On Wednesday, Year 4 had a very successful trip to St Alban’s Abbey learning a great deal about The Romans and the story of St Alban. On Monday yr 2 are visiting the Transport Museum in London as  part of their ‘Move with the times’ topic. When we redeveloped the curriculum the aim was for all of the classes to include a topic related visit at least once each term. We encourage visits to enhance the learning for the children and to engage them in ways not possible in the classroom. Y3, 5 and 6 have visits planned in the near future.

On the 27^th September at 9.00am we will be holding a coffee morning for the new EYFS parents. Mrs Savage will give a brief talk on the EYFS and then there will be an informal opportunity to chat with other parents/ carers from the class.

Well done to the Learners of the Week, we are very proud of you all.

w/b 10^th September                                                          

 EYFS       Mary Castellani – encouraging others to work hard

Yr 1         Ben Rodger – giving his best effort in all the things we do at school

Yr 2         Thomas Clark – working hard to learn the new routines in Yr 2

Yr 3         Georgia Cross- thinking hard on a maths challenge

Yr 4         Jack Gibbs – working hard at learning his times tables

Yr 5         Zoe Birch – working hard in all subjects

Yr 6         Olly Scinaldi – trying really hard when someone encourages him

I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend.

 

Paul Driver

Headteacher

 

 

Extra-Curricular Activities

 

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
Lunch time Gym Yrs 1,5 & 6 Violin Spanish Yrs 2,3 & 4	Lunch time Mini tennis Yr 3 Violin	Lunch time Mini tennis Y1 & 2 Violin Recorder Y3	Lunch time Gym Yr 2 & 3 Violin Recorder Yr 4 & 5	Lunch time Gym Yr 4 Spanish Yr 1 Gardening Yrs 4,5 & 6
After school Almost Famous Juniors (3.15pm – 5pm)  Netball Yrs 5 & 6	After school Almost famous Infant (3.15pm – 4.30pm)	After school	After school Art Club Yr 2 & 3	After school Football Yrs 5 & 6

 

FOHBS News

Bag2School Clothing Collection Monday 8^th October 2012

 

We are pleased to inform you that we have organised a textile collection with Bag2School on Monday 8^th October. For every kg of textiles donated we will receive 50p or, looking at it on a larger scale, £500 per tonne. As well as raising funds for our school, we will also be helping the environment by diverting unwanted textiles away from landfill.

What you need to do!

Start sorting through your cupboards and wardrobes now and set aside unwanted textiles  – this can include adults’ and children’s clothes, shoes (tied together please), hats, belts, bags, soft toys, curtains and bedding (not duvets or pillows).

Then on Friday 28^th September we will issue each family with a bag in which to put the textiles. If you fill the donation bag and still have more, then you can use any other bag to donate your items and don’t forget to ask grandparents, friends and neighbours to have a sort out as well!

Bag2School can be brought into school on Monday 8^th October (when they will also be collected by the company). Please bring your bag (or bags!) to the front of the school and help us have a really good collection.

Many thanks indeed for helping us with this unique fundraising opportunity.

Other dates for your diary:

Friday 12^th October – Year 5 Cake Sale

Friday 19^th October – Infant and Junior Movie Night

Friday 16^th November – Infant and Junior School Disco

Friday 23^rd November – Year 6 Cake Sale

Saturday 8^th December – High Beeches Christmas Fair

 

 

Pupil Success

Congratulations to the following pupils:

Zara Miller (Year 3) who passed her Grade 1 Ballet exam with Merit

Josh Dooley (Year 6) who was awarded best batsman in the Harpenden Cricket Club Colts under 10s b team

 

 

Diary Dates

 

Monday 24^th September ............................. Yr 2 Transport Museum visit

Wednesday 26^th September ....................... Maths workshop for Parents and carers 3.30pm

Friday 28^th September ................................. Macmillan Coffee Morning

W/B 1^st October ............................................ National Book Week

Thursday 4^th October .................................... Harvest Festival

Friday 5^th October ......................................... Hero and Heroine Dressing up day

Monday 8th^th October ................................. Individual photos

Monday 8^th October ..................................... FoHBs clothes collection

Wednesday 10^th October ............................ Yr 6 St Albans Courthouse visit

Wednesday 17^th October ............................ Parent consultations 3.30 -6.30pm

Thursday 25^th October.................................. Parent consultations 5 – 8pm

Monday 29^th October ................................... Half term holiday begins

Friday 16^th November .................................. Children in Need

Friday 16^th November .................................. FoHBs Disco

Monday 3^rd December  ................................ Occasional Day – School closed

Wednesday 5^th December ........................... Rotary Carol Concert

Thursday 13^th December ............................. Nativity 2pm

Friday 14^th December ................................... Nativity 6.30pm

Tuesday 18^th December ............................... Whole School Panto Visit pm

Friday 21^st December ................................... Term Ends @ 2pm

 

 

Harpenden Colts Football

Harpenden Colts U11s (Year 6) have a couple of spaces remaining for aspiring footballers who are available to train on Saturday mornings and play matches on Sunday mornings. We would be looking for around 70%+ availability.

