This week has seen Year 11 complete their first full week of mock exams, which has given them a sense of how their real exams will feel in the summer. Thank you for supporting them with their revision and preparation as they have been very positive when they have come out of these sessions.

On Wednesday this week, we sent a group of students to the local fell running competition and their performances were amazing. Their determination and resilience on a really cold day shone through. Farming Club continues to thrive, and they now meet every Tuesday lunchtime with a local representative. As we move into December, we look forward to all of the events that take place in school and those dates are shared below. We look forward to welcoming you to these.

Hope Valley College PTFA

Our wonderful PTFA are looking for new members to take their work into the next few years. The PTFA has been a long-standing and important part of our school and is an increasingly rare occurrence in secondary schools. We are really proud of the collaborative work that we undertake with them and the school, and our young people have benefited from this relationship. Over the years they have funded a refurbishment of our fabulous library, equipment in music and PE, trips and activities for young people and many other important projects. In the coming months we are looking to shift the focus to raising money for more longer-term projects that will benefit every young person in school. They are supporting our amazing music and drama department at their annual Festive Showcase, and we would like to invite you to come and meet the team and find out more about the work they do and the opportunities available. 

What’s going on in school?

• Netball training: Wednesday night netball training will be paused for December and January. It will resume the first Wednesday in February.  We have however, arranged some netball fixtures in December and January away at Chapel High School in their indoor sports hall. The Y8s will play Wednesday 3 December - away at Chapel High School. The Y7s will play Wednesday 14 January - away fixture at Chapel High School. We are trying to confirm a mutually convenient date for the Y9s. All students involved in the December / January fixtures will travel by minibus to and from the venue. We will leave school at 2:45pm and return approx. 5.15/5:30pm. Students need to sign up in PE and priority will be given to those who have attended training. 

• This term, Y7 have been learning French through Speak First; listening and speaking only, and this week they have been consolidating their knowledge by presenting their hand-made monsters to the class in French. We have been very impressed by their creativity and their resilience. Well done Y7s!

• We're working on a giant drawing of the library and its inhabitants to mark National Illustration Day and there's great excitement in here! A photo of the finished picture will be sent to the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration which launched National Illustration Day in 2023 "to celebrate the pictures that are part of our lives and the brilliant people who make them".

• The English department are looking forward to the upcoming Year 8 trip to Derby Theatre to watch Oliver! The trip will take place on Tuesday 9 December - information has been emailed out to parents. 

• Students travelled to Buxton Community school on Wednesday for the High Peak Cross country trials. They all did so well on a very cold day and a tough course. The top 12 finishers are selected to represent High Peak cross country team in January. Congratulations to students who have managed to qualify.

 

Festive Showcase Rehearsals and Sound Checks

Dates for Your Diary

Thursday 4 December – flu vaccinations

Friday 5 December – INSET day – school closed to students

Tuesday 9 December – Y8 theatre trip

Wednesday 10 December – Festive Showcase

Thursday 11 December – Carol Concert at St Peter’s Church, Hope

Friday 19 December – Break for Christmas, Christmas Bazaar for students

 

Thank you for reading our communication. Here are some helpful email addresses, should you need to contact us:

 

• attendance@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to report a child’s absence
• enquiries@hopevalley.chorustrust.org for general enquiries
• pastoral@hopevalley.chorustrust.org for any issue with a child’s wellbeing
• headteacher@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to contact the Headteacher
• safeguarding@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to report safeguarding concerns. If a child or any young person is in imminent danger, then please report this to the police.
• ptfahv@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to contact the PTFA

 

Kind regards

Debbie Petts

Headteacher