Latest News
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Friends News
Mon 19 Jul 2021FRIENDS - SPONSORED WALK TALLY
Well done to everyone who took part in their year group sponsored challenges. Together you managed to raise a staggering
£2,265!
https://donatemyschool.com/friends-of-hillcrest-2355
All money donated to Friends of Hillcrest goes back to the school to enrich our children’s education and experience. So far this year your donations have been used to fund the following (see photos here):
- The end of year Circus Workshops
- New non-fiction books for the classrooms and Book Barn.
- Beautiful Hillcrest values wall art to welcome pupils into the school
- Bright window art on the key theme of ‘No Outsiders’.
- A shed for gardening tools used by the children to grow their own vegetables.
And shortly to be funded:
- Musical instruments for the entire school.
Thank you to everyone who has donated money, taken part, shared their fantastic creativity, sent photos for the website, and given their time to help Friends of Hillcrest and our School.
FRIENDS – SUNFLOWER GROWING COMPETITION
The heatwave has taken a while to arrive so our sunflowers aren’t quite ready for judgement!
We’ve decided to announce winners at the start of the new term so your email entries can be sent over the summer or when we arrive back in September. We will send a reminder in the mailbag.
You can register your entry by emailing a photograph of your competition worthy flower/display & measurements etc to friendsofhillcrestfundraising@gmail.com with your NAME, CLASS & FIRST LINE OF YOUR ADDRESS.
If you’re in year 6 and have been busy cultivating your crop, fear not, you can still enter the competition as you will of course always be part of the Hillcrest family.
There are top prizes available for winners of the following categories, including a £100 Gift Voucher for a Family Portrait at www.documentaryimage.com
GURTEST, LUSHEST SUNFLOWER – Tallest entry
BEST IN BLOOM – Most impressive display
POLLINATOR SUPERHERO – most attractive display to flying friends
Entries will be judged by the Community Gardens’ Head Gardener. For any close contenders a doorstep visit will be arranged!
GROWING TIPS
New Committee and Volunteers needed - can YOU help?
In September several Friends of Hillcrest committee members and long-standing volunteers will be moving on.
All parents and carers are automatically members of Friends of Hillcrest, but we need new people willing to give some of their time to take Friends of Hillcrest forward. Over the next school year it will be more important than ever to connect though shared experiences and fun, and bring the Hillcrest community back together - hopefully face to face!
Specific roles include Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. We will also need Trustees, two Class Reps for each Year group and we always need Volunteers who can give as much or as little time as they can to help make events happen. For further information about what each role involves, please click here.
Joining Friends in any capacity is a great way to meet fellow members of the Hillcrest community. Many past and present committee members will remain as advisors/volunteers and will be available to provide support, answer questions and give advice about how things have worked previously.
If you are interested in knowing more or would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us at: friendsofhillcrestfundraising@gmail.com
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Chair of Governors' Message
Mon 19 Jul 2021Dear Parents and Staff
As the end of the 2021 school year approaches I am writing to you as Chair of Governors on behalf of the Board, to keep you informed of what the school has achieved over the year and to recognise all of the time effort and energy that has been put into the education of the children at Hillcrest.
Looking back, I am reminded of how much has happened and what we have all been through over the past 12 months. In September the school was open with, now familiar, social distancing measures but by January we were back to strict lockdown and home learning again. Despite the very short notice from central government, Hillcrest transitioned to home learning smoothly and efficiently. Maintaining the continuity of education, with so many gaps and changes was particularly challenging and I would like to reflect on the fortitude with which the staff rose to this challenge. Thank you for all your perseverance in these difficult times.
During that third national lockdown parents and carers all did their best for their children and families, thank you all very much for the effort you made. Meanwhile the staff continued to juggle many balls to try and meet the wide range of different needs and abilities, both in the classroom and online, as they continued to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum. Additionally, there was a clear focus to try and bring some of our most vulnerable children back into school, along with the children of key workers. During this time, the School Meal Support Assistants stepped up to the challenge and took on additional responsibilities over lunchtimes to free up teacher’s capacity.
On reflection, lockdowns were not easy and we all know they are far from an ideal situation. After Easter the lockdown restrictions were eased and the children returned to another period of change, transition and adjustment. As things began to revert to a more normal routine there were still social distancing measures in place. I am aware that the effects of the little things, such as classroom desk orientation and lack of cross year group interaction will have had a significant effect on our children and we should be mindful how these will play out.
The pandemic has brought about a lot of change. The move to increased meetings on line being one. I think there are a lot of benefits of online parents’ evenings but they are not a panacea and governor school visits over zoom were manageable but I am sure the governors will be looking forward to getting back into the school next year. However, the children were able to benefit from remote connection in the production of the brilliant podcasts, From the Crest of the Hill. I hope the school will find the time to continue this as listening to the confidence and eloquence of the childrens’ discussions was a real joy!
At the start of the Summer we said a teary goodbye to Jacky Wyatt the EYFS lead and a true stalwart of the Hillcrest community for the past 16 years. On behalf of all the governors - thank you Jacky. Lucy Newstead takes over the Early Years provision and the governors have been very impressed with the energy and enthusiasm with which she has taken up this important role, laying the foundations for the children’s tenure at Hillcrest.
Throughout the Summer, as restrictions have eased, we have seen more familiar activities such as school camps, the Year 6 Mini Enterprise and a fantastic Sports Day. I was particularly impressed that Mr McIntyre conducted a socially distanced whole school assembly in the playground.
Looking forward, I am aware that the school are already considering a number of further recovery initiatives which the staff will look forward to sharing with parents at the Curriculum Evenings planned for early September.
After almost 2 years as the Chair I am stepping down at the end of this term. Governance has been an incredibly rewarding role for me, and I have really enjoyed the privilege of supporting the school team too. Whilst I might struggle to let go I will continue to be part of the Hillcrest community for a little while longer….
Governance is more than the role of the Chair. Hillcrest has an extremely skilled group of committed volunteers who give of their own time selflessly. Next term Matt Hodge will chair the Board and Kate Lehane will step up to the deputy role, ensuring that Hillcrest has a very capable and experienced Board of Governors to provide strategic guidance and assurance to the running of the school.
Next year will bring its own fresh challenges, along with the increased likelihood of an Ofsted inspection and further central government moves towards academisation. I’m sure you join me in thanking all of the Governors for their hard work and commitment.
As the Summer holidays approach, I wish the teachers, teaching assistants, office staff, cleaners, breakfast club staff, our site manager and the school meal supervisory assistants a well-deserved break – thank you so very much for all your hard work. We have faced the current challenges united as a community and whatever will happen in the future we will emerge even stronger, more adaptable and more resilient.
I feel so proud to be part of this strong, encompassing school community - never more so than in the way Hillcrest celebrated Pride week (and is now working to achieve its Rainbow Flag award).
On behalf of the Board of Governors I thank Ms Norman wholeheartedly for leading the school through these challenging times with measured consideration, patience and good humour.
Enjoy the Summer and I wish Hillcrest every success for the future.
Kind regards
Jon Ross
Chair of Governors
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New Childcare from September
Mon 12 Jul 2021Future Stars @ Hillcrest Primary
Future Stars are excited to announce that we will be taking on the Breakfast Club and Wrap Around Care at Hillcrest Primary School from September 2021.
We want to reassure you that the principles of the club will remain the same with the lovely Shelley leading, supported by members of our coaching team. We know Shelley plays a key role in yours and your child’s time at Breakfast and Wrap Around so we wanted to keep that for you and are really looking forward to working with her.
Breakfast Club runs from 7.30am until the start of the school day. Wrap around follows on from the end of the school day until 5.30pm, with the option of a 4.30pm pick-up. Our Breakfast and Wrap Around clubs provide the children with a wide range of fun, engaging activities such as Multi Sports and Arts and Craft.
Breakfast Club will continue to take place in the small hall. When you arrive at the school gate, use the number displayed to phone Shelley, who will come and meet you at the gate to sign your child in.
Breakfast is served until 8.30am and the children have the option of toast, crumpets, cereals and orange/apple juice. Alongside the breakfast will be the opportunity for the children to get involved in either some team games - fun warm up games, football, parachute activities, or to sit quietly for some drawing, board games, Lego or to read a book. This gives the children time to prepare for the day ahead and have some fun with their friends before school starts. Children are dismissed from the hall and walk through the school to their classrooms.
For Wrap Around, children are brought to the hall by their teachers at the end of the school day. The children will have access to board games, drawing and books, whilst everyone is arriving, and then a register will be taken. After registration the children are given a healthy snack, with options of ham and cheese wraps, crackers, fruit and veg - and sometimes a yummy treat like popcorn!
