This week has been one of those special weeks when the academy has been united in its learning focus. We recognise the importance of our pupils experiencing a broad curriculum full of varied skills and interesting knowledge. This week has been British Science Week and with all of the other primary academies in the Trust, our pupils have been deepening their learning of science. We encourage our pupils to think as scientist and have been really impressed with their passion, curiosity and increasing science wisdom! If you would like to know more please watch the video.

It made us very proud this week to receive notification from our friends at the Rotary Sunrise group that many of our old reading books have finally reached their destination in a school in The Gambia. We're so glad that these books have a renewed purpose and hope that we can build our relationship with this school in the future. Please see the video for more information about World Book Day as well as other achievements in the Academy.

Next week is World Book Day and this term will be taken up with our Reading Challenge. It is universally acknowledged that reading is the secret to success and all of the staff are committed to provide our pupils with the skills and desire to be proficient, fluent and passionate readers. The challenge is very simple- the more they read, the more they will support their class in the weekly competitions. There are many merits to be won as well as an overall prize for the class with the most reads in KS1 and EYs, the most quizzes and words read on Scholastic Reading Pro for KS2.  We can't wait to see if we beat last year's records!

We look forward to celebrating World Book Day on Thursday, 5th March with our focus being upon the Traditional Tales. Did you know that nearly all modern stories follow a few plots and nearly all of them were first recorded in stories that we share with our youngest children? How many times have you read about a rags to riches story - this is often called the Cinderella plot! We look forward to seeing the pupils (and staff) in their costumes ready to enjoy the day.

We would to say a big thank you for your support with Year 3 and 4's trips to Stibbington. It is a slightly more expensive trip than we would usually plan but we hope you agree that it was worth it (check out the video as well as our Twitter feeds). Thanks go to those families who baked cakes to sell at the cake stalls which helped to make the day possible. LKS2 raised just over £250! Thank you to all who supported the stalls.

 We hope you have a great half term and the weather is kind to you. If the weather isn't kind, please remind the children that the biggest secret to success is reading! We also have our reading challenge and World Book Day to look forward to, so the more practice the better! Happy holidays.

On Thursday, the academy hosted the First Steps Gymnastics Competition in which several of our younger pupils competed. Both teams performed their individual routines brilliantly, demonstrating both passion and courage and were rewarded with 1st and 3rd team places in their Under 7 age group. Well done to all who competed and many thanks go to Mrs Bensley and Miss Rook-Williams for their coaching of the gymnastics teams throughout the academy. If you would like to see more of the pupils' achievements, please take the time to watch the video.

We are proud of Huntingtower's curriculum offer. Throughout the Academy, our teachers are not only passionate about the learning that their class pupils engage in, as curriculum leaders they also are . passionate about how a child becomes a mathematician, historian, artist, musician, citizen... the list goes on! Our learning is not just limited to our time in class; our clubs have started and are providing our children with a range of additional experiences. Our weekly video is a delight to make as it's always an opportunity to highlight the learning journey that our pupils experience as they progress through the Academy. We hope you can take the time to watch it. 

We are proud of the progress that the children have made so far this year and are looking forward to meeting with you at our Parents' Evening in the last week of this term. Please check your child's book bag next week for the letter with the response form for these meetings. 

The spring terms are always a busy and bustling time with much to achieve invariably in less weeks. Clubs are due to begin next week and I would like to thank the staff and older pupils who have offered to lead clubs. We do try to offer a wide variety of clubs and I hope you agree that it widens our pupils’ interests.

Please ensure that you are logged into Parent Hub as this, with our Tower Times is our main form of communication of information. If you are having any technical issues, please see the Administration Office for support.

Our Year 2 pupils have definitely made us proud this week! They performed a Nativity play called 'A Midwife Crisis'. This was the first time in our memories that only one year group performed and they did an amazing job. Well done to the pupils for learning their roles, their cues and a vast array of songs. All funds raised from the tickets will be donated to a local charity, Dr Friers who look to support children in our community. Thank you to our children's family for support this event too. Finally, our choir will be performing in the School Choir Final at Downtown this Saturday (14th December) at 2.30pm. We wish them the best of luck.

At the academy, we value generosity most highly. The choir gave their time this week to spend it at our closest residential homes. They sang a range of seasonal songs to very appreciative audiences. It also provided an opportunity to experience singing in front of an audience before their school choir competition on Thursday. Congratulations goes to the choir, Mrs Kightley and Mrs Goddard-Tate for their progression into the final which will take place on Saturday, 14^th December at Downtown. We wish them the very best of luck!