Tel: 01284 830343
Email: admin@hartest.suffolk.sch.uk
Respect Resilience Aspire Achieve
13th February 2015
Dear Parents / carers,
We end the half term celebrating the achievements of our pupils with their families during open
afternoon sessions and at consultation evenings. Today we also celebrated the memories and
legacy of Mrs Vincent with her daughter and grand-daughter, Key Stage 2 children and staff
where we sang her favourite songs, fondly remembered her exciting science lessons and
confirmed our commitment to continue her eco legacy by turning off lights, using only 1 paper
towel instead of 5 and maintaining the wormery. Thank you to everyone who has sent their
memories of Mrs Vincent into school; to be included within a memories book and for her family.
We hadn’t realised how many of our parents were taught by her, particularly at middle school!
Out of School Achievements: congratulations to Joe Moore, for his bravery when attending
A&E following an accident at school and for moving up a swimming level.
Pupil Safety: We are aware that an increasing number of our pupils are arriving at school
before 8:30am. Please be aware that there is no teacher on duty on the playground until
8:35am and that Mrs Clarke is on duty from 8:30am at the front of school only.
 No child is allowed onto the playground before 8:35am unless supervised by their
parents.
 Any child arriving to school unaccompanied by an adult before 8:35am must remain on
the front field with Mrs Clarke until she has met all the pupils arriving to school by bus.
 Mrs Clarke will send all pupils round to the playground at 8:35am and then walk to the
playground once all the children have arrived by school transport.
 Elder pupils who have monitor duties to undertake each morning should arrive at 8:30am
and enter school by the reception door.
Forest Schools: this continues to thrive. Two governors recently spent a whole afternoon with
Willow Class carrying out a monitoring visit. Extracts from their monitoring report include:“Despite the cold weather and the large amount of mud, it was clear that all the children enjoyed
themselves…..They worked together as teams on a creative project; building a 3 D map of the
area….They also took on different responsibilities such as helping build the fire or handing out
the hot chocolate...The session is very much child led and in between projects they have to use
their imaginations to play and create games of their own. Bec Bumblebee from the Greenlight
Trust was an excellent Forest School Leader and she is a very good role model.”
“Outdoor Learning Environment: We think the area is a good use of space and the available
woods, ditches, hedges make for a good woody area for children to play and learn and it is very
carefully run to minimise any risk. It is also kept separate from the rest of the school so as not to
be a distraction to others. There are opportunities for free play, learning, teamwork, games,
wildlife watching, den building, tree climbing, working with wood, and supervised fire building.”
School Environment: It is strange how the cold weather, intermittent snow, copious amount of
rain together with a lack of sunshine and flowers quickly seem to have a somewhat negative
impact on the school environment despite the front of school being decorated last term and the
County Grounds Department tidying up the grounds in January. We have re-vamped Reception
and hope all our visitors will feel that it is a little more spacious. We are expecting a delivery of
12 new dining tables on 24th February to replace all the old hexagonal tables. These are lighter,
easier to erect and will be more versatile in their use.
Clubs: The Computer and Library Clubs at lunchtime are popular with the pupils. We have
been very impressed with the pupils from Elder Class in their role as ICT Leaders supporting
the children using the computers during the lunch hour. The children are also able to complete
any home learning tasks at lunchtime if they wish.
New after school clubs starting after half term include:Monday:
Thursday:
Maypole Dancing in the Hall – Slip at end of letter
Football for years 1, 2 and 3 with Maxim Sports (This will be outside)
Tiger Science Club for KS2 pupils
Year 6 Maths Club: day yet to be confirmed
Governor News
Dear parents and carers,
Thank you those who completed the questionnaire that was sent out to all families in December. Through
your responses, the Governors, Mrs Hall and her staff monitor your feelings about your children's
experience at Hartest School and look closely at points that you make. On this occasion 15 replies were
received. If you think you would still like to complete a questionnaire, one can be sent out to you. Please
contact the office if you would like to do this.
