Heathfield Newsletter
Dear Parents,
Just before half term, I was delighted to be able to ‘pass on’ a very special award made to Maddy Wadcock. Maddy attends Abigail Warburton’s Dance School and out of one hundred and twenty pupils, Maddy was selected to receive a most handsome shield for being the most motivated and enthusiastic pupil! Being the best that you can possibly be will always involve being motivated and enthusiastic, so Maddy is a great example to us all.
Year 4 were also superb ambassadors for Heathfield when they visited the University of Manchester Museum’s Egyptian display. The children were able to handle some genuine Egyptian relics while they discovered more about ancient Egyptian mythology and the lives of ordinary Egyptians in the time of the Pharaohs. I was impressed by the levels of knowledge displayed by our children, who were commended by our guide – and she knew something about ancient Egypt herself, as she is reading for a Ph.D in Egyptology! After lunch, we were able to visit some other parts of the Museum – the T-Rex skeleton, the money exhibition (did people really carry around cross-shaped pieces of brass weighing two kilos?), the vivarium, the hall of mammals – and most exciting of all, the Museum Shop! Year 4 then followed this with a trip to Halifax Minster, with a report due to appear in the next Newsletter.
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Year 4 girls examining ancient Egyptian relics at the University of Manchester Museum |
On Thursday, we were treated to a wealth of extreme ability in Heathfield’s Got Talent! Mrs Bradley was the MC as well as the organiser – and what talent we found: Daniela Croston sang for us, Mason Hodgson and Hannah Speakman performed solo dances, Archie Whitworth drummed while Niamh Myatt-Turner performed a wonderful poem about her imaginary friend. Jacob Bower played a composition of his own. There was more fine instrumental playing from Rachel Costello on the flute and from Hannah Betts on the violin, who then dueted on the same instrument with Abby Lucas. At one point it could have been the Ben Rooney show – he appeared playing instruments, in an improvised acting piece with Toby Gledhill and Edward Buckley, and then with Edward again in an accomplished dance / gymnastics fusion! A group of Year 6 girls (Lucy, Abby, Abigail, Alice and Molly) finished the evening off in spectacular fashion with Bad Boys (the song, that is, not the male half of Year 6). Huge thanks are also due to the pupils who supplied the technical expertise as members of the lighting and sound crews (Oliver Marshall and George Radcliffe).
There is a separate report from Year 6 about their trip to Court and visit to Todmorden Fire Station this week, taking part in the Safety for Life training in which they are given practical advice about staying safe and how to deal with dangerous situations if they do occur. Such training and raising of awareness is a vitally important part of Heathfield’s programme to ensure the safety and welfare of our children, helping our pupils to become responsible members of the wider community. Taken together with other visits, such as the recent trip to see the magistrates’ court in action, we aim to ensure that our children have a good knowledge of some of the institutions and processes in this country.
The Heathfield Committee, one of the sub-committees of the Governing Body, paid one of their regular visits to Heathfield on Tuesday and were able to enjoy a lunchtime concert from Year 5 which took us into outer space (and back), with additional solo instrumental contributions from Santino Guarino, Maddy Wadcock and Jacob Bower. The Governors also met with the School Council and listened to a report from James Robbins and Edward Buckley on some of the ideas and suggestions discussed by the School Council this year.
In Foundation Stage, children have been making delicious cakes – not for themselves, but to feed to wild birds. They have been exploring the wildlife to be found all over the school site in preparation for work on Spring, which is officially just around the corner.
The Open Afternoon on Wednesday was a fantastic opportunity for us to show off our facilities, and even better, the children, who are our greatest asset. Members of Years 5 and 6 acted as guides and were universally praised by our visitors as being informative, courteous and engaging. Thanks also to everybody who helped spread the message to friends and neighbours about the Open Afternoon. The School looked fabulous and we were delighted to welcome a good number of guests – with some visiting children already booked in for their ‘taster days’. One family commented on Heathfield’s growing reputation for French speaking, having seen a language class in singing action!
We have started a rolling programme of refurbishment and redecoration throughout the site – and the children are at the forefront of the work. Art Club members Caitlin Graham, Alex Dransfield, Matthew Roberts, Jacob Lamb, Nicholas Sheard and Charlotte Taylor helped Miss Robinson with the wonderful murals taking shape along the top Mill corridor. Please go and have a look at this work-in-progress, if you get a chance.
Head’s Awards
Year 2S Millie Fraser, Sam Whiteley
Year 3KT Alex McDade, Oliver Brian, Avani Grewal, Harry Netherwood,Hannah Speakman,
Alex Dransfield, Alice Sismanovic, Ewan Bennett, Clara Withers
Year 4H Jennie Roberts, Freya Lightfoot, Harry Stobart, Caitlin Graham, all of Year 4
Year 5C Jacob Tansey, Charlotte Lutener, Emma Bower
Year 6W Oliver Marshall,
Smartest Class Award Year 3KT
Mr. A. Wilkins
Year 6 Visit to the Magistrates’ Court in Halifax
On Friday 12th February, Year 6 enjoyed a very informative visit to Halifax Magistrates’ Court. They were guided through the building to the quite spectacular (and quite daunting) Court One, where they were given a super insight into procedures within the Magistrates’ Court, and our judicial system, through a role play exercise. They then took on the role of ‘Magistrates’, and decided upon the sentencing for a fictitious character, Jason, explaining the reasoning for their decisions.
