18th November newsletter and information
18th November 2022
Good Afternoon,
Please find attached this weeks newsletter, HSCA Christmas Fair Information and Wilder School blog and dwonloads.
Christmas Fair information
The HSCA Christmas Fair 2022 is on Saturday 3rd December, 11am to 3pm, across both Hook Infants and Hook Juniors school sites – FREE entry and open to all!
We have been very busy planning lots of fun… including games, crafts, bouncy castle, marketplace, children’s secret shopping room, mulled wine, hot food, live entertainment, 2nd hand uniform sale, our magical Santa’s Grotto and a fantastic raffle with prizes totalling more than £1,000! Thank you to so many local businesses who are supporting this raffle.
We have some amazing raffle prizes…
1st - ghd oracle professional versatile curler from Hooked on Hair (RRP £189)
2nd - £100 Christmas Hamper
3rd - Afternoon Tea for two at Tylney Hall
4th - Offthehookfest 2023 family ticket
Plus Aphrodite voucher, afternoon tea, Diverse fitness, Millers Ark family pass, Pathfinder Cafe vouchers, Penny Metcalf mindfulness sessions and many more!
Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance online, and at the fair. This year we are also selling a limited number of Grotto tickets online. Grotto tickets are just £4.50 per child, which gains access to the Grotto waiting room (think fun activity sheets, letters to Santa & Christmas movie), before each family is called to the Grotto for their visit with Santa. Each child also receives a special gift from Santa.
Both raffle & grotto tickets go on sale on Saturday 18th November at 9am, simply go to www.pta-events.co.uk/hsca
As always, we will need wonderful volunteers to help run the event, so if you love Christmas and want to spread some Christmas cheer there are lots of different roles you can do to get involved, children are also welcome to help. Please go to www.pta-events/co.uk/HSCA to sign up - you’ll get a free drink & mince pie to say thanks!
Finally, don’t forget Friday 2nd December is a non-uniform day, in exchange for a donation for the school tombolas (chocolate for Infants or a bottle for Juniors)
We look forward to seeing you at the fair, Merry Christmas!
The HSCA Events Team
Wilder School blog and new downloads
We have received new resources from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to share with you, as well as new entries on our Wilder School Blog. Download the resources below and visit our Wild Things page for more downloadable ideas and projects for you to get closer to wildlife at home or on local walks.
Kind regards
It was lovely to see all the children in their spotty clothes and Pudsey ears today. Thank you to Turtle Class for their assembly reminding us all about children who are less fortunate than us.
School donations and requests at this time of year can feel overwhelming. As a school community we also appreciate times are changing and are harder than ever, we are trying to accommodate all circumstances. As an example the poppy collection was available in the school office but not taken around classes so as not to add to purchasing pressure. This year we did not sell Pudsey things, we held a non uniform with a cash collection in a class pot for only those families that feel able. No minimum charge is made, and our wish is that nobody needs to feel pressurised into donating to any particular charity pot.
The non uniform for the HSCA Christmas fair has been changed from Jolly Socks to a chocolate donation, and again please, this is only if you are able.
To assist, we provide performance tickets to families who we are aware may not be able to pay and for those that have spoken to school in confidence.
It is lovely to see some childrens’ costumes come into school, we do hope that some costumes can be swapped within the village but again we do have some “spare” to make sure that no child is left out.
If you would like any help financially we are also able to help with grant funding for some things including, but not limited to, trips ( year R and year 2 are staying in school so there are not any transporting costs) as well as one off help with heating and food and essentials.
Please do call or pop into the school we can help and all discussions are in confidence on an individual basis.
Christmas Performance Tickets are available via your Parentmail app.
2 tickets per child are available at a cost of £5 for the pair. This money is put towards paying for licences we have to purchase in order to put the plays on.
Please note that no other children are permitted in any of these performances. You may need to do a “playground swap” of your tickets if you need one adult to come to each different performance.
Diary Dates - updates will be marked in a different colour
02/12/22 Non-uniform day in exchange for some Christmas Chocolate please.
For example, chocolate santas, chocolate boxes, chocolate coins
03/12/22 HSCA Christmas Fair - more details to follow
06/12/22 Starfish and Dolphin Christmas performance in the hall 9.15am
Seahorse and Turtle Christmas performance in the hall 2pm
07/12/22 Bumblebee and Dragonfly performance
08/11/22 Seahorse and Turtle Christmas performance in the hall 9.15am
Starfish and Dolphin Christmas performance in the hall 2pm
08/12/22 Christmas Jumper Day (instead of school jumper or cardigan) Collection for Save the Children
09/12/22 Ladybird and Butterfly performance
14/12/22 Year 2 Carols at St Johns Church 9.30am and 2pm
15/12/22 School Christmas parties - more details to follow
16/12/22 End of term. School closes at 1.15pm after lunch
03/01/23 INSET DAY - School Closed to children
04/01/23 Children return to school for Spring Term
Class Assembly rota:
Friday 25th November - Seahorse Class
The school office can be contacted by phone between 8am and 3.30pm on 01256 764487. Leave a message if we don’t answer as we may be helping another family on the other line.
Alternatively, you can email the school office so your questions can be directed to the correct member of staff via office@hook-inf.hants.sch.uk (this is monitored during school hours).
If you would like to speak to your child’s class teacher please let the office know and your child’s class teacher will arrange a telephone call or appointment to see you. Appointments can be made at 2.45pm from Monday to Thursday.
Please take care in and around the school site if you are dropping off and picking up using your car. Please do not get distracted by phones and messages. It only takes a moment to miss that small person crossing the road or chatting to a friend.
We are also asking for you to check your child’s viewing online and gaming content. Please check that they are age appropriate and suitable for your child. There are age restrictions / guidelines on many games and programs to assist you in making those decisions as a parent / carer.
Safeguarding your children is our priority. Please contact the schools Designated Safeguarding Leads, either Mrs M Walker (Headteacher), Mrs L Hannan (Deputy Headteacher) or Mr P West with any concerns. Further Safeguarding information and support can be found via www.NSPCC.org.uk or Childline 0800 1111
Any concerns may also be raised directly with Hampshire County Council Children’s services phone line (anonymously if you wish) by calling 0300 555 1384. Keeping our children safe is everyone’s responsibility.