The big event of this week has been our ‘Sports Day’. The weather was just perfect and it helped to make it a really good day. Grangewood won this year but all the children really gave it their all and for that I think they are all winners. It was a very well organised event and for that I have to thank Mr Mills for all his effort. I particularly liked this year, the addition of the new ‘swimming’ event this year which had the children pulling themselves along on skateboards. It was very popular with all the pupils and was totally Mr Mills’ idea. I would also like to thank all my staff who helped to support the event.

Those of you who go in the infant playground will have noticed that our new piece of play equipment is now complete. It is a pirate climbing frame and the children are really pleased with it which makes us happy because we know we have made the right choice. It took slightly longer to complete than we thought because the original slide did not fit the equipment and it took a long time to get a replacement. However, it has been brought to my attention that children are climbing on it at the beginning and end of the school day. May I give everyone a gentle reminder that children can only use school equipment when they are being supervised by school staff. Can I ask that parents do not allow their children to climb on any of the apparatus when they are dropping off or picking up their children from school.

As well as organising ‘Sports Day’ Mr Mills has had a very busy week because he has had to take the children to three sporting tournaments. On Tuesday he took the Year 3 and 4 boys to a football event at Wroxham where both the A and B teams finished second in their sections. On Wednesday afternoon he took children from Years 5 and 6 to a Rounders tournament and this time we were fortunate to finish first. He then had to rush back to school to take girls from Year 3 and 4 to a football tournament where, like the boys, they also finished second. I think Mr Mills will certainly be looking forward to the weekend after such a busy (but successful) week.

The next big event on the school calendar is ‘Little Heath Fest’ which is on tomorrow. This is replacing out traditional summer fayre and promises to be a really fun event. The main entertainment is going to be a live band as well as lots of fun activities (including large inflatables) to keep the children entertained. The weather forecast promises brilliant sunshine so everything is in place to make it a great day. The event runs from 3.00pm -  6.00pm and I am sure that I will see many of you there. I would like to thank in advance our wonderful PTA and all the parents and staff who support them for organising this event and making it all possible. Whilst you are on the school field you may want to pop in to have a look at our external classroom which has been purchased with funds raised by the PTA.

Apart from being at ‘Little Heath Fest’ I hope that the rest of your weekend is enjoyable. If you do see me at the Fest please do come across and say hello to me – you will find me for part of the afternoon on the raffle ticket stall.

I am recovering today after a very busy night in school due to our ‘Talent Night’ last night. It was very well received and all the children who took part gave excellent performances – they certainly did themselves proud. The little staff number at the end was also (surprisingly) well received but we did have a very sympathetic audience which always helps. Fortunately, nobody was injured when the end of my cane flew off – it is a good job it is plastic! I would like to thank all the pupils and my staff for all their hard work and I would like to thank the members of the PTA who provided and served the refreshments.

The ‘Talent Show’ was not the only excitement for the children this week because on Tuesday the whole school was invited to Manor Lodge School to watch their school production of ‘Mary Poppins’. It was a fabulous show and all the children had a really good time. The staff at Manor Lodge all commented on how well our children behaved so hopefully we will be asked back again next year.

Last Friday, thanks to the kindness of some parents and staff who volunteered to help, we managed to complete our outdoor learning area. We now have a lovely woodland path that weaves into our wildlife area and leads into our outdoor learning classroom. We were hoping to show the children it this week but unfortunately the weather has not been kind to us and it really has been too wet to show them, although the weather was slightly better today (excluding the heavy downpour that happened during lunchtime). The weather is predicted to be better next week so hopefully it will allow us to start to use this facility more before the end of term.

I am hoping for better weather next week because I am joining the Year 6 on their school journey to Kingswood on the Isle of Wight. I used to do lots of residential trips earlier in my career and I am really looking forward to going on one again.  It does mean that I will not be in school so if you feel that you need to see me regarding anything you will have to make an appointment to see me the following week. In my absence, Mrs Robinson will be in charge.

I hope that you have a fabulous weekend and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday morning before I leave for my trip to the Isle of Wight.                                                                                                                                                                        

Everyone is back in school feeling refreshed and revitalised after the half term break and is ready for the last part of the school year before the long summer break. This is always a very busy half term and even though it is quite long it always appears to fly in a whirlwind of activities.

The first of these activities starts this weekend because we are participating in the ‘Potters Bar Carnival’ on Sunday. We are taking part in the art show and we are entering a walking float. The event is celebrating all the work of the NHS and so our float has a medical theme and we will be pushing a bed through the streets of Potters Bar.

On Tuesday the whole school is going to Manor Lodge School on Tuesday to watch their production of ‘Mary Poppins’. Manor Lodge are very keen to forge links with our school and have already helped us with the set-up of our outdoor classroom. If our liaison with this school proves as successful as our links with Stormont and Lochinver we will be very lucky because using the resources of these schools has greatly helped to enrich the provision that we provide for the children of Little Heath.

 ‘Little Heath’s Got Talent’ is also on next Thursday night at 7.00pm. We hold this show every two years and it is always a popular event. All the children who are taking part are very excited at the thought of performing in front of an audience. Tickets have already been offered to the parents of the acts and from Monday, anyone can purchase a ticket to watch the show. They cost £4 and can be ordered through the School Gateway system.

We are completing work on our outdoor classroom this weekend so all the classes will be able to use it from next week. I would like to thank all the parents who have volunteered to do this and Mrs Robinson for co-ordinating the whole project. I know that it is going to be a great addition to the school and would like to thank the PTA for donating the money to make this possible. Our new tech room is also almost complete. We just have to order the furniture to complete it but we cannot do this until all of our windows and doors have been put in as classes have to use this space while work is carried out in their classrooms.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I am sure I will see many of you either in school working on the outdoor classroom or as I walk around Potters Bar in the parade. Please wave if you see me.