Here are some of the comments made by the children:
“The most interesting part of the morning was when we talked about Jason.”
“The part of the visit that I enjoyed most was the fake trial.”
“It was very exciting to see a real court room.”
“I learned all the different punishments, such as curfew orders and unpaid community work.”
“I really enjoyed playing parts in court. It felt like we were involved in a real case.”
“It was interesting to find out the different roles of people in the court and where they sit.”
“The part I enjoyed the most was sitting in the central chair on the Magistrates’ Bench. It was a big red chair with the Halifax seal.”
Mrs. R. Wilby, Year 6 Class Teacher
A diary entry about a trip - 23rd February 2010
Today we went to the Museum of Manchester. We listened to a story about a girl called Taminis. Next we decided what to put in Taminis’ tomb. My group picked a shabti so Taminis wouldn’t have to do loads of jobs. Meanwhile the other groups chose what they wanted.
After that we went to the Daily Life Gallery to choose what toys to give Taminis for the After Life. I thought a wooden horse on wheels would be nice for her and a necklace.
Later we went into the After Life Gallery. We were set a task. We had to find linen, wood, stone, cartonnage and gold leaf amongst the artefacts in there. This was a good part of the Museum.
Last we went into the Mammal and Pre-historic sections. I did a skeleton competition with Mr Bouckley. Meanwhile the girls were looking at birds. In the Pre-historic part Harrison and Archie put their hands over my eyes and when they let go I nearly fainted.... I saw a T-Rex skeleton. We looked at the bones of a sea creature we called the Loch Ness Monster. That was cool.
Eventually we had to go but it was the best trip I’ve been on.
By Gregory Withers, Year 4H
Music
A large thank you for your talented children who took part in Heathfield’s Got Talent last Thursday. The whole evening was a delight to preside over, a real box of assorted quality chocolates, that includes the Judge – just!
The Lunchtime Concert due to take place this week has been postponed until later in this term, Wednesday 17th March at 12.30 pm.
Mrs. J. Bradley
Hockey Report
On Friday 26th February, the girls’ hockey team went to Preston Sports Arena to play in a tournament with twenty teams.
Hockey is a new sport to some team members, and because of the bad weather this year, we haven’t had much chance to practice. We won one match in the tournament. This is a great result.
Maddy Dransfield did extremely well in the goal and saved an aerial ball with the pads on her hands. Molly Greenwood, Abigail Lloyd and Alex Swift did some super tackling and kept the ball away from the goal. Lucy Hirst and Abby Lucas excelled at passing the ball to the attackers. Alice Beevor, Charlotte Lutener and I played in attack and Emma Bower was the star who scored the goal which won us a match. In another match the team didn’t show up.
I am very proud of my team because there was a lot of bad weather. The freezing sleet, rain and biting wind made it so cold that our hands froze. It didn’t defeat us. I am also proud of them because we had a few bad injuries but they still played on.
I would like to thank Mrs Bower for arranging the tournament, Miss Holt for coming to support us and the parents for cheering us on even through the rain.
By Rachel Costello, Hockey Captain
PTA
Heathfield School Ball - Saturday 8th May at Berties Elland
This year’s worthwhile charity chosen to receive our support, is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Ticket requests have now been sent home, please remember to return your request forms as soon as possible as numbers are limited and available on a first come basis.
Auction & Raffle prizes
The PTA would be extremely grateful for any donations of Raffle and Auction prizes for this year’s charity ball. If you would like to donate a prize, please leave details in Mrs Swallow’s office or email simone@smwassociates.co.uk.
Thank you for your support.
‘It’s a Date’ Lottery
This month’s winner is Mrs Carolyn Roberts – Congratulations!
Simone Wadcock
Chair
TESCO SAINSBURY FLORA NESTLEBOXTOPS4BOOKS
Please continue to bring your tokens in to school for the above schemes.
If any one takes or has access to the Daily Mirror please collect the Tesco Bonus tokens that are being published from 8th-10th March (Monday to Wednesday next week) to help to swell our Tesco vouchers collection.
RECYCOOL PHONES AND CARTRIDGES
We continue to make significant amounts of money from your recycled printer cartridges (not Epson) and old mobile phones, so please drop them into the PTA ‘bin’ too.
Many thanks
Sue Roberts
Diary Dates
5th March Reports to Parents
3.15 pm depart Swimming vs Coram House (away)
6th March Sowerby Bridge and District Inter-Schools Football Tournament at Ryburn Valley High School
9th March 4.00 pm to 7.30 pm Parents’ Evening
10th March U9 and U11 Football and Netball vs Huddersfield Grammar School (home)
11th March 4.00 pm to 7.30 pm Parents’ Evening
16th March 9.00 am Year 8 Rishworth pupils to work with Year 2 on Easter French
17th March Book Fair
12.30 pm Lunchtime Concert
19th March Rishworth Music Festival
7.30 pm Rishworth Music Festival Concert
22nd March No extra-curricular activities
Year 5 / 6 AJIS Rugby at St. Mary’s (away)
23rd March 9.15 am French Easter Concert
4.00 pm Year 5 Residential Meeting
24th March 9.15 am Key Stage 1 and 2 Easter Service in Chapel
25th March 9.30 am Foundation Stage Easter Bonnet Parade
26th March 3.30 pm Term ends
Next Newsletter Friday 19th March 2010 |
