Students encouraged to take part in Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day takes place every year on the second day of the second week of February, with the aim to provide a safer and better internet experience for all. Fifteen countries across the world celebrated the event which aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.

Students at Highfields are in a privileged position as they all have their own laptops that support their experience of teaching and learning. Due to the current third national lockdown, students are spending a lot more time learning and socialising online.

Mrs Bates, Assistant Headteacher, said, ‘It is extremely important that students understand how to stay safe online. It is also vital that they have time away from the internet and their devices to improve their well being as well as their physical and mental health.’

This week students have been given information relating to being safe online during their lessons. They have explored the following topics: Social Media, Sharing Images and Videos, Online Gaming and Remote Learning.

The following tasks were set for students to complete in the own time during this week:

• Online Safety Quiz

• Mindfulness Internet Safety Colouring sheet

• Write a text message to a friend outlining why you don’t think they should post a photo or video of a Year 10 student being pushed over at the park on their way back from school

• You are in charge of a social media campaign to help support online safety around sharing photos and videos. Create:

  • Two posts for either Twitter or Instagram

  • A hashtag to support your campaign for example, #AskBeforeYouPost

•  Create a leaflet/ poster on one of the topics that we have covered to promote being safe online

If students choose to complete any of the tasks above, they are encourage to send these to abates@hswv.co.uk.

For more information on Internet Safety please read our Online Safety at home Newsletter or visit our Online Safety Page.

Apprenticeships celebrated during week-long campaign

Students are being given the chance to learn more about the range of apprenticeship opportunities available to them and the benefits they bring as part of a week-long national event.

Highfields will be marking National Apprenticeship Week by celebrating the work of apprenticeships in every sector. 

A digital assembly by Victoria Standing, from Workpays - a training provider which designs and delivers workplace apprenticeship programmes - will feature as part of the event.

Victoria said: “The theme for this year's week is 'build the future', with the aim for the campaign to encourage employers to celebrate the diversity of opportunity and value that apprenticeships bring, and how they can help individuals and employers build their future.”

Students are also being encouraged to take part in a series of Workpays webinars which will be running throughout the week at Workpays Events | Eventbrite

The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across the country, will showcase how apprenticeships have helped employers and apprentices alike of all ages and backgrounds. 

Bringing together apprenticeship ambassadors, MPs, training providers, apprentices, parents and employers, National Apprenticeship Week highlights the work being done across the whole apprenticeship community to promote apprenticeships and their impact.

Mr P Rose, Highfields’ Careers Lead and Head of Middle School, said: “We are delighted to be marking National Apprenticeship Week by showcasing to our students the great benefits apprentices can bring to employers and employees alike.

“Although Covid has prevented us attending any physical events, there are a number of digital resources, events and webinars available to them throughout the week.

“Apprenticeships are now more popular than ever. They are no longer just associated with skilled trades such as engineering or construction, but offered in pretty much every business sector. Understanding the range of opportunities available and the many benefits apprenticeships bring should provide great inspiration for our students for the future.”

Click here for more information on Apprenticeships

Covid testing areas created in school

Highfields’ sports hall and activity studio have been transformed into Covid testing centres to ensure the safe return of all staff and students in the coming weeks.

Lateral Flow Testing is already under way on site for the limited number of staff and students who have returned to school following the Christmas break.

But provisions have already been ramped up to enable mass testing in preparation for the green light being given for schools to return fully.

Five testing bays have been set up in the activity studio for staff and students, along with a further four bays in the sports hall for site staff, including caretakers and cleaners. The facilities allow for hundreds of tests to be delivered daily.

Since school partially returned after the Christmas break for selected students and those of key workers, staff on site are already receiving weekly tests, with slots available for them to book between 8am and 9am on Mondays to Thursdays. The tests will be available to students on site from next week.

The Government has indicated that the ability for schools to return after the February half-term is partly dependent on them having the capacity to deliver mass testing.

Headteacher, Mr G Tate, said: “We are continuing to develop our capacity to carry out Lateral Flow Testing in school.

“Staff and students who are regularly attending school during this period of closure are able to access weekly tests and we expect to be able to test all students on their return to school, whenever that may be.

“The ability for schools to deliver mass testing on site will factor into the Government’s decision-making process when it comes to fully reopening classrooms.

“We are delighted to have used this time to have developed our testing capacity to enable us to provide hundreds of daily tests and ensure the safest return of our students and staff when we are told this can happen.”

Despite schools being forced to remain closed due to the Covid pandemic, students from all year groups are benefiting from a comprehensive remote learning programme, with a full curriculum of live lessons being delivered via Microsoft Teams.

Mr Tate, said: “Whilst we were of course very disappointed that it has been necessary to close all schools for most students, we have been determined to make this period of remote learning as positive and worthwhile an experience for students as possible.

“We are continuing to teach our full curriculum during lockdown. The normal timetable is being delivered as live lessons via Microsoft Teams.

“We are clearly in a very fortunate position as a school with every student having their own HP Stream device, although we appreciate that there can be a whole host of challenges thrown up by remote learning, and have digital support available for anyone experiencing technical issues.

