It's been so lovely having all our wonderful children and fantastic staff back with us this week! We really hope you all had a good rest and are feeling refreshed and ready for what's shaping up to be a truly exciting summer term ahead. 

This week marked an exciting development as our school launched Universal Breakfast programme! All children have the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious breakfast at school, free of charge. We believe that providing a healthy start to the day is crucial for the well-being and learning of our children, helping them to focus better in class and be ready to engage with their learning. 

On Tuesday, we proudly joined the global community in observing World Earth Day, underscoring our commitment to the environment. A key part of this was a Trust-wide initiative where we turned off all non-essential power for one hour, providing a tangible learning experience about energy conservation and our planet's resources. Mid-week, we took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate St. George's Day, learning about the significance of England's patron saint. Year 4 embarked on an immersive learning journey with a fascinating Maya workshop, linked to the curriculum and bringing the ancient Maya civilisation to life through hands-on activities and exploration. 

In the realm of sports, our school teams demonstrated great enthusiasm and teamwork, with our netball team competing against St Albans in a spirited match, and our basketball team travelling to Cheam Common Juniors for an away game, showcasing their skills and dedication. 

As we look forward to next week, we have another exciting week planned: our Year 5 will be venturing into the great outdoors to start their Forest School sessions. Additionally, 3L will be taking their first steps into the pool as they begin their swimming lessons. For our Year 4 parents, there will be an essential Parent Meeting to discuss the details of the upcoming trip to Sayers Croft, and crucial information regarding the Multiplication Check that Year 4 students will be undertaking will also be shared. 

We hope everyone enjoys a restful weekend and look forward to another productive week ahead.

Year 6 PTA cake sale - 25th April 

Year 5 Forest School starts - 28th April 

Teacher led clubs start - 28th April 

Reception Health Screening - 28th April 

3L Swimming lesson - 28th April 

Y4 Sayers Croft parent meeting - 29th April 

May Bank Holiday - 5th May 

Rail safety assembly - 6th May 

VE Day (wear red, white, blue)- 8th May

4P Family Assembly - 8th May 

Mental Health Awareness Week - 12th May 

Reception Bocketts Farm - 14th May

Emotional Well being Fayre Hall - 15th May 

PTA Colour Run - 17th May 

Walk to School Week - 19th May 

2P Family assembly - 21st May 

Year 3 Feet First - 21st May 

Diversity Day - 21st May 

National Numeracy Day - 21st May

Car Free Day - 23rd May 

Half term  26th May - 30th May 

Emotional Wellbeing Fayre 

VE Day 

We are so excited to be marking VE Day at school on Thursday 8th May, and sharing this special occasion with our school community. This year is particularly significant as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the original VE Day.

To make the day extra special, we are inviting children to come to school dressed in red, white, and blue clothing as mufti. This is a lovely way for them to celebrate our nation and represent the colours of the British flag. 

We will be also raising money for Help for Heroes, if you would like to contribute, you can donate by clicking here. 

Throughout the day, we have planned a range of engaging and meaningful activities to help the children remember and celebrate VE Day. These include learning about the day's history, looking at a slideshow of photos, singing songs, making bunting, and enjoying other immersive experiences.  

We will be coming together as a school at lunchtime to sing a song that the children have been practicing in their singing assemblies. We will sing outside, and then everyone will enjoy a packed lunch, either from the school kitchen (please remember to order via Arbor) or their own.

We are also delighted to share that we have invited some of our elderly residents from a local care home to join our celebration. Some children will have the opportunity to chat with them and share this special day together, which we know will be a truly enriching experience for all.

We are looking forward to a joyful and memorable day.

EYFS Toilet Training

These downloadable posters and handouts aim to help parents with toilet training and help educators prepare children for using the toilet when they get to school. Produced by the Foundation Years with support of the Department for Education.

