Our Christmas Carol Service on Thursday evening saw the school’s biggest ever choir, 65 children, supported by the rest of our Juniors, singing a beautiful arrangement of carols. The soloists were very impressive, performing confidently in front of a large audience. Our Head Boy and Head Girl read very eloquently, as did the members of Year 6 who read the prayers. It was a very memorable evening and a highlight of the year so far. Thank you to Miss Macklam for all her hard work and preparation for this service. Thank you to the parents who supported us on the evening. We raised over £360 for Derian House and our School Charity for this year, Baby Beat.
Christmas came to Highfield this week as our wonderful PTA moved through the school like fairy dust, transforming everything in their path. The school now looks fantastic –thank you! Rehearsals for the Carol Service and Nativity are well underway and the excitement is building. We are all looking forward to the school Carol Service next Thursday, followed by our Christmas Fayre on Friday.
I was back in Nursery this week, visiting the Toddler Room. The children had been very busy before I turned up, sponge painting and Christmas stocking making. There were some wonderful creations drying. We definitely have some budding artists in this group and it is also one of their favourite activities. I watched Presley and Scarlett sitting together on a cushion reading a book very content in each other’s company: a lovely scene. Edward was the first to interact with me, showing me a fish before we spent time putting different objects in a colander to see what noise they made when we shook it. Violet was playing hairdressers and was showing everyone her hair with curlers in it. Arthur was playing Peek a Boo with Ayaanah; Arthur was laughing out loud and Ayaanah was smiling and giggling every time he said, ‘Boo!’. Sofia was keen to show me the different hats that she was trying on and a blue bowl seemed to be the most popular. Yusayrah was playing with a big bottle with Mrs Smithson taking the top on and off and balancing it on the floor. All the children were incredibly active, exploring the area, interacting with one another and trying out different activities. They must have had a busy morning because they all started to pretend they were going to bed just before I left: lying down, finding pillows and blankets and saying, ‘Goodnight!’ to one another! However, when I announced I was going, they all jumped up and gave me a big goodbye and a wave of the hand. What a lovely group of children! Click on the title above to read more about our week.
Last Friday, I attended the ISA Awards Ceremony with Mrs Duke in Daventry, Northampton. The ceremony was very well attended with ISA schools from all over the country and was hosted by Penny Smith who used to present GMTV. There are 340 schools in the organisation which is the largest and oldest Independent Schools organisation in the UK. Highfield Priory School was the Runner Up for the award for Excellence and Innovation in Provision. This was the only award solely for Junior and Preparatory schools. We received this commendation for the innovation of creating our own system of examination in HPSED (Highfield Public Speaking, Elocution and Drama) which prepares our children for communicating with confidence throughout their lives and its links with our consistently high academic results. Well done, Highfield. Our certificate will shortly be on display in the Entrance Hall.
I visited our Baby Nursery on Wednesday and was surprised by how peaceful it was. All the children were playing and interacting with each other. It was lovely to see how quickly they were at ease with me and happy to interact, despite how out of place I must have looked at 6ft 2, in a suit and sitting on their cushions! Annabelle was enjoying showing me how she could put a yellow ring on her head and then letting it fall off. She then wanted me to do it which gave her a big smile! Nathan wanted me to roll a ball and shaker backwards and forwards with him before we then changed to a blue car. He gave me a lovely big smile every time I pushed the car towards him. Henry was playing with the pots and pans and then filling up a box with lots of objects before putting the lid on. Maeve was looking at a book with Mrs Hayhurst, pointing at and touching each picture. Sienna then wanted me to build a tower with her. We used lots of different objects. She loved knocking it down and then finding even noisier objects which we could knock over together. It was lovely to see how relaxed the children were with the staff, me and each other. It is amazing to witness just how many skills they are learning on a daily basis, especially in their interactions with each other. I could have happily stayed with them all day and I was disappointed that I was going to miss out on their afternoon Autumnal walk. I returned the following day and was delighted to be remembered by Sienna who brightened my day with a smile and a wave.
This morning we had our first musical assembly of the year. We watched 16 individual performers and our largest ever school choir with 80 singers! There was a range of instruments being played from the oboe through to the baritone. Seven children were also playing for the first time. It was a wonderful assembly which was enjoyed by the whole audience. It really showed us how music is continuing to go from strength to strength at Highfield. Thank you Miss Macklam for arranging this assembly. Please visit our Facebook page to see our performers.
What a busy and very successful first half of term. We have had success in many areas from our excellent academic results in Year 6 to many outstanding performances in sport. The children have also had a number of exciting trips and visitors to the school which have really helped further their understanding of the curriculum. The All-Weather pitch is nearing completion, with the grass down and finishing touches being made so the children will be able to use it after the break. There is also so much to look forward to in the second half of term which starts with M and M’s production of The Wizard of Oz then our first Musical Assembly of the year and the HPPTA Halloween Disco.