Based on the replies we did receive, we have noted many positive features of our school. In particular
there was a great deal of support for: Forest Schools,
 The progress children are making
 Our excellent support staff
The majority of children were happy and felt safe at school.
There were a few concerns over some children's behaviour within the classroom which can have a
negative impact on their peers. Others said however that the school has a calm atmosphere and that the
new behaviour policy is having an impact and helping those pupils who were experiencing some
difficulties conforming to school rules.
It was also noted that some of you would welcome more chances to celebrate pupil achievements. Some
Friends
of Hartest
School
of
the responses
noted
that more communication from teachers would be welcomed. The new website is
We
would
like
thank
FOHS for
agreeing
to sponsor
a visit received
per year training
for eachso
class
paying
the transport
up and running. Mrs Prickett
and
Mrs Cook
have recently
thatby
they
can update
the
costs.
Like
all
schools,
we
are
constantly
striving
to
secure
the
most
competitive
quote
for
coach
hire
and
website without this being achieved through Ruth Hardy. For information about the school and important
when this
costetc
is please
added to
and tuition
fees
thistocan
haveyour
a significant
impactplease
on the do
overall
dates,
letters
doentrance
use this facility.
If you
wish
contact
child's teacher
not cost
of
a
visit.
We
hope
that
this
gesture
will
benefit
every
child
and
their
family
in
the
school.
Parents
carers
hesitate to make an appointment. Even if you have a small query drop a note into the school and /staff
will
will
be
informed
of
the
visit
being
sponsored
by
the
FOHS
within
the
visit
information
letter
sent
out
to
only be happy to get back to you. Communication is vital but sometimes teachers are busy at the start
eachend
class.
and
of the day, so if you feel you need a little more time to ask a question etc it is better if time can
be planned for.
The FOHS current major projects include: Sponsoring
the transport
costs
visitand
for each
class this
academic
As governors
we would
like to think
thatfor
allone
of you
your children
have
a goodyear
experience of Hartest
 Supporting
the maintenance
etcMrs
of the
pooland
in preparation
for the with
summer
and the
School.
We are in regular
contact with
Hallswimming
and her staff
work very closely
themterm
to ensure
all pupilsrepair
haveoraccess
to the good
and
resources.
We appreciate your help in preparing your
replacement
of theteaching
changing
facilities
for swimming.
children
to come tothe
school
ready
to learn
and work
 Extending
covered
outdoor
learning
areacooperatively
in Oak Classwith their peers.
Thank you again to those of you who took the time to send in your response to the questionnaire.
With best wishes
Mary Burr
Start saving 20p pieces: A fund raising event from the FOHS involves collecting 20p and will
be directly linked to 2 Maths themed days next have term. Please start collecting your 20p
pieces now and storing them safely! More information about this exciting project will be sent
home after half term!
Elder Class: have recently benefitted from Maths and English specialist teachers from
Ormiston Sudbury Academy leading lessons at Hartest School. In an algebra lesson this week
the children substituted values for letters to solve over 30 expressions within 20 minutes. The
teacher then informed the pupils that this level of work was in line with a Grade ‘C’ at GCSE.
Diary
16th – 20th February
Monday 23rd February
Thursday 26th February
Tuesday 3rd March
Thursday 5th March
Friday 13th March
Wednesday 25th March
Thursday 26th March
Friday 27th March
Half term: School closed
School open to pupils
Maths Day 1
Elder Class: Science Workshop at Stour Valley community School
World Book Day
Mothers’ Day Challenge
Red Nose Day
Maths Day 2
2pm Easter Service at All Saints Church
Last day of term
Future Visit Dates:
Thursday 16th April
Thursday 26th April
Tuesday 9th June
Polar and Sedgewick Museums, Cambridge
Year 6 to Crucial Crew, Sudbury
Oak class visit to Hollow Trees
___________________________________________________________________________
Maypole Dancing from Monday 23rd February 3.10pm – 4.00pm
My child ………………………………………….. will be taking part in the Maypole Dancing Club
Signed………………………………………………
Date ……………………………………………….