Headmaster's Welcome

Headmaster's Weekly News, Friday 14th June, 2019

Jun 14, 2019

14 June 2019

Dear Parents

Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a good half-term break. The children certainly look energised and ready for a busy half term ahead. This week alone saw children from across the school taking part in four major events: ISA Athletics, our fabulous Museum of Creations, Junior Sports Day and our Musical Assembly. The array of talent and personal achievement was quite incredible. Congratulations to all the children and staff for organising, and participating in, these events.

Musical Assembly
Thank you to our wonderful musicians who entertained us this morning in Assembly. Many of the performers were playing the piano but we also listened to our brass group playing two songs, a brass duet from Katie and Hannah, a flute duet from Natasha and Nandini and a solo singing performance from Brooke. For Hannah, Katie and Natasha this will be their final Musical Assembly. We have listened to them perform on many occasions and we’ve taken great pleasure in watching their progress over the years. Thank you to all our peripatetic teachers who have taught and supported the children this year. Miss Macklam

ISA Athletics
A large contingent of thirty one athletes travelled to the Northern ISA Athletics at the Manchester Arena on Monday. This is a fantastic facility which functioned as the warm-up track for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. There were thirty schools from across the North of England taking part in a range of athletic disciplines. The events were incredibly competitive and the following children did amazingly well to gain a top three finish:
Nandini 3rd in U11 Rounders Ball
James 3rd in 60m
Lucie 3rd in U11 150m
Congratulations to Sasha B who came 1st in the U10 Long Jump and qualified for the ISA North Team. She will travel down to Alexander Stadium next Wednesday. All the athletes performed with excellent determination, unfazed by the large arena. Well done to all the Highfield competitors and thank you parents for your support on the day. Mrs Parsons

Junior Sports Day
On a very overcast Wednesday afternoon, the Junior children travelled to the UCLan arena to take part in our Annual Sports Day. The conditions certainly didn’t dampen our spirits with the children cheering for their Houses and getting behind the individual athletes. Every child gave 100% and it was great to see their level of effort and commitment for their Houses. There was a wide range of events from the traditional children’s Sports Day Sack Race and Tug of War right through to the sprints and hurdles. Congratulations to all the competitors. The overall winning House in the Tug of War and Sports Day was Fylde. Thank you to Mrs Parsons and Mrs Botton for organising the event and to all the staff for their support.

Fathers’ Day Shop
Thank you to the PTA for running the Fathers’ Day shop today. There was an excellent variety of thoughtful gifts and I am sure Highfield dads will be very happy with their surprises on Sunday!

Museum of Creations
Thank you to all the children who brought in exhibits for our Museum on Thursday. It certainly caught your imagination and the research and effort that you put into your exhibits was amazing. The range of the exhibits was very impressive from a model of the Titanic, to a model Anderson Shelter, to the history of the extinction of the Dodo. I know you will have learnt a lot about the topic from this experience. It was lovely to hear the children talk about their subject with passion and knowledge. Many pictures and video clips have been taken and will be available for you to view on our Facebook pages.

Summer Fayre
Planning for this year’s Summer Fayre, to be held on Sunday 7th July, is well underway. We need new volunteers to support and help us at what is our main fundraising event of the year. We understand that not everyone can make morning meetings so we have arranged for two meetings to be held next week to discuss the arrangements for the day: Thursday 20th at 3pm and Friday morning from 8.15am (both in the Dining Room). You are welcome to come along to either meeting. Ms Eccles

Early Years Moderation
Early Years was moderated by Lancashire County Council just before half-term. The moderator was impressed with the setting, commenting on the good range of evidence of pupils’ learning and attainment, positive communication and partnerships between school and home and the EYFS assessment process was efficient and thorough. Congratulations to our EYFS team and to our pupils who continue to make excellent progress and aim high.

Merit Awards
RB: Harriet F RH: Dylan 1D: Toby 1W: Tabitha 2E: Avni
3J: Frank 3M: Jaya 4D: Tim 4S: Nadia 5M: Bomi 6H: William 6P: Omar
Monitor of the week: Asiyah
High 5 Award: Khadija

Thought for the Week
“Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavour.” William Cowper

Yours sincerely

J M Duke
Headmaster