The Sunday Times Top 100 Independent Prep Schools in England: Fifth equal in England and First in the North West.
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Sep 8, 2017
8 September 2017
Dear Parents
Welcome back! It was wonderful to see all the children back in school on Tuesday, refreshed and full of stories about the holidays and excited about the term and year ahead. There was a great deal of catching up to be done with friends and teachers. The playground was full of chatter and happy faces at break and lunchtime as the school routine really got underway. I would like to offer a very warm welcome to all our new children and families as they join the Highfield community and to Mrs Prince who is 6P’s class teacher and our Director of Studies.
Staff News
Mrs Parsons is expecting a baby, due early next year. I would like to congratulate her and her family and offer our very best wishes and support over the coming months. The school will be advertising for maternity cover this term.
Out and About in Reception
I went in search of Reception on Wednesday and what a busy day they were having in their first week of school! They had already finished PE with Mrs Parsons where they had been doing travelling. I caught up with them in Music which was a big adventure just to get there as the Music Room is situated right at the top of the main school building. Mrs Street was introducing the children to lots of different instruments. The children were all given an individual instrument and I watched Joshua and Anoushka hitting their drums with great vigour, clearly delighted with the noise they were making! It was then the turn of the tambourines with Raj and Tabitha shaking their instruments together to make a very effective and loud noise! The children were then split into groups to play the tune ‘I hear thunder’. Lily worked out quickly that her group would need to use three beats for ‘hark don’t you.’ The children were also taught to use their tambourines and drums with their fingertips to create the patter of rain. They all really enjoyed following the song, varying the level of noise and the way they used the instrument to copy Mrs Street on the piano. They had learnt so much in the twenty minutes I was with them! They looked settled and excited about the new skills they were learning as though this was nearly the end of Reception and not just their second day. I can’t wait to catch up with them again in a few weeks’ time.
Uniform Reminders
The children have returned to school this week looking very smart and very proud of their uniform. Please can I remind all parents that all boysa, apart from Year 6, should be wearing shorts until half-term; all boys should have a jumper and girls a cardigan in school at all times.
There should be no jewellery in school including earrings. If you plan to get your child’s ears pierced, please arrange it for the start of the longer holidays.
The children look fantastic in their uniform and are a real credit to the school on and off site. To maintain this, it is important that the correct school uniform is worn at all times and that all items are named.
Winter Uniform
Blazer, maroon pinafore/grey shorts, all boys may wear trousers after half-term, maroon cardigan/jumper, light blue blouse/shirt, school tie, grey socks with maroon trim or grey tights, black shoes, school coat, hat and gloves.
Contact Details
If you have changed your address or contact details recently, please can you inform the office as soon as possible. We also need to be informed if your child is being picked up by a different person than usual or if both parents/guardians are away and your child is staying with someone else.
Summer Reading Challenge Certificates
Please could all children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge hand in their certificates to their class teacher by Friday 15th September. Thank you. Mrs Duke
New Parents’ Coffee Morning
We will be holding a Coffee Morning for all new parents on Friday 15th September from 8.30-9am. This will give you an opportunity to meet other parents, members of staff and the PTA. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sports Clubs
All sports clubs start on Monday 11th September.
Bitesize Bootcamp
Tuesday - Years 4-6 7.40am
Tuesday - RECEPTION 12.50pm
Thursday - Years 1-3 7.40am
Thursday - Pre School 9.40 am
All bookings online via the website www.bitesize-bootcamp.com Miss McShane
Upcoming Curriculum Evenings
These meetings will all start at 6pm.
Tuesday 12th September Year 4
Wednesday 13th September Year 2
Thursday 14th September Year 5
Tuesday 19th September Year 3
CCTV and other developments
A lot of work has been carried out over the holidays including new doors, fencing around Nursery and painting of classrooms. We have also had CCTV cameras installed around school which will help to improve the security of the school at the weekend and after school.
Merit Awards
RD: The Whole Class RJ: The Whole Class 1W: Naina 2D: Hayden 2E: Evie
3H: Diya 3M: Udita 4S: Sienna 5D: Katie 5M: Aishah 6H: Zahara 6P: Abigail
Thought for the Week
Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Francis of Assisi
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster