As we reach the end of another term, and I get set for my final term at Whitehill (and in education?), we have certainly made sure the pupils have been busy this week with our STEM-themed timetable.
Not only have the pupils been busy but it goes without saying that these weeks don’t just happen, and I am extremely grateful to the STEM subject leads and the teaching team as a whole for putting the programme together. Just to add to the workload, we have also had two nights of consultation evenings as if the teachers didn’t have enough to do.
I have tried to visit most of the classes on most of the days just to see what they have been getting up to. I found myself in Year 5 for much of the day on Monday, as they took part in the annual K’Nex challenge, facilitated by our STEM ambassador (and parent), Mrs Neighbour. When not watching construction, I was helping Mr Lord with dissection as the Year 5s did biology and examined hearts. There was also time for me to join the Year 2s from Highbury who were visiting and taking part in a nature hunt with the Year 3 classes.
Kusuma class impressed me on Tuesday with their skyscraper constructions. The brief was that they needed to be able to survive an earthquake, and you could see how the pupils used their understanding of ‘string shapes’. Perhaps there is a reason the pyramids are still there after all this time.
I could go on and on about the opportunities and experiences the pupils had this week. I certainly enjoyed getting out of my office, visiting the classes, and seeing pupils truly inspired by what they were doing.
I would like to thank the parents who came in this week to deliver sessions about their STEM related work to the pupils. We had an eclectic mix of professions all highlighting the opportunities which exist if pupils are inspired by this particular aspect of the curriculum. Their support is greatly appreciated.
One such session saw Year 3s have a go with a mixing desk, similar to the one we have taken delivery of in school and achieving great results under the instruction of Mr White. I have already pointed out that perhaps the Year 3s could mix the Year 6 production now!
Amongst all of the STEM activities, we continued with a full sporting week.
On Monday, we had a couple of football teams taking part in matches against William Ransom. Because of the consultation appointments and my role as teaboy, I wasn’t able to get over and support this time but was given plenty of feedback from the players the next day as well as Mr Ciepiela who was impressed with Santi’s ‘worldie’!
On Tuesday, we had a day of hockey. We took part in a festival across the morning and then in the afternoon, we had pupils taking part in the competition. As always, all the pupils represented the school perfectly and played some very impressive hockey. Well done to all who took part.
Despite the wintery weather conditions, two netball teams competed in matches against Ickleford on Wednesday evening. Two matches and two impressive wins, despite freezing cold hands. They were the last league games of the season with just the rallies to come when we return after the break.
In much better conditions, I popped over to Wilshere Dacre to watch the football team play in their final league match, before a play off after Easter against Samuel Lucas. It was a great game of football and probably up there with some of the best I have seen from an Under 11 school team. Every player was magnificent and thoroughly deserved the 2 – 0 victory.
Mrs Vernon, Mrs Burniston, and Mrs Winter were out and about around our neighbours on Wednesday afternoon, once again delivering poems designed to lift spirits. It was such a successful initiative previously, I am glad a new group of pupils have had the opportunity to do something similar. We have already had some lovely feedback from our neighbours who have taken to their WhatsApp group to wax lyrically about the poems they received, as well as sending in cards and letters for the pupils.
Assemblies were put on hold this week so that we could fit everything in that had been planned. We couldn’t end the term, however, without one more Achievers’ Assembly.
The Class of the Week trophy was presented to Apollo whilst Air (finally) won the House Cup.
I was impressed with Eva C’s (Year 3) swimathon achievements where she raised over £100 for several charities, including Cancer Research. I was tired just thinking about the distance completed (30 lengths of an Olympic-sized swimming pool).
We celebrated chess, kick boxing, and dancing before presenting our School Games Value awards to Zoe (Year 3), Lola-Mae (Year 4), Sonny, Skylar, Tommy (Year 5), and William L (Year 6).
As we finish for two weeks, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of Whitehill. The diary when we return on Monday 13th April looks reasonably quiet.
We have a bench-ball festival and inter-house hockey to look forward to on the sporting front. There is also the parent meeting for the Year 6 residential, after school on Thursday. I suppose I better be there to see what I need to pack!
And finally, a huge well done to Katie (and her older brothers) who competed at the national cross country championships last weekend, representing Hertfordshire, and did themselves and Whitehill proud with some incredible performances.
Have a wonderful break.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
