Issue 31 - 10th May 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
Children in year 6 are half way through their SATs. They have all worked so hard and the behaviour and respect across the school has been fantastic. Remember, children in year 6 can join us for a SATs breakfast at 8.30am this week to ensure they are here ready for the day. Please ensure all children arrive to school promptly to avoid disruption.
Next week, we will have our first Sports Day of the year. Fingers crossed the British weather doesn’t let us down! Families are welcome to join us for the afternoon (12.45-2.45pm). If the weather is as bad as it was yesterday, we will have to reschedule for after half term.
Have a good week.
Emma Fordham
Key Messages
The pedestrian gate nearest the drop off zone will now be locked
This is because some parents are walking through the vehicle entrance and using this gate to access school. Please ensure you use the correct gate to reduce as much as possible any risks from the vehicle entrance. You will have seen the no parking reminders supplied by the council to help encourage all adults to model the safest behaviour for the children.
Book Donations – The Abilities In Me Foundation
Gemma Kier, author and founder of The Abilities in Me Foundation has kindly donated her entire book series to our school library. The Abilities in Me Foundation aims to raise awareness of special educational needs and conditions that children may encounter. We are really proud to add these books to our library and look forward to sharing them with the children. Gemma will also be visiting our school in July to host an assembly for all year groups.
For more information about the foundation or to have a look at the books, please visit their website or find them on Facebook: https://theabilitiesinme.com/
Feedback from a recent visitor to our school
In between Ofsted inspections, the school commissions external visits and audits to ensure the quality of provision remains good. We recently had a visit from an advisor from HFL Education. The purpose of the visit was to assess the quality of education with a focus on children’s learning, engagement and achievement and the behaviour and attitudes of pupils. Some excerpts from our recent visit report and shared with the governing board included that the relationships and interactions between adults and pupils are positive and of a high quality. Since her last visit, the advisor reported that the quality of teaching at Almond Hill is stronger overall and that children’s focus and concentration on learning has improved. I am also proud to tell parents that the visitor described our children as polite, positive and motivated with attentive behaviour.
Changes to staffing
Mrs. McLellan will be leaving us at the end of this week after many years at Almond Hill. We are sad to see her go but wish her all the very best for the future.
Attendance 
Year 3 – 95%
Year 4 – 94%
Year 5 – 94%
Year 6 – 94%
All students – 94.5%
Class winners – 3C - 97%
The government expectation for attendance is 96%+
School Dinners
Please log onto http://app.schoolgrid.co.uk to order lunches for your child.
Next week, we will be on week 2.
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.
May
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09/05/2023 – 12/05/2023 - 8:30am – 8:50amY6 SATs Breakfast
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09/05/2023 – 12/05/2023 - 9:00am – 3:00pmSATs week
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15/05/2023 – 19/05/2023 - All DayWalk to School Week
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15/05/2023 - 6:00pm – 7:00pmFOAH Meeting
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18/05/2023 - 1:00pm – 2:45pmYear 5 and 6 Sports Day
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19/05/2023 - All DayHosting Letchmore’s sports day with some Year 6 ambassadors helping
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19/05/2023 - 1:00pm – 3:00pmYr 5 High Five netball (girls) at Giles
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22/05/2023 - 9:00am – 12:00pmUpper school Paralympian visit
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24/05/2023 - 9:00am – 3:00pmYear 4 trip to Woodhall Estate
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25/05/2023 - 1:00pm – 2:45pmYear 3 and 4 Sports Day
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25/05/2023 - 6:00pm – 7:00pmMusic Concert
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29/05/2023 – 02/06/2023 - All DayHalf Term
June
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29/05/2023 – 02/06/2023 - All DayHalf Term
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05/06/2023 – 09/06/2023 - All DayYear 2 to 3 Transition Week
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07/06/2023 - All DayYear 4/5 Lacrosse festival (SFT event) at Barnwell time tbc
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07/06/2023 - 5:30pm – 6:30pmParent Forum
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08/06/2023 - 9:00am – 12:00pmYear 3 Gymnastics Enrichment Morning
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09/06/2023 - All DayFOAH Father's Day Present Room
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09/06/2023 - 9:00am – 12:00pmYear 6 Premier 'GOAL' sessions
