Dear Parents and Carers,

The term is now well underway and there is a buzz of activity in every year group – the children and staff are living out our school value of “a zest for learning and love of life” as the term’s curriculum is in full swing. Do remember to take a look at this term’s topic maps on the website to keep up with the themes that each year group are covering.

One of my favourite parts of each day is meeting with children sent to show me excellent work. It’s great to reflect with the children on the progress that they’re making, as well as to celebrate really high quality work. I love how much the children glow with pride when they’re awarded a headteacher’s award! These special stickers are highly prized across the school and recognise children demonstrating our school values. It’s always so interesting that some love to wear them proudly, ready to be asked about how the sticker was earned and to tell everyone what it represents. Others carefully fix it to their work as a long-lasting memory of a job really well done, inwardly happy that the effort was worth it. However, the group that really fascinate me are those that choose to take their sticker home, still on its backing paper, ready to place it carefully in a special, safe place. I hope that whatever the case, you manage to find a way to celebrate with your child their successes…I suppose some of us like praise that’s given very publicly, whereas others are more private. It’s part of being unique!

Can I quickly remind everyone that snacks in school should be healthy choices. We try to keep litter to a minimum and by choosing just fruit or vegetables for a breaktime or after-school boost, the children get one of their 5-a-day and their teeth stay clean too! It’s also encouraging to see how many of the children’s packed lunches are really healthy. If you’re short of ideas, and school dinners just don’t work for your child, just follow this link for advice on packed lunch ideas. Remember though that we’re a nut-free school.

Today’s the last day to vote for our school to win the Active Surrey sports award). Do quickly vote for us before the competition closes. We’re so determined to continue to prioritise being healthy – just this week we hosted a massive hockey fixture against Barrow Hills School with 48 players from HTPD playing with such skill, determination and great attitude. It was excellent to see the pitch being so well used. I’m excited to soon tell you about how we plan to refurbish the pitch this summer, if we can raise the funds! Watch this space for details of how to support us through a crowd-funding website that’ll be coming soon!

With best wishes, Clare

Thought of the week: “Remain like a child and you will see God,” Mark 10 v15. Are you a pensive person?

WHOLE SCHOOL

2020 Active Surrey Awards
Guildford Borough Council "They won 'Active School Innovation of the Year' at the 2019 Sport Guildford Awards – and now Holy Trinity Pewley Down School are one of three shortlisted for the Active School Innovation Award at the 2020 Active Surrey​ Awards!

You have until 24 January to register your vote, so click here to get involved and vote http://ow.ly/LGr150xTZE2

INFANT

Bedtime Story, Wednesday 12 February, 5.15 to 6.00pm
Children are invited to come back to school in their pyjamas for a bedtime story with their class teacher. (Apologies for the confusion in last week’s newsletter which gave the date as Tuesday 12 February.)

Fluffy Friday, 14 February
Letters with choices for Fluffy Friday activities will be coming home in book bags early next week. This time all year groups will be taking part including Year R.

Year 2 swimming
Thank you to those who have already paid their swimming invoice. Please could outstanding payments be made to the school office as soon as possible.

Found
Has anyone forgotten their Mamas and Papas buggy outside the front of the school near the scooter park? It has been there for several days.

Menu: week 1 beginning Monday 27 January

JUNIOR

Dates for the Diary
Monday 3rd February - Y5 Winchester Science Museum (INTECH)
Monday 10th February - ECO Week & Year 6 Bikeability Group I (Mon - Fri)
Friday 14th February -  Fluffy Friday - Please bring £1
Monday 17th February -  Half Term (Mon - Fri)

Cancelled Clubs
Wednesday 29th January: No hockey for all boys and Y6 girls
Thursday 30th January - No Y5&Y6 football due to a football fixture.

We will do our best not to cancel clubs at the last minute. However, when there is no alternative we will make sure that children's end of day arrangements are clear. Unless we hear from you, the children will be looked after in school.

If your child regularly attends after school clubs it is very important that you read the weekly newsletter and also check your Parent Mail account as we also send out a second message reminding parents that a club is not running.

