And that was what I call a Craig David seven-day week…
On Monday we had our geologists set out for Pembrokeshire (see image featuring hard hats)
On Tuesday we hosted primary school students for the culmination of our Festival of Dance. We also held Highfields’ BIG VOTE. With a voter turnout of just under 900 students, Labour emerged as winners with 25% of the votes. In second place were Reform (22%) then Green (20%), Lib Dems (16%) and Conservatives (2%). By the time you read this we will know how closely this reflects the national picture but whatever happens I am hugely grateful to Jamie Waller and his personal development team who organised the hustings and ballot.
On Wednesday we sent Y7 out on their walk (8.5 miles…sore feet, big smiles). Whilst they were out of building we hosted our Y6 students for their transition day.
Meanwhile, Y8 students travelled to upper site for THEIR transition day and joined Y9 who were enjoying an Enterprise Day. In the evening our current students hosted the Y6 families as they visited lower site to meet next year’s Y7 team (Messrs Rodgers and Tidmarsh)
On Thursday we had Sports Day which I loved! Students were competitive, focused, supportive, funny and strove in everything to be the best they could. Then, windblown and weather beaten, senior leaders met governors on Thursday evening.
On Friday we trained the life out of each other trying, amongst other things, to improve even further the homework experience for Highfields students next year.
And on Saturday and Sunday, unlike Craig David, we will not just be chilling, we will be rehearsing hard for School of Rock (GET YOUR TICKETS!!!)
I work with the best students, staff and governors IN THE WORLD. FACT. We are (very proudly) Highfields.
A Marsh, Headteacher
Coming up next week…
Remindersfortheweekahead WeekB
Monday 8th July
Tuesday 9th July
Wednesday 10th July
Thursday 11th July
Friday 12th July
School Musical Rehearsals
School Musical Rehearsals
Sports Leaders- Beyond the baseline Yr7/8
Primary Matinee of the Musical
Musical Performance 7.30pm
Year 8 Drayton Manor
Sports Leaders- Combat
Musical Performance 7:30pm
Year 9 Dance Leaders to Darley Hall Care Home
Year 12 Sports Afternoon
Musical Performance 7:30pm
School of Rock Musical Tickets
The last few tickets are remaining for the musical performances which start next week! £10 for an adult ticket and £7 concession ticket- days available are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinee. Friday is a sell out and Saturday night has very few left. Don’t miss out!!!
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.
Sports Leaders
Tuesday 2nd July
Year 9 Level 1 Dance leaders
The Dance Leaders were in action delivering planned sessions for their level 1 qualification in Dance leadership to Elton, Darley Dale and St Joseph’s Primary schools. In total 86 pupils attended. The leaders were fabulous.
Thursday 4th July
Visit 1 to Darley Dale Care Home for the Year 9 Dance leaders to support them in movement sessions.
Thursday 4th July
Year 3 and 4 Dodgeball/Benchball tournament for Primary schools. The Year 7 leaders officiated and the winners were Darley Dale Primary, silver medal winners were Tansley primary.
Highfields School General Election 2024
Over the past few weeks, a selection of our student ambassadors in Year 9 & Year 10 have taken on the role as representatives for 5 of the political parties that are competing for a seat in the Derbyshire Dales area; these include the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Green Party.
In this time, the students (who have equally represented the 5 parties regardless of personal preference) have been tasked with researching their parties’ key policies, creating resources that highlight these policies and then delivering their speeches / pledges in various school assemblies. Their aim within their parties was to try and convince the Y7 / Y8 / Y9 / Y10 and Y12 cohorts to vote for their party on the 2nd of July 2024, with the results being announced on the national election day, the 4th of July, 2024.
