The week started with an assembly that overran by quite some time, as the JLT and I introduced their time capsule project which they are running over the next couple of terms. We looked at examples of what was placed in the last time capsule, buried in 2000 and dug up for our 50th anniversary in 2019.
This year’s project, we think, will remain buried until the school is 70 (in 2039) or 75 (in 2044). We just need to make a decision. Both are significant birthdays for the school. I will document how the project is going in future blogs.
Apparently, this week saw us start with ‘Blue Monday’, but our spirits were certainly lifted by Barnie (Year 3) who made some cookies for every member of staff. What an incredibly generous thing to do! I think he also won staff over with his message which stated that they were healthy (calorie free) cookies too.
Sports fixtures started up again this week and on Monday we played the first netball matches of the year against William Ransom. I wasn’t able to get to the matches myself, but Georgia and Katie (Year 6) updated me upon their return to school and shared the impressive scorelines of both matches. Well done to all who played this week. Let’s keep the momentum going for the remainder of the season.
The Year 6 history work, looking at the Second World War, has really sparked the interest of the pupils. I enjoyed catching up with Jude this week, for example, who brought in some extremely interesting (and very precious) artefacts including medals, ID cards and photographs of his relatives who served in the war.
I was disappointed not to have seen this, but I did hear the Year 3 pupils taking part in a hot-seating activity with the ‘Big Bad Wolf’. The photos I then saw from Aztec Class confirmed it must have been a great activity to do and our visiting ‘Big Bad Wolf’, who I must admit, did have a slight look of Lennie about him, did a fantastic job.
Lucas (Year 4) came for hot chocolate on Wednesday morning with four of his friends having won the opportunity prior to Christmas. They were a wonderful group, and we chatted about life in Year 4 and beyond.
One of my Year 4 guests was Oliver, and no sooner had he returned to class after his hot chocolate, than he was back receiving a Headteacher’s Award for some wonderful English work. You may have seen evidence of this work from the other Year 4 Class, Kusama, on our social media page this week as they took their Haikus and performed them in a poetry slam.
On Thursday, we welcomed a headteacher from Nottingham to Whitehill. This is a friend and colleague we have collaborated with over many years and this time, it was his time to visit Hitchin. Given I am showing prospective headteachers around the school at the moment, I needed to make sure the pupils didn’t think he was looking for a job. It was a very purposeful morning and later that day he sent the following message to me as he headed off home. ‘Had a lovely time. So grateful for being afforded the privilege of sharing again in your exceptional school and achievement…’
I haven’t done well this week in attending the sports fixtures due to diary pressures. Fortunately, my local Sky Sports reporter, Mrs Richards (Freddie’s mum) kept me updated with the success in the first football fixture of 2026. Her messages were landing at a rate of knots thanks to the 10-0 scoreline. Well done to all who took part.
Achievers’ Assembly was good fun again. The House Cup was presented to Earth this week. The Class of the Week went to Kusama, but it wasn’t as straight forward as usual. Over the course of the week, I have had a daily stream of pupils from Wilde Class coming to find me and presenting me with apples. Lots of apples! Each one handed over with love and such kind words and not at all intending to bribe me into giving them this week’s Class of the Week.
Why? I hear you ask. Well, if they had won, then Mr Mills Junior had promised them he would reveal what musical they would be performing in the summer. They were desperate to find out. I couldn’t possibly decide myself and so, in the interest of fairness, left it to chance. Kusama were also in the running and so three rounds of rock, paper, scissors delivered the answer. I believe there is a video circulating on social media. Better luck next week, Wilde!
Straight after assembly, I headed off to the local headteachers’ consortium meeting to catch up with colleagues and discuss matters pertinent to Hitchin schools.
Before we look ahead to next week, I need to say good luck to our young trampoline team who are competing in the zonal finals of this year’s schools’ competition in Cardiff on Sunday. I won’t be able to make it myself and am extremely grateful to the parents, without whom, we wouldn’t be able to compete in such competitions.
On Monday next week, we welcome Phase back into school to work with our Year 6 pupils before the netball teams have fixtures against St Andrew’s at home.
I am out on Tuesday afternoon supporting final year teacher trainees at University of Beds as they get ready for their first interviews. I do enjoy doing this and seeing the next cohort of teachers embark upon their future careers.
Doing this means I won’t be able to watch the football fixture against William Ransom at home after school.
On Wednesday afternoon, we are taking part in a dodgeball festival at Knights Templar School and then on Thursday after school, we have the heats of this year’s indoor athletics competition. We did particularly well last year, and so fingers crossed this year’s teams are up for the challenge.
The Hertfordshire Director of Education is visiting on Friday afternoon for coffee and perhaps a brief visit to a couple of classrooms but after all the tours of the school I have been doing recently, I am sure the teachers won’t mind if I remained in my office this time.
I will mention it again next week, but on Saturday 31st, we have the County Finals of the Cross-Country competition with several pupils ready to represent Whitehill and hopefully qualify for the Nationals later in the year.
Good luck again to our trampolinists and I will see you all on Monday as we all bounce into a new week. Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Steve Mills
Headteacher
