CALENDAR OF WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 2008-JULY 2009
SEPTEMBER
2 Training Day (School Closed)
3 Training Day (School Closed)

OCTOBER
3 Jeans for Genes (Further details to be advised)
3 Eid Lunch
6 School Dentist
20-23 Annual Reviews (individual dates already notified to parents)
24 Harvest Festival (at school) (Further details to be advised)
27-31 Half Term Holiday

NOVEMBER
3 Term Starts
4-7 Annual Reviews (individual dates already notified to parents)

10 School Remembrance Service

DECEMBER
15 1.30 (for 2.00 p.m. start) Carol Concert at St. Mary’s Church Chesham.

16 School Christmas lunch
18 School Party Lunch with Father Christmas and Christmas parade
19 Term Ends - School Closes at 2.30 p.m.

JANUARY
5 School Closed (Training Day)
6 Term Starts
26 Chinese New Year lunch

FEBRUARY
2 UNICEF Rainbow Day (Details nearer the time)
16-20 Half Term Holiday
23 Term Starts

MARCH
13 Red Nose Day (Details nearer the time)

APRIL
3 Term Ends (Normal time)
6-17 Easter Holiday – school closed
20 Training Day (School Closed)
21 Term Starts

MAY
4 May Bank Holiday – school closed
25-5 June May Half Term holiday

JUNE
8 Term Starts

JULY
2 Academic Reports home to parents
6 “Meet the Teacher” day

16 Parents’ Evening 6.00-8.00 p.m.(details nearer the time)
20 Training Day – School Closed
23 Fun Day (details nearer the time)
24 End of Term

This is a calendar of “whole school” events for this academic year – but
there will also be “class” events being held which will be notified to you
separately by your own class as they are arranged.

Welcome Back

We hope you all had a very happy summer holiday. In September the new term got off to a flying start, lots of work has been carried out to the school during the holidays including a renovated reception area and some newly painted classrooms in the Lower School. After a couple of staff training days we were pleased to welcome the children back to school and see them settle into their new classes.

Our new termly topic is This Is Your Life and staff organised an Eamon Andrews style "This is Your Life" surprise for Suzanne, needless to say she was very surprised and at the end of it there wasn’t a dry eye in the hall.

More recent events have included Jeans for Genes day and Eid celebration lunch.

September 2008

Welcome back.
We hope you all had an enjoyable summer holiday and we look forward to a very busy term including theme topic "All about me" and Annual Reviews will be starting in October.

Class Fund
We ask that parents make a donation of £20 at the beginning of the September term to class funds. This money is given to the class staff and is used to buy squash, snacks, fruit and to contribute to outings and so on. Please send the money in with your child and it will be passed on to the appropriate place. Please make cheques payable to Heritage House School School Fund.

Thank You
We would all like to thank Gay Beattie for the wonderful percussion box set of drums. These were purchased from Kampala in Africa when Gay visited the village this summer. Rain sticks and maracas made in Guatemala were also purchased from the Toybox Charity. The money was raised from Gay’s book ’Wild Flowers & Where to find them in the Chilterns’ from which £3.00 per book was donated to Heritage House School. Any further copies sold through the school will be used for Gay’s next trip to Uganda. Please contact the school office for more details.

Note from the School Nurse: New Reflexology Clinic at Heritage House.
We are looking forward to running a weekly independent reflexology clinic, with Elizabeth Calderara, starting this term. As a gentle, non invasive treatment, reflexology is based on the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all systems in the body. For more information or any questions regarding reflexology please contact Elizabeth at
reflexology@fabulous-feet.co.uk

I am also planning on setting up a regular parents coffee morning and will be sending information out shortly. Can I also remind you to send in a good supply of anything that your child may need for their care e.g. nappies, wipes, syringes, giving sets, feeds and medication.

Fond Farewell
We would all like to send our good wishes to Vicky Tippett (Senior Physiotherapist) who is taking early retirement this month. Vicky has been part of Heritage House for 10years and she will be very sadly missed by all. We would like to welcome Anna Marshall who will be our new Physio starting from September.

Personal Accident Insurance scheme—for pupils . Parents wishing to take out cover for their child should contact the school office for an application form.

Useful websites
www.keepable.co.uk - Keepable are the UK’s largest mobility and independent living retailer with a product range of over 600.
www.bakare.co.uk - Bakare—suppliers of beds.
www.newlifecharity.co.uk - Helping any child who has a special need for equipment.

OCTOBER
3 Jeans for Genes
3 Eid Lunch
6 School Dentist
20-23 Annual Reviews (individual dates already notified to parents)
24 Harvest Festival (at school) (Further details to be advised)
27-31 Half Term Holiday

Labels
Please remember to label all your child’s belongings including respite bags, P.E bags, swimming towels and all clothing.

