Issue 30 - 16th May 2025
Dear Families,
Wow! I am so impressed with how well the children have behaved this week whilst the Year 6 children have completed their SATs tests. A big congratulations to Year 6 – you have worked so hard and should be really proud of yourselves.
We have an exciting and busy week ahead! Next week is Healthy Eating and Walk to School Week, and there's a lot to look forward to. Our school government has organised a school-wide dodgeball tournament on Monday and Tuesday, along with a variety of sporting events throughout the week. Year 3 and 4 will enjoy their film night on Tuesday and don’t forget — our 50p book sale is happening on Wednesday!
A special shoutout goes to our Year 6 football team, who have had an incredible season. They’ll be playing in the Junior Wix Final on Tuesday — a fantastic achievement. Good luck, team!
Emma Fordham,
Headteacher
Act of Kindness for the Week – nothing new this week as we didn't have an assembly due to SATs.
Key Messages
Whole School Dodgeball Event
Our school government have organised a dodgeball event for next week. Children will need to wear their PE kit on the days below. This is one of the government pledges from their election. Participation is voluntary. Anyone who doesn't want to take part can watch and support their team.
Arbor Payments
Some parents have asked us how they can access their invoices on Arbor. You can see what you have paid for by following these instructions:
-
Log in to the Parent Portal
-
Click the 3 lines (bottom left)
-
Scroll down to ‘payments’
-
Expand to see ‘invoices’
Once you are in this section, you will see a list of the payments you have made.
Year 6 Graduation Events
Some parents in Year 6 will have had children who have already come up through the school and moved onto secondary school but for others, this may be your first child who has reached Year 6 at Almond Hill. We believe it is important to recognise the hard work, achievements and memories that are made in the time children are here which is why we hold ‘graduations’ for all children in Year 6. It is a wonderful opportunity to really celebrate with families and would love for as many parents to attend as possible. Due to space limitations in the hall, we can allow up to 3 guests per child. The graduation will run from 2pm-4pm on the day so where possible, please arrange alternative collection for younger siblings. We like to keep as much of the event a surprise where we can but can assure you, you won’t want to miss it! We do understand the timing can be challenging for some parents and we did discuss changing it but we are not able to make it earlier due to the nature or arrangements (we don’t want to give too much away here!) and the only other option is to make it shorter and cut some out which we wanted to avoid as feedback received each year tells us parents really enjoy it all.
Monday 14th July - 6S
Tuesday 15th July – 6B
Wednesday 16th July - 6C
Hot Weather
It has been lovely to see the sunshine this week. Please note however that children are not allowed to bring handheld/neck fans to school. It is important they dress appropriately for the weather and have plenty of water.
Diary Dates
Click the months below to open our calendar.
Did you know, you can subscribe to our calendar to keep up to date with the events going on within the school?
Follow the link below, select 'subscribe' and follow the instructions for your device.
Book Sales
All sales will take place during the school day. Books cost just 50p each.
Wednesday 21st May
Wednesday 25th June
Uniform Sales
Our monthly uniform sales take place on a Thursday in the hall from 3.00-3.30pm
Thursday 5th June
Thursday 3rd July
SEND/Pastoral Sessions
Coffee morning:
Thursday 22nd May
8.30-9.15am
This will be hosted in the Friendship Room which can be accessed via the quadrant.
We welcome all parents to attend (with or without a diagnosis) if they feel they would benefit from speaking to our SENCo and/or our pastoral team. In our experience, almost all children benefit from pastoral support during their journey at school. Examples of where this has been supportive in the past are when friendship issues arise, loss of a pet, online issues outside of school, family break up and bereavement. We are always delighted when more parents join us.
