Issue 1 5th September 2025
Embedded Files
Weekly update
Value of the month: Responsibility
Weekly update
Value of the month: Responsibility
Dear Parents/Carers,
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to the new academic year and also to our first newsletter in this new format! Due to the viewing adaptability of this platform based on the device you are using, we hope it will make it easier to read and scroll through. Also, we can upload more pictures without increasing the length of the newsletter.
This year began with two INSET days and the staff have been working hard on preparing curriculum information which will be shared with parents at the Meet the Teacher meetings during the w/c 15th September (please see dates section). We have completed lots of work on our curriculum over the last year and this year, we plan to share more with you about your children's upcoming learning. Therefore, you will receive a 'Curriculum Overview' for your child's class each half term.
Today, it has been lovely to welcome nearly everyone back through the school gates for a new year and see such a lovely buzz around the school. As with any new academic year, we would like to give a very warm Great Gaddesden welcome to our new children and their families to our school. As you may be aware, in addition to managing our wrap around provision, Mrs Jeffery is taking on the part time role as Early Years Practitioner. We look forward to welcoming our Early Years children next week when our roofing works are complete. Thank you for your support and understanding with this delay.
As you will note further down in the dates section, you will see there are lots of dates in the diary already for this academic year. Please ensure to add these to your diaries.
For our first collective worship, I shared extracts from 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse' by Charlie Mackesy. It is a lovely story with lots of special messages about the importance of kindness, self-belief and asking for help when we need it.
On Monday next week, we will have the annual blessing of the school after drop off. Parents/Carers are welcome to stay for this. Parent Cafe will resume next Friday at the Church after drop off. If you are new to our school, Parent Cafe is usually the first Friday of the month where you are more than welcome to join us for a warm drink, meet other parents and be part of Friday's collective worship.
Have a good weekend.
Kind regards,
Mr M. Beach
Headteacher
Premises Works
Premises Works
As part of our work to continually improve the school environment, over the summer holidays, we have had a lot of premises work taking place. These include:
As part of our work to continually improve the school environment, over the summer holidays, we have had a lot of premises work taking place. These include:
Moving the Interactive Whiteboard Screen in Year 3&4 (to improve visibility from all areas of the classroom)
Replacing lighting in the school offices, Year 1&2 and Year 3&4 with more energy efficient LED lighting
Redecorating the Early Years Classroom and Office areas
Installing new Air Conditioning in Year 5&6 (we are very fortunate to have air conditioning in every classroom!)
New furniture in the library & redesigning the layout of the Year 3&4 classroom. Next week Year 3&4 have new cloakroom storage arriving
We have also had some roofing maintenance work
A big thank you to FOGGS for their contribution towards these projects.
Pupil Leadership Team 25-26
Pupil Leadership Team 25-26
Change Team
Change Team
Year 1&2 - Eve & Thomas
Year 3&4 - Carter & Bea
Year 5&6 - Theo & Ophelia
Reflection Ambassadors
Reflection Ambassadors
Joey & Amorie
Digital Leaders
Digital Leaders
Liam & Grayson
Play Leaders
Play Leaders
Ella G, Grace, Jess & Rian
Well-being Ambassadors
Well-being Ambassadors
Lowri & Harley
Eco Ambassadors
Eco Ambassadors
Year 1&2 - Emma & Esmae
Year 3&4 - Elinor & Pippa
Year 5&6 - Julie & Guney
Communication
Communication
Getting in touch with us:
Getting in touch with us:
Our school office is open 8:30-3:30pm Monday to Friday (during term time). The office email and contact number is provided at the end of the newsletter.
Please refer to the following information regarding how we will respond to enquires:
Dinners, clubs and wrap around bookings/payments are managed by Mrs Curtis (Office Administrator) who works in the school office Tuesday-Thursday.
Absences to please be sent through to Mrs Redman (Pastoral Support Lead) via absence@greatgaddesden.herts.sch.uk
General queries will be passed onto the relevant member of staff. Please allow at least 24 hours during the school week for us to respond.
