What a fantastically festive start to the run up to Christmas we had on Friday! Our Galley Hill Christmas Market was such an enjoyable community event and we are so grateful to all who contributed in any way – by donating items, helping beforehand or on the day or by coming and spending some money! Of course, a particularly huge THANK YOU needs to go to Mrs Sproat, who did such a brilliant job of organising the event. We really hope you all enjoyed it.
Staff News
This week, I have to share with you that very sadly Miss Kent-Bourne, our Nursery Early Years Practitioner, will be leaving Galley Hill on Thursday 11th December. While we will miss her greatly, Miss Kent-Bourne has been offered the most incredible opportunity as a nanny and we wish her so much fun on her new adventure.
We are delighted that we have already appointed for this role. Mrs Chard, who has many years of experience working in Early Years, will be joining us in January and we look forward to welcoming her.
Open Classrooms
Just a reminder that open classrooms is taking place on Thursday (4th December) at 3:15pm. As ever, this is a chance for you to pop into your child’s classroom and have a look at their learning in books and on the walls. While class staff will be present, this is not the opportunity for a detailed conversation. They will happily make a meeting with you for another point if there is something specific you wish to discuss. Please enter through your child’s usual exit point.
Communicating with Staff – Reminder
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. Emails should always be sent via admin and not directly to one staff member. 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 Reynolds
Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4) – Miss Featherstone
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 Reynolds) or the Assistant Head (Mrs Jackson).
Equal Access Trophy
Last week we received a trophy presented by the Dacorum School Sports Partnership, who organise all of the sporting events that our children attend. This trophy was to recognise the equal access we are providing to girls in sport. Well done and thank you to Miss Penning, who works so hard to lead PE and sport across the school.
Galley Hill are working towards the Herts Shining Communication Award.
This is an award that recognises all the strategies, support and good practice in place throughout our school to support learners with their communication needs as well as raising the profile of speech, language and communication needs across the school.
