Headteachers Message

Dear Parents and Friends of Castle Hill,

Another truly hectic period of activity, but highly productive! Thank you for your ongoing support; the children have started the academic year in style, looking very smart and working hard. We know they are more than ready for a holiday after eight weeks of focus.

One of the lovely things we take from our New Parent Induction Meetings is seeing generation upon generation coming through the Castle Hill family, with many of them working with us in the future. We hope you have a lovely half-term and enjoy this newsletter.

Warmest regards,

Ms Willmouth, Mr Martin, and the CHPS Team

• New Autumn/Winter Menu - Starting after October half term, Chartwells will be offering a new menu. To find out what delicious meals they have available to order, including Hunter's Chicken, Cheeseburger, Beany Pasta Bake and Paninis, visit https://www.castlehillprimary.net/finance/school-meals

• Bonfire Menu Change - On Thursday 5th November, Chartwells have created a bonfire-themed menu (see below).  This change is just for this day and can be ordered via Arbor as normal.

• Lunchtime Supervisor Vacancy @ Rooksdown - please use this link to find out more and complete the application form: Lunchtime Supervisor

• Greenbank Christmas Fayre Letters 🎄- please find below links to the Greenbank Christmas Fayre letter and the Year 6 Fayre Support Letter:

  • 1. • GB Christmas Fayre - Whole School Greenbank Letters

       • GB Year 6 Fayre Support Letter - Year Group Letters

• Cycling/Scooting - We strongly encourage our pupils to walk/cycle or scoot to school when possible; however, please ask parents to remind their children not to ride bikes and scooters on the pavements around school or on the school grounds. Unfortunately, we have received numerous complaints about some pupils' speed and recklessness, and we would hate to see these actions cause an accident. Thank you.

• Year of Reading - 'Reading Beneath the Stars'. Please see the poster below for information on how to get involved with this reading adventure during October half term.

• Consent for Vaccinations - All children are eligible for the Annual Flu Vaccination Programme, which will be administered on Tuesday 17th November at both sites. All parents must complete an online consent form before the school vaccination session (whether you opt in or opt out). The deadline is 9:00 am on Friday 13th November. Please complete this consent form via the link, ensuring you select the correct 'school code' for the site your child attends (see below): https://www.hiowhealthcareimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/Flu or scan the QR code on the posters below. The school cannot complete the form on anyone's behalf, and if you have more than 1 child attending the school, you will need to complete a consent form for each child. For more information, read the Annual Flu parent letter here.

  • 1. • Greenbank school code - SH116005G

       • Rooksdown school code - SH116005

• Reindeer Run 2026 - This year, Castle Hill Primary School is delighted to participate in the annual Reindeer Run in support of St. Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire). To help raise vital funds for their ongoing work, we will host festive running activities on school grounds during school hours on Friday 11th December 2026, alongside our furry friends. Our PE Lead, Miss Bagshaw, will coordinate this. Pupils are also welcome to extend their involvement by completing additional miles at home or with family outside of school hours.  St. Michael's Hospice provides invaluable care and support to individuals and families in our local area and holds a special place in the hearts of our school community. If you would like to support our fundraising efforts, you can donate online via the link below. Please note that whilst all contributions are greatly appreciated, donations are entirely voluntary and are not required for children to take part in the event.  Thank you in advance for your continued generosity and encouragement.

What has Been happening in School?

