Dear Parents and Carers

Another half term has gone by already; it has been a busy time made slightly more challenging by rain, rain, winds, hurricanes and rain. However, the weather has not dampened our spirits and the children have still managed to take part in lots of ‘adventures’ outside. From walks into Kendal, feasts over campfires in our woods to exploring underground in the caves of Yorkshire. The rain does also mean that more of you are coming to school by car. Once again, I respectfully ask that you consider our neighbours when you park near houses and driveways; we have had several more complaints to school about this issue, even though it is not part of the school’s remit or responsibility. Can I also remind you that there is no parent access to the school car park at drop off and pick up times. It is a very small car park which becomes a dangerous entry/exit at these times. Please respect this rule so that our children are safe.

We have some information to share with you about the on-line game ‘Roblox’. This is aimed at younger children but there have been increasing reports about the site being used to groom. Please check that you know every member on your child’s friends list and that they know how to keep themselves safe on-line.

Have an enjoyable half-term break.

Peter Hicks

www.heronhill.cumbria.sch.uk

admin@heronhill.cumbria.sch.uk

@heronhillschool

HERON HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER NO. 2

20th OCTOBER 2017

Tim Farron Christmas Card Competition

Your child will bring home information about this competition today. Encourage your child to use the October half term holiday productively and creatively, by designing a beautiful Christmas card. Remember that the winning design will be reduced to A6 size for printing, so a big, clear design would be most effective. Further details are on the letter.

Bring the finished design to the entrance hall where there will be a box to collect entries, by 3.15 pm on TUESDAY 31

st OCTOBER.

Boxes of Hope Cumbria Shoeboxes

Information leaflets about this year’s shoebox appeal have been distributed; spare copies are at the office. We have challenged every child to bring in at least 2 items which could be put in a shoe box. This could mean a staggering 800 items that will make a difference to another child in Romania. Family members are invited to come into school at any time from Tuesday 31

st October to help to pack the boxes. Alternatively (or additionally), you can donate £2.00

towards transport costs. Mr Hicks has reminded the children in the Celebration Assembly today and will again in the assemblies before ‘Shoebox Departure Day’. Families may choose to fill their own shoebox at home and bring it in to school by Wednesday 15

th November, but please remember to include £2.00 in these boxes to cover transport costs.

‘Kendal Windows On Art’ Photograph Competition Results

As part of the 'A Story to Tell' community project run by local arts charity Kendal Windows on Art (KWoA), Heron Hill families were set a new creative challenge over the summer, to take photographs recording the landscape in Cumbria on a family walk.

The judging of submitted photographs by the KWoA Artist Team and Kirkbie Kendal School Art Department has now taken place - a difficult task as all the photographs submitted were of a very high quality - and we are proud to announce the winners of the KWoA 'Every Picture Tells a Story' Heron Hill Family Challenge.

Under 7 years: Summer Ogilvie-Booth, 'The Helm'

7-11 years: Fynlay Dodd-Hemingway, 'My brother at Cathedral Caves near Langdale'

Over 18 years: Lesley Archer Baldwin, 'A family swim in Alcock Tarn'

Over 60 years: Lynn Smith, 'Sunset'

Thanks to all the Heron Hill families who took part; these families are full of creativity with so many talented photographers!

The 4 winners, or their children on their behalf, will be presented with a framed print of their photograph by Nicki Smith from KWoA during an assembly on 10

th November, when all families who took part will get a certificate plus a small

photograph display book. All of the submitted photographs will be put on the screen in the foyer for all to see, plus a selection of the photographs will be featured in KWoA exhibition at Kendal Library next year.

l e a r n i n g t o g e t h e r , p l a y i n g t o g e t h e r , g r o w i n g t o g e t h e r

Year 6 Residential Visit to Ingleton, October 2017

It’s an eye-opener how much fun the countryside is. Will L

Governor Insight: Mrs Jacqui Cottam, Chair of Governors

There has been a wonderfully busy start to the new school year and for me it has been a particular pleasure to spend time in Reception, seeing first hand how well our new children have been helped to settle into school.

I have been enormously proud of all our children this half term. Whenever I have been in school, children have been courteous, kind and have super manners. This is something very important to us in school and something we always encourage and expect from pupils. It does not all come from school; being a parent or carer is not always the easiest of jobs, but the support and guidance children receive from home is so important. School and home working together really does make a difference to all our children and your hard work shows, so thank you!

It is very important pupils have pride in themselves, their work and their school...and they have a lot to be proud of this half term. Well done everyone, keep it up and have a great half term break!

l e a r n i n g t o g e t h e r , p l a y i n g t o g e t h e r , g r o w i n g t o g e t h e r

Our three wise monkeys were magnificent helping Year 4 to build a fire for their Mayan feast in the woods. Unfortunately, everyone had so much fun warming their stew over the fire and drinking hot chocolate, they did not take any photographs! Here is evidence that Mayans got their stew ingredients at Asda.

Having read ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, Year 1 pupils decided which healthy toppings they would like on their porridge.

