Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's News, Friday 19th March, 2021
Mar 19, 2021
19 March 2021
Dear Parents
It has been lovely to be Out and About observing lessons and seeing the children in action. Here’s a look at what some of the classes have been up to.
French in Pre-School
In Pre-School, we’re enjoying learning some new vocabulary in French and we have added another song to our ever-increasing collection of action songs. The children can now count confidently to 20 and beyond in French, they can name parts of their body – singing ‘Alouette’ and ‘Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds’ – and love to finish our sessions with a game of ‘Jacques a dit’. The children also love to share their knowledge and just this week Arthur proudly informed us, “Do you know that ‘bon appétit’ means ‘enjoy your lunch’ in French!”
Year 2
This week, Year 2 has been looking at telling the time to 5 minute intervals in Maths. In RE, we have enjoyed listening to the story of David and Goliath as part of our topic on Judaism. We have been very busy in DT designing and making our own hand puppets; we have made some super characters including many animals and cartoon characters. In ICT, we are using Publisher to produce a poster fact file on our favourite safari animal. We have used Google to research facts and collect illustrations. Our English grammar lessons have been about apostrophes for possession and learning about how to use them correctly.
Year 3
The Year 3 pupils have been busy lately! We have just finished our geography topic on Deserts and found out that deserts come in all shapes and sizes and are not necessarily hot and sandy. We have just started moving on to our history topic of World War 2. We are currently setting the scene but we will soon find out more about The Blitz and evacuees. In Science, we are well into our Forces and Magnets topic and have thoroughly enjoyed the investigations linked to this topic: testing forces using toy cars to find out about friction and using magnets to see which materials are magnetic. We have also spent a few weeks on persuasive writing. We are becoming really good at debating, explaining arguments with powerful vocabulary and including rhetorical questions to make the reader think.
ICT in Year 3
This week in ICT, we have been using an app to bring photos and displays to life. The children found a world map and identified key deserts around the world with their voice, text and images from the internet. We are really excited to share these with you. Scan the QR codes below which will take you to examples of work by Samira, Monty, Imogen and Anoushka.
Year 4
In Year 4, it has been a very busy half term. The children who had been in school were very excited about the return of their friends and they made banners, poems, gifts and notes to welcome them back! In RE, the children have been very respectful when studying the events of Holy Week. In PSHEE, they have been working on their listening skills, trying to recall facts, and have become Agony Aunts and Uncles. In Science, the children completed a biological study of the preference of habitat for a woodlouse using a choice chamber. By tracking the movements of the woodlice over a 20 minute period the children investigated whether they preferred warm or cold, wet or dry and light or dark environments. In English, we are starting to write persuasively… and we shall see what Mr Duke thinks of the ideas the children will put to him!
Lots of the children have already gained their pen licence and those who haven’t yet are working hard to do so. In HPSED, we have begun to read through, and will shortly cast, our play, The BFG. The children are working hard to think about how they should say each line, even though a lot of the BFG’s words are very tricky- it is all very exciting! And finally, we had lots of fun earlier this week when, after watching Riverdance on St. Patrick’s Day, we went outside to see how good we were at Irish dancing. All I shall say is there was a lot of laughter!
Shakespeare in Year 6
The children in Year 6 have been linking up their HPSED and Comprehension lessons in order to further their understanding of Romeo and Juliet. In HPSED, they look at the stage directions and the language and try to act out a scene in Shakespearean English which they then translate into a modern English performance. They then take the same text into their Comprehension lessons and discuss the characters and plot and how the scene fits into the play as a whole. Mrs Duke has been very impressed by their engagement with the play and their understanding of the text, its themes, the characters and the plot. Excellent work, Year 6!
Covid-19 Update
Lateral Flow Tests
It is now possible for household members of school-aged children to access lateral flow tests. Please see the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=16f2f8fa-e677-4d06-a24b-ea604e02c92a&utm_content=daily
Overseas Travel
Please follow the guidelines published on the Department of Health and Government website and isolate for 10 clear days on your return to the UK.
Please could all families continue to adhere to the Government rules and advice, maintaining a social distance to minimise transmission of the virus and protect the school and wider community.
Work in the Community
Miss Burns has been supporting elderly carers and their patients who have been shielding with dance sessions, stretches, conversation and meditation over the last year. These sessions have developed during this period and are now a weekly event which takes place in Highfield Priory School’s Performing Arts Studio. Pupils from Miss Burns’ dance groups have also supported her, demonstrating traditional national dances which the carers and patients have been joining in with. The children, carers and patients have also enjoyed chatting, sharing experiences and stories from the past. The carers and their patients who have been very isolated during this period have really valued the sessions and felt part of an extended family and wider community. An article based on Miss Burns’ work with the children will be published in next month’s Faculty of Dance magazine. I would like to commend the work of Miss Burns and the children in supporting members of our wider community in this way.
Spring Term Rebate
Thank you to all the parents who have emailed school to donate the rebate, for the Spring Term, back to us. Your support really helps the school to continue to provide a first-rate level of care and education, now and in the future.
Merit Awards 12.3.21
RB: Henry 1D: Billy 2E: Ayyub 2W: Zaynah
3D: Daisy 3M: Ali 4J: Aarnav 5M: Diya 6H: Zorain 6P: Lameesa
Merit Awards 19.3.21
RB: George 1D: Alice 2E: Eliza 2W: Thomas
3D Esme 3M: Melissa 4J: Amelia 5M: Joshua 6H: Haaris 6P: Amritha
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
