During the Easter Holiday Grace passed her Grade D assessment in riding skills and horse care. Grace, her family, and we are very proud of her achievement.
Great work Grace!
Dear Families
It has been a good start back to school and most students have settled back with us quickly and, as always, have impressed us with their HoWLs, character values and their engagement in learning.Β
G30 Staying Alive
As part of rounding off last termβs expedition for Year 7, students had an expert session with Alice Roberts who is carrying out a PhD which aims to explore opportunities to improve the food and drink environment in UK secondary schools. Students will soon be gathering the ingredients needed for the food boxes which will be donated to families in need through our partners Edberts House.
G29 and G30 Immersion
This week has been immersion week for our Y7 and Y8 students marking the start of our new Summer expeditions. Both G29 and G30 students have been puzzling over what their new guiding questions will be after 5 days of immersion this week.Β
G29 have been looking at a wide range of stimulus materials on the theme of people on the move including the poem Home by Warsan Shire, a briefing from a minister from the Pacific island of Tuvalu which addresses rising sea levels and the context that has led to the ongoing civil war in Syria. Their guiding question will be revealed this week.
G30 have spent the week looking at literature, in particular poetry associated with rivers and developing their knowledge of the water cycle. Mrs Ross has been particularly impressed with the connections that Year 7 have been making back to previous our expedition in term 1 which looked at the nature of the ground beneath our feet.
G30 had the reveal on Friday afternoon and now know that their guiding question for STEAM, HUMAN and ARTS this term is βHow does water shape our world?β. Students will carry out three case studies focusing on how water is essential for life, how water shapes the world around rivers and also around coasts. There will be some great fieldwork this term too, more information on that to come.
G28 Expedition βYou Give Me FeverβΒ
Students are coming towards the end of this expedition, and are looking at the story of public health in the modern period and making connections between this and the pathology of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
As we have posted previously, we have asked all Year 9 families to sign up for the student-led Public Health Conference which is taking place in school on the afternoon of Friday 10th May.
You can sign up by clicking here. Please check your emails for more details on timings of the event etc.
Work on the grounds of the school site
Connor and Kenzie in G29 have been supporting Mr Walters to develop an area of the site which will be used for outdoor learning sessions. G28 will have some campcraft sessions soon as part of their DofE and G29 will soon be introduced to some elements of campcraft as part of an upcoming Crew Day. Thanks to Kenzie, Connor (and Mr Walters) for their hard work on preparing the ground here.
We need your support
Monitoring online activityΒ
There are some students who have taken longer to settle the week and we have invested a significant amount of staff time this week picking up issues around friendships which have played out online outside of school. This is definitely not what we expect or want to spend time on and we ask for your support, as parents and carers, to monitor your childβs online communications outside of school hours.Β
As you know, character growth is a key component of our 3-Dimensional curriculum at XP Gateshead and we all (students, staff and families)Β have a responsibility to support the development of our character values of courage, craftsmanship and quality, respect, integrity and compassion.
I understand the challenges that being a parent or carer of a teenager brings and how difficult this can be, especially around social media and finding the right balance between privacy, monitoring and trust. This term we will look to run some online safety sessions for families involving experts from the wider community. More information to follow.
Stewardship
Last week we drew attention to some of the areas around dress code where we most frequently challenge students. This week we would like to also ask for your support around chewing gum. Whilst it is not endemic in school, we have recently spoken in community meetings about chewing gum under tables and how this should not be something that our cleaners have to attend to.
We have made it very clear to all students that chewing gum is not to be brought into school as this is the most effective way to ensure it does not end up under tables. Where children are found to have brought chewing gum into school this we will arrange for them to do some stewardship work in school over a number of days. This reflects an important principle of our school and our restorative practices. Where mistakes are made in any regard, it is vital that these mistakes are put right. Doing acts of service in terms of stewardship helps students to understand the work that our staff and cleaners do in ensuring that we have a clean and hygienic environment for learning.
This week
G28 Geography fieldwork – Wednesday 24th April
G28 students will be completing important fieldwork to help them answer the geography enquiry question: βWhy are there differences in life expectancy in Gateshead?β This will support the students creating a final report investigating health inequalities in Gateshead which will be shown at their presentation of learning.
Students will be in crews walking from Felling to Gateshead collecting primary data to answer their fieldwork question. Please see the website post for full details and the kit list required.