Y10's took place in a 'postal vote' one week before as they have been on work experience this week, but the remainder of the school voted on Tuesday morning in form time - the results were as follows:
1st - Labour (24.64%)
2nd - Reform UK (21.91%)
3rd - Green Party (20.04%)
4th - Liberal Democrats (15.63%)
5th - Conservatives (2.37%)
N/A- Spoiled Ballots (15.05%)
The purpose of this project was to engage the school community in some small-scale democracy; something that we value as a school as it represents one of our core British Values. We hope that all of the students have enjoyed this process and will ideally understand the concept of voting on a deeper level when they are of age to vote.
Many thanks go out to all the staff members who aided in this process along the way, most of all Mr. Roberts for coordinating his team of ambassadors so efficiently on a regular basis and also Mrs. Rifkin for providing substantial support in the planning and organisation of the event. The Y7 ambassadors who counted up the votes on election day also deserve special thanks!
We are especially grateful for the Y9 & 10 ambassadors for making this election happen and for the maturity and bravery they have shown when presenting in front of such large groups! So thank you to Oliver T, Tom M, Harley B, Joel W, Heidi S, Charlotte F, Amelia B, Lily F, Pasha S, Raelyn S, Jacob W, Jodi G, Callum M, Verity W, Rafe L and Luca H!!
If you do wish to know more about the school election we have ran, feel free to send an email to me at jwaller@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk
Kind Regards,
Mr. Jamie Waller
Year 9 Enterprise Day 2024
Our Y9s were immersed into the world of business this week during Transition Day, where they took part in a number of workshops that focused on a variety of different aspects involved in running a business. These included:
Business Planning
Sales and Marketing
Interviews techniques
Simulation game related to running a business
The students then ended the day with an enterprise project that involved designing and creating their very own business from scratch. They were grouped into small teams within their forms, before then starting the process of creating their own coffee shop. The idea of this task was to bring all their learning from the day together, to support them in understanding the key aspects of running a successful business. The tasks included within the project were as follows:
Design and create a business name, logo & uniform
To think creatively about what their slogan would be and their businesses unique selling point
Establish a menu
Physically produce their own coffee cup
To present their business to the other groups at the end of the session
Rewards and certificates were handed out to successful groups at the end, as chosen by class teachers.
Hopefully the day had the desired effect in inspiring our entrepreneurs of the future here at Highfields school.
Mr J. Searson
Careers Lead
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.
Key dates & Calendar
Term 6: 3 June 2024 to 23 July 2024 Friday 5 July 2024
2023-24provisionalschoolevents (TBC - further details will be issued prior to each event) School Musical Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 July 2024
15 August 2024
Term 1: 4 September 2024 to 24 October 2024 (Holiday 28 October – 1 November)
Term 2: 4 November 2024 to 20 December 2024 (Holiday 23 December – 3 January 2024)
Term 3: 6 January 2025 – 14 February 2025 (Holiday 17 February – 21 February)
Term 4: 24 February 2025 to 4 April 2025 (Holiday 7 April – 21 April)
Term 5: 22 April 2025 to 23 May 2025 (Holiday 26 May – 30 May)
Term 6: 2 June 2025 to 24 July 2025
Term 1: 4 September 2024 to 24 October 2024 (Holiday 28 October – 1 November)
Term 2: 4 November 2024 to 20 December 2024 (Holiday 23 December – 3 January 2024)
Term 3: 6 January 2025 – 14 February 2025 (Holiday 17 February – 21 February)
Term 4: 24 February 2025 to 4 April 2025 (Holiday 7 April – 21 April)
Term 5: 22 April 2025 to 23 May 2025 (Holiday 26 May – 30 May)
Term 6: 2 June 2025 to 24 July 2025
Open Evening for YR 6 pupils
Sixth Form Iceland Trip
Vocal Recital
Sixth Form Cranedale Trip
Blood Brothers trip
London Theatre Trip
Flu Immunisa ons
Christmas Concert
Evening of Theatre
Spain Trip
Easter Concert & Juliet Trip
School Musical
Berlin Trip
Wednesday 4th September 2024
Thursday 5th September 2024 Friday 25th October 2024
