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.

• Newsletter - 30/12/20

  Wed 30 Dec 2020

  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  You may have read or heard that the Department for Education has today requested primary schools in certain areas remain closed for two weeks due to rising numbers of COVID-19 infections.  One of those areas is Broxbourne and Hurst Drive Primary School is in this district. Therefore, our school will remain closed to most children and will reopen on Monday 18 January 2021.  

   

  If you are classed as a critical worker, and you require your child/ren to be in school because you are unable to care for them yourself at home, please click here and complete the form, giving your child/ren's name/s so we may begin to make arrangements.  We will contact you on Monday 4 January 2021 or Tuesday 5 January 2021 at the latest but rest assured we will be ready to welcome your children from Wednesday 6 January 2021 when school was due to reopen.  

   

  Our school must also be open to vulnerable children, which includes children with special educational needs or a disability, as well as children known to Children's Services.  On Monday 4 January 2021 or Tuesday 5 January 2021, eligible families will receive a telephone call from a member of staff who will explain the arrangements to you.  

   

  For all other children, school is closed, and so they will access their education via remote learning.  Please click here to read our updated approach to remote education.  On Monday 4 January 2021 or Tuesday 5 January 2021, we will e-mail more details about remote education.  

   

  We thank you in advance for your support, both in terms of being patient with us while we make arrangements, as well as thanking you in advance for helping your child/ren with their education to avoid them falling behind with their learning.  

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mr D Short

  Headteacher

• Newsletter w/c - 04/01/21

  Thu 17 Dec 2020
  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  Thank you for your ongoing support during the autumn term.  I know at times it has not been easy for parents/carers, and rest assured that working in a school during a pandemic has not been easy for staff either, but I think we can all agree that by working together we have allowed the children some normality, giving them time to learn and play with others in school.  

   

  The results of the 2020 Parent and Carer Survey have already helped us make improvements in our school, including our praise postcards linked to our school values, the half-termly curriculum e-mail (which you will have received this week) and the new after-school clubs we are introducing in January in response to parent/carer ideas at our weekly coffee morning.  I am pleased that ours is a school that listens to parents and carers and uses your ideas to help make the school the best it can be for the children.

   

  I look forward to introducing you all to our new Deputy Headteacher, Mrs Forrest, in January, and I hope 2021 brings us all good health, happiness and success.

   

  Wishing you all a safe, relaxing time together as a family over the Christmas Holidays and I look forward to seeing you again on Wednesday 6 January 2021 when school reopens.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mr D Short

  Headteacher

   

  Please see below for some further notices about school life:

   

   

  Reading at Home

   

  All the children in school will be given new reading books to enjoy over the Christmas Holidays.  Please do encourage your child to read every day - it should be no surprise to parents/carers that the children in Year 6 who get the highest results are those who have always read regularly throughout their childhood with an adult or adults at home.  

   

  We want every child in our school to be ready for their secondary education and that starts all the way down in Reception with setting up the routine of reading to your child and hearing them read once they're able to blend (i.e. once they know that sh-o-p is read as shop).  

   

  Please click here to find advice about reading at home and how to complete the reading record.  

   

   

  Reporting a positive case of COVID-19

   

  The Department for Education has asked schools to create a system that allows parents/carers to report a positive case of COVID-19 for a child during the first 6 days of the Christmas Holidays - in other words, Saturday 19 December to Thursday 24 December 2020.

   

  We very much hope no child contracts COVID-19 during this time; however, if your child does show the symptoms of COVID-19 and goes on to test positive, please click here to find a contact form for you to share this information with us.

   

  When completing the contact form, you will need to share the following information:

   

  • Your name
  • Your e-mail address
  • Your child's full name
  • The date they started showing symptoms
  • The date they took a test for COVID-19 and had it return positive

   

  If needed, we will e-mail the letter to those deemed a close contact, setting out the requirement to self-isolate for 10 days from their last contact with the infected individual, and we will also e-mail the rest of the school community to advise of the positive case in the same way we have done previously.  

   

  We will also inform NHS Track and Trace.  Please be aware, those working with NHS Track and Trace do home visits to check the family of the infected individual are self-isolating, and, breaking the rules regarding self-isolation can lead to a fine starting at £1000.00.  

