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Junior Newsletter

Friday 16th March 2026
""Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert". Isaiah 43

Headteacher's Update

We will be saying goodbye to Mrs Jo Jones at the end of the spring term, as she has been appointed to the role of Assistant Headteacher at a Special School in West Berkshire. This is an exciting next step in her career and a very well‑deserved promotion. Mrs Jones has made a significant contribution to our Federation, and while we are sorry to see her go, we are also extremely proud of her achievement. I am sure you will join me in congratulating her on this new chapter.


I am pleased to inform you that we have successfully recruited an excellent teacher, Mr Alex Hawkins, who will join us for the summer term. Mr Hawkins is a very experienced practitioner who impressed the panel with the high quality of his teaching during his interview lesson and his strong performance throughout the selection process. We are confident he will be a wonderful addition to our staff team.


We have been pleased to welcome Miss Stimpson and Mrs Surridge to our team of teaching assistants this week.


Introducing Mr Hawkins

"My name is Mr Hawkins, and I am excited to be joining you all at Woolton Hill for the summer term. I have been teaching for nearly 20 years now, including periods teaching in Tanzania and East London. I am an enthusiastic teacher who has a lot of curiosity; I enjoy learning about the class topics as much as the children do.


I live in Newbury with my wife and my two children, Toby and Tilly. Toby is actually in Year 5 himself at the moment, so he is a great person to go to for book recommendations. He is always looking for new titles to read and would love to hear what your favourite books are, too!


When we are at home, we love spending time together playing board games and computer games. Our current favourite board game is called 'Flip7', where you really have to ‘push your luck’. My children and I have our own survival world in Minecraft, which keeps us very busy.


When I’m not in the classroom, we often head off for family holidays in our caravan. We especially love visiting the coast, where I take the children to climb rocky cliffs and explore the outdoors.


I am really looking forward to getting to know all of you over the coming term and hearing about your own adventures and hobbies!


World Book Day

We have really enjoyed celebrating World Book Day today. The children looked fantastic in their wonderful costumes, many thanks to all the parents and grandparents that supported their creativity in producing the fantastic outfits. There was a real buzz at the Reading Café at WHJS this morning, and it was wonderful to see families enjoying favourite books together. The children have enjoyed taking part in lots of book-themed activities and sharing their love of reading and books. Every child has been sent home with a Reading Adventure today and we can't wait to hear about their Reading Adventure.



New Hedgerow

This week the Countryside Charity visited to support our Junior Eco Team and Year 5's in planting a 30-metre section of hedgerow. The new hedgerow will encourage wildlife and pollinators, create a haven for wildlife, increase the biodiversity of our site and provide shade and shelter. The Eco Team planned this along with Katy from the charity and the children thoroughly enjoyed planting the new hedging plants especially the Hazel and Hawthorn trees! 

We look forward to seeing it develop into a fully grown hedgerow and provide a wildlife corridor along our field edge and down to the location we plan to build our wildlife pond too.


Parents Evening

Consultations continue next week on Thursday 12th March. If you have not yet booked your appointment please contact the school office. Alongside these appointments we are also giving parents the opportunity to complete our annual satisfaction survey. If you have not done so already, you can complete it here.


Reminders

We have had lots of pupils forgetting their PE kits over the past few weeks. Children must have their PE kit in school every day please.


A reminder that pedestrians have right of way over vehicles in our school car park.


Safeguarding Matters

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our pupil, we would like to provide you with an important update regarding internet safety. With the increasing use of digital devices among children, it is crucial to ensure they navigate the online world safely.

  • Monitor Online Activity: Regularly check the websites and apps your child is using. Encourage open discussions about their online experiences.

  • Use Parental Controls: Implement parental controls on devices to limit access to inappropriate content and manage screen time.

  • Educate About Privacy: Teach your child the importance of keeping personal information private and the potential risks of sharing too much online.

  • Encourage Safe Communication: Remind your child to communicate only with people they know and trust, and to report any uncomfortable interactions.

  • Discuss Cyberbullying: Talk to your child about what cyberbullying is and encourage them to speak up if they or someone they know is being bullied online.

Resources for Further Support:

Attendance Matters

Good pupil attendance is crucial for academic success and personal development. Regular attendance ensures that students are consistently exposed to the curriculum, allowing them to grasp concepts and participate in discussions. It fosters a sense of community and belonging within the classroom, which can enhance motivation and engagement.


Moreover, consistent attendance helps in building essential skills such as discipline and responsibility, which are vital for future endeavours. Ultimately, good attendance is a key factor in achieving educational goals and maximizing learning opportunities.


Friends Of The Schools of Woolton Hill

Our next exciting event is the Colour run that is being held on Friday 24th April.  This event is open to all of the family to take part.  Tickets are now on sale so click the link below to book yours.


Wildlife Pond Project

Thank you for the donations that have been coming in.  Please continue to spread the word.  If you would like to donate please click on the below link or please share the link with friends, family or businesses that you know who may be willing to contribute.

Details of the wildlife pond project and how the fundraising is going can be found on the PTA section of the School website, along with events that we are running. 

Click here to visit the PTA page. https://www.schoolsofwooltonhill.com/pta


Dates For Your Diary

Colour Run – Friday 24th April

Woolfest – Friday 26th June

Quiz Night – Friday 16th October

Santa Run – Tuesday 5th December


Pre-loved uniform

We have a stock of second hand uniform that you can buy for a small donation. Just message Rachel Ryan on 07833 767793 who can advise on what we have.  If you have out grown items that are in good condition, please let us know and we can arrange to take these from you.

  

Get Involved

As a friendly group of volunteers we are always looking for people to join our team, whether it is to help out with one off events or more regularly, any help is greatly appreciated.  Support the Friends so that we can support our schools.


Clubs


Star Awards

The following children received Star Awards this week! They should all be really proud, well done!

27th February: Jack T, Millie C, Rohan P, Gabriella A, Tommy G, Thea S, Toby P, Joseph F, Isabelle G, Sebi H, Niamh J, Summer I and Isabelle G

6th March: George C, Imogen S, Oscar R, Frankie B, Freddie P, Daisy-Rose H, George M, Archie C, Marcus N, Isla H, Harry T, Henry B, Max E, Joel H and Torin H


Life Learning

Boundaries

27th February: Arlo B, Oliver S and Josh L

6th March: Millie C, Mia M, Sienna L, Ellie B and Thomas H


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