Cosmic and Colonic

If I had to sum up this week in just a few words, it would be Whitehill at its very best. There has been so much happening across the school, and taking a step back to reflect, I feel incredibly proud to be part of it. You may be wondering about the title of this blog – let’s just say it reflects space week in year 5 and learning about the digestive system in year 4.

I began the week in Kahlo Class, teaching Maths and English. It was a real pleasure to step back into the classroom and enjoy a morning of learning alongside the pupils. Their enthusiasm, engagement and the quality of their work were fantastic. By the end of the day I was certainly feeling the effects, but it was a refreshing reminder of the joy of teaching. A special thank you goes to Miss Crease, who does a wonderful job supporting the children and helping them to thrive.

 

On Tuesday, we welcomed a larger-than-usual group of prospective parents for a school tour. As always, Whitehill was buzzing with learning and visitors left with a very positive impression of our school. I was particularly proud of our classroom representatives, who confidently spoke to visitors about their learning and life at Whitehill. Despite the large audience, they remained composed, informative and articulate, earning many compliments from our guests. They were outstanding ambassadors for our school.

 

Wednesday brought a more reflective moment as we gathered for our outdoor Remembrance Service. Many pupils proudly wore their Scouts, Guides, Cadets and other uniformed organisation attire, alongside their poppies. At 11am, the school observed the two-minute silence impeccably, taking time to remember and reflect. A special mention must go to Ellis, whose performance of The Last Post on the trombone was note-perfect and created a truly moving moment. Our Junior Leadership Team have also worked hard all week selling poppies in support of the Royal British Legion, raising funds for a wonderful cause.

 

Lest we Forget

 

Later that evening, staff headed to Highbury for the second part of their ADHD training. Just like the first session, the time flew by, which is always a sign of engaging and thought-provoking professional development. It was also great to collaborate with colleagues from Highbury. Thank you to the Hertfordshire ADHD Training Team for delivering such valuable sessions.

Across the school, pupils have been immersed in a wide range of exciting learning experiences.

 

Year 3 have been enthusiastically rehearsing for their Christmas production, which I am very much looking forward to seeing. They have also been exploring the geography of the UK, comparing rural and urban environments. This led to some lively discussions about whether Hitchin is rural or urban, with opinions often depending on what it was being compared with!

 

Year 4 have been learning all about digestion and investigating how the digestive system works. Using tights and a range of materials, Mr Denney modelled the role of the large intestine in a memorable and engaging way. Pupils then made their own digestive system experiment.  Alongside their science learning, pupils have produced some exceptional artwork this week, with several pieces earning well-deserved Headteacher Awards.

 

Year 5 have enjoyed an action-packed Space Week. From building scale models of the planets in our solar system and designing rocket materials, to creating marshmallow landers, pupils have been applying their scientific thinking in a range of creative ways. Yesterday, they visited the STEM Discovery Centre to deepen their understanding of space exploration. This evening, they will round off the week with our Space Evening, where we hope for clear skies to observe planets and perhaps catch the beginning of the Leonids meteor shower. Pupils will also enjoy their self-designed space games, several informative talks and a journey through the planetarium. Thank you to the Year 5 team for organising such an inspiring and memorable week.

 

Year 6 have also had a fantastic week of learning. In science, they have investigated electrical circuits and explored the properties of conductors and insulators. In history, they have continued learning about Ancient Civilisations and are currently focused on Ancient Egypt. At the time of writing, Mr Wells has successfully resisted the temptation to include Walk Like an Egyptian in his lessons… although there is still time!

 

Year 3 and Year 5 have benefitted from a wonderful talk from Mrs Ngankam about rockets.  She spoke to the children about the Vigil mission to the sun and the role of ESA and Airbus in Stevenage. We are very grateful to her for sharing her expertise and giving up her time to be part of Space Week.

 

The week ended, as always, with Achievers’ Assembly. Skylar sung us in with a lovely warm performance of “From the Start” and Daisy sung us out with a super performance of “We are the Champions”.  Congratulations to Aztec Class, our Class of the Week, and to Water House, winners of this week’s House Cup. We are incredibly proud of all the pupils who were recognised for their effort, achievement and positive attitudes.

 

Finally, thank you for your patience today as we worked through issues with our email system. Services are gradually being restored, and we greatly appreciate your support and use of alternative communication methods, particularly telephone calls to the school.  Days like this remind us of how reliant we are on technology and the integral it plays in our lives today.

 

The colder weather has certainly arrived, so it feels like a “big-coat” weekend ahead. Hopefully it also provides an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular autumn colours that are currently on display.  Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.