   

   

  School Uniform - A New Year's Resolution

   

  Please use the time over the Christmas Holidays to check your child's school uniform.  Some of the common problems we see with school uniform include:-

   

  • Wearing trainers instead of smart black shoes
  • Wearing a white shirt instead of a white polo shirt
  • Not bringing a PE kit to school 

   

  As a New Year's Resolution, we are going to check children's uniform carefully.  We work hard to source funding from organisations so if money is an issue, we may be able to offer financial support to ensure the children are dressed correctly for school.  

   

  To some parents/carers, school uniform is not important, but remember the point of a school uniform is to make sure every child is dressed the same so that children do not notice differences in appearance among each other.  If your child is dressed in scruffy trainers, a faded white shirt, and has no PE kit for PE lessons, this makes them feel different and it can make them feel ashamed - we want all children to feel happy and confident because when they feel happy and confident, they are able to work to the very best of their ability.

   

  Please help us by ensuring your child has their full school uniform for January 2021, including a waterproof coat.  Please also talk to your child about looking after their belongings (i.e. to avoid losing them) and please label all items of clothing clearly to help us reunite lost items of clothing with the right child.   

   

   

  SchoolGrid - Booking School Meals

   

  Please make sure you book your child's school meals on SchoolGrid ready for the new term.  You can book a week, a month or even a half term in advance.  If you do not book your child's meal, they will be given the default option of a jacket potato with cheese and/or beans and assorted salad.  

   

  For those of you with children in Years 3-6 who are not eligible for free school meals, you can pay for your child's school meal by Direct Debit on SchoolGrid or you can pay on the SchoolGateway app or you may bring cash to the office in an envelope, leaving it in the blue parcel bin outside for the Office Administrator to collect. 

   

  Please note, if your child is not eligible for free school meals, and you have a debt on your account, you will have to provide your child with a healthy packed lunch from home until the debt is cleared.  

   

   

  Important Dates for the Spring 1 Half Term

   

  04/01/21 - INSET Day - School Closed

   

  05/01/21 - INSET Day - School Closed

   

  06/01/21 - First Day back to School

   

  06/01/21 - Wear Blue Day for Herts Vision Loss (i.e. Your child may wear blue non-school uniform if they bring in a donation of £1 - or whatever you can spare - for Hawk House's local charity, Herts Vision Loss) 

   

  06-07/01/21 - A-Life 'Healthy Lifestyle' Workshop

   

  15/01/21 - World Religion Day - Your child will take part in a day's worth of activities about one of the 6 main world religions organised by Miss Bretton (Subject Leader for Religious Education)

   

  05/02/21 - NSPCC Number Day  - Your child will take part in a day's worth of mathematical activities organised by Mrs Ryan-Roberts (Subject Leader for Mathematics) and optional donations of £1 to the NSPCC will be gratefully received

   

  09/02/2021 - Safer Internet Day - Your child will take part in a day's worth of activities, focusing on using the internet safely, all organised by Mr Flanagan (Subject Leader for Computing)

   

  10-11/02/21 - A-Life 'Mental Health & Wellbeing' Workshop

   

  12/02/21 - Friends of Hurst Drive's Valentines Disco - The FoHD will be organising a Valentines Disco for the children - more details to follow nearer the time

   

  15-19/02/21 - Half Term - School Closed

      

   

   

   

  Kind regards,

   

   

   

  The School Office Team

   

  Hurst Drive Primary School

   

  admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk    

   

  01992 624099

• Newsletter- w/c - 14/12/20

  Thu 10 Dec 2020
  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  Please see below for some important notices about school life for the final week of the autumn term:

   

  Hurst Drive Hero - Autumn 2020

   

  Please click here to watch a video, showing which children (and staff) have been awarded Hurst Drive Hero this term - an award we give to those who make our school a better place to learn and work in.  

   

   

  Geography Competition - Deadline Extended

   

  Mrs McFadyen (Pear Class Teacher & Subject Leader for Geography) has extended the deadline for submitting entries for the Geography competition.  The deadline is now Wednesday 6 January 2021 (i.e. the first day back to school after the Christmas Holidays).  You may find details of the competition here.  

   

   

  Half-termly Curriculum E-mails

   

  Next week, you will receive an e-mail from your child's teacher detailing all the learning and events that will happen in Spring 1 (which is the half term starting Wednesday 6 January 2021 and finishing Friday 12 February 2021). 