Afternoon tea:
Tuesday 24th June
2.30-3.15pm
Diary Dates for the Summer Term
Click here to expand the diary dates
|
Date |
Event |
Times |
Additional information |
|
20/05/2025 |
Year 3 and 4 |
3.15 - 4.45
|
Lower School Booking Details Cost £5 Ticket Sales Closed 10.00 am 15th May on Arbor – tickets can no longer be purchased. |
|
20/05/2025 |
5W PE at Barclay |
1.00-3.00pm |
Year 5 classes will take it in turns to visit Barclay for a PE lesson this term. Children will be walking to Barclay, with members of staff, after lunch and will return for the end of the school day. |
|
21/05/2025 |
Extra choir rehearsal in preparation for the music festival |
3.15 - 4.15
|
This will take place in 6C classroom. Please sign up on Arbor via clubs if your child is participating. |
|
22/05/2025 |
Voices of Hertfordshire - at Fairlands |
1000-1130 |
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
22/05/2025 |
Y6 Frisbee |
1300-1500 |
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
22/05/2025 |
Y6 Cricket |
1000-1500 |
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
26/05/2025-30/05/2025 |
Half Term |
|
|
|
|
5P PE at Barclay |
1.00-3.00pm |
Year 5 classes will take it in turns to visit Barclay for a PE lesson this term. Children will be walking to Barclay, with members of staff, after lunch and will return for the end of the school day. |
|
03/06/2025 |
Year 5 and 6 |
|
Upper School Booking Details Cost £5 Ticket Sales Close: 10.00am on 29th May on Arbor |
|
04/06/2025 |
Class photos |
900-1200 |
Please ensure children are in correct uniform. If your child’s class usually has PE on Wednesdays, please can they bring their PE kit into school to change into. |
|
05/06/2025 |
Lower school sports day |
900-1200 |
Parents should make their way to the school field after drop off. More details to follow. |
|
06/06/2025 |
Upper school sports day |
900-1200 |
Parents should make their way to the school field after drop off. More details to follow. |
|
10/06/2025 |
5S PE at Barclay |
1.00-3.00pm |
Year 5 classes will take it in turns to visit Barclay for a PE lesson this term. Children will be walking to Barclay, with members of staff, after lunch and will return for the end of the school day. |
|
11/06/2025 |
Y6 Crucial Crew |
900-1200 |
We will leave school at 9am and return in time for lunch. |
|
12/06/2025 |
Father's Day Present Room |
|
Now available to buy from the Arbor School Shop – deadline is 12.00pm on Wednesday 4th June. |
|
13/06/2025 |
Y4 Girls Euros |
|
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
17/06/2025 |
Y4/5/6 Ridlins Athletics |
900-1500 |
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
20/06/2025 |
INSET Day |
|
|
|
23/06/2025 |
Occasional Day |
|
|
|
24/06/2025 |
Y5 Science trip to Barclay (1st visit) |
1300-1500 |
More details to follow |
|
25/06/2025 |
Year 3 Wise Up Resilience Day |
900-1500 |
|
|
25/06/2025 |
Stevenage Festival (choir) |
|
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
25/06/2025 |
Y5/6 Netball Festival |
1500-1730 |
We will contact you directly if your child has been chosen to take part in this event. |
|
02/07/2025 |
Year 4 Shuttleworth trip |
|
We will leave school at 9:15am and return before the end of the school day. Children should wear their school uniform and bring a packed lunch and a drink with them (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please). If your child is entitled to free school meals and you wish to order one for that day, please do so at the office by Wednesday 25th June. |
|
03/07/2025 |
Y5 Science trip to Barclay (2nd visit) |
1300-1500 |
More details to follow |
|
04/07/2025 |
FOAH Ice Cream Friday |
1430-1530 |
More details to follow
|
|
04/07/2025 |
Y6 Water Fight |
1400-1500 |
More details to follow
|
|
09/07/2025 |
Rocksteady concert for parents |
1415-1515 |
More details to follow
|
|
10/07/2025 |
Transition Day |
|
More details to follow
|
|
11/07/2025 |
FOAH Ice Cream Friday |
1430-1530 |
More details to follow
|
|
11/07/2025 |
