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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Weekly Newsletter w/c 27/09/2021
Fri 24 Sep 2021Dear Parent/Carer,
Please see below for some important notices about school life:
Parent/Carer Parking
A big thank you to all parent/carers who are supporting us in creating a safer street for Hurst Drive. Parking at drop off and pick up times has already improved this week and we have had many parents/carers and local residents thanking the School for the improvement.
We will continue to have staff positioned outside the school gates to monitor parking and to keep everyone safe. If a member of staff asks you to move on from the area in which you have parked your vehicle, we ask you to kindly follow their instructions. Sadly, a very small minority of parents/carers have refused to move their vehicles and have been verbally abusive to staff members. Whilst we appreciate that some parents/carers feel frustrated by these measures, any verbal abuse of our staff is not acceptable. We also want to remind you that monitoring parking in this way is necessary for the safety of our children and the local community.
As most of our families live locally, we strongly advise that families walk to school if you are able. If you do need to drive to school, we recommend giving yourself enough time to park safely in one of the surrounding roads (e.g. Raglan Avenue) before walking to school. Doing this will make it safer for parents/carers and children to cross the road outside the school.
Thank you to those parents who always behave respectfully whether it be on foot, or in their car.
Bikes and scooters
We are so pleased to see so many children walking and riding to school. However, some children are staying on their bikes/scooters when they come through the gate, which could cause a nasty accident. Please remind your child to get off their bike or scooter as soon as they get to the school gates and walk in. The same goes for the end of the day. Thank you for your support in this.
KS1 Bike and Scooter Club
If your child attends the KS1 bike and scooter club, please be aware they need to bring their own bike/scooter to school each week along with a well-fitting helmet.
Please click here to find out how to fit your child’s helmet.
Breakfast Club & Wraparound Care
A reminder to parent/carers that you may make bookings for Breakfast Club and Wraparound Care via the School Gateway app.
From Monday to Friday, our breakfast club starts at 7:45am. All children must arrive by 8:15am to receive a breakfast and 8.20am at the latest. After this time, the children go out to play and there is no one from Breakfast Club to greet them from the entrance area.
The children who attend Breakfast Club are offered a nutritious breakfast (e.g. porridge, toast, fruit etc.) before taking part in games and activities ahead of the school day which begins at 8:40am.
If your child no longer needs to attend Breakfast Club/Wraparound Care, please cancel the booking via the app. If you are unable to do this please contact the school admin team who will be happy to help.
You may click here to read more information about before- and after-school care.
School and Personal Property
One of our schools rules at Hurst Drive is ‘We look after school and personal property’.
It is important to encourage your children to take responsibility for their personal property and therefore please ensure your child arrives at school each day with all the items they will require for the school day e.g. water bottle, PE kit, reading books etc.
Haileybury Turnford School
Haileybury Turnford School would like to invite prospective parent/carers and students in Year 5&6 to join an online virtual Q&A session with the Principal, Mr Newman, Vice Principal, Mrs Goodes and Year Achievement Coordinator – Year 7, Miss Allingham
This session will take place Monday 27th September at 5.00pm. It is a chance to chat and ask any questions your may have about the school or the application process before the deadline at the end of October.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Haileybury Turnford will also holding parent/carers school tours from Monday 27th September to half term between 9.00am and 11.00am.
If you would like to book at tour please call 01992 308333 or email enquiries@haileyburyturnford.com.
You can also view a virtual tour via the school website- www.haileyburyturnford.com.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Reminder
Just to remind all parents/carers that if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 that they should stay at home and get a PCR test. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
·A high temperature
·A new, continuous cough
·A loss or change to sense of smell or taste
Please do be reassured however that children are at a very low risk and rate of severe illness from current variants – the benefits of them being in an education setting continues to significantly outweigh the COVID-19 health risks.
