Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's News - 9th December 2016
Dec 9, 2016
9 December 2016
Dear Parents
Deck The Halls!
Christmas came to Highfield this week when our fantastic PTA spent their Monday morning decorating the school. The children were delighted as they came out of assembly, pointing out the decorations and discussing the Christmas cards and Highfield post box. The preparations continued with rehearsals for the Infant Nativity, Carol Service and Nursery and Pre-School shows well underway. The standard and quality of performance was very impressive with still a week to go. Good luck everyone - we can’t wait to see you in action!
Film Night
The film night was very successful last Friday with the dining room providing the perfect venue for the children’s pre-film pizza followed by a Christmas favourite, ‘Home Alone’; a unanimous choice by the children. The film never disappoints with the children laughing throughout. Thank you to the PTA for providing a fun-filled evening for the children and for raising £150!
Christmas Party
This ended a very busy but incredibly successful week for the PTA. The children were all in their party clothes today and the staff were sporting their Christmas jumpers! The children loved all the Christmas stalls and activities, the disco and the party games. The whole school was treated to a very memorable day. A big thank you to our PTA from the whole school community for all their hard work this week. Thank you!
Coffee Morning
Thank you to all our parents who attended the Coffee Morning on Thursday. There was a lovely atmosphere as parents and teachers chatted in and out of their usual class and year groups. Everyone enjoyed Mr Drake’s slide show, displaying many of the activities and events that have taken place this term; and Mr McGrath’s pastries and mince pies were also a real treat. The slideshow will be uploaded onto Facebook and the website later this term. We plan to have another Coffee Morning later in the school year and we will let you know the date as soon as it has been finalised.
Early Years Visit
Recently the school was visited by a Lancashire Early Years Consultant who was looking at the Indoor and Outdoor Learning Environment we provide for our children at Highfield. The full report will be published on our website. The following email came with an excellent report which highlighted the value of the setting and the experiences for the children.
‘Thank you so much for allowing me to share in your delightful Early Years setting this morning. I observed some wonderful experiences for the children who attend and who will remember their days with you all their lives. It truly was inspirational.’
Congratulations to Miss Halstead and all her team for the continued very high standard of care they provide for our children.
Chess
A team of 11 players from the Highfield Chess Club travelled up to Lancaster yesterday to take part in a 3-way tournament with 2 schools from the city: Dallas Road and Bowerham. Our team was made up of pupils from Year 2 to Year 5. All the children played at least one tournament game and had the opportunity to play several friendly matches against players from the other schools. Of the 13 matches we played, 11 were victories which gave us by far the most points and assured us the overall 1st place in the tournament. All our pupils conducted themselves in the best Highfield tradition and enjoyed the competition immensely. A re-match at Highfield in the Spring term is already on the cards. Well done Highfield Chess Club! Mr Sheppeck
Under 11 boys v Harris
The senior boys played a football match against our friends at Harris on Monday night. Whilst the cold conditions meant that the temperature was close to negative, the quality of football on display was definitely positive. The Highfield team created some very presentable chances through their good passing interchanges. I felt that the build-up play merited a few goals but a combination of snatched finishing and a very commendable performance from the Harris goalkeeper meant that we never really got the break-through our boys deserved. The game was a pleasure to watch; I enjoyed it as much as some of the Premier League fixtures I have attended this season. Moreover, it has been incredibly pleasing to watch a number of the team that played on Monday improve their standard of football considerably this year. Well done boys! Mr Turner
Netball v Sedbergh Prep
Two netball teams travelled to Sedbergh for the final match of this year. Both teams were very excited on the minibus travelling there, making Christmas cards to give to the Sedbergh girls. The B team showed excellent speed around the court and the passing was fast which resulted in goals being scored by Highfield. The match was 5-5 at half-time and in the second half the girls still played with great determination and fought well; the final score was 8-8. It was a very close fought match, well done girls! The A team went 2-0 down in the first five minutes, however, the passes then connected well together and goals were scored. The A team girls showed excellent footwork skills and quickly took side lines and back line passes. The final score was 15-10 to Highfield. A super result–well done! Mrs Parsons
Staff News
We are currently looking to provide additional part-time caretaker support for Mr Forrest. The details will be available on the website if you know anyone who may be interested in this position.
Merit Awards
RD: Aarnav 1D: Anoush 1W: Thomas 2F: Neelesh 2M: Sara
3M: Edie 4H: Abigail 4S: Zain 5D: Zahara 5M: Rory 6H: Zara 6J: Caisey
Monitor of the week: Fatimah
Thought for the Week
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. Thomas S. Monson
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
