A memorable one

It has been one of those weeks that reminds me just how special Whitehill is. While I know I shouldn’t have favourites, this week has certainly been one of the highlights of my time here. It has been incredibly busy, but filled with so many memorable moments that truly showcase what our school community is all about.

 

The week began with our Open Classroom event, where families were invited into school to see pupils’ work firsthand. The excitement from the children was wonderful to see as they proudly shared their learning and celebrated their achievements. It was fantastic to welcome so many visitors into classrooms and to further strengthen the sense that Whitehill is one big community. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it was clear that everyone enjoyed the opportunity. If you were unable to attend, please do get in touch. We would be delighted to arrange a time for you to come in and see your child’s work, and there will also be another opportunity to do so in March.

 

On Tuesday, our Junior Leadership Team held its second meeting and has now moved into the project-planning phase. I am continually impressed by the maturity, common sense and enthusiasm shown by this group of pupils. They have some exciting ideas taking shape, and I look forward to sharing more details of their projects in the coming weeks.

 

As I walk around school, I often hear snippets of music drifting from the music room, but this week I had the pleasure of hearing our orchestra rehearse in person. They performed a cha-cha-cha piece with impressive confidence and musicality. Hearing them play together in full was a real treat, and it was wonderful to see so many pupils involved, representing a wide range of instruments.

Whitehill and Highbury Working Together

 

Tuesday also brought together the staff teams from Whitehill and Highbury for joint training sessions. It was lovely to see colleagues from both schools working together, strengthening the close links between our communities. The training covered important safeguarding updates as part of our ongoing professional development programme.

 

Earlier in the day, Year 3 managed to dodge the rain and enjoy a visit to Hitchin town centre as part of their geography learning. Pupils carried out surveys of shops and services, with many concluding that Hitchin seems to have an abundance of clothes shops… and apparently estate agents sold clothes too! The data collected was used to create histograms back in school. Most importantly, the children represented Whitehill brilliantly throughout the visit. I enjoyed chatting with them along the way, although Hitchin’s hills certainly made some of the return conversations a little breathless!

 

Year 4 have been conducting scientific investigations into the effects different liquids have on eggshells. After several days of immersion, the classrooms have become rather fragrant places to visit! Pupils have been fascinated by the results and were eager to explain why orange juice and ketchup appeared to have the greatest impact. They have also been learning to describe the weather in French, making good use of both il pleut and il fait soleil during the same day – a perfect reflection of the unpredictable British weather.

 

Year 5 enjoyed a live lesson from the British Museum focusing on the Bayeux Tapestry. The session provided a close-up view of this remarkable artefact alongside expert historical interpretation of its most famous scenes. The pupils’ engagement throughout the hour-long lesson was excellent. In science, I also had the opportunity to see pupils using K’NEX to investigate forces, pivots and pulleys. Some impressive models were created, and students enthusiastically demonstrated how their designs operated along makeshift ziplines. It was active learning at its very best and a great example of the varied experiences pupils enjoy at Whitehill.

 

Meanwhile, Year 6 have been learning the rules and tactics of Danish Longball, which was certainly a new sport for me! The game provided plenty of opportunities for pupils to develop decision-making skills and tactical awareness. In science, they have been exploring inherited characteristics and had great fun predicting the features that might emerge when different dog breeds are combined.

 

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend our Achievers’ Assembly because I was at the Friends of Highbury and Whitehill AGM. However, I came away feeling extremely inspired by the plans being developed for the year ahead. There are some exciting events in the pipeline, and I would like to thank the committee for the tremendous amount of time and effort they give so generously. It was particularly encouraging to see new volunteers stepping forward to ensure the committee remains strong and well supported.

Blue is the colour

 

Back at Whitehill, there were plenty of achievements to celebrate. Congratulations to Wilde, our Class of the Week, and to Water House, who claimed this week’s House Cup following last week’s dramatic tie. Well done to everyone for their efforts and achievements.

 

One final reminder before I eventually wrap up: please remember to park considerately along the streets surrounding Whitehill to respect the safety of everyone in our community.

 

The weather looks set to turn a little colder this weekend, but whatever your plans, I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.