I had another really enjoyable Saturday morning in the company of another one of our football teams. After the successful boys’ early season rally, it was the turn of the girls last weekend and once again the results were very positive.
They looked so smart in their kit and took to the field with enthusiasm and energy. Their team spirit and encouragement of others was faultless and so by the end of the morning, when they had played five games and not lost, they could rightly feel very proud indeed. I think it is going to be a very successful and enjoyable season for all of our football teams.
Huge thanks again to Miss Gooderham who had to rearrange a family commitment to enable her to be there for the girls. Thank you also to the parents, who again were so positive and supportive.
Driving to work on Monday morning was an interesting experience! Trying to find a road that wasn’t flooded was a challenge but it did give me time to think about the poor Year 5s who were starting their Bikeability training. One thing that can be guaranteed – and this was confirmed by the lead instructor – is that whenever we are doing our bicycle training at Whitehill, the weather will be extreme.
Fortunately, although not perfect, the rain did cease and across the week, it has remained reasonably dry (for most of the sessions) so the pupils could complete the course.
After my assembly on Monday morning, it was lovely to have Mrs Avey join me for coffee and a catch up. Retirement must be good as she looked very well indeed (perhaps I need to consider it sooner rather than later). After catching up and of course talking about Whitehill and Highbury, she popped into both Year 3 classes to say hello to her last Year 2 cohort.
I have referenced the work we do alongside our Local Authority advisor, and on Tuesday morning, we met our latest incumbent, Mr Nick Rolands. It is going to be very different working with him compared to our last one, but a change is as good as a rest. He is back in, in a couple of weeks to work with Mrs Burniston and Mrs Bailey, our two English leads.
For me, Wednesday was a day of conversation. I had some lovely chats with pupils from across all four years about the work they are doing at the moment. I handed out a handful of Headteacher’s Awards to writers from Orville Class. It included a second of the week for Luca (Year 4) after his earlier one for some incredible geography knowledge.
Year 6s had the clay out again and were using inspiration from their Henry Moore visits and research to create their own sculptures based on objects from nature they had investigated. I need to see if I can find the sculpture inspired by Lily’s (Year 6) tomato!
Other commendable work this week came from both Year 5 classes. Autumn received her award for some lovely maths and English work and then Indi, Hayley and Esme received theirs for some poetry which was, as Mrs Bailey commented, ‘utterly gorgeous!’
I managed to get outside (eventually) after school to watch both the girls’ and boys’ football matches against Highover. The boys won 5-0, despite it being goalless at half time. The girls’ result was equally as impressive having been behind in the first half. A hattrick from Katie (Year 5) helped secure the 3-2 win.
Many of you will have seen the news coming out from one of neighbouring schools William Ransom in relation to mobiles and pupils. The arguments being made do align with our stance on the use of smart phones by young people but I also think that decisions are ultimately a ‘parent thing’. I am following with interest the progress of the campaign and will speak with colleagues including Mr Plunkett, the head at WR. I am also talking to Whitehill parents and the governing body about the issue. If you have thoughts, please do let me know.
I spent quite a bit of time of Wednesday and Thursday liaising with Ofsted and their Regional Director. Some of the conversation was with a local agenda in mind and some around a more national perspective.
I was back leading Achievers’ Assembly this week and enjoyed celebrating the many successes across the school.
Our regular awards were handed out as follows: Voyager won the Wombles; Fire collected the House Cup and Class of the Week were Aztec.
We also celebrated Kieran (Year 6) retaining his Athlete of the Year trophy from his local athletics club. We had Sooriya and Ivy (Year 4) talk about their climbing awards. Olivia (Year 3) shared her gymnastics medal with us and Bella (Year 5) was back in front of the school with more dog show success.
It was lovely to have live music again with Lillian (Year 5) playing the drums and Harriet (Year 6) playing her Cello. Thank you to both girls.
For the final Bikeability session, pupils from Year 5 were joined by the leadership team from the Bikeability Trust as well as Alistair Strathern MP for a photo opportunity and also a fact-finding mission. I am not sure whether it was time related, or weather related, but our local MP didn’t quite make it out and about with the pupils as they did their final outing, but he did chat and ask questions. I also hijacked Alistair’s visit slightly to ask him some questions of my own and to try and set up a couple of visits.
Looking into next week, on Sunday and Monday, Mr Wells and Mrs Bryan are making a flying visit to Devon, to check out the venue for this year’s Year 6 residential. I do hope they get some dry weather for their trip.
On Wednesday, our photographer is returning to take our eight class photographs so we can update the display in our entrance. You will also be sent details should you wish to purchase a copy for yourselves.
Later in the day, Phase will visit for the first of five workshops with our Year 6s and then after school we have a football match against Ickleford at home.
On Thursday afternoon, there is a tag rugby festival and then sport continues on Friday with a football fixture against St Andrew’s School, again at home.
Let’s hope we have seen the last of this awful weather that has caused havoc across the country, and we can enjoy a relatively dry weekend. Somehow, I doubt it!
Have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Steve Mills
Headteacher
Essie says “Mr Ciepiela literally looks the same!”