the hemel hempstead school issue 1084 february 2019 · 2019. 2. 4. · issue 1084 1st february 2019...
TRANSCRIPT
The Hemel Hempstead School Issue 1084
1st February 2019
Email: [email protected] Website: www.hhs.herts.sch.uk
I have spent much of this morning on a roof! The job of a headteacher, is certainly never dull, and I will come back to why, later. From the roof, however, I was able to remind myself how beautiful the school site is on a cold, crisp winter day and look out over our fantastic sporting facilities. The 3G pitch and netball courts have been very busy the last few days, with our annual House Netball and Football competition. The matches have been very competitive (which is the norm for house events) and the standard and skill of the players very high (which is the norm for sport at the school). Sadly, I have only managed to pop down and watch the games at close quarters on a few occasions as I do a lunchtime duty each day in the canteen; which brings me full circle as to why I was on the roof. I have been incredibly proud of the mature manner in which our students and staff have accepted the condition of our canteen over this winter. The roof has for a long time suffered minor leaks and we were overjoyed that, as part of the current building programme, we would be able to repair it for good. Unfortunately there was a significant engineering setback early on and since then students have been dealing, almost daily, with puddles and leaks, and rearrangements of furniture. Our site team and kitchen staff have been nothing short of marvellous in making the canteen continue to work to full capacity, regardless. And so, I was on the roof today, seeing the start of the works which will fix the problem, once and for all. Fingers crossed (and suitable weather allowing) we should have our new roof in the next few weeks. Netball and Football are not the only games in town and as I write this I am preparing to be a judge at the House Technology competition, which this year is a bake-off! Mr Mansbridge, our Chair of Governors, has been in school, leading professional bread making lessons with some of our food students, so for this reason, on top of the great quality of food teaching at the school, I am expecting the standard to be very high. Our staff, in general, have had a very busy couple of weeks. The trial examinations are a testing and challenging time for Year 11 and 13, but then become an equally Herculean task for teachers who very rapidly mark papers, enter results and most importantly, interpret those results and develop support plans for the students. Our colleagues always do this in a very tight window, in order that the most time can be spent working with the students on how to improve. I am very grateful to my team for the sterling job they have done.
Governors visit day On Wednesday 23rd January our governors visited the school and spent two periods in lessons with students. They would like to thank the fifteen young people who hosted them for their lesson, and if you were one of those youngsters then you should be very chuffed that you were variously described as ‘polite, hardworking, enthusiastic, engaged, friendly and a credit to the school’. The governors also conducted a safeguarding questionnaire and were very pleased that students reported that they felt safe, looked after, well prepared for any difficulties inside and outside of school and knew where to turn if they needed help. Neil Hassell Headteacher
Thanks
I was pleased to receive an email from a member of the public this week who wished to acknowledge the good deed of one of our students. The boy (who was in HHS uniform) picked up and handed back some money which had dropped from the lady’s purse in the Marlowes. If this was you, well done!
Mr Hassell
Careers Information Pure Potential is an independent organisation which
raises the aspirations of thousands of sixth formers
every year, encouraging them to apply to, and
achieve offers from, excellent universities and
leading employers. Their website is regularly updated
with new events and opportunities for sixth formers to
give them experience of university life, or their
chosen field of employment plus information about
how to write a personal statement. They also list lots
of experiences, programmes, insight days and taster
sessions from leading institutions and organisations
such as The Sutton Trust, Inner Temple, Royal
Society of Medicine, UCL and others. For more
information please see their website at:
http://purepotential.org/
Miss S Bond, Careers Coordinator
HEADTEACHER CERTIFICATE
For Service to the School Community - for contribution to Year 9 Options Evening
Sophie Estell 10C Maisie Edwards 10C
- our Mental Health Ambassadors
Isla Hancock 8L Max Warren 8N
Jasmine Smyth 9C Izzy Wilmerson 9C Thomas Albone 9N
- for contribution as Tech team in Performing Arts
Zayne Marsden 8P Josh Purdie 11F
Summer Fair & Fun Dog Show
Sunday 7th July 2019 – 11am to 4pm
Please put the date in your diary!!
Plans are now well under way for our third such bi-annual event. I really hope that students, parents and the wider community will support us in attempting to raise much needed funds for our school and The Greyhound Trust, as well as have a lot of fun! We are seeking more organisations or companies who would like to sponsor the event through advertising or having a stall on the day. Anyone interested should contact Donna Jelly by email: [email protected]. We are planning to have some student enterprise stands and some stalls run by our Year 7 students; many of our children will be showcasing their talents in displays organised by the PE Department and there will be numerous performances by students in our Performing Arts Faculty. Some of the partner organisations who train at HHS will also provide entertainment on the stage. There will be a BBQ, Crepe stall, Doughnut stand and Licenced Bar, as well as Zorbing and other activities. On the same day, we are holding our Annual Art & Technology Exhibition - a chance for the wider community to celebrate the incredible work that these departments encourage the students to produce.
