Weekly Newsletter 7th October 2022
Dear Parents,
As I mentioned last week, I have been in Edinburgh since Tuesday attending the joint IAPS and HMC Heads’ Conference with the theme of ‘Enlightened Education’. The theme recognises the part that Edinburgh played at the forefront of the 18th and early 19th centuries in bringing together the thinkers and scientists of the time. The week has enabled the Heads of many of the UK’s and some international independent schools and today colleagues from the state sector, to ponder, discuss and explore topics prominent in our educational environments and to prepare for what the future may bring.
The conference began with Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, discussing establishing the right culture in an organisation. This should allow for measured risk taking in terms of developing an initiative from the initial idea stage to fruition and knowing when to change direction if trials don’t initially go to plan. Since then, we have been enlightened on topics such as sustainability in schools, the purpose of education, ‘Education Around the World and Learning Across the Nations’, ‘Seize the Day’, ‘The Time is Now’ and ‘Equality and Progress’.
The conference has also presented me with the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Napier University which is on the site of the Craiglockhart War Hospital where some of Wilfred Owen’s (1893-1918) and Siegfried Sassoon’s (1886-1967) greatest war poetry was inspired and written as they underwent treatment for shell shock. The small museum was fascinating. I have also squeezed in a visit to the Scottish Parliament and dinner at Edinburgh Castle and the National Museum of Scotland as part of the conference experience.
I will be looking forward to getting back to Barrow Hills and catching up with how the week has gone and sharing my experience with colleagues. It sounds as if it has been another busy few days, with a special drama workshop for Years 7 and 8, matches on Wednesday and Thursday, Year 4’s trip to the Winchester Science museum, parent consultations, open morning and this morning’s assembly from 7G.
It was quite windy up here yesterday so I am hoping that it will calm down before my flight back to Southampton this afternoon!
Best wishes for the weekend,
Philip Oldroyd
Head
Pre-Prep
Pre-PrepDear Parents
It has been a funny old week, with downpours meaning the children made full use of wet weather gear for playtimes and forest school and the next minute we were outside in full sunshine! I was so impressed with how sensible the children were during our power cut Wednesday morning; Mrs Beddington saved our assembly with the piano and a super Harvest action song. The fire alarms were then triggered with the return of electricity – all useful practice!
Year 2 are trialling buddy badges in the playground this week; I have had good feedback from the children so far. Our Pre-Prep Heads of House have been appointed: Jamie and Millie for Willow, Elodie and Rollo for Oak House and Willa and Eesa for Maple House. Our first House event will be the pumpkin carving competition after half term.
Today, I have sent home the Duke Awards booklets. If you would like your child to do this and didn’t sign up, you can contact Junior Duke Awards directly and be sent the booklet.
Thank you so much for your kind and generous generations for the Godalming Community Store for our Harvest Appeal.
An important reminder for Year 2: please remember to bring in a pair of headphones for the CAT tests on Thursday.
Next week, we are looking forward to a fire engine visit to Early Years. We have open classroom from 8.15am on Wednesday before Assembly at 8.50am and would love to see you!
Have a lovely weekend
Mrs Rachel E Harris
Head of Pre-Prep
Weekly News
Awards
Safer Food Essentials – Level 1
Ottilie (7R), Dulsie (7R), Izzy (7G)
CHRISTMAS PUDS! Don’t forget to place your order for these delicious Christmas puds. All details found in your Portal. Orders must be placed before half term.
Can you help?
I just wanted to say hello as the new Chair of the BHCC. For those of you that don’t know me I have Kit in Year 4 and Beau in Reception so will be around at both sides of the school. Please feel free to stop and chat if you would like to help out or find out more information or email ljibrown@outlook.com.
Further information about the BHCC is available here.
Lauren
Cake Sales
14th October 2022: Nursery, Kindy and Year 8
9th December 2022: Reception and Year 5
10th February 2023: Year 1 and Year 6
17th March 2023: Year 2 and Year 3
26th May 2023: Year 4 and Year 7
Bacon Butties
On this sunny autumnal morning, you raised £269.85, thank you!
Class Reps 2022-23
Nursery: Sarah Dickinson
Kindy: Jacqui Roycroft
Reception: Alex Jenkin, Charlotte Reynolds
Year 1: Rebecca Reed, Alex Muir Wood,
Year 2: Beth Atakan, Maddy Chenery
Year 3: Julianne French, Laura Steele
Year 4: Simone Green, Gabrielle Shaw
Year 5: Rosemary Cresswell, Emmah Klein
Year 6: Jenny Dunlop, Becky Foxall
Year 7: Anthony & Lisa Tugwell, Lucy Barbour
Year 8: Liz Hughes, Marja van Ravenstein
If you shop online, please sign up to easyfundraising to support Barrow Hills School. Easyfundraising turns your everyday online shopping into free donations for your favourite cause.
It’s a really easy way to raise money for us – you just use the easyfundraising site to shop online with more than 3,500 well known online stores. Please visit our easyfundraising page here and click ‘support us’.
School Notices
Pumpkins for Parkinson’s
The Thompson family will be selling ‘Pumpkins for Parkinson’s’ on Friday 14th October – lots of different shapes and sizes, and all donations will be in aid of Parkinson’s UK. The pumpkin stall will be by the Arch – next to the cake sale.
Uniform Reminder
Please could we kindly remind you about the following school uniform:
Hair accessories, including scrunchies, should be either burgundy or blue
Any hair that is below the shoulder should be completely tied back
Hair should not be dyed
Children should not have coloured braids in their hair
All earrings should be small plain studs.
Thank you for your support in enforcing that the children arrive to school in the correct uniform.
Bacon Butty Stall
We kindly ask that children do not bring food and hot drinks in to school buildings that have been purchased on Friday morning from the Bacon Butty stall. The food tends to be dropped along corridors and in classrooms and the hot drinks are a concern when being carried around the school – particularly to younger children. Thank you.
Primary Times – latest edition is found here.
Food and Drink in Chapel
We kindly ask that you do not bring food or drink into Chapel, thank you.
Cancellation of Fixtures
If fixtures are cancelled due to adverse weather, please be assured that we will notify you as soon as we are aware of the change.
Term Dates
Term dates can be found on the school website https://www.barrowhills.org/news-events/term-dates/
Absence Request Form
This Absence Request Form must be completed for any reason that a child is not in school, other than illness. These are also found on the Parent Portal. Thank you.
Portal
Please can we remind you that the majority of the communications are sent via the parent portal on a Tuesday. Communications will vary for each child dependent on a variety of factors e.g. class, gender, sets. The Prep team sheet can be changed at any time therefore we encourage you to check the portal on a regular basis.
Posters Below
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