Sebastian's Action Trust Update

Sebastian's Action Trust Proudly Opens The Bluebells
In spite of the untimely rain more than 250 guests celebrated the official opening of The Bluebells on Tuesday 5th July in the Hampshire village of North Waltham. It has taken seven years to finally realise former Hall Grove pupil Sebastian Gates' last wish, launched just twelve days before he died on Christmas Eve 2003 following a long battle with cancer. We were delighted to welcome many Hall Grove families and staff from past and present to this occasion, giving them a chance to see the purpose- built holiday house that has been designed exclusively for seriously ill children and their families to enjoy precious time together. The Bluebells is the first of its kind in the UK; it will give 100 families each year the chance to have a holiday and a further 500 the opportunity to utilise its extensive leisure facilities on single day visits. The Bluebells is already much in demand; the first families arrive on the 10th July and it is fully booked until the end of October with countless applications still to process, which gives some indication of the huge demand from all over the UK for the measure of support this unique facility will offer.
We are truly indebted to the many pupils, families and staff from Hall Grove who, over the past seven and a half years, have so generously supported the actions of the Trust. Your support has played an enormous part in helping to turn Sebastian's vision into reality and we hope you will all share in the pride we feel in helping to make the lives of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions a little more bearable. We will be holding an Open Day at The Bluebells in September (provisionally the 17th) to which you are all most welcome and we hope you will take this opportunity to see what you have helped to

achieve. 

2012 Ski Trip

Start thinking now about the school trip to Saas Fee in Switzerland early in January (provisional dates: 2nd - 8th January 2012). It is an economic way to give a child a fantastic Alpine experience. This is aimed at boys and girls in Years 5 to 8 though exceptionally we take younger children. It is enjoyable for all levels of ability including beginners, and is perfectly suited to Hall Grove pupils. The cost will be in the region of £950 and will include five hours of tuition a day. If you would like your child to join the trip, please contact Mr Tullett (i.tullett@hallgrove.co.uk). Further details will be available next term. 

News Headlines

Congratulations

Congratulations to Mrs Smith (Year 4 teacher) and her husband on the birth of their son, Rupert, and to Mr and Mrs Lewis (Years 8 and 7 teachers) on the birth of their daughter, Annabel.

National Prep Schools Athletics Champion

Congratulations to Lianne Lafreniere (Year 8) for winning the 800m at the National Prep Schools Athletics Finals in Birmingham on Monday 4th July. Not only did Lianne win, but she also beat her own Personal Best and set a new record time of 2:20:43.

New Staff Appointments

Mrs Louise Salmond Smith - Director of Music. Mrs Salmond Smith (MBA Educ, Keele University, PG QTS, University of Gloucester, MMus, University of Hull, BA Hons Music, University of East Anglia) joins us from Brant Broughton CE Primary School in Lincolnshire where she was a class teacher, subject leader for Literacy and ECAW co-ordinator and tutor. Mrs Salmond Smith has been a professional soloist (recorder) for fourteen years. She has also been a member of many choirs, currently singing with Voces Petrensium (ex Peterhouse, Cambridge), and has extensive experience of conducting.

Miss Katie Hitchcox - Year 1 Teacher. Miss Hitchcox (BA Hons in Primary Education with QTA from University College, Northampton) joins us having spent five years at The British International School of Hong Kong where she has been a class teacher and heavily involved in extra-curricular sports activities. She has coached football and netball teams to victory in several tournaments.

Mrs Natalie Carmichael - part-time Girls' Games. Mrs Carmichael joins the Sports Department to assist Mrs Lomas and Mrs Maxfield. She is a qualified netball coach and Regional Welfare Officer for England Netball South Region.

Miss Katherine Black - part-time Reception Teaching Assistant. Miss Black (BA Hons in Primary Teaching Early Years with QTS from the University of the West of England) joins us for one day a week. She is also a qualified Chiltern Nanny.

School Uniform

Winter uniform is to be worn from the start of next term. If it is warm weather children will be advised not to wear ties or pullovers. Uniform must be smart in appearance at all times and please be aware that you will be asked to replace items if this is not the case. All school uniform and kit must be clearly named.

