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Apr 15, 2016
15 April 2016
Dear Parents
Welcome back! I hope you have all had a good Easter Break and enjoyed some quality time with your children. They certainly looked refreshed and excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead this term.
Nursery Dance Show
The last day of the Spring Term saw our amazing Nursery dancers take to the stage. They performed a wide range of dances for an incredible thirty minutes, maintaining their energy and smiles throughout. We watched a ‘Big Fish, Little Fish’ dance, the ‘Robot and Caterpillar’ dance, and their favourite ‘Find My Hand, Hide My Hand’ dance, to name but a few. It was very obvious to the audience just how much the children enjoy their dance sessions. The staff enjoy them too, joining in with every song. Thank you to our wonderful children, Nursery team and Miss Burns for an excellent performance and a fantastic conclusion to the Spring Term.
Out and About
I managed to visit Reception this week and was greeted by many very happy and busy children who were all very eager to tell me what they were doing. Joshua and Thomas P were in the middle of a very exciting game about pirates which they explained to me in great detail, including where they were going and also the equipment they had with them. Hugo and Moin were also deep in role play: they had heard an alarm bell and were both dressed as police officers who were off to investigate! A group of children were completing write-ups on their spring walk in the Highfield Haven. Anoush was writing about a butterfly he had seen and a flower that was blue. Frank showed me a colourful picture of his visit to the Haven and he had written that he had seen a wasp, a bee, a butterfly and a blue flower. Yusuf said that he had found some wild garlic and taken it home to show his dad.
I then spoke to Lily who told me very eloquently that she was dressed up as a T-Rex but her favourite dinosaur was a Pterodactyl and her little sister’s favourite is the Triceratops. I watched Joseph reading carefully to Miss Metcalf, taking his time to pronounce each word correctly. Finally, I saw William completing a phonics game on the computer, much to the delight of the spectators who counted every correct answer.
I always love visiting Reception at this time of year just to see how much they have progressed. Their vocabulary, communication skills, written work and reading are amazing and I think they are nearly ready for Year 1. Thank you Reception and I look forward to returning again soon.
Cricket Star - Toby Lester
Toby Lester, Lancashire Cricketer, visited school just before we broke up for Easter. He worked with nearly every age group. He looked at the basic concepts of striking, bowling and fielding with our younger pupils and had a session in the nets with our Year 5 and 6 pupils. It was lovely to see Toby interacting with the children who really responded to his words of encouragement and tips on technique. In the net session after school, they also got to see Toby bowling. We were all impressed by the speed he generated off just a few paces, knocking the cricket stumps over with his first two balls. The children were also given a clear
insight into life as a professional sportsman in a question and answer session at the end of the day and on his experiences in his first year.
I would like to thank Toby for coming to visit us and we all wish him the best of luck for the season ahead. A huge thank you to Mr Drake for organising this visit.
Jill Scott, who visited us earlier that week, has also been busy making the headlines after scoring the equaliser against Belgium in the European Cup qualifiers.
There are lots of pictures and video clips on our Facebook page so please take a look.
Summer Uniform
Please could all children now come to school in summer uniform. I would like to remind parents that boys, except Y6, should wear grey shorts, NOT cargo shorts with external pockets on the front or down the side, and grey ankle socks. Girls should wear light blue and white striped dresses with white ankle socks or white tights. Children may continue to wear black shoes or navy closed toe sandals. For PE all children will wear their white polo tops and white socks.
New Term News
News from the Kitchen
I am very sorry to announce that Mr and Mrs McGrath will be leaving Highfield at the start of next month. They have accepted an exciting opportunity to be Assistant Manager and Head Chef as part of a group of pubs/restaurants in the Ribble Valley. They originally came to Highfield from the hospitality industry and are both looking forward to returning. They have worked tirelessly for the school, providing amazing menus for 51 weeks of the year. They will be greatly missed by the whole Highfield community. I would like to wish them the best of luck in their new venture.
We are in the process of looking to fill both of their roles and will let you know when suitable candidates have been employed.
Baby News
I am delighted to announce that Mr and Mrs Williams are expecting a baby. We all offer them our very best wishes and congratulations.
Car Safety
In the interest of safety, please could I remind parents that all children should be wearing seat belts coming onto or leaving the school site and they must be in the correct car seat for their age group.
Merit Awards
RD: Joseph RF: Taylor 1D: Reya 1W: Danial 2M: Lucas
3J: Eva 3M: Emma 4D: Bebe 4S: Hamdaan 5H: Abigail 5M: Alexander 6H: Manahil
Thought for the Week
This quote is taken from our assembly on Monday and continues our sporting theme for this year to celebrate the opening of our all-weather pitch. We are planning to get more sporting stars in this term and will let you know as soon as they are confirmed.
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Games)
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster