It has been an interesting week for me logistically and when you have a packed diary or need to be out of school at different times, it means you can lose track of what day it is and what has actually been happening. That being said, communication is key, and I have been kept informed and updated by pupils and staff and even spent some time in Year 5 music.
My assembly on Monday gave me a chance to chat to the pupils about our House structure and in particular the various Inter-House events we hold in school. We explored which were popular and also whether there were others the pupils felt they might like to try. We have House assemblies next week and so it will be interesting to see if aspects of this assembly are picked up by the Year 6 House and Sports captains who will be leading them.
First thing on Monday, our booking system went live for this term’s consultation evenings. I think we have had a couple of calls for support but overall, I believe everything is working well but of course, any problem at all in booking, please do come and talk to us.
I missed the lower school football at William Ransom on Monday evening, but Miss King kept me updated. Well done to the pupils who took part and thank you to all who helped with transport again and supported enthusiastically. It really is appreciated.
Mrs McConnell Smith and I were out of school on Tuesday at a conference run by Virtual Schools. This is the branch of education who oversee the provision for pupils who are, or have been, in care. The morning was interesting and prompted some interesting discussions. Another engagement meant I didn’t see the whole of the afternoon.
Miss King was out with our Rapid-Fire Cricket champions on Tuesday morning at the County Finals. As one expects, the competition was fierce, but the pupils gave their all and despite not winning, played very well indeed.
I tend to regret mentioning the weather in these blogs because it usually curses it. We have to reflect on the lovely spring temperatures that arrived on Wednesday, however, as it made the day so much easier.
Year 3 were out first thing for a visit to Hitchin library followed by some artwork and an opportunity to enjoy a picnic lunch in the sunshine. These visits are always so much easier when you are not worrying about coats, rain and where we might be able to shelter to eat.
Year 6 also enjoyed their packed lunches in the sunshine at school – slightly earlier than usual – as they prepared to head up to Hitchin Girls’ School for the matinee of their musical, the Addams Family. There were plenty of familiar faces on the stage and behind the stage and the pupils enjoyed seeing a school show, as they embark upon their show which will be performed at the end of the summer term.
Thank you to all who came along and supported the Friends’ Association discos on Wednesday evening. We were trying to think back and decided it had been a year since the last ones, for various reasons, and I think I can say with confidence, the pupils really enjoyed themselves. Although I wasn’t in my suit, I couldn’t compete on the apparel front as there were just so many sequins! The outfits looked wonderful.
A huge thank you to the parent volunteers without whom, these events wouldn’t happen, and valuable funds for the school would not be raised. As always, I can say with certainty, although I desperately wish I could dance, I absolutely can’t and just had to take a back seat and watch the pupils. They were incredible!
I helped out with Year 3 on Thursday morning and supervised the pupils whilst they were working with the HGS Sports Leaders. I was so impressed with the way the pupils engaged with the Girls’ School students and tried so hard with the different activities. On what was also the hottest day of the year so far, it was just so nice to be outside without a coat. In fact, I also went out at breaktime to enjoy the sun. It did end up with me playing ‘Simon says…’ with Marnie (Year 3) and her friends and they were really hard to catch out.
Whilst watching the PE lesson, it was great to see the arrival of the lawnmower to cut the grass on the school field. The first cut of the year is always quite special, and it was nice to catch up with our grounds maintenance team.
Having watched many a sporting fixture in the cold, it made a change to go and cheer on the netballers in their matches against Highover in sunshine and relative warmth. Both games proved to be very successful, and it was particularly interesting to see some sibling connection in one of the matches which resulted in the ball moving from one end of the court to the other in record time.
There was no Achievers’ Assembly this week as the hall was needed from the start of the day for our Roman visitor to Year 4. He was here for the day to give the pupils in both classes a range of experiences and opportunities to explore this period in history. I popped into Lamarr Class just as he was telling them that children as young as they are would drink wine and beer as it was safer than the water. Can you imagine?!
The weekend is going to be very busy. On Saturday, we have four pupils competing at the national cross-country championships in Coventry. We wish Katie, Grace (Year 5), Connor and Kieran (Year 6) all the very best and look forward to hearing how they get on.
On Sunday, we have a choir performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the Herts Music Festival and I know the pupils have been practising hard with Mrs Burniston and Miss McConnell Smith for what promises to be an amazing experience.
If you are free on Sunday afternoon, Stevenage Women are playing at the Lamex, home of Stevenage FC and we are looking to get as much support as possible to go along and cheer them and of course, our very own Miss Gooderham on. Tickets are available online and kick off is at 2.00pm.
Can you believe it? Next week is the penultimate week of the Spring Term.
We have two days of library fun for the pupils thanks to our amazing Mrs Vernon and Mrs Winter who spend hours looking after this resource for us.
We are hosting the A Team netball rally on Monday after school and during the day, have language students from HGS visiting for another session linked with Project Polyglot.
There are two football fixtures to enjoy. There is the end of season rally at the Priory School on Wednesday and on Friday, it is the Boys’ Wix Cup final, also at the Priory.
There is a meeting for parents of pupils in Year 6 after school on Wednesday about the residential and to end the week, we are having a non-uniform day in support of our Friends’ Association Easter tombola.
I am off to swot up for the Friends’ Association Quiz taking place this evening – I am sure I will see some of you there.
Have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
