Saturday saw Miss Gooderham, Miss King and our ever-reliable parents take our cross-country teams over to St Albans for the County Finals. All 12 athletes did very well and can be proud of their achievement. A huge congratulations go to Kieran, Connor (Year 6), Katie and Grace (Year 5) who all finished high enough in their respective races to qualify to represent Hertfordshire at the National Finals later in the year.
The week in school started, as usual, with my Monday assembly. Not, as it gets referenced occasionally by pupils, the ‘Monday Moan’ (I take no offence), but a session looking at kindness and in particular random acts of kindness. The acts of kindness that are unexpected and make both giver and recipient feel good. We looked at the science behind why we feel like we do when we are kind and thought of some examples. It also gave me an opportunity to repay Luna’s (Year 4) act of kindness from last week.
Straight after assembly, Mrs Locke popped in for coffee and a catch up. She did make time to go and say ‘hello’ to her former Year 4s who are now halfway through Year 6.
I was invited down to the hall on Monday lunchtime to see the lower school dancers practice for their upcoming festival with the Sports Partnership. Until then, I hadn’t seen any part of the rehearsal process or even discussed its theme. I was so impressed with the group and in particular the way they recognised the need to exaggerate and extend movements so that when on a stage, it is meaningful. I have no doubt they will be brilliant on the day.
Although I had a meeting scheduled for 4.00pm, I did manage to get out and watch some of the netball matches against Our Lady School. Both teams secured wins which we heard about in Achievers’ Assembly on Friday. A special thank you has to go to Kira (Year 6) who was minding her own business at Cookie Club when I appeared to see if she would come and help the team out. With no substitutes, and Poppy going off injured, I needed someone reliable and helpful. Kira didn’t disappoint and was rewarded with a sufficient number of house points (as well as the win).
My first appointment on Tuesday was with Ruby (Year 3) and her ukulele. We had been chatting about music the other day and when she told me she could play, I had to hear her. She played and sang beautifully for me, and I saved her ears by not singing. She did invite me, but I wouldn’t be that cruel. My singing gets another mention later in the blog.
Break on Tuesday was another catch-up ‘Biscuits with the Boss’ with Mimi (Year 5) and a group of her friends. Like a few others in this year group, I somehow missed them when they were in Year 3, and they haven’t forgotten. Lillian (Year 5) joined me on Thursday for her catch-up. Both chats were great fun and topics of conversation profound to say the least.
We had a couple of football teams taking part in a fixture at William Ransom after school on Tuesday. Honours were shared with one win each. Well done to both teams who gave their all.
I popped outside in the sun to do break duty on Wednesday morning and was witness to Eva’s (Year 5) discovery of a mini satsuma within her actual satsuma. As you can imagine, this caused much hilarity and wonder.
Lunchtime was very quiet. We had 50 pupils and six staff at the O2 preparing for the Young Voices concert and a couple of dodgeball teams taking part in a festival in Letchworth. Upper school combined classes in the afternoon which included PE in the form of gymnastics.
Miss Gooderham reported that both teams played really well at the dodgeball, doing a lot of dodging! It’s another tick in the box for events entered and the number of pupils who have represented the school.
I headed over to the O2 after school to watch the concert and once again, it was clear that the pupils had an amazing time, especially those who were experiencing it for the first time. The atmosphere in the arena with a choir of over 8500 pupils was amazing. We now have another group of pupils who can state that they have performed at the O2. That’s quite something and certainly beats the Harpenden Public Hall that I sang in at their age. I say ‘sang’ but use the term loosely. Singing, like DIY, is another talent I inherited from my dad!
Achievers’ Assembly on Friday saw our weekly awards distributed as follows: Earth won the House Cup; Voyager won the Wombles and Kahlo were awarded Class of the Week.
The music this week was amazing. We had Caitlin (Year 6) sing a song from Beauty and the Beast, followed by Harriet and Lottie (Year 6) sing a duet from Wicked. All three deserved their Headteacher’s Awards.
We also celebrated Marnie’s (Year 3) dance medal, Jasmin’s (Year 6) theatre and swimming (not at the same time) certificates as well as Nevaeh’s (Year 5) swimming certificate. It was a very full and enjoyable assembly.
Next week is the last week before the half term break. It is also our Feeling Good Week where some of the lessons will be given over to a wellbeing focus. One such activity will be part of Sophie’s (Year 6) idea she pitched during her election speech to the pupils when she went for JLT.
On Wednesday we are having a non-uniform day about which you have already had details from Mrs McConnell Smith. Essentially, we are inviting pupils to wear something that makes them happy. As referenced in her letter, last year pupils wore anything from party clothes to football kits, dressing up outfits to pyjamas. I wonder what this year will bring.
There is quite a bit of sport happening including netball against Highover and football against William Ransom. There is a Boccia festival, a speedstack competition, and the Sports Partnership dance festival at which some of our Year 4s will be performing.
One of HGS’s science teachers will be coming in to work with our Year 5s looking at the heart and then their sports leaders will be in towards the end of the week to work with our Year 3.
That is it for another week. A week which has seen our science curriculum and provision get a glowing report from two School Effectiveness Advisers during their visit on Tuesday. We will take that!
Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
