Dear Parents and Carers, 

What a fantastic Sports Day we had—definitely one of the highlights of the year! The infant field was full of colour as the children participated in a range of races in their houses. Later at the Juniors, with just eight points separating the teams, it was a nail-biting finish, and Mandela House have continued their winning streak. Despite the heat, it was a wonderful day of community spirit, with the children showing great determination and enthusiasm, both in competing and cheering each other on. Thank you so much for coming along to support—it was lovely to have you with us, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

As we approach the end of term, our thoughts are turning to September. This week, we were delighted to welcome our new Reception children and their families for extended visits. We hope your child enjoyed their move-up day and meeting their new teachers. 

We have some staffing news to share. This week we have welcomed back to Jo White and JJ from maternity leave. After 26 years of dedicated service to HTPD, Tracey Jerrome will be leaving us at the end of term. We are deeply grateful for all she has contributed—her expertise, warmth, and encouragement have made a lasting impact on so many children over the years. We’ll also be saying au revoir to Louise Keiller, our wonderful languages teacher. The joyful sound of French songs and games in the corridors will certainly be missed! You may be aware that the government is currently reviewing the national curriculum, with outcomes expected this autumn. It’s unclear at this stage how this might affect the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages in primary schools, so we’ll wait for further guidance before making any decisions about our language provision at HTPD. 

There’s growing excitement at Pewley as we look forward to next week’s House Talent Show! On Wednesday, children will have the opportunity to perform in front of their house during a special assembly. Whether it's singing, dancing, playing an instrument, telling jokes, reading a poem, or performing magic, we encourage them to share their talents with confidence and joy. Please do support your child if they’re preparing something at home—it promises to be a fun and relaxed celebration to round off the term. 

In other news, we’re pleased to share that the school’s basketball court will be reopening for community use from 10am to 5pm at weekends and during school holidays from 12 July 2025 to 1 September. Access will be coordinated by members of the local community, with full details available on a notice posted on the court door. We’re delighted that local families will be able to enjoy this space again and would like to thank the community members whose efforts have helped make this possible. 

Finally, as the heatwave continues, we’ve had to make some adjustments to our end-of-term activities and clubs to keep everyone safe. While we understand this may be disappointing for some, the safety and well-being of our school community remains our top priority. Please make sure your child comes to school on Monday wearing sun cream, a hat, and bringing a water bottle. They may wear either their school uniform or PE kit—whichever feels coolest. 

Wishing you a sunny, safe, and relaxing weekend. 

Vicky 

Thought of the week: What are you hoping for? How do you stamp out doubt?