Greenbank Autumn Disco

The Autumn Disco was a huge success, raising an incredible £986.09 profit! All these funds will be utilised within the school and to help set up future events. Here is what a few of our pupils thought:

• "I liked the teddy stall, and I got a planet and a rocket glitter tattoo. The snacks were great!" - Aiden

• "I liked using my money to buy snacks, the Haribo were the best" - Eva

• "The music was good, especially when we did the dance-off" - Ravza

• "There was an amazing dance-off, lots of good food and music. Everyone was dancing and having so much fun. The DJ was amazing our very own Mr P, I loved everything about it. It was loud and crazy! Everyone was doing crazy dance moves, and some were so talented. The glitter tattoos (which took 5 showers to come off) were so cool. Mr P played some banging conga music on his bongos. We had the best time, especially when everyone was screaming the lyrics of 'Midnight Sun'!" - Tillie & Noah

Thank you to all the staff who helped this event happen and make so many children happy 🙂

'When Tess Face-timed' Year 6 - Greenbank

"Year 6 sat patiently ready to listen to Tess's story (Kacie's Nan) about her experience during WW2. When Tess answered the video call, everyone's hands shot up in excitement to hear her tremendously good answers. Everyone was eager to know about the history behind an evacuee child. Tess was delighted to see the enthusiastic faces with joy and pleasure. She answered everyone's great questions with amazing details and plenty of information after an eye opening and interesting conversation. We deeply thanked Tess and said goodbye to such an amazing lady." - written by Kacie and Oscar

Attendance

Attendance Updates

Thank you for working with us to improve attendance at Castle Hill Primary this year. Our overall attendance is 95% (nationally, 94%). Our persistent absences (pupils below 90%, equivalent to missing half a day a week) are down to 10% (versus 16% nationally). 

Our pupils with good attendance are making good progress throughout the school, and we look forward to seeing them attend every day in the new term. Thank you again for sending your pupils regularly to school so we can teach and develop them into better learners and future citizens.

Our target for this year is 96% or over; last year’s attendance was 95.23%. 

Our current percentage is 96.16%.

The classes with the best attendance this half term are:

Rooksdown

KS1 – Year R Mrs Henderson = 97.57%

KS2 – Year 5 Miss Scarr = 97.35%

Greenbank

Year 4 - Miss Munday = 98.24%

Here is a useful link to the NHS website, which might help you decide if your child is too ill for school - 

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Sports Reports & Team Photos

Greenbank Tag Rugby

Last Friday, Castle Hill hosted the season's first Tag Rugby league fixtures. Kempshott, Bishopswood and Ecchinswell joined our two Castle Hill teams for an exciting afternoon of sport. Our children were absolutely fantastic, playing with exuberant energy and enthusiasm. I was particularly happy with the teamwork and sportsmanship they demonstrated throughout the matches. 

Both the 'Red' and the 'Green' teams won all three of their matches. Well done to all of our fantastic players!

Castle Hill Red team: Ben, Rosie, Kacie, Nana, Ravza, Jeremy, Sambhav, Oscar, Autumn and Thea

Castle Hill Green team: Tillie, Chloe, Mikayla, Myla, Thomas, Rowan, Joe, Jenson and George

Trips & Workshops

We have been planning exciting trips and workshops across all year groups this academic year. These trips complement and reinforce learning on key curriculum topics. We know many families are facing financial challenges, so we have set an annual contribution maximum of £40 per child and, where possible, kept it lower. 

We calculate trip amounts based on the assumption that every child participates and contributes to help us raise sufficient funds. Please note that the school may cancel or postpone the trip or workshop if we don't receive enough voluntary contributions. 

We hope this helps with your financial planning. We are looking forward to some exciting experiences. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. 

Year 6 Residential Trip - Pupil Reports

"At the start of the September term, year 6 went to Stubbington. It is a residential for a week with school. You get to learn but the staff somehow made it fun! My favourite activity was when we got a gnome (a small one), named it, put it in a butter box and hid it. Everyone had an amazing time!"  - Ava P

"In September we went to Stubbington it was incredible and all the staff were lovely. Having had this opportunity, we would all love to go again!" - Autumn P-L

"Year 6 had a special opportunity to spend a week in Stubbington. We were really proud of ourselves for taking a huge step up in spending a week away from our family. We did Earthquake, Scavengers and we collaborated on things we don't usually do. We had a great time, thank you Stubbington." - Mimi

