Harrow Way ENEWS

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Friday 15th December 2017

Good afternoon,

We are coming to the end of a long term and the whole school community is looking forward to a well-earned rest. The prospect of Christmas cheers us and lifts our spirits away from the cold, dark and depressing weather of the season.


As we come to the end of another year I also reflect on what a great privilege it is to be the Headteacher of such a thriving school community where high aspirations and a caring family ethos are at the heart of what we do. I am now in my 6th year as Headteacher of Harrow Way and am proud to say that that our school continues to go from strength to strength. This is clearly evident in the number of applications we have had for September. Overall 412 families have selected Harrow Way as a potential school for their child. Of these, 228 families have chosen us as their first-choice applications. These again are fantastic numbers and far higher than any other Andover and area secondary school. We will be significantly oversubscribed again next September and I would like to acknowledge the trust that the families of Andover are placing in us.


1967-2017
After five decades, four headteachers, countless education initiatives and thousands of students we have are now coming to the end of our 50th Year celebrations. Harrow Way continues to flourish as a successful and inspiring organisation. Each generation of staff, students and governors has contributed in some way to advancing Harrow Way – improving the site, establishing traditions, expanding the facilities, developing the skills of teachers and learners – and to continuing that positive atmosphere of hard work and happiness that the first Headteacher spoke about all those years ago. We are proud to have served and supported our local community over the last five decades, and we look forward to welcoming and working with future generations as we embrace the opportunities of the next fifty years!


Eagle Newsletter
The Autumn Term edition of the Harrow Way Eagle will be distributed to students on Tuesday next week. It will also be available to view on the website shortly afterwards.


Congratulations
I am always pleased to hear about students' activities and successes outside school. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Adam Robinson on achieving another PB in the under 15 High Jump recently, moving to 4 in the UK rankings. Also congratulations to Lucy Davies whose skill at dog training has enabled her to qualify to compete at Crufts in three distinct classes in 2018.


Assemblies
Fantastic Student council assemblies this week with our newly formed Joint Student Council. Year 7 and 9 shared their project aims for the year including with a kindness week starting Friday. Year 8 and Year 10 shared their aim to improve recycling in the school and have already undertaken a recycling bin audit. We look forward to seeing their progress over the year.


Christmas Fair
Thank you for all your support with the Christmas Fair. There was a vibrant atmosphere at the event and everyone had a great time. The Christmas Fair raised £630 which together with last year's Christmas fundraising means we are sending £1,000 to Partner West Africa, as part of our commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Winter Concert raised £400 which has been split 50/50 with Icknield School and Partner West Africa.


Visiting Speaker
Year 11 Historians have had an exciting morning listening to Major-General Peter Williams (Retd) about his experiences during the Cold War. Peter was stationed in Berlin during the 1980's and played an active role working in East Berlin spying on the Russians, looking out for suspicious activity. It was a super morning for year 11 who were able to consolidate their knowledge about Berlin and its place during the Cold War.


Christmas Dinner
The Hall has been decked (although not with boughs of holly) in preparation for our student and staff Christmas Dinner. Teaching and support staff will be serving the children with their meal and playing festive music. For those students not taking a Christmas Meal, other food choices will be available, although this will be more limited than usual.


May I wish you all, on behalf of the school, a Happy Christmas, and a splendid New Year, with thanks for your kindness, encouragement and support throughout this term. Spring term starts on Thursday 4th January at the normal time of 8.45 am.


Winter Concert
End of Term

The Autumn Term will end at 12.45 pm on Thursday 21st December. Transport has been requested for this time. If you need your child to be supervised until 3.00 pm, please let your child's Year Leader know.


Change of Date

The Shakespeare Public Shows will now be on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th January at 7.00pm.


 
Calendar
December 2017 / January 2018

Tuesday 19th December
Year 10/11 visit to the Houses of Parliament
Year 7/8 Reward Afternoon (by invitation)


Wedneday 20th December
Year 9/10 Reward Afternoon (by invitation)


Thursday 21st December
12.45pm - End of Term


Thursday 4th January
8.45am Start of Spring Term


Planned School Trips for 2017/18

These visits for 2017/18 have currently been agreed by the Headteacher. Others will be added throughout the year. There is no guarantee that they will all go ahead as this depends on student uptake. Further details on each visit will be given out to the year group/classes involved by the member of staff organising the visit.

School Trips
Year 11 Parents Evening
Year 11 Parents Evening

Monday 8th January

Appointments will be available to book from Wednesday am. Full instructions will be e-mailed to Year 11 parents early next week.

 
uniform
Uniform

Labelling items of school uniform is very important - especially PE Kit. We return named items that are found. Even the best laundry pens fade over time, so please check your child's uniform regularly. We do have unnamed kit in Lost Property.

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