This week’s blog starts with reference to two great events last Friday evening.
As you know, we celebrated the opening of our new library last week and on Friday after school, following the announcement of another amazing year from our Friends’ Association, we opened the library up for parents to come and see what we have achieved. I popped in for a few minutes prior to heading out, and it was really busy. Mrs Vernon was so pleased with, and grateful for, the support shown by our parents and to see enthusiastic pupils showing their mums and dads the new facilities was exactly what we had hoped. We have a few more bits of furniture still to arrive and then we can have the official opening and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The reason for my limited appearance at the library event was the need to accompany the boys’ football team as they took part in the early season rally at Priory School. I went along to show support but ended up refereeing. I should dress more appropriately next time. The team played so well in all their matches. They displayed a perfect attitude throughout and made it clear that they intend to have a successful season. I think they might.
It was lovely to see such a great team spirit with all players working for and supporting each other. Their attitude was perfect and all the boys played with a smile on their faces. It was a wonderful way to set up the weekend.
Monday was reasonably quiet and enabled me to get ahead before a very busy Thursday and Friday. I was interested in a news headline from the Labour Party conference which stated, ‘Chancellor pledges to put a library in every primary school in England.’ After all the work we have done to refresh ours thanks to Friends’ Association and therefore parent investment, perhaps she would like to visit Whitehill to see what a great library should look like?
I caught up with the Junior Leadership Team again on Tuesday morning. They are a creative group and have come up with possible recipients for this year’s charity collections as well as a competition which could run around the time of World Book Day. They will liaise with Mrs Vernon to see if it can work. The prizes the team have suggested are exciting.
First thing on Wednesday, our school photographer returned to take the class photos. It wasn’t the warmest of mornings and so the decision to request pupils wear their jumpers was definitely the right one. Thank you to those parents who had HGS tours on the same morning for working with us.
I received a request from Mrs Bailey to go and see the class’s artwork this week. They had produced some amazing work based on the artist Keith Haring. The collaborative work was well presented and interesting to look at. They all deserved the house points they were awarded.
Zoe and Daisy (Year 5) were sent to me by Mr Lord for some lovely extended writing and they both received Headteacher’s Awards for their work.
Our Year 6 Sports Leaders had their training session on Wednesday afternoon, led by the North Herts School Sports Partnership. We have a very good reputation for the quality of our Leaders in previous years and I have no doubt, looking at the way they engaged with their session, that they will be equally as impressive.
I wasn’t able to get to the football fixture at St Francis after school on Wednesday but was kept updated as to how the girls played. Both teams played well, enjoyed themselves and returned with victories. Well done to all who took part and of course, thank you to the parents who went along to support. They are back out again after school today for the Early Season Rally at Priory which I do hope to be able to get.
The Year 5s headed into London on Thursday and I was invited to join them and take a group as we explored the British Museum. We made use of the convenience of the rail network again to get to St Pancras and then it is a short(ish) walk from there to the other side of Russell Square where the museum is. It is a walk I do regularly when heading into the West End, although doing it with 60 pupils did add a few more minutes.
I really enjoyed the day, and I have to commend the pupils for the way they conducted themselves in the busier areas such as the station and the road crossings. I wish I could say the same for members of the public who think pushing past 9-year-olds is acceptable. I did have to remind them (the public that is) what would have been more polite.
The museum itself was really interesting, and the pupils enjoyed looking around the Sutton Hoo exhibits, making use of tablets as a form of guided discovery. We also spent some time looking at the Roman and Greek artefacts with pupils definitely interested in the way that the warriors are depicted. Let’s just say, they weren’t wearing much at all!
As we were just around the corner from one of my favourite shows (at the moment), I was challenged by Mr Mills Junior to capture a photograph depicting a scene from that show. My group were up for the challenge, as you can see from the photograph below!
Whilst we were in London, the Year 6 rugby team were taking part in a festival. Chatting to Freddie when I got back to school, it is clear that both teams had a very successful afternoon, winning all bar one match, which ended in a draw.
I was busy on Friday morning, working with my SLT and our Local Authority adviser and se wasn’t able to lead Achievers’ Assembly. In my absence, Mr Lord ran the show for me and fed back to me later in the day with all of the success stories.
The two school awards were handed out as follows: Apollo won Class of the Week and Earth won the House Cup.
We also celebrated Alex (Year 6) who has been continuing his amazing fundraising projects raising even more money for 12 different local children’s charities with a 13-mile sponsored walk. The grand total raised by the walk, across the county is close to £120,000. Well done, Alex!
After a gentle start to the academic year, last week’s blog and this week’s blog have highlighted the fact that Whitehill is a busy and productive learning environment for the pupils. Looking ahead to next week, this theme continues.
I am out visiting Hitchin Girls’ School on Monday afternoon in my capacity as a trustee of the school. I am spending the afternoon in the PE department and so look forward to catching up with Miss G again.
On Tuesday afternoon, we have a group of lower school pupils taking part in a tag rugby festival at Hitchin Rugby Club which for some, will be a first sporting event in school colours. After school on Wednesday, it is lower school’s turn again when we host St Francis in a football match.
I won’t be able to watch any of this as I will be in London for my first meeting with the Farmington Institute, Primary Headteacher Forum. This is a group of Headteachers who have been invited to participate in a series of round table discussions over the course of the year. The venue changes each time with our first port of call being Temple Bar, right next to St Paul’s Cathedral. Although very excited to have been invited, I have to admit I am slightly nervous.
My final engagement next week (still to be confirmed) is a trip out with Mr Denney and the flying club (from a while ago) to his parents’ airfield. I really enjoyed the trip last time we offered this extra-curricular provision and with Charlotte (Year 5) nagging Mr Denney on a daily basis, it was always going to happen at some point. I will keep you posted.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
