The Hemel Hempstead School Issue 1017 28 April 2017 Email: [email protected] Website: www.hhs.herts.sch.uk House Events News House Assemblies This week's main assemblies have been House Assemblies, led by our very able House Captain teams who updated students on their progress in the House Cup as well as informing them about the many House events which will be taking place this term. Each House has been set a challenge this year and has been set a key action to achieve it during this term. The action for each House is as follows: Ashridge - Must improve Rewards and Consequences figures Chalfont - To win House Sports Weeks Challenge - currently in first place Flaunden - Must improve on overall last place in House Events Latimer - To reach one of the top three places in attendance figures during the Summer Term Nettleden - To improve on overall last place in the School Cup Pendley - To improve on overall last place in attendance figures House Cup positions The overall House Cup positions as of the beginning of the Summer Term are - 1st Chalfont - 605 points 2nd Pendley - 525 points Joint 3rd - Latimer and Flaunden - 445 points 4th Ashridge - 430 points 5th Nettleden - 390 points House Book Challenge - Thursday 4th May The postponed House Book Challenge will take place at lunchtime in the Library on Thursday 4th May led by Mrs Krajewski. This House event is a Book Quiz and is targeted at Years 7 and 8 students. House Captains will be visiting Form Groups to recruit teams over the early part of next week. Mr Mitchell, Student Leadership Co-ordinator Email Technical Issues There have been some technical problems with our instant messaging service (InTouch) over the last week. As a result of this a number of GCSE French Masterclass emails have failed to send home (i.e. Reward/Consequence alerts and detention Year 11 French students! notifications). These have been re-sent; apologies if you have received any duplicate Don't miss your GCSE Masterclass for reading emails. skills on Thursday 4 May, 3.45 - 5.15 pm in W6. Please be aware that emails you may have sent Your final exam is in just TWO WEEKS' time! to the school via InTouch, in response to an InTouch email from us, may not have been Mrs Wright, MFL Faculty received by the school. If you are expecting a further response to such an email sent to us this week, please re-send your email to Parent Mail ([email protected]). We have been advised today that these technical issues are now resolved. Dates for Your Diary 28th – 29th Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Practice Expedition 2 ***Blue Week*** MAY 1st BANK HOLIDAY 2nd Year 13 A2 PE Revision Conference, 8.15 am – 2 pm Year 11 GCSE Art Exam, Art 1, 2 & 3, 8.30 am – 3.30 pm 3rd Achievement Lunch, 1.30 – 2.20 pm West Herts College Rock Band Concert (Rock Band), 2.30 - 9 pm HHSA meeting, Library, 7 – 8.30 pm 4th Whole School Photograph, 9 – 11.20 am A Level PE Moderation Day, 12.30 – 3.30 pm Years 7/8 House Book Challenge, 1.20 -2.20 pm Dance trip to Drury Lane Theatre, 7.30 – 10.30 pm 5th Year 13 A Level Art Exam, Art 3, 8.30 am – 3.30 pm ***Gold Week*** 8th – 12th Year 13 A Level Art Exam, Art 3 9th Year 13 Sociology visit to JFK School, 8.30 am – 3.30 pm 10th French A2 Oral Exams, 9 – 11 am 10th & 11th Year 11 Product Design Innovation Exam, Hall, 12.20 – 3.30 pm The Newsletter is blue or gold to correspond with the blue or gold timetable of the following week. Careers Information On 31st July, West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust is hosting an open day for students in Years 10 – 12 who may be thinking of pursuing a career in medicine. The event will be held at Watford General Hospital between 8.30 am and 5 pm. There will be a variety of speakers taking part, as well as workshops which will provide delegates with an opportunity to experience practical skills involved in clinical careers. Tickets cost £30 and places are limited. More information about the day and application forms are available in the Careers Office. Miss Bond, Careers Co-ordinator Writing Competition for Key Stage 3 Chorleywood Bookshop have launched their annual writing competition. The theme is Animals. To enter you will need to write a short animal fable (about 200 words) and submit it with a completed application form by Friday 9 June 2017. Further details are available at https://chilternbookshops.co.uk/chorleywood-bookshops-2017- childrens-writing-competition. Mrs Krajewski, Librarian Careers Information Music Department Two useful websites for students interested in The Hemel Hempstead School Rock Band are pursuing a career in Medicine or Law: taking part in an event at West Herts College called