Headteacher’s Newsletter September 2011

Dear parents and carers, It has been an exciting and busy month at Highgate Primary and the new children have settled well into their new classes. The school is looking lovely, especially the displays which you may have seen in the school hall. We have a lot of events planned in the next three weeks before the half term break and details of these, as well as the highlights of the last three weeks, follow.

Assemblies

Dejuan and Elvy 5NL 5NL entertained the school with the first of this year’s class assemblies. We discovered what it was like to be at school in the Victorian age, had a surprise visit from a chimney sweep, and found out how revolting gruel was.

Year 2 Visit to Waterlow Park Year 2 visited Waterlow Park last week with the aim of considering different settings for stories. They had lots of fun exploring this beautiful park, identifying different areas and becoming inspired to write their own stories.

Kye in Waterlow Park

After-School Clubs We have started the school year with a huge choice of after-school and lunchtime clubs. New this year are Mandarin Club, Mags and Lou’s Quiz Club, Sarah’s Cookery Club, and Alex’s Podcast, Making Movies and Fine Art Clubs. There was a lot of smoke coming out of the Family Centre during last week’s Cookery Club, but the omelettes still smelled and tasted delicious. Dan’s Cross Country Club is as popular as ever. If there are any parents who are able to join Dan in Highgate Woods on a Wednesday afternoon, not only will you get fit but he will be able to take more children running.

Making cheese omelettes in Sarah’s Cookery Club

There are the following spaces left 6 in the Monday lunchtime recorder club,

2 in Tuesday’s Podcast Club, 1 in Wednesday Fine Art Club and 10 in Wednesday’s Quiz Club

Please sign up in the office if you’re interested in joining any of these and take any outstanding payments to the office as soon as possible.

There are also spaces in the Friday lunchtime Streetdance club. To book onto this please email clarekennedy1@live.co.uk

The timetable can be viewed on the school website www.highgateprimaryschool.co.uk. Go to ‘Story of the Week’

on the homepage and click on the link.

EZ and Emily making a podcast

Start Imagining pilot school Highgate Primary has been invited to be a pilot school for Start Imagining, a brand new initiative inspiring sustainability through creativity. The focus is on traditional craft and ‘upcycling’ – making art with recycled and sustainable materials. The aim is to encourage children to learn traditional skills like sewing and knitting and explore their imaginative side. The Art and Craft after-school club will work with Start Imagining and there are lots of lovely art and craft ideas on

the website. Have a look at www.coolitschools.com.

Recorder Teacher We have a new recorder teacher at school called Isobel Clarke. Isobel kindly performed for the whole school in assembly last week demonstrating how beautiful the recorder can sound. Isobel will be teaching the recorder to both year 2 classes during curriculum time on Monday afternoons. Isobel has also started a Monday lunchtime club - if you would like your child to join please let the office know as soon as possible. The cost is £36 for the term and it is open for years 3-6.

Music Tuition Year 4 We have just started the third year of our whole class music instrument scheme, with every child in Peter’s class learning the violin, and children in Jen’s class the guitar. The performances over the year are always full of energy and enthusiasm and it is wonderful to see not only how much progress the children make with their instruments, but how obviously they enjoy it. It is very encouraging to see that more than half of 5MK has opted to continue with guitar lessons this year - I’m looking forward to the next concert!

Better Reading Partners If you have half an hour to spare at the start or end of the school day and would like to support children in their reading skills, you may want to consider our Better Reading Partners

Scheme. We have been running the Better Reading Partners program me for eighteen months and we have seen some

fantastic improvements in both the children’s reading skills

and attitudes towards reading. To get involved you will need to be able to commit to a minimum of two sessions a week. In line with our usual practices, parents/carers would normally work in a class other

than their own child’s. Please let Ruth know if you are interested in taking part in this valuable project.

New reception and nursery children I have been delighted to see how well the new nursery and reception children have settled in to their first few days of school. I look forward to getting to know them well over the next few years. Livia’s class popped in to see me in my office on Friday to say hello and tell me all about their first ever school lunch.

RLM in my office

Cycling proficiency This term a number of children in Year 6 have had the opportunity to work towards their cycling proficiency test. We hope to see them all cycling safely to school in the future.

Armando and Becky ready for their cycling proficiency training

Wellies We have a plea from the foundation stage for the donation of outgrown wellies, size 10 and under. Lucie is very keen to get the children outside as much as possible, whatever the weather! Please take any spare pairs to reception.

School Council The first school council meeting of the year took place in the Family Centre last week. Well done to the councillors who have been elected by their classes to represent them this year. The role of the school council is to ensure that the views of children are considered when decisions are made. The agenda for this year includes school meals, playtime activities and PE kit.