Safeguarding concerns will be passed onto the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) /Headteacher (Mr Beach). In his absence, they will be passed onto either Mrs Redman or Mrs Lilley (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads). If you have any immediate concerns about a child's safety, please contact Children's Services on 03001234043 or the Police 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
SEND, Pastoral & Medical related queries will be responded by a member of the Inclusion and Pastoral Team. Please note, Mrs Aikman, our SENDCo, works Monday & Tuesday's fortnightly. Mrs Redman, our Pastoral Support Lead, works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday's.
Queries relating to financial management including invoices and contracts will be passed onto Mr Beirne (Finance Manager) who works on a Monday.
Getting in touch with you
Getting in touch with you
We send out emails, in-app messages and occasionally text messages through Arbor
All letters are sent out via email
Mr Beach sends out a weekly newsletter/update
To ensure you receive all communications, please login to the Arbor Parent Portal to ensure your details are correct
We must have at least two emergency contacts for us to reach during the school day
Other communications
Each class has a parent Whatsapp Group
Whilst the school does not manage these groups, as they are related to school, we politely ask that all parents adhere to the Parent Whatsapp Group Code of Conduct on our website: https://www.greatgaddesden.herts.sch.uk/web/policies_and_agreements/297235
If a parent from Early Years would like to nominate themselves to set up a whatsapp group and generate a link to join, we can share this with the Early Years parents if they would like to join.
Twitter/X & Facebook
Our social media pages can be accessed by clicking the relevant buttons at the bottom of the newsletter
Key Dates
Key Dates
September
September
8th Annual Blessing of the School (after drop off)
12th Parent Cafe @Church (First Friday of the month from October onwards)
15th Y3/4 Parent Welcome and General Information Meeting 3-3:30pm
16th Y1/2 Parent Welcome and General Information Meeting 3-3:30pm
17th EYFS Parent Welcome and General Information Meeting 3-3:30pm
18th UKS2 Parent Welcome and General Information Meeting 3-3:30pm
26th Macmillan Coffee Morning 9-10am
October
October
Black History Month
20th Parents Evening 3:30-5:30pm
23rd Parents Evening 3:30-5:30pm
23rd Harvest Service 2:15-3:15pm
24th Last day of half term
Half term w.c 27th
November
November
4th Individual photos
7th Grandparents afternoon
11th Remembrance Service 10:45-11:15am
December
December
10th Pantomime @Grove Theatre, Dunstable AM
17th Early Years Nativity 9:00am (school hall)/ KS1 Nativity 2:15pm (Church)
18th Carols by Candlelight @St John's Church 4:00-5:00pm (Whole school to attend)
19th Christingle 1pm & end of term @1:30pm
w.c 22nd & 29th Christmas holidays
January
January
5th INSET day
6th All pupils return (Spring term begins)
15th Interfaith Day
February
February
w.c 9th Children’s Mental Health Week
13th Last day of Spring 1
w.c 16th Half Term
23rd Spring 2 Begins
March
March
2nd Parents Evening 3:30-5:30pm
5th Parents Evening 3:30-5:30pm
25th Easter Service 2:00pm-3:00pm
26th Egg rolling
26th Open Afternoon 2:30pm onwards
27th End of Spring term (1:30pm finish)
w.c 30th Easter Holidays
April
April
w.c 6th Easter Holidays (continued)
13th INSET day
14th Summer Term Begins
May
May
w.c 11th Y6 SATs Week
20th Group Photos
22nd End of Summer 1
w.c 25th Half term
June
June
1st INSET day
2nd Summer 2 begins
w.c 8th Year 4 Multiplication Check & Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
w.c 8th Our Small Church School Week
21st St John the Baptist Patronal Festival & Summer Fete
23rd 3:00-4:00pm Our Small Church School Week Exhibition
w.c 29th Health & Fitness Week
July
July
2nd Sports Day (12pm onwards)
16th End of Year Reports sent home
17th Y6 Leavers Trip to Chessington
22nd Leavers Service 9am
22nd Last Day of Term (1:30pm finish)
23rd Occasional Day
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