Menu - Week 2 

HT Sport

All of the children who go to Mary's hockey club after school on a Wednesday have enjoyed playing some matches against Barrow Hills this week. We are arranging a similar fixture this Wednesday 29th Jan v Tormead in which all Y3, Y4 and Y5 girls are invited to play. Invitations will not be emailed out and anyone who wants to play can do so. The matches will finish between 4.15pm and 4.30pm.

To be able to give the children these fantastic opportunities there will be times where regular clubs are cancelled. 

If your children is involved in the Y5 and Y6 Sportshall competition please don't forget that there is a practice after school today, Friday 24th Jan and next Friday 31st January. Please pick up your children from the pitch at 4.15pm.

Cancelled Clubs
Wednesday 29th January: No hockey for all boys and Y6 girls due to Y3, Y4 & Y5 Girls hockey match
Thursday 30th January - No Y5&Y6 football due to a football fixture.

Y5 Netball Tournament at Rydes Hill
Date: Saturday 25th January
Time: 8.30am - 12.45pm
Venue: Rydes Hill, Aldershot Rd, GU2 8BP
Teacher: Laura & Nick

Y3, Y4 & Y5 Girls Hockey v Tormead
Date: Wednesday 29th January
Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm (All girls who go club are invited to play, please remember shin pads and mouth guards!)
Venue: Holy Trinity
Teacher: Mary

Y5 & Y6 Football v Worplesdon
Date: Thursday 30th January
Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Holy Trinity
Teacher: Nick

Y5 High 5 Netball v GHS
Date: Friday 31st January
Time: 3.20pm - 4.30pm
Venue: GHS, London Rd, GU1 1ST
Teacher: JJ

FOPS

One week until the disco!! Feb 1st, doors at 5pm and Boogie Pumps will be doing a warm-up shortly after. Tickets are on sale at reception
£10 for a family,
£4 for an adult,
£2 for a child
Please see Ruth or Jane at reception to purchase these tickets and request your favourite song - there is a limit of 200 tickets for safety reasons. Please also don’t forget to bring your ticket on the day, you will be issued with paper tickets for ease on the night, and we aren’t going to be keeping a list of ticket holders - so you may be asked to pay again.

Bring change as we will have a bar, some light snacks and UV face and body painting! Please feel free to wear bright clothes, and if you can remember to bring your kids drinking bottle then it will help reduce spills and washing up.

We are still short a couple of volunteers, and we really can’t run these events without help. A huge thank you to those already offering time. Please do sign up here if you haven’t already: https://signup.com/login/entry/144578060115

Other dates for the diary:

7th Feb - Pewley Knit will be holding a valentines craft stall after school in the playground, please bring change for buying gifts and crafts.

12th Feb – Bedtime stories 5pm. This is a teacher run event where children can come in for their bedtime stories in their PJs. Parents are welcome to stay in the hall and have a tea or coffee, and we hope to have a second-hand uniform sale there too.

29th Mar - Bake and stroll

Next cake sales:
25th Feb - Chestnut pancake sale
28th Feb - Walnut cake sale
Next coffee mornings:
Yr 1 Friday 31st Jan, hosted by Gini at 30 Pewley Way time tbc
Yr 2 Tuesday 21st Jan at Cafe Nero on North Street (after drop off)

Thanks, Sam and Jo

HTSC

Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting on Monday evening. We have a few things planned for the term (see Reminders below) so please put these dates in your diary. We’ll need some help with these events – we’ll give more detail closer to the time.

Cake Sales
Cake sales are back for this term. Please donate cakes for your year group on the dates below (no nuts please). Your class/year reps will be in contact on your Whatsapp groups for volunteers for helping on the day.

Quiz Night
Our infamous quiz night hosted and compiled by the brilliant partnership of Geraldine (school librarian) and her husband, Michael, will be on Saturday 29th February. This event is for grown-ups only, so start gathering your teams together and brush up on your general knowledge. That thing your saw on Reddit might score you a point! There will be a fully stocked bar and food will be included in the ticket price – more information will follow via Parentmail.

Auction Prizes – March Ball
We are planning a ball for the end of March and we are looking for people to help source auction prizes. If you would like to get involved, please contact helen@thomasday.co.uk. Also, if you have a company or business that could offer a prize or if you could offer your time as a prize (ie. an evening of babysitting), please get in touch.