"The food was good and the beds were really comfy." - Zach

"Stubbington was really good! I enjoyed it a lot." - Doina

"Here is my point of view from our school trip to Stubbington. Where do I start? Stubbington was filled with laughs, smiles and a few tears! My dorm was filled with positivity, happiness and an entire lot more! My roomies were caring and so so helpful. The first night was difficult, but the other nights you're in a deep sleep quicker than a blink of an eye. The activities were so fun and heartfelt, earthquake was the BEST - but we can't tell you much about that one yet: the staff members, Greenbank and teachers you were extraordinary! The food was soooo so so good. There wouldn't be a meal where there is nothing you like....promise. From a full english breakfast to chocolate filled donuts - DELISH! Also, all the animal themed houses are unique and cool. There will be tricky days, others not. I would be happy to do this trip a million times over and over again and never get bored. This is an amazing experience, it is so so so so so so so so much fun!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Milo

Year 6 Dance Workshop

On Wednesday, Year 6 had a very exciting day.  We got to dress up as evacuees from the Second World War and took part in a World War Two dance workshop.  We had a special visitor come in, whose name was Sarah.  She taught us a variety of fun and exciting dance moves from the Lindy hop dance.  We also got to make up our own moves and finishing pose, such as swings, cross over kicks, piggy backs and balances.  We all loved it so much and say a bit thank you to Sarah.

"Today was World War 2 day. Year 6 had a dance workshop relating to the 1940s, and it was very fun because there were dances including jazz and partner dancing with lots of skills! We also made our own Anderson shelters made out of cardboard, straw and tape. They all ended up brilliant! WW2 was a great day." - Hasan

Year 5 Space Dome

Year 5 had an out-of-this-world experience this week when Chloe visited us with her incredible mobile Space Dome!

Stepping inside the dome felt like stepping straight into outer space. Chloe took the children on a brilliant journey through the solar system, where they compared the sizes of different planets - seeing firsthand just how huge Jupiter is compared to Earth!

The children were completely hooked from start to finish, firing off fantastic questions and soaking up all kinds of amazing space facts. It was a wonderful hands-on way to bring their science learning to life.

Year 4 Roman Day

Year 4 had a fantastic time stepping back in time when Marcus, a visitor straight from the Roman Era, spent the day with us!

He brought history to life by taking the children on an incredible journey through time. We began by learning all about the dramatic invasion of Britannia and what life was like for the Roman army - including the discipline, tactics and heavy armour required of a Roman soldier.

The children then explored the fascinating daily rituals of Roman life, from social customs and relaxation in the Roman baths to trying traditional Roman games, including Roman tic-tac-toe and Delta (a maths game). To top off an extraordinary day, Marcus took us into the arena to demonstrate how gladiators trained and fought in the famous Colosseum.

It was an engaging, action-packed day that brought our history topic to life and truly solidified the children's understanding of the Roman Era.

Year 3 Trip to Farleigh Wallop

Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic day at Farleigh Wallop, taking part in six hands‑on countryside activities across the estate. The children learnt how the estate is managed and explored a wide range of outdoor experiences that linked beautifully to our classroom learning.

We began by discussing the importance of the birds that live on the estate and created our own apple bird feeders to help support them. With the National Gamekeepers’ Society, the children examined and identified different types of animal poo - a surprisingly popular activity that sparked lots of curiosity and conversation!

The classes then learnt about the cows living on the estate and how they are kept safe. A real highlight was the chance to try milking a cow, which the children approached with great enthusiasm. In the woodland area, we explored the estate’s tree‑planting plan and discovered how counting the rings on a tree stump can reveal its age. The children also made clay pots to take home as a special reminder of their day.

We finished by learning about different countryside pathways and who can use them, then ended with a lively relay‑style matching game. The setting was beautiful, and we were very lucky to enjoy dry weather throughout.

