Huge Congratulations to Luke Danby in Year 4 Who Followed up His U9
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So we have another IAPS medallist in our midst! Huge congratulations to Luke Danby in Year 4 who followed up his U9 victory in the Thomas Trophy at Sevenoaks last Friday with a third place in yesterday’s prestigious, and hotly contested, cross country competition. Special mention too to Iona Day who finished a laudable 7th in her race. Luke, Iona and the rest of the school’s runners, have had a flying start to the running season with the girls’ team securing a well deserved second place at Sevenoaks. It’s wonderful to see the blue and pink of Hazelwood making its way, so often, onto the winners’ rostrum. At the weekend, the U10 football teams added further to the most fabulous sporting start to the season with victory and runners up position in the St Michael’s tournament. Both sides battled hard, survived penalty shoot outs and came up against tough opposition. The A’s were rewarded with the tournament trophy with the B’s coming away with the runners up medals in the Plate competition. We couldn’t be prouder. And judging by the support being given by the Hazelwood children lining the run into the finish line, neither could their fellow class and school mates. This sense of pride is true too of all the children who pull together as a team to represent the school on every match day throughout the year. For those for whom sport is a passion, this comes easy. For those who are more comfortable in other leisure pursuits, it is much more of an ask. However our results and touchline reports demonstrate that every one of our pupils give it their best shot. Come rain or shine, on the hockey, rugby, football or rounders pitches we are there to give of our best, in the most sporting of spirits, most eyes firmly fixed on the prize. I was delighted to hear the cheers on Tuesday afternoon rebound from the top court into my office as the U8 B hockey team won their match against Reigate St Marys. I cannot speak highly enough of the Colts D team who, under Mr Walton’s watchful eye remain unbeaten for a second consecutive season. And I share the swimming squad’s frustration at being beaten by Caterham mid week by just one single point. The sporting talent at Hazelwood runs deep which bodes well for the future of the school’s trophy cabinet! After waiting for the rain to subside, the new courts are now finished and they look very smart and bright. You will remember that as part of the school’s Masterplan, new outside courts were identified by the Sports Department and the Governors as a priority in order to provide additional training spaces for our growing pupil numbers. Well, less than twelve Please remember to get Carol Service replies back by Friday 23rd October. Many thanks. months after that decision was ratified by the Board, we have them and children have already been making good use of them. I trust that when you are next on site you will find time to pause and admire them, looking beyond the areas around them which are yet to be landscaped, but rather imagining the next captain of England’s Ladies Hockey Team being coached by Mrs Hardgrave and her team on their glistening surface. The school has come a long way since the sports pitches inhabited the area in front of the Willow Building which is now our much talked about and beleaguered car park. Talking of which, it is time for the talking to end and for action to begin! Thank you to all those parents who have shown patience with pick up and who have emailed in their helpful suggestions (some of which appear in Car Park Corner further down the Nutshell) as to what we can do to improve the flow of traffic, particularly in the afternoons. Your feedback has been most useful and has helped formulate further strings to our car park bow. Namely: More accurate return times for mach days will be given which will allow changing times when they arrive at school. Please take note of these times on team sheets. Staff will endeavour to have siblings standing together at pick-ups. This should speed things up. Please can you reinforce this with your children. We are looking into another shuttle bus from a car park local to the school. Once confirmed, please consider signing up for it. So far the feedback from the two new runs has been 100% positive. We are going to enforce the left hand turn out of the car park in the mornings and encourage you to consider it at evening pick-up. Mr Cartwright will be standing there from Monday so please do not mow him down! Please do not park to the left of the exit. This causes all sorts of problems. From experience drawn from other school settings, we are asking parents who make use of the afternoon drive through pick up to have an A5 piece of card with their child’s name written on it, clearly displayed in the windscreen. This will help staff who do not know whose car is whose, to get the pupils more quickly to you. And finally, we have been told by Schoolblazer that all out of stock items have been shipped to their patiently waiting customers – just in time for Friday’s Open Morning. This means that from Monday all children should be in the new style kit so we shall be beginning a Uniform Check to make sure that all old-style uniform is a thing of the past. Letters will be sent home asking for any outstanding and offending garments to be replaced over the half term holiday. Thank you for the support you have shown to the school in complying with this request; the children are most definitely looking smarter and more uniform on school and match days. For a list of emails/letters/texts sent home each week please see the ‘Notice Board’ further down the Nutshell. News from The Nursery This week there has been a hive of activity across the site. The children have been busily engaged in a whole host of activities and we even had a tiger come to tea! I’m very glad he didn’t eat all the jam tarts as they really were very delicious. Wrens have been busy experimenting with gloop and shredded paper and thoroughly enjoyed getting messy. The Wagtails continued this messy theme experimenting with shaving foam and cloud dough. Robins have begun to find their singing voices and participated whole heartedly in the galloping to William Tell’s overture. James even spontaneously said that ‘it was horses’ on first hearing the music. A real WOW moment! Swimming in Skylarks has been a real success. The children have all settled well to lessons. I have been most impressed by their listening skills and willingness to ‘have a go’. Even those who were a little unsure at first have faced their fears and are now moving in the water with a smile. Watch this space as catching them early there is no telling how well they may do in the future. The site has also had some further improvements with the repainting of the lines in the car park and a very eye-catching paint job in the Paterson Hall. All staff have been asked to park on the top car park which should leave the spaces outside Wagtails and Robins’ gate free for pick up and drop off. In addition, we have re-sited the bins to create further parking spaces. We hope this will ease the congestion slightly at peak times. Please can I remind all parents who wish to book additional sessions over half term to inform school by Monday to enable us to plan staffing to ensure we continue to maintain our stringent staffing ratios. For future holidays all additional sessions must be booked two weeks prior to the commencement of the holiday period. Your co-operation with this is much appreciated. Finally, please remember to sign up for your parents evening slots next week, if you are unable to do so in person please email Amanda Twyman and we will make arrangements for you. “There are three Ruth Darvill emergency exits on the Hazelwood 747” “All aboard who’s going aboard! Next stop Oxted station” News from Hazelwood Red Lane, Holland Lane (railway bridge) and Grants Lane Diversions It has come to our attentions that these diversions are to be in place until 11th December. Whilst inconvenient for many local drivers, at least Santa will be clear to visit on Christmas Eve without any unnecessary delay! Experienced singers wanted for Carol Service Particularly if you can sing bass or tenor. Rehearsals take place on: 19th Nov, 26th November, 3rd Dec and 10th December with the 2pm run through and service on the 15th December. Contact [email protected] to volunteer your vocal chords. St Thomas Trophy: Cross Country On a beautifully sunny Friday afternoon the Hazelwood Cross Country team entered the Thomas Trophy at Sevenoaks Prep School. In each of the races there were approximately 120 competitors from 14 different schools. The rather nervous Under 9 girls were first up. It was a tough race through the grounds of Knole Park and up a steep road leading to Sevenoaks Prep playing fields. As the competitors reached the final stages we were delighted to see 3 of our girls in the top 10 places.