May 2008

Derek Paravicini
After Derek performed at Heritage House we have been asked to inform you of his website again: www.derekparavicini.net
Adam Ockelford, who has been his mentor since childhood, has written Derek’s biography

’In the Key of Genius’. This is also available from the website.

The Changing Face of Education
Free public meeting and active discussion—everyone welcome. Do you want to hear what the government is planning for our children? Is the state of today’s education important to you ? If so, Amersham & Chesham Lions club invites you to attend a talk and active discussion with Sir Mike Tomlinson, former HM Chief Inspector of Schools.
Thursday 5th June
7.00p.m.starting at 7.30 pm
Amersham & Chiltern Rugby Club
Weedon Lane
Amersham
No entrance fee

As part of our 40th Celebration Week, we all dressed up for Sixies Day. It was a fantastic colourful day!

Wye Class on their Lambrettas


Proposed visit to India: This is now being considered for September 2009. Please express interest to Julie Golding Clarke

Mike’s Leaving Day was great fun for everyone ! His day started with a swim with Chess class, Sponge throwing from the Teacch department and Scottish dancing with the Extended Education pupils, dressing up was included in this activity. He did look lovely in his long skirt, sorry I mean kilt. Unfortunately a couple of naughty pixies decorated his car, much to the amusement of the pupils. The local bagpipe player began our special assembly, to say good-bye to Mike. We thought he must be thirsty by now so we gave him a little drop of Ironbru. We also give Mike his present from the School-this was vouchers for The Royal Opera House.

Education Maintenance Allowance
Pupils eligible to make new claims for EMA for the next academic year 2008/09 have been sent application packs. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible to ensure that payments can begin in September. Late applications do not necessarily mean that payments will be backdated in September. To those families already in receipt of EMA you will be contacted directly by the EMA to make a new application for September. Please ensure that you apply as soon as possible to ensure payment begins in September.

Dates for Your Diary
23rd May 2008 End of Term
9th June 2008 School return
17th July 2008 Parent’s Evening
18th July 2008 Training Day
29th July 2008 Fun Day
30th July 2008 End of Term


ZSL London Zoo
Special Children’s Day
Saturday 14th June 2008
London Zoo would like to invite you to their annual funday offering special reduced rates for one day only. Tickets must be pre booked before 7th June 2008. For further information please contact Steve Marriott on 0207 449 6551 or email education.admin@zsl.org

APRIL 2008

London Philharmonic Orchestra
A performance by the Hit Squad on February 28th at Heritage House School.

A group of 15 musicians arrived at school to give a concert of classical music. The Hit Squad give occasional performances in hospitals, schools, factories and offices as part of their Education and Community Programme. Normally their chosen venues are within London, so we were really fortunate to receive their offer of a concert in Chesham!

They played music by Copeland, Wagner and others. There were some really exceptional responses to the music from our students, and by the end we were almost a hushed audience! The players said that they very much enjoyed playing for us and Anna Vernon-Evans kindly provided delicious home-made biscuits for them, in the hope that they may be enticed to come back again one day.

He have links with the London Philharmonic that go back several years, with our annual trips to their schools’ concerts. Families have also enjoyed their “Funharmonics” concerts held on Sundays at the Festival Hall (details available on their website: www.lpo.org.uk)

New Appointment
We look forward to welcoming our new Assistant Headteacher, Simon Bishop, next term.
He will be based in the Lower School with Julie Golding Clarke containing to be based in the Upper School as Assistant Headteacher.

Celebration Week
We have a very exciting time coming up this week and this will include a concert by outstanding pianist Derek Paravicini on Monday. On Tuesday it will be Entertainers Day and our big 40th Birthday Celebration is on Wednesday. Thursday is 60’s Day all Students and Staff are invited to come dressed in sixty’s fancy dress!! We look forward to showing the photo’s next time.

May we remind you if you are attending our 40th Celebration Open Day, that parking will be extremely limited.

Stop Press—Fantastic Raffle Prizes
including 15’’ flat screen TV, Beauty salon Vouchers, toy hampers and lots more. If you would like buy tickets, please send money to school office £1.00 per ticket—prizes will be draw on 2nd April 2008, as part of our Celebration Day.

Special Needs Family All Ability Day Green Park –Aston Clinton 8th April 2008
A day of fun activities for young people with special needs (from 12 to 25 Years) to enjoy with their friends, family and/or carers.
For more information, please telephone Sarah on 01296 633 836 or email sgill@buckscc.gov.uk

Jan-Feb 2008

Staffing
We would like to welcome two new staff members, Felix Stankard and Karen Wheatley (formerly a Lunchtime Supervisor with us) to Heritage House.