The Medic Portal has information about 'Bandslam'. It involves a band interview, some different university courses, a free recording and a performance. The gig is taking UKCAT guide, work experience place in The Theatre at West Herts College, opportunities and suggestions about Hempstead Road. It is a free event and doors open allied health professions that could be at 6.30 pm with the first band on at 7 pm. No tickets considered. www.themedicportal.com required. It will be a great chance to see a range of bands. The Lawyer Portal has information on the new law apprenticeship, university Mrs Bailey, Head of Performing Arts courses, work experience, plus free guides on careers in law. www.thelawyerportal.com Miss Bond, Careers Co-ordinator SPORT FIXTURE Tuesday 2nd May IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR PARENTS County League Athletics Match 1 (4.30-6.30 pm at Jarmans Park) Parking and Vehicles around the School Site PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE ON TO THE SCHOOL SITE UNLESS PICKING UP OR Gold Letters issue recently: DROPPING OFF A STUDENT WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY. Letter 143 Sixth Form Induction Programme PLEASE DO NOT STOP OR PARK NEAR TO Letter 144 Year 7 April Report EITHER ENTRANCE Letter 145 Year 8 April Report (Heath Lane or Anchor Lane). Letter 146 Year 9 April Report Letter 147 Year 10 April Report Students may be dropped off and collected from Letter 148 Year 12 April Report Beechfield Road or the Sportspace car park in Letter 149 Whole School Photograph Heath Lane (please be aware of the maximum Letter 150 Year 11 Preparation/Expectations for Exams Period 20 minutes wait time). When parking in nearby roads please do not park on the pavement (obstructing wheelchair or double buggy access) or across residents’ driveways. If everybody follows these guidelines then we Flyer attached: should be able to ensure that the flow of traffic around the school is reasonable at all times, that Teacher Training Taster Days all users can access the site effectively and, Gade Schools Family Support Parenting most importantly, that we are able to keep all our Courses students safe. Many thanks. Traditional Dacorum Exhibition Phasels Wood Summer Activity Scheme The Hemel Hempstead School Association PTA News Next Meeting: Wednesday 3rd May 2017, 7 pm in the Library URGENT: Castles Estate Agents have very kindly agreed to advertise our Summer Fair & Dog Show with boards! They are willing to place 100 boards on properties anywhere and everywhere; on main roads, minor roads and even culs-de-sac. The boards are an excellent way to advertise events. Would you be willing to promote the Summer Fair? If so, please forward us your name, address and contact number in the next week. Many thanks. Forthcoming Events: 15th May – 8th June Bag2School UNWANTED CLOTHES NEEDED. The HHSA are excited to announce that we have registered with Bag2School. We are planning to hold two collections a year of your unwanted clothes, with the first being on Thursday 8th June. We will be paid for the weight of clothes collected and all the items will go to places including Eastern Europe, Africa and South America. This is a great way to raise money whilst helping other countries. Students will be given a bag to take home on Monday 15th May and this may be filled with clothes, soft toys, linen, shoes, jewellery, etc. One bag not enough? We’ll be happy to receive carrier bags and bin bags too! For a full list of acceptable items, please visit http://uk.bag2school.com/what-we-collect. Please, DO NOT include any items of school uniform; we will be happy to accept those items separately for resale on 6th July (see below). Further information will be given out nearer the time, but if you are having a clear out, please put any unwanted items in a bin bag and save them for our collection. Thank you. 22nd June 2017 Sports Day, 8.30 am – 1 pm Planned sale of refreshments. 6th July 2017 Secondary Transfer Day Afternoon sale of pre-owned school uniform. 7th July 2017 Summer Concert, 7 – 10.30 pm We will be serving ‘Pimms on the Patio’ at this event. 9th July 2017 Summer Fair & Dog Show, 11 am – 4 pm This popular event returns and, we hope, will be bigger and better than ever! 10th July 2017 House Drama and Art, 7 – 9.30 pm Planned sale of refreshments. 14th July 2017 Fun Run, 11.30 am – 2 pm The final event of the school year. Facebook: Please search for ‘Hemel Hempstead School Association’ and ‘Like’ our page. School website, HHSA Page: www.hhs.herts.sch.uk/parents/hhsa/ Includes minutes of meetings, information regarding second hand uniform, and ways you can help to raise funds.