World Book Day Delights for Infants and Juniors

Infants and Juniors kicked off this year’s World Book Day celebrations by proudly displaying their costumes during a festive assembly at the start of the day. Mrs Watkins then engaged everyone with a story ‘The Very Hungry Bookworm,’ authored by Year 6 pupil Jane, with  photography from Year 6’s Jane, Jessica, and Anna G. The tale humorously portrayed a bookworm’s escapades devouring teachers’ belongings until discovering the joy of reading good books, thanks to Mrs Pilkington’s suggestion.

Teachers also shared their favorite reading spots, revealing Mr Payne’s preference for reading by a fire, Mrs Grove’s enjoyment of her garden bench on sunny days, Mr Dalton’s adventurous reading spot atop a mountain, and Mrs Pilkington’s own fondness for (where else?) the library. Pupils also recommended their favorite books; among them Sam (Y6) who endorsed the Ranger’s Apprentice series, Alice (Y5) who recommended Impossible Creatures, and Zac (Y4) with While the Whales Came.

As a part of the day’s celebrations, black dots reminiscent of those eaten by the Hungry Caterpillar were hidden around the school for children to discover, collecting letters to unveil a hidden message: ‘Don’t eat books!’ Year 2’s classroom underwent a magical transformation into Narnia, while pupils in Years 4-6 engaged in a book bingo, sharing their favourite reads with friends. The day ended with older pupils pairing up with younger classes for a heartwarming shared reading session. And there was much more story-related fun to be had throughout the day. World Book Day at Heritage was, as always, a literary celebration to remember!

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Heritage Infants, Juniors and Staff dressed up for World Book Day 2024

Heritage Year 2 pupils put on a class assembly focussed on the theme of bravery

A Brave Performance from Year 2

This week, Year 2 students inspired their fellow Infants and Juniors with a class assembly that explored the theme of bravery.

During the assembly, the pupils creatively conveyed the powerful message of overcoming fears and embracing courage. They brought characters from ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse’ by Charlie Mackesey to life, shared personal reflections on bravery through posters they crafted, and delved into the concept of ‘digging down for your bravery.’

Connecting this theme to their broader curriculum, the students explored the lives of brave historical figures. Through virtual enactments, they portrayed scenes from the journeys of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Ernest Shackleton, spotlighting the resilience and bravery of these explorers. A dramatic reading of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition highlighted the courage and perseverance needed to face adversity.

The assembly concluded with an encouraging acrostic poem written by Year 2: Being brave means you have to have courage/ Really brave people have lots of fun/ And when I’m brave I learn more/ Very brave people always have a go/ Everyone persevere!

Year 2’s class assembly not only provided a platform for students to display their courage in acting and public speaking but also reflected the school’s commitment to nurturing young people of character. By highlighting this crucial virtue, Heritage aims to foster a culture where pupils, like the characters in the stories shared, dig deep to find their courage.

Heritage Alumnus Excels in Degree Apprenticeship

Benjy Duckworth, a 2020 Heritage Leaver, is enjoying a unique post-sixth form experience through a degree apprenticeship in project management. During a special Senior School assembly, he sat down with Mr. Fletcher to share his journey.

Following Year 11, Benjy enrolled at Hills Road Sixth Form, majoring in Biology, History, and Sociology. However, when faced with the decision of his next educational step, he reevaluated the conventional university path, opting instead for a degree apprenticeship. Securing an apprenticeship with Gleeds, a construction consultancy, he embraced the opportunity to work and pursue a degree simultaneously, dedicating 20% of his time to academic qualifications.

Benjy highlighted the advantages of a degree apprenticeship, emphasizing the blend of earning and learning, along with gaining diverse experiences. In his role as a project manager at Gleeds, he acts as the bridge between clients and construction teams, and stressed the benefits of combining theoretical coursework with real-world experiences. Regardless of the educational path, Benjy recommends that all students seek work experience and consider placement years.

His narrative underscores the value of practical learning, the significance of soft skills, and the understanding that mistakes contribute to the learning process. When discussing future plans, he envisions completing his degree, gaining more experience, and exploring opportunities abroad.

Benjy’s experience stands as an inspiring example for current and future Heritage pupils, showcasing the success achievable through non-traditional educational routes and encouraging the exploration of diverse career paths.

Infants and Juniors Embark on a Turkish Adventure

Earlier this week, our Infants and Juniors embarked on a captivating journey into the vibrant country of Turkey, officially known as Türkiye. Bedecked in red and white, mirroring the colors of the Turkish flag, our young explorers plunged into a day of cultural immersion.

Throughout the day, students participated in a range of activities, including making and enjoying delicious Turkish flatbread and houmous, designing the Turkish flag using various materials, constructing models of the Canakkale suspension bridge, designing intricate Turkish tiles, and creating vibrant red and blue Turkish tulips. 

As the day concluded, a special assembly provided the pupils with the opportunity to showcase their newfound knowledge and creations. A heartfelt thank you goes to Heritage parents Mr and Mrs Cetin and Mr Tezel, whose engaging presentations, firsthand narratives, and generous gifts added an authentic touch, vividly bringing to life the rich cultural tapestry, traditions, and unique aspects of Turkey.

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A Senior School Journey Across Cultures

The Senior School’s International Day assembly showcased a fascinating world tour, as twelve pupils presented highlights on a country of their choice. Year 10 pupils kicked it off, starting with Liberty and Eva who steered pupils to the USA as they explored Texas’s cultural richness. Daniel then took us through Israel’s historical journey, while Angus unveiled Qatar’s economic rise. Year 8 pupils were up next as Sienna, a Dubai native, guided pupils through a tour of the city’s man-made and natural wonders, while Isabel and Honor delved into India’s vibrant culture and Harry explored Singapore’s emphasis on nature.  Wrapping up the presentations were Year 8’s David, along with Year 7 pupils Max, Raphael, and George, who collectively explored South Korea’s language, culture, military history and transformation to a technological hub. Kudos to the presenters for their hard work and for stepping boldly into the spotlight. The morning also included a global snack-sharing session during break time—joining cultures and broadening horizons!