A huge thank you to everyone who supported last Friday’s quiz night organised by our amazing Friends’ Association and hosted by the incomparable, Liz Bannister. I think this was her finest by far with the human catchphrase round a masterpiece. How does she come up with something like this? I was also honoured… I think… to have a round dedicated to my life story even if the links to the actual questions were extremely tenuous.
It was a blast. A great money earner for the schools. And of course, the majority of the photographs will not be used on our socials. What happened at the quiz, stays at the quiz!
We had a group of pupils and four members of staff at St Chris on Saturday to take part in this year’s recycled costume competition. There was a slight change to categories this year with our Year 6s having to compete against Year 7s and Year 8s and so I was delighted to see Emma, Mimi and Cecily finished in first place. This is quite some achievement.
Well done to all the pupils who have worked exceptionally hard over the last term and to the teachers. Thank you too to the parents who were there to support another enrichment opportunity.
Having said I wouldn’t keep referencing my retirement in these blogs, it would appear I have somehow referenced it every week. Apologies for this but it is done in good faith and to reassure you that the governors and our recruitment consultants are working exceptionally hard to ensure that tomorrow goes as well as it possibly can do. I spent several hours on Monday on calls ensuring just this. I have picked pupils to be part of the process, including our amazing Junior Leadership Team, and three classes to be visited at the start of the day. Our recruitment consultant keeps reminding me that we need to ‘trust the process’ and from what I have witnessed over the last five months, I know we can do just that.
Having just mentioned my JLT, I had my weekly meeting with them on Tuesday morning (note to self… I need more hot chocolate), where they put the finishing touches to a great World Book Day competition that they have come up with. It included a meeting with Mrs Vernon and a trip to the library. I hope they will be launching it to pupils on Monday.
I awarded several Headteacher Awards on Tuesday to pupils in both Year 6 classes for some amazing speeches inspired by Macbeth. You may have seen the social media post from Kahlo Class which resembled a scene from Dead Poets Society! Well done to Ettie, William T, Oscar, Alfie, Indi, and William L.
There was much excitement on Tuesday amongst some of our Lower School pupils who had their first outing representing the school at football. Mr Ciepiela and Miss King had arranged for four teams to play at William Ransom School. With our staff meeting being replaced by a couple of emails, I was able to pop along and show my support along with a great team of parents. Although these were ‘friendlies’, the pupils were keen to tell me we came away with two wins, a draw and a loss out of the four matches. And as Lennie told me, with that permanent smile on his face, ‘we were all over them’ in the match we drew! Well done to everyone who took part in the first of what will be many more fixtures for Whitehill.
Upon my return to school after the games, I spent a good 45 minutes chatting with Daisy and Zoe, who were attending Cookie Club, about all things theatre related. I love to see such enthusiasm amongst young people about live theatre!
I was working in London on Wednesday and so wasn’t able to enjoy what has been reported to me as an amazing British Sign Language (BSL) assembly led by Mrs Vernon. I am proud that BSL is an enrichment opportunity that we have at Whitehill and it is always very well attended. Thank you to Mrs Vernon for sharing her skills with the pupils.
It is probably timely to thank all the Whitehill staff for all their hard work at lunchtimes, after school and on many occasions at the weekend, putting on extra-curricular activities for the pupils. They, and I, certainly appreciate it.
We had a group of pupils take part in a Sports Partnership Boccia festival on Wednesday afternoon and it is clear from the photos and the reports back later that day, that, as always, they represented the school perfectly and had a great time.
On the hottest day of the year so far, I joined the Year 6s on their trip to RAF Hendon. This is a new visit for the school but one I am sure will be run again. I spent most of my time with Wilde Class and it has certainly inspired me for the residential to Devon. They were fantastic company and exceptionally knowledgeable.
The day started with a workshop looking at life during the war and I don’t think our group leader could quite believe how good the pupils were. She kept pausing and clapping as every single question was responded to with accuracy and enthusiasm.
After a tour of one of the hangars, it was time for lunch and then a run-around on the playground. We then visited the shop – all good visits need time in a gift shop! There was then time for two more hangars contrasting first world with modern day before the day came to an end and we were heading back up the A1.
Thank you for letting me come with you, Year 6s. I can’t wait for Devon now!
So as suggested last week, with tomorrow being a day where I am not allowed in school, the blog is going out a day early.
Looking ahead to next week, my diary does appear to be a little less hectic than this week. We have several sports fixtures to look forward to. There are three football fixtures on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday for our girls’ teams, including a lower school outing away at William Ransom. There is also a netball match at home against Samuel Lucas on Thursday.
We have the NSPCC visiting on Thursday morning to work with our Upper School pupils on a day which sees pupils have the opportunity to try ‘glow in the dark’ dodgeball as a bit of a treat on Thursday.
I am locked away on Friday as it is budget setting day and so probably won’t be able to get out to see any of the Year 5 assembly scheduled for Friday morning. I will certainly try, however.
Have a great weekend, when we actually get there, and I will see you all on Monday morning.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