“Students are engaging well with their live lessons, and I would like to thank you all for your support as we navigate these unprecedented times.”

And the winner is...

After the live streaming of ‘Highfields Got Talent – Christmas Special’ was brought to an abrupt end last night after technical difficulties, it was recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel this morning. The competition has been available to watch all day with the vote open until 6 pm.

The judges scores meant that Paige and Millie, James Casey and The Snowflakes were the top three acts. The public then had the opportunity to vote for their favourite act. After receiving over 365 views and nearly 1000 votes we are pleased to announce the winner of Highfields Got Talent – Christmas Special 2020 is… James Casey!

James will receive a £50 gift voucher alongside a framed certificate signed by Ms Bishop and the judges.

You can watch Highfields Got Talent - Christmas Special by clicking here.

Christmas at Highfields – All wrapped up!

To end this extraordinary year, Highfields has embraced Christmas celebrations with the aim of boosting the Christmas spirit and giving everyone a joyful lift as we head towards the new year.

Highfields’ embrace of the Christmas spirit has been visible from afar, with lights in the windows at the front of school for the very first time. Once in school, the large Christmas tree in Reception and other decorations within Learning Schools certainly make the school feel festive. Whilst the lights are debuting, our Highfields Christmas tree is always up this time of year; even in this most unusual of years. Near the front of school there is also a donation site for food and other items in aid of the Good Shepherd Ministry because ultimately; without the spirit of giving, the spirit of Christmas rings hollow. This generosity is especially important in a year which has seen many people’s living standards decline.

Leading these incredibly charitable efforts is Mrs Hartshorne who told us, “Staff and students have been incredibly generous. Once again, there have been a variety of donations of food and hygiene items, and local people will truly benefit. The Good Shepherd do incredible work helping to support people with various personal, social and health needs, and without doubt will make good use of everything Highfields have donated.”

In the Communications Learning School, a Christmas Tree of Books has been established in the Library aiming to inspire interest in reading whilst encompassing Christmas vibes. Alongside all other Learning Schools, a staff sing-along competition was a definite highlight of Highfields’ Christmas activities, leaving students thoroughly entertained. The winners were announced at the end of the Highfields Got Talent show which is available to watch on our YouTube channel. The competition celebrated the talents of our students from Year 7 through to Sixth Form. After receiving many auditions from students across the school, the judges; Mr Tate, Mrs Brickwood and Mrs Jevon, narrowed them down to 8 finalists; Anna Tabner, Paige and Millie, Alex Hill, The Three Amigos, James Casey, Effie Bladen-Hayes, Lilly Lowery and The Snowflakes. They then gave a score to each act which decided their position on the leader board. The top 3 acts are now in the public vote, meaning you will decide the winner.

Also on the school’s YouTube channel is a carol service, presented in partnership with St. Bart’s Church. This featured the Highfields Head Team reading passages from the Bible that are at the heart of Christmas. Ms Bishop, Head of Performance, told us, “The carol concert was watched by over 200 people and was a delightful evening in these challenging times.”

Finally, this week the winning entry of this year’s Christmas card competition was chosen. The design was hand drawn by Alex Hill in Year 7; Alex’s talents are endless! It was digitalised and then shared with staff and students.

We have certainly not held back on Christmas cheer this year. Mr Tate said, “Despite the frustrations of this term, I am very proud of how well we have all coped. We have seen an incredible amount of change and challenge and yet we have been able to keep school operating relatively normally. This would not have happened without the energy, commitment and dedication of staff, the resilience and responsible attitude of students and great support from you all at home. I think we all thoroughly deserve a good Christmas break and can look forward to the new year with real hope and optimism.”

Indeed, at Highfields the Christmas festivities were as extensive as ever and we hope that the smiles, that were more infectious than anything at Highfields this Christmas, can continue into the new year.

Written By Joseph Regan - Year 13

End of Term Celebration for Year 11

Students from Year 11 who achieved an all-green on their most recent progress review were invited to a special ‘Crème de la Crème’ lunch. It is more important than ever that our Year 11 students put the effort into their studies and ensure they work hard in lessons to progress towards their targets.

Titled ‘The school of achievers’, Upper School students must live up to the high outcomes set in previous years. With only 20 school weeks until the summer exams start it is crucial that students go into the new year with their heads focused on achieving the best grades they can. Events such as this really motivate students to do so, as they are rewarded for their efforts.

Students enjoyed a buffet lunch alongside ‘cake and cordial’ and all received a gift from the Upper School Team. Mr Treble, Head of Upper School said “These students thoroughly deserve this special treat, they have worked so hard during what has been a difficult term with many of them having to isolate on multiple occasions. We are all very proud of these students for achieving an all-green progress review and they are most certainly on track for success in their summer exams”

The show goes on!

Hundreds tuned in to watch talented performers take to the stage in Highfields’ live-streamed musical production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The cast was delighted to showcase their talents to audiences at home - including Beverley Knight - with their version of the much-loved production, despite the coronavirus pandemic putting a stop to crowds in the school’s Lyceum theatre.