Congratulations to the nine pupils who sat the Entrance Exams for the Lancaster Grammar Schools. All nine have gained day places from outside the catchment area: 6 boys and 3 girls. This is the highest number on record and a 100% success rate from our children sitting the examination.
Thank you 3M for your assembly on role models and heroes this morning, which was based on what you have been studying in RE this term. You made me laugh at the start when you arrived on the stage as cartoon heroes like Superman and Ghostbusters and acted out the part with such conviction! It was interesting to hear how you contrasted these heroes with today’s heroes and role models like Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King; and people in your own lives such as your mother and father. I particularly enjoyed your rendition of the song ‘Search for the Hero’, by M People, at the end which you have obviously enjoyed rehearsing. Thank you 3M and Mrs Morrice for arranging the assembly. I hope it helped everyone in the room to remember to be thankful for the role models and heroes in their lives.
Year 5 walked to Bethany House Residential Home this morning to sing Harvest songs and talk to the residents. This is always one of the highlights of the year for the children and for me. Once again, after singing beautifully to the residents, the children chatted comfortably with the ladies and gentlemen about stories from the past and present. It was lovely to see the generations together, both gaining so much from the experience. The children were full of the conversations they had had on their return to school and can’t wait until it is their turn to return to Bethany House in Year 6. Thank you Bethany House for your warm welcome and the very popular refreshments!
The school focus for this half term is Unity and a key factor in that is how we treat each other. This message has been reinforced in circle time and in assemblies. The children have been really working hard on their manners and general courtesy to each other throughout the day and there has certainly already been an improvement. If this message could be supported from home, it would be greatly appreciated.
I really wanted to see how our Reception Classes were doing this week in their first full week at primary school. As I walked into the classroom, I had to do a double-take and make sure I wasn’t in a Year 1 or 2 class. RD were just starting a French lesson with Mrs Morrice. They were all sitting around the whiteboard listening intently to what she had to say. The children were taking it in turns to say ‘Bonjour!’ to Mrs Morrice. Anoush said, ‘Bonjour Madame Morrice!’ very clearly before being followed by Luca and Lily who both said it with confidence. The class all then said ‘Bonjour!’ together before Mrs Morrice asked them to say ‘Salut!’ and wave which she explained was another way of saying hello. The children were loving the interaction and taking it in turns to take centre stage. Moin then said, ‘What about bye-bye? When will we do that?’ Hiba answered straight away saying, ‘When we leave.’ The pupils then had to welcome each other. I watched Hiba say, ‘Bonjour Haya!’ and Haya returned the greeting beautifully. The children’s next task was to make a finger puppet with which they could greet people. They all jumped up straight away, saying ‘Bonjour! Bonjour!’ over and over again and got busy.
Welcome back everyone! I hope you have all had a fantastic summer and have managed to spend some quality time with your families. The children have all been very excited this week: full of news from their holidays and excitement about the new term.
Three Highfield swimmers had an incredible experience last Saturday at the National ISA swimming finals in the Olympic Pool, London. Just stepping through the entrance and looking down at the Olympic pool below with the electronic scoreboards and over 1000 spectators either side took your breath away. As I took in my surroundings we realised that Katie was about to start her breaststroke final. We were in a prime position to watch her dominate the race and become National Champion; this was quickly followed by Matthew in his backstroke event. Matthew’s strength and determination in the second half of the race beat all the opposition and he too became National Champion. In the afternoon, Katie repeated her fantastic performance from the morning with a convincing win in front crawl to become National Champion in a second event.
The times they achieved also made Matthew and Katie the fastest swimmers in the country in their age group for these events; an incredible achievement!
We received our Year 6 National Curriculum Test results this week from the external examiners.
Our Year Six Class achieved 100% Level 4 in Maths and English. In English, 90% achieved Level 5 in English Comprehension. 100% of pupils achieved Level 5 in Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar and 4 pupils achieved Level 6. In Maths, 86% achieved Level 5 in Maths and 7 children achieved a Level 6. This is the second highest set of results the school has achieved in the last thirteen years and the most Level 6 passes - the standard of a 14 year old - the school has ever achieved.
On Tuesday, all our Year Three pupils took part in an afternoon of team building. The events consisted of the river crossing, semaphore, water obstacle race, great crate challenge and swamp stompers! The children’s teamwork really improved throughout the afternoon as they took it in turns to lead and support each other with advice and encouragement. At the half way point, they had a break in the shade to discuss their progress and how they could improve as a team. The completion of each activity really improved throughout the session as did the group cohesion and respect for each other. There were lots of smiles and giggles and the water obstacle was definitely the most popular activity! Thank you to Mrs Jones for organising the event.
