Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back! I would like to welcome all of our children and families back to school. It is lovely to see everyone. We have had a really positive start to the term so far.
Attendance is focus for the school. We are aiming for 96% attendance by the end of the year. If school attendance was an issue last year for you, the Attendance Team at Herts County Council will be aware and will be monitoring closely. Children’s attendance is the responsibility of parents and carers, this includes lateness. If your child is late to school, this will reduce their attendance level and over time. Children should be in school for the start of the day. Gates are opened 10 minutes before.
As usual, if you have any queries or concerns, please let us know.
Sarah Chaloner
School timings
Breakfast Club is 7.45am until the start of the school day.
Children should not be unattended (unless in Breakfast Club) on the premises before 8.20am.
Start of the school day – the gates will be opened 10 minutes before the start of the day
8.30am – KS2 start of the day.
8.45am – Reception (from full time), Year 1 and 2 start of the day. Reception to use the back gate and door. Year 1 and 2 children to enter through the bottom gate.
KS2 – end of day is 3pm
Reception, Year 1 and 2 – 3.15pm
After school club runs from the end of school until 6pm.
Please note: If you are late to pick your child up, they will go into after school club and you will be invoiced accordingly. If you know you need a place, please book in advance.
‘Letting Our Lights Shine’
We have a number of ways in which we support and celebrate pupils’ achievement and encourage them in all aspects of our school life. Our vision of ‘Aim high, let your light shine’ from Matthew 5:16 threads throughout the work of the school. You may not be aware of all of them so I thought it might be useful to highlight them.
Special Mentions – children are chosen from each class to receive a certificate for something they have done which could be part of their learning, or somethings showing our values.
Hot Choc Friday – is a reward for pupils who have been particularly showing our school values and ‘letting their lights shine’. We are now doing this in person so at least one child from each class will join me for a hot choc (or suitable alternative) and a biscuit. It is a lovely way for me to share the children’s views.
Book suitcases – these are provided to support reading, for one child per class to take home. They contain everything children need to have a lovely book experience with their families: books; blanket; cuddly; hot chocolate sachets and biscuits.
Super readers – in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 one child is chosen per class to wear the superhero cape and mask in collective worship when they have read every day. This is to promote and encourage regular reading.
Reading trophies – we hand out trophies for the highest percentages of reading, noted in children’s reading record books by families. We have a trophy for:
- Reception, Year 1 and 2
- Year 3 and 4
- Year 5 and 6
Reminder Parking
Please make sure you are taking care when driving near the school gates and in Longlands Close. We have had a number of complaints about poor driving. Also, please do not block the gates when you drop the children at school as we do have staff members and visitors using the gates. It would be awful of there was an accident.
School Uniform
All items of clothing including shoes must be labelled with the child’s name. Children must not wear jewellery. No make-up including nail varnish. Children with pierced ears may wear the smallest studs. Hair bands should be in school colours and not be too big or bulky. If your child has pierced ears, she/he must be able to remove and replace the studs herself/himself for PE. Their PE kit can be kept in a bag on their peg and should be in school every day.
Girls/Boys
Winter Summer
- Grey tunic/dress/skirt Blue and white gingham or striped dress/jumpsuit
- Grey long or short trousers Pale blue polo shirt with the school logo
- Black joggers for Rec
- Blue shirt with school tie (juniors)
- Pale blue polo shirt with the school logo (infants)
- Royal blue pullover/sweatshirt or cardigan with the school logo
- Blue, grey or black socks/tights
- Traditional black sensible shoes (not boots)
- Black indoor shoes (plimsolls)
- Games kit
- Yellow polo shirt with school logo
- Royal Blue shorts (not cycling shorts)
- Navy or black jogging bottoms
- Summer uniform may be worn from Easter until the autumn half-term – dependent upon the weather.
Diary Dates
|
Date |
Activity |
Who? |
|
Sept |
|
|
|
1st |
INSET |
Staff |
|
4th |
Term starts |
Everyone |
|
w/b 11th |
Class meetings Year 1 – 12.9.23 Year 2 – 14.9.23 Year 3 – 15.9.23 Year 4 – 18.9.23 Year 5 – 11.9.23 Year 6 – 13.9.23 |
|
|
12th |
Swimming starts – Year 6 |
|
|
19th |
Year 3 trip to St Albans |
Year 3 |
|
Flu vaccinations Rec to Year 6 – session 1 |
|
|
|
21st |
Prayer Day |
|
|
26th |
Year 5 and 6 to St Albans Cathedral – workshops |
|
|
29th |
Macmillan Coffee |
Everyone |
|
Oct |
|
|
|
2nd |
Year 2 cycle training |
Year 2 |
|
3rd |
Drama4All session Rec- Y3 |
|
|
5th |
Harvest Service in Church |
|
|
10th |
Year 2 and Year 4 to St Albans Cathedral – workshops |
Year 2 and 4 |
|
11th |
Individual photos |
|
|
12th |
Choir – SEESAW project |
|
|
18th – 20th |
Year 6 Cuffley |
|
|
23rd – 27th |
Half-term |
|
|
31st |
Secondary School Application deadline |
|
|
Nov |
|
|
|
1st |
Parents Evening – in-person |
|
|
7th |
Remembrance in Church |
|
|
9th |
Parents Evening – in-person |
|
|
13th – 17th |
Anti-bullying week |
|
|
30th |
Christmas Tree |
|
|
Dec |
|
|
|
1st |
Occasional Day |
|
|
4th |
INSET |
|
|
12th |
Flu Vaccinations – session 2 |
|
|
13th |
Christmas lunch and panto in school |
|
|
19th |
Christmas service in Church |
|
|
20th |
Term ends 1.20/1.30pm |
|
A parent information booklet has been published online by ThinkUKnow. This gives lots of information about ways in which you can keep children safe online.
Find it here: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/parents-guide-being-social-online/
Information about Google Classroom
Please note we will be continuing with this next academic year.
Helpful login tips can be found via the link: https://bit.ly/2KmjAUM
Google Classroom information
Communication
Support for mental health: https://bbc.in/3b1JYhU
SCHOOL GATEWAY link
You can pay for lunches and other items using the School Gateway app.
Here is the link:
https://login.schoolgateway.com/0/auth/login