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
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
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.
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.
