Issue 19

Our newsletter aims to keep parents and carers up to date with school news, activities and key information throughout the year.

If you have any feedback on or suggestions for the newsletter, please send your comments via email to newsletter@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

Don’t forget to visit our website (www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) for more news and information.

Thank you for taking the time to read our news and for your support.

A Marsh Headteacher

Disclaimer: HighfieldsSchoolisnotresponsibleforthequalityofproductsororganisationspublicisedthrougharticlesor advertisementsintheschoolnewsletter.

Newsletter

21June2024

Message from the Headteacher

I seem to have got into the habit of featuring staff members in these newsletters. So far, I’ve celebrated members of the senior leadership team who make the strategic choices affecting Highfields students. This week I would like to introduce Mr Dunne who is a cover supervisor.

Cover supervisors are members of our team who step in to try and protect students from the absence of their substantive teacher. There is no substitute for an experienced subject specialist with an established relationship with a group of students. Cover supervisors, however, often get pretty close. It is not an easy job but Mr Dunne, Mr Allan and Miss Judson do it with integrity and good humour and are a valuable part of the Highfields team.

In lessons this week I was looking for examples of good student/ staff work in books. I found it in a range of places but this was my favourite. You can see here that the teacher is asking the student to write a short paragraph to demonstrate to herself and the teacher that she has understood what she could have done better in her last task. The highlighter mark is indicating the approximate amount required. This is a really intelligent approach and beats an older style of assessment where teachers would simply explain what students could have improved and then move on without giving the student the opportunity to actually SHOW that they get it. On another page the teacher had used a different strategy and referred to NSW (next step writing) feedback points 6 and 9 which will have been explained to the whole class (students tend to make similar errors to each other). I also like the positive feedback here: ‘A really beautiful and clever piece of writing. You took me on a journey, well done!’ Very classy teaching (IMHO).

Finally, I would like to thank a small number of students on the courts at lunchtime on Monday. I was walking briskly across the courts to clear students off to lessons when, without my spectacles on, I failed to notice this section of exposed net cord (see pic). My midriff hit it and stopped suddenly whilst my head carried on in the direction of travel. This caused my legs to come up behind me and, somehow, they overtook my head, which by now had gone under the cord and was heading back to where I had come from. I thank students present for either pretending not to notice, or for managing to control their laughter. I must admit, had I been watching at their age, I would have been unable to control this impulse.

Have a healthy and safe weekend if you can. We are (slightly accident prone) Highfields.

Mr A Marsh Headteacher

Coming up next week…

Remindersfortheweekahead WeekB

Monday 24th June

Tuesday 25th June

Wednesday 26th June

Year 9 Fieldwork techniques Castleton Iceland Trip meeting

Rise High Chatsworth Year 8

Year 9 Fieldwork techniques Castleton Nottingham Uni Apprenticeships fair- 6th form

Thursday 27th June

Friday 28th June

Mini Tennis – Sports Leaders

Y13 Final Assembly

Y13 Prom

Nottingham Trent Open Day

Year 11 Donated Uniform

Now that Y11 exams are over we would appreciate school ties being donated to the school if the family no longer need them. All donated uniform is welcome at school or at local charity shops in Matlock.

Did you know you can hire out our school facilities?

 3G Pitch

 Hardstanding Courts

 Large Sports Hall

 Small Sports Hall

Please visit www.schoolhire.co.uk for more information, to view availability and to book.

All sales are cash or cheque (Cheque can be made to East Midlands Education Trust) only please.

Tickets are on sale now!

Sports Leaders

Tuesday 18th June

Highfields cluster Highland Games

The was the first time this event has been hosted, Mrs Allen invited reigning UK Champion Michaela Moore to attend. Tansley, Darley Dale and two teams from Lea Primary took part in 8 activities which you would find in the Highland games. The Highfields Sports leaders were amazing in their delivery of these activities and Michaela was on hand as an expert in her field of tossing the caber.

Results

1st Darley Dale 2nd Lea 3rd Tansley

Thursday 20th June

Top Link Sports Day 2024 at Darley Dale

This annual event has taken place at Darley Dale primary for the last 22 years. This year there were 28 Highfields leaders from Years 7-10 and they hosted the following activities: Netball, football, tennis, athletics, rounders, cricket and orienteering.

Darley put their whole school (204 pupils) into the 8 groups so that each group had pupils from reception up to year 6 together. The sun shone on us again, as it has done every year we have done this. A fabulous day and the Highfields sports leaders were blessed by the Darley Dale PTA with ice lollies at the end.

Friday 21st June

KS 3 Girls Cricket 2024 took place today at Darley Dale Cricket Ground, more on this in next week’s newsletter.

Did you know…

Dear Parents/Carers,

Did you know that as well as free school meals during term time, you are also entitled to access FREE holiday clubs this summer?

The Holiday Activity and Food Programme, known throughout Derbyshire as ‘It’s About Me’ is funded by the Department for Education and gives eligible young people access to FREE places at holiday clubs across the county.

If your child is aged between 4-16 and is eligible for benefits-related free school meals, then they are entitled to access It’s About Me holiday clubs for free! There are a huge range of activities available including sports and games, arts and crafts, cookery, dance and music. All clubs include a nutritious meal too! Programmes vary depending on the type and location of each club.

If your child is not eligible for the It’s About Me programme, many clubs also offer paid places where you can book with them directly.

To book your It’s About Me holiday club you will need your unique IAM code which will be distributed via your child’s school. If you have not received your code, but believe your child is eligible for the programme, please contact your school office.

To book your activities and to find out more information go to www.itsaboutmederbyshire.co.uk or speak to your school office. To receive programme information and updates directly to your inbox, Sign-Up for It’s About Me updates.

The Summer 2024 holiday clubs will take place from Wednesday 24th July-Tuesday 3rd September. Excluding bank holidays and weekends. Bookings open on Monday 1st July.

Kind regards, Highfields.

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