Year 6 LEGOLAND |
|
We intend to make the most of the day by leaving school at 8.30am and returning at approximately 6pm. Children will therefore need a packed lunch and a snack tea on the day. If your child is entitled to Free School Meals and you require a school packed lunch for the day, please let us know by Thursday 3rd July. |
|
14/07/2025 |
6S Graduation |
2.00-4.00pm |
Will take place in the school hall. 3 guests per child (please sign up on the Arbor School Shop) |
|
15/07/2025 |
6B Graduation |
2.00-4.00pm |
Will take place in the school hall. 3 guests per child (please sign up on the Arbor School Shop) |
|
16/07/2025 |
6C Graduation |
2.00-4.00pm |
Will take place in the school hall. 3 guests per child (please sign up on the Arbor School Shop) |
|
18/07/2025 |
FOAH Ice Cream Friday |
1430-1530 |
More details to follow
|
|
18/07/2025 |
Y6 trip to Fairlands |
|
Details tbc |
|
22/07/2025 |
Last day of term |
|
School finishes at 1pm |
|
23/07/2025 |
INSET Day |
|
|
Club Collection Points
Click here to expand the club information
Clubs will run for 8 weeks to 23rd June (excluding bank holidays and half term).
For children in Years 5 and 6, please add your consent to Arbor (under notices) if your child is permitted to walk home independently after clubs. We expect all children in Year 3 and 4 to be collected promptly at 4:15pm.
We expect children to attend clubs regularly and we keep an attendance register. Please inform the school office if your child is unable to attend for any reason. We will follow up with parents whose child has not attended.
|
|
Club |
Lead |
Year group |
Location |
Collection point |
|
Monday 3.15 -4.15 |
Debating |
Miss Bonfield |
Years 5 and 6 |
3B |
3B Classroom |
|
Monday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Netball team/club continues |
Miss Wase |
Year 5 and 6 |
Netball courts |
St Nicholas Church Gate |
|
Monday 3.15-4.15 |
Year 3 and 4 football |
Will Bryson |
3 and 4 |
Field |
St Nicholas Church gate |
|
Tuesday 3.15-4.15 |
Year 5 and 6 football |
Will Bryson |
5 and 6 |
Field |
St Nicholas Church gate |
|
Tuesday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Rounders |
Premier |
Years 5 and 6 |
Field |
Hall |
|
Tuesday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Eco |
Mrs Waldrom |
Years 3 - 6 |
4W |
4W Classroom |
|
Tuesday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Play |
Miss Andrews |
Years 3 - 6 |
Playground |
4A Classroom |
|
Wednesday 8.00-8.45 |
Cheerleading |
Lindsey Pollard |
All |
Hall |
n/a |
|
Wednesday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Street dance |
Lindsey Pollard |
All |
Hall |
Hall doors (quadrant) |
|
Wednesday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Art |
Mrs Nicholls |
Year 3 |
Computing room |
Computing room door |
|
Thursday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Outdoor activities |
Miss Harris |
Years 3 and 4 |
|
Year 5 Classrooms |
|
Friday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Cricket |
Premier |
Years 3 and 4 |
Field |
Hall |
|
Friday 3.15 - 4.15 |
Outdoor activities |
Miss Harris |
Years 5 and 6 |
|
Year 5 Classrooms |
Attendance
Year 3 96.95%
Year 4 95.69%
Year 5 95.45%
Year 6 97.75%
All Students 96.45%
Class Winners
6S 99.58%
3W 99.11%
Almond Hill Achievements
Click the button below to see all the wonderful things our children have achieved outside of school.
House Points
FOAH Update
Film nights (20th May and 3rd June)
We are aware that there will be clubs running on these days but if you have bought a ticket to see the film, we will assume your child is not attending the club. Clubs will continue on the film nights providing there are enough people still attending. Some clubs like play club have children from all four year groups and the film nights are divided into upper and lower school which means clubs are more likely to still happen as the other half of the school are not attending a film. However if only one or two children left for a club, it is likely to be cancelled.
