15th March 2024

Dear Parents

We are thrilled to share the success of our biannual 'Red Nose Day' event organised by Mrs Curnow and the 'Children's Council'. The children had a fantastic time participating in various activities throughout the day, thanks to everyone's enthusiasm and support.

We are grateful for the generous donations made through Parentpay, which have already helped us raise an impressive total of £181. If you haven't had a chance to contribute yet, it's not too late! You can still make a voluntary £1 donation via Parentpay by Monday, 15th March 2024. Every penny counts towards supporting both local and international charities through Comic Relief.

Stay tuned for the final amount raised, which will be announced in next week's newsletter. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful cause and for your continued support.

Scholars Education Trust Music Event

On Tuesday evening, Harpenden Academy took part in the Trust Musical event at ‘The Grove’ Theatre in Dunstable.  This was a brilliant evening of song, music and dance.  All schools from our newest, Buntingford First School, to our more established secondaries took part.

The best part of the evening was of course our little Harpenden Choir – but then I am biased.  Mrs Moss and the children performed their song 'Lean on Me' and 'This is Me' really well.  We were all very proud of them.

Events like this are moments in time – seeing the children’s wide eyes as they step onto the stage to perform in front of an auditorium seating 750 is not a moment to forget.

What none of us had bargained for was however, Mylo (Year 6) telling jokes from the balcony to the seated audience in-between scene changes.  We loved it Mylo! I was at a meeting the next day and the joke had been told to all the headteachers' respective families the next morning!

Our musicians also played in the primary orchestra which is a combination of primary aged children from Harpenden Academy, Samuel Ryder Academy and Priory Academy.  This, along with the primary choir, a mix of all primary schools is a terrific experience for our children.  They not only perform but get inspired by the capabilities of the older children. 

I am excited to see next years when we have two more secondary schools and two more primary schools taking part.

Bikeability

Next week Year 6 will be taking part in the 'Bikeability' programme in preparation for their move to Year 7.  This is again, a rite of passage, as it indicates our Year 6 children will not be with us much longer. This does mean that the bike shed area next week will be fairly busy so if you regularly use this be aware it might be a bit of a squash and a squeeze.

Parking and Safety

Last half term Mrs Curnow held a sustainability parent meeting which discussed our Travel Plan and our work on the park and stride initiative. We are again encouraging parents to make use of the park and stride initiative where you can park for free in the Bowers Way East or West car park during the stated time periods. If you do not already have a permit, please speak to a member of the office team. I also urge parents to be vigilant and report any unsafe parking to the school (with photographic evidence if possible).

Harpenden Young Artists celebrate Skatepark Competition Win

As a follow up from last week, the Playpark Action Rothamsted Committee has asked us to publish their article to share some further information about the competition, the winners and the feedback from the Deputy Mayor of Harpenden, Pip Liver. We congratulated Genevieve on her wonderful skateboard design and for winning the 7 years and under category. 

Please click here to read the full article.

Voices in a Million

Mrs. Moss, accompanied by our parent volunteers, will be taking a large group of KS2 children to 'Voices in a Million' at Wembley on Wednesday, 20th March 2024. This day is always brimming with excitement, fun, and cheerful noise. The children thoroughly enjoy the event, as weeks of practising songs culminate in this special occasion within such a grand venue. Stay tuned for plenty of photos in the upcoming newsletter. We wish them a fantastic and memorable day ahead.

The Return of Mark from Hands on Science

Mark will be joining us next Friday 22^nd March with a day of science activities, to educate and delight.  Please make sure Year 6 parents that you sign for permission for your child to take part in their activity via the Edulink form.

Easter Service, Thursday 28th March 2024

As we mentioned last week, we will be celebrating the end of the Spring term with an Easter service at St Nicholas' church. Please can we remind parents to complete the Edulink form to let school know if you, as a parent, will be attending the Easter service and collecting your child from the church at 11.30am or if your child will return to school for collection at 12 noon as normal. 

Reminder: school finishes at 12 noon on this Thursday, 28th March 2024. 

Teacher and Contractor Clubs

On Monday, we sent an email to all parents with our contractor and teacher clubs for the Summer Term 2024. In this email, we highlighted that the club Edulink booking system opens at 5.00pm today, Friday 15th March. The club logo will not show up on your Edulink wheel until this time. Please log on to the booking system to sign up to the teacher clubs. You will need to contact the contractors directly to sign up to their clubs and their flyers can be found on the club page of our school website.

The full timetable of clubs can be found on our school website. 

All clubs will start on the second week we return to school after Easter, on w/c Monday 22nd April 2024 and finish on 8th July 2024.  

Easter Holiday Cheer Camp at Harpenden Academy

Sophie has been into school to run some very successful cheer lessons and she is starting up her own Monday morning Cheer class in the school term from 7.45am-8.25am.  Please see the above link to access the link to sign up to these classes.

In addition, Sophie will be running an Easter holiday 'Cheer camp.'  If you would like to register for this day camp on 10th April then please sign up using this registration e-form. 

Happy birthday this week to: Gurfateh (Yr4)

FoHA Chair Position

We are looking for a parent or two parents to chair or co-chair Friends of Harpenden Academy. We are in great need urgently to fill this position. We know that there are many parents who would want to participate and we would love to welcome you into our friendly committee to plan fundraising events for our wonderful school.

Please consider emailing FoHA at friendsofharpendenacademy@gmail.com to talk through the possibility even if you're hesitant! 

2024 Harpenden Easter Egg Hunt

Join us on Good Friday for the renowned Harpenden Easter Egg Hunt - hosted by the Friends of Harpenden Academy. The hunt is suitable for children of all ages with tickets at £5 per child including an Easter egg prize, free kids activities provided by Fizzbug & Little City St Albans and of course, an appearance from the Easter Bunny! Also on the day: face painting, glitter tattoos, food, bar operated by Platform Wines and much more!

Buy tickets here: https://www.foha.co.uk/fohashop/p/easter-egg-hunt

Do you have a company that sells baked goods or do you know someone that does? Would you/they be available to be a stallholder at the Easter Egg Hunt? We are looking for one or more businesses to come and sell some delicious treats between 11am-4pm (for a small stall fee of £25). If you are interested, or would like to find out more, please pass on your details to us via the class reps or email us on friendsofharpendenacademy@gmail.com

Please click here to view our Harpenden Academy vacancies

TEACHING ASSISTANT, Fixed Term Contract, Up to 30 hrs per week, Term Time only, Salary- H3 £16,300 per annum (dependant on basic weekly hours)

Wrap Around Care Assistant, Term Time Only – Casual Contract, Breakfast Club: Monday - Friday, 7.00-8.30, After School Club: Monday – Thursday, 15.00-18.30 & Friday 15.00 – 17.15, Hourly Rate: £7.49 to £11.13 + Holiday Pay

Please click here to view our Scholars' Education Trust vacancies

Summer Term Girls’ Football - For girls in Reception and year 1 and school years 4 - 6 - Saturday mornings at Roundwood Park School

We are running a girls' only Football Group for girls in Reception and Year 1 and school years 4 - 6 over the Summer term. This is part of our usual Saturday coaching programme for boys and girls at Roundwood Park School. The Groups are open to girls of all ability levels.

Reception and Year 1 -  9 -10am.  

School years 4 - 6 -  10 - 11am.  

We play on the grass behind the tennis courts and have a team of Coaches, all of whom are PE teachers at local schools.

For further information, please email – info@kingssoccerschool.com