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Headmaster's Welcome

Headmaster's Weekly News, Friday 7th September, 2018

Sep 7, 2018


7 September 2018

 
Dear Parents

Welcome Back!
It was lovely to see everyone back at school on Tuesday. The children all looked incredibly smart and raring to go, full of stories from the holidays. I would like to offer a very warm welcome to everyone who has just joined the Highfield family. It is definitely one of our highest intakes with 22 children and 14 families joining the school. We also have two new members of staff: Mrs Hewertson who is teaching in Reception and Mrs Saville who is working as a class assistant across Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and in our after school club. I know you will all make them feel very welcome.

Highfield High Five
We have introduced the ‘Highfield High Five’ this year which reminds pupils how we value five important areas of school life: good manners, courtesy, organisation, appearance and how to make a positive contribution as part of a community. There are posters in the children’s classrooms and throughout the school. There will be a High Five Award each week presented to the child who is felt to be upholding the High Five and setting a good example to others.

Out and About with Reception Class
I visited our Reception Classes this week as they started their first week of school. I was amazed by how settled the children all were when I entered their classroom. It was a hive of activity with the children interacting very well with each other and clearly enjoying their activities. Arthur talked to me about the space shuttle book he had brought to school and that he had learnt a new word, ‘Halt!’ which he said means stop. He also showed me a model space shuttle that he had found in the classroom. Sara rushed up to tell me her big brother Sully was in Mr Sheppeck’s class. Adam also came up to me with a big smile on his face; he introduced himself and said he was enjoying his first few days of school. James and Harriet F were playing happily together on the train track, taking it in turns and building more track. Harriet M announced very proudly that she was in Reception. She was using feathers with Haya to create a butterfly picture. Nathan, Brodie, Sarah, Ahmad and Presley were all playing with dinosaurs in the castle, using their imagination to create a game that kept them busy for the entire time I was in the classroom. Eliza was sitting looking at a book with Summer. They were both laughing, very content in each other’s company as they looked at each page. All the children were extremely happy, enjoying all the new experiences. I am really looking forward to watching their development as a year group and as individuals during this year.

Alumni News
Congratulations to James Hill (Class of 2013) who became the youngest player in the club’s history to play for Fleetwood Town against Leicester last week in the League Cup at the age of 16. He also captains Fleetwood Town’s Under 18s team. A fantastic achievement, James, well done!

Year 4 Swimming
Our Year 4 pupils were really excited to have their first swimming lesson of the year at David Lloyd. All the children were keen to show their new instructors, Pippa and Justin, their swimming ability and they showed great confidence in the pool. The children demonstrated swimming on their front and back and listened carefully to the safety instructions they were given. What a fantastic start to the term! Pippa and Justin commented on the great manners and politeness shown by the children in their first lesson. Well done Year 4! Mrs Botton

Problem-Solving and Pupil-Initiated Learning
One of the school’s focuses for this year is Problem Solving and Pupil-Initiated Learning. The children will be taking part in more problem-solving activities across all lessons. From Year 4 upwards, the children will be completing more non-verbal reasoning activities to challenge the way they think, examine the way they work through a problem and make them more determined to find the answer for themselves. This will be linked with more pupil-initiated activities which will encourage our pupils to ask more questions and to use their knowledge base to explore why something has happened. We will also be encouraging children to use their own experiences and knowledge from other lessons to help understand the new topic they are studying. The children are already very inquisitive and ask amazing questions but we are keen to stretch them further, encouraging them to take greater ownership of their education and to make them even more passionate about what they are studying. I am sure they will come home with many interesting questions!

Parent Survey
Thank you again to all those parents who completed the survey. It was very positive and really underlined and reinforced the hard work and dedication of the staff in making Highfield an excellent learning environment for the children. Thank you for your continued support. There were a number of very good suggestions, many of which we will be implementing over the coming year.

Important Document Attached
Please could you read the attached sheet and return the signed slip to school.

Upcoming Events
Class Assemblies have now been confirmed for this term and are as follows:
4D - 21st September, 1D - 28th September, 4S - 19th October, 6P- 30th November,
3J – 7th December. The Musical Assembly will be Friday 9th November.

September
Monday 10th
Year 3 Curriculum Evening 6pm
All clubs commence
Wednesday 12th
Year 2 Curriculum Evening 6pm
Thursday 13th
Year 5 Curriculum Evening 6pm

Merit Awards
Rec: The Whole Year Group, 1D: Drew 1W: Melissa 2E: Avni
3J: Manavi 3M: James 4D: Sasha 5M: Alaia 6H and 6P: The Whole Year Group
High 5 Award: William 6H

Thought for the Week
The beginning is the most important part of the work. Plato

 

Yours sincerely

J M Duke

Headmaster

Highfield Priory School

Building Strength and Individuality

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