Our aspirations are for the children to enjoy participation in organised football - and the coaches, most of whom are FA qualified, will also work hard to develop their skills.

Total cost for the season is £105, for which the children get around 30 training sessions and 20 matches.

If you are interested, please contact Peter Northcott: pnorthcott@gmail.com or 0770-282-4411

 

 

Nut free school

High Beeches Primary School aspires to be a “nut-free” environment. No school can guarantee that there will never be any nuts on site, but our aim is to be a “nut-free” environment. We have pupils in the school community who suffer allergic reactions of varying degrees of severity to a variety of nuts.

High Beeches has an anaphylaxis policy of which all staff and the parents of the children concerned are aware. This is available on request to any other parent who would like to read it.

In the two areas of critical concern: ie food preparation areas, the school kitchens and the class room, specific protocols are in place. These are kept under review.

 For other staff, pupils and parents the guidelines are simpler. No food stuff containing nuts as an ingredient should be brought into School, either for one’s own consumption or as a gift for anyone else. For the avoidance of confusion, this includes pine nut kernels, chestnuts and coconut, in addition to the other commonly accepted “nuts”.

Many packaged ready-prepared products contain advice such as “cannot guarantee nut-free” or “factory cannot guarantee nut-free”. This is increasingly common phraseology to protect against potential litigation. What staff, pupils and parents need to look for is whether or not nuts are used as an ingredient in foodstuffs. If nuts, as identified in the previous paragraph, are an ingredient then the item must not be brought into School.

 

 

Letters sent home

17/9/12 – School lunch invoices

18/9/12 – Yr 5 Hatfield House trip

20/9/12 – Whole school panto visit

21/9/12 – Yr 6 Residential visit

 

Newsletter 13th July 2012

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Summer Festival last Saturday. Even the sunshine made an appearance; thankfully we avoided any of our more ‘usual’ summer weather. The children performed their dances superbly and it was wonderful to see so many parents and carers enjoying each performance, listening to the bands and browsing the many stalls. We do not have a grand total yet but I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the FoHBs members, their partners and all other adults involved in setting up the Festival on the day. A special ‘thank you’ must go to Andrew Dadswell and Fiona Ryan who organised the Festival. Thank you too to all of the members of staff for their support on the day.

This week we have been treated to a wonderful play by Year 6. ‘Reach for the Sky’ celebrated the Olympic theme and values. The children performed very well demonstrating just how much they have ‘grown’ throughout their time here at High Beeches. The children sang about ‘Being the best they could be’ in the finale and we certainly saw the very best of the children throughout the performance. Well done to Year 5 for their wonderful singing and thank you to all of the staff for all of their hard work in preparing the children for the play.

Unfortunately the weather has beaten us once again with Sports Day. It really is unbelievable this year, even when it is not raining the field is far too wet to be able to use it safely. However, in line with one of our learning focus for this year we will not give up!  We are now planning to hold a Sports Day on Tuesday 17^th July at 9.30am. I realise that this is very short notice and may be inconvenient it may not make it possible for some of you to attend and I apologise for this. However, we are desperate to hold this event and, weather permitting this is our last opportunity. When setting the dates for Sports Day back in the winter we did not consider needing three options!

Please ensure that all Library Books and any items of school team kits are returned to school by Wednesday 18^th July.

Due to a lack of responses we have unfortunately decided to postpone the ‘Helpers Afternoon Tea’ we realise that this is a very hectic time of the year and will try to organise something early in the new term when I am sure the weather will be scorching hot! We do want to have an opportunity to say thank you for all the support we receive from parent/carer helpers. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Artsfest display items should be delivered to the school dining room on Monday morning in preparation for Open Evening 4 – 5.30pm.

Annual Reports sent home today. School finishes at 2pm on Friday 20^th July.

I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend.

Paul Driver

Headteacher

Midday Supervisor Vacancy

Would you like to become a member of the High Beeches Staff team? We have a vacancy for a midday supervisor for Five days a week working from 12.00 – 1.15pm. For more information please speak to Mr Driver.

