High News! “The student’s paper” Written by Grace, Seb & Blake Written by the students for the students!!
A word from the head! Welcome back to a new school year. We now have nearly 100 students on roll and our school has nearly reached full capacity. We have some new staff I would like to introduce to you to support the new classes we have opened. Our school welcomes Fran to teach Eagles class, Rachel teaching Robins and Cheryl teaching in the S Classes. We also welcome Angela who is now in charge of TEACCH and Lego Therapy. I am excited to see this provision develop with lots of students benefitting. Laura joins us for 3 days per week to cover management and PPA time. This year we will be focussing on embedding our new changes to the curriculum. We are working hard to ensure that learning is interesting and relevant for all of our learners. As a school we want our students to be involved in this too so if you have any suggestions to improve our curriculum please send these to your school council representative. Downstairs we have created a new small library area and relaxation area for our students to enjoy. We continue to have ‘Toast Time’ for our classes upstairs which is a great social time for our students. Staff upstairs are developing ‘The Hub’, which will act as a Common Room and social area for our students to interact with. We are all looking forward to an exciting, fun filled year with lots of progress ahead!
Yvonne Skillern
On the next pages some of the classes tell us what they have been getting up to.
Wrens have had a busy half term making new friends and exploring our classroom. We have been working hard on playing together and sharing toys. Written by Kirsty, Class teacher
In Owl’s class this half term we have been very busy with our topic of Witches and Wizards! We have been getting creative in our art sessions, painting witches, cauldrons and making wizard hats, we have made our own playdoh to use with our topic focussed playdoh mats developing our fine motor skills, sharing and turn-taking. Making our own bubbling magic potions, needing to decide on ingredients and find them. We have focussed on ‘A Magical Muddle’ and ‘Room on the Broom’ with lots of literacy and number based activities. Written by Hannah, Class Teacher
In Eagles class we have been learning about our community. We have made policemen and firemen puppets. We have painted pictures of places near our houses. Written by Grace
Key Stage 3 have had an exciting start to the year and the pupils are settling back into school routines. They have been deepening their knowledge about World War 2 including cooking using basic rations. Pupils made spam fritters and they said it was delicious! As well as this, pupils have been collaborating in PE and learning how to play games cooperatively. Recently, Key Stage 3 spent a whole afternoon together completing team work challenges. Teams worked together to build Anderson Shelters out of junk modelling materials and they created some amazing models
HLA pupils enjoyed the annual Joan Mann Sporting event at RAF Mildenhall on the 27th September. The children enjoyed the various activities and the hot dog lunch. All pupil buddied up with an American Air force employee, who showed them around there chosen activities, including the outdoor vehicles exhibition. All children enjoyed the day, leaving with a goodie bag.
INTERVIEW WITH SARAH Sarah Bradshaw Hughes is our communications expert. We stopped to ask her what she does at Highfields.
Seb: What is it you do at Highfield? Sarah – I Help children with communication. Seb: Why did you want to be a sing and sign teacher? Sarah –It’s a great way to help children who are non-verbal.
Grace: What inspired you to be a sing and sign teacher?
Blake: Has Sing and Sign changed you in a way to help people?
Sarah – Yvonne Bowen was a great inspiration. Sing and Sign helps pupils to learn through singing. Singing Hands helps us to learn.
Sarah – Not really, I have always liked and wanted to help people. Blake: Does it make you happy? Sarah – It makes me very happy.