to gauge interest in an externally run Spanish Club at the juniors. If we have sufficient interest, this will take place after school on Fridays or Mondays and commence after half term. To express your interest, please complete the form here by Wednesday 29 January.
At the end of a week, I always enjoy looking at the school week ahead. Each week I am amazed by the range of opportunities afforded to the children to enhance their learning and personal development. Next week is no exception with: a Year 5 trip to the Winchester Science Museum, a Year 3 and 4 dodgeball tournament, netball fixtures for Years 4 and 6, a Year 6 ‘Robotics Celebration Day’, and a Year 5 & 6 film night run by our Year 6 parents to round the week off. I would like to thank our dedicated staff for everything they do to enable this and for your parental support – what lucky children!
This week we continued our assembly theme ‘Love is...’ and talked about love is patient. Reverend Simon kindly joined us at both the infants and juniors to lead assemblies deepening our thinking and reflection. Our hectic lives often lead us rushing from one thing straight to the next, so we discussed the importance of stopping and taking time out of our busy days. I hope you get the opportunity to pause this weekend.
Best wishes
Vicky
Thought of the week: ‘Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it is how we behave while we are waiting.’ Joyce Meyer
WHOLE SCHOOL
Save the date - the HTSC fun run will return this summer on Saturday 7 June!
Held at Shalford Park, the day will include various distances so there’s a race for everyone, with food, drink and entertainment once the running is over.
Further details will be shared in the coming weeks but for now, please pop the date in your diary. It’s a fantastic event which brings the HTPD community together, and raises valuable funds for the school.
Infant
House Poetry Event for Year R, 1 and 2 - Thursday 6th February
Our next house event at the infant school was launched today! The children have been invited to take part in 'House Poetry' on Thursday 6th February. They can learn a poem and read it aloud, they can learn a poem off by heart or they can write a poem to read or perform. If your child would like to join in, please help them to choose (or write) a short poem and help them to practise reading it or performing it. The children will be offered some poems at school if they need help with choosing a poem. Short (or even very short) poems are ideal! This is a fun, optional activity. We know the children are excited to take part. Thank you for helping them to develop their love of poetry!
Junior
Dates for the Diary
- Monday 27 January – Y5 Winchester Science Museum Trip
- Monday 27 January – 3G swimming
- Wednesday 29 January – 4SP swimming
- Friday 31 January - Y5 and Y6 are invited to our January film night. Please see Parentmail for details.
- Friday 7 February – Y3 Ancient Greek Day
Cancelled Clubs
- Monday 27 January – No Y5 Netball Club
- Tuesday 28 January – No Y6 ‘Making a Meal of It’ Cooking Club
- Friday 31 January – No Y4 Netball Club
- Monday 3 February – No Y5 Netball Club
- Friday 7 February – No Kickstart
Menu: Week 1 beginning 27 January
Fixtures:
Monday 27 January - Y5&6 Sportshall Trials - On the Pitch until 4.15pm.
- Y5 Netball Club is cancelled
Tuesday 28 January - Y3 Dodgeball Competition. The team has been sent out on ParentMail.
Thursday 30 January - Y4 Netball Festival at Tormead. The team has been sent out on ParentMail.
Friday 31 January - Y6 Netball v Boxgrove. The team has been sent out on ParentMail
- Y4 Netball Club is cancelled
Monday 3 February - Y5 Netball Matches v Burpham - HOME. The team will be sent out on ParentMail.
- Y5 Netball Club is cancelled
Tuesday 4 February - Y5 Football v Boxgrove - AWAY. The team will be sent out on ParentMail.
Wednesday 5 February - Y6 Netball v QE - HOME. The teams will be sent out on ParentMail.
Thursday 6 February - Y5&6 XC at St Joseph's. The teams will be sent out on ParentMail.
Friday 7 February - Y5&6 Sportshall Practice - on the pitch until 4.30pm. For children selected at the Sportshall trials. The team will be sent out on ParentMail.
- Y4 Netball Club is cancelled
- KickStart is cancelled
Pastoral Conference @ GHS
On Saturday 1 February GHS is hosting their biennial pastoral conference. It is set to be an enjoyable and informative day, pitched at parents of pupils in Key Stage 2–5. It will be an excellent opportunity to hear from outstanding speakers, who can offer expert advice on how to support your child in helping them to navigate relationships, become more independent & have increased wellbeing and the necessary skills to thrive both now and in the future. A contribution of £18 is being asked towards the cost of the day; refreshments and a buffer lunch will be provided. As ever we are keen to overcome barriers to attendance, in some cases the West Surrey Partnership may be able to support with this cost. Please get in touch to discuss further.
Full details of the event and how to book can be found in the letter below. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Friday 24 January 2025. It is worth noting that numbers are limited.
PTA
FOPS News
Weather the storms with an HTPD hat!
Make sure your little ones are nice and cosy with our HTPD Pom Pom beanie hats, for only £7.
They come in each house colour, are excellent quality and really warm - the perfect addition to school uniform on these chilly days, and a nice little boost for our school fundraising too.
Please buy online here and collect at the PD school office.
Thanks for your support,
Your FOPS Team
HTSC update
On Friday 7th Feb there will be a cake and second hand uniform sale in the playground.
Other
Vacancy: Intergenerational Minister at Burpham Church. For more information https://www.burphamchurch.org.uk/Groups/434007/Intergenerational_Minister_Vacancy.aspx
Surrey Heartlands - information webinars designed to support parents and carers in managing asthma for children and young people (see flyer)
Be Your Best - a funded healthy lifestyle programme for Surrey families with children & teenagers aged 5-17 years, who are above the healthy weight range (see flyer)
Families First Guildford newsletter (link)
G Live - Baby Friendly Cinema Club (see flyer