Newsletter

Newsletters are emailed out to parents and carers every week on a Friday. If you do not already receive you can read it here or have it emailed by contacting the office on: office@hollypark.barnetmail.net

To see the full colour version of this week’s newsletter including photographs please scroll further down this page. You will also find there a full list of previous newsletters.

This plain version of the newsletter will translate into different community languages using the Google translate button at the bottom of this page.

School Book Fair

We are excited to announce that the Book Fair will be returning to Holly Park next week until Thursday. This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to get new books to read whilst raising funds for our school! Social distancing regulations mean that we will need to run it differently from previous years. Parents will not be coming on to the school site but the children will be able to view the available books in school and parents/carers will be sent details of how to purchase and pay via the internet or phone. Ms Sampson has emailed full details about how to order and pay.

Fish Fingers and Chips Lunch – Thursday 20th May

Normally we have our fish and chips lunches on a Friday but next week due to International day, this will be on Thursday 20th May. If your child enjoys the fish and chip Fridays – please note this will be Thursday next week. International Day Lunch – Friday 21st Lunch For our International Day on Friday 21st May we are having a special lunch. If your child normally has packed lunch but would like the International day lunch please let the school office know. Please also note that fish and chips (which is normally on a Friday) will be on Thursday 20th may that week.

Italian Margherita pizza
Indian chicken curry with rice and naan bread
American brownies with ice cream
French Crepes (pancakes) with mixed berry compote and whipped cream

New Parent Governor

I am delighted to welcome Rhonda Valentine as our new parent governor. Rhonda is a mother to two girls who are currently in Nursery and Year 2. Rhonda’s background is in Managing Consulting where she spent 11 years working across the public and private sector, supporting companies and government departments design organisations, and deliver change. As a qualified HR practitioner, she has recently joined a UK hospitality business, where she advises the board and other senior stakeholders on people related matters. Rhonda is looking forward to supporting the school and its leadership team, navigate the future, and helping to create new opportunities for the children of Holly Park.

The PTA Celebrating International Day Friday 21 May

Celebrating our amazing, multi-cultural school community. Calling all cooks, small and big, to cook a favourite International dish on 21st May (International Day). Please share the recipe with the PTA for the cookbook here https://forms.gle/KU7xK5zU8SwEXBbo6. Feel free to send a photo to Mrs Pelham for the newsletter.

Face Masks, Holidays & Guidance for Schools

The Prime Minister announced that the country will move to Step 3 of the roadmap on Monday 17 May. However there are no changes for primary schools. Children will still be in bubbles etc. The expectation is still that parents will not be on the school grounds and that at drop off and collection times that parents will wear face coverings when entering the site. As restrictions begin to lift, we know some families may be considering taking holidays during term time. However – as usual, parents should plan their holidays around school breaks and avoid seeking permission to take their children out of school on holiday.

Parent Online Safety Session

On Tuesday 8th June we will be running online safety sessions throughout the day for all year groups. The sessions will be run by an amazing company called – Education Child protection. We always like to offer a parent workshop too from this same company so that parents can be kept informed and are up to date with the latest developments in online safety and are aware of how to support children at home with this and keep them safe. Due to the pandemic and in order to maximise parent engagement with the sessions, we are now able to offer a pre-recorded one hour session from the same company. Parents will be able to access this between Monday 7th and Friday 11th June only. Nearer the time we will send you a link. This dynamic, high quality presentation provides parents with an insight into the wide array of apps, games and websites that children are using. This session is a ‘must’ for all parents whose children have a presence in the digital world. The outcome is to empower parents to keep their children safe when using technology.

There are four areas to be covered in the session:
What children are taught about Online Safety
Latest trends of what children are doing online
The issues and dangers children face online
How we can make children safer online

Staffing News

I am delighted to tell you that Miss Mountford is pregnant with her second child. The baby is due in October. Miss Mountford will start her maternity leave in September 2021. I am also delighted to tell you that Mrs Thrasyvoulou was successful in gaining a new job for September 2021. The new job is at a primary school that is much closer to home as her eldest daughter starts school in September.

Request for Exceptional Leave Of Absence

It is expected that all children should be at school every day unless they are unwell. If your child is unwell then you should phone the school on the first day of absence. For all other reasons of absence – a request to be absent should be made to the school in writing using the ‘Request for Exceptional Leave’ form. This form is available on the school website. An example of requests for special leave of absence include – music exams, school entrance examinations, auditions, hospital appointments etc. The request should be made at least a week in advance before the leave is planned. The school will then consider the request.

Holly Park Cooks!

Do you have a favourite family recipe – one that everyone enjoys making AND eating? It might be your own recipe for flapjacks or a twist on a traditional dish – whatever it is we want it! As part of the PTA fundraising efforts for this year, we are on the hunt for delicious recipes for a Holly Park cookbook and are inviting all Holly Parkers to share their favourites. We would like a mixture of starters, main courses, desserts, cakes/biscuits that celebrate the Holly Park community. The recipes can be old family favourites or a recipe you invented. They should be easy and simple to follow! Please submit your recipes here by Monday 17 May. If you have questions please contact: hollyparkpta@gmail.com

Attendance

Attendance for the last full week was 97% Well done to Y3 Spruce Class for the best attendance with 98%

Dates

Friday 21st May International Day & International Charity – Children wear green clothing
Friday 28th May End of Half term at 3.30pm
HALF TERM
Monday 7th June INSET Day
Tuesday 8th June School begins
Tuesday 8th June Online safety session for parents (pre-recorded can be viewed until Friday) Tuesday 8th June Online Safety Day
Friday 11th June House Challenge
Monday 14th June Secondary transfer meeting for Y5 parents at 9.30am
Tuesday 15th June Class Photos