Our first Y5/6 mixed netball match proved to be a tough challenge; St. Ippolyts had some very agile and tall players. Miss Wase and I were still incredibly proud of the way that our first ever mixed team played netball. We had some great passing down the court and were keen to intercept long passes - every player can hold their head high and say that they put maximum effort in. Special mention to Louie for scoring our one and only goal and for flying around the court to stay away from his very fast GD. Our two Y5 players fitted in well with the more experienced Y6 players and showed great teamwork. The score of 6-1 does not reflect our play - we had some good chances throughout and some lovely areas of fluency. Well done to the team.

Team:

Louie D (Captain)
Daisy
Isabella
Hetty
Albert
Ayomikun
Annabelle (Y5)
Ellie-mae (Y5)

Player of the match (voted for by St Ippolyts): Louie D

Players' Player: Louie D

On Thursday 19^th September, nine of our Year 6 pupils took part in some Activity Ambassador training at Barnwell School. They are all now competent in leading a range of games for younger children at Almond Hill and hope to start a Year 3 lunchtime club in the next few weeks. Our pupils were noted for their engagement and knowledge of sporting values, which made Mrs Small very proud. Super work, leaders.

All of the Y3 and Y4 pupils represented Almond Hill brilliantly at this event. Throughout the day, the children were able to move around different tennis games and circuit activities. There were lots of smiles and hard work as well as an exciting visit from Nitro, a member of the TV show 'Gladiators' at lunchtime. He spoke about resilience and working hard; this inspired our team for the rest of the day. Although it was a non-competitive event, the leaders chose some schools to receive values awards. Almond Hill were ecstatic to receive two nominations: Honesty and Teamwork. Well done to a great set of children for their performance throughout the day, even with a couple of hours of rain at the beginning. Special mention to Emelia (Y4) and Ollie (Y3) for offering their services to the coaches in tidying at the end. 

Y4 Team: Zain, Tommy, Jack, Emelia, Fiorella, Annabelle, Stanley and Pollie. 
Y3 Team: Ava, Romilly, Ollie and Angus

Year 3 had a fun time joining 4 other teams for Development Rounders at Marriotts School. We were the least experienced team but we had the most fun. At the start of the tournament, we were rough around the edges but we learned quickly. Because one of our players arrived a bit late we were lucky enough to have a Year 5 sub in for a game! 

Overall, we developed our skills tremendously and everyone agreed that they wanted to attend again next year!  Well done! 

Words cannot express how proud I am of the netballers that joined me at the netball festival on Tuesday 25th June. All staff and parents have been commenting on the improvement they have noticed each time they have watched our Year 5 netballers and the squad attending certainly proved them right. We remained undefeated across the afternoon, even though the players faced such high temperatures. Facing teams we have conceded more than ten goals to earlier in the season didn't phase the team; they maintained composure and focus in every game. We managed to beat our first opponents, Shephalbury Park, 2-1 before Ashtree held us to a 3-3 draw. Two more wins against Ickleford (3-0) and St Nicholas (4-2) saw us top the table and take 1st place in the festival. The girls could not see the tears in my eyes (my sunglasses hid this well) at such a turnaround within one season - probably the best bit of sport development I have seen in my years of teaching. 

Festival squad: 
Lois (Captain) 
Lola (Captain) 
Isabella 
Daisy 
Amelia 
Kornelija 
Maddison 
Hetty 

Players' Player: Kornelija 

Coach's Player: I seriously never usually back out of choosing but it would not be fair to award this to one person - the whole team were INCREDIBLE.  

What a wonderful example of 'The Climb':  persevering at being the best you can be and exhibiting learning behaviours such as have a go and work together.  

Another great game of netball played by our Year 5 squad. All seven players showed determination and great sportsmanship on the court today. There were some beautiful passing patterns down the court (even if some were a little too long); lots of fabulous interceptions made for a very exciting game. Shephalbury had a quite a few strong players so 4-4 was a fair result from a very well-contested match. 

Every game you are developing, girls - keep it up! 

