Hazelwood Integrated

Hazelwood Integrated

Primary and Nursery School

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ParentMail    

Monday

Dear Parent/Carer,

Reminder - School will be closed Monday 18th March 2024 for St Patrick's Day

Kind Regards

Hazelwood Integrated Primary

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are taking part in the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel 11th - 22nd March.

On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can record the greatest proportion of their pupils taking active journeys to school.The challenge aims to get more children making active journeys to school and discover how these changes benefit their world.

Regular physical activity promotes good physical and mental health. Walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling is a great way for children to build physical activity into their daily routine. It helps children arrive more relaxed and alert, ready to start the day. It also helps reduce traffic congestion and improves air quality around the school.

Please encourage your child to take part if it is possible and Walk, Scoot or Cycle to and from school over the next 2 weeks.

Kind Regards

Hazelwood Integrated Primary

Hazelwood's Got Talent

The live shows for Hazelwood’s Got Talent 2024 are going well. 

Please come along and support the children on Monday or Tuesday from 2.30pm and vote for your favourite act to go through to the final. 

The grand final is on Thursday 14th March at 6.30pm.  Come and see the marvellous talents of the children  Entrance is £5 a family and there will be some refreshments and a tuck shop for the children to buy treats. 

Good luck to all our marvelous children.

Play Areas

Dear Parent/Guardian,

 

Last week I was delighted to meet with Ronnie McKee the CEO of EA Adventure Escapes.

We have finally agreed the plans for the incredible new play areas for the school. This includes an extension to the nursery play area. A new pirate ship themed area for the nursery area.

An exciting 12-piece adventure trail for P4-7 classes and a natural wood play area at the rear of the school.

These will all be installed during the summer break and ready to use by September 2024.

Until then we are continuing to fund raise as much as possible so we can buy the very best in play scapes for the school.

Please support us by sending in your 20p’s for the smartie tube fundraising challenge. Every penny raised will be invested into enriching and improving the play experiences of our pupils.

 

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

World Book Day

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Next Thursday 7th March it will be World Book Day. Children can come to school dressed as a character from a book. Please DO NOT go out and buy your child a costume. Children can be creative and make thier own costumes using materials at home.

The children will parade around the hall/playground to celebrate this special day.

Many thanks

Literacy Results

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am writing to share some great news with you. Our pupils have recently completed standardised reading tests which allow us to track their progress. The tests also help us to understand how well our children are doing compared to the rest of the country. I am pleased to say that our Hazelwood pupils have made fantastic progress in the first term and, as a group, are performing at a level higher than the national average. This is great news indeed. This wouldn’t have happened without you supporting your young readers at home, so I would like to take this opportunity to offer congratulations and to thank you.

Mrs Szlachta

Literacy Co-ordinator

SMARTIES TUBES COMPETITION

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The PTC are helping in the final push to purchase our new outdoor playground equipment.  We thought we could have a competition where the children all work together to win. 

Each class will be given some empty Smartie tubes and they need filling with 20p pieces.  The class that manages to fill the most Smartie tubes will win a night off homework.  So check your pockets and down the sofa for that loose change. 

The competition will run until Friday 15th March.

Many thanks

Parentline NI

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Please find attached flyer for our new parent workshop. 

Limited places available so early booking recommended. 

If you have any queries don't hesitate to get in touch. 

thank you 

Parentline NI

0808 8020 400

FREE ONLINE COURSES

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Solihull Approach are offering free online courses for parents.  There is normally a charge for the these, but the access code below should give you free access.  Courses include:

  • Understanding your child's feelings
  • Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
  • Understanding your baby
  • Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
  • Understanding your child with additional needs
  • Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing
  • Understanding your brain (for teenagers only)

Your can access these courses by visiting:  https://inourplace.co.uk/

The access code for these free courses is: NIFAMILIES

Many thanks,

Miss Agnew

SAFER SCHOOLS APP

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Today is Safer Internet Day.

Following on from our parentmail a few days ago regarding the Safer Schools App, please see the attached information on how to download it and the access code you will need to activate it.

If you have any problems, please contact the school office.

Many thanks

THANK YOU

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I would like to thank all those parents and carers who completed the audit.  There as a fantastic response with approximately 70% of our families completing it.  The responses are really positive, and it is so encouraging knowing that you are happy with so many areas of school life and your child's learning experience at Hazelwood.

We will now carefully go through the audit and identify any areas that we can improve on.  Next week we will hopefully have a full copy of the audit available for you to read on the school website and a shorter summary available on See Saw as well as hard copies that can be collected from the school office.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

PARENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear Parent/Carer, 

A very important part of our school improvement strategy is to have a good understanding of the views and opinions of our entire school community including our parents/carers. 

