Useful Links
- Information about the New Site
- Current Newsletter (8th July)
- CC Newsletter (16 Dec)
- Dates for Diaries (Autumn 2011)
- Children's Centre (including courses for parents/holiday schemes etc)
Recent News
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SITE PARKING ON WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY
Please check our Uniform List to ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform
See our photos from the Summer Fete!
Have a peek at the outcomes of our Suggestion Box this term
Have a look at some new class information/photos here
Have a look at our photo collage from Howe Dell's Got Talent...can you see your child?
If your child currently uses School Transport please read the letter attached
Children's Achievements at Howe Dell
View feedback given following our recent Open Evening
Prospective Parents: Reception intake will be changing from September 2011. Please find out more here.
ALL VISITORS/PARENTS PLEASE READ UPDATED INFORMATION ON PARKING RESTRICTIONS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL (30/9/10)
Take a look at our SCHOOL NEWS
NEW! We have Chickens at Howe Dell! Click here to see the 'Chicken Rota'
Howe Dell has been classed as OUTSTANDING in our Health & Safety Audit. Click here to read the report!
To view CHANGES TO HOME-SCHOOL BUS ROUTE from September 2010 please click here
Take a look at our NEW link to find things to do and useful information...Local Activities for families & Useful Parent/Carer Info
View the results of our Parent questionnaire and Pupil questionnaire and read the feedback given!
Click here to see the results of our Safer Routes to School questionnaire results.
OUR ECO SCHOOL
View a video by Capita Architecture about our Eco School starring Mrs Massey and Howe Dell pupils!
Howe Dell lands on The Runway (Press Release)
It was all eco-systems go at Howe Dell this month: after months of anticipation, the new building finally opened its high-performance, energy saving doors to welcome excited children, staff and parents.
This is the start of an exciting new era for children at Howe Dell, as they look forward to a greener future in their new state-of-the-art eco-school.
Things certainly got off to a good start when Ofsted visited the school in the first week of term and rated the schools eco-curriculum as outstanding. The school is certainly very proud, as the report includes comments such as: "This good school promotes an exceedingly caring ethos in which pupils flourish emotionally" and "the headteacher's dynamism combined with a 'can do' attitude has successfully brought all members of the school community together towards the common goal of improving pupils' achievement."
Commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council, designed by Capita Architecture and project managed by Mace, the building has been developed in line with the government's low carbon strategy and built to incorporate the most up-to-date elements of environmental sustainability. It could now have a major role to play as an exemplar of best practice for all schools.
The school features low energy use buildings and a host of renewable energy technologies, including:
- a pioneering heating, cooling and ventilation system which captures renewable energy to warm or cool the building
- a soon-to-be-installed wind turbine
- electricity producing photovoltaic panels
- roof lights and light wells which allow natural daylight to flood into the building, minimising the need for artificial lighting
- high-performance windows to reduce heat loss
- classroom sink tops and splash backs made from recycled yogurt pots
- 'living' sedum roof areas which help to insulate the building and promote bio-diversity
- a water recycling system
It also has an easily accessible computer network that enables pupils to monitor how much energy is being used or stored by the various environmental systems and how much is exported to the National Grid. Visitors to the school will even be able to see real time energy data displayed on an LCD screen within the main school entrance.
The children are very excited to be in their new school, taking in all its environmental features. Sophie, aged 6, said that her favourite part was the acoustic boarding in all the classrooms "because it looks like cheese!"
Josh and Katie were very practical with their praise, because they were particularly impressed that the toilet lights came on automatically and the toilets flushed with recycled rainwater.
The new building will be a focal point for the whole community, incorporating a children�s centre, to provide a full range of day care for under fives, and an extended day for five to 11 year-olds. Hertfordshire County Council is also working in partnership with Hatfield Town Council to build an on-site community hall.
"I strongly believe that if our children can be enthused about the importance of caring for their environment from a very young age, they will carry that message with them throughout their lives. I'm proud that Hertfordshire is setting the benchmark for other authorities with this exciting new building," said David Lloyd, Executive Member for Education.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Conference
On 23 February, Howe Dell launched the new Eco Curriculum and provided workshops led by teachers with practical ideas to lead ESD in any school.
- We published a brand new Education for Sustainable Development Curriculum Pack.
- We updated our ESD department evaluation to reflect the conference.
- An American journalist asked questions about how we face ecological issues at Howe Dell.
- Our governors gave their feedback on the event.
- According to our independent evaluation, the event was very well-received.
- Please see the conference flier and information for delegates for more detail on the event.
More information on Howe Dell and the environment...
The Independent ran a profile on the ecological aspects of our school and building.
- We have recently purchased chickens for our School! Have a look at our rota.
- Find out how and why we achieved 'ECO School' [0.55MB] status!
- Katy Horton found inspiration for our school gardens on a visit to Birmingham Botanical Garden [1.20MB]
- Year 5 visited the International Climate Change Conference [1.95MB] with this presentation.
- The University of Hertfordshire has produced a report on sustainable development and community [0.01MB] at Howe Dell
- Read about creating our eco school [0.61MB]
- Find out how the Sun helps cut our heating bills [0.30MB]
- The University of Hertfordshire has produced a report on ESD [0.13MB] at Howe Dell
- Find out about sustainable elements [0.03MB] at Howe Dell
- There were tears and laughter [1.40MB] during the construction of our new Eco School
- Find out more about ecological issues from our ESD poster [2.16MB]
- See Robyn's presentation [0.11MB] of her ecological ideas
- See why our Children's Council think it would be brilliant if Prince Charles came to visit [0.13MB] our Eco School
- Read about Debra Massey's ESD Journey [1.40MB]!
- Read the outcomes of our ECO survey [0.02MB].
- Take a look at what the ECO survey [0.11MB] was about.
- See what happened during ECO Week [0.84MB]!
- Learn why we must reduce, re-use and recycle rubbish [0.31MB].
- To find out more about what our school is up to regarding the environment, check out this ECO update [0.01MB].
- Help the school find out what you think about Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by filling in the ESD form [0.04MB]