Upcoming In School Events
08/10/21 -Wear Blue for Herts Vision Loss
To coincide with World Sight Day, all children should come to school dressed in blue to support Hawk House's local charity, Herts Vision Loss. We are seeking a voluntary contribution of £1 (or whatever you may spare) per child.Yours sincerely,
The Administration Team
admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk
01992 624099
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Hurst Drive Newsletter w/c 20/9/21
Thu 16 Sep 2021Dear Parent/Carer,
Please see below for some important notices about school life:
School Day
The main school gates will be open just before 8.40am each day and classrooms doors open at 8.40am and close at 8.55am. The school day ends 3.30pm. At the end of the school day, all children are collected from their external classroom door, unless a parent/carer has given permission in writing for them to walk home alone or for them to walk themselves down to the front playground to meet their parent/carer. If you have not given this permission but would like to, please e-mail admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk with your child/ren's full name/s and stating you give permission for them to exit the classroom alone.
Attendance & Term Dates
We have started the term with 98% attendance, which is excellent. We ask all of our parents/carers to support us in aiming for no less than 98% attendance for all children this year. Excellent attendance is so important in helping your child to achieve their best at school as well as ensuring they do not miss any of the fantastic trips and workshops that we have planned for the term ahead.
Please go online to view our updated term dates for 2021 2022 https://www.hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk/term-dates/ and check the dates carefully before booking any holidays or trips. It is also important to do everything possible please to book any medical appointments outside of school hours.
Please also note the timing of the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday in the summer term. This is taking place in the summer half term so schools have been asked to choose another day when this can be taken for the children. It has been decided that Hurst Drive will take Friday 1st July 2022 as our Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday, school will therefore be closed that day.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Reminder
Just to remind all parents/carers that if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 that they should stay at home and get a PCR test. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
· A high temperature
· A new, continuous cough
· A loss or change to sense of smell or taste
Please do be reassured however that children are at a very low risk and rate of severe illness from current variants – the benefits of them being in an education setting continues to significantly outweigh the COVID-19 health risks.
Nasal Flu Immunisation - Monday 1st November 2021
It is very important that the children have this vaccine to protect them against flu, which can lead to serious problems like bronchitis or pneumonia.
We will be e-mailing out forms for parents/carers and we will be giving paper copies to your children to take home later on this month along with the collection date.
Please note, if you hand in the form, but your child happens to be absent on Monday 1st November 2021, your child will have the vaccine on Wednesday 1st December 2021 - you do not need to complete the form again. If you are unsure whether you handed in the completed form, you may e-mail admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk, giving your child's full name and an Office Administrator will investigate and get back to you.
Parent/carers STEPS Training
Mrs Bye and Mrs James-Souch will be holding training to support parent/carers in managing behaviour at home. This will take place in school on Wednesday 29th September at 9-10.30am. If you would like to attend, please contact Mrs Bye or Mrs James-Souch in the playground at drop off/pick up times, at the coffee morning or by telephoning the School Office.
Upcoming In School Events
24/09/21 -European Day of Languages
To celebrate European Day of Languages, each class will learn words and phrases from a European language. Your child should come to school dressed in non-school uniform in the colours of the flag of the European country their class has been learning about (e.g. France = blue, white and red clothing). More information to follow.
24/09/21- National Day of Cooking
To celebrate National Day of Cooking, and to complement children learning words and phrases from a European language, each class will be preparing a dish from the European country they have been studying. More information to follow.
Upcoming School Trips
16.09.21 & 17.9.21 – Year 6 Lea Valley White Water Centre
20.09.21 & 21.09.21- Year 2 Woburn Safari Park
You will receive a letter from your child/s class teacher containing detailed information.
