As far as the teachers are concerned, the fact that this blog is out, means we have got through the week, which has been exceptionally busy for them all. When writing up the diary for the week on Monday morning, in the staffroom, I simply wrote ‘good luck’ under Friday as it was just bonkers.
That being said, it has been a very productive week and very successful in getting some key meetings held and, as I am sure many of you will have seen by now, getting the end of year reports out which also outline which classes pupils will be in from September. Exciting times ahead.
On Monday, I started the day by reading and adding my comments to the final 30 reports. 242 comments written in the last two weeks. Admittedly, they are shorter than the teachers, but I am delighted with the fact that I knew who every single child was without having to check and go to the registers.
Year 6s spent the morning rehearsing their play. It is going well although I have been banned from the hall again and so I only have the teachers’ word for this. The closest I have got to anything play related is to issue the tickets to the parents and as far as I am aware, I am up to date. If any Year 6 parents haven’t received their tickets, please check bags and then do come and have a chat with me. It might be I haven’t had a request and so we can also check that.
After I finished lunch duty in the dining room, I went outside on Monday lunchtime and spent some time with Bailey (Year 4) at the pond. He does enjoy having a look at how the pond changes during the year and having a little fish with a net. We saw a newt, several tadpoles, these tiny nascent things, some with legs and others just beginning their journeys. Bailey also helped to clear some of the excess weed from the bottom.
Having not had the opportunity to visit classes much last week, I did spend some time on Monday afternoon looking around and seeing what the pupils were learning. There was a great deal of creativity on display in Orville Class as they were designing their ‘pop-up toys’ as part of their design and technology curriculum. I couldn’t find the Year 3s as they were using temperature sensors around the school grounds and so every time I went to see them, they weren’t there.
I was back in Year 4 on Tuesday and also had some Year 4 pupils sent to me with wonderful work. From Lamarr Class, I handed out Headteacher’s Awards to Edie and Bailey who had used the class book, The Journey, as inspiration for some writing. Santi’s maths was spot on and so he earned an award, as did Sam J and Ivy for their artwork. This artwork has also earned a space on my office wall.
In Lamarr, I was impressed when I joined their English lesson, again inspired by the book, The Journey. Having to crawl through a door to enter the room sparked the imagination of many including Alex whose ‘doodles’ also inspired me, and we came up with an activity for him to do moving forward. Oliver and Daisy’s destinations were also very well explained and illustrated.
My morning playground duty on Wednesday started with a group of Year 3 girls trying to teach me a clapping game. My timing was spot on but the ‘freestyle’ section near the end left a lot to be desired. The look Sophie P gave me told me all I needed to know.
I was invited up to Year 5 on Wednesday afternoon and I am glad I accepted the offer. As well as getting to see how the flute and clarinet playing had progressed, I also got to join in a Caribbean food tasting session as pupils sampled toppings and burgers for the burgers they are going to making. Given the pupils won’t have tasted some of the food on offer before, I was impressed, as I know Mr Lord was, with the way they gave it a go. Even Mimi, who really didn’t like the apple and beetroot coleslaw with lime, is to be commended for doing her very best to ‘get it down.’ Like me, Georgia was a great fan of the hot sauce. ‘The hotter the better,’ was her response, I believe.
Voyager Class finally cashed in Seb’s ‘voucher’ from my Christmas Advent fun giving them an extended playtime this week. It is probably closer to next Christmas than last, but I honoured it, and the pupils enjoyed the extra time in the sun.
We have had two cricket matches this week, away at Purwell and away at St Andrew’s. Well done to the pupils who took part in both and as always, thank you to those who helped with transport.
Despite being an extremely busy day, we still found time for our weekly celebration assembly on Friday morning.
The three main school awards were handed out as follows: Apollo won the Wombles; Fire won the House Cup and Aztec won Class of the Week. With only two more opportunities after this week to win these awards, it is getting very exciting as to who will win the ‘… of the Year’ awards for 2024/2025.
We also celebrated a group of footballers who play for Hitchin Belles and have recently been awarded their end of season trophies. Well done to Jemima (Year 3), Luna, Freya (Year 4) and Grace (Year 5). Sonny (Year 4) showed his end of season trophies as he makes a big money move from Hertford to Hitchin – I expect to see it feature on Sky Sports News in the coming days.
Joni (Year 6) has recently completed a colour run 5k, raising money for charity in the process. Brielle (Year 3) and Renee (Year 6) celebrated success in a recent Go competition. Go is a Chinese abstract strategy board game in case you were wondering. We also presented Harriet with her Grade 4 Cello exam certificate which she passed with Merit.
The music this week came from Freya (Year 4) who played her violin and Emma (Year 5) who sang a Taylor Swift song for us.
Our athletics squad are currently competing in the district competition at Ridlins Athletics Track and so I don’t yet have the results. Keep an eye on our social media to see if we can match last year’s successes.
Looking ahead to next week, I believe we kick off with a bit of a drumming showcase in my assembly on Monday morning. Mr Wild’s pupils are going to show the rest of the school just what they have been up to this year.
After school on Monday and Wednesday, we welcome our two new Year 3 classes for a tour when the school is a little quieter. Green Class have been invited on Monday afternoon as they get ready to become Aztec Class with Miss Smith. On Wednesday, it will be Yellow Class as they get ready to join Mr Denney in Mayan.
On Wednesday, Year 6s will be hosting their Enterprise Day and a letter will be coming out from the Year 6 team outlining what this is and how the pupils in the other years will get involved. Also on that day, our Year 4 dance group will be performing at the matinee of the HGS Hym and Dance display with Year 5 pupils heading up to show their support.
On Friday morning, the school will get to watch the dress rehearsal of the Year 6 production, Beauty and the Beast which is also when I will get to see any part of it for the first time.
After school on Friday, we are hosting the Friends’ Association Summer Social, our main PTA event of the year. Fingers crossed we keep the nice weather, and we can enjoy a few hours of fun, socialising and supporting the work our committee and volunteers do for the two schools. I look forward to seeing you there.
So that is it for another week and for the most bonkers Friday ever. Time to have a rest.
Have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
