What better way to end our wellbeing week in school than with a week off. We have reached half term and the halfway point of the academic year. In reality we are little beyond halfway with the number of school days left, but who is counting? Oh, that’s right, I am!
It was refreshing to be on the playground on Monday morning with blue sky above and no rain. I was looking forward to catching up with Mr Long after this weekend’s football match but for some reason, he was nowhere to be seen! Manchester City’s first double over Liverpool since 1937 might have prompted his absence.
I popped into Wide Class to deliver a message during the first lesson on Monday and, seeing it was maths, couldn’t help getting involved and helping a couple of pupils who were a little stuck. I was impressed with the knowledge and effort on display and after a few words of guidance, they were making progress and showing a good understanding of adding and subtracting fractions.
Chatting with pupils is one of the best parts of my job, particularly when they are unplanned. Jessica and Lilly (Year 3) both visited me after break on Monday where we enjoyed a biscuit together and chatted about pets. Emails and the like can, and always should, make way for time with pupils when they have something they want to share.
With the rain staying away all day on Monday, I was able to enjoy the netball match against Our Lady School. There was only one game to watch and so I didn’t have to divide my attention between the two courts. Well done to the team who secured another win in the league. I was very impressed with both the passing and the shooting, including some great goals from distance.
I couldn’t resist the offer of a chess match with pupils attending Cookie Club this week. I started playing against William (Year 6), but his lift home arrived before the end and so Isabella (Year 3) took over. We finished one game and started another. I have missed playing chess against pupils and so will hope to get a few more games in over the coming weeks. Both William and Isabella are good players. Forrest (Year 3) was watching on and challenged me to game which we managed to fit in on Wednesday. He was very good! And by very good, I mean he beat me! I have already said I want a rematch, although I suspect he might beat me again.
I saw some wonderful science this week from Eloise (Year 4) who was able to explain the different states of matter and in particular, her labelling of her diagram was very precise.
This was straight after I had had hot chocolate with Emily M, Emily B, Emmeline, Esme and Cooper (Year 3) and so a moment of calm conversation was most welcome. This group were great fun to chat with, but the girls in particular were ‘rather enthusiastic!’ I am not sure how Cooper coped!
I wasn’t able to watch the Wix Cup football match after school as I was attending the School Sports Partnership dance show at St Francis College. Of course, I had my senior sports correspondent keeping me informed. As it happened, I was able to wait in my car for the scores to come through before I needed to be in the dance show.
The boys did so well in normal time but couldn’t find the back of the net meaning it went straight to penalties at full time. I think nerves were definitely a thing as it went to sudden death and needed Alfie (Year 6) to score the winning penalty. I have shared a sample of the quality information I receive below!
The dance was amazing! We had been chosen to close the show and (although I am completely biased) it was certainly a case of save the best until last! It was such a fun dance. It had amazing choreography, wonderful costumes and a great narrative. As one parent responded on our social media platform, ‘We loved every moment, it was so good… What a fantastic routine!’
The organiser of the event also posted, ‘Absolutely outstanding performance guys! The perfect way to end the show, well done for all of your hard work.’
As part of or Wellbeing Week, pupils took part in a dress down day on Wednesday, coming to school in clothes that make them happy. Although slightly concerned by the number of Arsenal shirts, there was certainly an eclectic mix of comfort clothes and fashion statements, mixed together with a few cloaks and capes. Mr Mills Jnr had a slight panic when he saw me as he thought we were wearing the same top which would have been a little awkward… in his mind! Fortunately for him, they were slightly different.
I enjoyed Wednesday afternoon. Following a call with my Chair of Governors, which I had to cut short (sorry, Mrs Dorrell), I showed a pupil, who will be starting with us after half term, his new classroom. I know the pupils in Everest Class will make him feel very welcome.
After, I popped into Year 5 music and spent the session with the flautists again. Mia impressed throughout the afternoon and I rewarded her with a suitable amount of House Points; one for very line on a stave.
I was out of school on Thursday morning but was back by lunchtime which also meant I was back in time to watch the majority of the girls’ football fixture against William Ransom after school… in the rain! The girls played so well and the 0 – 0 scoreline does not do the game justice. Well done to all who played and especially to Mimi who decided that mud war paint was the only way to celebrate the performance. She appeared quite determined to share some with me until her mum intervened! Thank you, mum!
Thank you to Max (Year 4) this week who, as we were marking our wellbeing week, brought in some delicious home-made cookies for the staff to enjoy. He knows how to look after teachers.
Our final Achievers’ Assembly of the half term was another lovely and very long celebration. The two regular awards went to Aztec who won Class of the Week and Water who won the House Cup.
We celebrated our half-termly sports awards which went to Ivy, Forrest (Year 3), Jemima (Year4), Ellis (Year 5), Seb and William T (Year 6).
In addition, we celebrated a number of individuals who had won a range of awards, including Chief Scout awards, dance certificates, football awards and certificates for amazing charity work. I was so impressed with Jemima (Year 4) that I asked her to visit my office so that I could present her with a Headteacher’s Commendation.
In terms of music this week, we had Freya (Year 5) sing for us at the end but the assembly was opened by Cecily (Year 6) who read us her amazing poem.
Between assembly and lunch, the teachers made the most of my time by sending me a collection of pupils who received Headteacher’s Awards for maths and English. Well done to everyone we have celebrated in some way this week.
Looking ahead to the first week back after the break, we certainly don’t ease our way back gently.
On the sports front, we have netball fixtures on Monday and Thursday. There is a football match on Tuesday. After school on Wednesday, we have the district athletics finals with both our boys and girls qualifying.
Add into this a day of singing at the O2 with the choir heading there on Tuesday to take part in Young Voices. I am going for the entire day given it will be my last outing to see the wonderful spectacle.
The other key event that week is our Friends’ Association quiz night on Friday 27th February. Have you got your ticket yet for what promises to be another enjoyable night of friendly (highly competitive) quizzing?
Add into the mix a governors meeting and a visit from our local authority advisor and you can see we are going to be flat out.
And finally, as they used to say on the news, we were notified this week that our attendance across the whole of the Autumn Term was in the top 10% of all primary schools in England. Attendance is key to learning and it is clear that pupils at Whitehill understand this.
Have a wonderful half term break!
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
