Special Events

The Barnet Dance Festival

The Barnet Dance Festival was yet again a spectacular event and a marvellous opportunity for Holly Park children to perform in a proper theatre, on a stage in front of an audience of 500 people. Approximately 70 Barnet school take part across several nights with over 1,000 children participating. The Y5 children did Holly Park proud. They were just amazing and their dance was very polished and looked very professional. They looked very smart too. They danced to a ‘Sky Full of Stars’ Thanks go to Miss Stewart and particularly to Miss Yiannaki for training the children so well.

Black History Month

We had huge generosity shown from many families, staff and governors towards the school and the children for a book donation project. We have had a fantastic response.  We received so many books it was overwhelming. A bookplate with the names of each family or child who has donated a book have been stuck inside the books. We now have an enormous number of beautiful new books that reflect our school community.

Before half term, classes from Year 1 to Year 6 set a whole school Black History Month homework. The homework also included ideas about representing all cultures from within our school. Ideas for the homework ranged across the curriculum. ​For example: Geography – People & Places: The UK is a very diverse place, with lots of different cultures influencing things like our food, music and language. The children chose another country and thought about how its influence has been felt in the UK. Year 3 did this homework. DT – Where Food Comes From.  Children chose one recipe that they felt represents their family and culture (e.g. a cake that is a relative’s secret recipe). The children made it at home and took photos with the special dish. It may have been a specific food that represents their country or their culture or just something they enjoy to eat. Children made a simple recipe for that dish. Year 1, Year 2 and Year 4 did this. Some classes focused on black heroes and did research. Year 6 did this and there were some amazing power points and even video dramas! Some classes connected their homework to something they were doing in their current curriculum. Y5 did this, they were looking at entertainment during Victorian Times.  The children researched Pablo Fanque who was a famous black circus performer, known particularly for his amazing horse tricks.

Anti-Bullying Week

This week has been Anti-Bullying Week. There were a couple of assemblies about this. The children also watched the John Lewis advert in class and discussed it. It is all about showing kindness and links really well with Anti-Bullying and also filling our Holly Park buckets with kindness. The national theme this year is “United Against Bullying”. This year, more than ever, we’ve witnessed the positive power that society can have when we come together to tackle a common challenge. Anti-Bullying Week is no different. Bullying has a long lasting effect on those who experience and witness it. But by channelling our collective power, through shared efforts and shared ambitions, we can reduce bullying together. From parents and carers, to teachers and politicians, to children and young people, we all have a part to play in coming together to make a difference. We’re all a piece in the puzzle, and together, we’re united against bullying. Each class did a lesson on this very idea. Each child decorated a paper. These were all attached together to make a visual reminder in the classroom that we should be united against bullying.

World Book Day picture gallery

English Pocket Opera Company

KS2 children had a treat when they were visited by the English Pocket Opera Company who gave a workshop that was very engaging and interactive for both children and staff.  The workshop was called ‘The History of Music’   The session lasted an hour and was performed by two singers and a pianist. The session included famous excerpts from about 25 different operas.

International Day at Holly Park

Our annual International day was a great success and another example of a broad and balanced curriculum including the global dimension. This year we had a guest visitor (Toa) who led haka workshops for children across the school. The haka is a ceremonial dance or challenge from New Zealand and is part of Māori culture. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment. Although commonly associated with the traditional battle preparations of male warriors, haka have long been performed by both men and women. Haka are performed to welcome distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions.

The New Zealand All Blacks perform the Haka at the start of their rugby matches. The sessions began with an explanation of how the Haka came about followed by learning the words to the haka and then putting the words together with the moves. The workshops were great fun and the children really engaged with it.

Also during the day, the children took part in other activities from around the world.

  • Years 1 and 5 took part in Scottish dancing, played a traditional street game from Chilli, did some Arabic art, played Kudado or Ampe and also did some Maori art.
  • Years 3 and 4 did Greek dancing, Kho Kho a game of Indian Tag, did some Japanese water colours, and Painted some Iznik plates from Turkey.
  • Y1 also did Japanese leaves.
  • Reception and nursery took part in International activities including Rangoli patterns with coloured rice, mehndi patterns on paper hand templates, flags from around the world,  alphabets from around the world, chapatti dough rolling, maps and buildings from around the world, noodles in the water tray, Chinese writing, picking up rice with chopsticks and they listened to stories from other cultures.
  • Year 2 did Japanese origami, made flags from around the world and played games from around the world.

Thank you to Mrs Tsenti for organising the day.