Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's News - 16th December 2016
Dec 16, 2016
Dear Parents
It has been a wonderful week of concerts and performances, from some of our youngest members of the school right the way through to our Year Six choristers.
School Carol Service
On Tuesday night, our Junior school, led by the School Choir, performed a wonderful arrangement of carols at St Maria Goretti Church. The congregation also watched a number of group solos as well as a very accomplished performance of Silent Night by our flautists: Katie, Olivia E and Millie. It was lovely to see so many of our past pupils and parents as well as our present ones on this very special evening. A big thank you to Miss Macklam for all her hard work in the lead up to this very memorable event.
A number of our Choir from Year 6 also visited Barton Grange to sing Carols to the shoppers. They received a very warm welcome and raised £60.65 for Derian House and Just4Children.
Year 6H Assembly
Thank you to Year 6 who led our assembly on Friday. With only nine pupils of the possible 15 present, a number of you had to take on different parts at the last moment. You wouldn’t have known it! You were brilliant and a shining example to the younger members of the school. You spoke very eloquently about how Christmas is celebrated around the world and we all loved joining you in singing ‘Jingle Bells.’ Thank you Year 6 and Mrs Haythornthwaite for arranging the assembly and making those last minute changes. Well done!
Pre-School Performance
On Thursday Morning, it was Pre-School’s turn to entertain us with their dance performance of The Night Before Christmas. The children were all very excited and delighted to show us what they had been practising in class over the last few weeks. We watched an amazing array of dances, ranging from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to the Reindeer Dance. The children had so many dance moves to remember but they accomplished it with grace, a big smile on their face and, of course, a wave to their parents as they passed by. During each dance, Darcey from Year 4 read the poem of The Night Before Christmas very eloquently which linked all the dances together. Thank you Miss Burns and all of the Pre-School staff for this fantastic performance.
Nursery Christmas Show
Nursery also performed their Christmas Show on Thursday which consisted of a range of dances that they have been learning with Miss Burns. The children follow the Melody and Milligan Bear programme which really helps to develop their coordination and control of every part of their body. A few of the children’s favourites were Kings and Queens, Little Fish Big Fish, Find My Hands and the Christmas Pudding dance. It was lovely to see the children in their first public performance at Highfield and I look forward to seeing many more in the future. Thank you Miss Burns once again for all your hard work with the children.
The Infant Nativity
This afternoon was the final performance of our wonderful Infant and Reception Production of Lights, Camel, Action! ‘Strictly’ really has come to Highfield. We had three judges and dances ranging from Line Dancing to The Tango! There was so much to watch and listen to; the audience was transfixed right through to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed watching our Reception Class and Year 1 who not only sang beautifully but also had to perform a number of dance moves to each song. The children certainly got the crowd moving and were called back for an encore in the Dress Rehearsal with all the children in school and staff joining in! We also watched a number of group dances including Angel’s Ballet and The Shepherds Hey! It was lovely to watch what you have been practising in lessons and to see another side to the amazing talent we have at Highfield. Year 2 led the performance with amazing composure, with every word being delivered perfectly and with incredible confidence. I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a Year Six performance and that they were only 6 and 7 years old. I would like to congratulate all our Infant children on a brilliant show, Mr Murray for his amazing direction and all the Reception and Infant staff for their constant support and hard work in the lead up to the performances this week.
HPPTA
Cabaret tickets are on sale, in the School Office, £48 per ticket or £430 for a table of 10. Please make cheques payable to HPPTA, school is unable to accept cash.
I would like to thank the PTA for all their hard work over the last week providing refreshments for all our Christmas Performances. They have done a fantastic job and we couldn’t manage without them. I would also like to thank Mrs Jones the Chair and Miss Kay and Mrs Muhammad, our Vice Chairs, who are stepping down this Christmas for all their hard work in raising funds and providing many wonderful opportunities and experiences for the children. Thank you from the whole Highfield family.
Rock FM Mission Christmas
Thank you for all your donations so far! The final date for donations is Tuesday 20th December.
Merit Awards
RD: Yaseen 1D: Joseph 1W: Hollie 2F: Diya 2M: Oliver
3M: Inas 4H: Jaison 4S: Zainab 5D: Abdullah 5M: Madeleine 6H: The Whole Class 6J: Olivia D
Monitor of the week: Malaika
Thought for the Week
Communication is a skill you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you are willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life. Brian Tracey
It has been a very special week and hopefully we are now all feeling full of Christmas cheer and nearly ready for Christmas. Only 9 more sleeps to Christmas!
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
