It is lovely to have all our young people back in school this week. We have focused on reminding our young people about our values and expectations around behaviour. These have focused on being punctual for school and lessons, being ready to learn with the right equipment and engaging in learning in a positive way that helps everyone to learn.  We would be very grateful for your support in ensuring that:

• Young people who do not travel by school bus are in school ready to learn for 8.55am
• Students have all the right equipment including their planner
• Students are in correct uniform

This will help staff to ensure that they can be focused on the teaching of our young people. Each week we will focus on a different aspect of school expectations to support students to fully understand and follow these in order to ensure that they are focused on their learning. This week we have been praised for our improved attendance. We still have a way to go, and our attendance team will continue to work with our school community to ensure that students attend school as often as possible as we are very clear of the link between good attendance and high attainment.

Below is information about what is happening in school this week as well as an invitation to join our PTFA in their next meeting.  They are an invaluable part of our school, and I know that they will welcome newcomers to the team.  We have lots of events in December and their help is critical with this.

 

What’s going on in school:

 

• Congratulations to Owen in Y8 who won the Age 12 National Hill Climb championship on his road bike! Racing a 6.6km long course, climbing 360m of elevation during Storm Boelo, Owen took the title with a time of 22 minutes 14 seconds. What a fantastic achievement!

• We celebrated European Day of Languages last term with quizzes and delicious dishes in the canteen, including chicken and chorizo paella, frankfurter sausages and Danish pastries. The MFL department would like to say "Vielen Dank!" to the kitchen staff for their endeavours. In addition, there was a fiendishly difficult quiz enjoyed by all year groups and staff during form time. The winning KS3 and KS4 forms got some sweets as a reward for their efforts. Bien joué, tout le monde! ¡Hasta el próximo año!

Year 11 Mock Exams

The Y11 written mock exams are being held from Monday 16 November - Thursday 26 November. Please see the link to the timetable here Exams at Hope Valley College. Students will be handed their statement of entry nearer the time which gives room and seating details. Exam pencil cases can be purchased via Parentpay and collected from Reception.

English Language Update

Year 11 students recently took part in a 'Walking Talking Mock' examination during their English Language lessons as part of their final preparation for the upcoming mock exams. We were extremely impressed by their exemplary behaviour, focus, and commitment throughout the session, and we are very proud of the effort they demonstrated.

As a reminder, students have access to a range of revision resources, including materials on Microsoft Teams, GCSEPod, and their exercise and home learning books. We encourage all students to make full use of these resources as they continue their revision and preparation.

PTFA Meeting – Wednesday 11 November, 7.30pm

Our PTFA will be meeting in the Tearooms at the Old Hall pub in Hope at 7.30pm on Wednesday 11 November. All are welcome to attend. They will be looking at future fundraising activities and planning refreshments for performances of Frozen: The Musical. Please come along and find out how you can get involved.

Remembrance Day Wednesday 11 November

We will be commemorating Remembrance Day in school and observing the 2 minutes silence at 11am to honour the service and sacrifice of military personnel, veterans and civilians who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts. If any of our young people are members of Military Cadet regiments locally - they are invited to wear their uniforms proudly to school for the day. Royal Legion Poppies are available from the school reception for the community to buy and support the veteran’s charity.

Frozen The Musical: Rehearsals for the cast:

Everyone involved in the musical is required to come into school on the INSET day on Friday 4 December for a full dress rehearsal / tech run. This will be from 9am – 3.30pm. Please be aware that school buses will not operate on this day, so students will need to use alternative transport methods to get to and from school.

Date	Time	Where	Who	Songs / Acts
Mon 09.11	13.00	Drama	Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, Sven	Act 2 S3
Tues 10.11	12.40	Music	All Singing Cast, plus anyone interested in painting set/props	Fixer Upper
Wed 11.11	12.40	Drama	Dancers
Wed 11.11	3.30-5.30	Hall	Whole cast and sound crew	Act 1 recap
Thurs 12.11	12.50	Music	All Singing Cast	Hygge and Reprise
Thurs 12.11	3.30-4.30	Hall	All Singing and Sound Cast	End this Winter, Monster and Colder by the Minute.
Fri 13.11	13.00	Drama	Pabbie, Bulda, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf	Act 2 S4
Fri 13.11	3.30-5.00	Hall	King, Queen, Elsa, Anna, Young Elsa, Young Anna, Bishop, Handmaidens, Pabbie, Bulda	Act 1, S2 & 3

 

Free School Meals and Holiday Activities Food (HAF) Programme

Whilst FSM eligibility is expanding, HAF eligibility remains linked to Targeted (benefit-related) FSM. Children receiving Expanded FSM alone will not automatically be eligible for a HAF-funded place.

Understanding the Difference

Targeted FSM

• Based on benefit-related eligibility criteria.
• Provides access to HAF-funded holiday places.
• Remains the qualifying route for HAF eligibility.

Expanded FSM

• Introduced through the Government's expansion of Free School Meal entitlement.
• Allows more children to access a free school meal.
• Does not automatically provide access to HAF-funded places.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for a HAF-funded place, then we would encourage you to check your eligibility.

Jewellery making materials

We would be very grateful for any donations of jewellery making materials or equipment, such as beads, elastic, old necklaces or bracelets etc. Please hand these in at reception. Many thanks.

Shoebox Appeal at Pathways

Students at Hope Valley Pathways are busy preparing to support the Sheffield Shoebox Appeal once again this Christmas. They've worked on their letter writing skills to ask our school community to donate items, so that they can create some lovely festive-filled boxes for those who might not otherwise get a present this Christmas. Please see their letter attached for all of the information that you'll need, with ideas on what you can and can't donate. Please deliver any donations to reception no later than Thursday 26^th November.

Lettings

Did you know that our school premises are available to hire for community events, sports clubs, races, music events, meetings and much more? We have a variety of rooms, spaces and sports facilities available for hire, as well as our car park, which can accommodate up to 100 cars. For more information, please contact us on 01433 620555 or email enquiries@hopevalley.chorustrust.org

Dates for Your Diary

Monday 16 – Friday 27 November – Y11 mock exams

Thursday 26 November – GCSE Presentation evening (for students who left this summer)

Friday 4 December – INSET day - students not in school, Frozen dress rehearsal

Tuesday 8 – Friday 11 December – Production week – Frozen: The Musical

Tuesday 15 December – Carol Concert

Friday 18 December – Christmas Bazaar for students, break for Christmas.

Monday 4 January – all students return to school

 

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