PE sessions this week
Our PE sessions this week are as follows. Please ensure that your child has theirΒ full PE kit.
- G30 students (Y7) have PE on Monday this week
- G29 students (Y8) have PE on Wednesday this week.
- For G28 students (Y9)Β
- G28 Class 1 have PE on Thursday this week
- G28 Class 2 have PE on Friday this week.
Extended Study and Clubs
Extended study and after school clubs will be running from Tuesday 23rd April onwards as we have some important whole-staff training taking place on Monday after school.Β
If you have any questions please contact your childβs crew leader in the first instance.Β
Thank you as always for your ongoing support.
Julie Mosley
On Wednesday 24th April G28 students will be completing important fieldwork to help them answer the geography enquiry question: βWhy are there differences in life expectancy in Gateshead?β This will support the students creating a final report investigating health inequalities in Gateshead which will be shown at their presentation of learning.
Students will be in crews walking from Felling to Gateshead collecting primary data to answer their fieldwork question. This will be a 10km walk, so students will need to bring an appropriate kit list.
Students should bring:
Their daily kit as usual
Shoes that are comfortable for walking long distances
Backpack
Waterproof coat
Extra water
Packed lunch
Any medication your child should need (Inhalers epipen etc)
Suncream (hopefully the sun will be shining)
Currently the weather forecast is looking dry. If this changes alternative arrangements will be made.
Keep an eye on your inbox and an email will be sent out soon with a health questionnaire which will also support the students with their final product.
Have a great weekend
Miss Jones
Sharing our Stories: 19/04/2024
Beautiful Work This Week
Being Human – Beautiful Speeches from XP Gateshead
The G29 students speeches answering our guiding question βWhat does it mean to be human?β is now live on our website.
You can listen again and relive the POL speeches here!
This beautiful work is also available to visitors to the QE Hospital at the Windy Nook Entrance via a QR code on the art installation. This is important work matters, raising awareness of the importance of organ donation. A work that chimes with Oliviasβ concluding remarks to our POL.
ββ¦being human is about our social structures and relationships. How we connect, understand each other and have a sense of understanding and acceptance for ourselves and others.Β We build our world through our memories and experience to decide where we want to go in the future. Humans grow through our community and others around us.β
XP Y9 Fieldwork to Thackray Museum
The Power of Change @ Carcroft
In Spring 2024, students from Years 5 and 6 at Carcroft School embarked on an Expedition to explore the 19th century’s impact on our lives today, examining whether its influence has been positive or negative. Students immersed themselves in the era by creating African pattern-inspired book bindings and sculptures. They delved into the work of British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonabare to understand cultural identity and globalisation. The history case study focused on the British Empire, particularly its effects on South Africa and the Zulu people, comparing Victorian society with Zulu society and discussing the legacy of these interactions. The science component of the Expedition related these historical impacts to the concepts of reversible and irreversible changes, using chemistry to draw parallels between the societal changes and scientific processes.
The Expeditionβs culmination was an art exhibition-style event where students showcased sculptures inspired by Yinka Shonabare, reflecting on cultural identity and personal, cultural, or ethnic adaptation in an ever-changing world. This final product, along with literacy-based assessments and case study reflections, demonstrated the students’ learning and understanding of the 19th century’s influence. Throughout the Expedition, a diverse range of texts, including graphic novels and classic literature, enriched the students’ experience. Despite limitations on fieldwork due to economic conditions, video calls with South African residents offered insights into the lasting impacts of the British Empire on the Zulu people, enhancing the students’ global perspective and understanding of historical legacies.
Highlights from UKS2’s COL @ Plover
‘How will what I do today impact the world tomorrow?’ @ Norton Infants
The students’ final product drew together learning from all three of these case studies. They created these activity booklets, which contain examples of beautiful artwork and written information, and include activities for children to complete – here’s a sample of their work below!
We would like to donate these booklets to local places so that children can complete them whilst they are out in our community! If this is something that you feel you would like copies of, we can send them to you! Please send an email to [email protected] and we will organise sending them to you!
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During the Easter break, Scarlett and her team at Northern RFC won the under 14 county cup. What a fantastic achievement, well done Scarlett!
Good afternoon, families of Year 9 will soon receive an email with more details of the Public Health Conference which forms the Presentation of Learning for Year 9 for their current expedition.