Team:  
Kornelija (Captain) 
Daisy 
Olivia 
Lola 
Hetty 
Amelia 
Lois 

Players' Player (voted for by the opposition): Lola 

Coach's Players: Kornelija 

Year 6 came 3rd out of 7 teams at the recent Ultimate Frisbee event and all received a bronze medal which they were over the moon about! They all showed great communication and sportsmanship whilst playing the games. Well done!

Our netball team played very well against St Nicholas on Tuesday. The passing down the court really impressed our spectators, with some of the defensive players bringing the ball up to our goal third. Unfortunately, the goals just wouldn't go in for us so the game ended 6-2 to St Nicholas. Well done to the whole team for another consistent performance. Amelia, our captain, gave some inspiring team talks at each interval - well done. 

Team: Isabella, Amelia (C), Lola, Daisy, Ava, Hetty and Kornelija. 

Players' Player: Amelia 

Coach's Player: Kornelija 

Years 3 and 4 had the privilege of a visit from GB athlete Lesley Owusu. They completed an exciting fitness circuit (to raise sponsorship money for new sports equipment) and asked insightful questions during the assembly and discussion. We hope the children were inspired and motivated to try their best.

The girls played brilliantly against St Nicholas. They defended well, held the ball and used the space around them. Amelia and Daisy worked well together to make sure their shots were accurate.  We won 5 - 2! Well done girls.  

Opposition Player's Player: Amelia

Players' Player: Daisy

Coaches' Player: Maddison

Nine players from Almond Hill attended a Rapid Fire Cricket Festival at Barnwell on Wednesday 27^th March. After playing six other school teams, they finished with an impressive 344 runs. The fielding skill and the encouragement for others they displayed was great to see, especially since this was the first event a lot of these children had ever attended. Huge congratulations to Noah for winning Coach's Player and to Marley for being voted as Players' Player.

Our Year 5 Handball team showed great enthusiasm and teamwork during their tournament on Wednesday last week. The team could not have tried harder to win a match and were determined throughout. The goals that both Dylan (5P) and Dylan (5S) scored were down to great passing and a real team effort in defence, as well as in attack. It was wonderful to see some pupils representing Almond Hill for the first time and show such a great attitude. Some huge goalkeeping efforts from Ronnie, Daisy and Dylan (5P). 

Players' Player: Ronnie 

Coach's Player: Daisy 

Well done to the whole team! 

With three of our squad never having played in a competitive netball match before, we were expecting a tight game against Shephalbury. Lois managed to score the first goal of the match, which showed our attack force were ready for a good game. Unfortunately, no more of our shots at goal were successful but a 4-1 loss against a very experienced squad should not dishearten this team. Daisy, Amelia and Maddison impressed throughout - well done on your first game for Almond Hill. Thanks also to Isabella, our injured player, who scored the game for us. Some of our passing and defending was tremendous. 

Players' Player (voted by Shephalbury): Olivia 

Players' Player (Almond Hill): Hetty 

Keep it up, girls - we will achieve our first win soon. 

The squad went into the cup game a little nervous after previously losing 5-0 to Round Diamond in the league but they were all up for it and went out onto the pitch wanting to take the win. We played 9 v 9 as it was a cup match meaning we didn't have any subs and frustratingly, had to play on a 7 x 7 smaller pitch yet, this didn't stop them from bringing home a fantastic 7-0 victory! A clean sheet for Teddy and Oliver. We started strong from the whistle and continued to play well as a team until the final whistle, 7 goals later. The positive communication between the team was at its very best - truly a joy to watch. Miss Simmons thanks every one of you...

It was always going to be tough with a few children off sick, a stand in player and no subs! Sadly after a superb first half which ended 1-1 after a goal from Harry, we lost against King James 3-1 meaning we are now out of the cup. The children played well as a team and had a few chances that did not go their way and on a different day, a different score line may have been reflected! This week's player's player was Teddy and Cleo took home the manager's player - well done to all. A big thank you to Roman who stepped up for the first time to help us out and tried really hard - good shift, well done Roman!

It was always going to be tough with a few children off sick, a stand in player and no subs! Sadly, after a superb first half which ended 1-1 after a goal from Harry, we lost against King James 3-1 meaning we are now out of the cup. The children played well and as a team and had a few chances that did not go their way. On a different day, a different score line may have been reflected! This week's player's player was Teddy and Cleo took home the manager's player - well done to all. A big thank you to Roman who stepped up for the first time to help us out and tried really hard - good shift, well done Roman!

