Following a very productive INSET day on Monday, the pupils returned on Tuesday to what we hoped might be the start of spring and some warmer weather. It was very pleasant outside at lunch and the pupils even asked the question about using the field. Of course, we should have realised it wouldn’t last as Wednesday saw a wet break and a wet lunch.
We were joined by author and illustrator, James Mayhew, on Tuesday, for a whole school assembly followed by a series of workshops for each year group based on one of his books, A Symphony of Stories. Each year chose a piece of music appropriate for their curriculum and saw James create a drawing inspired by the composition. The pupils then had a chance themselves to use pastels to come up with their own ‘stories’.
It was wonderful to visit each of the sessions and see the pupils be so creative. The music chosen clearly did inspire and having the constraints of time forced them to put crayon to paper and make marks. We will try and find a way of displaying the work that has been produced, especially some of James’s examples, one of which has already found its way into my office, framed.
Meetings took up most of my Wednesday, but I was able to chat to pupils during lunch and find out what they had been getting up to.
In between meetings I helped transport pupils to Fernhill School who were competing in the indoor athletics district finals. I wasn’t able to stay and watch but caught up with the pupils upon their return to hear how they got on. As you may have seen from social media, both teams did very well indeed, with the girls finishing third and the boys finishing in second.
I received an email this week from Hitchin Museum who wanted me to draw your attention to a display they are putting out to commemorate the anniversary of the first lockdown in 2020. Can you believe it was five years ago?! During these strange times, pupils at Whitehill created a ‘stone snake’ by painting pebbles with things that were relevant to them. It was then displayed outside of the school and up Whitehill Road. The stones used are now housed at Hitchin Museum and will be making another appearance if you would like a trip down memory lane.
I really enjoyed Thursday this week. It felt great! It was one of those days where all of the interactions were positive, and I saw some great teaching.
It started with another school tour for two sets of prospective parents which saw me visit classes across all four year groups; had the class reps engage enthusiastically with my visitors and very much highlight what I had told them they would see as we walked around. Connor (Year 6) earned a Headteacher’s Award on the spot for his maths explanation which I happened to catch whilst we were visiting Wilde Class.
Ms Elanis, one of our parents, gave up her time to come and talk to pupils in Year 4 and Year 6 as part of their RE work. I managed to pop in and listen to some of her talk in Kahlo Class and could confirm what other teachers had told me already that it was really interesting and certainly very informative.
I certainly don’t take for granted the support parents (and other relatives) of pupils at Whitehill give to help us provide quality and exciting learning opportunities. Whether this be through talks and presentations or helping with transport, without such offers of help, we would certainly not be able to do as much as we do. Thank you!
I made a deliberate decision not to be in my office on Thursday afternoon. I spent my time visiting the classes and seeing what they were getting up to. I also visited the Year 5 maths challenge taking place which could easily have been mistaken for a Year 5 picnic!
The two Year 5 classes were carrying out a practical activity looking at the components of blood. The pupils I spoke with could tell me the function of each and understood the importance of them. Who’d have thought oil, Cheerios, food colouring and marshmallows could have such a positive impact upon learning.
Ivy C (Year 4) came with a couple of friends to perform her poem to me that she had learned off by heart for the poetry slam. There were so many impressive performances that teachers across all four year groups have asked if they could send me pupils for Headteacher’s Awards and of course I was delighted to oblige. I chatted to Ivy about how she managed to learn such a complex poem. I would never have been able to do what she did.
Orville Class were in PE and I watched some of their dance lesson. Ellis and Ivy K caught my eye with their interpretation of the spy dance motif they were working on. Alfie and his group, similarly, were working very hard to great effect.
Four Year 5s from Apollo Class, Esme, Haley, Thomas N and Grace received Headteacher’s Awards for their writing based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest and it was Shakespeare which was their inspiration for the lesson I saw during my tour on Thursday which received positive feedback from my visitors.
The other ‘tick in the enjoyment box’ for Thursday happened at lunchtime. We have just purchased a new mobile PA (thanks to money from our Friends’ Association) and as the sunny weather returned, we had a bit of an impromptu disco outside on the playground. I think this could become a regular feature as it seemed to be enjoyed by the majority of the pupils who gathered to enjoy the music and sing along.
We had two netball teams playing away at William Ransom after school, with both securing wins.
Late into the evening, I also received a text from a teacher who had just finished marking a set of books (a teacher’s work is never done) and wanted to share the following: ‘Oh my goodness! I’ve just marked today’s English from my class! Absolutely outstanding! Each and every one of them has produced their very best work! I am so proud of them!’
Can you see why I enjoyed Thursday so much?
Friday didn’t disappoint either. I took Achievers’ Assembly as usual which saw Fire win the House Cup; Aztec win the Wombles and Mayan Class win their second Class of the Week award.
Included in the Assembly was the final of the poetry slam. I have already mentioned how hard the teachers found it to come up with a shortlist to perform in front of the school and all of the finalists did very well indeed. Given how hard it was to decide, the staff will collate their scores over the next few days and present the prizes and the ultimate winner of the John Gohorry Cup in next week’s assembly. Well done to everyone who took part.
We also found time to celebrate Mia (Year 4) who did particularly well at a recent gymnastics competition and brought in her medal and photographs from the event. Well done, Mia.
At the time of this blog going out, we have a couple of lower school cricket teams heading out to a Rapid-Fire competition at Knights Templar School and I am going to pop out to catch some of the Wix Cup (football) semi final against St Ippolyts. Good luck to all three teams.
Tomorrow, we have our recycled fashion show pupils at St Chris School with Mrs Bailey, Mrs Davies, Miss Smith and Mrs Lomas. They have worked really hard to design and make their costumes and am sure will look fabulous on the catwalk.
Looking ahead to next week, my diary is full. I have no spare time at all. I have a meeting off site on Monday morning and so will be late into school and then have NAHT Secondary Sector Council meeting online for most of Tuesday as well as two days of National Executive on Thursday and Friday.
Year 5 have their K’Nex challenge on Tuesday with one class working before lunch and the other across the afternoon.
On the sports front, we have a netball match after school on Monday at home to Weston. There are football matches against St Mary’s on Wednesday and St Francis on Friday. There is also a martial arts workshop for some of our Year 5 pupils on Thursday.
One of our choirs is out on Thursday for a rehearsal before attending the Herts Gala at the Royal Albert Hall on 23rd March. And on Friday, parents of pupils in Orville Class have been invited in during the afternoon to see what they have been getting up to this year.
That’s it for this week. A short week but a long blog. Please wish me luck for when my dad calls in about one hour’s time!
Have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
