It has been a busy first full week back at school and I have had the absolute joy of handing out a LOT of headteacher stickers for exemplary work as well as my first round of Well Done Wednesday invites. It is always such a pleasure to see how proud the children are of their learning and find out the reasons for children to have been selected to come and share milkshake and cookies with me.
Our staff training this week was with an adviser from the local authority with a focus on handwriting. This is a real priority for us as a school this year as we try and support all children to correctly form all letters and go on to fluent, joined handwriting.
School Games Mark
The School Games Mark is a government-led award scheme that celebrates schools' commitment to developing competitive sport within their school and community. We are delighted to share that we have been awarded the GOLD School Games Mark for our sports’ participation in the last academic year. I want to say a massive THANK YOU to Mrs Thomson for all of the hard work she puts into leading our PE and Sport across the school.
Galley Hill Government
Once again this year, we are trying to develop the children’s roles and responsibilities across the school in different ways. One way we do this is through our Galley Hill Government. These are Key Stage Two children who have successfully applied for particular roles:
· House Captains (Year 6 children)
· Well-Being Heroes (any KS2 child)
· Reading Champion (Year 4 or 5 children)
· Digital Leader (Year 5 or 6 children)
· Eco-Warrior (Year 3, 4 or 5 children)
· Sports Leaders (Year 6 children)
We are currently recruiting for these roles for this year. Please speak to your child to encourage them to apply. If they wish to, they can get an application form from their teacher to complete about why they want the role. Applications need to be made by Friday 18th September.
Before and After School
As you will know, the school site is a very busy place at drop off and pick up times. With this in mind, we please ask that children refrain from playing any ball games at this time and that anyone on a scooter or bike dismounts and pushes it through the school grounds rather than rides it. Please remind your children of these expectations so that we can keep everybody safe.
If you choose to let your children play on either of our play trails at this time, you must be supervising your child and take full responsibility for them. Many thanks for your co-operation.
Communicating with Staff
As a school, we believe strongly that our children will make the most progress socially, emotionally and academically, if we work in partnership with you as their parents. We are always committed to communicating with you about your child. After school, you can usually catch your child’s class teacher for a chat. We do ask that you first wait for them to dismiss the rest of the children so we can ensure they get to the correct adults. Quick messages can be passed to staff on the door in the morning however teaching does start at 8:45am each day so teachers need to be in classrooms from that time. Similarly, members of the school’s senior leadership time are on both playgrounds before and after school each day for quick conversations if needed.
For more detailed conversations or to request a meeting with a member of staff, you should contact the school office either in person, on the telephone or by emailing admin@galleyhill.herts.sch.uk with FAO and the staff members name in the subject line. Please be aware that teachers are not in front of their computers all day and it can take up to three school days for an email reply.
Please remember that your first point of contact for any concern relating to your child should be the class teacher. If you have already worked with them and feel something needs to go further, you should next contact the Phase Leader:
Early Years (Nursery and Reception) – Mrs Oakley
Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) – Mrs Angus
Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4) – Mrs Hewitt
Upper Key Stage Two (Years 5 and 6) – Mrs Spooner
It is only once these avenues have been exhausted that an issue needs to be escalated to the Head (Mrs Birch), the Deputy (Mrs Hewitt) or the Assistant Head (Mrs Jackson). Our full communications policy can be found on the school website: Communications Policy
