On Tuesday 22nd September we are taking part in World Car Free Day!

Please try to walk, cycle, scoot, use a wheelchair, or use public transport to come to school on this day.

Children who travel actively (walk, wheelchair, cycle, scoot) will receive a reward.

The class with the most children travelling actively will win reflectors.

If you need to drive, please park 5–10 minutes away from school and walk the rest of the journey.

For everyone's safety:

Do not park on yellow lines, zig-zag lines, or pavements.

Turn off your engine while waiting or parked.

Active travel helps children stay healthy, keeps the roads safer, and reduces air pollution.

We hope all families can support World Car Free Day on Tuesday 22 September 2026.

Many thanks for your support, !

Dear Families

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming OPAL Parent Event on **Tuesday, 22nd September**! Join us for an afternoon where you can discover the wonderful world of playtime and how important it is in our children’s lives.

Did you know that playtime makes up about **20%** of your child’s school day? It’s a crucial time for them to bond, explore, and enjoy the outdoors with friends—without screens! We believe in giving our kids as many opportunities as possible to dive into different types of imaginative play. Please note all the timing and details for the event on the poster below

At the event, you’ll get the chance to engage with your child in a variety of open-ended play activities, and find out all about the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach!

**🕶️ Things to note:**

- **Dress for all weather!**

- **Dress for all types of play!**

- **Come ready to share your ideas!**

Dear families

Please click on the link below to view our weekly newsletter

High Hazels Herald - 14th September 2026

Many thanks

Exploring Lines of Latitude and Longitude in Geography!

Last week in PSHE Y4 dove into the Zones of Regulation to better understand our emotions. They also connected knowledge of lines of latitude and longitude in geography!

Dear families!

Our Opal Play project is a hit with the children during lunch times! 🎉 To make it even better, we’re asking for your help!

This week, we’re on the lookout for any old pots and pans, baking trays and sieves that you might have tucked away and no longer use. If you have any of these items, we’d love to give them a new home in our play sessions!

We’ve got some fun snapshots of the kids enjoying their lunchtime on the last week! 📸

Thank you so much for your ongoing support!💖

🌟 Welcome Back Y4🌟

Y4 had a fantastic time exploring all the amazing books available! 📚 Everyone got to choose something special to read. The excitement for reading among the children when they returned to school was great to see.

Dear Parent/Carers

Year 4 will be starting swimming lessons as part of their PE curriculum on Tuesday, 8^th September 2026. Pupils will attend school as normal on Tuesdays and will travel, supervised by school staff, via coach to the Ponds Forge Leisure Centre each week. The swimming sessions will run until Tuesday, 26^th January 2027 and will be taught by qualified swimming instructors. The sessions are fully funded by school, and as they are part of the curriculum, all children are expected to participate.

Times are a little bit different this year! Please can Y4 Peridot arrive at school for 8:30 AM, as the coach will pick you up at 8:50 AM. For Y4 Turquoise and Y4 Onyx, you can stick to the regular school arrival time.

For each lesson your child will need to come to school dressed in their swimwear (underneath their school uniform).

They will also need to bring the following:

• A towel
• A waterproof bag
• A change of underwear

Please ensure you follow the guidance below:

• Your child should not bring or wear any jewelry, including ear piercings. Taping over piercings is not acceptable and will mean your child cannot participate in a swimming session.
• Long hair must be tied back.
• The teacher will ensure any medication which has been shared with school is taken with the child’s group. If your child has a medical need such as asthma, this information has been shared with school and an inhaler has been provided.
• Appropriate swimwear must be worn each week. Please do not send your child in shorts below the knee, heavy outdoor clothing or underwear.
• If your child is required to wear a long sleeve top and leggings, these should be lightweight materials and worn underneath or on top of swimwear.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.

Dear Families,

An updated school holiday calendar for the academic year 2026/27 is available to view on our website. We have made some adjustments to our inset days due to necessary changes in training schedules.

Please note that the inset day initially planned for Friday, 12th February 2027, has been cancelled and will now be a regular school day. Instead, the children will have an inset day on Monday, 21st June 2027.

Visit https://www.highhazelsacademy.org.uk/parents.../term-dates to find those essential dates you need!

* WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL! *

Hello Parents and Families!

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome you back for a fantastic new academic year! Just a quick reminder that school reopens **Thursday, 3rd September**.

Breakfast Club starting bright and early at **8 AM**, and all gates opening at 8.40am.

Our amazing staff has been working tirelessly over the summer to revamp our learning environment, and we can't wait to see both our new and familiar faces back at High Hazels!

Our staff have been in school for the past 2 days busy planning and training.

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news throughout the week, so be sure to keep an eye on our page!

We can’t wait to catch up with you all soon! We hope you’ve enjoyed a fabulous summer, and we’re eager to hear all about your adventures

Principal End of Year Message

Dear families

Please click on the link below to view an end of year message from Ms. Elliott.

We hope you all have a very happy, restful and safe summer break with your loved ones.

Children will return to school on Thursday 3rd September