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Weekly Newsletter w/c 13/09/2021
Fri 10 Sep 2021Dear Parent/Carer,
It has been a great first week back at Hurst Drive, it is wonderful to see all of the children settling back into school so well and getting to know their new teachers. We hope they’ve enjoyed getting started as much as we have. Please see below for some important notices about school life:
School Day
The main school gates will be open just before 8.40am each day and classrooms doors open at 8.40am and close at 8.55am. The school day ends 3.30pm. At the end of the school day, all children are collected from their external classroom door, unless a parent/carer has given permission in writing for them to walk home alone or for them to walk themselves down to the front playground to meet their parent/carer. If you have not given this permission but would like to, please e-mail admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk with your child/ren's full name/s and stating you give permission for them to exit the classroom alone.
Walnut Class
If you have a child in Walnut Class moving forward, please use the alternative door to the left of the classroom when dropping off and collecting your child.
Bikes and scooters
We are so pleased to see so many children walking and riding to school. However, some children are staying on their bikes/scooters when they come through the gate, which could cause a nasty accident. Please remind your child to get off their bike or scooter as soon as they get to the school gates and walk in. The same goes for the end of the day. Thank you for your support in this.
Parent Observations of Teaching
We would like to offer parent/carers the opportunity to observe a short section of a lesson taught during the school day. If you would like the chance to observe a lesson or would like more information please contact or approach Mrs Bye in the playground, at coffee morning or by telephoning the school office.
Schools Meals
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will continue to have the option of a Universal Free School Meal. Similarly, if your child is in Years 3-6 and is eligible for Free School Meals, they will have the option of a school-funded lunch. If your child is in Years 3-6 and not eligible for Free School Meals, please make sure you use the School Gateway app to pay for their school meals in advance to avoid incurring a debt. A school meal costs £2.60. Otherwise, if you are providing your child with a home packed lunch, please click here to familiarise yourselves with what can and what cannot be included.
Household Goods
Mrs Bye our Family Support Worker has received funding to provide some of our families with household goods. These goods will be delivered and fitted. If you would like more information about this, please contact or approach Mrs Bye in the playground, at coffee morning or by telephoning the school office.
Parent/Carer Parking
Most of our families live locally and should walk to school. If you do need to drive to school, we recommend giving yourself enough time to park safely in one of the surrounding roads (e.g. Raglan Avenue) before walking to school. Doing this will make it safer for parents/carers and children to cross the road outside the school, and it will stop arguments occurring between parents and carers, as well as between parents/carers and local residents.
We strive to ensure a safer street for Hurst Drive and therefore we will now have staff positioned outside the school gates monitoring parent/carer parking. We would like parents/carers to help us facilitate this. If you are interested in supporting us, please contact or approach Mrs Bye in the playground, at coffee morning or by telephoning the school office.
Reading at home
As we have started a new term any banded reading books that children may have at home need to be returned to school by Monday 13th September 2021.
One of the most important things you can do to help your child to learn and do well at school is to read with them at home. As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher, you have a very important role to play in helping them to become readers.
Why is reading so important?
Reading:
- Helps children to learn new vocabulary
- Helps children to develop their speaking and listening skills
- Gives children the opportunity to talk about stories and ideas
- Gives children the skills they need to understand other areas of the school curriculum such as maths and science
- Develops children’s understanding of the world around them and other people
- Reception - A child in Reception will take home three books each week: a sharing book for an adult to read to them, a Read Write Inc. Phonics book they can read to an adult, and a colour-banded book they can also read to an adult so they are being introduced to high-quality storybooks and information books.
- Years 1 & 2 - A child in Year 1 or Year 2 will take home two books each week: a Read Write Inc. Phonics book they can read to an adult, along with a colour-banded book they can also read to an adult
- Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 - A child in Years 3-6 will take home one colour-banded book each week. Often the children in Key Stage 2 read chapter books and so may keep the same book for a few weeks and this is perfectly acceptable.
Your child has been given a new reading record, banded book, and a reading record help sheet. It is important that you spend time reading through these to support your children with their reading at home.
The school has invested heavily in a range of literature and resources to support our English curriculum so please ensure that your child's reading record and reading book are taken care of and returned to school in good condition. You may be asked to contribute to the cost of any lost resources.