Wow! What a wonderful assembly Reception! You were all so confident in front of such a large audience. I can’t believe it was your first assembly. It was lovely to hear all the things you have been learning about this year. You have certainly been incredibly busy and achieved so much. I also enjoyed hearing about what you are looking forward to doing at Highfield in the future and looking at your year in pictures. There is no doubt in my mind that you are all going to Aim High at Highfield! Thank you to Reception and to Mrs Field and Mrs Diston for arranging this assembly.
Year 3 are in their final preparation for their HPSED Examination which tests their ability to Speak to Instruct. They have to teach another person how to do something. I watched Zahara teach Rory how to create a picture of a lion using a variety of materials from pipe cleaners to orange string. She spoke very clearly and precisely, giving her instructions in clear stages which she had broken down and presented on a display board. Her board demonstrated how the lion gradually took shape as each stage was completed. Rory was totally immersed in the activity and listened carefully to each instruction. His finished picture was perfect and highlighted the success of Zahara’s instructions.
Next up was Ameya who was going to teach someone how to make a rose out of a ribbon. Mrs Duke decided that this was a skill that I was lacking and so I became Ameya’s pupil! Ameya took a very hands-on approach, showing me each stage with a very calm and gentle manner. I am afraid I was not as successful a pupil as Rory and my finished flower was only a vague resemblance of Ameya’s. I will definitely need more practice, Ameya!
I finally watched Ahmed teach Gabrielle how to make a circuit to light a light bulb. He was very clear with excellent voice projection and he announced each step before moving onto the next one. He gave constructive feedback and congratulated Gabrielle when she had completed each stage. Gabrielle had a big smile on her face throughout and completed the circuit with ease. The children had really followed the examination criteria carefully, from presenting instructions in a logical order to being patient, and using repetition effectively.
There are a number of pictures on the school Facebook pages and there will be some videos of the children’s lessons also released soon to help you and give you instructions on everyday jobs!
Thank you to all our musicians and singers this morning and what a wonderful way to end a very busy and successful week. Over 50 children performed in our largest musical assembly to date, this is still just a fraction of all the musicians in school. It was the first performance by our School Band and Little Voices who were brilliant! (see our facebbok page) Their enjoyment of these clubs was clearly demonstrated in their enthusiastic performance. I now look forward to their performance for parents at the Summer Fayre. We also had a very impressive array of individual performances, from pianists through to our brass players. For a few of these children, who have just started, to perform in the musical assembly was their target for the year and they certainly achieved that, not only with confidence but also with a very accomplished performance. Ali, Year 6 and Suzanna, Year 4, wrote their own compositions for this morning’s assembly. A very impressive achievement for children of primary school age.
This final Music Assembly of the year really showed how music continues to develop within the school under the direction of Miss Macklam with the support of her strong team of Mr Murray, Mrs Street, Mrs Hill and our peripatetic teachers.
What a fabulous feast of sport! The spectators watched a range of events which involved throwing, balancing, overcoming obstacles, the sack race and so much more. The children were confident and extremely talented at all the events and I definitely think we have some Olympic athletes of the future in our midst. The children were also excellent at cheering and supporting each other and their enjoyment and enthusiasm were clear to see with big smiles, excitement and laughter.
The final result was 1st - Italy, 2nd - France and 3rd - Great Britain Thank you to Mrs Parsons for organising the event and to all the staff for their support. Photographs on Facebook
We went digital in Year 5 at the end of last term as we recorded the pupils reading their favourite pieces of creative writing. 🎙 🎚
After they had made the recordings, the class then created a QR code for each and then put these together with the narrator's picture, ready for them to be listened to at our Open Day.
The class loved being part of this process and learning how to make their work digital, and the parents really enjoyed listening to their children’s stories. 📖 Great work Year 5! 🙂 🙂Photos from Highfield Priory School's post ... See moreSee less
Class 6H enjoyed a trip to local retirement home Bethany House recently.
In preparation for the visit, the children had learnt some traditional songs, including songs from famous musicals. Once there, the children entertained the residents with a good old-fashioned sing song and even brought along song sheets so that everyone could join in! 🎤 🎼
The class had also made some Easter cards for all the people who live there which they handed out before sadly having to wave goodbye to all the ladies and gentlemen.
It is always so lovely to see our children forming such good friendships with the residents and it is great to see Highfield’s relationship with Bethany House going from strength to strength! 🙂 🙂Photos from Highfield Priory School's post ... See moreSee less
