Although my blogs usually start by referencing what we did on the Monday of the week they are published, I will start this week by going back one day further to the Sunday afternoon. As many of you will know, the school sponsors Miss Gooderham as a player for Stevenage Women and so I regularly attend the fixtures to show my support. This week, we were also joined by Grace (Year 5) who was there as a mascot, along with her family and some of her Stevenage Youth Team colleagues.
Although she didn’t get to see them win, following a last-minute penalty to the opposition and an equaliser, she did accompany Miss Gooderham onto the pitch and then got a few photos after the match. I wonder if, in a few years, it will be a future Whitehill pupil walking out with Grace who is playing at this level.
Monday morning was very busy. Before break, my leadership team and I had the opportunity to meet with Alistair Strathern MP and a member of his staff, to talk all things education. We chatted about matters directly affecting Whitehill, as well as change needed nationally. I felt we were listened to and hope that we can follow this up in future sessions.
For the last 15 minutes, we were also joined by our Junior Leadership Team who had some questions of their own to ask Alistair, such as ‘how did you get into politics?’ and ‘what does Labour stand for?’ They were tough questions.
As a follow-up, the four Year 6s have been invited to Parliament to see the seat of democracy and what MPs get up to when they are there. I will make sure we follow this up and try to get a date in the diary.
Ellis (Year 4) challenged me to a times table competition the other week and I visited Orville Class after break on Monday to give him and his friends a race. I was delighted to be able to beat him on this occasion, but I have no doubt it won’t be long before he is beating me. I was very impressed with the whole class and the effort they put into this aspect of their maths.
It was lovely to see so many of you able to attend the informal open afternoon and to look at the books and our displays. I fully understand and accept that the timings are not ideal for all families but it is about trying to find a best fit and work around the consultation evenings themselves.
I was manning the front door and enjoyed chatting to some parents and family members who I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet.
After school on Monday, I took delivery of the telescope we use each year – courtesy of my Chair of Governors – ready for some planetary gazing over the coming months. If we get some clear skies, I will be outside and will happily let pupils and families have a go. Seeing the rings of Saturn, for example, or the moons of Jupiter is really quite inspiring.
We had sports leaders from HGS back in again on Tuesday, working with Year 6 pupils, but meetings meant that I was unable to get out to see how it went. They will be back in soon and I will try and keep my diary free to observe some of their work.
Football against William Ransom allowed for some more pupils to represent the school for the first time this year. There was a boys’ game and a girls’ game and both were very close affairs. With our lovely new goals on the bottom pitch, it means we are able to shorten the pitch to make it more suitable for different teams and fixtures. This is key when pupils are learning the game.
We have had our two nights of consultation evenings this week and I believe, on the whole, the technology worked according to plan. Thank you to those of you who came and spoke to me on the playground to pass on positive feedback; I do enjoy sharing this with teachers. Comments such as, ‘[the teacher] really knows my child already,’ is always lovely to hear.
I had similar pleasing feedback by email from a parent this week highlighting the kind and supportive nature of four of our Year 6 pupils. Nathan, Dimitris, Tom and Oliver received Headteacher’s Awards with an additional ‘Caught Being Kind’ sticker to highlight the reason.
This week, the Year 3s have been taking part in their archaeological ‘Big Dig’ on the grass outside of the main entrance which means I have been able to watch the excitement and enjoyment as the different finds were unearthed. Having been asked by several parents if things are planted, I can 100% guarantee anything that was found was a genuine artefact. There was much excitement on Wednesday, for example, when two coins were found. Coins are great because they are datable. The pupils found one from 1918 and another from 1943. The question is, are they both as old as my dad?
Thursday was a little quieter for me in terms of my diary and so even more time could be spent getting distracted by the Year 3s outside.
I did get outside again after lunch to see some of the Lower School PE lessons and then popped in and out of the Year 6 Maths Challenge which pitted the brains of some of our mathematicians against other schools across the county. The questions were tough!
After school, whilst the sun was still shining, I watched the netball fixture against Ickleford which included some family rivalry as Freddie’s (Year 5) cousin plays for Ickleford. Fortunately for the family, Freddie’s cousin was not in the team playing against Feddie and so family bonds remained intact.
Achievers Assembly on Friday morning was another enjoyable event. Mayan won Class of the Week, Voyager won the Wombles and Earth lifted the House Cup. As it was the last one of the half term, we also presented our Sports Values Awards with Hudson, Penelope (Year 3), Leo (Year 4), Seraph (Year 5), Ryan and Will (Year 6) all picking up a medal and a certificate. Leo (Year 6) was presented with a special achievement award for his amazing commitment and attitude in PE lessons and extra-curricular activities.
Music was provided by Orla and Julia (Year 5) who sang Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid for us. They were so good!
We also recognised other pupil achievements in a variety of activities including swimming, ‘horsemanship’, the game ‘Go’, climbing and Russian Ballet. That is quite a spread!
There is no looking ahead to next week, other than to say I hope everyone has the opportunity to enjoy some quality family time and the pupils can recharge their batteries. The second half of the term goes so quickly, particularly with Christmas and Year 3 productions at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
We return to school on Monday 4th November. There are four sporting fixtures including the first round of the ESFA national football competition for the boys’ team which takes place at Priory School on Tuesday 5th.
We also start the tours for prospective families looking at the Highbury / Whitehill journey. On Thursday, Mr Crowther, Headteacher of Hitchin Girls’ School will visit and hopefully enjoy a spot of lunch chatting with some of our pupils.
Mr Denney has asked me to remind you of his request for any bulbs he can plant in the school grounds. Having seen him dig up the bank outside my office, I am looking forward to a bit of colour in the spring.
The only other thing to point out now is that fact that we will be selling poppies in the week we return, if pupils would like to contribute to this cause. I will remind you again when we get back.
That is it for this half term. Have a great week!
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
So lovely to see Miss Gooderham and Grace representing Stevenage, how wonderful!