FoHBs News

Summer Fair – a big thankyou to everyone who helped out and/or attended the summer fair. Despite the weather, it proved to be a great afternoon and in the process raised money for the school, (the exact total is still being calculated, but we will inform you as soon as we know.)

FOHBS AGM – this is taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 18^th July at High Beeches School. Everyone is welcome please do try to attend if you are interested in joining FOHBS and help raise funds for our children.

Parent Governor Election

In the recent parent elections no nominations were received and under such circumstance the Governors are charged with finding a parent willing to take on the role.  The Governors have since been in discussions with several parents and I am delighted to report that Mrs Angela Kershaw has agreed to become a Parent Governor. I would like to also take this opportunity to thank Mr Peter Sianchuk for all of his hard work and support throughout his term as a Governor.

Pupil Success

Congratulations to the following pupils:

Thomas Clark (Yr 1) awarded most improved gymnast from our School Gymnastics Club

Georgia Cross (Yr 2) awarded most improved gymnast from our School Gymnastics Club

Freddie Stephenson (Yr 3) awarded most improved gymnast from our School Gymnastics Club

Lily Snowden (Yr 4) awarded most improved gymnast from our School Gymnastics Club

Ben Rodger (EYFS) who has achieved his 5 Metres distance swimming award

Tom Cunningham (EYFS) who has achieved his 5 Metres distance swimming award and his Level 7 British Gymnastic Association Proficiency Award.

Jessica Poulter (Yr 1) who has achieved her Pool Frog 1 Swimming Award

Alexandra Batchelor (Yr 1) who has taken part in a Royal Academy of Dance - Primary in Dance Class Award

Eddy Sheehan, Joe Clothier, Ethan Cheung and Max Norris (Yr 5) who all attended the St Georges School Primary Technology Challenge and were awarded a trophy for their ‘Good Effort’

Isabel Jenkinson (Yr 4), Hattie Jenkinson (Yr 2) and Mariette Hancock (Yr 4) who were a part of the ‘Six’ awarded the Bronze Medal at the Brownie Olympics

Lost Property

Our lost property is again full to bursting point with unnamed items of clothing. These will be put out on the playground before and after school next week. Please do have a look through the items carefully. Some of the jumpers and cardigans are virtually brand new! Any unclaimed items will be given to FoHBs to resell or recycled!

CHESS MASTERS

Come along to learn, play and enjoy chess!

A chess club that provides quality chess coaching led by an English Chess Federation accredited coach, Lorin D'Costa.

All abilities are welcome. Meet Lorin at the Summer Coaching Session

13th August 2012 12.30pm - 1.30pm & 1.30pm - 2.30pm

Further details at www.chess-masters.co.uk Contact: Sheela Jina 01582-760273 / 079217 80889

Email: info@chess-masters.co.uk

Bookings are also now been taken for September.

PLACES ARE LIMITED

Letters sent home

9^th July –teaching arrangements 2012-2013 – all classes                         13^th July swimming (Yr 4 and 5)

13^th July EYFS tennis, mini tennis (Yr 1 and 2)             

Newsletter 22.06.12

The children have brought home their sponsor forms for the ‘Giant Obstacle Race’ next week. This is an exciting event and we really would like to do all we can to raise money towards the Cardiac Centre at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. The nurses from the centre came in and spoke to the children in assembly to discuss healthy eating and the importance of keeping our hearts healthy. The Cardiac Centre will enable procedures to be carried out at the hospital rather than having to send patients to other hospitals in the Country.

Next week we are taking part in National Sports Week. As a part of National Sports week we will be holding a Sports week in school next week. Thank you to Mrs Draycon for all of her hard work in organising a daily sporting activity for each class. Thank you to the Parents / Carers who have given up their time to come into the school and share their expertise with the children. All children should wear a ‘sports kit’ throughout the week next week. This does not have to be the school PE kit but should be something appropriate for sports activities.

Well done to Year Five for their wonderful assembly this morning and to Year 6 for their impeccable behaviour during the residential visit.

Well done to the Learners of the Week, we are very proud of you all.

w/b 11^th June                                                                      

Yr 1         Oliver Lewis – Lim – trying even when work is tricky

Yr 2         Varisha Haque – Keeping going with her Tracks work

Yr 3         Cameron Smith – keeps on trying even when work is especially tough in topic work and English

Yr 4         Isabel Jenkinson – not giving up when she finds maths problems difficult

Yr 5         Joseph Captieux – keeping on going with improving the speed of his tables recall

Yr 6         Nathaniel Snowden – ‘I know that pushing myself makes me better at things’

I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend.

