It is finally here – the last day of term and although the weather has presented us with a few hiccups we have reached the finish line. The holidays now stretch before us so let us hope that the hot weather does not disappear and we have six weeks of rain. Looking at my weather app this is not going to happen (although some rain is predicted for later on today but should quickly disappear).

I know that many of you attended the Funday Friday event last week, and, like me, found it a most enjoyable evening. I would once again like to thank the PTA for all their efforts in organising and running the event and to everyone who supported the school by attending the event. I think it is great that we can run events like this again. When all the money has been counted I will let you know how much is raised.

As I mentioned last week the last week is focussed around the Year 6 as they will be leaving us. Although the weather did hamper their leaving schedule they managed to perform their play which was called ‘Jill and Fred’s Most Hysterical Historical Adventure’ and their Leaving Assembly this morning. They did themselves proud with both productions and I know that all their families felt both proud and emotional watching them. We ended the day with the Leavers Parade when the Year 6 bid a fond farewell to all the school. I know that you will join me in wishing them all well for the future.

As it is the end of term many of you have been very kind and generous by bringing in gifts for the staff. I have been lucky enough myself to receive some and would like to thank everyone who gave me a gift – it is nice to feel appreciated.

All that is left for me to do now is to wish that you all have a great holiday. Thank you for all your wonderful support over another challenging year and I look forward to meeting up again with you all on Monday, 5^th September.

 I know in the past I have complained about our lack of summer but we certainly cannot complain about it this week. We have had glorious sunshine all week and I do feel that it has helped get us into the holiday spirit in preparation for next week. I know some of you have been concerned about how your children are managing the heat but we have been taking sanctions to support them such as bringing them in early during the lunchtime to make sure that they do not spend too long in the midday sun. As you will know from our text that we sent out today due to the temperatures rising next week we are going to abandon school uniform for the rest of term and allow the children to come into school wearing loose light coloured clothes to help them remain cool in school. They cannot wear open toed shoes because this will be dangerous for them as they move around the school and will increase their chances of tripping or injuring their feet.

Due to the predicted heatwave for next week we held our annual ‘Teachers v Year 6’ rounders match first thing this morning. The rest of the school came out to watch (they sat in the shade of the trees to keep them cool) which they thoroughly enjoyed although I do think that there was more cheering for the Year 6 than the teachers (how rude). The Year 6 did end up as the winners but they only just beat the teachers as the score line was 5-4 in their favour.

The end of term is upon us though and I do find that quite hard to believe. I can remember the beginning of the academic year so well that it feels like it was just a couple of weeks ago. We did not know what the year held in store for us then and although we have had a couple of blips due to Covid outbreaks I think we have managed to get through the whole year really well. I would like to thank all my staff for their hard work and dedication in helping us to get to this point because they have all had to put in a lot of extra work to make this possible. I know you will join me in thanking them for all their efforts and wishing them a happy and restful holiday.

Next week is all going to be about Year 6 as they leave us to join their various secondary schools. I know they are all going to be happy in their new schools but it is always sad to see them go. We do try our best to give them a good send-off though and I know they are all looking forward to performing their show and sharing their memories of school in the Leavers Assembly as well as having a big rave-up at their Leavers Party. Let us hope that these occasions will be a few of the happy memories that they take away from Little Heath.

The good weather is going to remain with us so I am sure there are going to be a lot of barbeques held over the weekend – I know I am thinking of having one if I can get to the butchers before they run out of produce. I hope you all have an enjoyable time and I look forward to welcoming you all back on Monday for the last time in this academic year.

 I am writing my blog early this week because I am out on Friday which is a shame because I know that it is going to be a really good day in school. We are starting the day with a piano recital where all the children who have been learning the piano in school are putting on a performance for the school and their parents. I have heard them practising over the year and I have really enjoyed listening to them as I move around the school. I know you are all going to have a good time watching them perform.

Friday is also ‘Break the Rules’ Day which has been organised by the PTA. I would like to see how everyone looks with their uniform infringements (although some pupils try to break rules on a normal school day). It is all for a good cause though and I know that all the goodies that are brought in will help to make ‘Funday Friday’ next week extra special. The Year 6 are also holding their ‘Apprentice ‘event on Friday afternoon. This is always popular and I am looking forward to hearing all about it on Monday next week.

A highlight of the week for me was attending the POTSMA (Potters Bar School Music Association) concert at Wyllotts theatre on Wednesday evening. This is a concert put together with other schools from the Potters Bar area. They all practise songs in their own schools and then come together to put on a performance for their families and friends. It is great for local schools to come together to put on a concert like this. This year the theme was ‘Flight’ and all the songs they sang were based around this theme. It was a great show and the pupils from Little Heath did the school proud. I would also like to thank Mrs Robinson and Mrs Lawrence for all their hard work in helping the children prepare for this event.

Next week is action packed in school as well. We are starting the week with our last ‘Sharing Assembly’ and on Tuesday Year 3 will be visiting the Celtic Harmony Camp. On Thursday we will have the new Reception children in school and it is also the day when the children meet their new teacher. In the evening parents will be able to meet their child’s new teacher as and find out all the information they will need for next year. On Friday we are having a mufti –day in school because we have the PTA ‘Funday Friday’ to look forward to after school.

It is certainly an exciting time in school which is typical for the end of year. It is always great fun at this time but may I remind you that the holiday has not started yet so please make sure that your children are still going to bed at their regular time so that they are not too tired during the day. It can be tempting to relax the rules as the end of term approaches but we find that the children can be a little more fractious at this time and being tired just makes things worse.

I hope you all have a great weekend. The weather appears to have realised that it is summer and the sun is shining down on us so I hope you all can get out to enjoy it. I am a tennis fan so will have to spend some time indoors so I can watch the end of Wimbledon. See you all on Monday.

 I have seen many of you in school this week because it has been ‘Parent Consultation Week’. It has been good seeing so many of you in school and I hope that you found your consultation useful. I know that the teachers found them a positive experience. Do remember though that if you do have any concerns about your child you do not have to wait for a parent consultation to discuss it with your child’s teacher –you can contact them anytime by email or telephone.

As well as the parent consultations we have had parents in school for two assemblies this week. On Monday we had a Sharing Assembly where children present work they are proud of. This can be quite a daunting experience for a child but we like the children to have experience of presenting in this way because it is a good skill for them to acquire. Very often, as you would expect, our Year 1 children need support from the older children to be able to do this but I am very pleased to tell you that all of the children managed to present their own work without any support from anyone in this assembly. They should all feel very proud of themselves.

Our Reception children also did themselves proud this morning when they put on their class assembly for their parents. It was a lovely assembly based around some of the learning that they have covered in class –we certainly enjoyed all the songs that they sang for us. It was a lovely end to a very busy week in school. I am so pleased that we have been able to re-introduce the class assemblies this year because I do think that they are an important part of school life. I would like to congratulate the children on presenting their assembly so well and I would like to thank Mrs Sheehan and all the foundation staff for their hard work in helping the children prepare for their assembly.

After such a busy week I am glad that we have a long weekend to look forward to so that we can recuperate and be refreshed for our return to school on Tuesday, 5^th July. Remember that on Friday next week (July 8^th) it is the PTA’s ‘Break the Rules Day’ where the children can break some of the uniform rules in exchange for bringing in some wine or chocolate towards the ‘Fun Day Friday’ which is the following week. Next Friday is also the day when the Year 6 will be holding their annual ‘Apprentice’ event so the children can bring in some money if they wish to purchase items from the stalls. All

Have a great weekend everyone!