After their snack the children can choose whether they want to go outside for multi sports activities or stay inside to continue with their quiet activities! All activities are based on the children’s interests and what they want to play with…if they love football there will be different football activities provided - mini tournaments, penalty shoot outs, and there is always the option to enjoy some free time and create their own games. On a Wednesday the children will have the opportunity to take part in some gardening activities and on a Friday there will be cooking - pizzas, rice crispy cakes, fruit kebabs!
Collection will take place from the main school gates. If the children are outside then the coaches will be looking out for you and the Lead coach will get your child ready for you. If we are not outside then the mobile number will be displayed for you to contact us on. On collection the coach will ask for a signing out password for safeguarding.
Wrap Around is a great way for your children to have the opportunity to get active or relax after a long day at school and enjoy some time with their friends in a fun, safe and friendly environment.
Breakfast Club - £6.00
After school care - stay until 4:30pm for £6 or until 5:30pm for £8.50
We take Childcare Vouchers
To book your child's sessions go to https://www.futurestarscoaching.co.uk/ and follow the links to our dedicated booking system.
When booking your child on for their first session it will ask you to provide all information about your child such as age, medical or dietary requirements, who will be collecting and a signing out password. These will then be saved for future bookings. Our coaches will have access to the information they need to safeguard your child and make sure any individual requirements are met.
The system is very user friendly but if you have any problems call the Future Stars office on 01275 867128 and a member of our office team will be able to help you.
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Pride March
Fri 09 Jul 2021We have been learning all about the Stonewall uprising, Gay liberation and Pride this week.We designed and painted placards and staged a mini-Pride march around the playground. -
Future Stars Wrap Around Childcare
Mon 05 Jul 2021Booking is now open for Future Stars' award-winning Breakfast & After School Clubs at Hillcrest in September! -
Super Spellers
Mon 05 Jul 2021 -
Friends Annual Roundup
Mon 05 Jul 2021This has been an unusual year for Friends of Hillcrest with many of our key fundraising and social events unable to take place due to the pandemic. For this reason, we established a crowd funder to enable us to raise funds despite the many and ongoing restrictions. We have been blown away by the incredible support shown by the Hillcrest Community and are pleased to report that the crowd funder has raised an amazing £3,000 to date!
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in the enrichment events that were able to run this year, including: the Halloween Garden/Window Competition, the winter theatre performance, the Winter Wonderland Window Competition, the Pancake Scavenger Hunt, the Easter Family Egg Hunt and the ongoing Sunflower Growing Competition in partnership with Redcatch Community Garden. And not forgetting the Sponsored Walk, taking place on 5th and 6th July in Arnos Vale.
All money donated to Friends of Hillcrest goes back to the school to enrich our children’s education and experience. This year your donations have been used to fund the following:
- New non-fiction books for the classrooms and Book Barn.
- Beautiful wall art to welcome pupils into the school and emphasise the four Hillcrest values.
- Bright window art on the key theme of ‘No Outsiders’.
- A shed for gardening tools used by Hillcrest children to sow and grow their own vegetables.
And shortly to be funded:
- Musical instruments for the entire school.
- We are very pleased to reveal that all year groups will mark the end of the school year with a circus workshop and show taking place on the 13th and 15th of July.
Thank you to everyone who has donated money, taken part, shared their fantastic creativity, sent photos for the website, and given their time to help Friends of Hillcrest and our School.
New Committee and Volunteers needed - can YOU help?
In September several Friends of Hillcrest committee members and long-standing volunteers will be moving on.
All parents and carers are automatically members of Friends of Hillcrest, but we need new people willing to give some of their time to take Friends of Hillcrest forward. Over the next school year it will be more important than ever to connect though shared experiences and fun, and bring the Hillcrest community back together - hopefully face to face!
Specific roles include Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. We will also need Trustees, two Class Reps for each Year group and we always need Volunteers who can give as much or as little time as they can to help make events happen. For further information about what each role involves, please click on the link below.
Joining Friends in any capacity is a great way to meet fellow members of the Hillcrest community. Many past and present committee members will remain as advisors/volunteers and will be available to provide support, answer questions and give advice about how things have worked previously.
If you are interested in knowing more or would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us at friendsofhillcrestfundraising@gmail.com