I have attached a link to a questionnaire that I am asking you to complete.  The questionnaire is totally confidential and anonymous and will take under 10 minutes to complete.  Previously we have sent a parent questionnaire every 2 years.  Instead of this one lengthy questionnaire on all areas of the school life, I will instead send two shorter questionnaires each year.  The one in which I have sent a link in this Parentmail will focus on your views on Integration, Pastoral Care, Behaviour and Ethos. 

Completing these questions is really important.  Your suggestions and ideas are so important to us.  In previous questionnaires you told us of a number of issues that were important to you.  Some of these I am happy to say we implemented in school including: 

  • Improving the traffic management 
  • Having increased opportunities to see your child's work 
  • Improving the lunchtime dinner experience 
  • Having a meet the teacher afternoon 
  • Improving afterschool clubs 

Parents play a very special role in the life of Hazelwood.  Hazelwood was opened by parents.  This continues to be your school and completing this question allows you to be part of it. 

Can I ask that you please complete this by Friday 26th January 2024. 

Mr McDaid (Principal) 

 

 

https://sdp.wholeschool.ie/hazelwoodps_1066531/questionnaire/b3aae186-9487-4277-a033-475e50380581

PRE SCHOOL AND P1 ENROLMENT FOR SEPTEMBER 2024

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The EA Open Enrolment website opens tomorrow (Tuesday 9th January) for those parents who have younger children and wish to apply for a place for September for Nursery and Primary 1.

Please see the attached leaflet which will give you more information on how to apply, criteria etc.

Please also pass this information on to anyone you know who would be eligible. 

If you have any queries, please contact the school office.

Many thanks

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION WEEK

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION WEEK 

  Next week is Science Investigation Week at school. It is wonderful to see children’s enthusiasm and participation in this every year. 

Science investigation homework will go out this Thursday 11th Jan to kickstart our Science Week in school. You should receive a letter explaining what children are expected to do along with the Science Investigation write up sheet and some suggestions to help you. Children can use this template or they can write it up in their own creative way. 

ALL our pupils are expected to complete a science investigation. To allow time for this, all homework other than reading and spellings has been suspended until Friday 19th January when all investigations will be handed in to teachers.  

Please return Science Investigations and write ups to your child’s teacher.  

We expect science investigations to be child led and completed as independently as possible.  This is an opportunity for you to support your child’s learning and it is an important part of the curriculum. 

We will have a science award assembly on Thursday 8th of February to celebrate all the investigations completed by our pupils. 

Many Thanks,  

Miss Scott  

ONE WAY TRAFFIC SYSTEM

Dear Parent/Guardian,

A quick reminder that the one-way system for entry to the school grounds begins this morning. There will be school staff at the gates to direct you and we would ask for your patience and co-operation.

Please see the map below for more details.

Many thanks

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

BREAKFAST CLUB

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are delighted that many more pupils are using our free Breakfast Club. This service is available to all our pupils and we would welcome more pupils. This service will be available until the end of January 2024.

Starting next week, we will have a special breakfast on Tuesday and Friday, when we will offer pancakes or waffles as well as cereal and juice.

If you would like your child to attend, please get in touch with Alison in the School Office.

Many thanks

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

REMINDER ABOUT TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER

Dear Parent/Guardian,

A quick reminder that the new traffic arrangements start on Monday 13th November 2023.

For those not already done so, you can collect your pass from the school office. These are for Nursery to P2 children. Please have this clearly displayed on your dashboard each morning from Monday 13th November. I hope this will make your entry to school easier.

Only cars with this pass will be allowed access to the school. If you have a blue mobility badge, this really should apply to your child and not the driver and therefore I would ask that your child also walks from the front gate, and you do not drive into the school grounds.

As a result of these changes traffic coming into the school grounds has been greatly reduced. The punctuality of our pupils has greatly improved and the safety of our pupils while walking in the school every morning and afternoon has also been improved.

Thank you once again for your support.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

CODE OF CONDUCT - PARENTS

Dear Parent/Carer,

Hazelwood Parent/Carer Code of Conduct.

Please take time to read and understand what your responsibility is to ensure that the entire hazelwood Community, its employees. pupils and parents/carers, are treated with respect, so that the ethos and values of Hazelwood are upheld by everybody.

A copy of this is also available on the school website .Hazelwood Parent/Carer Code of Conduct.

Mr McDaid (Principal)

ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL

Dear Parent/Guardian,

After reviewing the Department of Education's Guidance on the administration of medicine, there are a few things we wanted to highlight.

