Dear Parents and Carers,
This week has been one of those wonderfully full weeks that reminds us just how much our children experience beyond the classroom, and how deeply learning, creativity and community are woven through school life.
One of the biggest highlights was our Young Voices Junior Choir performing at the O2 Arena alongside an astonishing 8,996 other children. It was a very long day, filled with excitement, anticipation and more than a little tiredness by the end, but every minute was worth it. Watching the children’s faces as they sang in such an iconic venue was truly unforgettable – a mixture of pride, joy and awe that will stay with them for a long time. Experiences like this go far beyond music alone; they build confidence, resilience and a powerful sense of belonging. A huge well done to every child who took part – it was an absolute pleasure to take you. A massive thank you also goes to Mrs Burford and Mrs Ward, who generously gave their time to support the trip and help make the day run so smoothly.
Music continued to take centre stage later in the week with our Year 5 choir practice at Churcher's College. Every year, our pupils perform at the Petersfield Music Festival, where two evenings are dedicated entirely to children’s performances. This year’s songs are proving to be quite challenging, but our singers are embracing that challenge with enthusiasm and determination. It is a joy to watch them grow musically and personally as they rise to meet high expectations, learning that perseverance and teamwork are just as important as talent.
On Thursday, we also saw some impressive problem-solving skills on display as our four Maths Quizzers competed in the Maths Quiz Championship. The competition was extremely tough, with 170 schools taking part, and we are incredibly proud to report that we finished 22nd overall – a fantastic achievement. The children showed focus, resilience and excellent mathematical thinking throughout. Achievements like this highlight the depth of learning taking place across the curriculum and the confidence our pupils are developing in applying their knowledge.
Looking ahead to next week, there is plenty to be excited about. Dom will be coming in to lead an assembly with the children, Miss Leney and Ms Lockyer, who will be continuing their Hampshire Early Years course with Hampshire CC schools. The Herons have a very special treat planned with their very own Saxon Workshop, bringing history vividly to life through hands-on learning. Meanwhile, I will be attending a Headteachers’ Wellbeing Conference focusing on The Power of You – a much-needed opportunity to reflect, recharge and ensure that wellbeing remains at the heart of everything we do in school.
As always, our booster groups, music lessons and after-school clubs will continue to run, providing further opportunities for children to build skills, confidence and friendships. These sessions are an important part of school life and reflect our commitment to supporting every child’s learning journey.
Finally, I would like to extend a very big and heartfelt thank you to the grandparents of Grace Cheesman, who have incredibly donated a large number of brand-new books to our school library and classrooms. Their kindness has truly taken my breath away. The children have already begun exploring the stories together, sharing recommendations and discovering new authors. This generous gift will enrich learning for years to come and is a wonderful example of the strength of our school community. Please do take a moment to read the news report below for more details.
Chartwells - I have received a few comments regarding the quality of the food served by Chartwells in the last few weeks, as such the staff have been taking 'tasting' sessions. Overall, the dishes served are comparable to HC3S except for a few ingredient changes in some of their dishes. Dave McKinney (Chair of Governors) has contacted Hampsire Catering Support who initiated the contract for Hampshire schools following the departure of HC3S. We are hoping that our concerns will be acted upon and some changes made for the better. In the meantime, please give school dinners a chance, there will be some dishes that are different for the children (the pasta is now wholemeal for example and pesto is not available). As a large company, they cannot deviate from their stated recipes or organisation of foods for some schools but we hope that they will make some recipe changes for the better.
*******Please remember that the school gates open at 8.30am and the bell goes at 8.40am. The children should be settled and registered before 9am. If you are walking in after 8.40 then you are late and being late disrupts the children already in class. Please make the habit of being on time, and not slightly late.*********
On that note (sorry) I wish you a wonderful weekend. This half term seems to have gone on FOREVER!
Julie Robinson
Hedgehogs!