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MARCH, 2007
1 International Award
2 Quicken Trust
3 Air Conditioning
4 Healthy Schools
5 Car Park
6 Adult Learning
7 Walk to School
8 Vouchers
9 FAQs
10 Staffing
11 Diary Dates
12 Short Courses
13 FOHF News
14 Term Dates

Dear Parents

Thank you to everyone who has supported us this term with your contributions to our Book Week and Science Week.

The £1.50 contributed towards the storyteller, illustrators and Puppeteers’ show. The children had a great week and produced some fantastic work. The dressing-up day went really well – it allowed us to see how talented you all are!

The Scholastic Book Fair raised £1,200 of which 60% went to buying books for the school. Thank you again for your support and donations.

The work produced by the children during the Book and Science Weeks will be displayed in both halls towards the end of term. Please do come in at the beginning of Term 5 to have a look.

1 INTERNATIONAL AWARD
At the end of Term 2 we were awarded the Intermediate Level Award for Developing Internationalism from the British Council. This is in recognition of our work across the curriculum to enrich children’s understanding of different countries and customs. It also recognises our work with other schools, eg, Kabbubu Primary School, Uganda and the development of French in the school. We are one of three schools who have achieved this award in East Sussex, and therefore feel very proud that the hard work of staff has been recognised with this International School Award 2007.

2 THE QUICKEN TRUST
The funds raised at the Christmas events, and the money from the Staff Talent Show was in total £340. This will go to The Quicken Trust who are organising for some pupils from HCC to visit Kabbubu Primary School in Uganda. The pupils will visit us on their return to share their experience with us. Thank you to everyone for your support. The Staff Talent Show did go down VERY WELL!

3 AIR CONDITIONING
The Governing Body approved the installation of air conditioning units into the whole of the upstairs rooms. These will be put in at Easter before the hot summer. I am sure that children, parents and staff will be very happy to hear this news.

4 HEALTHY SCHOOLS
Food Policy – Thank you to the parents who were part of a sample group reviewing the new Food Policy. We were extremely pleased with the response rate and the helpful comments. The policy will need to be approved by the Governing Body next term and will be available on the web-site for you all to read.
Water Bottles – All children are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. It has been shown that drinking water helps their concentration for learning. We have drinking water for them to refill their bottles if necessary.
Lunches – To continue with our ‘healthy eating’ approach, a reminder that all children should have a well balanced meal at lunchtime. We do ask that they do not have sweets as part of their lunch - chocolate biscuits, eg, Penguins are fine. Please use your own judgement on this one.

5 CAR PARK
A reminder that the school car park is for staff use and disabled drivers only. Thank you.

6 ADULT LEARNING – ICT
We sent home a letter informing you of some Adult ICT sessions we have organised with our links with Sussex Downs College. If you did not receive a letter please ask at the office. These are FREE courses.

7 WALK TO SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAYS
The transport secretary would like all schools to become ‘greener’ in getting to school and is encouraging us to look at ways of reducing road congestion and combat climate change. We already have two ‘Walking Bus’ routes that keep up to 14 cars away from ‘the school run’ and many parents and teachers that walk daily, but that still leaves in excess of 200 children travelling to Hawkes Farm each day by car according to a recent class survey. Hence the above plea to see if we could make a real difference for at least one day a week and try to get the majority of staff and children walking, cycling or taking the bus to school every Wednesday. Understandably, some parents live too far away to walk and other need to drop their children off as they travel onto work in their cars. However, could you talk to other parents from your area to ask if you could perhaps share lifts and take each others children to school to minimise the number of cars on the school run? We will monitor this project over the summer term with a class survey to see if we have made any changes and hopefully you will notice fewer cars outside the school gates?

Many thanks to everyone for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions by not taking the car to school. Your grandchildren might thank you one day for your trouble.

Walk to school:
Wednesday, 18th April, 2007
Wednesday, 25th April, 2007
Wednesday, 2nd May, 2007
Wednesday, 9th May, 2007
Wednesday, 16th May, 2007 (also, press coverage of how the scheme is going)

The week commencing 21st May is ‘National Walk to School Week’ so don’t forget:
Wednesday, 23rd May, 2007

This will be a total of six Wednesdays. Please help us by taking park in this survey.