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09/06/2023 - 9:00am – 9:30amLower School - Sing-a-Long
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09/06/2023 - 6:00pm – 6:30pmFOAH Meeting
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16/06/2023 - All DayYear 4, 5, 6 Athletics (SFT event) at Ridlins (by invitation)
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16/06/2023 - 8:30am – 12:00pmClass photos and siblings
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16/06/2023 - 9:00am – 9:30amUpper School - Sing-a-Long
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16/06/2023 - 1:00pm – 3:00pmYear 5 DT visit to Thomas Alleynes
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19/06/2023 - 8:30am – 4:30pmYear 5 trip to Leslie Sell
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21/06/2023 - 12:00pm – 2:30pmPreloved book sale
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21/06/2023 - 3:00pm – 3:30pmPreloved uniform sale
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22/06/2023 - 2:00pm – 2:45pmMaths Open Afternoon
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23/06/2023 - 9:00am – 9:30amLower School - Sing-a-Long
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23/06/2023 - 1:00pm – 3:00pmYear 5 football at Giles (girls)
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30/06/2023 - All DayINSET Day
July
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03/07/2023 - All DayOccasional Day
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04/07/2023 - 9:30am – 11:00amGemma Kier (author visit) Abilities in Me Foundation
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04/07/2023 - 2:00pm – 5:00pmYear 5 Rounders (SFT event) at Thomas Alleynes
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07/07/2023 - All DayYear 4 tennis event (by invitation)
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07/07/2023 - 9:00am – 9:30amUpper School - Sing-a-Long
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07/07/2023 - 1:00pm – 3:00pmYR 6 football (boys) at Giles
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10/07/2023 - 2:00pm – 4:00pm6S Graduation Event
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11/07/2023 - 2:00pm – 4:00pm6J Graduation Event
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12/07/2023 - 2:00pm – 4:00pm6b Graduation Event
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13/07/2023 - 9:00am – 3:15pmHertfordshire Transition Day
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14/07/2023 - 9:00am – 9:30amLower School - Sing-a-Long
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14/07/2023 - 1:00pm – 3:00pmYr 6 football (girls) at Giles
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18/07/2023 - All DayRocksteady Concert
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19/07/2023 - 12:00pm – 2:30pmPreloved book sale
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19/07/2023 - 3:00pm – 3:30pmPreloved uniform sale
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20/07/2023 - until 12:30pmLast day of term - finish at 12.30pm
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21/07/2023 - All DayINSET Day
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24/07/2023 – 31/08/2023 - All DaySummer Holiday
September
Almond Hill Achievements
Click the button below to see all the wonderful things our children have achieved outside of school.
In Other News...
Celebrating the Coronation
I hope families enjoyed the long weekend and were able to watch some of the celebrations that took place for the coronation. In school on Friday, we had a special lunch ‘fit for a King’, children made crowns in class and they wore red, white and blue. A great day was had by all!
King Charles Tulip Trail
To commemorate our new monarch, the Waste Not Want Not Community Nursery launched the King Charles Tulip Trail and lots of settings, including Almond Hill, were given bulbs and encouraged to get creative. With the help from some of our support staff, children have planted the bulbs around the school grounds and they really do look lovely.
Year 5 Bikeability
A big well done to the year 5 children who took part in Bikeability last week. The training develops skills for cycling on single-lane roads with simple junctions and moderate traffic and includes the core function for safe and responsible cycling.
Rocksteady Concert
The children who take part in Rocksteady hosted a performance for their familes recently and it was fantastic to see (and hear) the progress they have made over the time they have been in their bands! Our next performance is planned for the morning of Tuesday 18th July. Please keep a look out for more details nearer the time. For photos of the concerts, please click here.
The results from across the UK have landed!
The results from the RSBP Big Birdwatch have now been checked and the house sparrow grabbed the top spot! If you would like to view the results, please follow the link below.
On Offer in the Community
Parent Courses
Transition to Adulthood Conference
Free Health and Wellbeing Day for Mental Health Awareness Week
Talking ASD & ADHD Workshops
Learn Something New With Step2Skills
Learn How to Support Your Child's Literacy Learning at Home
Public Health Nursing 5-19 Team Newsletter - Summer 2023
BeeZee Families - Lifestyle Course