The Hamlet Herald - Dulwich Hamlet Junior School

The Hamlet Herald
Answerphone: 020 8693 3705 Telephone: 020 7525 9188/9 Facsimile: 020 7525 9187
scase@dulwichhamlet.southwark.sch.uk or
office@dulwichhamlet.southwark.sch.uk
April 2009 Number 106
As we come up to our spring break it is worthwhile taking a step back and reflecting on some of the amazing things
the children have been involved with in the last few weeks. I hope they are always keen to let you know what
they’ve been up to, but in the pressure of our busy lives, we don’t always have the time to find out in depth.
So here’s just a taster: Year 3 children making films using “blue screen technology” and hand puppets, having
written non-chronological reports about animals in which they are interested; visiting the British Museum and holding
a day of Olympic Activities; Year 4 immersed in ghastly science experiments, and studying the local environment
including counting traffic through the Village, Year 5 pursing personal projects of specific interest to them during the
PLS; making animated films, and comic books retelling the story of the Highwayman; visiting the Horniman Museum
to research masks, and Dulwich Picture Gallery to engage in Reading Workshops; Year 6 performing King Lear at The
Globe Theatre, portraying Macbeth through drama and art, and studying how The European Community works and
devising their own flags to reflect European values.
Our musicians performing in our Recorder Festival and at The Southwark Music Festival, a day devoted to Comic
Relief fundraising with a surprise visit as guest “judge” from Jo Brand, which raised a staggering £1510.40, and
displaying home grown Spring Bulbs and baking cakes for Valentine Days.
A prospective parent recently asked me how it was that we got such fantastic results here at the Hamlet. Do we do a
lot of testing Is it lots of homework How can we manage to “fit in” music, art and drama
The answer is quite simple: we start with children that are motivated, interested enthusiastic and we build on that.
We plan in the opportunities for them to learn creatively, share their new ideas, develop opinions by responding to
an amazing range of stimulus. We don’t cram them, but believe that a broad enriched curriculum which engages
children and which they have a voice in, is the key to high standards. If this is blowing our own trumpet- I’m happy
to do so. We have an incredible staff team who are always prepared to go the extra mile, and incredible children
that want go even further!
Important April dates for your
diaries
Wed 1 st class assembly 5C; Brass exams
Science Fair for whole school
3.30 Drama Performance by drama club
7.00 Recorder Festival in Turney Hall
Thurs 2 nd Brass Exams; 2.30 School
Council; Drama performance by drama
club
Fri 3 rd Egg in a Box judging
LAST DAY OF TERM
Mon 20 th Back to School
Tues 21 st Financial Management
assembly for Years 5 and 6
Wed 22 nd Year 3 Art Project begins
created by the children themselves.
Fri 24 th Pavement Artist Competition
Mon 27 th Year 5 Residential Trip to
Arethusa
Fri 1 st May Year 5 Residential Trip to
Arethusa
Mon 4 th May BANK HOLIDAY
Eco Reps
The Eco-Reps are organising 'The
Big Tidy', an initiative starting on
May 11th looking to rid the school of
litter whilst also doing some good
work for the local community. We
are looking for an area within
walking distance of the school, that
would benefit from an Eco-Team
overhaul. If you spot anywhere
nearby which needs cleaning up,
please notify Mr Brown, or the Eco-
Reps (Jed 3F, Sneha 4DB, Elisia 5S
& Sarah 6SP).
Changes to the Governing
Body
You may not be aware that we have
recently held elections within our
Governing Body and are pleased to
announce the successful
appointment of Rebecca Tee
(mother to Jeremy in year 4 and
Vicky in year 6) to Chair, and to
Karen Robinson (mother of Lucas in
year 3), to Vice Chair. Although
Crispin Tuckley has stepped down as
Chair he will continue to be an
active School Governor and
Convenor of the Finance
Committee. We would like to take
this opportunity for thanking Crispin
for his amazing hard work and
dedication he has made to DHJS and
are delighted that he has decided to
continue. If you click on Meet our
Governors (Our School; Our
Governors) you find out more.
Secondary School
Confirmations
If you have not confirmed which
secondary school your child is
moving onto, please do so urgently
as we need these for data collection
and transfer.
Comic Relief
Thanks to Jo Brand for helping
judge our Be funny for Money
contestants, and to all the staff who
painted playgrounds and organised
Comic Relief activities. A special
thank you to the children who
raided piggy banks and entered into
the Comic Relief spirit so fully.

Staff Changes
Mrs Evans, who has done such a
fantastic job of leading our PE
curriculum will be taking over Maths
Leadership. She is keen to develop
further the opportunities for
children to apply their
mathematical skills to problem
solving in other contexts and will be
looking at ways to build this into
maths planning. We will retain the
flexible setting arrangements to
ensure children can learn at a level
most suited to their needs.
Meanwhile Miss Lindsay (yr 3) will
take on the PE curriculum. She is
particularly interested in developing
inter- house tournaments alongside
the external competitions, that
children are involved in. She is also
is keen to exploit the opportunities
the 2012 Olympics will bring to
London children.
We wish them both well in their
new roles.
We are very sad to be saying
goodbye to Mrs Amura, who will be
leaving us after 4 years and 3
months. She has always been the
smiling face of The Hamlet, making
us all smile and feel good, all top of
the amazing office duties that she
accomplishes on a daily basis. Her
last day will be April 24 th after
which she will be taking on the new
challenge of running the school
office of Summerhouse PRU –
singlehandedly! We wish her all the
best in her new career and are
delighted she will remain a member
of the DH Steel Band who will be
performing at the Dulwich Festival.
First Half Summer Term
Dinner Money
Please make out cheques for £39.10
to Dulwich Hamlet Junior School,
marked with your child’s name and
class, and send them in on the first
day back. This covers 23 days and
excludes the Bank Holiday and the
Inset Day on May 21 st .
Southwark Term and
Holiday Dates 2009/10
Academic Year
AUTUMN TERM
Thursday 3 rd & Friday 4 th
September Inset Days (1 and 2)
Monday 7 th September – Thursday
22 nd October
Friday 23 rd October Inset Day
(3)
Half Term:
Monday 26 th October – Friday 30 th
Monday 2 nd November – Friday 18 th
December
SPRING TERM
Monday 4 th January Inset Day
Monday 4 th January Inset Day
(4)
Tues 5 th January – Fri 12 th February 29 1
Half Term:
Monday 15 th February – Friday 19 th
Mon 22 nd February – Thurs 1 st April
SUMMER TERM
Mon 19 th April – Thursday 27 th May 28
Friday 28 th May Inset Day (5)
Half Term:
Mon 31 st May – Fri 4 th June
Monday 7 th June – Friday 23 rd July
PLEASE NOTE: CHILDREN DO NOT
ATTEND SCHOOL ON THE 5 INSET
DAYS.
School Travel Plan
We’d be really grateful if you
would complete the questionnaire
that comes with this Hamlet
Herald – we are required to review
our Travel Plan each year.