Inter-Schools Cross Country Event: Report by Mrs Foster

The cross country event at Queen Katherine School on Thursday 12th October was very well attended and we took 35

children – 10 from Years 3 and 4 and 25 from Years 5 and 6. Notable achievements were Elissa Kinley who placed 6

th out of 58, Alice Chapman 10

th out of 50, Will Brayshaw and Harry O’Donnell 5

th and 8

th out of 69 and Louis Bigland

1st out of 74 (even overtaking the Year 7 hare).

All our other runners performed well on a flat and muddy but much longer course than previous years, when it was held at St Thomas’s School. They had to show stamina as well as speed in this race and everyone did themselves and the school proud. They all looked particularly smart in our new Heron Hill running vests.

We are delighted to announce that Heron Hill School has achieved the GOLD School Games Mark Award for the 2016/17 academic year. It is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and it is good to have been recognised for our success.

Year 3 pupils are bringing their stories about dragons to life.

Mr Austen came to Nursery and made hedgehog shaped buns from the bread he brought from Morrisons. It was amazing! THANK YOU .

l e a r n i n g t o g e t h e r , p l a y i n g t o g e t h e r , g r o w i n g t o g e t h e r

Dates for your Diary

Friday 20th October School closes for half term, 3.15 pm

Monday 30th October Return to school. Bring in your filled ‘Bags2School’ bags

Tuesday 31st

October Bags2School collection day. Please bring in bags BEFORE 9.00 am

Thursday 2nd

& Friday 3rd

November Reception to Year 4 nasal flu inoculations

Monday 13th November Reception Open Afternoon, 1.00 pm-5.30 pm (for September 2018 starters)

Tuesday 21st

November Reception-Year 6 Family Morning, ‘Christmas’ theme. Pupils will work in mixed

year group classes with siblings in the same class

Wednesday 22nd

November Reception Open Afternoon, 1.00 pm-5.00 pm (for September 2018 starters)

Tuesday 5th December Mufti/Non-Uniform Day to collect bottles and chocolate for the Christmas Fair

Friday 8th December Christmas Fair, 5.00 pm-7.00 pm

Christmas Dates

Productions and Services Parties

Monday 4th December – Nursery/Reception Performance (2.15 pm) Monday 11

th December – Years 1&2

Tuesday 5th December – Nursery/Reception Performance (10.00 am) Tuesday 12

th December – Years 3&4

Wednesday 6th December – Year 1/Year 2 Dress Rehearsal (2.15 pm) Tuesday 12

th December - Nursery

Thursday 7th December – Year 1/Year 2 Performances (2.15 pm & 6.00 pm) Wednesday 13

th December – Years 5&6

Thursday 14th December - Choir singing at the Elephant Yard (1.15 pm) Thursday 14

th December - Reception

Friday 15th December - Parish Church Services:

9.45 am - Reception to Year 2 Carol Service

12.45 pm - Nursery Crib Service

2.00 pm - Year 3 to Year 6 Carol Service

Reminders

Parking: We would be very grateful if you would consider the school ’s neighbours when you park your car near the school and avoid blocking driveways or leaving your car parked in a way which makes use of the road or pavements difficult for others.

Voluntary Contribution: If you have not made a £5 per family contribution towards baking and other materials, there is still time! All contributions are gratefully received.

School Meals: Please book your child ’s school meals before 9.30 am and preferably up to 3 weeks in advance. Children get upset when they go for their lunch and realise one has not been booked for them.

Secondary School Applications: Please make sure your Year 6 child ’s application form has reached the office or has been completed on-line by Tuesday 31

st October. Paper copies are available from the school office.

Old £1.00 Coins: If you are buying anything from us (including poppies) please do not use old £1.00 coins.

School Angel

School Angel is an on-line charity which benefits Heron Hill School, other schools and individual disadvantaged pupils throughout the country.

When you are on-line shopping, by going to the School Angel website first and using the Heron Hill page there, all the search fees the big brand companies pay to search engines will be given to School Angel, which they pass on to us. For School Angel to be effective, all of our parents need to remember to log into the School Angel website where you will find links to most famous brand shopping websites. Each click via Heron Hill’s page on School Angel would soon benefit Heron Hill by a huge amount.

The School Angel logo is at the bottom of the Heron Hill website page - click on it and you will be taken directly to the Heron Hill page, then just scroll down to click on the logo of the company or brand where you would like to shop. There is no need to register, nothing to pay. See on the School Angel website the testimonials from Heron Hill and other schools which have benefitted already. Please encourage family and friends to use School Angel too. With Christmas just around the corner, please remember to go to the School Angel site to find Amazon, Argos, M&S and many, many more major brand websites. Click here to go directly to Heron Hill’s page on the School Angel site.

Royal British Legion: Poppies and More

Heron Hill School will again be selling poppies during school time after half term, so if you would like to support this charity please provide your child with silver coinage so they can buy a poppy from the Year 6 sellers who will visit the classrooms each afternoon. So far, we have only been given stick-on poppies; we will try to get the traditional stick/pin poppies too. This year we have a good stock of additional products, with suggested donations: wristband (50p), reflector (50p), friendship bracelet (£1.00) and snap band (£1.00). These can be purchased from the office.