Outdoor Cinema Equipment
Does anyone have access to equipment that could be used as an outdoor cinema in the Summer term?

Reminder - dates for your diary:
Cake Sale (Year 6) - Friday 31st January
Cake Sale (Year 5) – Friday 7th February
HTSC Quiz Night – Saturday 29th February (school hall) from 7pm
Cake sale (Year 4) – Friday 6th March
Cake Sale (Year 3) – Friday 13th March
March Ball – Saturday 28th March (TBC)
Fun Run – 2nd or 3rd May (TBC)

Summer Fair – Friday 12th June 6-8pm
If you have any questions, please email helen@thomasday.co.uk and I’ll endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can.

Thank you again for all your support - have a happy weekend!
 

Dear Parents and Carers,

I’m sure your children have been telling you about this term’s assembly series; it’s been a lot of fun introducing all the different facets of our weekly programme. At the juniors, the week starts with a hilarious episode of the One Show, and a highlight at the infants is a Friday puppet show which recaps what we’ve been learning. At both sites, there’s a house challenge involving peas – all linked into the theme, each week beginning with a P! Amongst the laughter, there are really poignant moments of reflection, opportunities for prayer and joyful singing. It’s a great way to bring the school together as a community. The term’s series is called “Face to Face” and it revolves around a weekly encounter with a character from the New Testament who met Jesus; each person’s life was transformed. We will be reflecting on how compassionately Jesus treated people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, as well as looking at Bible promises of God’s love. Do take a look at the slide shows linked into the website for more details.

As well as beginning a new assembly series, all the year groups have been excitedly finding out about their term’s new topic. This is always a fascinating time in school – I’ve loved seeing displays appearing with new knowledge being acquired, and it’s great when children come and chat to me about what they’re most looking forward to finding out. The topic webs that year teams have put on the website might come in handy so that you can prompt some good conversations at home and remember to check the JTLYK pages each week for important information.

Before I sign off, can I just remind everyone of the benefits of reading at home. As well as hearing your child read and talking to them about their books, do make sure you carry on reading to your child at bedtime for as long as you can. Even our oldest pupils in Year 6 love to hear a story – we try and fit it in every day at school. At home, as well as being a really relaxing way to end the day and unwind before sleep, bedtime story-reading will help boost vocabulary and inspire creative, imaginative thinking. Have a chat with Geraldine, our librarian, if you’d like some ideas about what to read.

With all this rainy weather, what better way to spend a weekend than being curled up together with a book! Happy reading!

I might see some of you at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday morning (10am) where I’m speaking about the school’s ethos and living life to the full.

With best wishes, Clare

Thought of the week: “Wait on the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desire,” Psalm 37, v4. How can you be more patient?

WHOLE SCHOOL

Vacancy
Harrison Catering is looking for a Catering Assistant to work on the HT site. This is a 20 hour per week role, term time only. Please email Lisa on holy.trinity@harrisoncatering.co.uk if you are interested or see the school website for more information.

Part-time Vacancy
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated After Schools Club Deputy to assist with leading our thriving extended school provision on 2 afternoons (Thursdays and Fridays) between 3.00 and 6.00 pm (6 hours per week) at our Junior Site reporting to the Manager After Schools Club. Ideally we would like a teacher who is looking for a change or new challenge or an experienced Playworker (Level 3 qualified with at least a year’s experience) to plan interesting activities, provide a range of activities daily including outdoor play and opportunities to relax or do homework.

INFANT

Bedtime Story, Tuesday 12 February, 5.15 to 6.00pm
On 12 February children are invited to come back to school in their pyjamas for a bedtime story with their class teacher. While children are listening to their story parents are invited to come to the hall where refreshments will be provided.

Lost
Esme (Chestnut) has lost her entire named PE kit – missing since the end of last term.
Kayla (Oak) has lost her pink, sparkly, unicorn PE bag and all the contents.

Menu: week 3 beginning 20 January

JUNIOR

January Dates for the Diary
Monday 20th - Year 5 Visit to Neasden Temple
Wednesday 22nd - Y3&4 Hockey cancelled

Cancelled/ Clubs
Wednesday 22nd January: No Hockey for all Y3 & Y4 Children
Thursday 23rd January - No Y5&Y6 football due to hockey fixtures at HT

Time changed for Lunchtime
Table Tennis Club on Tuesday for Years 3 & 4 – it will now run from 12:00 – 12:30

House Baking Competition – Wed 22nd Jan Assembly
Calling all bakers! This terms first house competition has been launched. We have challenged the children to come up with a marvelous cup cake ! The children must bring in one cupcake only and points will be awarded for style and taste! No nuts please!

