Dear Families,

As we come to the end of a busy and exciting half term, I would like to take a moment to celebrate some wonderful successes across our school. Our Year 4 pupils have had an amazing opportunity to take part in the Royal Ballet Chance to Dance programme, with many enthusiastic participants who will be performing at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable this February — we are incredibly proud of them. We were also treated to an incredible Year 5 performance of Snow White and the 27 Dwarfs which showcased the children’s confidence, teamwork and talent.

Some of our Year 6 pupils enjoyed a fantastic cultural experience with a visit to the English National Opera to watch HMS Pinafore. The whole school also delighted in a trip to the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Luton Library Theatre, filling the term with laughter and festive cheer. The annual extravaganza of Hillborough’s Got Talent once again impressed us all, celebrating the creativity and bravery of our pupils.

We are equally proud of our sporting achievements this half term, including excellent performances in dodgeball and being crowned Lower School Athletics Champions — a brilliant example of teamwork, determination and sportsmanship. Pupils also took part in our popular Taskmaster activities, linked to developing the Skills Builder Eight Essential Skills, encouraging problem-solving, collaboration and resilience. We were delighted to raise money for Children in Need, showing our strong sense of community and kindness.

Finally, a whole-hearted thank you to Variety Golf for their incredibly generous support in providing us with our brandnew minibus, which will make such a positive difference to opportunities for our pupils.

Thank you for your continued support throughout the term. I would like to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas holiday, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in the New Year.

Warmest wishes,
Mr. D. Bradshaw

As we reach the midpoint of the autumn term, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a wonderful start to the academic year here at Hillborough Junior School.

It has been a joy to see all our pupils settle so well into their learning, particularly our new Year 3 children who have made the transition from Infant School with such confidence and enthusiasm. They have quickly embraced the opportunities that Junior School offers and are already valued members of our community.

Thank you to the many parents and carers who attended our recent parents' evening. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet with so many of you and discuss your children's progress. These conversations are invaluable in supporting our pupils' learning journey.

This term has already seen impressive sporting achievements across the school – please do read more about these successes in Mr Farooqi's sports update in the newsletter. It's fantastic to see our children representing the school with such skill and sportsmanship.

Our harvest assembly was a truly special occasion, and I was overwhelmed by your generosity in supporting our school food bank. Additionally, our non-uniform day raised a significant amount for the Red Cross, helping those in need both locally and globally. Thank you for instilling such strong values of compassion and community spirit in your children.

It was wonderful to see our school community shining bright to recognise World Mental Health Day. Both children and staff participated thoughtfully, reminding us all of the importance of looking after our wellbeing and supporting one another.

As the darker evenings draw in, please remember to ensure children have appropriate coats and waterproof clothing for the cooler weather.

May I please remind you that the school will be visiting Luton Library Theatre to see the pantomime this year. It promises to be a true spectacle. So that your child does not miss out, please pay a subsidised price of £5 through the normal school pay channels so that we can secure the required seats.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

With warm wishes,

Mr Bradshaw

As we reach the end of another remarkable academic year, I am delighted to reflect on the extraordinary achievements our pupils have accomplished. Our sporting teams have excelled throughout the year, with particularly outstanding performances in football, cricket and athletics competitions across the town and beyond bringing home numerous trophies and medals that truly showcase our pupils' dedication and talent.

One of the highlights of our creative calendar was the spectacular Year 6 production of Bugsy Malone, where our pupils delivered performances that left audiences spellbound with their singing, acting, and choreography – a testament to their hard work and the exceptional guidance of our staff.

We are also immensely proud to have been re-awarded Skills Builder Flagship status, recognising our commitment todeveloping essential life skills alongside academic excellence.

Our end of term reward trips to various theme parks were a wonderful celebration of the children's efforts throughout the year, creating lasting memories and providing well-deserved fun after months of hard work. I am particularly pleased to congratulate our Year 6 pupils on their outstanding SATs results, which reflect not only their academic ability but also their perseverance and commitment to learning. As our Year 6 pupils prepare to embark on their exciting journey to high school, we wish them the very best for this new chapter – they leave us as confident, capable young people who will undoubtedly continue to achieve great things.

I wish you all a wonderful, well deserved summer break and I look forward to welcoming the children back to school in September rested and refreshed for another action-packed year.

David Bradshaw- Headteacher

Although a short half term, we have certainly managed to pack a lot in! A particular mention goes to our Year 6 pupils who conducted themselves exceptionally throughout their end of key stage 'SATS' tests. Leading up to the assessment week, the attendance at the additional booster sessions laid on by our dedicated team of Year 6 staff was exemplary. They demonstrated many essential skills of aiming high and staying positive. I look forward to receiving their results in due course.

This term has seen many opportunities for the children to engage in 'careers' activities, learning the wider importance of developing essential skills. Year 5 had a talk from one of the animators from Peppa Pig, whilst Year 3 enjoyed a inspiring virtual workshop from an aeroplane engineer. I am excited to announce a whole school careers day on 25th June. During this day, all children will apply what they have learnt from their 'skills builder' lessons to a real life work context. In addition, our Year 6 pupils will meet employees from a wider range of careers to begin thinking about their future aspirations.

Please make sure that you pop Thursday 26th June in your diary for our 'Great Get Together'. This is an evening of fun and fundraising whilst showcasing all our pupils' performing arts talents.

What a special moment in our ‘Hillborough Histories’ as we celebrate 50 years of our outstanding school being open! We have enjoyed numerous celebrations this week in particular, culminating in a superb performance by our youngest pupils in Year 3. They absolutely stunned the audiences with their confidence on stage and wonderful singing voices. I was extremely proud to welcome key members of our local community to our festivities, along with past school staff! Our celebrations will continue with our children’s anniversary disco on 1st May and our upcoming ‘Great Get Together’ on 26th June.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks in the spring sunshine, with lots of well deserved quality family time and I look forward to welcoming all the children back to school on Wednesday 23rd April!

I hope this newsletter finds you well as we welcome the brighter days of spring. The past half-term has been filled with wonderful learning experiences, new opportunities and inspiring achievements by our pupils. It has been a joy to see their enthusiasm and resilience in all they do, whether in the classroom, on the sports field or through creative and musical endeavours.

This term we have focussed on staying positive, kindness and determination. Our dedicated staff continue to provide a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. We are also grateful for your ongoing support, whether through attending school events, helping with homework or simply encouraging your child's curiosity at home.

As we look ahead, there are many exciting activities planned, including trips, performances and community and sports events. We hope these opportunities will inspire and enrich our pupils' learning journey. Don't forget that it is World Book Day coming up on March 6th and Sustrans Big Wheel and Walk to school week on the week commencing 24th March. With our increased focus on essential skills and careers, I'd like to thank those parents who responded to Mr. O'Donnell's plea for you to share information about your careers. I'm sure he will be in contact in the coming months. Below is a careers inspired competition from the NHS which I would encourage our children to take part in as a half-term activity.

https://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/primary-schools/KS2-competition/send-us-your-entry

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Wishing you all a happy a fulfilling term ahead.