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Dear Parents and Carers,

Your children deserve every credit and have made us all incredibly proud for the way they have returned to school and addressed each day across the half term. Your children have approached each challenge with great enthusiasm and positivity. Where there has not been immediate success they have tried, and tried again, until they have achieved. A vast array of mountains have been climbed by every child and I congratulate each and every one of them for their amazing half term.

Please do click on the following link to be directed to our school website where you can view your child’s Year Group/Class Teachers sending a Congratulations and Happy Half Term Message: https://www.hdps.org.uk/1343/half-term-messages I am a firm believer that through adversity resilience is built. These times are unprecedented but the children have taken it all in their stride and their resilience is growing. This will serve them well as they move through this year and beyond.

It has been a privilege to see the vast amount of children’s learning across all year groups of both the mainstream and ARPS. It is a joy to see the richness, depth and excitement of learning when I drop into lessons each week.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your tremendous support this term, which has made things much easier to manage. The entry and exit system was not without issue initially. That said, you were all brilliant with your patience and understanding whilst we improved it and made it safer for everyone. I would ask that you please maintain your patience and understanding with us as the year unfolds. We are uncertain of how the Covid situation will impact us. With this in mind, should the government announce changes which affect our school or local community, I will of course keep you informed and communicate any change before we return.

It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the entire staff team for their unrelenting commitment towards providing your children’s experiences here. The magic created by the staff team does not happen by accident or chance. Under normal circumstances their dedication and enthusiasm is inspiring. To do what they do each day, and the care and support they provide for your children is incredible. I am truly humbled by them all and incredibly grateful for their efforts.

This term began with us welcoming the children back after lockdown. The creative and supportive return, utilising the stimulus of The Book of Hopes, was a tremendous launch pad for the children undertaking their baseline assessments. These, combined with their curriculum work, has set them up for even greater successes for the remainder of the term, and indeed year. We have an uncompromising aspiration for your children to do the very best and achieve all that they can.

I do hope that you all have a safe and happy half term break.

Thanks for your continued support, Mr De Freitas

HAWES DOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL BULLETIN

AUTUMN HALF TERM NEWSLETTER 2020

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Prospero Class have been looking at materials in science and thinking about their properties.

As an experiment, we chose different materials to wrap a delicate ice-cream cone, so that we

could send it through the post without it breaking. We worked in teams and used bubble

wrap, cardboard, plastic and cotton wool to wrap up our cones. Mrs Gillette posted them to

school. It was very exciting to open the packages to see if the cones had survived. We packed them so well, all of them did and there

were prizes for everyone!

Children’s Wellbeing Service – Visual Communication Workshops

The Children’s Wellbeing Service, who support families with additional needs in Bromley, will be running a series of free workshops that can assist a young person’s development and wellbeing:

Thursday 5th November: Introduction to Communication Wednesday 25th November: Makaton / Signing Tuesday 8th December: Social Stories and Visual Aids Wednesday 13th January: Summary Session

For further information regarding venues and times, please refer to the attached flyer. To book a place, please contact Julie Cook by phoning 07892728664 or via email (Julie.cook@bromleymencap.org).

Head Teacher’s ABC Awards

Discovery

Maxwell T, Freya T-O, Lara S, Joshua M, Edith G, Maxi L, Poppy P, Peggy O’C, Teddy K, Mason A, Lucy R, Megan W, Evren F, Haris S, Natalie B, Gracie B, River J, Ella H, Max H, Layla Mai L,

Lexington D, Civan T, Milena R, Isa C, Abrianna O, Maxwell L

Explorers Brandon L, Phoebe G, Pavlos K, Emily Y, Theo L,

Seren K, Heidi A, Aras C, Oliver B, Amy H, Mason N, Sofia S, Edward F, Amelia B, Rocco J, Euan B, Sofia A, Saskia P, Shae L, Rani A, Gabriella L,

Ethan P, Finley K, Emma RG, Frankie G, Eleanor E, Julia RR, Harry HC, Sophie V, Javier AP, Josie C, Jake P, Ben A, Julia S, Ava K, Toby M, Emma M,

Ella C, Ethan H, Ellie J, Matilda R

Please be reminded that we can only take payments for school meals, etc, via PlusPay. Thank you.

Secondary School Transfer 2021

A reminder for Year 6 Parents/Carers that the application deadline for secondary schools is Saturday 31st October.

If you have not already done so, please visit www.eadmissions.org.uk and follow the instructions provided.

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Message from the Head Boy and Head Girl Where have the last six weeks gone? We can’t believe it’s half term already!

It has been a brilliant few weeks and it’s certainly been different to previous years. Due to Covid, we have to follow new rules to keep everyone safe, but it hasn’t taken us long to get used to them.

One of the things we really enjoyed doing was putting together a short video (including Maya M and James C) to show the new parents around the school, because unfortunately they will not be able to come and see the school this autumn. It was a very fun experience for all of us, and was very exciting and enjoyable to create together.

The highlight of this half term for us has been simply being back at school after long months at home, during quarantine. We spent time with our friends and we learnt lots of new and interesting things. We know that we speak for most of the students when we say that we really missed our Hawes Down family!

For next half term, we know that there are lots of exciting topics and activities planned, especially during Christmas time!

One of the first things that all four of us will be doing, is putting together a presentation about ‘Diversity’ to discuss with the rest of the school, which we are all looking forward to!

We hope that you have a great half term!

Thank you from your Head Boy and Head Girl!

At school this week, the children have been learning about the charity, Bromley Brighter Beginnings. They are a volunteer-run organisation that relies on the power of community to provide essential baby, child and household items to families living in the London.

Borough of Bromley in financial hardship. Their mission is to relieve the pressure of poverty on these families in a practical way. Every year they create Christmas hampers for these families and we, as a school, have offered to help out. All we ask is that (if possible) every child brings in a bottle of shower gel/body wash for an adult or child that will go into these hampers. Please get your child to hand in this item to their class teacher which will then be collected in and given to the charity on Friday 13th November, so please ensure your item is in before then. We thank you in advance for your generosity as I am sure you will agree, a little gift like this, can go a long way. Many thanks.

Mrs Whiteman

Assembly Theme for w/c Monday 2nd November

Bonfire Night Safety

Singing Lessons

We have been advised by Ms Havel that she currently has places in her singing lessons. If you

think your child may be interested, you can download a BYMT application form from the

Music section of the website.

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Pupils back to school Whole School 02.11.20

Individual School Photographs Whole School 02.11.20 All Day

Year 3 Stone Age Day Year 3 only 06.11.20 All Day

Virtual Open Morning Q&A Sessions General 11.11.20 9:30 – 10.30am

Flu Vaccinations (must have given consent) Whole School 17.11.20 All Day

Virtual Open Morning Q&A Sessions General 18.11.20 9:30 – 10.30am

PTA Make The Rules Day Whole School 20.11.20

Virtual Open Morning Q&A Sessions General 25.11.20 9:30 – 10.30am

Christmas Jumper Day Whole School 16.12.20 All Day

Christmas Lunch Whole School 16.12.20 Lunchtime

PTA Christmas Activities Whole School 14.12.20 to 18.12.20

Last week of term

School Finishes Whole School 18.12.20 13:50 Discovery 14:00 Explorers

CHRISTMAS BREAK Whole School 21.12.20 04.01.21

Monday 2nd November 2020

Virtual Open Morning Q&As for September 2021 Intake