The evenings are certainly beginning to draw in and the mornings feel a little darker, but the beautiful autumn sunshine continues to provide plenty of opportunities for our pupils to enjoy our wonderful Whitehill site and make the most of the changing season. It has been another busy and successful week, with children immersed in excellent learning, enjoying playtimes with friends and taking part in a wide range of extra-curricular clubs. It is always a pleasure to greet such happy, enthusiastic and energetic children as they arrive at school each morning.
We began the week with an informative assembly to mark the start of Black History Month, which runs throughout October. The children learned about the remarkable lives and achievements of Jesse Owens, Rosa Parks, Mary Seacole and Walter Tull, and explored why their stories remain so important today. We also welcomed our school photographer for class photographs. Despite some rather blustery weather on Wednesday afternoon, the children represented the school brilliantly, even when the occasional gust of wind had other ideas for carefully prepared hairstyles!
Our staff team has started the “Plank Every Day in October” Challenge in support of Cancer Research UK. So far, our determined team complete a two-minute plank session in the library and in the Hall, and it is fair to say that it was quite a challenge! By the end of October, we might extend that to three minutes, although a little more practice may be required first. If you would like to support this fantastic cause, donations can be made via our fundraising page here: Cancer Research UK Fundraising Page. Thank you in advance for any support you are able to give. You can also follow our progress on Instagram throughout the month.
As usual, there has been some wonderful learning taking place in every classroom. Year 3 have been exploring empathy and understanding the feelings of others, producing some beautifully written letters that demonstrated both thoughtfulness and maturity. They have also enjoyed creating their own “Nightmare Schools”, illustrating what such a place might look like. Monster teachers and barbed-wire fences featured prominently in many imaginative designs! Year 4 have continued to develop their literacy skills, focusing on apostrophes, rhyming words and the building blocks of language. They have also been learning about the lives of children in Italy and comparing their experiences with their own.
Year 5 have continued reading The Highwayman, examining the rich and evocative language that helps bring the story and its characters to life. In Science, they have explored the concept of terminal velocity and investigated the theories of Aristotle and Galileo through practical experiments, including dropping three different-sized balls simultaneously to observe the results. Year 6 have been getting to grips with algebra and using formulae to solve a range of mathematical problems. They have shown real determination in developing their understanding of this important area of mathematics. As part of their Antarctica topic, they have also produced some stunning artwork inspired by the dramatic icy landscapes of this remarkable continent.
Since joining Whitehill in September, I have been delighted to see the high levels of engagement, enthusiasm and learning taking place across the school. Our pupils are fully involved in their lessons and demonstrate a genuine love of learning.
Next Thursday (8th) sees one of the social highlights of the term for our children: the much-anticipated school disco! There is already a great deal of excitement around school, and everyone is thoroughly looking forward to a fun-filled evening (and the inevitable macarena!). If you have not yet done so, please remember to purchase your tickets to ensure your child does not miss out on what promises to be a fantastic event.
We ended the week by celebrating the excellent achievements of our pupils. The assembly was made even more special by a superb drumming performance of We Will Rock You by Sooriya, which had everyone thoroughly entertained. Congratulations to Kusama Class, who were crowned Class of the Week, and to Water House, who secured this week’s House Cup. Well done to all of our children for their hard work, positive attitudes and successes throughout the week. Celebrating our pupils and their achievements is always one of the highlights of the week.
We appreciate that collecting from Highbury and then making your way to Whitehill can sometimes feel a little rushed. Please don’t worry if you arrive a few minutes later than planned. There will always be members of staff on the playground waiting with your child, ensuring they are safe and well looked after until you arrive.
Today we also say farewell to Mrs Gray, who leaves her role in the kitchen after more than ten years of dedicated service to Whitehill. While we will still see her at Cookie Club, we would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her commitment, hard work and care over the years, and to wish her every success and happiness for the future.
Finally, I seem to say it every week (climate change?),but enjoy the lovely weather and I wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing weekend.
