Latest News
For latest news, please check our Newsletter page. We also share regular updates through our main Facebook page and class Facebook pages. Please follow us on Facebook and request to join the private Facebook Page for your class to stay up to date.
On this page you will find our archived newsletters from previous years.
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Newsletter - w/c 02/12/19
Fri 29 Nov 2019Dear parent/carer,
Please find below the weekly newsletter containing important information.
School Dinners
Because parents/carers have requested it, we now have two payment options on the SchoolGateway app for school dinners:
- You can pay for a single school dinner, costing £2.60; or,
- You can pay for a week's worth of school dinners, costing £13.00.
We hope this helps make things easier for those parents/carers who wish for their child to have school dinners once or twice a week alongside their home packed lunch.
Parents/carers of children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, please remember that the government make it possible for all your children to have a free school dinner and you do not need to book this or arrange it with school. You simply tell your child to choose the option of having a school dinner that day, remembering that we have four options: a meat option, a vegetarian option, a cold option (e.g. tuna sandwich), or the option of a jacket potato with/without filling/s.
Attendance
We are very pleased to state that our school attendance is currently at 96.6% which is above the national average and a fantastic achievement for our school!
As you may know, each week we award the class who have had the most children in all week (and arriving on time) with a special treat, and, at the end of the year, those children who have maintained 100% attendance receive a certificate from Hertfordshire County Council and we also include them in our trip/activity for the winning House regardless of what House team they are in.
Please do not forget that in our school, those children with attendance above 96% are twice as likely to pass their Year 6 SATs and they are also the children who we recognise to be the most confident. Having this mix of academic skills and confidence is what our children will need when they grow up to be successful adults in the workplace.
We know some parents/carers are displeased with the strict approach we are taking towards attendance, particularly the fixed penalty notices being issued by the Local Authority; however, we have been praised by the Local Authority Attendance Officer for raising our school attendance and both the letters and fines we have issued are all done in line with local authority guidance and government legislation.
We will continue to send formal warning letters, Appendix A letters, and raise fines via the Local Authority. If a parent/carer receives a fixed penalty notice and wishes to contest it, they are able to do this through the courts.
Friends of Hurst Drive’s Christmas Market - Friday 6th December
On Friday 6th December 2019, during the school day, the Friends of Hurst Drive will be running a Christmas Sale for children to buy gifts for family and friends. The Friends of Hurst Drive ran similar events last school year for Christmas, Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day and the children thoroughly enjoyed them. Of course parents/carers can decide how much money to give their child but we recommend between £5-£10.
The money raised will help the Friends of Hurst Drive to contribute towards the installation of two sunken trampolines for children to play on at break- and lunchtime.
Please remember, if you would like to join the Friends of Hurst Drive, you can e-mail, telephone or visit the school office to meet with Mrs Lloyd (Safeguarding Coordinator) or you may speak to one of the parents/carers who you know are already active members of the Friends of Hurst Drive.
Year 3 Parents/Carers
To those parents/carers with children in Year 3, please ensure your child walks up the path independently or with friends. No parent/carer of a child or children in Year 3 should be walking their child to the classroom door at this point in the school year.
It is important the children have more opportunities to be independent as they progress through the school - if there is a message for the teacher, the child can share it themselves or alternatively parents/carers can share this with the teacher or higher-level teaching assistant at the end of the day or by leaving a message at the School Office.
Book Fair
We would like to say a big thank you to all the children and parent/carers who came into school to buy books from our school book fair this week. We have raised £366.24 which has given us £106.50 to spend on new books for our school.
Christmas Raffle
Friends of Hurst Drive are having a Christmas Raffle. Any donations of unopened toiletries, bottles of alcohol, chocolates and any unused toys or books will be gratefully received. Please bring donations to the School Office. Thank you.