Resources include:

• A child checklist for using the toilet
  
  

• A handout for parents

Free online workshops for parents and carers

At Surrey Family Learning, our wide range of workshops and courses are tailored to help you raise resilient children who love learning. Courses this month include:

1. Have you just found out your child’s school? Our new one-week workshop “Starting School: Navigating Anxiety and Expectations for Parents with Gina Skourti will help you prepare for your child's transition to school with strategies that ease anxiety and set healthy expectations. Thursday 1 May 2025 (19:30–21:30)
   
   

2. Supporting Your Teenager with Maria Finch
   Three-week course starting Thursday 1 May (12:30–14:30). Learn techniques to guide and support your teenager through their complex developmental years.

3. Build Your Child’s Resilience. Four-week online course with Melanie Hepper.
   Wednesday 30 April (19:30–21:30). This course explores ways parents can use positive approaches to build resilience in children.

4. Laura Merrick is offering a range of one-week workshops including:
   
   Helping Your Child Develop Positive Bedtime Routines - Tuesday 27 May
   Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Child - Tuesday 20 May
   Developing Positive Friendships - Tuesday 13 May
   Exploring Behaviour Strategies - Thursday 24 April
   Plus three-week Managing Anxiety in Children starting Thursday 8 May 2025

5. Cook along at home with Coral. First course starts on Tuesday 13 May - Tortillas and Fajitas on a Budget (16:00–17:30) Engage in a fun, food-filled workshop where you'll learn budget-friendly recipes to enjoy with the whole family!

See the full range of courses here. Its easy to enrol with a few simple clicks on the website.

Celebrating achievements 

If your child has celebrated a sporting achievement and you would like them to be included in the newsletter, please let us know by completing this form. There is an option to attach photos/certificates if you would like but this is optional. 

We have updated the Amazon Wishlist with books that we would like to have in each class for storytime. You may view the list of items by following this link. Once purchased, these items will be delivered directly to school and opened with the children – what a great treat! 

If you would like to purchase a Wishlist present and gift a book to the school, please follow the link, add to your basket and buy. Please deliver directly to the school using the school address Hurst Park Primary School, 438 Hurst Road, West Molesey, KT8 1QS indicating year group.   

Thank you so much for all your support and generosity.  

Hurst Park Primary Academy is looking for volunteers to enhance children's learning. Volunteers are highly valued and appreciated by children and staff. In the past, volunteers have helped children with reading and maintaining the Library. Volunteers must complete a comprehensive induction programme, including a DBS check, and adhere to our Safeguarding procedures. Volunteering hours are flexible.  If you are interested in making a difference, please complete the Volunteer Registration form  to apply. Please note that volunteers will not be placed in their child's class.

Pennie (1P), Jack (3L) and Izzy (6B)

144 Club 

This week's sign is Summer. 

Year 2 

Year 2 have just started their new topic in Geography: What is it like to live by the coast? We labelled the capital cities in the UK by singing one of our favourite capital city songs! We also used an atlas to locate and label the oceans and seas surrounding the UK. We cannot wait to find out more next week!

Earth Day 

Tuesday began with a special assembly, where the focus was on the importance of renewable energy. Following the assembly, we participated in a "Power Hour" from 1pm to 2pm. During this time, all technology was switched off, and we monitored our energy usage using the SIMBLE device. The Sports Crew also ran a fantastic obstacle course during Power Hour, with each class enjoying their allocated 10-minute slot. 

Year 4

Year 4 had a fantastic introduction to their Summer Term history topic: the Maya civilization! Showing themselves to be open-minded and curious, the children were captivated learning about the impressive Mayan pyramids and the fascinating world of their gods. They even discovered that beauty was once associated with being cross-eyed! Demonstrating their creative spirit, a highlight for many was learning the secrets of how the Maya made chocolate. The children got motivated, forming pictures with their bodies, and even offered a playful prayer to the Mayan goddess of chocolate. It was a truly engaging start to what promises to be a delicious and insightful term!

Sporting Fixtures 

On Friday the KS2 boys cricket team smashed their hardball net session with Surrey Cricket . Solid practice with batting, bowling, and using the full kit — building skills and confidence ahead of next week’s competition. 

Our Year 5s stepped up to the crease for their first Chance to Shine cricket session with Surrey Cricket. Fantastic teamwork, great batting, and some lightning fielding -what a way to start!