The finest bakers will have their photo put up on our house notice board along with images of their creation!

Payments
This is a general reminder to log in to your child’s www.parentpay.com account and settle any monies owing to the school. To help us with our ‘eco-school’ initiative, it would be great to have your support in reducing paper billing.

These payments are due:
Pupil lunches – All Years
Clubs – All Years
Swimming – Classes 3A & 4N – autumn 2019
Swimming – Classes 3C &4E – spring 2020
Marwell Zoo – Year 3 – autumn 2019
Butser Farm – Year 4 – autumn 2019
Tower of London – Year 5 – autumn 2019
Hindu Temple & Winchester – Year 5 – spring 2020
Wisley – Year 6 – autumn 2019
Bikeability – Year 6 – spring 2020
Brenscombe Farm – Year 5 - Residential
Preston Montford – Year 6 - Residential

We appreciate your assistance in managing your school accounts.

Menu - Week 1 Commencing 20/1/20

HT Sports

We have had a wild and windy start to year, with the weather yet again managing to spoil some of our plans for after school fixtures and clubs.

All year groups have been involved in indoor Sportshall competitions this week and have jumped, thrown and sprinted in this exciting competition. We have taken over 80 children out and although we have more than enough competition t-shirts for everyone, we find that our kit is simply not being returned and some children are having to take part wearing their own PE kit. Please do not hold on to any kit after your child has borrowed it. If in doubt hand it in to the office, or leave it in the large white box labelled 'SCHOOL KIT' by the staff pigeon holes in the staff room.

Y6 Badminton 'Rackets' Festival
Date: Tuesday 21st January
Time: 12.45pm - 2.30pm (we will leave school at 12.20pm) Parents to help with lifts
Venue: Spectrum
Teacher: Paul

Y5 & Y6 Hockey v Barrow Hills
Date: Wednesday 22nd January
Time: 3.00pm - 4.15pm
Venue: Holy Trinity
Teacher: Mary

Y3 & Y4 Hockey v Barrow Hills
Date: Thursday 23rd January
Time: 3.00pm - 4.15pm
Venue: Holy Trinity
Teacher: Mary

On the 22nd and 23rd Jan all children who regularly go to Mary's Wednesday hockey after school club are invited to play in the matches against Barrow Hills at HT. Invitations will not be sent out, Mary has spoken to the children about the matches and they just need to get changed and be ready to play as usual. The matches will finish between 4.15pm and 4.30pm. Please make sure your child brings in with them their mouth guard and shin pads.

FOPS News

It’s only two weeks till the disco (Feb 1st) and tickets will be available from the reception from Monday. When you purchase your ticket you get a chance to request your favourite song. Please don’t forget to bring your ticket on the day.

We will have a bar, some light snacks (crisps, sausage rolls and doughnuts) and UV face and body painting! Please feel free to wear bright clothes, and if you can remember to bring your kids drinking bottle then it will help reduce spills and washing up.

We can’t put on these events without volunteers and your class reps have details of the help we need in order to actually hold this event. If you get match funding from work and volunteer for a bar slot then you may even be able to double the proceeds!

Please note we need at least 8 people to help clear up afterwards.

Also, a quick reminder to use easyfundraising every time you shop online! Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate, so you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. These donations really help us out, so please sign up if you haven’t yet. It’s easy and FREE! You can get started at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/fopd/?utm_campaign=raise-more&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en-n2

Dates for the diary:
1st Feb – School Glow Disco 5-7pm
12th Feb – Bedtime stories 5-7pm
29th Mar - Bake and stroll

Next cake sales:
25th Feb - Chestnut pancake sale
28th Feb - Walnut cake sale

Next coffee morning:
Yr 1 Friday 31st Jan, hosted by Gini at 30 Pewley Way time tbc
Yr 2 Tuesday 21st Jan at Cafe Nero on North Street (after drop off)