The Dog Show, organised by Greyhound Trust Dunton, will include classes such as Best Puppy (under 12 months), Best Veteran, Handsomest Dog, Prettiest Bitch, Best Young Handler, Best Rescue, Best Fancy Dress, Best Trick (Hemel’s Got Talent) and Dog Most Like its Owner. So please bring along your 4-legged friends to ‘strut their stuff’. We would welcome any donations you can provide for the raffle; please send any items to Student Services with your child for our attention. We would also be delighted by more offers of help, either on the day or with advertising etc beforehand. We were so grateful to all staff, students, parents and organisations who supported us last time and hope that this year’s event builds on its previous success.
Miss May, Assistant Headteacher and Donna Jelley, HHSA
***Gold Week*** 4th Year 12 Apprenticeship presentation, M9, 8.40-
9.30am Years 10-13 (selected) Careers in Medicine talk, 2.30-3.30pm School Play: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, 7- 10pm 5th Year 9 History Holocaust Memorial Day visit to Watford Synagogue, 11.45am-3.45pm 5th, 6th & 7th Year 11 HfL English Intervention, 8.30am-
3.30pm 7th Years 9-11 UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge, Hall, 9-10am Years 7/8 Girls Football visit to Spurs, 12pm-4pm Year 9 Parents Evening, 4.30-7pm 8th Sixth Form (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 11.05
-11.30am 9th Dragon’s Apprentice Golf Tournament, Little Hay, 7.45am–2.30pm ***Blue Week*** 11th Year 11A/D NEA2 Food Exam, Tec8, 8.30am-4pm Year 12 Beds University talk – Open Days, M9, 8.50 -9.50am Year 7 (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 11.05 -11.30am 12th Year 11A/D NEA2 Food Exam, Tec8, 8am-1pm
Year 8 (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 11.05 -11.30am Year 11 Parents Evening, 4.30-7pm 13th Year 9 Careers Day, 9am-3.30pm
Year 9 (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 1105 -11.30am 14th Year 11A/D NEA2 Food Exam, Tec8, 8am-4.30pm
Year 10 (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 11.05 -11.30am 15th Year 11A/D NEA2 Food Exam, Tec8, 8am-4.30pm
Year 11 (selected) Hot Chocolate Morning, 11.05 -11.30am 16th – 24th Years 9-13 PE Ski Trip
Half Term: Monday 18th – Friday 22nd February 2019 The Newsletter is blue or gold to correspond with the blue or gold timetable of the following week.
Dates for your Diary
Library News Chorleywood Bookshop Writing Competition
The theme of this year's Chorleywood Bookshop writing competition is 'Mystery'. Students are invited to write a story of 500 words ending with the sentence ‘It was all a mystery to me’. Full details and the relevant paperwork are now available on the Chorleywood Bookshop website https://chilternbookshops.co.uk/childrens-writing-competition-2019 The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition 2019 is now open. Entrants must complete a story started by last year's winner of the Branford Boase Award, Mitch Johnson. Your story should be between 800 and 1000 words long. All details can be found on the Branford Boase website: http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/HBWC/HBWC/current/henriettabranfo1.html. The closing date for the competition is Friday 26th April 2019. 500 Words
500 Words is back! The BBC 500 Words competition was launched this week. The competition is open to children aged 5-13. Entrants must write an original story of no more than 500 words in length. All information can be found on the 500 Words website - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rfvk1
Mrs Krajewski, Librarian
The Hemel Hempstead School Association
PTA News Free fundraising Link: Please consider registering at: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/hemelhempsteadschoolassociation/ If you use this link for shopping online it enables us to receive free donations for the school and doesn’t cost you anything. Used Uniform for Sale
If you wish to buy any used uniform items, such as blazers, trousers, PE kit, etc., please contact Sarah Tedder directly on: tel: 07493 451101, [email protected] and she will be happy to help. Next Meeting: 12th March 2019 – Summer Fair Planning - the meeting takes place at 7pm in the
School Library. If you are interested in getting involved in this wonderful bi-annual event being held on the 7th July this year, then please come along and join us. Meetings normally last less than an hour; we would love to meet you. HHSA Contacts/New Chair
We are currently transitioning to a new Chair of the HHSA, Louisa Lingwood. Brian Spencer is still a key team member and is working with us to help Louisa settle into this role. Please feel free to contact them both using the details below: Brian Spencer [email protected] Louisa Lingwood [email protected]
Gold Letters issued recently: Letter 107 University Offers Letter 108 Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening Letter 109 February Report Year 7 Letter 110 February Report Year 8 Letter 111 February Report Year 9 Letter 112 February Report Year 10 Letter 113 February Report Year 11 Letter 114 February Report Year 12 Letter 115 February Report Year 13
Flyers attached:
Bovingdon and Flaunden Tennis Club
HHS Summer Fair & Dog Show
DSPL8 Mini Drop-In Consultations
DSPL Workshops 2019
Dyslexia Support Group
Sickness/absence line: Years 7 – 11
Please will all parents contact us daily if your child is sick, going to be late in due to a medical appointment, or is absent for any other reason. Please call our sickness/absence line on 01442 390103 or email [email protected] by 8.30 am if possible.
