Headmaster's Welcome

Headmaster's Weekly News, Friday 29th June, 2018

Jun 29, 2018

29 June 2018

Dear Parents

Year 1 visit Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
Year 1 travelled to Lakeland Wildlife Oasis on Wednesday to support the work they have been covering in class on animals. They enjoyed handling lots of different insects and animals. Zaidan said that he held a very large sticky stick insect. Aibhlin said she liked the giant snail which was slimy. The children also fed the fish and went through tunnels into the middle of the meerkat area to look at the meerkats more closely, which was definitely one of the highlights for all the children. Luca said he also enjoyed looking at the bats hanging from the roof in one of the buildings. They all thoroughly enjoyed the trip and it has really helped them to understand what they have been looking at in class as well as inspiring them to find out more on their return to school.

Out and About with Infant Gardening and Nature Club
I caught up with the Gardening and Nature Club in Highfield Haven. They had already completed their first very important task of the day: watering the vegetable plots in the Nursery garden. Luca and Yaseen told me they had been busy watering the strawberries and tomatoes. The children were now listening to noises in the Haven and Ms Eccles asked what animals might be living there. The children quickly rattled off birds, spiders, butterflies and foxes. Joseph said there would be minibeasts and we could find them under rocks and logs. The children also looked at the trees. Anoush looked very carefully at the tree above, pointing out the leaves and the spinning jennies before finding it on The Haven’s picture board. Ayesha came to tell me it was a sycamore tree. The children then went further into The Haven looking for minibeasts. Amber announced with delight that she had found lots of woodlice. This was quickly followed by Anoush and Zaidan who found lots under a log. The children examined them carefully, looking at their texture and movement. Amelia said that they had seen a bug hotel on their school trip. She then picked up a woodlouse to show it to the rest of the group. She even said it was her friend and wanted to take it back to class! Ms Eccles told her that it was important to return the minibeasts back to where they had been found, especially on a hot day like today. It was lovely to see the children out in the grounds, in the shade with the sunshine glistening through the trees. They were full of questions as they explored this very natural and beautiful setting. The perfect way in which to learn. I hope they continue to benefit from this wonderful weather until the end of term.

The Bake-Off
Highfield’s Annual Bake-Off takes place on Monday. The theme for this year is ‘The Movies’. There will be prizes for best decorated cake and best taste. Children are allowed to bring in £2 to buy cake on the day. We would also like them to bring in a small Tupperware to keep their cakes in during the day.
Please could we make sure the cakes do not contain nuts. All the money raised will be going to the school charities: Derian House and MakeAWish. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful creations on Monday. Happy Baking!

Survey
Thank you to all those parents who have completed the survey for Reception to Year 6. Only a small number of parents have completed the survey so far. It is a really valuable document and last time it was used as a basis for future decision making across the school. If it is going to be as effective as it was last time, we need a higher percentage of parents from across the school completing it. The deadline is Monday 2 July. Thank you for your support.

Parents’ Coffee Morning
It was lovely to see the parents who turned up to the Coffee Morning on Thursday. Mr Drake had organised a powerpoint of some of the year’s activities and also a display of Year 6’s very creative beach huts which they have been working on in DT.

Summer Fayre
The Summer Fayre takes place next Sunday, 8 July, from 1pm. It promises to be a fun-packed day with lots of activities for all the family. I hope to see you all there.

Life Education
Life Education visited school this week to teach the children about healthy living and lifestyle. They all really enjoyed the sessions especially when Harold the Giraffe made his appearance!

Uniform and General Appearance Reminder
Long hair must be tied back and, for boys, it is to be cut above the shirt collar. The children are really struggling with the hot weather and hair getting in their eyes causes problems in lessons. I also sent an email earlier in the year reminding parents about summer hats. With the temperature increasing, more and more children are wearing summer hats. These must be plain and in school colours with no logos. It important that children wear the correct uniform and look smart at school and within the community.

Cricket v Oakhill
Congratulations to the ten Under 11 boys who travelled to Oakhill to play in the last cricket match of the season. They ran out winners by thirty runs; an excellent result. It really underpinned the progress the boys have made this term, improving the accuracy of their bowling, shot selection and fielding technique. I hope the boys will continue to play over the summer so that they can play a leading role in the team next year or gain a place in their Secondary School team.

Under 11 Girls’ Rounders v Westholme
Wednesday was the final Rounders match of the year for our Years 5 and 6 girls. Year 5 came up against a well-structured Westholme team who limited the scoring in the first innings, however, the Highfield girls fielded beautifully, getting lots of the strong Westholme batters out, meaning the scores were close at half time. The heat was really tough on both teams and the second half saw Westholme really up their game to eventually win 12- 6½ .
The Year 6 girls also faced a well-structured Westholme team and despite some great fielding and batting they were 5-8½ down at half time. After a motivating team talk, by captain Danya at half time, the Highfield girls worked really well as a team and managed to get 6 out of the 9 Westholme batters out and limited their scoring. It was then the turn of the Highfield batters and what an innings! Despite some of our strong hitters getting out, the girls showed great resilience in the stifling heat to score some excellent rounders. There was a tense wait for the result at the end of the game… the final score was 13½-13½ meaning the scores were drawn, however, as the Highfield girls got more of the Westholme girls out over the two innings they came out winners! What a great end to their last ever Rounders match for Highfield! Well done girls!

Kings Camp
Kings Camp will be at school for 2 weeks from Monday 23 July. Please book your child’s place at www.kingscamp.co.uk

Dates for your Diary
Pre-School Curriculum Evening Thursday 5 July, 6pm
Summer Fayre Sunday 8 July

Merit Awards
RD: Toby RJ: Aidan 1W: Luca 2D: Aaron 2E: Leo
3H: Nadia 3M: Genevieve 4S: Tia 5D: Natasha 5M: Joshua D 6H: Grace 6P: Daniel
Monitor of the week: Ameya

Thought for the Week
If you can reach out, touch, love and be with wildlife, you will forever be changed, and you will want to make the world a better place. Terri Irwin

Yours sincerely

J M Duke
Headmaster