Caroline Wilson – ‘Walking Bus Coordinator’

8 VOUCHERS
We are still collecting the Tescos, Sainsbury’s and Nestle Box tops vouchers. Collection boxes are in the main entrance areas of the school.

9 FAQ
a) When do National Tests take place?
This year the following dates have been set aside for the end of year assessments:
Year 2 – This is based around set tests and teacher assessment – these will take place over a two week period – Tuesday, 8th May – Friday, 18th May, 2007.
Years 3, 4, 5 – Optional SATs this year will take place between 4th – 11th May, 2007. These tests will be externally marked therefore cannot be administered at other times.
Year 6 – National Assessment Week will take place during the week commencing 14th May. These are also externally marked.
Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be tested in English (reading and writing) and Mathematics. Year 6 will also have a Science test.

b) Why do we need to test?
We have two forms of assessment to track the progress of each child - the ‘Formative Assessment’ which is the everyday assessment that goes on and helps the teacher plan their work so that your child is ready for their next stage of learning. The second form of assessment is the ‘Summative Assessment’ which tracks where they have got to at the end of each year. It sums up the learning for the academic year and tracks to see if they are below, on track, or above the National Expectation.
The Summative results are used at the end of Year 6 by the secondary school to plan for your child’s next stage of development. Therefore, it is important that it really does reflect what they are capable of.
Year 2 – National Expectation Level 2
Year 6 – National Expectation Level 4

If you have further FAQs please do send them into the office and I will try and answer then in our monthly newsletters.

10 STAFFING
At the end of this term we will be saying goodbye to Mrs Petra Gent, our Reception Teacher and Foundation Team Leader. She is moving to London. We wish her all the best for the future and thank her for all the hard work she has put in during her time with us.

We have appointed Mrs Paula Symonds to teach the reception class for the summer terms. A new permanent appointment will be made for September, 2007 to be part of the Senior Management Team.

11 DIARY DATES
Mon 19/3 ICT Taster Sessions - 9am
Tue 20/3 Cross Country Festival
Thur 22/3 Years 3 & 4 Performances - 2pm & 6pm
Fri 23/3 Year 6 Newhaven Fort Trip
“ “ Flute Lessons Meeting - 3.15pm
Mon 26/3 ICT Taster Sessions – 9am
Tue 27/3 Mobile Library Visit
Fri 30/3 Last Day of Term 4

Mon 16/4 Term 5 begins
Thur 19/4 Class and Team Photos
Fri 27/4 FoHF Spring Disco
Fri 4/5 Years 3 / 4 / 5 Optional SATS Start

Mon 7/5 May Bank Holiday – School Closed
Tue 8/5 Year 2 National Tests
Mon 14/5 Year 6 National SATS Week
Mon 21/5 5RD Pyke House Residential (2 nights)
Wed 23/5 5GB Pyke House Residential (2 nights)
Fri 25/5 Last Day of Term 5

Mon 4/6 Inset Day
Tue 5/6 Term 6 begins
Fri 8/6 Year 6 PGL Weekend Residential
Mon 11/6 Year 6 PGL Return
“ “ Multicultural Arts Week
Tue 19/6 Infant Sports Afternoon
Thur 21/6 Herstmonceux Cricket Tournament
Tue 26/6 Junior Sports Day
Mon 2/7 New Reception Visit
Tues 3/7 “ “ “ “ “ “
Wed 4/7 “ “ “ “ “ “
“ “ New Reception Parents Meeting - 7pm
Fri 6/7 School Reports sent Home
Wed 18/7 Year 6 Production - 9.30am & 6.30pm
Thur 19/7 “ “ “ “ “ 6.30pm
Wed 25/7 Inset Day
Thur 26/7 End of Term 6

12 SHORT COURSES
Please find attached a course title sheet with a list of FREE short courses that we could run at the school over the next year. If you are interested, please return this form by the end of term.

13 News from FoHF School PTA - March 2007
The barriers have gone and the wildlife area is complete, albeit we are waiting for a few more seeds/saplings to be planted in the bog-garden within the next few weeks. As the weather has warmed up and science week is upon us the school has started to use this newly created inter-active environmental classroom. We hope to have a grand opening when the plants start growing a little more, so watch this space for a date. POLITE NOTICE: You are welcome to use the open area, but please would parents/carers strictly supervise their children when using it before or after school.
Forthcoming Events:
March – Textile recycling – we all need to help the environment and by joining us and sending your unused/unwanted items of clothing, etc (to include shoes, bags and linen), direct to the emerging countries, you will also help to raise funds for our school at the same time. Watch out for the special recycled plastic bag which will be distributed in the book bags next week. We hope to see them returned filled to the brim if you can. As the money we get back is based on weight, the more you fill it, the more cash we will raise for the school! Please note that BAGS CAN ONLY BE RETURNED on the morning of Tuesday 27th March. The sealed bags need to be neatly stacked in the First Aid room (RHS outside the Reception Classes) before 11am on Tuesday only. Around 11am a special collection vehicle will attend on this day only and therefore no late or day before deliveries will be accepted!
April – Friday 27th - A Family Spring Disco with a competition for the best dressed head! This could be a bonnet or even a headdress, so mums, dads and kids, get your thinking caps on! Our event has a fully licensed bar with great raffle prizes. Details will be sent out via book bags nearer to the date.
June – Saturday 16th – The schools annual Summer Fete.
Ongoing Events:
School’s Event Brochure 2007 – If you are self-employed or are involved in a company that would like some good advertising exposure over the forthcoming year and at the same time support the school please get in contact with me for further information. I can be contacted either via the school office or my email address detailed below. First major distribution of the brochure is at the Summer Fete.
Recycling of mobiles and printer cartridges – A big thanks to you all! Keep on bringing in your empty/broken and unwanted items into school and drop them off into the recycling boxes provided at the main entrance. We have already filled one box this year, let’s try for another. Your old stuff recycled is worth pounds to support our school!
Yellow Moon catalogues – purchases can be made at any time up until August. Order from it now or keep it close by for when you might like to have a browse. Up to 25% cash back from the Yellow Moon Company is given towards fundraising at our school! If you have mislaid your copy, there are spares available from the school office.
Thank you for your continued support.
Melanie Izon – Chairperson (melanieizon@aol.com)

14 TERM DATES

February, 2007 to August 2007

Term 4
Monday, 19th Feb to Fri, 30th March, 2007
Spring Holiday – Mon, 2nd April to Fri, 13th April, 2007
Term 5
Mon, 16th April to Fri, 25th May (Mon 7th May, Bank Holiday)
May Holiday – Mon, 28th May to Fri, 1st June, 2007
Term 6 Inset – 4th June & 25th July, 2007
Mon, 4th June to Wed, 25th July, 2007
September 2007 to August 2008

Term 1 Inset – 3rd September, 2007
Mon, 3rd Sept to Fri, 19th Oct, 2007
Autumn Holiday – Mon, 22nd Oct to Fri, 26th Oct, 2007
Term 2 Inset – 20th & 21st December, 2007
Mon, 29th Oct to Fri, 21st Dec, 2007
Christmas Holiday – Mon, 24th Dec to Fri, 4th Jan, 2008
Term 3
Mon, 7th Jan, 2008 to Fri, 15th Feb, 2008
February Holiday – Mon, 18th Feb to Fri, 22nd Feb, 2008
Term 4
Mon, 25th Feb to Fri, 4th April, 2008
Spring Holiday – Mon, 7th April to Fri, 18th April, 2008
Term 5
Mon, 21st April to Fri, 23rd May, 2008 (Mon, 5th May, Bank Holiday)
May Holiday – Mon, 26th May to Fri, 30th May, 2008
Term 6 Inset – 2nd June & 23rd July, 2008
Mon, 2nd June to Wed, 23rd July, 2008