Newsletters

HNTPS Weekly Newsletter: Friday 13th February 2026



Horwood and Newton Tracey Primary School


Enabling children to be the best that they can be!


Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining our year 5 children on their residential to London.  It was a fantastic experience full of brilliant cultural and historical experiences for the children to enjoy.  We thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of activities across the four days and the children engaged well with the workshops and interactive activities within each visit. Time away from home provided them with the opportunity to continue to build positive relationships with their school peers as well as building new relationships and making new friends with children from across the Trust.  These residentials are an invaluable experience that provide opportunities for the children to problem solve, embrace new experiences and for many, spend their first time away from home!  A huge thank you to the central team for organising and coordinating the week and to the rest of the Trust staffing team who came along with their children for the week.

Year 6 Residential Sunday 17th May – Friday 22nd May

Last week, parents of children in year 6 were emailed information about the year 6 residential to Bude in May.  Mrs Hopkins and Mrs Carter will be planning an information session to share with parents and children which will include the activities that the children will have the opportunity to take part in, kit lists and payment plans. Dates for this meeting will be shared after the half term break.  If you would like to secure your child’s place, please can we ask that an initial deposit of £65 is paid by Friday 6th March.  Many thanks for your continued support.

Class 3 residential  to Wildside Tuesday 23rd June – Wednesday 24th June

Mrs Dorrell would like to invite parents of children in class 3 to a Wildside residential meeting on Wednesday 25th February at 3:30pm.  The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the activities the children will be taking part in and for parents and children to ask questions.  We look forward to seeing our parents at the meeting.  

Year 6 SATs After School Club - starts Wednesday 25th February 

Just to remind parents of year 6 that Mrs Hopkins will be running an after-school club for our year 6 children, which will begin on the first Wednesday we return after the half term break.  We have had several of our year 6 children signed up for the club already.  If you would like your child to take part in the club, please register them through your Arbor account.  It would be lovely to see all our year 6 children engaging in a range of activities that will consolidate their learning.

Year 4 Times Table After School Club - starts Monday 23rd February 

Mrs Dorrell will be running a year 4 times table club which will begin on the first Monday we return after the half term holidays.  The club will be interactive and engage the children in fun and exciting ways to learn and remember their times tables.  This will support their maths learning and enable the children to quickly recall number facts to support problem solving.  We have had several of our year 4 children signed up for the club already.  If you would like your child to take part in the club, please register them through your Arbor account.  It would be lovely to see all our year 4 children coming along to this free after school club each Monday from 3:30-4:30pm.

Class 2 Antarctica Video call

The children in class 2 had a very exciting opportunity to meet some of the team who are based at the Rothera Research Centre in Antarctica today through a TEAMS school zoom meeting.  The children were very excited to find out more about what the research team do there and had a range of interesting questions to ask the team.  This was an excellent opportunity to consolidate their geography topic of Antarctica the children have been exploring this half term. 

Internet Safety week

As part of internet safety week, the children came together in their key stages to discuss and share how we can keep ourselves safe when we are using the internet.  Through careful discussions the children shared what was safe and when they needed to report something to a trusted adult in school or at home  Our discussions also looked at the use of AI and how we should not always believe everything we see online.  For further information, please click on the link below:

Top Tips for parents and carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

Global Schools Zoom Call

On Tuesday, Class 4 enjoyed a live online call with our partner school in India. The children were excited to speak with the teachers and had a fantastic opportunity to ask thoughtful questions linked to their learning about Hinduism, as well as their Farm to Fork topic. It was a brilliant way to bring their classroom learning to life, helping them to deepen their understanding through real conversations and shared experiences. The class listened carefully, showed great curiosity, and really valued learning about life and culture in India.  

“We found that the most common crop in the area of SDM school was rice. This is because it is hot and wet in this area. In other areas they grow wheat.”

“I asked them about cows being sacred. I found out that they worship the cow because it represents motherhood. I also found out that Hindus are usually vegetarian because they don't like to harm anyone, including animals.”

Tuck Shop

Thank you to all our parents who have supported our tuck shop this half term.  We will be opening up a new payment system on the first week back after the half term break which will enable parents to sign their child/ren for next half term.  More information will be shared after the half term holiday.  Mrs Radley and the Eco warriors have begun work on our sensory garden area which will see new plants and shrubs being planted when we return next half term, using funds raised through running the Tuck Shop.

After School Clubs

Next half term, we will be running clubs for our year 4 and 6 children.   Our after-school club will continue to run everyday after school from 3:30-4:30pm or 3:30-5:30pm slots.  Our after-school club offers a wide range of activities including colouring, arts and crafts, sporting activities and lego building.  If you would like to book your child to participate in any of the after-school clubs we have to offer, please sign up through our Arbor system. 

Attendance Matters

In line with our school and trust attendance policy, we are requesting evidence of any medical or dental appointments that are made during the school day which require your child/ren to miss time from school. If possible, we are asking that parents make these appointments outside of school time.