TASC

After School Care (TASC) will operate for pupils in Reception to Year 5 from the first day of term, running from 1510 to 1730. Children must first be registered, after which TASC sessions can be booked, in advance, through the School Office. TASC registration forms are enclosed for all new children and are available at the School Office if current parents have not previously registered their children and now wish to do so. Please note that TASC is only available to those who are registered.

After School Clubs

After School Clubs information for the Autumn Term will be sent out via email at the beginning of next term. Clubs will run from Monday 19th September until Friday 9th December, inclusive. Club times are 1530 to 1630 for Reception to Year 2, 1630 to 1730 for Years 3 to 5 and 1700 to 1800 for Years 6 to 8. Upper School Judo on Fridays will continue to be from 1730 to 1830.

Judo Club

Judo Club information from ProCoach Judo will be sent out via email at the beginning of next term. Please return the completed joining slips to the School Office.

Weekly Newsletters

From September, we will send out the weekly newsletter by email to all parents via the ClarionCall service rather than it being printed and sent home in envelopes with the children. Any additional documents or letters will also be attached to the newsletter email. A few copies of the most current newsletters will be held in the School Office for collection should you require a paper copy. In addition, on Fridays, that week's newsletter will be posted on the school website home page.

Reports and Invoices

Reports and invoices are enclosed with this newsletter. We ask that bills are settled promptly, and no later than Tuesday 6th September please.

Medical Information Sheets

Enclosed with this newsletter are yellow Medical Information sheets for all new pupils which should be completed and sent in to the School Office by the first day of term. We would ask all parents, new and current, to remember to inform the School Office promptly of any changes to their contact numbers or the medical needs of their children. It is most important that we hold correct information on every pupil.

Pupil Information Forms

Please find enclosed Pupil Information forms for all new pupils which we would ask you to complete and send in to the School Office by the first day of term.

Autumn Term 2011 School Calendar

A provisional copy of the calendar is available on the school website. The finalised printed copy will be sent home at the beginning of next term. Please note the weekend commitments. Parents are reminded that all boys and girls are expected to be available for whole year group training sessions and weekend matches if they are regular team players.

Battisborough Field Trips

Please note the dates for the Year 7 and Year 8 trips to Devon early in the term. The Year 7 Battisborough trip will be from Monday 12th September to Friday 16th September. Year 8 are having a short additional Geography field trip to Battisborough from Saturday 17th September (departing in the afternoon) to Tuesday 20th September.

Senior School Fair
Once again we will hold the popular Senior Schools Transfer Evening for Years 4, 5 and 6 parents (though others are also welcome). A number of senior school representatives will attend. We aim to showcase the diversity and quality of senior schools, day and boarding, with whom we maintain close contact. Details, including the date and time, to follow next term.
Sports Team Information
After teams have been selected, team sheets are posted on the fixtures noticeboard under the archway. The sheets for Wednesday and Thursday fixtures will be put up by the end of the school day on Mondays/Tuesdays and Saturday fixture information will be available from the end of the school day on Thursdays. Team sheets also include departure times for weekend matches. Parents are welcome to attend all matches to support their children. Team sheets can be found on the school website the day before the fixture. The School Calendar informs you of forthcoming fixtures for the term ahead. Please be aware that Year 3 matches are listed as U8, Year 4 as U9, Year 5 as U10, Year 6 as U11 or Colts and Years 7 and 8 as U12 and U13 or 1st - 4th teams. For all U8 and U9 football matches every Year 3 and Year 4 boy will play.
Sports Travel Policy - Away Matches
Please note that, whenever possible, we like players to travel with their teams to and from away fixtures. We are aware that there may be occasions when a parent would wish to take their child directly home after the match. We would ask that, for weekday matches, prior permission is obtained from the School Office. If there are timetable commitments at school following the match the players must return with their teams.
Mouthguards
Mouthguards are a requirement for all children in Years 3 to 8. Please find enclosed with this newsletter information from OPRO, the dental organisation that specialises in mouthguards, who will be visiting the school on Tuesday 20th September and Tuesday 27th September for mouthguard fittings.
Music Lessons
Parents keen for their children to start individual music lessons should email or write to the Director of Music, Mrs Salmond Smith (l.salmondsmith@hallgrove.co.uk) from 1st September. She will be delighted to advise and arrange lessons for any pupils wishing to take advantage of this opportunity. If parents have queries on this, or wish to explore the possibility of their children learning other instruments, please contact Mrs Salmond Smith. 

