Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's Weekly News, Friday 12th January, 2018
Jan 12, 2018
12 January 2018
Dear Parents
Welcome back to the Spring Term! I hope you have all had an excellent Christmas break and have managed to spend some quality time with the family.
We have a busy term ahead with our ‘The Wind in the Willows’ production at The Charter Theatre, a busy sporting fixture list, World Book Day, Junior Mastermind and Year 6 Entrance Examinations, just to name a few of the highlights. I know from speaking to the children that they are excited about the term ahead and are looking refreshed and ready for the challenges of the new term.
Out and About with 2D in PE
I visited 2D this week as they were taking part in their first PE session of the year with Mrs Botton. Mrs Botton told the children the lesson today was about cooperation and asked them what this meant. Thomas said it meant working together. Today’s session was going to be all about teamwork. The class was split into 4 teams and the activity was based loosely on the sport, bowls. The children had to decide upon a team name and how they were going to get a bean bag as close to a target as possible. They then discussed tactics. Aaron said that they could throw it underarm, Eliza said that they could use a shoulder pass throw and Thomas said to use a chest pass (both linking the technique to the netball and basketball skills they have learnt recently). All the children then had a go at judging the technique and distance to see which was the best option. There was a lot of enthusiastic discussion after each throw. The target was then moved further away Amber said that they would need more power and strength to reach the target now. Muhammad’s group worked out that the best option was to slide the bean bag across the floor so it stopped on the target. His group was very effective when using this strategy. Mrs Botton then enlarged the target area and introduced a scoring system. The children had to try to get the highest possible score using their chosen technique. They were all very excited, chatting about the rules and what technique they were going to use. I left just before the competition got underway. I wonder which team won? I will have to pop back to 2D and find out next week! It was a lovely first lesson to watch this term and it really demonstrated how well the children get on with each other, offering support and encouragement and definitely demonstrating excellent team work.
News from the Kitchen
Mr McGrath will be leaving us at the end of the month to take up a full time hospitality position. Miss Bleasdale, our current Chef, will be taking over his post and we are currently advertising for her role. Mr McGrath will help during the transition period to ensure that the school will continue to maintain its very high standard of catering.
School Security
Please could all parents ensure that external school doors are shut securely behind you when you leave and enter the school, especially to the homework room and to the front of school. There are now bells on both of these doors. Thank you.
Lockdown Procedure
The school, along with its regular Fire procedures, will be practising Lockdown procedures this term. This is entirely routine and presents no cause for alarm.
Important Uniform Reminder
A copy of the letter, that was sent out, via Parentmail, earlier in the week, is attached to this newsletter.
Payment Diversion Fraud
The following advice has been sent to all Independent Schools across the North West from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit:
Always verify email payment changes in respect of payment fees with the school directly using established contact details you have on file, especially for ones which are not expected or for a different amount than expected.
Always review requests to changes for payment requests. Check for inconsistencies or grammatical errors, such as a misspelt school name or a slightly different email address.
Don’t be afraid to verify details when being asked to make fee payments into a new bank account.
News from the Sports Field
All the Year 5 and 6 boys were in action on Wednesday. Ten boys were at St. Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst, playing in a Rugby Festival and two teams played football against Oakhill. All the boys showed a great deal of commitment and effort throughout the afternoon in some very competitive matches. They also showed that they had retained many of the skills that they had learnt before the Christmas break and hadn’t lost too much of their fitness. Their performance definitely bodes well for the fixtures which will follow this term.
Merit Awards
RD: Aamir RJ: Tabitha 1W: Avni 2D: Thomas 2E: Anoush
3H: Nadia 3M: Genevieve 4S: Stephen 5D: Olivia 5M: Sasha 6H: Hamdaan 6P: Nathaniel
Thought for the Week
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Vince Lombardi
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
Important Uniform Reminder (Letter to Parents)
At Highfield, we pride ourselves on how our children present themselves within school and within the wider community. The school uniform, when worn correctly, is very smart and provides the school with a prominent identity, giving the children a sense of belonging to a respectable and respected establishment. However, it is very easy for standards to slide and a few individual changes can have an adverse effect on the appearance of the whole.
Here are a few reminders to make sure that we are all doing our utmost to keep the presentation of the individual and of the school as a whole the very best that we can be.
· Jumpers and cardigans must be worn in school on a daily basis. If hot, children may ask to remove their jumpers in lessons. Shirt-sleeve order becomes applicable when stated by the Head Teacher in hot weather. Jumpers and cardigans improve the appearance of the children and cover up the ever-escaping shirt tails!
· Hair must be smart and away from the face at all times. It should be brushed and, if long, it must be tied or clipped back away from the face. All hair accessories must be discreet and in school colours.
· School coats are the only permitted form of outer-wear. Any seasonal accessories (hats, scarves, gloves and sun-hats) must be either provided by the school (ideal) or in school colours (no logos).
· Jewellery, of any type, is not permitted at school.
· Smart watches of any type are not permitted at school. Watches must be discreet in size and colour.
· Recently, we accepted that many parents find it hard to find all-white trainers. We have allowed coloured trainers and astro-turf shoes in school but these should still be smart and discreet. Please do not buy brightly coloured sports shoes for your children. They should be as close to all-white as possible.
· School shoes must be practical for a busy day in school and in the playground. Boots and heels are not permitted.
All items of uniform and equipment must be clearly labelled so that they can be returned to your child if they are misplaced. If your child arrives home with an item that does not belong to them, please return it to school on the next day so that it can be returned to its owner.
Thank you for your support in continuing to make Highfield Priory School the very best it can be for you and your children.