The children behaved brilliantly, asked thoughtful questions, and engaged fully with every activity. It was a wonderful day of outdoor learning, and we are incredibly proud of them.

In other News.....

Fundraising Friends NEWS!

eSafety

With major high-profile gaming titles—including new releases in the Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto franchises—receiving significant promotion online and on television, we want to share an important reminder regarding video game safety for primary school children.

While gaming can be fun and engaging, games rated PEGI 18 (or ESRB Mature) are designed exclusively for adults. They contain graphic violence, foul language, adult content, and unmoderated live voice chats with strangers. Exposure to these elements can be distressing, lead to sleep disruptions, or cause desensitisation to aggressive language and behaviour in primary-aged pupils.

We strongly advise that primary school pupils do not play or watch gameplay of PEGI 18 rated titles like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto.

Key Action Steps for Parents

• Check the PEGI Rating: Age ratings reflect the content suitability of a game, not its difficulty level. Look for the PEGI badge on physical packaging or online game stores before allowing a download.

• Enable Parental Controls: Every modern gaming platform (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and tablets) features built-in parental controls. Using these tools allows you to:

  • Block games above a selected age rating (e.g., restrict access to games rated 12+ or 18+).

  • Turn off or limit online chat functions with strangers.

  • Disable or password-protect in-game purchases.

  • Set screen-time limits.

• Keep Devices in Family Areas: Position gaming consoles and computers in shared living spaces rather than bedrooms. This makes it easier to monitor what your child is playing, seeing, and hearing.

• Talk Openly About Gaming: Keep an open dialogue with your child about why age restrictions exist, similar to movie ratings, and encourage them to come to you if they see anything online that makes them uncomfortable.

Helpful Resources

For free, step-by-step guides on setting up parental controls on specific consoles, phones, or tablets, you can visit:

• Internet Matters: internetmatters.org/parental-controls

• NSPCC & O2 Online Safety: nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety

• PEGI Rating Authority: pegi.info

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in keeping our school community safe and protected both online and off.

Last year, we joined the London Grid for Learning and can now offer new resources to support your children's online safety at home.

Many resources are available and updated year-round. 

Some highlights include:

• Gen AI: The Harms Landscape - a prerecorded webinar about new generative AI tools 

• Online Tutoring Guidance - information about finding a tutor and how to ensure they act safely

• Safe Settings for Devices - information for different types of devices and how you can keep children safe using them

• Screentime Guidance - information about how to regulate children's time online

BusyTHINGS RESOURCES

Last year, we introduced several year groups to the fantastic website BusyThings, which we now have access to. If your child would like to access BusyThings during the holidays, they can use the details below. At present, we use a shared login system, but we will move to named accounts later in the year for Key Stage 2 pupils (Years 3 and up).

Holiday Camps / Clubs

• ACE Kids October Half Term camp - 10% discount code AMHols10 is for ALL children and is valid for all ACE Kids sites (see poster below).

• MAGNA October Half Term camp - HAF offers are available for eligible families over half term. For more information, visit: Holiday Camp details

• GOL! October Half Term camp - See poster below for more information or visit Musical Theatre Workshop

• Free indoor tennis in Basingstoke this winter - When the clocks go back, most tennis stops. Ours doesn't. Basingstoke Indoor Tennis Centre in War Memorial Park is warm, dry and open all winter. Free Open Days at Basingstoke Indoor Tennis Centre on Saturday 24 October, Saturday 21 November and Saturday 5 December, 1pm to 3pm. Taster sessions for children aged 4+ and adults.
  To book a visit: https://basingstoketennis.org.uk/TennisOpportunities

• Gymnastics Club - Next term's bookings are open! We’re delighted to welcome Active School back to Greenbank for another half term of gymnastics. The club runs on Tuesdays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm and gives children the chance to develop their gymnastics skills, strength, coordination, and confidence while having plenty of fun along the way. Book here: https://activeschool.classforkids.io

Our School

Reading Picnic