The school council’s inaugural meeting

Thorpe Park Trip Anna Smith, Deputy Head of Blanche Nevile, arranged a trip to Thorpe Park this week and children from each inclusion class were lucky enough to be invited. Anna said, “ it was one of the best and inclusive events I've ever been part of. The children from both schools need to be commended for many reasons: looking out for one another, communication, conquering their fears, behaviour and manners. A really wonderful trip.”

Highgate Primary Family Centre

It’s been an exceptionally busy September in the Family Centre with more than 400 children and babies, plus their parents or carers, coming in for playgroups and health services. We have also enjoyed hosting lots of different school activities including PSA meetings, the PSA AGM, the school council, new parents’ meetings the Better Reading Partners’ training and after school clubs.

Volunteers We are looking for volunteers to help run our playgroups. If you have a few hours to spare on a regular basis and would like to get involved, we would be very grateful. It’s a very rewarding and fun place to spend some time and a great way to get to know families in the community. We will be providing training and an induction for volunteers later on this term. So, if you are interested, please pop into the centre and put your name down or phone us on 020 3213 0004.

Coffee mornings Wondering what to do in the half an hour after morning drop off and the start of your child’s class assembly? Why not come over to the Family Centre for a cup of tea or coffee and catch up with other parents and carers in your class.

PSA AGM The PSA AGM was a very successful evening where Lizzie and Nikki summarised the impressive fundraising efforts of the last year. A very, very big thank you to all of the parents who get involved and help organise, run and tidy up after PSA events - it makes a huge difference to the school. More than

£28,000 was raised last year, which means we will are on schedule to go ahead with the exciting plans to convert the school attics into an art studio and media centre. We always need new parents in the PSA to have creative ideas for fundraising events, or to offer some time to help. There are meetings every Friday morning at 9am in the Family Centre so please do drop in if you’re around.

Forthcoming events……

Harvest Just to remind you that all parents and carers are very welcome to attend our special Harvest Assembly which is taking place at 9.30 am on Wednesday 19th October. During the week children are invited to bring in donations of food which will go towards the traditional display on the stage in the school hall. All donations will be transported to the drop-in centre for homeless people in Muswell Hill.

Black History Month Black History Month is a time when we highlight and celebrate the splendid contributions made by black people throughout the centuries and uncover hidden history about our communities. And at Highgate Primary, It is a time to celebrate the richness and diversity of our school community. This year the school will be celebrating Black History Month through special assemblies in school and class based activities and workshops. I would very much like to hear from parents willing to contribute their time to lead an activity with their child’s class.

Black History Month Celebration Event The parent group ‘Rhythms 4 Life’ is organising a special African and Caribbean evening on Friday 21st October between 7.00 and 9.00pm at which there will be great music, delicious food and entertainment. If you would like to help with the organisation of the evening, make a donation for the raffle, or bring food for the buffet, you can contact parent Shirley Moore via the office or in the playground. Everyone is invited to buy tickets, which will be on sale in the playground nearer the time.

Parent Consultation Meetings Parent Consultation Meetings are set for Tuesday 11th October between 4.00 and 6.00 pm and Thursday 13t h October between 6.00 and 8.00 pm. These will provide parents with an opportunity to hear how their children have settled into their new classes, discuss targets and share important pastoral information.

This term we will be continuing the system of signing up for an appointment on the sheets that will be posted on the notice boards in the Dining Centre from Monday 3rd October. Parents are invited to sign up for a time that suits them.

New Parents’ Meeting All parents and carers of children who are new to the school are warmly invited to attend a short meeting in the Family Centre at 9.15 am on Friday 7th October. This will be a chance to hear how you can become involved in school life and the work of the PSA. It is also a good opportunity to meet other parents over a cup of tea or coffee.

Fireworks Save the date: Friday 4th November, for the first ever Highgate Primary Firework Night! It will be held in the North London Cricket Club, off Shepherd’s Hill, just behind Highgate Wood School. More details will be released nearer the time but it should be an amazing evening with fireworks, a BBQ, mulled wine, and fingers crossed, entertainment from our very own teachers’ band The Edukators. To cover the cost of the fireworks (they’re not cheap!) we are looking for sponsorship. If anyone has any thoughts on local businesses who may like to sponsorship the event please let Lizzie, chair of the PSA know. E-mail: lizzie@roybloom.com. Anonymous donors

welcome too.

Important dates for the Autumn Term

Year 6 PGL week

w/c Monday 3rd October

2RV assembly

Friday 7t h October

Parent Consultation Meetings (Y1-Y6)

Tuesday 11th October 4 – 6 pm Thursday 13t h October 6 – 8 pm

Reception Curriculum Meeting

Wednesday 12t h October 2.30pm

Year 6 PGL assembly

Friday 14t h October

Harvest assembly

Wednesday 19t h October 9.30am

2HR assembly

Friday 21st October 9.30am

Black History Event Friday 21st October 7 – 9pm

Half term week

w/c Monday 24t h October

Here’s to a rather wonderful October at Highgate Primary. With best wishes William . William Dean Headteacher