Haltwhistle Academy Newsletter

World book day!

We donned our jammies and snuggled up with a book to celebrate World Book day!  A selection of the world book day celebrations across school can be seen below ... for more photographs please see our facebook and instagram sites.  

Jack and the Beanstalk?

When we came back to school on Monday, Bramble class had a big surprise ... There were huge footprints in our classroom! We discussed what could have made the footprints, then we decided to follow the, to see where they led us to. As we walked we measured how big the footprints were and compared them to our own feet. We also counted how many of our footsteps was between each footprint. We followed the prints all the way into the forest, where they stopped at a tree. The tree had an Ivy vine growing up it. The children decided that the footprints must have been from a giant that has come down just like in the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. 

Observational drawings - Spring flowers

Every week in reception class, we have a different focus for our observational drawings.  This week the children have been looking closely at spring flowers. We discussed the season spring and new plant life. The children drew the flowers with oil pastels because the flowers were so beautiful and bright. 

Forest School @ our polytunnel

This week in forest school Bramble class went for an explore and looked at our school poly tunnel. We discussed the wild grass on the hill and what plants we may begin to see here, then walked along to the tunnel. The children learnt about our compost, polytunnel and water tank, in preparation to start growing our own vegetables. 

Good hand hygiene

This week in Science year 2 were learning about the importance of good hygiene. We talked about why it was so important and the different things we can do to make sure we have good hygiene. Then we investigated the best way to wash our hands to make sure the germs were removed. For our germs we used glitter and the children tested washing their hands with just a paper towel, just water and then soap and water. We discovered that the best way to remove most germs was by washing our hands using soap and water. 

Helen Sharman virtual visit!

The children in years 5 and 6 had the honour of speaking to chemist and Britain's first female astronaut Helen Sharnan. Helen Sharman was part of a team of chemists that invented the Mars Ice Cream bar before becoming an astronaut and the first woman on the Mir Space Station. She emphasised the importance of STEM subjects and answered some questions -we even found out how to go to the loo in space! 

Planting in the Early Years Garden

Our nursery children worked really hard in the garden this week planting corn flower seeds in the raised beds and planting up the window boxes with primroses for Percy the Park Keepers Hut.  As the days get warmer we are going to be making full use of our polytunnel for a variety of growing projects. If you have any plant pots of any size, seed trays, watering cans or gardening tools that you no longer need please could we have them. Our children are very keen to get planting as soon as possible. 

Good luck Mrs Hind!

At the end of last half term we wished Mrs Hind good luck as she left us to take up her opportunity if a lifetime, working at a "Top Secret" job!  Good luck Mrs Hind, we are all going to really miss you and we wish you the very best for the future.  

Skills builder at home

Attendance Matters

Every second in school counts, as missing school, whether by being late or taking unnecessary days off, creates more new learning gaps which need to be addressed.  The best way you can support your child to recover from the lost school time of recent years is to ensure they are in school and ready to learn every day. 

We want every child's attendance to be good or better.  This means 96%+

Please check your child's attendance (see our app) against the class and national data.  School staff are able to offer support if your child's attendance is of concern.    

Please do not take your child out of school during term time as it disrupts your child’s learning and you risk financial penalties.   Any term time leave of absence must be applied for more than 2 weeks before the date of leave and can only be authorised by the Headteacher in the case of EXCEPTIONAL circumstances.  Please could we urge parents to book holidays during the 13 weeks of annual school holidays which are available each year.   

If leave has not been authorised and your child is out of school then you may receive a minimum fine of £60 per child, per parent.  If the time out of school makes your child’s attendance drop below 90% then they are known as persistently absent under the governments attendance definitions.  This means that you may face prosecution through the courts.  

Please help us to help your child catch up by ensuring they are in school and ready to learn every day.

Before and After School club bookings

Our school designated safeguarding leads are Susie Drake, Tony Irvine, Michelle Brewster and Bethan Allsop