Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's News - 20th November 2015
Nov 20, 2015
20 November 2015
Dear Parents
5H Assembly
Thank you 5H for your assembly on kindness which we hold as an important school value and a focus for this term. Your delivery was excellent and you really explained why being kind is a very important part of being in a community. I enjoyed listening to your story about Danny Wallace and how he encouraged so many people to do random acts of kindness in their everyday lives. I also enjoyed listening to your own experiences of people being kind to you and what acts of kindness you have been doing this week. I hope this assembly inspires everyone not only to be kind but also to carry out our own random acts of kindness.
Thank you Mrs Hewins for arranging the assembly. Mr Sheppeck
The Sunday Times League Tables -1st in the North West!
The Sunday Times published their League Tables this week. Highfield Priory School was ranked 14th in the country for Independent Preparatory and Junior schools and first in Lancashire and the North West of England. This is an incredible achievement and equals our highest ever result. Congratulations to all staff, children, parents and alumni on this fantastic achievement!
ISA Awards
Last Friday, I attended the ISA Awards Ceremony with Mrs Duke in Daventry, Northampton. The ceremony was very well attended with ISA schools from all over the country and was hosted by Penny Smith who used to present GMTV. There are 340 schools in the organisation which is the largest and oldest Independent Schools organisation in the UK. Highfield Priory School was the Runner Up for the award for Excellence and Innovation in Provision. This was the only award solely for Junior and Preparatory schools. We received this commendation for the innovation of creating our own system of examination in HPSED (Highfield Public Speaking, Elocution and Drama) which prepares our children for communicating with confidence throughout their lives and its links with our consistently high academic results. Well done, Highfield. Our certificate will shortly be on display in the Entrance Hall.
ISA Northern Swimming
Nine children represented Highfield last Saturday at the Northern Independent Schools Swimming Association Gala. Twenty one schools attended the event with children competing for age group trophies as well as a chance to represent the North at the Olympic Pool, London. All the swimmers did amazingly well and we won an incredible 21 Golds, 1 Silver and a Bronze. We also won four out of the six age group trophies: the U10 and U11 Girls and the U11 and U12 boys. Seven children also qualified to swim in the Olympic Pool which will make up a big part of the Northern Team who will be flying the flag for Highfield in London! A brilliant performance and a very memorable day. Congratulations to the whole team: Matthew W, Oliver C, Oliver G, Katie H, Olivia D, Zahara M, Sophie P, Daniel D and James W.
Football v Westholme
Twenty eight boys from Years 6 and 5 travelled to Westholme on Wednesday in very windy and showery conditions. The boys really worked hard in all their games, committing themselves in defence and thinking carefully about their distribution of the ball. As they acclimatized to the conditions and the astroturf, we saw some excellent passages of play. Highfield won three, lost three and drew one. I would like to congratulate the boys for battling hard against the conditions and for the level of effort they put in throughout the afternoon. Well done!
Netball v Harris
In Netball this week, Highfield welcomed back Harris School. The pink team were on court first and, by watching the Harris team warm up, we could see that Harris were a lot stronger than earlier in the year. Harris started the game well, winning some great interceptions and getting an early lead. Highfield fought hard in the second half to maintain a lead through good decision making and excellent marking. Well done on another win!
The second game started with the green team members not giving any passes away to the opposition and again demonstrating fantastic teamwork and communication skills! The first half ended as a 1-1 draw. The second half saw the blue team members filter into various positions on court. We had some promising chances to score but couldn’t quite get it in to seal the win, the game ended 2-1. All the girls played extremely well!
Our All Weather Pitch
The children have really maximised the use of the all-weather pitch this term, using it for many games lessons and activities. In previous years, due to the weather, we wouldn’t have been able to get outside at all, so it has already been of great value to school. We will be using it in most weather conditions so please could you send your children to school with a towel. Thank you!
Cross Country Club
This has been a very successful new club, with over 40 signing up to take part on a Tuesday and Thursday before school. Please could I remind parents that children should be dropped off between 7.45 - 7.50 a.m. I am afraid we do not have staff available to supervise them before this time. If you arrive before this time, please wait with your child in your cars until Miss McShane arrives. Thank you.
The Scholastic Book Fair
The Book Fair will be coming to Highfield next week. It will take place in the school Dining Room from 3.15pm to 4pm on Thursday 26th November through to Tuesday 1st December. There will be books suitable for children from Nursery all the way up to Year 6, with the school benefiting from commission for each book sold!
Mrs Haythornthwaite
HPPTA Cabaret and Dining Extravaganza
Invitations are in bags tonight for this evening of live entertainment accompanied by a first class meal on Saturday 6th February 2016.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Morrice on the safe arrival of their daughter Evelyne. She was born on the 10th November and weighed 8lb 6oz.
Merit Awards
RD: Hiba RF: Yusuf 1D: Abdullah 1W: Arianna 2M: Lucas 3J: Eva
3M: Emma 4D: Bebe 4S: Zaynab 5H: the whole class 5M: Isabelle 6H: Kenny
Thought for the week
One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time. John Wanamaker
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
