WEEKLY BULLETIN 9 FEBRUARY 2024
QOTW: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think!
Message from the Head Dear Parents, We’ve been celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week 2024. The theme this year is “My Voice Matters” and is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves. Miss Parker organised a range of daily activities for all classes which included, amongst other things, making a little Memory Bracelet (do ask your children what memories they have woven into theirs!), a Feeling Proud activity and a Gratitude Letter. We also had a brilliant Whole School HIIT class with Mr Longman on Tuesday morning - the kids had a super time (but there were quite a few puffing teachers by the end!) Tuesday was also Safer Internet Day which we marked with a special assembly and dedicated lessons. Whether we like it or not, our kids are “Gen Alpha”, true digital natives, born into a world fully integrated with technology and global connectivity - and we need to ensure their safety in that Brave New World. Please look at Tooled Up Education for a wealth of resources on how best to support them and the TikTok Parent Factsheet attached. Wishing you a wonderful half-term and happy Lunar New Year for those families in our community who are celebrating! Mrs Brown and the Team
CELEBRATING PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT Celebrating Pupil Achievement, in school... Congratulations to all those who have been awarded certificates this week: Y6 Kera & Shay Y4 Vian & Anya Y3 Maya & Thiya Y2 Kaira & Ishani Y1 Shaan & Amaya R Kunmi & Sonia French Sasha, Ayushi, Sienna D, Sienna B & Yash IT Sienna B & Caitlin Art Jean & Danny
... and out, whatever the field! Our warmest congratulations to: Maya Y5 LAMDA & Trinity examination success Anaya Y2 LAMDA examination success
Millionaire Milestones Maya Y5 & Ying Y4 1,000,000 words read Dia P Y4 250,000,000 words read Most accurate testing – Year 2 Most participation – Year 2
CELEBRATING PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT SWIMMING GALA JANUARY 2024 Holland House took part in a well attended swimming gala at Bushey Grove Leisure Centre. Five other schools took part, and as always the competition was fierce.
Congratulations to all those who took part: Y3 - Swaraa, Jay, Myra, Heer, Thiya, Daniel Y4 - Aarya, Dylan, Ria, Sophia, Ying, Anya Y5 - Ayushi, Toni, Tara, Jai, Sasha Y6 - Sam, Viren, Yusuf, Reiyen, Kush, Shay, Neo
RELAYS Sam, Viren, Yusuf, Reiyen Y6 Boys - Silver Toni, Ayushi, Anya, Heer Y5 Girls - Bronze
Medal Winners Sam - Y6 Frontcrawl A team - Gold Sam - Y6 Butterfly - Gold Anya- Y4 Frontcrawl A team - Gold Anya- Y4 Backcrawl A team - Gold Dylan- Y4 Backcrawl A team - Silver
Viren - Y6 Frontcrawl B team - Bronze Toni Y5 Frontcrawl B team - Bronze Jai - Y5 Backcrawl A team - Bronze Kush - Y6 Backcrawl B team - Bronze Toni - Y6 Backcrawl B team - Bronze Ying - Y4 Backcrawl B team - Bronze Yusuf - Y6 Breaststroke - Bronze Toni - Y5 Breaststroke - Bronze
Votes For Schools THIS WEEK'S VOTE TOPIC Do adults have the tools to teach you about the online world? (Primary 7-11) Can adults and children learn from each other about the online world? (Primary 5-7)
11+ Interview preparation starts long before your children get to Y6. Having meaningful discussions with your children is very important. “Votes for Schools” helps your child improve their persuasive arguing skills whilst building their understanding of the complexities of the world around them. Please keep the discussion going at home. Remember, there's no "right" or "wrong" - The children are learning to argue for/against a position. This includes how to respectfully disagree with someone and calmly defend our point of view.
Tooled-Up Education Dr Kathy Weston and her team help parents best support their children with evidence based advice...
The quality of relationships that our children enjoy in their lives is fundamentally important for mental health and wellbeing. Many parents, though, recognise the challenge of juggling career needs and family time. We spoke to Dr Gauri Seth for this webinar on connecting with our children whilst leading a high-stress lifestyle. What can we do within family life to promote, boost and protect children's mental health? An important first step is to ensure that our children are able to voice concerns: talk about anything that upsets or distresses them, and access trusted and supportive adults. A great way to prepare the ground for these open conversations is to talk with children about who they would go to for help when they need it. Younger children might enjoy our Five Fingers of Support resource, while older children might be encouraged to map out support with our Who Is There For Me? planner.
Never be afraid to 'lean in' as a parent and to ask what is going well for your child or what has been tricky for them recently. Debriefs at dinnertime serve as important occasions to talk about daily challenges, model coping strategies or promote gratitude. Tune into this podcast with Cambridge University's Mishika Mehrota all about how dinnertime chats can improve children’s mental health.
Important Reminders Parking in and around Broadhurst Avenue Your paragraph text Please do not under any circumstances block driveways. This is a source of considerable antagonism for our neighbours with whom we are trying hard to cultivate a more respectful relationship. Please park further from the school if necessary and walk up to the gates.
Cakes and treats for Birthday Celebrations All cakes and goodies intended for Birthday Celebrations must come to us in their original packaging so we can be certain about allergens. We reserve the right to not distribute treats if we are unsure about the ingredients. Please do NOT send whole cakes We have a very strict NO NUT policy.
Water bottles All water bottles must be fully transparent and must NOT be made from glass. They should have a secure lid that minimise the risk of leaking or spilling when knocked over Water is the only drink permitted. Any bottle found that doesn’t meet the requirements will be removed by staff and given to parents at the end of the day to replace.
If providing Krispy Kreme doughnuts, please send sugar glaze ONLY.
School Hours 08.15 08.30
Gates open Gates close
Pupils are considered “late” if they arrive after the gate has closed. Please sign them in at the front desk. 15.30 End of day collection 16.30 Session 1 Clubs end 17.15 Session 2 Clubs end Please note that prompt collection is expected at these times and a late fee may be incurred.
Dates for the Diary Spring Term 2024 Mon 12- 16 Feb Half-term 20 Feb Maths Puzzle Day 22 Feb Y5 Trip to Hampton Court 23 Feb Y6 Parents’ Evening 26-1 Mar Science Week 28 Feb R Trip to Paradise Park 29 Feb Y6 Trip Parents’ Info Evening 2 Mar Open Morning 4 Mar Y2 Trip to Amersham 4-8 Mar English Week 6 Mar Y6 Trip to Tring 7 Mar World Book Day 11 Mar Y4 Trip to Mountfitchet Castle 12 Mar Y3 Trip to St Albans 12 Mar Y4 Trip Parents Info Evening 13 Mar Y5 Trip Parents’ Info Evening 15 Mar Open Classroom 15.30 -16.30 18 Mar R-Y5 Parents’ Evening 20 Mar Performing Arts Show at the Wyllyotts Theatre 21 Mar Coffee Morning for new Reception Class Parents 21 Mar Y1 Trip to Knebworth Fri 22 Mar End of term 12.15
Dates for the Diary Summer Term 2024
Tues 16 April First day of term for Pupils Mon 22 -26 April French Trip (Y6 only) Wed 8- 10 May Y4 Bushcraft Residential Trip Mon 27- 31 May Half-term Mon 10 – 14 Jun Y5 Manor Adventure Residential Trip Wed 26 June Prizegiving Ceremony & Y6 Show at the Wyllyotts Theatre Fri 5 July End of term 12.15