Falcons Gymnastics

Class 3 have thoroughly enjoyed their PE sessions with Falcons Gymnastics this half term.  Next half term, as part of their PE sessions, children in class 4 will be attending Falcons Gymnastics to develop key skills through exploring the fantastic range of equipment and resources available. Please can we ask that children in class 4 come to school in their PE kits each Wednesday.  The session will run in afternoon and children will return to school before the end of the school day.  The first session will be on Wednesday 25th February. 

Forest School Sessions

Class 1 forest school session will now take place each Monday.  Our year 2 children will also have a forest school session which will take place each Tuesday afternoon.  Please can we ask that children bring their forest school waterproofs and wellies to school each week for their forest school session.  Many thanks for your continued support.

Citizenship Award

Your child/ren will come home today with their Citizenship Award scrapbook.  Class teachers have shared how children can collect information in the form of pictures, tickets and writing about different experiences.  A link to your child's year group passport is here:

https://www.hntps.devon.sch.uk/page/?title=Home+Learning&pid=55

It would be great if the children could begin to collect evidence for their scrapbook and this will become part of our PSHE lessons next half term.

Book and Biscuit – Science Focus

A huge thank you to all the parents who came along to our Book and Biscuit session on Monday afternoon this week.  It was so lovely to see so many parents in classrooms and the joy on our children’s faces as they shared their science learning with parents and grandparents as well as some delicious biscuits too!  We look forward to inviting you to our next Book and Biscuit session that will take place on Wednesday 1st April, where the children will be sharing their topic learning of history and geography topics they have been exploring this year.

We would like to thank all our families for their continued support this half-term and wish you all a lovely half-term holiday.  Fingers crossed that the rain eases and the brighter days of Spring make an appearance.

Looking forward to seeing all of our children when we return on Monday 23rd February at 8:50am.

Mrs Cook

Life, Love and Learning to the Full

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School Attendance


This week's whole school attendance percentage is:

95%

At Horwood and Newton Tracey Primary School, we believe that regular and punctual attendance is key to helping children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

 Further Information 


School Calendar


First day back at school
8:50am – 3:30pm
23
February
Monday Class 1 & Nursery - Forest School
1:00pm – 3:00pm
from 23 Feb and on Monday each week until 20 Jul
23
February
Monday: Class 2 PE
1:00pm – 3:00pm
from 23 Feb and on Monday each week until 20 Jul
23
February
Monday - Year 4 Times Table Club
3:30pm – 4:30pm
from 23 Feb and on Monday each week until 08 Jun
23
February
Tuesday - Class 2: Forest School
1:00pm – 3:00pm
from 24 Feb and on Tuesday each week until 31 Mar
24
February
Wednesday Class 4 Falcons Gymnastics
1:00pm – 3:00pm
from 25 Feb and on Wednesday each week until 25 Mar
25
February
Wednesday - Class 3 PE
1:00pm – 3:00pm
from 25 Feb and on Wednesday each week until 15 Jul
25
February
Wednesday - Year 6 SATs Booster Club
3:30pm – 4:30pm
from 25 Feb and on Wednesday each week until 01 Apr
25
February
Wednesday Class 3 Parent Meeting re: Wildside Experience Residential in June at 3.30pm
3:30pm – 4:00pm
25
February

View School Calendar  

 View Term Dates


School Lunch Menu


The cost of a school lunch is currently £2.61

Payment is via your Arbor account.

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Latest News


13 Feb 2026
Class 2 - Antarctica video call
Thursday 12th February 2026
Read more
13 Feb 2026
Whole School Book and Biscuit Event - Focus: Science
Monday 9th February 2026
Read more
13 Feb 2026
Year 5 London Residential
3rd to 6th February 2026
Read more
13 Feb 2026
Class Learning This Week
Week commencing 9th February 2026
Read more
13 Feb 2026
Whole School Internet Safety Day
Tuesday 10th February 2026
Read more

Celebration of Achievements


Clas
Star Learner of the Week
Class 1 Emilia for amazing work on her handwriting
Class 2 Archie for his fantastic contributions on the carpet and always giving 100%.  Well done!
Class 3 Abel for showing maturity and being a responsible class member
Class 4 Charlie for being so helpful in class

Learning Behaviour - COOPERATION
Nursery & Class 1 Alexander for great cooperative play with his friends
Class 2 Georgie for great partnership and talk partner learning in our English writing!  Well done!
Class 3 Teddy for working well within a group during DT
Class 4 Amelie for being a great partner – being able to listen and share her ideas 

Reading Baskets
Key Stage 1 Elle
Key Stage 2 Ronnie W

 

DOJO POINTS
200 POINTS Theo M, Athena, Finley, Theodore, Darcey-Mae, Phoebe, Rocco, Niamh, Jorgie, Louis, Wilfred, Ronnie, Max, Harper, Remi
400 POINTS Elise, Emily

Pupil Achievements this week!


Amazing swimming Elise!  Well done for gaining your Level 7 certificate!

 

Well done Hugo for your achievements in Scouts!  

 


TEAM Multi-Academy Trust Vacancies


 Further Information and Apply Here


Important Notices


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HNTPS History Corner: Headteacher Log



Community News


Any articles which appear in the school newsletter that have not been organised by or on behalf of the school, have not been verified by TEAM Multi-Academy Trust as to the suitability for children. The news items are for parent information only.

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