We have made it. The end of a very long half term and one which means we have now had 20% of the academic year. No wonder some staff got through their final few consultation evening appointments by whispering. Hopefully, a week away will recharge everyone’s batteries and we can return fit and healthy ready for the lead up to Christmas. A reference to Christmas in an October blog – sorry.
I was out of the office for much of Monday but did return in time to see the tail end of Year 4’s Diwali celebrations which looked lovely. I was really impressed with the rangoli patterns they had created.
I also saw the table tennis teams depart for their district competition and despite not really having the correct resources in school for them to practise on, all four teams did their very best and competed well. A good friend, and fellow headteacher, from Nottingham has links with Table Tennis Engand and so I am in communication with him to see what we may be able to do.
Traffic meant I was late in on Tuesday (90 minutes to travel seven miles) and was worried about the meeting I had set up between my Junior Leadership Team and Kieran from Phase. Upon my arrival, however, the meeting was in full swing and the four Year 6s were interrogating Kieran and finding out the facts they wanted from a potential sponsor recipient. Indi, Arthur, Lillian, and Thomas are an incredible team.
I sat in my office on Tuesday afternoon watching the Year 3s begin the practical element of their Big Dig. I have the prefect view from my office and could also hear them quite clearly. I will blame the quality of the glazing rather than the volume of the pupils. Mr Denney and Miss Smith may offer a different opinion.
It is always a fun project and each year I enjoy seeing what the pupils have managed to unearth, particularly when there is dating evidence. I tend to get a steady stream sent to my office with finds, this year including some intricate pottery, an old coin of indeterminable age (we are trying to clean it up a little) and a few pieces of interesting glass.
I was getting on with some work on Tuesday afternoon (not hiding in the library on the sofa, honest) when Alex (Year 4) was sent to me by Mrs Davies for his wonderful work in PE. Quite often the teachers send me a note when a pupil arrives, particularly if they don’t come with an exercise book, for example. Mrs Davies did just that and in relation to Alex, she stated that ‘[Alex had facilitated some of] the BEST team discussion [she had] seen in all my years of teaching!’ Well done, Alex!
Thank you to my teaching team and to the parents and carers who joined this term’s consultation evenings on Monday and Tuesday. I hope they were useful, and I also hope that those of you with children in Wilde Class managed to hear Mrs Bryan if you were towards the back end of Tuesday. I was very worried that she would have to resort to sign language for the last few appointments.
I need to apologise for neglecting my morning playground duties this week. For a whole host of different reasons, some of which already referenced, I managed just the one. Given the weather, perhaps I did well, but it is not what I want and I do strive to be out ‘meeting and greeting’ as much as I possibly can. I will get back to it after the break.
The writing in Year 6 is quite impressive. I had the privilege of reading several examples on Wednesday afternoon from both Wilde and Kahlo Class, inspired by Shackleton’s Journey, and all received their Headteacher’s awards.
Other awards this week have included Maximus (Year 4) for his impressive maths work, solving some quite complex maths challenges.
We had four teams competing in the district cross country on Wednesday at Knights Templar School. I was sent some very impressive footage of some of the races and also received first hand feedback from the pupils upon their return. Well done to all who competed and especially to Katie and Freddie (Year 6) who won their respective races and to Sonny (Year 5) who came fourth in his. With some impressive results from the others in the teams, our Year 6 girls finished first overall and our Year 5 boys finished second.
The Year 6 pupils were out on a trip on Thursday and, given the weather forecast, were very lucky that they didn’t need to resort to canoes to get around. It was cold – something my old bones have noticed in these last two days – but they did get to explore the Henry Moore Foundation, prior to completing some linked work in art after the break.
Even though the football match after school on Friday was cancelled, the girls’ match on Thursday went ahead as planned. Thanks to a Grace (Year 6) hattrick and a wonderful team performance, the final score was 3 – 0 to Whitehill. We are through to the next round.
In the absence of one last week, our Achievers’ Assembly on Friday morning was a very full affair. The Class of the Week cup went to Kusama (for the second week running) and the House Cup had the green ribbons of Earth attached again.
As it was the final assembly before the break, we presented our first set of School Games Values medals of the year. Well done to all who received a certificate, medal and who will now have their photo displayed on our wall of fame.
The piano (the location pupils use to place their awards prior to the start of the assembly) was full of other awards worthy of celebrating. Too many to list here but which did include dance, film making, swimming, football, rugby, and horse riding.
We also enjoyed our first live music of the year. Cecily (Year 6) played the piano and Julia (Year 6) sang a number from the musical Six. Both did very well indeed, and it was lovely to have Cecily play again at the end for me, as the pupils left the hall.
Joining me for Achievers’ Assembly this week was my Chair of Governors, Mrs Dorrell. She also joined this week’s Biscuits with the Boss, where Nora, George, Isabella, Barnie, Nancy, and Amelia spoke about what they enjoy about Whitehill and what they are looking forward to doing in the coming weeks, months, and years. They were a very articulate group who love biscuits!
I had a very productive morning with Mrs Dorrell and after she had left, she sent over the following:
“Spending time at Whitehill and having the privilege to ‘peek behind the curtain’ is one of the joys of being a governor. Today I sat in on a bumper Achievers’ Assembly and witnessed the pride that every pupil takes not only in their own achievements, but more importantly, in celebrating the achievements of others. I was able to gatecrash Biscuits with the Boss’ and sup hot chocolate with the newest cohort of Year 3s and hear just how much they’re enjoying and embracing the step up from Highbury to Whitehill. The freedom with which they expressed themselves, the already passion for learning shone through and I loved hearing their perspectives. Taking time out to experience the real Whitehill as it goes about its daily business really brings home what a wonderful, nurturing, and family-like community exists here, and makes me shine with pride that I get to support and work with Mr M. Bravo Whitehill!”
As I said at the start, it has been a long half term. That being said, a quote like the one above, highlights what a successful half term it has been.
Looking ahead to our first week back, we have several football fixtures to look forward to before the nights draw in too much. The boys are away at Pixmore on Monday before taking part in the first round of a national competition on Wednesday after school. The girls embark on the same journey after school on Friday. Both of these ESFA competitions will take place at the Priory School.
The rest of the week doesn’t look too busy apart from a visit from Hitchin Girls’ School who will be delivering a science workshop to Year 6s on Friday morning.
Have a great week and make sure you all get some rest. I think we need it.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