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Yours sincerely,
The School Office Team
Hurst Drive Primary School
01992 624099
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Newsletter - w/c 25/11/19
Fri 22 Nov 2019Please find below the weekly e-mail newsletter containing important information.
Year 5 History visit 3rd December
On Tuesday 3rd December, Year 5 will have a visit from History Off The Page for an Anglo Saxon day linked to their history topic. It's a great day where the children learn in role as villagers during the time of the Viking conflict and get to do a range of activities such as weaving, creating traditional herbal remedies and archaeology.
Children can optionally dress up in role for the day:
- Boys: A simple belted tunic, with or without sleeves; a cloak fastened on a right shoulder with a brooch (optional); trousers, either tucked into long socks or with sting or braid crossed round the lower legs; boots or old leather laced shoes.
- Girls: A long dress, skirt and blouse or tabard; headscarf; A cloak (mantle), fastened on the right shoulder with a brooch (optional).
Examples can be seen at https://www.historyoffthepage.co.uk/courses/viking/
We are also looking for some parent volunteers to assist on the day from 9:00am-3:00pm. The more volunteers we have, the wider range of activities we can offer! If you are interested, please speak to Mr Davies or Mrs Kanzaria.
Home Reading Records
Our teachers and classroom support staff have noticed that lots of our parents/carers
are not regularly reading with their child/children at home and are not regularly
updating their child's/children's home reading records. We know that in every year
group, our highest achieving pupils are those who read the most. Those pupils who
do not read regularly at home really struggle to keep up with their classmates.
We have created a help sheet to support you in updating your child's/children's home reading record and making sure reading at home becomes an enjoyable part of your child's/children's week. If you should need any further support in ensuring your child reads at home please speak to your child's teacher, Miss Bracken or Mr Short.
Bikeability Course – Monday 24th November 2019
If your child has signed up for our Free Bikeability course for years 5 & 6, it starts this Monday 25th November 2019 so please make sure they have their bike and helmet in school on Monday morning and please make sure they wear appropriate clothes for the weather – a waterproof coat is essential!
Sports News
Out football and netball teams had a very successful week. On Monday, both our boys' team and our girls' team beat the teams from Holy Trinity C of E Primary School. The boys' team won 6-2 and the girls' team won 2-1. On Wednesday, our netball team won their match against St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, beating them 7-2.
Well done to all the children involved - we're very proud of you!
Book Fair
The Book Fair will be held after-school in the Dining Hall on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Please do buy your child/ren a book as the more books you buy, the more money the school receives to buy books for the children to have in their classrooms. Thank you.
Homework Club
Mrs Bye's Free Monday Homework Club still has spaces. If you would like your child to have help with their homework and their reading, please sign up your child using the SchoolGateway app or by coming into the School Office.
Minibus Driver
We have a job available for a Minibus Driver. If any of our parents/carers know of someone who would be able to work 5-10 hours per week, helping to transport our children on school trips, to sports matches and to swimming lessons, please click here to share the job advert with them. Thank you.
Christmas Raffle
Friends of Hurst Drive are having a Christmas Raffle. Any donations of unopened toiletries, bottles of alcohol, chocolates and any unused toys or books will be gratefully received.
Dinner Money
Just a quick reminder that dinner money needs to be paid in advance on a Monday. Our preferred method of payment is on School Gateway. If you are unable to pay on the School Gateway, please come into the office with the correct money in an envelope. The weekly cost of school dinners is £13.00 for five meals.
If you receive a dinner debt letter, please make sure this is cleared straight away to avoid your child having to bring in a packed lunch until the debt is cleared. Unpaid dinner debts could result in the cost of the school dinner charge being increased in the future which would be unfair for those parents/carers who always pay on time.
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Yours sincerely,
The School Office Team
Hurst Drive Primary School
01992 624099
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Newsletter - w/c 18/11/19
Fri 15 Nov 2019Dear parent/carer,
Please find the weekly newsletter containing important information.
