🏗️ Playground & OPAL Project Updates

Following our incredible OPAL Platinum Award last year, our focus this term is all about consolidation - ensuring all safety systems and play spaces are firmly in place before we launch new elements in the spring:

• Expanding Playground Music: We are extending music speakers into the Key Stage 1 (KS1) area so all children have equal access to music during play. We are using specialised, directional construction-grade speakers to manage sound dispersion and respect our local neighbors while ensuring the children have fun

• Lunchtime Scooter Sessions: Following recent safety training, pupils will soon enjoy dedicated lunchtime scooter sessions on the top playground. Safety knee and elbow pads will be provided by the school.

• The Minibus Reading Bus: We have secured an old minibus donated via John Roan. An engineer will safely decommission the vehicle (draining all fuel/oil and securing the wheels with heavy-duty chocks), and we will run volunteer build days to transform it into a quiet reading and learning sanctuary on the playground.

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🎨 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Initiative

Mr Armson presented a comprehensive EDI action plan aimed at deepening cultural understanding, building staff confidence, and celebrating our diverse school community. The guiding principle is to create windows into other cultures and mirrors to understand ourselves better.

• Expert Partnerships: We are collaborating with Action for Race Equality and Hemisphere (focusing on Chinese heritage training this term).

• Inclusive Literature: Investing in rich, diverse literature for our classrooms so every child sees themselves reflected in the books they read.

• Cultural Celebrations: Keep an eye out for a detailed letter from Mr Armson and Ms Tilley shortly. They will be launching a parent survey, establishing parent working groups, and planning a vibrant, school-wide evening Cultural Celebration event later in the year.

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🌳 Capital Improvement Appeal

Ms Tilley shared her long-term vision for outdoor infrastructure to guide our capital fundraising and grant applications:

1. Permanent Quiet Wooden Structure: Replacing the old rabbit hutch with an enclosed glass-and-timber outdoor reading/drawing space.

2. Football Pitch Shade Sails: Installing overhead shade sails (~£5,000 each) over the pitch to provide vital summer shade and prevent stray footballs from going over the fence.

3. Outdoor Canopies: Adding an L-shaped canopy around the Bell House building and a permanent sail over the sandpit to expand all-weather outdoor learning.

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💰 Annual Financial Report & Trustee Elections

Mary-Anne (Treasurer) presented our 2025 financial review:

• Total Raised: ~£38,000 | Total Spent: ~£50,000 (utilising reserve funds for big impact projects).

• Highlights: Our Summer Fair raised £12,000, Halloween Disco brought in £5,000, and general parent web donations contributed nearly £13,000!

• Major Investments: Over £20,000 was spent installing the new AstroTurf, along with funding classroom decor (£3,200), Book Week books (£2,000), Forest School, and Year 6 leavers' celebrations.

Thank you for your continued, unwavering generosity.

🗳️ 2026/27 FoH Committee:

A massive thank you to our outgoing trustees, Hinan and Sophie, for their dedicated service! We are delighted to confirm our elected committee for the new term:

• Chair: James Gadsby Peet

• Trustees: Alex Swann, Hannah Martin, Bryony, and Mary-Anne

• Secretary: Lorraine

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🎃 Upcoming Events & How You Can Help

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👻 Halloween Disco (Nearly Here!)

• Ticket Update: Key Stage 2 session is SOLD OUT! Limited tickets remain for KS1.

• Volunteers: A huge thank you to the 52 parents who have already signed up to help! We still need a few extra hands for the cleanup crew at the end of the night. If you can spare 30 minutes, please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/joeMeFR 

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🎄 Festive Preparations

• Christmas Cards: The children are currently designing their artwork in class! Order forms will be sent home soon - this project raises over £1,000 annually to fund Christmas celebrations across the school. (Thanks to Ella for shadowing Claire Tugwell as she manages her 14th and final Christmas card drive).

• Wanted: Father Christmas! Following the departure of our brilliant resident Santa (Ollie), we are actively looking for a parent/carer volunteer to step into the red suit for half a day in mid-December. To make things easier for a new volunteer, Santa will be visiting individual classrooms rather than holding large assemblies. Please email us if you can help!

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☀️ Summer Fair 2027 Working Group

We will be setting up an early Summer Fair planning committee before the Christmas break. If you’d like to be involved in brainstorming stalls, sponsorship, or logistics, please drop us a message

Thank you once again to all the parents, teachers, and carers who make our school community so special.

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Cheers

The Friends of Halstow Team

📧 friendsofhalstow@gmail.com