Paul Driver

Headteacher

Midday Supervisor Vacancy

Would you like to become a member of the High Beeches Staff team? We have a vacancy for a midday supervisor for Five days a week working from 12.00 – 1.15pm. For more information please speak to Mr Driver.

Sports Update

On Tuesday ten children from Year 5 represented the school at the local Kwik Cricket Festival. The children played extremely well considering they were playing against teams of Year 6 children from other schools and due to the weather had little preparation time. The team finished in seventh place out of the twelve starting schools which is excellent. Very well done to Oliver Card, Joshua Dooley, Tim Lewis-Lim, Johnny Mawditt, George Kershaw, Fiona McArdle, Jessica Nottingham, Georgia Clothier, Georgina Klein and Abigail Roy.

Pupil Success

Congratulations to the following pupils:

Samuel Pesez (Yr 3) who has achieved his Silver award for Kumon Maths

George Kershaw (Yr 5)  who represented Hatfield Swimming Club in the Final Round of the Peanuts League on Saturday evening. Hatfield won and are now ranked first in the County

Joseph Clothier (Yr 5)  who passed his Grade 1 clarinet exam with merit.

Abbie Thomas (Yr 2) has passed her British Gymnastics Award Grade 3

Daniel Thomas (Yr 1) has passed his British Gymnastics Award Grade 6

Oliver Card (Yr 5) who played in the Harpenden u10’s cricket team which won the Lancot 10/10 tournament on 11^th June and was a member of the Herts U10,s team who secured a convincing win over Cambridgeshire winning by 180 runs!

FOHBS Needs You!

 The FOHBS committee needs you.  Our AGM is on Wednesday, 18^th July at the school and before that date we need to find someone (or some people) to be the new chair / co-Chair.  If you are thinking that you do not have enough time then don’t let that put you off :

The FOHBS chair role is varied and does not mean you end up doing everything.  We currently have a fantastic committee of which five members are staying on for the following year and will help you out in your new role.  Yes, you will have to attend and ‘chair’ (the clues in the title!) our meetings which currently happen once every six weeks or so.  Yes, you will help out and maybe take lead roles on fund raising events for the school.  Yes, you will potentially meet new parents.  Yes, you will get a lot out of it.  The whole point of FOHBS is to make money for your child’s school, but in the process have fun, and provide social events (May Ball, Comedy Night, Discos, Movie Night, Christmas and Summer Fair) for both adults and children. 

FOHBS runs as a charity with charity status which means that we have to have certain roles filled, one of which is the role of Chair.  If no-one comes forward and offers to be Chair then FOHBS will not be able to continue.  Due to some fantastic events and incredible hard work and efforts over the last few years  FOHBS has raised money for many items, such as six i-pads, new dining tables, the library area, to name a few.  Mr Driver has just ordered some new playground equipment which will take a chunk of money out of the FOHBS account.  All of these purchases could not happen without the events organised by FOHBS.  Unfortunately, if there is no FOHBS then not only would there be no events, there would be no extra funds. Current Chairs are Andrew Dadswell and Fiona Ryan.  We would be more than happy to hear from you should you be wanting more information on the role.  Please therefore, email me at Dadswell@ntlworld.com or talk to Fiona in the playground.

 Our next big event is the Summer Fair – what better time to get involved and shadow either myself or Fiona to see what the role entails. 

Gardening Club

I am sure that you have all noticed how wonderful the front of the school and other areas in the school gardens are looking at the moment. This is all thanks to Mrs Miller and the Gardening Club. More helpers are needed each week please.  Don’t think that you need to do every week -  a one off help is great.  Anybody able to offer any time to help out please speak to Sarah Miller – 07841 586651

If anybody has any ribbon of any size and type the gardening club would love any donations.

Letters sent home

18th June – Yr 2 Music Festival                                      18^th June – Yr 5 Girls health

20^th June – All Sports week                                              21^st June – Yr 5 2013 trip letter

21^st June -  All Arts Fest

Newsletter 25th May 2012

High Beeches Primary School Newsletter 25th May 2012

Well done to all of the children who participated in the walk to school week. Year 2 and Year 3 completed the challenge of walking from Lands End to John O’Groats

The children all enjoyed the Steel Pan workshops on Tuesday, and learnt about the origin of the pans and the music. The assembly was one of the liveliest we have had for some time!

Well done to all of the children in Year 6 for the manner in which they have conducted themselves during the SATs testing weeks. This week the Level 6 tests were completed. I know that the children are all looking forward to the residential trip to Windmill Hill after half term a well-deserved break.

