Issue: 314th February 2020Tel: 01462 620500

The Highfield Newswww.highfield.herts.sch.uk

Dear Parents/Carers,2020 has got off to a very positive start at Highfield. One of the highlights has been the whole school election of the school’s Student Leadership Team. This team is made up of our two Head Student Leaders; Charlie Stearn and Holly Brothers, and our three Deputy Head Student Leaders; Amelia Burdett, Lucy Cook-Allen and James Wheatley. All of these Year 12 Student Leaders were actively involved in campaigning throughout the last two weeks around the school and in assembly. Each student in every year group then voted for the two candidates that they wanted to be their Head Student Leaders. It has been great to see democracy in action at Highfield.

A large part of this Year 12 team’s role is to work with the current School Council, representing the student body and working on school improvement priorities.

Watch this space for more news on what the School Council are working on this year!

Staffing UpdatesAt the end of this half term, we say goodbye to Mrs Jennings, our Learning Development Administrator. Mrs Jennings has worked at Highfield for many years, most recently in her role supporting the work of the Learning Development team. We wish her all the very best.

We welcome Traci Spires who will be joining the school as our Learning Development Administrator after half term.

Enjoy the half term.

Miss C Macrae Headteacher

EncompassThe school has been given the opportunity to take part in a project that will run jointly between schools and Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Operation Encompass is the notification to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, of incidents where a child or young person has experienced or been exposed to any domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff, (DSL) known as a Key Adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared in confidence. Whilst also ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been experienced a domestic abuse incident.

We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our students and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.

Support can also be found at Safer Places (Domestic Abuse Support Services) – Tel. 0330 102 5811 or on the website https://www.saferplaces.co.uk

Mrs J Clift Deputy Headteacher

A-Level Art, Photography And Textiles Exhibition The Highfield School and Fearnhill School have their annual Art, Photography and Textiles Exhibition running throughout February.

The exhibition is open to the public throughout February from 10am - 2pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The exhibition is next to Cultivo Lounge.

Students Of The FortnightThe students of the fortnight who have been rewarded for their positive attitude or engagement in or outside of school are:

W/C 6th January Winners

W/C 20th January Winners

W/C 3rd February Winners

Year 7 • Remy Walker• James Andrews• Sienna Herd• Juliette Simpson• Emily Frost• Jovan Mandair• Sahil Mehta

• Finley Bowes• Jasmine Biriah• Alice Turner Vincent• Brodie Curry• Matthew Aquilina• Matilda Singleton• Millie Oates.

• Sasha Daniels• Keanu Foreman• Emma Gangadeen• Sibora Kuci• Sunaina Flora• Olivia Harris• Stanley Brown

Year 8 • Joseph Newbery • Leo Coulter • Kai Hartshorne• Nicholas Battarbee• Madison Williams• Adelie Foard • Molly Kenlin

• Joe Bell• Emse Brothers• Scott Vincent • Liliana Bullock • Tom Aldridge• Molly Kenlin

• Ella Johnson• Angel Moon• Alfie-May Currell• Courtney Momplet• Marcus Thompson• Jaiman Pal• Alex Cairncross

Well done to everyone who has received Student Of The Fortnight so far, this is a fantastic achievement. Students Of The Fortnight for Years 9, 10 and 11 will follow in the next issue.

Mrs J Garthwaite Deputy Headteacher/Head of KS3 and KS4

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DATE & VENUE

Date: This 5-week course begins 3rd March 2020 and runs 10th,17th,24th and a meeting with school.

Time: 9:30 -11:30 am Venue: Letchworth Garden City Partnership Pod, Northfields Infant and Nursery School, Burley, Letchworth SG6 4PT

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Enquiries to Debbie Robins 07527 828477

The Highfield News Issue 3

Highfield School CareersIt has been a busy term already with lots of fantastic careers events taking place.

A few weeks ago the Year 10 students took part in a Young Enterprise - Enterprise Day. This was organised by Mr Clark and Young Enterprise and the day was supported by business volunteers. The programme of activities were designed to get students thinking about employment when they leave school and identify the skills and attributes potential employers will be looking for in the recruitment process. This was perfectly timed to take place ahead of their work experience week. Currently the Year 10 students are out on work experience, giving them an opportunity to try out an industry they are interested in and give them an insight into a working environment.

