As you know, it was an extremely busy Friday last week and I wasn’t on site. That being said, I cannot begin this week’s reflections without saying well done to the football team who beat Weston to reach the final of this year’s Wix Cup with a 4 – 0 victory in the pouring rain. My usual source was providing me with updates – thank you – and I am going to do my best to actually give her the day off for the final and get there myself.
Well done to the whole team and especially Sonny for his hattrick. Thank you to those who braved the elements to lend their support.
On Monday morning, in my assembly, I launched this year’s World Book Day competition devised by our Junior Leadership Team. They came up with the idea themselves, and it is a great opportunity for the pupils to show their creativity. The deadline will be the end of this term.
I have already referenced Friday as being busy, but I should apologise to parents for the volume of emails about our upcoming consultation evenings you may have received. There appeared to be a glitch in the system which meant an incorrect attachment went out twice. I am not sure what was going on but I can see that appointments are being booked and so you must have got the correct information at some point.
Having been out of school for three days last week, this week has felt extra busy. Catching up with emails, for one, took far longer than usual. I think I am almost there but looking at the calendar did fill me with a little bit of fear as I realised we are hurtling to the end of the spring term. Just the two weeks to go!
I was at Hitchin Girls’ School on Tuesday morning in my capacity as a trustee. I spent the morning with the classics department, watching lessons and chatting with staff. It was lovely to see some former Whitehill pupils many of whom came up and had a chat before heading off to lessons.
Upon my return, it was that moment which only happens once each academic year. It was the time where I can give the ‘go ahead’ for pupils to use the field at lunchtime. The power you have as you examine the surface, knowing you have the eyes of the pupils watching your every step before giving a subtle nod to the MSAs that it should be fine. It is an event which happens just once each year and I enjoy it every single time! Apologies to a few sets of parents whose children managed to find the couple of spots of mud when they were playing football.
Another rare thing happened on Tuesday afternoon too. Our attendance was 100%. Every single pupil was in school. Perhaps it was the power of the school field.
The pleasant weather meant I was able to pop over to William Ransom to watch four lower school, girls’ football teams play some friendlies. For many it was their first outing representing the school and I was exceptionally proud of all of them, who played with energy, enthusiasm, and a smile on their faces. I was particularly fascinated by the number of cartwheels Bamber (Year 4) was doing as part of her warm-up. I am sure she wasn’t the only one.
I was back outside watching football on Wednesday as our girls’ team played against Samuel Lucas. It was a very close game and it took two late goals from Grace and Katie (Year 6s) to seal the win.
Thursday was quite a hectic day – well the morning certainly felt like it.
We had glow-in-the-dark dodgeball for the lower school classes across the morning which looked like great fun! Whilst it wasn’t pitch black, the bibs, balls and lighting led to a perfect atmosphere and a lot of excitement.
We were also joined by visitors from the NSPCC who led sessions with our upper school classes on aspects of personal safety.
Netball after school on Thursday proved to be exceptionally challenging for both our players and Samuel Lucas who were back for the second day in a row after Wednesday’s football matches. The wind was relentless, but both teams coped very well indeed having to adapt their shooting and passing. Whitehill ran out winners in both games to continue their impressive season.
There was no Achievers’ Assembly this week as Voyager Class were using the hall, entertaining and educating parents in their class assembly. I did pop in to see some of the session but also visited their class on Thursday afternoon to see the rehearsals. It was another innovative showcase put together by Mr Lord and Mrs Wells, and the pupils can be very proud with all they have achieved this term.
Assuming I get the draft budget finalised which I has kept me locked in my room for most of the day, I do hope to be able to pop out to watch some of the girls’ football match against Wilshere Dacre. Fingers crossed for another successful sporting evening.
Looking ahead to next week, Year 5s will be completing their Bikeability training. Let’s hope we get some reasonable weather for the pupils to train in.
On Monday afternoon, the school will be open for parents and carers to visit to come in and see the work the pupils have been doing, in advance of the consultation appointments. The displays in the main corridors have just been updated, and I can’t wait for you to see them. They look amazing.
My meeting with the JLT on Tuesday morning will be preparing them for their contribution at the governors’ meeting on Wednesday evening. I Know they will do exceptionally well.
I am leading the discussion at the next Farmington Institute discussion in London on Thursday afternoon and so have a little bit of preparation to do for this. We are at the halfway point in this series of six ‘round tables’ and I am looking forward to chairing the latest one where I am going to focus on parents’ perceptions of and their relationships with their children’s schools.
On Friday, we are very excited that our new sound system will be installed which will significantly increase the capacity and capability of our audio equipment.
On the sports front, we have some netballers out at St Francis on Tuesday after school and a cricket competition on Friday.
The only other event of note in the diary is the Year 4 residential parent meeting which will take place in the school hall starting at 3.30pm.
And now onto this week’s ‘and finally’.
A huge ‘well done’ to Isabella (Year 6) who came away from Crufts last weekend with a whole host of rosettes and trophies. We will be celebrating this in an upcoming Achievers’ Assembly but as we couldn’t have one today, I thought it worth sharing. Amongst her many successes was a first place in agility and grooming, the latter for the fourth year in a row, and runner-up on the overall ‘groomer of the year’ category. Amazing, Isabella, we are all extremely proud of you.
Having spent the whole day setting the budget for the next financial year, I am definitely heading home now to open a large bottle of white, or more likely, heading home to fall asleep before I have even cooked our dinner!
Have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
Have a nice weekend mr mills from Lacey
And you! 🙂