Please let us know if you do not receive this email this evening.
Dear Year 6 Families
We are delighted to be able to announce the calendar of transition events that we have planned to welcome your children and your family into our community at XP Gateshead.
More details on each of these events will follow in due course, but here is an overview of the activities so that you can plan ahead and discuss this with your child.
Online Family Meetings
This week we will send details of how to sign up for an online family meeting. Meetings will be in the fortnight commencing 29th April. These take place via Google Meet during the evening and are with a senior leader in the school. The meetings are a first chance for us to meet you and your child, to find out about them and discuss our expectations as a school. Your meeting will last up to 30 minutes. We will send details of how to book an appointment to you on 16th April.
Primary School Visits
We aim to visit every child in their Primary School this term. This is done by members of our transition team and means that as well as seeing your child in an educational setting, they get to know another friendly face before they come to us.
In-Person Information Evening for parents/carers
We will be holding an In-Person Information Evening at our school on 23rd May at 6pm.
It is vital that all families attend as we will give important information about the Outward Bound course that takes place for all students at the start of Year 7 as well as our iPad scheme. In addition, we will address some of the misconceptions about our school so that families are completely clear on what we are: βA mainstream school with a relentless focus on beautiful work, character growth and academic successβ, and also what we are not. There will be an opportunity for you to ask us questions too of course.
Transition Days at XP Gateshead
Your children will join us in school on Tuesday 2nd July and Wednesday 3rd July. Again more details of these days will follow in due course. Like a regular school day, students can arrive in school from 8:00am but need to be present by 8:25am. Our school day finishes at 3:15pm.
Your child will follow a typical day at XPG on both days which include some crew sessions, expedition sessions and a community meeting.
Meet your childβs Crew Leader
Following the transition days, on Tuesday 9th July we will invite parents and carers into school in the evening to meet your childβs new Crew Leader. We expect all families to attend this event. We are proud of the strong relationships that we form with families at XP Gateshead and this is an important opportunity for you to begin to build that relationship with the person that will be the key adult for your child when they start with us. As well as our cross-curricular learning expeditions, our pastoral structure Crew is what sets us apart from other schools.
We start school earlier than other schools in the local authority to allow for the Outward Bound experience. Our first day of term is Tuesday 27th August. More info on our term dates can be found by clicking here.
Information Gathering
A huge thanks to all of those families that have completed the Google Form to let us know about you and your child. Please can all families complete these forms as soon as possible.
Parent/Carer voice Google Form
We will also gather information from Primary Schools over the coming term so that we build a clear picture of your child and how we can support and challenge them to be the best version of themselves and see success.
Northern Power Grid are looking for 20 young people aged 14-19 who are passionate about the future of energy, diversity and inclusion and STEM, and who also want to get their voices heard.
Northern Powergrid is an electricity distribution business, delivering electricity to 3.9 million domestic and business customers.Β Covering an area of 25,000 square kilometres, Northern Powergrid’s network extends from north Northumberland, south to the Humber and northern Lincolnshire, and from the east coast to the Pennines.
By joining NPG’s Youth Insights panel young people will:
- gain increased networking opportunities.
- develop skills, e.g., teamwork, confidence, negotiation.
- influence the plans and strategies of a large power company.
- broaden your understanding of the energy infrastructure in the UK.
- Receive recognition of their work via references and certificates
There is a short application form on the link below where students can talk about themselves and their interests, there is also a consent form for families on the same link.
Timeline
NPG have said that the Youth Insights Panel is a significant commitment. They are hoping to host 5 sessions in 2024, with the majority of them being in the first few months after Easter.Β They will be online and after school time. Successful candidates would expected to attend a minimum of 3 sessions.
April 2024: Applications open – Click here to apply
May 2024: Group interviews and places allocated
G29 have started immersion for their new expedition this term. In human they explored the poem Home by Warsan Shire and were challenged to describe what home means to them.
I have combined their “What home means to me” sentences into a word cloud of the keywords that came up again and again from our students that I wanted to share with you.
During the Easter break Emily and Macie took advantage of the opportunity to take part in the Health and Care Youth Academy, working alongside health professionals such as paramedics and nurses. This is a great way to learn more about careers and to get the edge when it comes time to apply for next stages in employment and training.
Well done girls!