We have also just had National Apprenticeship Week with some themed activities taking place during Tutor Time and in March it is National Careers Week (NCW). As part of NCW, Year Reps have been tasked with a project to research a number of careers and put on their own Careers Fair in the Hall.

The Priory School have organised an Apprenticeship Fair in March and Highfield School students from Years 10-13 are invited to attend. Please email gillianjemetta@highfield.herts.sch.uk if you would like to attend so we can give an idea of numbers.

During the remainder of the term lunchtime careers talks will continue to take place. If you would like to be involved please contact gillianjemetta@highfield.herts.sch.uk

What To Read After...We know that children can get hooked on a favourite book series or author and struggle to find something they love as much, but the Book Trust are here to help.

It’s great when young people discover a book, writer or illustrator they adore, but how can you keep that love of reading going? How can they find something else they’ll enjoy as much – something that will encourage them to keep seeking out great stories?

The Book Trust have put together top recommendations and suggestions – from librarians, teachers, parents/carers, authors and children themselves – for fans of some of the biggest book series and authors. So whether it’s Harry Potter, Rainbow Magic or Jacqueline Wilson, they’ve got ideas about where to turn next. Please visit:

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/our-recommendations/what-to-read-after/

Please also encourage your child to speak to their English teacher or Miss Turner, the Library Manager, if they would like ideas about different genres or authors.

Samba WorkshopsIn January 60 students from Key Stage 3 were involved in the Challenge and Excellence Rewards day to recognise outstanding effort and impressive Challenge Passport work.

The students worked on a Samba workshop all day and gave an impressive performance at the end. It was a great if noisy day!

If your child would like to be involved in next year’s celebration day please collect a Challenge Passport from Miss Brown on a Wednesday lunchtime from H206.

Ms R Brown Challenge Coordinator/Teacher of English

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The Highfield News Issue 3

Fabios Gelato

Here are some of the Spring mood boards created by Year 7 for our Fabio’s Gelato Ice cream challenge. In English we are working with Fabio’s ice cream parlour to create a new spring time ice cream flavour. The students are creating unusual and exciting flavour ideas, working on persuasive speeches and will pitch their ideas. The winning flavour will be sold in the shops for you to try. Watch this space...

Ms R Brown Teacher of English

Young MindsYoung Minds is an organisation working to support young people’s mental health. We have shared the #OwnYourFeed initiative with students in school and would like to make you aware of resources that may help you to talk to your child about social media and the internet. Young Minds’ Mission Statement is: We’re leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges.

There is lots of advice, including ten guidelines on how to talk to your child about social media and the internet on their website. Please visit:

https://youngminds.org.uk/take20/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-social-media-and-the-internet/

We hope that you will find these resources useful.

Mrs K Hutton Head of English and SLT Associate, Wellbeing Lead

Finance NoticeThis is an advance notice regarding payments to school towards the end of term.

Wisepay catering top-ups will continue without disruption but all other Wisepay facilities will be temporarily withdrawn towards the end of March in preparation for the financial year end.

Mrs P Ferraro Finance Manager

Indoor athletics Year 7 and 8 students performed exceptionally well at the district championships hosted at Highfield. The Year 7 and 8 boys finished in 3rd place, Year 8 girls finished 2nd and Year 7 girls in 1st place.

The Year 7 girls will now go on to represent North Herts at the County Championships on the 17th March. Well done to all involved, and thank you to our Year 9 sports leaders for helping to run the event.

County Championships On Saturday the 1st February Sonny Coughlin-Brown Year 9 and Grace Hart in Year 7 represented the Highfield school in the County Championships. Both students did extremily well and just missed out on the opportunity to represent the County at the English Schools Championships.

Swimming Gala On 30th January 8 students represented The Highfield School at a swimming gala. Lucy King in Year 11 won her event, Hannah McCabe in Year 10 came 2nd and Alex Cairncross in Year 8 came 2nd in his event.

Hertfordshire Childcare Sufficiency SurveyHertfordshire County Council (HCC) wants parents/carers views on childcare options available to them and their familities.