  • -If children need to take prescribed medications in school (including inhalers), parents must fill in a form called Administration of Medicine and return it to their child's class teacher.
  • -If children are prescribed a short-term antibiotic, we would ask parents to try and administer these at times when the children are at home.
  • -All prescribed medication must be sent into school in its original box, so staff can see names, instructions and date of expiration.
  • -School is not permitted to administer non-prescription medication, such as Calpol.
  • -If your child needs an inhaler for asthma, we would ask (where possible), that you provide 2 of these in case of an emergency where one inhaler runs out.

Lastly, can I remind parents that we are a nut free school.  We have a number of children with serious nut allergies.  Please ensure that you do not send in nuts or foods containing nuts, eg Nutella, Snickers, Peanut butter.

Many thanks for your support.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

27th October 2023

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - NEW ARRANGEMENTS FROM MONDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2023

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Thank you to all those parents/guardians who have supported the school with new traffic access arrangements beginning Monday 13th November 2023.

To improve the flow of traffic for families from Nursery to P2, I would ask that you collect from the school office your school access pass.  Please have this clearly displayed on your dashboard each morning.  I hope this will make your entry to school easier.

Only cars with this pass will be allowed access to the school.  If you have a blue mobility badge, this really should apply to your child and not the driver and therefore I would ask that your child also walks from the front gate, and you do not drive into the school grounds.

These passes are available for collection from the School Office from Monday 6th November.  I would ask that all Parents/Guardians of pupils from Nursery to P2 will have them displayed from Monday 13th November.

As a result of these changes traffic coming into the school grounds has been greatly reduced.  The punctuality of our pupils has greatly improved and the safety of our pupils while walking in the school every morning and afternoon has also been improved.

Thank you once again for your support.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NEW BUS TIMETABLE FOR THE MORNING BELFAST BUS

Dear Parent/Guardian,

A quick reminder about the new bus timetable for the Belfast morning Bus beginning on Monday 6th November 2023.

As a school we have been concerned about the late arrival of pupils travelling on the morning Belfast Translink bus. Indeed, some parents shared my concerns also.

This should help ensure that the bus arrives on time. It is really important that you check how this new schedule affects you and your child. This applies to the morning bus only.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if there are any issues with this new schedule.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

 

Hazelwood Primary School (retimed school service)

Service No. 778

Location Time

Carr's Glen (Joanmount) 0828

Oldpark Rd (Oldpark Terrace, Co-op) 0833

Westland Road (Golf Course) 0835

Cavehill Road (Inver Avenue) 0836

North Circular Road 0838

Antrim Road (North Circular Road) 0839

Antrim Road (Salisbury Avenue) 0842

Antrim Road (Atlantic Avenue) 0846

via Duncairn Gardens,

North Queen Street (Mountcollyer) 0849

Shore Road (Lidl/Asda) 0851

Shore Road (Gray's Lane) 0855

Lower Whitewell (White City) 0857

Hazelwood Primary School 0900

 

 

27th October 2023

22.10.2021

Can I thank all our parents and carers for their incredible food donations for our Harvest Table.  All donations were picked up by "The People's Kitchen" an organisation which helps the homeless and those families less fortunate than ourselves. They were overwhelmed by the generosity of our families.  Every item will be distributed to families in Belfast who are in great need.  As you can see from the attached photo all our donations were able to fill a whole van!

Please check inside your child's Homework Diary for their attendance percentage for September.  We ask that you please sign to show you have seen the entry.  During these still difficult times we understand that taking time off due to illness is understandable but we all are aware of the importance of being in school everyday on time.

Each half term, children with an attendance percentate of 97% and above are entered into a draw to win a £20 movie voucher!  This is to promote how important excellent attendance is to the education and well being of all pupils.  Thank you for your continuing support.

Can I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support this term.  I wish all our families a safe half term.  See you all on 1st November!

Mr J McDaid (Principal) 

20.9.2021

This letter is to inform you that some of our students in school have severe food allergies to peanuts/nut products. It is important that there is strict avoidance to this food in order to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. We are asking your help to provide the student with a safe school environment.

Any exposure to peanuts/nuts may cause a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical treatment. To reduce the chance of this occurring, we are asking that you do not send any Hazelnut or products that contain nuts such as Nutella, Ferrero Rocher etc to school with your child that will be eaten in the classroom, and please read the ingredients on any food your child is binging in to ensure no nuts or nut traces come in to school. Hazelwood is a nut free school and we rely on parents to help us maintain this.

If your child has eaten peanuts/nuts before coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands and face have been thoroughly washed before entering the school.

We appreciate your support of these procedures. Please contact me if you have any questions.

28.3.2021

No one thought that when we closed the school on December 18th 2020 we would not fully open again for 14 weeks. Last week we finally welcomed back all 451 of our wonderful pupils from each of our 16 classes.  