News Headlines

The weather would seem to be set fair for a fine day tomorrow and we are all very much looking forward to Sports Day. The children have been practising hard and we are sure that they will all give of their best. The school grounds and classrooms are open for inspection and we hope that visitors will take the time to have a full tour before they leave. The DT room by the tennis courts and the new Pottery in the Coach House are well worth seeing, and we also recommend a walk past Pony Grove to see the new outdoor learning area which is being developed in the woods (though do take care not to disrupt any of the projects there).

We are very fortunate to have a leading public figure to open our new building. The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, has kindly agreed to be our Guest of Honour. The opening is at 1200 (details below). The building currently has a fine art display with a painting from every child in the school. Our thanks and congratulations to Mrs Lavery for organising the exhibition.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow and hope you all have a lovely day.

Golf News

Zac Jenkins (Year 6) and Xavier Schwarz (Year 5) competed in the MPS Golf Championships at Millfield School on Tuesday. The competition comprised sixty boys and girls from nine different schools in three age categories (U13, U12, U11). Zac, winner of last year's U11 trophy, posted the best score of the day with forty-six points to become the overall winner of the championship. Xavier scored forty points, the second highest total, taking home the U11 trophy. Both boys are to be warmly congratulated on their very good golf.

Fantastic Maths Resource (Reception - Key Stage 2)

http://www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm?launch=3562#maths-year3numstrategy

A fantastic website with lots of maths based games. Suitable for Reception all the way through to Key Stage 2.

Headmaster's Blog

This week's Common Entrance results were very pleasing, and all of our 27 candidates with definite place offers have now had them confirmed with some good grades. Well done everyone!

We are confident that the camp to be run by Sports Xtra will prove to be very popular. Plans are coming on well now and a leaflet and booking form will be circulated next week. The school will act as a guarantor of funds in order to provide parents with additional protection. Anyone who lost deposit money to Elite is asked to contact us, in writing, with a statement of the loss so we can use our influence to see there is a re-imbursement.

Headmaster's Blog

This has been a busy week with school exams and Common Entrance. We have been pleased with the way the children settled and we are hopeful for some good results. Now the boys and girls of Year 8 can enjoy a programme of outings and activities that will keep them going until the end of term.

Our new building is nearing completion and will be formally opened on Sports Day when it will house a large art display that is being organised by the Art Department. Sports Day will also be an opportunity for us to showcase the classrooms and activity areas, and there will be music and a dance display. All the timings will be published next week.

Thank goodness for the rain! The fields and gardens were in need of a good soaking and over 40 mm has now fallen over the last week with more promised for the weekend.

We are very pleased to have been introduced by a Hall Grove parent to Sports Xtra, a multi-activity sports organisation who run sports-related activity holidays and training camps for school children. Alison Black, the Regional Director, will be known to those who train at Woking Hockey Club. We are negotiating a special programme for Hall Grove families which will run from Monday 18th July to Friday 5th August at Hall Grove. For those parents who were relying on the camp to have been organised by Elite for the following weeks in August, there are several alternative options in the local area. More details will follow.

Parents are reminded that Sports Day is on Saturday 25th June. All the children are expected to attend and their families are invited to come and support. The Pre-Prep races will run before lunch. The Middle and Upper School have races both in the morning and in the afternoon. Families are encouraged to picnic in the grounds, there are lunch time displays and activities. Further details and timings will go out in the newsletter next week.

As you are no doubt aware, 'Groove at the Grove' is back by popular demand, and this year will take place on Saturday 2nd July. For those of you who have not been before, this is a really fun, family 'picnic and concert' event, held at school, which is highly recommended. With masses of Hall Grove families attending, it's a great opportunity socialise, bring a picnic and relax whilst the children have fun with their friends. You can come along with your picnic chairs/blanket although sometimes it's fun to join forces with friends, pitch a gazebo and bring a joint picnic. Failing that, there will be a Domino's Pizza van on site selling pizza by the slice. The music line up for this year is Glee/High School Musical, Tom Jones and Fake That, so it promises to be another fun night with lots of opportunities for the children to dance and for you to totally embarrass yourself after one Pimm's too many! Remember this event is also open to friends and families outside Hall Grove, so why not get a crowd together for the evening? You can purchase tickets online by following the link from the school website (www.hallgrove.co.uk).