An Eggcellent week!
As autumn finally seems to have arrived, it has certainly been another busy and productive week at Whitehill. Alongside a range of thought-provoking assemblies, pupils have been sharing their ideas about how we can continue to improve our school. It has also been the week when a few winter coats have started to appear, a sure sign that the seasons are changing!
We began the week by focusing on wellbeing and the important role our Wellbeing Warriors play within the school community. Pupils spoke thoughtfully about the ways they support their own wellbeing and what they can do when things do not feel quite right. It was a mature and reflective discussion, demonstrating just how seriously our pupils take the wellbeing of themselves and others.
I also had my first meeting with this year’s Junior Leadership Team. We have started planning some exciting projects for the year ahead, and over the coming weeks JLT members will visit classes to gather ideas from their peers. These suggestions will then help shape the priorities and projects that the team takes forward during the year.
On Wednesday, all of our pupil leaders were formally presented with their badges. It was wonderful to see their pride as they received them, and they are now easily recognisable around the school as they carry out their important leadership roles.
We are now well into our school tour season and have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming prospective parents into Whitehill. Visitors have been hugely impressed by the enthusiasm, engagement and conduct of our pupils. Every class has been supported by classroom representatives who confidently introduced their learning and spoke eloquently about life at Whitehill. They have been superb ambassadors for our school.
It has been another busy and productive week in lower school. Year 3 have been exploring the continents of the world, building important geographical knowledge that will support their future learning. They have also been classifying different species in Science and adding detailed illustrations to showcase their understanding. In Year 4, pupils have been immersed in the wonderful story The Lorax by Dr Seuss. Today, I was delighted to listen to recitals from both Everest and Kusama classes. The children demonstrated excellent oracy skills, bringing the story to life with confidence, expression and enthusiasm.
Upper school have also been very busy and thoroughly engaged. Year 5 have enjoyed a varied and enjoyable week of learning. In History, they compared the lives of the Saxons and Vikings, exploring how people lived and worked during these periods. In Science, pupils designed and tested parachutes, using eggs as their brave test pilots before evaluating which designs were the most successful. They have also continued their work on The Highwayman, writing diary entries in role and using language appropriate to the historical setting. Meanwhile, Year 6 have been focusing on geometry, producing some highly accurate and impressive work. They have also explored the changing seasons in Antarctica, presenting their findings thoughtfully and creatively. It is always a pleasure to see the pride, care and dedication that our pupils take in their learning.
We are also beginning an exciting project to make better use of the area behind the school. The first phase will involve clearing unused materials and preparing the space, with the long-term aim of creating an area that can be used by our pupil gardeners as well as providing a calm, quiet environment for pupils to enjoy. Although still in its early stages, this is a project with great potential and one that will evolve over time. We have already arranged for a skip to begin the clearance work and would like to extend our thanks to Mrs Henchoz for her generous donation of a wheelbarrow, which will be put to immediate good use.
Last night saw the usual excitement and energy of our first school disco of the year. Thank you to everyone who attended and to the staff who gave their time to help supervise. There were certainly plenty of smiles, dancing and enthusiasm on display, and I suspect there may be a few tired (but very happy!) pupils in school today. Sadly, a sore knee prevented me from showing off my dance moves this year, which was probably a relief for everyone involved! A huge thank you, as always, to our fantastic Friends of Whitehill and Highbury team, whose hard work and commitment make events like this possible for our children.
Today, achievers Assembly began with a fantastic performance by Ellis, who played the iconic themes from Jurassic Park and Star Wars. His outstanding musicianship brought scenes from the films to life and provided a wonderful start to the celebration. Congratulations to Aztec Class, who were named Class of the Week for the second time this year, a fantastic achievement. Meanwhile, the competition for the House Cup remains incredibly close, with Fire and Earth currently sharing top spot in a tie for first place. Well done to everyone for their continued hard work and enthusiasm.
We’ve also had a fun and inspiring week of fundraising, with staff taking on the challenge of completing a two-minute plank every day in support of Cancer Research UK. From classrooms, benches and buses(!), our team has been planking far and wide! You can follow their progress and see some of the creative locations on our Instagram page. If you would like to support this fantastic cause, donations can be made via our Cancer Research UK Fundraising Page. Thank you in advance for any contribution you are able to make.
Finally, a reminder that our Open Afternoon takes place on Monday. Families are welcome to arrive via the main entrance from 2.30pm. Any arrivals after 3.00pm should use the usual top and bottom gates. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone into school and giving our pupils the opportunity to share the fantastic learning they have been doing.
Have a wonderful weekend.
