Message from the Head
Dear Parents,
Thank you to Ms Howlett who led a very thought-provoking assembly today about black history month – which really looked at what we teach in History. How for years only certain aspects of white history are mentioned, white inventor names and what happened to all the black inventors; the main message being – look carefully at what we teach; a powerful message to all.
My huge thanks to the Year 7 residential team, who are on their return journey as I type. (Just got back -wet!) I can’t wait to hear their stories but thanks so much to Mr Dean, Mr Casey, Ms Lau and Mr Looks like some serious R & R will be needed!
This week on Monday, we awarded the specific prefect role badges, and we welcome the well-being and academic mentoring clinics that the Year 11 team are offering. We hope that younger students do avail themselves of the opportunities being given by the senior students here.
We also awarded our scholar badges in assembly this week and the academic scholarship programme will start next half term for all academic scholars in all year groups. We do value all of our students and the Additional Curriculum Enrichment activities that happen on a Tuesday morning are designed to support, nurture, entertain and stretch each individual in the school. I have been SCAMPERING with my ACE group – a problem solving technique that can be applied to many scenarios. These groups will change every half term so that all students have access to a really rich and varied additional ‘diet’ in school.
Also, this week, I shared revision strategies with Year 11 – how to mix up the revision 20 mins at a time on a subject and the fact that remembering /recalling is 150% more effective that re-reading or highlighting. Forgetting is good because the harder the information is to recall, the stronger the memory – Recall aids recall. All the testing we do in class helps to remember the information. Please do watch this short video that explains how memory works.
Also please do let me know if students are anxious around testing as this is my research area and I have a number of strategies to help.
Next week is our Sixth Form evening – Thursday 6-7.00 pm – I can’t wait to share our plans and talk to you about our options. Really looking forward to seeing Parents and Year 10 and 11 there.
It’s also Head’s coffee from 8.30-9.00 next Friday – an informal drop in with yours truly and a chance to have a chat.
Finally, I have been exploring less expensive blazer options and I do have an alternative which is cheaper – looks the same but is not wool and it is washable. It retails at about £60.00. However, I know many of you prefer the wool blazers as they’re warmer.
Please let me know your thoughts in the form below and I will go with the majority.
Have a good weekend,
Helen Barsham
Head
Message from the Head of Juniors
Good afternoon,
Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended our Poetry Assembly on Wednesday. It really was a fantastic occasion and the children really enjoyed being able to perform for you. Thank you to Mrs Keyworth for organising this and to all staff for their hard work in preparing the children so well. It was great to see so many of you at Parents’ Evenings this week too. If you were unable to attend, Form Teachers will be happy to arrange an alternative appointment with you.
Our annual flu vaccinations will take place on Thursday 13th October. It is important that the form is completed whether you wish your child to have this or not (one form must be completed for each child). Details on how to do this can be found here.
Your donations for Emmanuel House have been incredibly generous- thank you. We are still collecting so please continue to send these in if you still wish to donate.
Please could I remind you that should your child have a sickness bug, they need to stay off school for 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea. If children have a high temperature, or do not feel well enough to do normal activities, they should stay at home until they feel better.
This week’s Stars of the Week can be viewed here.
Have a lovely weekend,
Victoria Wright
Head of Juniors