It’s Great To Be Back
This week’s newsletter focuses on the delight and excitement that is the first week of term but, of course, this particular week has ended with the very sad news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with His Majesty the King, The Queen Consort, the entire Royal Family. There is a national online book of condolence on the Royal Family website for anyone who would like to leave a tribute.
Exciting Times In Nursery As Newcomers Settle In
This year promises to be a very exciting one for Brookham Nursery. With our new extension really taking shape, we are looking forward to offering a fabulous new and additional space for the youngest members of the Brookham community. We know the extension will enable us to provide even more opportunities for exploration and learning in a beautiful, purpose-built environment. In the meantime, we have had a fantastic start to the new academic year and have welcomed many new children to the Nursery this week. They have already started their learning journey; taking on new challenges, building new relationships, and developing independence. Throughout the year, through a mixture of carefully planned teacher-led activities and their own child-initiated learning, they will be developing crucial skills and characteristics such as independence, confidence and an ability to problem solve and keep trying when they find something tricky. Most of all, however, we hope that their time in Nursery will be joyful and instil in them a love of learning that will set them up for the rest of their educational journey.
Sam Forster, Head of Early Years
Reception Children Ready To Take Their Next Big Step
A new pair of school shoes represents so much for the children in Reception. It ushers in the start of a new chapter in their lives and an opportunity to make new friends while dirtying their polished shoes during new adventures. For this current cohort, new and exciting experiences will be plentiful, with many opportunities for their newly-polished shoes to become covered in dust and mud, demonstrating unequivocally the fun experiences they will have. During the year, the Reception children will develop increased levels of independence, challenging themselves to try new things, while also collaborating with their friends and classmates to reach their end goals. There is sure to be fun, laughter and plenty of tales to tell in the coming year as the children learn new skills while reinforcing existing ones right across the curriculum. Whatever happens in and out of the classroom, one thing is for sure….. the children’s shoes won’t stay clean for long!
Georgie Hunter, Head of Reception
New Children Make A Splash In Year 1
What a whirlwind start to the new school year it’s been. Wet, stormy weather has been a key feature every day this week and provided much excitement, entertainment and hilarity for the children at break times. In and out of the rain, it’s been lovely to meet our new classes this week. Without exception, all of the Year 1 children have returned in fine form; happy and raring to go to start learning alongside their friends. As for our new children, who were enthusiastically welcomed on the return to school on Tuesday, it hasn’t taken them long to settle into a lovely routine and they have already been busy making friends. As luck would have it, splashing in puddles and playing with the water is a perfect focal point for social interactions. One of the most exciting aspects of school this week for our Year 1 children has been lunch. Choosing their own main course and dessert, collecting it on a tray, and carrying it to their table has been one of the highlights of the week. With no dropped trays to date, they have all done very well with this exciting new step. Mr Grech, Miss Lane, Mrs Wilkes and Mrs Langrish are really looking forward to a great year of learning with this engaged, curious and cheerful little group of people.
Kerri Wilkes, Head of Year 1
Energetic Year 2 Start As They Mean To Go On
It has been an energetic start to the year for the children in Year 2. Lots of new faces (and the friendship possibilities they bring) have joined our amazing cohort. The children have already hit the ground running and begun to explore their new topic, Famous Forests. They are now looking forward to a trip to a wildlife park next week. In the meantime, Year 2 had the opportunity to absorb fully the sights and sounds of their very own famous woods which can be found within our wonderful school grounds. This school year will feature fascinating visitors, enriching educational trips and character-building experiences. Over the next 10 months, the children will grow, not just physically but also in terms of confidence as they develop further their inquisitive streaks and start to take more risks with their learning. This foundation will set the children up perfectly for Year 3 and beyond. We will, of course, share our exciting experiences with you every step of the way, but we can see already that Year 2 have so much to offer and will be an integral part of our amazing environment.
Charlie Millsom, Head of Year 2
Collaborative Year 3 Rise To The Challenge
Being tied up in knots is usually a sign of being anxious or worried. However, the new Year 3 children were far from this when they were set the task of tying a knot around a tree while they all maintained a hold on the rope. This was one of the many team-building activities the children took part in this week, requiring them to focus on valuing each other’s contributions and communicating clearly. Despite the rain, the children impressed their teachers with their understanding of how to collaborate effectively, where the importance of listening was highlighted while also ensuring everyone had a role in their group. Returning to school taller and with a greater sense of maturity, the Year 3 children have relished being back in their learning environment, rekindling friendships and making new ones. The first week of term also marks the election of the new house captains, where the children have the opportunity to fulfil responsibilities and contribute positively to the lives of others. It was wonderful to see the confidence exuding from those who stood up and gave presentations, asserting how they will help others and be an excellent role model to their peers. After a close contest, it is clear that this year’s cohort has many future house captains in the making.