   

  This is in response to our 2020 Parent and Carer Survey where parents and carers requested more information about what their child is learning in school.

   

  If you're not doing so already, remember to follow both the Hurst Drive Primary School page on Facebook and send a friend request to your child/ren's class page on Facebook to keep up with what's going on in school.  If you're having any difficulty doing this, speak to your child's class teacher at home time or send an e-mail to school and someone will help you.   

   

   

  Nasal Flu Vaccination - Mop-up Session - Wednesday 16 December 2020

   

  Those children who were unable to have their vaccination in November, and whose parents have completed the forms giving permission, will have their flu vaccination on Wednesday afternoon.  

   

  If you would like your child to have this vaccination, but you have not completed the forms, please telephone or e-mail the school urgently and Mrs Pace (Office Administrator) will help you.  

   

   

  Christmas Dinner Day - Wednesday 16 December 2020

   

  We will be holding our annual Christmas Dinner Day on Wednesday.  If you would like your child to have a school meal, you must book one using School Grid.  Remember, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are all entitled to a free school meal.  If your child is in Years 3-6 and they are not entitled to free school meals, you will need to pay £2.60 for them to have this meal - you can pay on SchoolGrid or on SchoolGateway.  Otherwise, you are welcome to provide a healthy packed lunch from home.  

   

   

  Class Christmas Parties - Thursday 17 December 2020

   

  On Thursday, the children may come to school in non-school uniform, preferably their party clothes, so that after their English and maths lessons in the mornings, they may party the afternoon away with their teacher, teaching assistant and friends in the classroom.  

   

  We are seeking donations of food and drink for the children to be brought into class on the day.  Any items you donate must be individually packaged.  For example, instead of a bottle of juice, please provide cartons of juice that come with straws.  We cannot accept any items of food containing nuts.  Please speak to your child's class teacher if you would prefer your child not eat or drink items donated for these parties and the teacher will honour your wishes.    

   

   

  Last Day of Term - Friday 18 December 2020

   

  To reward the children in Eagle House (i.e. Red House) for achieving the most weekly wins for having the greatest number of house points, we have organised for winter-themed bouncy castles to be placed in our Main Hall to allow the children to jump into the Christmas Holiday spirit - of course, children will only be using the inflatables with children from their 'bubble' and we will clean between each use.  The children who have maintained 100% attendance (not including any periods of self-isolation due to COVID-19) will also get to take part.

   

  On the last day of term, Friday 18 December 2020, children must be collected from 1:35-2:00pm.  Please note, Wraparound Care is not running on Friday 18 December 2020.  

   

   

  Before- and after-school Clubs - Spring Term

   

  We are aiming to reintroduce after-school clubs in the week commencing Monday 11 January 2021.  You may click here to see what clubs we have on offer and you may book your child's place using the SchoolGateway app.

   

  Bookings for Breakfast Club and Wraparound Care for the spring term go live on the SchoolGateway app on Friday 18 December 2020 at noon.  

   

   

  SchoolGrid

   

  This is a reminder to parents/carers of children who have a school meal to ensure you book these in advance.  We recommend booking all your child's meals for the week ahead on a Sunday.  Remember, if you do not select a meal for your child they will have the default option of a jacket potato with cheese and/or beans and assorted salad.  

   

   

   

  Kind regards,

   

   

  The School Office Team

   

  Hurst Drive Primary School

   

  admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk    

   

  01992 624099

• Newsletter - w/c 07/12/20

  Thu 03 Dec 2020
  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  Please find below some important notices about school life:

   

  New Deputy Headteacher

   

  In October 2020, Mr Short (Headteacher) and the Governors hired a new Deputy Headteacher.  Her name is Mrs Forrest and she will start working at Hurst Drive Primary School in January 2021.  Mrs Forrest brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her, everything from working for the BBC to working as an Early Years adviser for the London Borough of Islington.  She very much looks forward to meeting the children, staff and parents/carers and to help us continue our journey to further improve the school.  

