June 10, 2022

Weekly News Friday 10th June

This week's featured image is of the GCSE Geographers on their trip to Swanage.

Message from the Head

Dear Parents,

I have been thinking about you this week. In juniors and most Prep schools, there are often WhatsApp groups etc. that keep parents in touch with each other and are a great form of ‘inter parent’ communication. These tend to diminish in senior school as children get older.

I may have said this before (so busy it’s difficult to remember sometimes) but I think it would be a good idea to have a form rep/year group rep for the senior school and would welcome volunteers. Perhaps you could let Claire know at clairejones@hollygirt.notts.sch.uk  if you’d like to be a form rep (that would mean there are two per year group) and we can take it from there.

So many of you said what a lovely time you had at the Jubilee concert. I was pleased that our lovely Hollygirt students could help themselves to cream tea and a shout out to the juniors for sitting so quietly throughout the performances. We were truly entertained royally and congratulations to all of our performers and to Ms Seaton for the preparations. I know I thanked the catering team (and caretaking!) on the day but what a spread; we liked that one.

And then to the ISI report. For a school inspection report, this is such a warm and vibrant testimony of the character of the school. I attended a webinar this week about the new inspection framework (September 2023 but still under review) and there is a focus on picking up the nuances of school life; recognising that schools can be complex places. We all felt that we could hear our student’s voices in the report and that the inspectors really did capture our ‘flavour’; our warmth, diversity, the progress students make and the love and care we have for them. I will be sharing snippets with our students so that they can see and hear what they said.

The full report is available to read here.

On Monday I gave all the students a take-home message about how they should only care about their own achievements in the assessments and not others (avoiding the ‘what did you get?’) conversations. We need to do more work around self-efficacy and test taking and I do know someone with experience in this area (!) so watch this space as we talk more about making Hollygirt students feel more confident about tests using cognitive science.

Then in today’s assembly, we heard some wonderful speeches (all very confident and we were so proud) for Head Boy/Girl/Person positions. I will announce all the results next week and introduce the new Year 11 Prefect team.

Huge thanks to Ms Howlett and Mr Dilger who led the Dorset field trip this week! I hear it was a brilliant trip and certainly beautiful weather. See photos below.

‘We have just come back from a Geography field trip to Dorset. It was brilliant because we learnt a lot about Old Harry and Durdle Door. The weather was amazing. It was always sunny and we made some great memories and lots of new friends!’

Liam, Year 10

At the anti-bullying meeting this week the students decided that next Friday will be a rainbow accessory day in support of LGBTQ+ Pride month. So £2 will go to an LGBTQ+ charity and we look forward to rainbow ACCESSORIES in Senior School. 

Finally, we are delighted to invite all families in the Hollygirt community, as well as our alumni, to the Friends of Holygirt Summer BBQ! To be held in the White House Garden on Friday 24th June, 4pm-7.30pm.

Tickets are available to order online via Eventbrite or can be purchased at reception. They are priced at £10 per adult, £5 per child, or £20 per family (up to 2 adults, up to 3 children) and include food from the BBQ. There will be live music and a cash-only bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. We hope that many of you will be able to join us.

Have a good weekend,

Helen Barsham
Head

Message from the Head of Juniors

Good afternoon,

I hope you all had a relaxing break.  A huge welcome to our new pupils who have joined us this half term.  I am sure they will be very happy here.

Enterprise Club launched their Junior tuck shop today. This was extremely popular and a great Friday treat.  It will run every Friday breaktime.

Next week is another busy one.  Years Five and Six have a trip to Colwick Adventure on Wednesday. They will be leaving at 9am and should return at 5pm, dependent on traffic.  Year Four will be participating in a project with Historic England on Wednesday morning, looking at heritage and what it means to them.

On Thursday, Years Three and Four will be heading off to Perlethorpe where they will take part in various exciting activities and camp overnight, returning by the end of the school day on Friday.  I know they are very much looking forward to this and will have a fabulous time.

We are very excited to be planning our Summer Garden Party which will take place on Saturday 9th July. Please send in any items that you wish to donate, for example, toys, prizes and chocolate. Thank you to parents who have volunteered to run a stall.  Please contact Mrs Wand if you are able to help out on the day.

If children are arriving late in the morning (after 8:45am) and the Elm Avenue gate is closed and unsupervised, please could they be taken to Senior School Reception. Children should not be letting themselves into school and must be taken to a member of staff.

Please could I remind you that if children are experiencing stomach bugs, they need to stay off school for 48 hours after their last symptoms.  In school, we are reminding children of hygiene and the importance of thorough hand washing.

This week’s Stars of the Week can be viewed here.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mrs Wright
Head of Juniors

Key Dates for the Week Ahead

Monday 13th June Euro Trip Meeting, 5-6pm
Wednesday 15th June Year 5 & 6 Trip to Colwick Adventure
Thursday 16th June Year 3 & 4 Junior Residential Departs
Drop Everything and Read
Year 10 English Trip Newstead Abbey
Friday 17th June Year 3 & 4 Junior Residential Returns
Rainbow Accessory Day for LGBTQ+, £2 donation – Senior School

 


Geography trip to Swanage