Dear Parents,
It has been a very busy start to the New Year and term. Please visit the school website where you can find an overview of each Year group’s learning for this term.
I would like to remind you to ensure your child does not bring any toys or personal belongings with them to school. This also includes keyrings on book bags and small objects that hang from their bags. Please remind them of the importance of leaving these at home so they do not get lost or broken. If your child needs lip balm for chapped lips, due to the cold weather, please bring this to the school office for safe keeping and it will be available as and when your child needs it.
Music Congratulations
Well done to Emily Cross and Max Barclay on achieving their Bronze Music Medal for Violin (ABRSM Level 1 Award in Music Performance). Also to Ella Entwistle who passed her Grade 2 Clarinet with merit.
Staffing Update
Sadly we are saying goodbye to Mrs Cosgrave at the end of this half term as she is moving; we wish her all the best as she moves on to pastures new. Mrs Massie will be joining us as School Business Manager after the half term holiday. Also joining us after half term is a new Teaching Assistant, Mrs McDonnell. Mrs Shepherd is finishing to go on maternity leave on Thursday and we are also pleased to announce Mrs Hull’s good news, that she is expecting her second baby and is due to give birth in the summer term.
Parent Governor Election
Thank you to all of you who voted for our new parent governor. We are very pleased to welcome Dr Katherine Brown to the governing board.
Diversity Day
A BIG thank you to all of the parents who came in to help out on ‘Diversity Day’. The children loved hearing about all the different countries and cultures and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Feeling Good Week
On Monday 4th February it will be Feeling Good Week. We would like all children to come to school wearing their outdoor PE kit, including their normal school sweatshirt / cardigan during this week. Events during the week will include Samba dancing, yoga, Kidz Fit as well as other activities.
Sports Update from Mr Smith
We have a very busy term ahead for PE and sport in school!
I attended the Hertfordshire Primary PE conference on Tuesday and came back with some fantastic ideas to enhance the children’s experiences of PE and sport in school.
Years 1 and 2 are continuing their fundamental skills with a focus this half term on using a variety of equipment to move, turn, control, hit, pass and aim for targets.
Years 3 and 4 are focusing on Basketball this half term, aiming to develop their dribbling, shielding, passing and shooting skills as well as working in teams in various game situations.
Years 5 and 6 are focusing on Netball this half term with the aim to develop their passing, pivot/footwork, shooting and knowledge and understanding of positions.
Years 3 – 6 will have Intra-house competitions in the above sports before the half term break.
There are lots of sports fixtures coming up this term including Year 4, A, B, C and girls team football matches, A and B team Netball matches and end of season football and netball rallies. We are also looking forward to the Year 5/6 Sportshall athletics and hockey competitions as well as a Year 3/4 speed stacking competition.
All clubs have restarted this week with the addition of a Year 1 and 2 Popdance club on a Thursday lunchtime. The children who have signed up all really seemed to enjoy themselves! Running club on Friday morning is now open to Year 4 children (as well as Year 5/6) and we have had a really good turnout even on these freezing January mornings!
Football Results:
Whitehill v Samuel Lucas Girls A Team – After trailing 3-0 at half time, the girls showed fantastic character to keep playing and to pull themselves back into the game with two second half strikes from team captain Lily. We unfortunately couldn’t find an equaliser but the girls can be really proud of the team spirit and resilience they showed. Player of the match went to Lily for an excellent captain’s performance. Final score was 3 – 2 to Whitehill School.
Whitehill v Samuel Lucas Girls B Team – It was the first ever match for a few of our girls and they were fantastic. After going 1-0 ahead they ran out of steam in the second half, however they kept trying and were unlucky not to add a second goal. Player of the match went to Grace for scoring our goal and making some excellent saves on her debut! Final score was 4-1 to Whitehill School.
A message from the SLPA
Spending
Due to the fabulous fundraising efforts this academic year so far, the SLPA has been able to contribute £500 to the school’s annual Feeling Good Week at the start of February. The money will go towards samba dancing and yoga workshops, along with KidzFit sessions throughout the week; an excellent example of how the SLPA’s fundraising can enhance and enrich the experiences the children at Samuel Lucas get to enjoy, thank you everyone for your part in it.
Waitrose Green Token Scheme
A reminder that Samuel Lucas is one of three charities that Waitrose in Hitchin are collecting for this month. Please remember to collect tokens and put them in the Samuel Lucas slot! We will benefit from a share of £1000 depending on the percentage of tokens we collect.
SLPA Disco – Generously sponsored by Care Vending
The disco will be held on Friday 8th February. Detailed logistical arrangements have been sent out via email as part of the ticket confirmation. All three discos are currently about half full.
A huge thank you to Care Vending who have generously sponsored the entire cost of all 3 discos on our SLPA Disco Night, this includes, the UV paint crayons, the Walkers crisps, squash and the DJ; making this a 100% profit making event. Then, as the icing on the cake, they have donated a box of 1000 cups that can be recycled and as we recycle our crisp packets, this will be a waste-free event.
“Care Vending are a Stevenage based, family owned company proud to have been serving vended refreshments in the area for over 25 years. We offer a range of machines and services covering Bean 2 Cup hot drinks, snacks and cold drink machines, watercoolers/boilers, recycling services, wholesale products etc. Caring in Vending – we employ local staff and products where we can, minimise our time on the road, maximise our recycling and are pushing for greener options everywhere! We were proud finalists for the 2018 Herts Business Awards for Best Family Business and also for Corporate Social Responsibility. We are proud to be supporting the SLPA in their fundraising activities.” From Care Vending.
Sponsorship
We are looking for companies to sponsor all or part of the events below, along with our summer picnic/BBQ. If you work for a company or have a contact at a local business, we can provide you with personalised letters on SLPA headed paper. Please contact us through the school office if you can help.
Our next meeting is on 13th February and will be held at the Angel Reply in Hitchin, we would love to see you there!
The SLPA
Diary Dates
| Date | Class | Event | Time |
| Monday 4th February | ALL | Feeling Good Week | During school day |
| Friday 8th February | ALL | SLPA Disco | various |
| Wednesday 13th February | SLPA Meeting | 8pm | |
| Monday 18th February | ALL | Half Term Holiday | |
| Friday 8th March | Parents | SLPA Adult Quiz Night | evening |
| Wednesday 20th March | ALL | Class Group Photos | During school day |
| Friday 5th April | ALL | SLPA Easter Egg Hunt | 2pm |
| Monday 8th April | ALL | Easter Holidays | |
| Tuesday 23rd April | ALL | Back to School |
Year 4, 5, 6 Running Club
Children from Years 4, 5 and 6 are invited to come along to running club every Friday morning at 8am. I would like to say well done to all the children who have attended so far, they have shown real commitment and resilience no matter what the weather! If any other children from these year groups would like to come along, just turn up ready to run and meet at the entrance to the KS2 building – don’t forget to bring your uniform to change into afterwards.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather and school having to close, we will notify you via Parentmail as well as using the Everbridge system. Everbridge is the Hertfordshire County Council’s School Closure Notification System. It takes 5 minutes to register your details so that you can receive immediate information and updates, not only for Samuel Lucas, but for any other Hertfordshire school should you need it. Please sign up for Everbridge using this link:
