28 February 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you enjoyed the half term break – the children seem very refreshed and have had a good week of learning.
We’ve had a great week back. The recorders groups, from beginner to our advanced groups entertained and inspired us all in Wednesday’s assembly. Year 1 had a magical morning on Thursday when the incredible Mill Cottage Farm Experience came to visit. The range of animals was huge - ducks, chickens, lambs, goats, rabbits, turkeys, guinea pigs, miniature pigs, tortoises and even donkeys! The children asked and answered so many questions and used most of their senses when they met the animals close up. Most children went into the pens to stroke and pet the animals. Seeing the colours, shapes and sizes of the animals close up was wonderful - feeling the fur and the feathers and even getting to brush the coats of the goats and the lambs was such a treat! What better way could there be to learn about animals, their features and their characteristics! This was certainly a highlight of the week for me, watching the children’s interactions was really heaven in the moment.
Year 6 Sports Crew were presented with their silver badges in assembly on Friday morning for organising sports events at Pewley. They'll be working towards the coveted gold badge through the summer term. On Thursday, Year 6 played their first match in the sunshine against Tormead. Both matches were very close, with Tormead A's pulling away in the last quarter and the B's drawing with a score of 6-6.
I hope that you’ve all managed to book a time for a parent consultation with your child’s teacher next week. Do call the office if you’ve had difficulty with this. These important meetings are a vital communication tool. Deputy Head and Online Safety Lead, Tom Everard, will be available at HT both evenings next week, at the top of the ramps, to discuss all things ESafety with anyone who would like to.
Next week is our STEM Book Week in which we will be celebrating the world of traditional tales and the science behind them. We are kicking off the week with a visit from the author Catherine Crawford, whose book "Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales", explores the scientific truths behind some of our favourite stories. Catherine will be doing a presentation at both the infants and juniors on Monday. There is still time to order a copy on ParentPay for the discounted price of £6.00. Books will get signed and given to your child after the event; however, they must be ordered by Sunday night. I know our creative team have been working hard behind the scenes to plan a range of exciting and practical activities for the week; as always, I’m intrigued to see what else they surprise us with!
Have a great weekend in the spring sunshine; with March just around the corner, the long winter months will soon be a distant memory!
Best wishes
Vicky
Thought of the Week: Love is not ill-mannered – are you a polite person?
Infant
Teacher-led clubs
There will be no teacher-led clubs next week beginning 3 March owing to the parent consultations.
Menu: Week 2 beginning 3 March
Junior
Dates for the Diary
- Monday 3 March – 3G Swimming, Author Visit (see below)
- Wednesday 5 March – Y6 Science Museum Trip
- Wednesday 5 March – 4SP swimming
- Tuesday 4 and Thursday 6 March - HT Parents Evening Meetings for all classes, other than 4B and 6J
- Thursday 7 April – School Disco (Ticket info to follow)
*Please note there will be no before and after school teacher lead clubs during Parents Evening week 3-7 March with the exception of Wednesday Y3&4 Tag Rugby which is on*
Author Visit
Catherine Crawford will be with us on Monday to sign copies of her book “Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales” **If you have purchased a copy of the book, please remember to bring it in for a personalised signature**
Lunch – Week 2 beginning Monday 3 March.
Fixtures
Monday 3 March
Y5 Netball v QE - HOME. The teams will be sent out on ParentMail.
Tuesday 4 March
Y3 & Y4 Sportshall - Spectrum - AM. The teams have been sent out on ParentMail.
Thursday 6 March
Y4 Netball v Tormead - AWAY. The teams have been sent out on ParentMail.
Friday 7 March
Y4 Netball Tournament at St Cat's - 1-4pm. The team has been sent out on ParentMail.
Thursday 13 March
Y6 Football Festival at Holy Trinity. The team will be sent out on ParentMail.
Thursday 13 March
Y5 Netball v Tormead. The team will be sent out on ParentMail.
PTA
FOPS News
Last Week For The Sponsored Read!
Our sponsored read finishes next Friday 7th March with a book sale in the playground after school. Please get reading and get sponsored to raise funds for new phonics and library books for the school.
- Any type of book, magazine or comic counts.
- Any amount large or small will be gratefully received towards our £500 target. Each £5 raised will buy one book.
- Sponsorship forms are available on ParentMail. Donations can be made here, or by providing cash in a labelled envelope at the PD school office. Please also bring cash for the book sale. Most books will be 50p or £1.
Happy reading :)
FOPS & HTSC News
Curry & Quiz Night!
Get your ticket here for our Curry & Quiz night on Saturday 22nd March, 7pm at Christ Church Waterden Road. There will be a fully stocked bar, with a welcome drink and food included in the ticket price.
We're also looking for raffle prizes for the night. Please let us know via your class reps if you have anything you could donate (e.g. wine, vouchers, games, etc.) or local business contacts you'd be happy to ask.
HTPD Fun Run Help Needed!
Our fun run is returning to Shalford Park on 7th June. This is a brilliant day that raises loads for both schools, but we need your help with:
- Securing sponsorship - any great local contacts or community outreach programmes through work would be a huge help!
- Logistics at the event Please see Parent Mail for more info, and let us know via htsc@htpd.surrey.sch.uk (for HT) or fops@htpd.surrey.sch.uk (for PD).
Thanks for your support, FOPS
Other
North Guildford Food Bank are looking for an administrator to start working with them as soon as possible. Please see https://northguildfordfoodbank.co.uk/vacancies/ for the job description and details of how to apply.
Premier Tennis - Holiday Tennis Camps
