5 December 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
Advent has begun!
We started the week by lighting the first candle on our Advent crowns, beautifully made by the Reception classes for both the infants and juniors. This candle represents hope, which ties in perfectly with our current assembly theme—David finding hope even in times of sorrow.
Christmas Performances
Rehearsals for our upcoming plays are going brilliantly, and we are excited to welcome the community to these special events next week.
This week, our wonderful Year 5 choir performed beautifully at Guildford Baptist Church, and their performance was live-streamed to several care homes across Surrey. The children were proud to share some Christmas joy with the wider community as Advent begins.
You can watch the performance here: https://www.youtube.com/live/dODlThalSyA?si=tsjIU7MRk2OblYIL
Christmas Fair Success
A huge thank you to everyone—parents and staff—who gave their time to make last Friday’s HTPD Christmas Fair such a success! It was fantastic to see so many of you there.
Today, our infant children are looking forward to visiting Santa’s Grotto, and we’ll share the total funds raised with you soon. If you missed the Tree of Wishes and would still like to contribute to our playground appeal, you can do so here: https://pay.collctiv.com/tree-of-wishes-htpd-playground-equipment-47421
Parking Reminder
Please do not park across residents’ driveways, especially if you leave your car to collect your children. Understandably, this causes frustration, and one local resident even missed a medical appointment this week because they couldn’t get out of their drive. We appreciate that these times are busy, but please park respectfully.
Staffing News
After over 20 years of dedicated service, Jane Bennett will be retiring at the end of term. We are delighted that she will continue as Clerk to the Governing Body and will also support us through January.
We look forward to welcoming Sarah Hurst to the Pewley Office team at the end of January.
Thank you for your continued support as we celebrate this special season together.
Best wishes,
Vicky
Thought of the week: Do you need to have sorrow to appreciate joy?
Infant
Teacher-led clubs
- The deadline for choosing a teacher-led club for the spring term is 11:59pm on Monday 8 December.
- ‘Draw with Rob’ next Thursday 11 December is cancelled owing to the Christmas performance.
- Teacher-led clubs this term finish on Thursday 18 December.
Other after-school clubs
- Ballet Club has now finished for this term.
- Next week beginning 8 December is the last session this term for: Boogie Pumps (Monday), Kickstart (Wednesday) and Tennis Club (Friday.
Christmas Play, Thursday 11 December, 2pm at Holy Trinity Church (doors open 1.45): A reminder that space in the church is quite limited and seats are restricted to two per family. If you are not able to come to the performance we will be putting some videos of the dress rehearsal on Tapestry.
Christmas Carols at St Mary’s Church, Tuesday 16 December, 9.45am: If you are able to help walk the children down to St Mary’s and join us for Christmas Carols please let your child’s teacher know.
Christmas Lunch, Wednesday 17 December: Children can wear a Christmas jumper or accessory for the lunch on 17 December, if they would like to. Please let the office know by next Monday 8 December if your child usually has a packed lunch from home but would like to have the Christmas lunch on 17 December.
Lunch choices: A reminder that the deadline for lunch choices for the week beginning 15 December is 11.59pm on 7 December.
Menu: Week 2 beginning 8 December.
Junior
Dates for the Diary
Monday 8th December – “Robin Hood” at HT Church for Keller and Mandela A matinee (1.30pm) and an evening performance (7pm)
Tuesday 9th December - “Robin Hood” at HT Church for Shackleton and Nightingale A matinee (1.30pm) and an evening performance (7pm)
Tuesday 16th December Christmas Lunch Y5 and Y6 (Y3 & Y4 to bring a packed lunch)
Thursday 18th December Christmas Lunch Y3 and Y4 (Y5 and Y6 to bring packed lunch)
**On the day of your child’s Christmas lunch the children may wear something festive, Christmas jumpers, tinsel etc. **
Thursday 18th December - HT Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church 9.45am to 10.30am
Friday 19th December – HT last day of term early finish 1.30pm
'Robin Hood’
Evening arrangements for Years 3, 4 & 5 at Holy Trinity Church
Keller and Mandela houses will be performing on Monday 8th.
Please could children from Year 3, 4 & 5 arrive at Holy Trinity Church at 6.45pm. They will need to check in with their class teacher and will be sitting with the rest of their year group during the performance. The performance will begin at 7pm.
We anticipate the performance ending at 8pm so if you are not watching, please come to pick up your child soon after 8pm and use the entrance at the back (tower end) of the church as we will have a one way pick up process and people will be leaving via the high street glass doors. They must be checked out with their teacher. We will not allow any child to walk home unaccompanied.
Shackleton and Nightingale will be performing on Tuesday 9th and the same arrangements as above apply.
Year 6 Arrangements:
Packed Lunches
Year 6 will need a packed lunch on: Monday 8th December and Tuesday 9th December.
Play Cast
These children are required to be at all performances and will be in costume (see extra details below).
Front of House Team
These children are required to be at all performances and can either wear smart home clothes or school uniform.
Lighting Team
These children are required to be at all performances and can either wear black/dark clothes or school uniform.
Back Stage Team
Keller/Mandela - These children are required to be at the Monday evening performance and can either wear black/dark clothes or school uniform.
Shackleton/Nightingale - These children are required to be at the Tuesday evening performance and can either wear black/dark clothes or school uniform.
Christmas Play Costumes
After both matinee performances, your child will wear their costume home with their school uniform in their labelled carrier bag. They need to come to the evening performances wearing their costume.
After the evening performance on Monday 8th December, your child will wear their costume home.
On Tuesday 9th December, please bring the full costume back into school in a labelled carrier bag.
After the evening performance on Tuesday 9th December, your child will wear their costume home.
On Wednesday 10th December, please bring back to school any costumes that were lent by the school.
Please note—for safeguarding purposes, there are no spaces in the church for the children to get changed into their costumes.
Christmas Play drop-off and pick-up
On Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th December, all of Year 6 will be walking down to Holy Trinity Church for the matinee performances of ‘Robin Hood’. The matinee performance starts at 1:30pm. They will eat their packed lunch at the church. We will return to school for normal pick-up time at 3:15pm, unless you are there to collect at the end of the performance.
For the evening performances, your child needs to arrive at Holy Trinity Church, in costume, at 6:30pm.
The evening shows should finish at about 8pm. However, we will reconfirm the finish time closer to the date once we’ve had a full run-through.
Cancelled Clubs: No cancelled clubs
Fixtures: No fixtures this week
Lunch: Week 2 Menu for week beginning 08/12/25
PTA
Accordion content
Other
Multi Sports Spring Term sessions - see flyer
Christmas Hockey Camp - see flyer