   

  Parent Governor - A Message from the Chair of Governors, Mrs Emma Kight

   

  Dear Parents/Carers,

   

  The Governing Body is comprised of 2 Parent, 3 Co-opted and 1 Local Authority Governor as well as a Staff Governor and the Headteacher.   We meet twice a term, currently remotely, but normally at school, which enables us to meet teachers and children as well as walk around the school to see what may be taking place.  Our role is to act as a critical friend to the school, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all, as well as checking the budget, school development plan and the academic results.  A Governor's terms of office last for 4 years, and the role takes up approximately 8 hours of time per term and is entirely voluntary.  

   

  The Governing Body currently has a vacancy for a Parent Governor and I very much hope that there is a current parent who may be interested in the role.  No previous experience is necessary, just an interest in the workings of the school and education as well as an enquiring mind!  

   

  If you are interested in joining us, please e-mail admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk and your e-mail will be forwarded to me.  

   

  I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you to the Governing Body.

   

  Kind regards,

   

  Emma Kight

  Chair of Governors

   

  Praise Postcards

   

  We have recently purchased postcards that display our five school values.  If your child takes one home, it will be because they've showcased one of our values in school through what they have done or what they have said.  We wanted to increase the number of ways we may share good news with parents and carers so we hope your child achieves a postcard or two in the coming weeks!

   

  One-way System

   

  We introduced a one-way system to put parents and carers' minds at ease but the general consensus appears to be that parents and carers wish to take the direct route to collect their child/ren.  We are concerned that deliveries and taxis continue to arrive between 3:00-3:30pm and where parents and carers are not following the one-way system, we have children in the car park at the same time as moving vehicles.  Therefore, we will return to parents and carers dropping off and collecting their children as before.

   

  We continue to advise parents and carers to wear face coverings, to use our hand sanitiser and to keep a safe distance from one another to slow the spread of COVID-19.    

   

  Christmas Jumper Day - Friday 11 December 2020

   

  Your child is invited to wear non-school uniform to school, preferably including a Christmas jumper, on Friday 11 December 2020.  We are seeking donations of £1 (or whatever you can spare) for the charity Save the Children.  

   

  Friends of Hurst Drive - Christmas Sale - Friday 11 December 2020

   

  Mrs Lloyd (Safeguarding Coordinator) and the Friends of Hurst Drive have determined a way to run our annual Christmas Sale safely on Friday 11 December 2020.

   

  For those of you who don't know, this is a sale that happens during the school day, whereby children with their teacher and teaching assistant visit the hall to purchase gifts for friends and family.  

   

  The price of items starts at £1.  We recommend a parent/carer give their child £5 or £10.  On Friday 11 December 2020, you should place your child's money in a named envelope or container and, for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, be sure to hand this to the teacher or teaching assistant to avoid it going missing.    

   

  Please note, there are no refunds.  This is because the FoHD are splitting the items into year groups to avoid items being handled by children/staff from different 'bubbles'.     

  All money raised goes towards funding the school.  

   

  Hurst Drive's 12 Days of Christmas

   

  Knowing we would not be able to hold any concerts or productions this year, we have decided to have each class perform a Christmas-themed song in the lead up to the Christmas Holidays.  Starting today, and every day till Friday 18 December 2020, check out the Hurst Drive Primary School Facebook page to see the children performing their song.  They've only had a little time to rehearse but we know our lovely parents/carers will be appreciative of the children's efforts.  

   

  Christmas Dinner Day - Wednesday 16 December 2020

   

  This is advance notice that this year's Christmas Dinner will be served on Wednesday 16 December 2020.  You may book your child's meal using School Grid.

   

  We will serve roast turkey and all the trimmings or a vegetarian wellington (a vegetarian version of a beef wellington) and all the trimmings.  Of course, there will be Christmas crackers and decorations to really bring the festive spirit alive!

   

  Remember, if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they qualify for Universal Free School Meals so you do not pay for any school dinner.  If your child is in Years 3-6, and they do not qualify for Free School Meals, you will need to pay £2.60 for their Christmas dinner, which includes their dessert.    

   

  Coffee Morning

   

  Starting Wednesday 9 December 2020, at 9:00am under the canopy on the front playground, Mrs Bye (Family Support Worker) is restarting the Coffee Morning.  We hope to see some parents/carers there for a general catch-up but also so you may continue sharing your thoughts and opinions of the school to help us make further improvements.  

   

   

  Kind regards,

   

   

   

  The School Office Team

   

  Hurst Drive Primary School

   

  admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk    

   

  01992 624099