Thank you to all of the members of FoHBs for their hard work in organising the May Ball last Saturday. It was a wonderful evening and received a great deal of positive feedback. The focus for FoHBs fundraising this year has been for a large ‘play equipment’ installation predominantly for the Junior children. Thanks to all the hard work, we have ordered the equipment which will be installed during the week after half term. It is a large play frame with over 14 different possible activities. The children have worked with the School Council to select the styles of equipment that they preferred and we have had visits from a number of companies before the children chose the ‘Skeleton Climber’. I am certain that this will be enjoyed by all of the children for many years to come. Thank you for supporting FoHBs events and helping us to raise funds for the children.

Hopefully this brief spell of warm weather is a sign of things to come! Please do remember that all children must have a sun hat and a water bottle in school. Sun cream is not allowed in school so please ensure that this is applied at the start of the day.

Well done to the Learners of the Week, we are very proud of you all.

w/b 14^th May 2012

EYFS       Finian Wallman – pushing himself to improve his writing                                                                       

Yr 1         Martha Davies – pushing herself to improve in all areas       

Yr 2         Hattie Jenkinson – pushing herself to concentrate harder

Yr 3         Katarina White – exceptional maths work with problem solving

Yr 4         Thomas Chenery – pushing himself to do some excellent writing

Yr 5         Edward Sheehan – pushing himself to learn all of his times tables

Yr 6         Edward Vickery – pushing himself to improve his acting skills

Paul Driver

Headteacher

Letters Sent Home

21.5.12 – Yrs 1,2 and 3 –Mini tennis

21.5.12 – KS 2 Drama Workshop

23.5.12 – EYFS Boxmoor Visit

Year 1 Plant Sale

Year One would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Parents/Carers who supported their plant sale on Wednesday. Once again it was a valuable, real life experience for the children in using money. Some of the children would have stayed there all evening. The sale would not have been possible without the donation of the plants from the School’s former caretaker Mr John Bates to whom we are enormously grateful and the teaching assistants who gave up their time to collect the plants and set up the sale. Thank you.

Sports News

Well done to all of the Year 5 children who recently competed in the Quicksticks hockey event. The children finished a highly creditable fifth place after only two training sessions at the sport.

Year 3 and 4 football

Well done to all of the boys who represented the school at the recent tournament. The team played exceptionally well considering that due to the poor weather no training sessions had been held. The boys did not lose a game all afternoon and finished in third place behind Woodend and The Grove. A superb result; well done to Alex Helsby, Louis Bennett, Thomas Crawford, Henry Huntley, Thomas Chenery, Oliver Fish, Ethan Russell, Alex Moffatt, James Moffatt and Oscar Ryan.

Pupil Success

Congratulations to the following pupils:

Edward Sheehan (Yr 5) who reached the quarter finals in the u11’s County Squash Tournament

 

Summer Term 2012

Wednesday 30^th May ...................................... KS2 Drama Workshop 3.15pm

Friday 1^st June ................................................ Queens Jubilee Street Party – come in party clothes

w/b Monday 4^th June .................................... Half term holidays

Monday 11^th June .......................................... INSET DAY SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday 12^th June .......................................... HDSA Rounders tournament at Redbourn

Tuesday 12^th June .......................................... Yr 6 Parents meeting 7.00pm

Monday 18^th June .......................................... Yr 6 to Windmill Hill

Monday 18^th June .......................................... EYFS Boxmoor visit

Tuesday 19^th June .......................................... HDSA Kwik Cricket at Woodend

Friday 22^nd June ............................................. YEAR 5 CLASS ASSEMBLY 10.30am

w/b 25^th June ................................................. SPORTS WEEK

Wednesday 27^th June ................................... Phonics workshop 3.30pm Creche available

Thursday 28^th June ........................................ (HDSA) Athletics at SJL – District Sports

w/b2nd July .................................................... Yr 5 Cycle training week

Friday 6^th July ................................................. YEAR 4 CLASS ASEMBLY

Saturday 7^th July ............................................. FoHBs Summer Festival 3-7pm

Monday 9^th July .............................................. Sports Day 1pm

Tuesday 10^th July ........................................... Yr 6 Play 7.00pm

Wednesday 11^th July ..................................... Yr 6 play 7.00pm

Thursday 12^th July .......................................... Secondary school transition day

Friday 13^th July ............................................... Annual Reports to parents/carers

Friday 13^th July ............................................... FoHBs Disco

Monday 16^th July ........................................... Open evening

Tuesday 17^th July ........................................... Year 6 BBQ

Wednesday 18^th July ..................................... Artsfest performances 1.15pm

Thursday 19^th July .......................................... Artsfest performances 1.15pm

Friday 20^th July ............................................... Term ends