Dear Parent/Guardian
It’s been Maths Week here at XPG with near fever pitch excitement as our students battled it out on Time Table Rock Stars (TTRS) with students from across the country. As you may have seen we are fourth placed in the countryโs secondary schools for average points scored per student, and top school in the region. This is a fantastic achievement, made all the more special by knowing that every student has contributed. Maths week culminated on Friday with the โGreat Maths Bake Offโ. Our students put their baking (and maths) skills to the test along with lashings of creativity to produce some maths inspired show-stoppers. Thanks so much for all of your support with our maths week.
It has also been Remembrance Week and so alongside our normal expedition lessons students have been remembering those who gave their lives for us and reflecting on the responsibility this leaves us with to live our best lives.
Teacher Days Friday 19th and Monday 22nd November
Just a reminder that school will be closed to pupils this Friday (19th) and also the following Monday (22nd). This is to allow time for staff training and also to develop resources and planning for our next expedition. We pride ourselves on the quality of our curriculum and it takes time to plan high quality expeditions and to liaise with experts and organise fieldwork etc.
Fieldwork to Beamish on Wednesday 17th November
All students will be attending fieldwork at Beamish on Wednesday 17th November.
The visit will be entirely during the school day.
Students will need:
- A packed lunch. We will provide lunches for students that qualify for free school meals.
Clothes that will keep them warm and dry (lots of layers).
Full kit in a plastic bag inside their school bag.
Students will interview experts about working conditions in the mine, and have an opportunity to go into the drift mine at the site.
This fieldwork is part of their studies for their expedition From the Ground Up, with the guiding question โWhat do the communities of North-East England owe to the miners?โ
As a result, PE will be on Thursday afternoon this week.
Covid Testing
Please remember to complete lateral flow tests for your child on Sunday and Wednesday evening and as important, please ensure these results are entered into our website. This is an important part of keeping our community safe and our school open and I really appreciate your help and support in this respect.
As usual please get in touch with crew leaders in the first instance with any questions or queries or just to tell us how things are going.
Best wishes
Mark Lovatt
Principal XP Gateshead