Dear parents
Welcome to Junior School Leidschenveen
At Junior School Leidschenveen, our overriding aim for all your children is that they should enjoy their learning each and every day. We know that every child is unique and deserving of the best opportunity to be confident, articulate, well balanced and equipped for the future world they will be living in.
We are proud to provide an experience that is rich in variety and depth so that children discover their talents, as well as demonstrate self-awareness in their behaviour, academic work, sport, the arts, culture, citizenship and relationships. We place a high priority on children understanding and having ownership of their own learning, with a positive attitude and a growth mind-set. We ensure that children are clear about what they need to do next to improve and feel comfortable with the idea that learning is a journey where mistakes are welcome, as it is through these that we learn. Working to reach their full potential is an everyday aspect of school life in our warm and trusting environment because support and challenge are carefully balanced to encourage everyone so that your children can “be the best they can be”.
Being a student at Junior School Leidschenveen means:
● Respecting, embracing and welcoming uniqueness
● Creating inspiring environments to learn and grow
● Valuing student voices who lead learning
● Nurturing healthy bodies and minds
● Pursuing individual learning without boundaries
● Celebrating success for all in a vibrant international community
Yours sincerely
Karren van Zoest Headteacher of Junior School Leidschenveen
JSL Headteacher’s Welcome
School routines
The table below shows the timings for a typical school day. Meeting friends and playing together has become a special part of the after school time for our children and also provides an opportunity for parents to chat together. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the responsibility for the safety of your children before and after these hours is your own. We are happy for children to enjoy the playground before or after school if they like, so long as you maintain direct supervision of them. Direct supervision means you are within reach of them should they fall and hurt themselves. So let’s enjoy this time, but keep a watchful eye out for the safety of all the children.
F1 F2 KS1 KS2
Doors open 08:30 08:30 08:30 08:30
Registration 08:45 08:45 08:45 08:45
School ends 15:10 15:10 15:10 15:20
F1: Foundation Stage 1
F2: Foundation Stage 2
KS1: Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2)
KS2: Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)
Start of day routine
Parents bring the youngest Foundation 1, Foundation 2, Year 1 and Year 2 children into their classrooms via their playground areas where a member of staff welcomes them for their day. As children develop and start to demonstrate greater independence, we encourage parents to allow children to come into the school themselves.
The school gates are opened at 08:25 and the school building is opened for students from 08:30. Any children arriving before 08:30 can wait and chat with their friends in the school playground until the doors open. Please remember that they remain your responsibility until 08:30 when staff take over.
Children arriving by school bus
The BSN runs a comprehensive School Bus Service which operates throughout The Hague and surrounding areas. For more information refer to Compass. The School Transport department can be contacted on 070 315 4083 or bsn.transport@britishschool.nl
Late arrivals
Children arriving late must report to the Office. We ask that you do all you can to ensure your child is on time as it can be distressing for them if they are regularly late for the start of lessons.
Absence
Any requests for future absence due to personal reasons, must be made to the Headteacher in writing in advance. Please refer to the school policy on absence during term time, available on Compass. Absence from school is taken very seriously in the Netherlands and within the BSN who follow the Dutch Law in this regard.
The School Office must be informed by 09:00 if a child is absent due to sickness. This can be done via Compass, under ‘My Child’.
JSL School Routines
End of the day routine
Foundation Stage 1 and 2
After school, FS1 and FS2 children should be collected from the classroom doors leading to the playground at 15:10. Once a member of staff has invited parents to collect the children, the routine is for children to shake hands with a member of staff and say goodbye. We invite you to use this collection time as a way of celebrating your children’s achievements, by asking them what they have been learning and praising them for all that they have done well. Showing interest in your child’s learning in this way is one of the most powerful ways to foster their development and love of learning. If, for any reason, you are going to be late to collect them please telephone ahead so we can tell your child. This helps prevent any upset. If there are any changes in pick up routines, please ensure that the class teacher knows in advance.
Year 1 and 2 (KS1)
At the end of the day children line up and are escorted by staff to the playground to meet parents. All children are expected to shake their teacher’s hand before joining you. We ask you to wait outside for the children.
Years 3 to 6 (KS2)
Our older children are expected to take responsibility for themselves, their homework and belongings before leaving the classroom at the end of the day. Staff help the children with the arrangements, since many use the bus, or are heading to activities. If you are collecting your child, please come into the playground to meet them. All children are expected to shake their teacher’s hand before joining you.
Any changes in pick up routines – for example if your child is going home with another adult – should be communicated in advance to the school office via telephone or email, or in writing to the class teacher.
Children going home by school bus
Children using the School Bus Service are escorted (Foundation 2 to Year 2) and assisted (Years 3 to 6) by staff to the appropriate bus. Please note that children participating in after school co-curricular activities need to be collected by parents at the appropriate time.
Parking and dropping off
Please be aware of the parking and one-way road signs around the school. There are two main areas for you to use in the morning. The large ‘Plein’ carpark of red bricks, is the place to use if you are planning to stop and bring your children into school. The dark grey brick area is a ‘Kiss and Drop’ space where we ask that parents do not get out of their cars or park because this is also the space that the school buses use. On the other side of the school there is a private (BSN) road leading to the Senior School building, Day Care building and the Sports and Community building. The diagonal parking bays (light grey) and a ‘Kiss and Drop’ area (dark grey) are for BSN use. We ask that parents do not leave their cars parked on this area.
We encourage people living locally to come by bike. Children and adults can leave their bikes within the school grounds and we advise that they are locked at all times since they remain the responsibility of the owners.
Security information
The school gates are locked during the day. A closed circuit monitoring system is in operation and visitors, including parents, are requested to sign in at the reception desk and wear the appropriate badge at all times.
In times of true emergency (such as fire or other situations requiring evacuation of the school), parents will be sent an emergency text message from the school. For this reason, it is vital that you ensure that the School Office has an up to date mobile phone number for you. Further information on this system is available on Compass.
JSL School Routines
Useful dates for your calendar
School year 2023 | 2024
Autumn term
Term begins | Mon 4 Sep 2023
Half term | Mon 16 Oct - Fri 27 Oct 2023 (incl.)
End of term | Tue 19 Dec 2023
Christmas holidays
Spring term
Term begins | Mon 8 Jan 2024
Half term | Mon 19 Feb - Mon 26 Feb 2024 (incl.)
End of term | Thur 28 Mar 2024
Easter holidays
Summer term
Term begins | Tue 16 Apr 2024
School closed | Thur 9 May & Fri 10 May 2024
(Ascension Day) , Mon 20 May 2024 (Whit Monday)
Half term | Mon 27 May - Fri 31 May 2024 (incl.)
End of term | Thur 18 July 2024
Summer holidays
Please note: The school day ends at normal time on the last day before half term break. On the last day of term, school ends at 12:00 midday.
Contacts
Headteacher | Karren van Zoest
Email: karren.vanzoest@britishschool.nl
Deputy Head | Jonathan Clarke
Email: jonathan.clarke@britishschool.nl
Office Manager | Hilary Davidson
Office Administrator | Laura Danilewicz
Office Assistant | Janet van Berkel
School Health Care Officers | Nicola Robinson and Zoe Geneste
Designated Safeguarding Leads | Karren van Zoest, Fiona Aartsen and Jonathan Clarke
Telephone: 070 315 4040
Email: junior.leidschenveen@britishschool.nl
Twitter: @BSNJSL
Transport | Kim A’Campo
Telephone: 070 315 4083
Email: bsn.transport@britishschool.nl
JSL Key Dates and Contacts
