We have made it. We are all tired after such a long term but we are delighted with what we have managed to achieve over the last 15 weeks.
With all the end of term shenanigans, we started the week as I would usually end it, with an Achievers’ Assembly. We wanted to present our sports awards and wall of fame recipients with their certificates as well as celebrating a significant number of House Points. For the record, I don’t think we have ever had so many pupils collect so many points in the first term before.
Well done to all the pupils who were celebrated this week – your effort and output was worthy of recognition.
We also took the opportunity in this assembly to present the usual school awards, including the House Cup which was presented to Earth House and the Class of the Week trophy which was handed over to Voyager Class. As I referenced in last week’s blog, I spent some time in Year 5 last week and can confirm they are indeed worthy winners.
For a bit of fun, I set up a few more advent games this week. There was a further opportunity to name two cuddly toys, with Mimi (Year 6) and Emily (Year 3) both winning by guessing Snowflake and Candy as the two names. There were also some chocolate reindeers hidden around the playground during breaktimes for pupils to discover, much to their surprise.
On Tuesday morning, I accompanied the Junior Leadership Team on a trip to Highbury to see the Reception and Nursery nativity. It was lovely to see pupils so young (some only three years old) take to the stage and sing so beautifully. The JLT stood up to deliver thanks at the end on behalf of Whitehill and I was so incredibly proud of them and have already received several emails from parents who were there stating how impressed they were.
Arthur, Lillian, Indi, and Thomas (the JLT) also did a little tour of Year 1 and Year 2 afterwards to say ‘hello’ to the pupils and some of their former teachers. I think they felt like VIPs.
After all their hard work during the morning, they certainly deserved their joint JLT and SLT Christmas Lunch at the Orange Tree. I can confirm nothing was chosen from the children’s menus, although I was a little worried when Thomas first picked up the drinks’ menu. ‘Red or White, anyone?’
As I have suggested in several previous blogs, this group of four Year 6s were, and are, great company.
Fortunately for Thomas and Indi, we were back in school in time for them to join in with their class who were baking biscuits. I was offered a sample when they came out of the ovens and will admit that they were very tasty. Were they as tasty as Mr Denney’s biscotti he had baked and brought in for staff? It would be unfair to say, but I did go back in for (at least) seconds with Mr Denney treats.
I visited Year 5 again on Tuesday afternoon to see the progress being made by the pupils with their cushions. Bailey (Apollo), Oliver, Artie, and Alfie (Voyager) were singled out as having done particularly well and I agreed with Artie’s suggestion that the whole class should receive a Headteacher’s Award. Stickers were therefore delivered.
Our Year 3 British Sign Language (BSL) Club visited me this week to sing for me and also to sign We Wish You a Merry Christmas. A huge thanks to Mrs Vernon who runs this club and who, I believe, will be opening the club up to older pupils from after Christmas.
The Year 3s absolutely smashed their Christmas performances this week. Having set a very high bar after their dress rehearsal, the performances went from strength to strength with the two evening performances being particularly impressive. A huge congratulations to the teaching team for putting together another success, even though Mr Denney may feel like he has aged another 20 plus years.
The pupils themselves all shone, like Calla’s star! I could list everyone, individually, for their contribution but I am counting my words. Each time I saw the show, I noticed someone different delivering their lines, or performing their role with perfection. Jesse’s line as Joseph of ‘Just breathe, Mary’ delivered to Evaline might be my favourite, however! And of course, I loved everyone of Finnley’s jokes.
The bonus to all of this is the amazing total raised through the families’ generosity with the collections. Our Junior Leadership Team have sent £500 to one of their chosen charities, Phase, and with the matched funding available in December, this means that they will benefit to the tune of £1000. What a wonderful Christmas present we have been able to give.
On Thursday morning, I joined the parents of pupils in Year 4 as they held an assembly with a difference – an immersive experience of the work they have been doing across the term.
I was bowled over by the confidence of the pupils as they spoke about their work and then at different times across the morning – on the jingle of the Christmas bells – they performed extracts from Dickens or performed dances. It really was very impressive.
A huge thank you to the family and friends who were able to join us for this celebration of the work the pupils have been doing. I hope you found it informative and enjoyable and, if you sampled the soup, tasty.
The rest of Thursday was a bit of a washout which is not ideal, especially for Lower School PE, but it appears to be a bit of a theme at the moment.
It was lovely to see so many of you at St Mary’s on Friday morning to join in with our Christmas assembly. I thought the singing was exceptional – not just the choir but the whole school. As I said the other week, a school which sings is a great school. Thank you to Mrs Jarman for putting the whole thing together.
The staff return on Monday 5th January for an INSET (staff training) day and the pupils return on Tuesday 6th. It appears to be a relatively quiet week although I do appear to have a rather full prospective parent tour on the Thursday morning.
Looking slightly further ahead, I did notice the Friends’ Association school discos on Thursday 15th January.
That brings the last blog of the term and of 2025 to a close. Thank you for all your support, your Christmas cards and generous gifts and I look forward to seeing you back on the playground on Tuesday 6th January.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Steve Mills
Headteacher
Thanks to all of the staff who have made Oscar’s first term at Whitehill so lovely with everything that you do. We loved the Christmas carol concert today and the Victorian soup that Oscar sent home wasn’t too bad either. Alas his younger brother wasn’t a fan!
Have a lovely Christmas everyone!
Christmas assembly was exquisite. Thank you for organising such a beautiful event. Merry Christmas everyone!