The Performance department was able to secure an extra special prop for the showcase on December 5 - the dreamcoat worn by Joe Sugg when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. And they were equally delighted to have received a £4,751 grant from the Co-op Community Fund to pay for brand new mics for the cast. The mics will now be used for all upcoming performances at the school.

Performers gave up two weeks of their summer holidays back in August to start rehearsing for production, but the packed rehearsal schedule had to be ripped up due to strict Covid-19 measures.

Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Director of Performance, said staging the show despite the hurdles the team had to overcome, was one of the proudest moments of her career.

She added: “Thank you to everyone who watched the show and for all of the warm messages of support.  

“We are so proud of the cast, some of whom had only five days of rehearsal.  

“It has been really challenging at times, but last night was one of my proudest moments in 25 years teaching without a doubt!”

Among those watching the performance was soul superstar Beverley Knight, who played the role of Narrator in a production of Joseph when she was a student at the school.

She sent the cast her congratulations via video message. In it, she said: “Yes, Highfields! Job well done! I watched it, I sang along. I thought you were all marvellous.”

If you missed the live show tickets are now available to purchase to watch the recording. Click here for more information.

Tickets on sale for much-loved musical

Tickets have gone on sale for this year’s musical production, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which will be live-streamed to audiences next month.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic hindering extra-curricular activities and rehearsals, the show must go on - and performers are delighted to showcase their talents with their version of the much-loved production.

The show will be streamed live from the Lyceum Theatre from 7.30pm on Saturday, December 5.

The Performance department has even been able to secure an extra special prop for the showcase - the dreamcoat worn by Joe Sugg when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.

Performers gave up two weeks of their summer holidays back in August to start rehearsing for production, but the packed rehearsal schedule had to be ripped up due to strict Covid-19 measures.

Despite this, the team are confident of staging another show-stopping production.

Ms S Bishop, Head of Extra-Curricular Performance who directs all of the school’s acclaimed productions, said: “Staging our productions always takes an enormous amount of commitment and hard work, and this year we have been faced with the added challenge of the ongoing pandemic.

“We haven’t been able to rehearse as we usually would, but we’re not going to let that stop us! The show must go on, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, so there’s been a lot of work going on from homes to ensure we can put on another fantastic show.

“We have an amazingly talented bunch of young performers and we hope to see you all tuning in from the comfort of your homes for an evening of top entertainment.”

School musical productions are usually open to every student who wants to take part, but because of the strict restrictions on numbers this year, Ms Bishop emailed performers who appeared in the 2019 Addams Family production and worked on a ‘first come first served’ policy. 

It is Ms Bishop’s third time directing Joseph at Highfields, albeit the first with social distancing measures in place.

Based on the ‘coat of many colours’ story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book, the show, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is one of the world’s best loved musicals.

Hundreds of pounds raised for Children in Need

Students and staff wore fancy dress to raise hundreds of pounds for Children in Need.

Fundraisers wore Pudsey t-shirts, fluffy ears and onesies to raise more than £600 for the campaign.

Highfields throws its weight behind the Children in Need campaign every year and has staged a Mannequin Challenge and danceathon in the past.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the school wasn't able to host its usual crowd fundraising challenges, but students and staff still donated generously to the cause to wear their charity-themed costumes.

Ms J Parker, Head of Lower School who organises the annual fundraiser, said: “Although we weren’t able to stage our usual activities, I have been overwhelmed with the response to the campaign.

“It was wonderful to see so many people dress up and raise so much money for this worthy cause.”

Children in Need is the BBC’s charity which works to change the lives of disabled children and young people in the UK. It has raised more than £972 million since it was launched in 1980.

People can still donate to the cause through ParentPay over the weekend.

Thousands of pounds raised for charities

Highfields has donated thousands of pounds to charities and good causes over the past year after hosting a series of fundraising events.

Generous students and staff annually hold a number of fundraisers to pull in funds for a variety of causes.

Among them is Compton Care, which has received £3,055.10.

The Wolverhampton-based organisation, which provides support for people living with or caring for someone with an incurable illness - has presented the school with a certificate of appreciation and thanked students and staff for their fundraising efforts.

Spokeswoman Leonie Hudson said: “Thank you so much for your generous donation of £3,055.10, raised by Highfields staff and students. Your donation could pay for four people to receive much needed care on our in patient care unit. 

"This is such a precious gift to give to our patients and their families. You are helping to provide vital care at a time when people need it the most.”

Fundraisers also recently donated money to wear purple for the day to raise awareness of domestic violence against women. The event raised £500 for Women’s Aid.

Other donations include £361.02 to Macmillan Cancer Suppport; £1,355.49 to Save the Children; £1727.16 to Children in Need;£394.27 to Comic Relief; £319.51 to NSPCC and £121.77 to World Book Day.

A live-streamed lockdown concert featuring soul superstar Beverley Knight - a former Highfields student - as well as other talented former students also raised £1000 for the NHS Relief Fund to support frontline health workers during the Covid pandemic.