Another great game of netball from Almond Hill, who faced a strong team from Ashtree. There were some great attacking moments but only one of them finished with a goal. Play finished with a final score of 5-1 to Ashtree but that's not a reflection of the improvement the team are making. Players' Player was awarded to Hetty and Coaches' Player awarded to Lola. Well done to the whole team for showing great resilience.

The boys were up for the Futsal tournament from the start; the first game saw us start fast and get the first goal. Unfortunately, the ref gave a goal against us (it was kicked out of the keeper's hands). We were unlucky with the decision but we carried on.

The boys continued to use that enthusiasm into the next game with more goals and a win. To add to that, was a big win in the next game with a hat trick from Dawson. For me, this was the game of the day as the Futsal all the boys played (and the passing and moving) was the best I had seen in the tournament. 

After lunch time, the boys seemed to have lost their momentum a bit. We lost the next two games. One was close and the other was a clear loss to the league winners. The boys still played good Futsal though and didn't give up. This saw them get 3^rd place in league 1 and set them up to play 3^rd place in league 2, both playing for 5/6^th position. This was a tight game and ended in a 1-1 draw. We all thought we were going to penalties but the organisers then awarded us 5^th position (out of 12 teams).

The boys worked so hard throughout and played some amazing Futsal; they showed some admirable teamwork and resilience. They should all be very proud of themselves - I was very proud of them all.

GOALS:
Dawson (5)
Harry (2)
Mason (2)
Ollie (1)
Rocco (1)
Players' Player - Mason and George
Coach's Player - Ollie (by far the best goalkeeper in the tournament)

I would like to finish by saying how well behaved all the boys were throughout the day. They were, by far, the best behaved school in comparison to those around them. Well done to Almond Hill.

Mr Hewitt.

Almond Hill were again gracious in defeat against St. Nicholas in their second match as a Y5 team. The final result of a 3-1 loss doesn't tell the story of the improvement in all of the players to date - some of them playing in their first ever netball match today. Congratulations to Lois for scoring our first ever Y5 goal and to Isabella for an amazing amount of interceptions as GD. There were some very fluent movements of the ball down the court in the fourth quarter - the girls managed to find the open spaces well. 

Well done to Ava for being nominated as 'Player of the Match' by the opposition and to Hettie for leading her team so well as captain.

Our Year 5 Benchball team represented Almond Hill with such passion and respect at this competitive event; it was a true pleasure to see them working as a team in such a quick-paced environment. After a slow start against the first two schools we faced, we were unbeaten for the remaining seven matches. When scores were announced, we found out that our team were in the top three. The final result went down to goal difference and we realised that one of our wins, 14-3 against Codicote, may give us an advantage in the table. Almond Hill were victorious and were awarded 1^st place, with a goal difference of 31 points. Some incredible individual performances but the whole team should be immensely proud of their flying intercepts, their great attitude and their immense teamwork.

Players' Player awarded to Elijah (5S).

Year 5 and 6 took part in The Stevenage Sporting Futures Cross Country event at Fairlands Valley on Thursday afternoon. Over 15 local primary schools took part and there were approximately 360 children who raced. Each school submitted a Year 5 girls’ and boys’ team and a year 6 boys’ and girls’ team of up to six runners in each category. There were approximately 90 children in each race and the nerves and adrenalin were definitely palpable in the air!  Many AH family members attended to show their support for the children and their presence definitely spurred everyone on. Almond Hill's results were amazing! Out of the 15 participating schools, Almond Hill took home two team trophies: Year 5 girls' team and Y5 boys' team both placing first. The Y6 girls' team also placed an impressive second place. There were also some incredible individual wins; Arthur in 5W came joint first place in his race, Hettie in 5P came third place in her race and Teddy in 6C came in third also. These children all received individual medals.  Eddie in 5S narrowly missed out on an individual medal in fourth place. Well done to all who attended - everyone gave it their all. There were many examples of great sportsmanship from the AH children and they certainly seized the challenge and opportunity to climb high. A proud day for the Almond Hill community.