The results which come from the childcare sufficiency report supports the council in understanding the current position across hertfordshire. Please take time to complete the survey below:

https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/1P730/

The Highfield News Issue 3

2019/2020 Term DatesSpring Term 2020• 17th February 2020 - 21st February 2020 – Half Term

Week• 3rd April 2020 - Last Day Of Term - Early Close

Summer Term 2020• 20th April 2020 - INSET Day – No Students Please• 21st April 2020 – Term Starts For All Year Groups• 8th May 2020 - Early May Bank Holiday• 25th May 2020 – 29th May 2020 – Half Term Week• 9th July 2020 - Year 6 Transition Day• 17th July 2020 – Last Day Of Term - Early Close Please take note of the revised date for the May Bank Holiday. This is now on Friday 8th May 2020

Autumn Term 2020• 1st September 2020 - INSET Day - No Students Please• 2nd September 2020 - Year 7 and 10 students only.

Year 12 students in for Periods 1 and 2• 3rd September 2020 - Term starts for the rest of the

school• 26th October 2020 – 30th October 2020 – Half Term

Week• 4th December 2020 - Occasional Day• 18th December 2020 - Last Day Of Term - Early Close

Spring Term 2021• 4th January – 5th January 2021 - INSET Days – No

Students Please• 6th January 2021 - Term Starts For All Year Groups• 15th February 2021 – 19th February 2021 – Half Term

Week• 25th March 2021 - Last Day Of Term - Early Close

Summer Term 2021• 12th April 2021 – Term Starts For All Year Groups• 3rd May 2021 – Early May Bank Holiday• 31st May 2021 – 4th June 2021 – Half Term Week• 8th July 2021 - Year 6 Transition Day• 21st July 2021 – Last Day Of Term - Early Close

A full calendar of events can be found on the school website: http://www.highfield.herts.sch.uk/Calendar

CORONAVIRUS: PUBLIC INFORMATION The Government and NHS are well prepared to deal with this virus.

You can help too.

Germs can live on some surfaces for hours. To protect yourself and others:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.

• Bin the tissue, and to kill the germs, wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel.

• If you have arrived back from China within 14 days follow the specific advice for returning travellers.

This is the best way to slow the spread of almost any germs, including Coronavirus.

Find out more at gov.uk/coronavirus

VAT No. 751882411. Family Lives is a company limited by guarantee. Reg Company No. 3817762. Reg Charity No. 1077722. Registered in

England and Wales.

FAMILY LIVES SPRING 2020 PARENTING GROUP PROGRAMME

Bringing Up Confident Children for Parents of Children with SEN (8 weeks) East Herts – Asda, Watton Rd, Ware, SG12 0AD

Wednesday 22 January – 18 March 2020, 7pm – 9pm

Bringing Up Confident Children for Parents of Children with ADHD (6 weeks) North Herts – Hitchin Youth Trust, 111 Walsworth Rd, Hitchin, SG4 9SP

Tuesday 25 February – 31 March 2020, 9.30-11.30

Bringing Up Confident Children for Parents of Children with ASD & ADHD (6 weeks) Stevenage – Peartree Primary School, Hydean Way, Stevenage, SG2 9GG

Wednesday 29 January –11 March 2020, 12.45-2.45

Bringing Up Confident Children for Parents of Children with ADHD (6 weeks) Watford – venue tbc

Thursday 27 February – 2 April 2020, Times tbc

Getting on with Your Pre/Teens at risk or showing signs of concern (6 weeks) Broxbourne – Tesco, Brookfield Centre, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN8 0TA

Tuesdays 25 February – 31 March 2020, 9.30-11.30

East Herts – Bengeo Cricket Club, Boundary Drive, Hertford, SG14 3JG, Tuesdays 25 February - 31 March 2020, 12.45 – 2.45

Hertsmere – Borehamwood venue tbc Mondays 24 February – 30 March 2020, times tbc

Hitchin – Hitchin Youth Trust, 111 Walsworth Rd, Hitchin, SG4 9SP Thursdays 27 February to 2 April 2020, 9.30-11.30

Watford – Asda, Odhams Trading Estate, St Albans Rd, Watford, WD24 7RT Thursdays 27 February to 2 April 2020, 6pm – 8pm

Welwyn & Hatfield – Christchurch Baptist, 20 Tewin Rd, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1BW Thursdays 27 February to 2 April 2020, 12.45 – 2.45

Contact Louise on 01707 247032 / 01163 666087 for information/book a place or send completed referral form via HertsFX to louisev@familylives.org.uk