Sickness/absence line: Years 12 and 13 The
dedicated telephone number for accepting calls/messages concerning absence from school of Sixth Form students is 01442 251732. Please call by
8.30 am if possible. If Sixth Formers arrive at school after registration they must sign in at the Sixth Form Office.
SPORT
FIXTURES Tuesday 5th February Year 11 Netball District Cup Final v Kings Langley @ Longdean 4 pm Year 9 Football County Cup Quarter Final v Ashlyns (A) 4.15pm Wednesday 6th February
Year 7 Basketball v Longdean (A) 4pm Year 7 Netball v Tring (A) 4pm RESULTS
Years 9/10 Football v Longdean lost 3-7 Year 7 Netball (A) v Longdean won 7-2 Year 7 Netball (B) Friendly v Longdean lost 2-10
PE Faculty
SUMMER FAIR &
FUN DOG SHOW
The Hemel Hempstead School
Sunday 7th July 2019
11am to 4pm Fun show classes for all dog breeds &
ages (no pre-booking required)
Craft, Charity, Trade, and Enterprise
stands
BBQ & Licensed Bar
Cake competition
Annual Art & Technology Exhibition
Live stage performances
Face Painting
Zorbing & Bungee Trampoline
Raffle—and much more!!
Entry/Programme £1
Hemel Hempstead School Association with The Greyhound Trust
Bovingdon & Flaunden Tennis Club
SPECIAL OFFER
2 months FREE membership at Bovingdon Tennis Club01 Feb - 31st March 2019
www.bovingdontennisclub.co.uk
Email Rebecca Rose [email protected] if you are interested.
Dacorum DSPL Area 8 are pleased to offer Mini Drop-in Consultations For Parent/Carers
of children with Autism/ADHD
These mini consultations are designed to meet the needs of parent/carers to help them build on existing skills in supporting
children with ADHD/Autism
Please note that these mini consultations are only open to Dacorum parent/carers
Free mini drop-in consultations for parent/carers Facilitated by ADHD/Autism Specialist Coaches from ADD-vance
Date Day Time Venue Area
12.12.18 Wednesday 09:30-11:30 Greenway Primary School Berkhamsted
10.01.19 Thursday 09:30-11:30 Dundale Primary School Tring
11.02.19 Monday 19:00-21:00 Myatt Room, Hobbs Hill Wood Primary School Hemel Hempstead
13.03.19 Wednesday 09:30-11:30 Greenway Primary School Berkhamsted
04.04.19 Thursday 09:30-11:30 Dundale Primary School Tring
13.05.19 Monday 19:00-21:00 Myatt Room, Hobbs Hill Wood Hemel Hempstead
12.06.19 Wednesday 09:30-11:30 Greenway Primary School Berkhamsted
11.07.19 Thursday 09:30-11:30 Dundale Primary School Tring
Who are the mini consultations for? Parent/carers of children and young people up to 18 with a diagnosis, or suspected
diagnosis of ADHD and/or Autism. The mini consultations will be a maximum of 30 minutes
and will offer you the opportunity to discuss a specific issue of concern.
You do not need to bring your child to the consultation
Do I need to book? These are mini drop-in consultations so no booking is required, but they will be run on a
first come first served basis. The sessions will be facilitated by two ADD-vance Specialist
ADHD/Autism Coaches. If there are parent/carers waiting, one Coach will run the one to
one mini consultations and the other will run a group discussion.
Where will the mini consultations take place? Berkhamsted Greenway Primary and Nursery School, Crossways HP4 3NH Tring Dundale Primary School and Nursery, Silk Mill Way HP23 5DJ Hemel Hempstead Myatt Room, Hobbs Hill Wood Primary School, Peascroft Road HP3 8ER Who should I contact with enquiries? Please contact Ashley Fabray on 07525 917125 or [email protected]
Hobbs Hill Wood School, Peascroft Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8ER
Refreshments and resources provided
Please note that these Workshops are only open to Dacorum parent/carers'
Information and bookings: Ashley Fabray, DSPL Dacorum,
[email protected] or 07525 917125
Sarah Ellis Potential
5th February 2019: Managing Anxiety 7-9pm
With an emphasis on separation anxiety: how we recognise and respond positively through
solution focused strategies
12th March 2019: Understanding the needs and experiences of siblings 7-9pm
Practical ideas for giving siblings attention, explaining difficulties and disabilities and
supporting them with their feelings
26th February 2019: Why do they do that? 10-12 noon
Discover what lies beneath behaviour and strategies to prevent confrontation and meltdown
Upcoming Support Group Dates:
11/12/2018 No April Group – Easter holidays
08/01/2019 14/05/2019
12/02/2019 11/06/2019
12/03/2019 09/07/2019
*Please note*
This group is only open to Dacorum Parents/carers.