Dear Families,
Following a half term where we have focused on the value of generosity, we have experienced this
in abundance from our whole school community. As you know, the combined total to send to
Nathan at LAB Charity was £200 and we were also able to send items to the York Foodbank. This
week, we packed our Christmas boxes. As always, our children got so much from this activity,
carefully packing gift boxes, with love, for families much less fortunate than us. As a result of this
event yesterday, we were able to send more than 40 boxes, combined, from both our schools. These
gifts will be blessed before they begin their journey. Thank you so much for your kindness.
Another act of kindness we would like to give thanks for are the actions of one of our parents who
spent numerous hours tidying up the front of the school for us. They have also offered to fill the
spaces with more plants and I am sure you will agree it looks so much better – thank you!
As Christmas approaches, you may be managing requests for technology from your children. As
technology continues to advance, we are forced to keep reviewing our processes in terms of
managing privacy. Smart watches and mobile phones present challenges. We don’t allow children to
have mobile phones in school and we have measures in place to control the use of smart watches.
Children should not be wearing watches in school which allow them to make or receive calls or texts.
They should also not be able to make recordings, audio or video. This also extends to adults in the
school setting, no recording of events, meetings etc should take place without the permission of all
involved. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Before we begin a new half term, I thought this would be a good opportunity to issue a reminder
about the timings of the school day. We register our children, in both schools before 9am as lessons
begin promptly at 9am. This is frequently a reading or phonics-based activity. As this often involves
children moving classrooms for group work, if a pupil is late, it not only affects their learning, but the
progress of the group. In both schools the gates are open at 8:45, giving ample time for the admin
matters to be taken care of. At Warthill, the school day ends at 3:15 and at Sand Hutton 3:20. If
children leave Sand Hutton on buses, please also be reminded of the need to be at the bus stop to
collect at the time issued by the transport provider.
Thank you to everyone who attended Parents’ Evenings this week. It is always a great chance to
catch up. Thank you too, if you made a purchase at the book fair. If you haven’t had a chance to look
at the books, it will still be available before or after school on Monday 3rd November. Commission
on the book fair means that our children benefit in school long after the book fair has left. Many
thanks!
Thank you to all pupils who entered the competition to win a Scholastic Book voucher at
Sand Hutton. Isaac and Ellery shared the prize with a wonderful idea to enjoy a book and
give back to school. Well done to both boys for making a shining example of our Collective
Worship theme of generosity.
Just a little something to get excited about for the week we return to school. Some of you
may remember our previous visit from Richard O’Neill, (now MBE), the Romani Storyteller.
We enjoyed his entertaining storytelling and his books.
As such a highly respected published author, we are really privileged to be inviting him to
return to our schools. He wrote us the most moving letter of praise for our children and the
inclusive ethos of our schools when he visited before and he is looking forward to his return.
This will be taking place in both schools on Thursday 6th November. Be excited! It will be
fabulous!
Thank you to Sand Hutton PTA for a super disco on Wednesday night and please look out for dates
for the Christmas Events in a separate communication.
Please stay safe over half term and enjoy whatever you have planned.
We look forward to seeing everyone fit and well on Monday 3rd November.
With every best wish,
Beverley Pawson
Headteacher
Sand Hutton and Warthill Federated Schools