I hope you all enjoyed the lovely weather we had over the Easter break. It really made a difference and was very welcome. With the bank holiday being right at the end, it also felt like a long break. We return for what is a short and ‘interesting’ half term, calendar-wise. We have just come to the end of a four-day week. Next week, due to local elections on Thursday, we have another four-day week. The week after? Another four-day week due to the Early May Bank Holiday. Whilst the remaining two weeks of the half term are both five days, one is SATs week for our Year 6s and then in the last week, we have our two residentials. It is going to be a busy time for all!
One of the main areas of interest for our Year 5s has been the arrival of our chicks. I say Year 5, but the cameras have been on in all eight classrooms, the office, the screens in the dining room and I am sure other devices scattered across the school. Every so often on Wednesday, I could hear an excited Year 3 walking back from the dining room shouting, ‘Another one has hatched!’
Over the course of the week, we have been holding our London Mini-Marathon event in school. Pupils have been invited to run at least two miles at their own pace during the lunchtimes. If they managed to achieve this, they received a certificate and a commemorative pin badge.
It was a very busy field with staff manning ‘check-in’ stations to tick off the completed laps although some more seasoned runners planned for twelve in one go and achieved that goal. Mr Denney also joined the pupils to complete his allocation.
All of this was in advance of a group of 40 pupils running in the official London Mini-Marathon on Saturday, prior to Sunday’s main event. Last year was such good fun and it is wonderful to have a few extra places this year across the 2.6km and 1-mile events. All being well, I shall be there to cheer the runners on.
To get away from my computer screen, I popped outside on Thursday afternoon to watch some of the PE being taught to our lower school pupils. I was drawn to the athletics (you can tell it’s the summer term) and Orville Class’s lesson. Of course, much to the frustration of Mrs Wells and Mrs Bradshaw, no doubt, I had to join in a bit. House points were up for grabs for effort and success, with Skyler claiming a few with the throwing task. I think I earned a few brownie points from some of the boys for my skipping ability too.
There was much excitement in Year 6 on Thursday when the leavers’ hoodies were handed out. This year, due to a mistake with the initial order (not on our part, I might add), it was BOGOF time. Rather than getting just one hoodie, the pupils also received the incorrect colour as a gift from printers. I have already seen one mum excited by the prospect of being able to borrow one!
It is only right at this point to highlight the lead photo in this week’s blog which was taken by one of the Year 6 pupils. I usually have to find Mr Mills Jnr to comment on and praise the quality of the photographs we post; however, he was very keen to point out that Mya (Year 6) captured my favourite picture of the week. Perhaps a future job, Mya?
After school on Thursday, we had a team take part in the B Team netball rally at Highover School. It was an exceptionally close competition with our team doing brilliantly, winning their semi-final on a golden goal against St Ippolyts and then narrowly missing out in the final to St Andrew’s. The players can be immensely proud with their silver medals after a successful season, where so much progress was made.
Despite only being back a few days, I have handed out a fair few Headteacher’s awards. Maths in Year 6 featured with several pupils from Kahlo Class visiting me. Katie (Year 5) received one for a Greek inspired monologue and Oscar received his for the next edition of his comic.
It was good to back leading Achievers’ Assembly on Friday, having missed the final one of the Spring term before we broke up.
Our three regular awards were presented as follows: Voyager won the Wombles; Mayan won Class of the Week and Fire won the House Cup.
Lillian (Year 5) sang a song from Wicked for us to enjoy and as it is one of my favourites from that particular show, I really did enjoy it.
We also had Bella (Year 5) show a collection of rosettes from her latest successful dog show. Challenged to wear all of them by the end of assembly, she dutifully obliged, as you can see from the photos below.
Looking ahead to next week which is, as highlighted in a parent update, another four-day week for pupils, we have the final netball rally of the season after school on Monday. This time it is the turn of the boys’ teams.
On Tuesday morning we have our Local Authority adviser in to work alongside Mr Wells and Miss Smith looking at how we teach maths across the school. We have a rugby festival on Wednesday organised by Herts Police to look forward to before we have a training day on Thursday thanks to the local elections.
I am off to Harrogate for four days on Thursday with my professional association (the hotel looks very nice), and so I am handing back Achievers’ duties to Mrs McConnel Smith and Mrs Burniston on Friday. As ever when I am working off site, I will endeavour to publish the blog, just to give my dad something to moan about.
Have a wonderful weekend and I hope to see some of you in London in the morning.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