School Admissions - Reception 2020
If you have a child due to start primary school in September 2020, it is very important you click here and fill out their application. Our school was incredibly popular this year - we had a waiting list of 30+ children - and it would be a terrible shame if any of our current families missed out on the chance to bring a sibling to Hurst Drive Primary School because of a late application.
The deadline to apply for a child's primary school place is 15 January 2020.
Sports News
This week our netball team tried their very best against the netball team from Brookland Junior School but sadly lost, and our boys' football team played against St Joseph's Primary School and won. Well done to all the children for taking part and doing us proud, particularly with the way they approach winning and losing with the same polite attitude.
Next week, on Monday, from 3:30pm at Holy Trinity Primary School in Waltham Cross, our Girls' Football Team and our Boys' Football Team (Team B) will be playing against teams from Holy Trinity Primary School.
On Wednesday, from 3:30pm at St Joseph's Primary School in Waltham Cross, our Netball Team will be playing against the netball team from St Joseph's Primary School.
If your child is taking part, he/she will have received a letter. It would be great if we could have as many of the children's parents/carers as possible attending the events to encourage our children to do their very best.
Vacancy - Midday Supervisory Assistant
We require a midday supervisory assistant to start in January 2020. Please click here to find the details and to apply. The deadline for applications is Friday 29th November 2019 at 6:30pm.
Year 3 Trip: Gilwell Park - Thursday 21st November 2019
If your Year 3 child is attending the free trip to Gilwell Park in Chingford to take part in outdoor pursuits, please make sure they wear non-school uniform that is warm, including a waterproof coat in case it rains.
Year 6 Heights & Weights
On Monday 18th November 2019 the school nurses will be at the school for the National Child Measurement Programme. They will be here to weigh & measure the children whose parent/carers have not handed back an Opt Out Form to the school office.
Nasal Flu
On Tuesday 19th November 2019 the school nurses will be at the school to administer the Nasal Flu Immunisation to the children who have returned the consent form signed by their parent/carer.
School Book Fair
The School Book Fair will take place from Thursday 21st November to Wednesday 27th November 2019 in the dining hall after school from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Bikeability Course – Monday 24th November 2019
Our Bikeability course for children in years 5 & 6 starting on Monday 25th November 2019. If you would like your child to take part please come into the office.
Dinner Money
Just a quick reminder that dinner money needs to be paid in advance on a Monday. Our preferred method of payment is on School Gateway. If you are unable to pay on the School Gateway, please come into the office with the correct money in an envelope. The weekly cost of school dinners is £13.00 for five meals.
If you receive a dinner debt letter, please make sure this is cleared straight away to avoid your child having to bring in a packed lunch until the debt is cleared. Unpaid dinner debts could result in the cost of the school dinner charge being increased in the future which would be unfair for those parents/carers who always pay on time.
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Yours sincerely,
The School Office Team
Hurst Drive Primary School
01992 624099
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Newsletter - w/c 11/11/19
Fri 08 Nov 2019Dear parent/carer,
Please find below the weekly newsletter containing important information.
School Sports News
On Tuesday, our Boys' Football Team and our School Netball Team took part in a tournament for Broxbourne Primary Schools at Haileybury Turnford. There were 14 teams who took part in the football tournament and 12 teams who took part in the netball tournament.
We are very pleased to announce that our Boys' Football Team finished 3rd overall and our School Netball Team finished 4th overall - a great achievement ahead of us starting our league matches in this term and the next term.
Thank you to Mr Flanagan (Oak Class Teacher) and Miss Bretton (Walnut Class Teacher) for escorting the children to the tournament.
