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Welcome back to the Summer Term. I am delighted to welcome three new members of staff to the Harrow Way community: Mr Steve Carter, Curriculum Leader for Computing and ICT; Mrs Delia Verne, Art Teacher; and Mrs Sophie White, HR Officer. We’re excited to have them join our team and know they will make a positive impact on our students and school.

 

At Harrow Way, we believe that values are not just words on a wall — they are lived, breathed, and embodied by our students each and every day. 

We are incredibly proud of Arthur in Year 7, who has demonstrated remarkable resilience, kindness, and integrity through his selfless decision to grow his hair for the Little Princess Trust., Arthur committed to this incredible act of generosity over the course of nearly three years, determined to donate his hair to children who have lost theirs due to illness.

 

Throughout his journey, he remained focused and compassionate — even when faced with occasional challenges or comments along the way. His strength of character and quiet determination are deeply inspiring.

Arthur's story is a powerful example of how one young person can make a meaningful difference. We were proud to welcome him back to school after his haircut. His peers and teachers celebrated his amazing achievement in assembly this morning. Well done, Arthur — you have shown us all what it means to lead with heart.

Yesterday, we marked what would have been the 16th birthday of Ryan, a much-loved student who remains in our thoughts and hearts. In a moving and reflective gathering, we installed a plaque beside the tree planted earlier this year on our school grounds. Ryan’s mother and his closest friends joined us — a lasting tribute to his life and the joy he brought to so many.

In addition, we presented Ryan’s mother with a book of memories written by students. These heartfelt contributions serve as a reminder of the impact Ryan had on our school community. He will always be remembered.

As they returned to school on Tuesday, students will have noticed a few changes around our site. Walking down our main corridor now offers a striking visual reminder of what it means to be part of our school. We are thrilled to unveil our new display featuring five beautifully designed posters that highlight our core values: Respect, Integrity, Kindness, Resilience, and Aspiration.

Each value is represented by a student who embodies that quality — five young people who make us incredibly proud. But more than that, this display is a tribute to all our students who live out these values every day in quiet, powerful ways. It is a celebration not only of individual achievement, but also of the collective spirit that makes our school so special.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend,
Mrs Dawn German

All key dates for 2024-25 are also available on the website.

Assembly
This week's assembly was on the topic of critical thinking and the importance of questioning information, including exploring the "why?" behind the "what?". Mrs Blair talked about the dangers of fake news and being aware of the risks involved in "going down the rabbit hole" of the social media algorithm. Students were encouraged to check their sources and use their critical thinking skills to avoid being taken in by inaccurate or biased information.

Congratulations
We are thrilled to share the happy news that Mrs Hughes and her family welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Elodie, at the very start of the Easter break. Remarkably, Mrs Hughes had only just begun her maternity leave at the end of term! We’re sure you will all join us in sending her and her family our warmest congratulations and best wishes as they enjoy this special time together.

Empowering Girls Through the Big Sister Project

On Wednesday, our Year 9 and 10 girls took part in an inspiring assembly to launch the Big Sister project, a national initiative designed to help girls aged 9–15 feel confident and ‘sport ready’. The session, led by the project's enthusiastic ambassadors from the local leisure centre, included a fun and inclusive workout that was immensely enjoyable for everyone involved. 

The Big Sister programme recruits peer leaders and supporters from sport, schools, and community organisations, all working to break down the emotional and physical barriers that can prevent girls from being active. Find out more at www.placesleisure.org/big-sister-project

Summer Uniform
As per Mrs German’s letter before the Easter Break, students may begin to wear the summer uniform - which remains optional - from Tuesday 6th May. The summer uniform was introduced last year following consultation with students, parents, and governors. This change was designed to provide students with a more comfortable uniform option during the warmer months while maintaining the smart appearance. Students may choose to wear a light grey polo shirt with their usual trousers or skirt or may prefer to have black knee-length shorts. Blazers will not be required from 6th May until the end of the Summer Term.

Cheaper Internet Access for Families Receiving Benefits:
The DfE has asked schools to advertise to parents and carers that households receiving benefits such as Universal Credit (and some others) could be eligible for discounted social tariffs on broadband. This could help you to stay connected to friends and family (and also on top of school work) at lower costs.

For more information, please visit Ofcom’s website.

School Musical - Disney's Frozen JR - Tickets on Sale

Tickets for this year's school musical 'Frozen JR' are now on sale and can purchased by visiting:

ticketsource.co.uk/harrowway

 

Public performances are Next Week:
Wednesday 30th April - 7pm
Thursday 1st May - 7pm
Friday 2nd May - 7pm

Ways Forward - our weekly newsletter for Careers, Apprenticeship, College, Work and Work Experience.

In this week's Ways Forward, find out about careers in science, manufacturing and technology with the 'Not Just Lab Coats' website and learn more about becoming a detective. We also include an update from Farnborough College of Technology and two opportunities to find out more about training to become a dentist or a doctor

Also this week in Ways Forward there are lots of new local apprenticeship opportunities for year 11 students to consider including an Apprentice Electrician, Business Administration Apprentice, an Early Years Apprentice, a Pharmacy Assistant Apprenticeship, and several vacancies with the British Army including an Equine Groom, Senior Healthcare Support Worker, a Farrier, and an Information Communications Technician post. If students need help making an apprenticeship application, Mrs Manning, Careers Adviser, will be happy to help.

This week we marked Earth Day and Shakespeare Day. Work continues on VE Day activities and May will see a variety of events from International Harry Potter Day  to our Exam Advice Station. Due to the Easter break and students' lack of response to email reminders, overdue loans are creeping up again so support for their return is appreciated.

Check out the latest news, fundraising initiatives and upcoming events from the PTA here - harrowwaypta.charityhive.co.uk

For local community events and information, please click the button below:

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Harrow Way Community School,
Harrow Way,
Andover,
Hampshire.
SP10 3RH