Children will be taken to the hall for the film at the end of the school day. For collection after the film, please enter school via the main reception gates and go to the hall doors to collect your child/ren. You will then leave the hall by the doors which lead to the quadrant. Please exit school via the drop off zone. This will all be signposted.
Do not send/leave your child if you have not purchased a ticket for the film. Risk assessments are written in advance and changing them at the last minute creates confusion. Children without a ticket will not be allowed into the film and we will ask parents to collect.
Father’s Day Present Room
We're pleased to announce that Father's Day Present Room gifts are now available to pre-order. Please go to the School Shop area of Arbor (not School Gateway) to place your order. The Father's Day Present Room will take place during the school day on Thursday 12th June. On that day, the children can choose a secret present for the important men in their life (Dads, Stepdads, Grandads, Uncles, Carers, and so on). There’s no limit to the number of gifts you can buy per child. Each gift is then brought home at collection time in an individual sealed giftbag that can be hidden at home, ready to give on Father's Day! Please tell your child for whom they are choosing gifts before the day itself, so they can pick suitable presents.
Please note, although there is no limit to the number of gifts you can buy, Arbor will only allow you to purchase 9 at a time. If you would like to buy more than 9, you will need to do separate transactions.
The deadline for payments in Arbor is at the end of the day on Wednesday 4th June. Cash payments will be accepted on the day of the present room if needs be, but we would be grateful if payments could be made in advance on Arbor, as this enables us to plan ahead and make sure there are enough gifts for every child taking part. All funds raised will go towards equipment and events that enhance the children’s school experience. If you have any questions, please reach out to the FOAH team. Our email is: foah@almondhill.herts.sch.uk
In Other News...
Walk to School and Healthy Eating Week 19th – 23rd May 2025
We are excited to be taking part in Walk to School Week this May. We all know the health benefits of walking so please help us this week to reduce congestion by supporting children in being more active and help reduce lower carbon emissions during this Walk to School Week. We would like to encourage all our pupils to try and walk, cycle or scoot to school during this week. If it’s not possible to walk all the way, then it would be great if you could park 10 minutes away from school and walk or scoot the last part of your journey. Each class will have a poster featuring a map of Hertfordshire and aim to take a ‘virtual’ walk around Hertfordshire. Every time a pupil travels sustainably, a dot can be coloured in. Following on from Walk to School Week, we will be supporting Clean Air Day on Thursday 19th June 2025, more information closer to the date.
Also, during this week, the children will be taking part in an activity around Healthy Eating. The national curriculum states that by the end of primary school all children should know what constitutes a healthy diet, the principles of planning and preparing a range of healthy meals and the characteristics of a poor diet and risks associated with unhealthy eating. This week, we will be looking at what a healthy diet is and how we can make healthier choices and when it is best to do so. There has been an update in vocabulary based around healthy eating and will now be using 'healthier choices' and 'not as healthy choices' rather than 'healthy' and 'unhealthy'. All children will be taking part in one lesson as their PSHE this week. Over the half term break, there will be a healthy eating homework task that the children will be coming home with. We look forward to seeing what they produce!
Netball Update
Our netball team were back in action this week playing against Fairlands on Monday. The team played amazingly and were extremely strong throughout. There was some excellent defending and accurate passing in the game. The team worked hard to make sure they were in a space and ready for the ball. We switched our positions after each qu…
Y5 Bags of Character
On Wednesday 7th May, Year 5 had a fun event at school called 'Bags of character'. In this event, we had to get into groups of 5 and 6 and completed five challenges. There was a skipping challenge where two people were swinging a giant rope and the others had to jump it, a blindfolded challenge where we had to guide our partn…
Journalist Club Update
The journalists have made me very proud this week. They are a really hardworking, reliable bunch who turn up every Wednesday lunchtime crafting their articles. This is them in the newsroom this week working hard together. It's been extra tough this half term as time has been so limited but we are still hoping to get Volume 4 Issu…