Well what a fantastic first term it has been at Hoyland Common Primary School!

There has been so much learning taking place it would be impossible to list it all. Some of the highlights for me have been the learning that Y5/6 pupils have been doing around World War 1 even up until the final week where they have still been working on their Christmas day trenches. Y3/4 and their topic all about chocolate and how they now really understand the whole processes of making chocolate as well as the ethical issues before those chocolate bars are bought in the shop. Y2 made some amazing vehicles in all different forms and guises, air powered, elastic band powered and even combustion powered! And Y1 really enjoyed finding their buried treasure and being pirates for the term. Please do have a look at your child’s class blog for the term and see even more of the exciting learning that has taken place and do make comments on which parts of the topics they have enjoyed the most.

There have been endless topic visits – The Deep, Magna, The Imperial War Museum, Cadburys World and a whole host of sporting activities, football matches and cross country events, the residential visit which included caving, climbing and hiking and we saw events such as Roald Dahl week, anti-bullying week, Family craft events, Christmas productions and nativities and musical soirees and on top of all that there has even been time for some reading, writing and maths!

The stars of the final week of term have been selected as ever for going that extra mile in some aspect of school including having a fantastic attitude towards school and all the activities they do, for being kind, polite and helpful, for amazing independent maths work, brilliant writing and winter poems and for being role models to other children, well done to you all and enjoy dining with the stars.

This month as I am sure you are aware is attendance awareness month where attendance and improved attendance has been promoted, all those children with 100% attendance during the month of December have been entered into a prize draw for a family cinema ticket and there will be awards for children with the most improved attendance for the month as well as for those children who have been to school every single day so far this school year. Next term the counter will start again so let’s see if we can even more children with 100% attendance for the spring term.

All in all it has been a great first term and I would like to thank all pupils, staff and parents for continually committing to Hoyland Common Primary School and making it the fantastic place that it is and from all of us here at HCPS have a wonderful Christmas and we will see you all back in school in the new year.