Moving on Leaflets
Attached to the emailed version of the newsletter is a leaflet for parents with children who will be transferring to a new school in September 2022. Additional information is available at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions. All parents are encouraged to apply on time and online wherever possible.
St Mary’s Transition
St Mary’s are delighted to advise that they are able to schedule a face to face Transition evening this year, where they invite parents and their year 5 children to the school to see what they can offer when considering the move on to secondary education.
Attached to the emailed version of the newsletter there is a letter from St Mary’s where you can find all the necessary information including dates of the school tours.
Upcoming In School Events
24/09/21 -European Day of Languages
To celebrate European Day of Languages, each class will learn words and phrases from a European language. Your child should come to school dressed in non-school uniform in the colours of the flag of the European country their class has been learning about (e.g. France = blue, white and red clothing). More information to follow.
24/09/21- National Day of Cooking
To celebrate National Day of Cooking, and to complement children learning words and phrases from a European language, each class will be preparing a dish from the European country they have been studying. More information to follow.
Upcoming School Trips
13.09.21 & 14.09.21 & 17.9.21 – Year 2 Woburn Safari Park
16.09.21 & 17.9.21 – Year 6 Lea Valley White Water Centre
20.09.21 & 21.09.21- Year 2 Woburn Safari Park
You will receive a letter from your child/s class teacher containing detailed information.
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Weekly Newsletter w/c 06/09/2021
Mon 06 Sep 2021Dear Parent/Carer,
We are looking forward to welcoming the children and their parents/carers back to school from Monday 6th September 2021.
Please see below for some important reminders, and, if you are in contact with other parents/carers, please remind them to read this e-mail as well:
School reopens on Monday 6th September 2021 for all children in Years 1-6 at 8.40am. If you have a child starting Reception, we look forward to visiting you this week and next for your home visit. If you are unsure when we will be visiting your child at home, please telephone or e-mail the school, giving your child's full name so the Office Administrators may find out the information for you. Please note that school for all Reception children will start on Tuesday 14th September.
In the rare circumstance that your child is showing COVID-19 symptoms or has received a positive COVID-19 test result, please do not bring them to school and telephone the school office to report the reason for their absence. The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
On the first day, children in Year 1 may be taken to their external classroom door by their parent/carer at the start of the day but moving forward they must walk themselves to their classroom from the front playground. Children in Year 2-6 must walk themselves to their classrooms from the front playground with parents remaining on the playground. There are school staff on duty who supervise their quick entry into school.
The school day will now end at 3.30pm. At the end of the school day, all children are collected from their external classroom door, unless a parent/carer has given permission in writing for them to walk home alone or for them to walk themselves down to the front playground to meet their parent/carer. If you have not given this permission but would like to, please e-mail admin@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk with your child/ren's full name/s and stating you give permission for them to exit the classroom alone.
All children should be in full school uniform, including bringing their PE kit to school and a waterproof coat. Please click here to remind yourself of what school uniform is required.
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will continue to have the option of a Universal Free School Meal. Similarly, if your child is in Years 3-6 and is eligible for Free School Meals, they will have the option of a school-funded lunch. If your child is in Years 3-6 and not eligible for Free School Meals, please make sure you use the SchoolGateway app to pay for their school meals in advance to avoid incurring a debt. A school meal costs £2.60. Otherwise, if you are providing your child with a home packed lunch, please click here to familiarise yourselves with what can and what cannot be included.
Breakfast Club and Wraparound Care will start in the week commencing Monday 6th September 2021.
After school clubs will start in the week commencing Monday 13th September 2021. You will need to have the SchoolGateway app on your phone (or access the website via a laptop or computer) to make bookings for clubs.
We look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 6th September 2021 and we thank you in advance for your support in following the reminders in this e-mail.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs M Forrest
Headteacher