Henrietta Platt, Head of Year 3
Year 4 Take Life At Highfield In Their Stride
What a fantastic start Year 4 have had to life at Highfield. Starting a new school with new expectations and more freedom can be a little daunting, but Year 4 have taken the exciting challenge in their stride, enjoying the lessons, the grounds and the sports that Highfield has to offer. I have been incredibly impressed with every pupil’s determination to ‘give it a go’ – both inside and outside of the classroom. Year 4 were tasked with reading The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy, discussing all the wonderful hopes, dreams and advice the book throws up. Through this book, each class discussed what they expect from their time in Year 4 and what skills they think will help them to best grow and develop throughout the year. A range of ideas suggested that, in Year 4, “we are courageous”, “we ask for help”, “we are creative”, “we work together”, “we are kind”, “we learn from our mistakes” and “we give everything a go”. As the term moves forward, we hope Year 4 will embody the expectations they have designed themselves, ensuring they courageously accept their mistakes and learn from them by asking for help and working together. In 10 months’ time, I would love the children to look back on their time in Year 4 with pride, quietly saying to themselves “look how far I’ve come”.
Rosie Statham, Head of Year 4
Mature Year 5 Unfazed By Change Of Routine
What a breathtaking start it’s been for Year 5. With new form tutors, moving around the school, song words to learn, the excitement of Latin and a new time for sport, one could be forgiven for thinking that Year 5 would be bamboozled by this newness. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! I have been overwhelmed by the mature, sensible attitude of the children; they have started the year with high expectations and have delivered in leaps and bounds. They are enjoying the extra responsibilities and freedom that Year 5 brings. New planners have caused great excitement, Latin has been a firm favourite so far, and Mr Dunn and Miss Mac have been impressed on the Games pitches. What more could a Head of Year ask for? (Perhaps a trip to see Mary Poppins…)
Viv Liddell, Head of Year 5
Storming Start To The Year By Impressive Year 6
Much like the thunderous storms and powerful lightning of the past week, Year 6 have powered into their new academic year with vigour and gusto. It’s been delightful to hear about their varied summer holidays and to see their smiling faces filled with anticipation for the new academic year ahead. This year is often a time, I feel, where the children seem to be truly on the edge of great things; a perfect mix of independence, understanding, curiosity and a world of opportunities muddling a cocktail for success. In this way, I see Year 6 as a time to quench the children’s thirst for knowledge, capture their imaginations, and nurture their individual targets in the classroom and beyond. Although it is indeed the year of pre-testing, and all that that entails, it is also a time for building resilience, collaboration and other life skills that will serve the children well in their Highfield lives and beyond. Knowing the children as I do, I am very excited to see what they can take from this year, with a little support from Mr Dilworth, Miss Gordon and Mrs Aubrey-Thomas. I am sure there will be hours of sunshine, moments of rain and the occasional lightning bolt, but hopefully an overarching rainbow.
Flora Aubrey-Thomas, Head of Year 6
Strong Bonds To Carry Year 7 Through A Pivotal Year
It’s been fantastic to welcome pupils old and new to Highfield this week for the start of life in Year 7. It’s a time when the children move into the senior end of the school and we add a multitude of new faces to the peer group. While a slight increase in prep is not always a highlight for the children, the opportunity to sit on the tiered seating during assemblies is certainly classified as a perk. They have made a wonderful start, welcoming and embedding our new pupils into our community while quickly picking up where they left off in July, whether in the classroom or elsewhere around school. Year 7 is another step up for our children. More freedom is afforded and we encourage independence in many areas of school life while the academic rigours continue to challenge every individual to achieve their very best. They will also be empowered, as ever, to take full advantage of what Highfield has to offer, whether in sport or music, the arts or the multitude of clubs and activities that are on offer. An added extra is the role they play with younger pupils at Highfield and Brookham; acting as role models and a support network throughout the academic year. It’s a wonderfully fruitful year, where the peer group develop attributes and skills that will aid both the wider community and themselves as they continue their journey through education and beyond. But, first, they will be immersed in joyous trips, tournaments, concerts and productions, as well as reinforcing the strong bonds that this delightful group of children have with each other.
James Figgis, Head of Year 7
Still Time For Year 8 To Try New Experiences
September is definitely the new January. The evenings are light and the warmth remains but there is a sense of ‘new year’ in the air. It also feels like a time to make some resolutions when we are, perhaps, more inclined to stick to them. With a new school year comes a whole host of new possibilities; even for those ‘old hands’ in Year 8. New staff (not least a new Head) means there are new clubs and new insights. My hope for our final year cohort is that they do make resolutions for this year, preferably ones which see them seize this last chance to take up experiences open to them that they have perhaps not tried before. Not all of our Year 8s are old hands, however, and, as ever, I remain in awe of what our international students achieve in such a short space of time with us. As a linguist, I can safely say I really know what it is like to be immersed in a foreign environment and to spend the day trying to think in another language. Yet these amazing young people come in, hit the ground running and make friends so quickly. Well done to them all. Sticking with our school theme of the week, I’m pleased to see how many of the Year 8s have already taken the chance to ‘give it a go’ and look forward to seeing what else they might achieve. Thoughts will doubtless turn to the year ahead with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, but I hope they will still try to live in the moment and enjoy Highfield – we still have so much left to offer them. Here’s to an exciting year ahead!
Jo Longshaw, Head of Year 8