Summer Showcase - Community Day

Highfields Summer Showcase was held on Saturday 11th July.   This event was an opportunity for our students to demonstrate and share the skills they had learnt in School in a very practical and fun way with families, friends and members of the local community.

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There really were too many highlights to list individually - fantastic performances, interactive displays and demonstrations, exhibits of students' work, competitions and stalls promoting the work of our Student Leadership Groups.  There were also a number of fun activities on offer including the 'dunk tank' where staff bravely agreed to a soaking for charity.  Needless to say this proved a very popular attraction!

Many thanks to all who took part - students and staff in particular, but also members of the local community and Partner Organisations who work alongside us in School.  So many positive comments have been received about how successful the event was that it is sure to become an annual event.

Year 6 Induction 2nd/3rd July

Year 6 students arrived at Highfields last week for a fun packed Induction in preparation for their start in September. It was an invaluable experience for all as they made new friends, met members of staff & had a taste of the lessons they will have to attend. The students were very enthusiastic and excited to begin their time at Highfields, with one student commenting that he ‘wished September could come sooner!’

We are very much looking forward to meeting all the new parents this evening (4:30 - 7:00pm)

Summer Activities 2015 - Book your place now!

This year, we are delighted to offer Highfields Students a range of activities to keep them entertained throughout the Summer Holidays.
 

A variety of activities have been part funded, so that all students will have the opportunity to take part in something they may never have done before, or are unable to do on their own.  Students can choose to attend as many trips and workshops as they wish throughout the holiday. 

Booklets have been posted home, but if you have note received a copy, or if you have any queries about any of the activities, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or by email: nmeanley@hswv.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download a copy of the booklet here and print it at home.

Places are limited on each activity so please respond as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.  Places are only confirmed once the consent form and payment has been received.  
If possible, please check remaining availability on each activity before completing the reply slip, at www.hswv.org.uk/summer-activities-2015

Natalie Meanley, 
Manager of Emotional Health and Well-Being

Developing Literacy & Numeracy Skills

Literacy 

It is important that Highfields’ students exercise good literacy skills across every aspect of the curriculum. Not only will the demonstration of good literacy skills support progress in every subject area, this practice will also ensure that students develop the essential communication skills they will need to be successful in the wider world.

This booklet contains a variety of information and exercises for Highfields’ students to practise and develop their writing skills. Please use alongside the answer section in the back of the booklet to check responses carefully.

 

Download Literacy booklet (PDF)

Download Numeracy booklet (PDF)

Numeracy

Numeracy is an essential skill for life. It is the ability to apply simple numerical facts, skills and reasoning to real-life problems.

This booklet has been designed to help parents and students with many of the basic numeracy skills required. As well as being taught in mathematics lessons, these skills are also vital in other areas of the school curriculum.  Using a consistent approach across all subjects will make it easier for students to develop and apply their numeracy skills.

This booklet provides information about:

• Using number skills
• Key numeracy definitions  
• Useful websites for revision 

Year 8 Student to Compete in the English Schools AA Track & Field National Championships

Adam Saul-Braddock, in Year 8, recently represented Wolverhampton in the West Midlands Schools' Athletics Association Track & Field Championships, winning the 1500m for his age group (Boys U14 1500m).  Adam, and his team, will now be competing in the ESAA (English Schools' Athletic Association) National Track and Field Championships in Gateshead on 10 July. 

The ESAA National Championships are recognised as the 4th largest athletic event in the World - Many UK Olympic Athletes have competed in the ESAA Championships. 

Well done on your success so far Adam, we will be rooting for you, and your team, on 10 July!

Charity Leadership Group Visits Birmingham Children's Hospital

As part of their work towards the Summer Showcase, the Charity Leadership Group has been working on fundraising ideas in support of the school chosen charity, Birmingham Children's Hospital.
 

To highlight the importance of this Group's function, eight members were taken around the Hospital by its fundraising team to show what the money raised is spent on and how it helps improve the lives of the people that have to use the Hospital. The tour guides were able to explain the impact that donations have on individuals; students were taken aback by the amount of funds required to make even seemingly small changes. The tour of the Chapel was particularly moving.

The Big Bandage fundraiser was then explained to the students, who then bandaged themselves up so that photographs could be taken by the fundraising team to use as part of their press releases. This has now given the students more of a focus and has motivated them to ensure the Big Bandage fundraiser really makes a difference. 

You can read about our visit on the Birmingham Children's Hospital website.

For more information and how you can get involved, visit thebigbandage.org.uk

WW1 Ambassadors Visit National Memorial Arboretum

On the 23 April, 9 of our WW1 Ambassadors visited the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. The purpose of the visit was to further enhance the Ambassadors’ understanding of the way people remember those involved in conflict and to inspire them in their own designs to create a memorial within the school grounds.

The group were given a brief guided tour of the site, visiting the Armed Forces, Basra Wall, Shot At Dawn and 1914 Christmas Truce Memorials before having time to explore the site and reflect on what they saw. Jessica Muggeridge, one of the WW1 Ambassadors, utilised her journalistic skills to discuss the group’s visit and the impact it had on them in the report she submitted to the Headteacher and Governors. 

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"The National Memorial Arboretum offers pride for the fallen and a place for veterans and family members to visit.  It is open to the public; honouring the men and women who have fought in wars since WW1.  There are around 300 memorials which leave a beautiful and lasting tribute to those who fought, while the guided walks and talks offered help to give you a glimpse into the past. What happened? Who to? When? Where?

It is heartbreaking knowing how many of the courageous soldiers who lost their lives could not be named, and awful to discover just how many young boys were allowed to fight, some as young as 15.  They would lie about their ages so they could be heroic; but they didn’t know how hard and treacherous it would be.

This was an inspiring and emotional visit and Alrewas deserves recognition as both a place of learning and a place where those who have lost someone in the war can go to grieve."

- Jessica Muggeridge

You can watch a video tour from the National Memorial Arboretum, or better still, it is only an hour away and definitely worth a visit! For more details visit www.thenma.org.uk

Year 7 Citizenship Students Hold Mini Election

Yesterday, Year 7 Citizenship students held a 'mini election' to reflect the General Election fever sweeping the UK. 

After investigating how politics affects our daily lives, the policies of the main political parties were examined.  Students then took part in a mini election of their own. 

The results were as follows:

1st Labour Party
2nd Green Party 
3rd UKIP 
4th Conservative Party
5th Liberal Democrats

So our students mirrored the outcome for Wolverhampton South West! 

Drama Students Take Part in Stage-Combat Extravaganza!

We were delighted to welcome renowned stage-combat director, Kevin McCurdy, a former student of Highfields, to our Drama department earlier this term for a one day extravaganza of stage-combat workshops.

Kevin has directed many famous fights on stage and screen across the globe, and worked with the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Nicholas Cage! We were honoured when he agreed to come back and direct several workshops with our students.

He began the morning working with our GCSE and A-level groups, helping to build their confidence and stage presence ahead of their Drama and Theatre Studies practical exams.  He then finished the day working with two year 8 groups, directing the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, which they will be performing in the upcoming night of Shakespeare due to take place in the latter part of the Summer Term.

Students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and we hope to see Kevin again very soon!

Student Magazine - The H