Despite our teacher’s careful planning and preparation for this reopening, nothing prepared us for the overwhelming positive response from our pupils. Despite the unprecedented disruption and challenges in their young lives they returned to their classes with enthusiasm and joy. Friendships were reunited. Sand trays became messy again. Marshmallows were toasted. Goals were scored. Songs were sung and classrooms were once again full of curious and happy learners.    

The strength of their spirit and the resilience they showed last week was commendable. I thank all our parents and guardians who worked so closely with your child’s teacher to help minimise the disruption in your child’s learning during the school closure.  

While we know that the resumption and re-engagement with learning has just begun, I want to assure you all that Hazelwood’s dedicated, committed and hardworking teachers and classroom assistants will be there for your children at every turn as they resume their learning.

I want to also take this opportunity to wish all our families a safe and happy Easter break.  See you all on Monday 12th April.

Mr J McDaid (Principal)

26.5.2020

Dear Mrs Douglas, Hazelwood Integrated Primary School has sent you a message

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I want to thank you all on behalf of the Board of Governors , for your efforts in the home schooling of your children over the last 2 months . The parents have always been an important part of a child’s education and “our new normal” has made the parental contribution the most important element.

In the coming months when the school gradually re opens under new guidelines, the school will have to operate in new ways. The Board of Governors are committed to providing the resources required to make the school a safe place for the pupils and staff. 

When the Department of Education brings out the new guidelines on the operation of the school, your cooperation will be essential to make them work effectively.

The school will keep you informed over the coming months so that all the stakeholders, the pupils , staff and parents can work together to ensure that the pupils experience of school in its new mode will be rich and rewarding

Keep safe and stay well

Colin Petrie

Chairman,

Board of Governors

 

 

If you are entitled to Free School Meals but have still to submit your application form to the Education Authority please do so immediately. We cannot provide your child with a Free School Meal until we have been advised by the Education Authority of their eligibility.
Application forms were issued at the end of June and are also available here:
Completed forms should be returned to the Education Authority, not the school.
Until you receive confirmation of eligibility from the Education Authority please send payment (£2.60 per meal) or a packed lunch. There can be no exceptions.

 

Just a quick reminder that Hazelwood IPS is a NO SMOKING ZONE and therefore smoking is NOT permitted on school grounds or at the school gates.  Recently there has been an increasing amount of cigarette butts appearing in the school grounds and at the school gates and we would ask you to please be considerate to other parents and children and make sure you are well away from the school and school grounds before lighting up.

 

SAFETY AT HAZELWOOD INTEGRATED PRIMARY & NURSERY SCHOOL
As you are aware the School site is a busy place in the mornings and afternoons as children are dropped off and picked up.  Please take extra care in your movements around the site - especially when driving around the Zebra Crossings.
We need to keep all our children and parents safe.
We would appreciate your help and co-operation in this matter.

 

EARLY DROP OFF IN MORNINGS
An increasing number of children are being dropped off at school at 8am and are being left unattended and unsupervised.
There is no Staff allocation at this time to supervise your child.  Please use the Breakfast Club Facility for a cost of £1 per day, this is for SUPERVISION ONLY and does not include Breakfast.  
Children are supervised in the playground from 8.40am.  Your child should NOT be dropped at school before this.
MICROSOFT OFFICE PACKAGE
With Christmas on the horizon staff and students (or parents of students) may be planning  to purchase new personal devices including tablets, laptops etc. 
 To avoid the unnecessary purchase of Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc) please note that staff, pupils and guardians do not need to purchase Microsoft Office as it  available free with a C2k username on up to 5 personal devices in 4 easy steps (see below)
Each child in school should have a Username and Password that they use for the computers in school and this is what you will need in order to be able to download the Microsoft Office Package.
2.Enter C2k username in the format  auser123@c2ken.net
3.At the next box enter (i) your C2k username auser123 and (ii) password
4.Download the version of Microsoft Office you require
If you have any queries please contact the school office.

 

HEALTHY LUNCHES
REMINDER ABOUT HEALTHY LUNCHESAs part of our approach to Healthy Eating at Hazelwood, we ask that you support us by ensuring that your child's lunch is healthy.  Some ideas are attached. Friday is an opportunity to give your child a treat - this means ONE SMALL chocolate bar OR crisps and please remember we are a NUT FREE school.

 

NUT ALLERGY

This letter is to inform you that some of our students in school have severe food allergies to peanuts/nut products. It is important that there is strict avoidance to this food in order to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. We are asking your help to provide the student with a safe school environment.

Any exposure to peanuts/nuts may cause a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical treatment. To reduce the chance of this occurring, we are asking that you do not send any Hazelnut or products that contain nuts such as Nutella, Ferrero Rocher etc to school with your child that will be eaten in the classroom.

If your child has eaten peanuts/nuts before coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands and face have been thoroughly washed before entering the school.

We appreciate your support of these procedures. Please contact me if you have any questions.