JOINT RESIDENTIAL WITH PUPILS FROM SCHOOL IN JAPAN
On 23rd June this year pupils from Windrush Class and some from Extended Education Department will be joined for a residential in Windsor by three staff and ten pupils from our link school in Japan. Apparently the pupils and staff from Japan have never been to England before and are very excited at the prospect. Every week the Student Council are in contact with the Japanese students via the Japan Society website and are discussing plans for the visit.

4TH UK TAIKO FESTIVAL, 28th June 2008
The 4th UK Taiko Festival will be taking place in Rickmansworth this year and pupils from Heritage House will be performing at the festival alongside a group of their mainstream peers from Princes Risborough Primary School on Saturday 28th June.

HALF TERM DISABILTY SWIMMING SESSIONS
Bucks disability swimming club and Bucks Sport have teamed up to offer stroke development sessions for school children during the half term holiday at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury.

Monday 18th – Friday 22nd February
9:30am – 10:30am
Swimmers must be able to swim 25m to take part in these sessions
Cost: £10.00 for the week
call Emily Swain on 01296 585090 or email eswain@buckssport.org.

Family Physio
Family Physio is an independent private physiotherapy practice specialising in the provision of physiotherapy for babies, children and adolescents.
For further information, contact Jenny Evans on 07802 868505
www.familyphysio.co.uk Email familyphysio@googlemail.com

We had very successful Arts Week last week. Students were involved in an art project, drama sessions and enjoyed a musical concert performed by Challoners Girls School. One of the highlights of the week was our Chinese New Year Day, where we had a whole school Chinese lunch followed by a Chinese New Year Parade. The parade was opened by two Chinese lion dancers funded by Chesham Park Community College. Heritage House students paraded dressed as different signs of the zodiac.

Buckinghamshire Children’s Information Service
Buckinghamshire’s Children Information Service is a part of the Early Years Development and Children Service. It has a free telephone line, offering information and guidance on a wide range of issues covering childcare and children aged 0-14 years.(16 if special needs)
0800 3283317

Personal Accident Insurance scheme—for pupils . Parents wishing to take out cover for their child should contact the school office for an application form.

Wanted
We are looking for a number of toys for our Sensory Story Box.

Do you have any of the following :
Farmer, Horse, Aeroplane, Farmer Wife Taxis Bus, Cockerel, Dog, Flags (sm)
Rabbit, Ice-cream, Clown , Elephant, Lion, Snake, Cat.
Also, we always need hand cream or body lotions for our Tac Pac sessions.

Dates for your Diary
18th Feb Half term holiday
25th Feb Term starts
Reminder Extra training day 18th July 2008

December 2007 Newsletter

STAFFING

Jill Winchcombe will be joining the admin team as Business Manager. This is a new and exciting post and we look forward to welcoming Jill in the New Year. Pamela Jamieson started a new job at John Lewis in High Wycombe last week and we wish her well in her new venture.

WEBSITE
We are pleased to announce that the school website is up and running!! So visit http://www.heritagehouseschool.co.uk/ We hope you enjoy looking at it as much as we do, we intend to update the Gallery and News and Events areas regularly.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

The Christmas Bazaar was a great success this year with lots of stalls, gifts, face painting, dancing and not forgetting Father Christmas himself along with his trusting fairy Molly! The P.T.A. raised just over £700.00 and would like to say a big thank you to all those that helped on the day and to those that came along to support the event.

OUSEL CLASS have had a very busy term. This has included a very successful visit to Chesham Museum, which tied into the "Now and Then" topic they have been covering within history. As a result of this visit each student has identified a topic area and prepared a presentation that they will give to the Heritage House Sixth Form group in December.

In English, Ousel class have just finished reading a Roald Dahl book called, "The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me" which they thoroughly enjoyed. They spent a day at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden which gave the class the opportunity to learn more about the man himself!

Ousel class continue to thoroughly enjoy music and during Heritage House's Christmas concert they will play "Little Donkey" as a solo piece.

Bring on next year!

Pink Parade

Everyone was given a pink tee shirt to decorate and then the chance to show it off in the catwalk, the children's reactions to the music were amazing and the event was enjoyed by all. The Pink Parade turned out to be the first of many to come. The event was in aid of The Breast Cancer Appeal and we raised £84.35

Children in Need raised money for Children in Need!

And we had fun on the way when our two special guests, the Mayoress of Chesham and Pudsey Bear himself came in to the school for our special "Spotty Day Strutt" With everyone dressed (including staff) in yellow and decorated with spots the students had the chance to strut down the catwalk and have a hug with Pudsey. We raised over two hundred pounds and we would like to thank Mel Harewood and Karen Standage for organising a really fantastic event!!

WYE CLASS went to Watford to do some Christmas shopping. They all enjoyed the decorations and a visit to Santa's Grotto.

EARLY YEARS went to Mead Open Farm on a very cold but sunny day and had a special visit from Father Christmas which warmed them all up. Even the sheep looked surprised!