Please see below for a list of upcoming football and netball matches - we would love as many parents/carers as possible to attend to cheer on our school:
Date
Time
Venue
Sport
Match
13/11/19
3:30pm
Hurst Drive
Netball
Hurst Drive Primary School Vs. Brookland Junior School
14/11/19
3:30pm
St Josephs
Boys' Football
Hurst Drive Primary School Vs. St Joseph's Primary School
18/11/19
3:30pm
Holy Trinity
Boys' and Girls' Football
Hurst Drive Primary School Vs. Holy Trinity Primary School
20/11/19
TBC
St Joseph’s
Netball
Hurst Drive Primary School Vs. St Joseph's Primary School
Anti-bullying Production - Monday 11th November 2019
Every year, the children in our school watch a drama production titled 'The Power of One' to teach them the message shown below:
I will not bully others,
I will not stand by while others are bullied,
I will report and deal with bullying whenever I see it...
Because I have...
The Power of One
When your child returns home on Monday, please ask them about the production and talk about the importance of being kind and reporting other children's and adults' unkindness whenever they see it. Please also click here to watch our school's video about bullying.
KS2 Dodgeball Tournament - Friday 15th November 2019
On Friday 15th November, the children in Years 3-6 will need their PE kit to take part in our Dodgeball Tournament. The children will compete in their house teams and whichever team wins will get another point on our termly bar chart, helping them get ever closer to being the termly winners of the prize, which, in this term, is a free trip with ice-cream to watch a pantomime at Hertford Theatre!
Class Timetables
In response to the parent/carer survey, we have now added your child's class timetable to the school website. Please click here and scroll down to find them.
After-School Clubs
Please note that Mrs Bye's Monday Dance Club will have their last session on Monday 11th November 2019 as Mrs Bye will be starting a Homework Club as this is something parents/carers requested on the recent survey. Miss Griffiths will be starting a lunchtime reading club which is also something parents/carers requested on the recent survey - of course, the children will eat their lunch first before joining Miss Griffiths to read.
Parents and Carers should also be aware that we have other sports clubs but children are selected for these based on their sporting ability and these clubs are not advertised on the SchoolGateway app or on our website.
Please see the table below for current after-school clubs, including spaces available.
Day
Club
Time
Cost
Monday
Mrs Thomson's KS1 Multi-skills Sports Club [Places Available: 20]
Mrs Bye's KS2 Homework Club [Places Available: 20]
Mrs Page's Years 3-4Times Tables Rockstars Club [Places Available: 3]7:30-8:30am
3:15-4:15pm
3:15-4:15pmFREE
FREE
FREEWednesday
Steel Pan In Motion's Steelpan Tuition [Places Available: 2]
Mrs Theodosi's Year 3 DT Club [Places Available: 2]3:15-4:15pm
3:15-4:15pm£5 per session
FREEThursday
Miss Griffith's KS2 Reading Club [Places Available: 20]
Miss O'Keeffe's KS1 ScootAbility Club [Places Available: 1]
Mrs Holliday's KS1 Arts and Crafts Club [Places Available: Waiting List]12:30-1:30pm
3:15-4:15pm
3:15-4:15pmFREE
FREE
FREEFriday
Mrs Chanter's KS2 Arts and Crafts Club [Places Available: Waiting List]
3:15-4:15pm
FREE
Bikeability Course – Monday 24th November 2019
We have a FREE Bikeability course for children in years 5 & 6 starting on Monday 25th November 2019. If you would like your child to take part please either fill in the form that has been e-mailed or come into the office where we have spare copies.
Dinner Money
Just a quick reminder that dinner money needs to be paid in advance on a Monday. Our preferred method of payment is on School Gateway. If you are unable to pay on the School Gateway, please come into the office with the correct money in an envelope. The weekly cost of school dinners is £13.00 for five meals (or £2.60 per meal).
If you receive a dinner debt letter, please make sure this is cleared straight away to avoid your child having to bring in a packed lunch until the debt is cleared. Unpaid dinner debts could result in the cost of the school dinner charge being increased in the future which would be unfair for those parents/carers who always pay on time.
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Yours sincerely,
The School Office Team
Hurst Drive Primary School
01992 624099