What a fantastic couple of weeks for our G30 students!
We kicked off with an expert session led by Professor Marc Jackson from Newcastle University, who introduced our students to the differences between historians and archaeologists and explored how physical artefacts help us construct ideas about life in the distant past. This led perfectly into our fieldwork trip to the Yorkshire Museum on Wednesday. Students behaved and engaged impeccably! While at the museum, students saw firsthand some of the ‘hoards’ we will be studying this term and even handled genuine Viking-age pieces. We really appreciate your patience regarding our slightly delayed arrival back to school.
Miss Tatters recently shared a powerful quote with us in community: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitude of mind.” We have been using this to reflect on mindset, self-talk, helpful thoughts, and resilience. As we build these strong habits, please remember the vital importance of daily attendance and punctuality to keep our momentum going.
Students also had their Guiding Question reveal for their new Learning Expedition: “How do we know bonds help us to form a strong legacy?” Across their subjects, they will be linking this core question to:
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Science: Studying different types of elemental bonds.
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English Literature: Exploring A Christmas Carol.
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History: Investigating the Vikings.
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English Language: Examining modern and 19th-century texts to explore key themes of poverty, community, and loneliness.
Key Reminders, Extended Study & Clubs
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Daily Essential Kit: Please ensure your child comes prepared every day with their full kit:
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A backpack or suitably sized bag
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A filled water bottle
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Pencil case containing pens, pencils, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, purple pen, and a glue stick
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A fully charged iPad and headphones (ideally not expensive ones)
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A notebook and a reading book
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- Dress code: Please ensure you have familiarised yourself with our dress code and ensuring students are leaving the house meeting these expectations. A reminder that coats/body warmers cannot be worn in crew rooms or classrooms. We encourage students who know they find the school cooler than others to wear jumpers and hoodies.
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Wednesday PE for G30: G30 have PE on Wednesdays, and bringing full PE kit is essential. Physical activity plays a huge role in supporting both physical and mental health, which is crucial as stresses increase with the added pressures of GCSE subjects.
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Extended Study: Extended Study begins again next week, running Monday through Thursday from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. It offers a quiet, focused study space supported by adults who can provide help and guidance. In KS4, regular retrieval of key content knowledge and synthesising material is crucial for long-term retention—especially since these topics aren’t formally tested until the end of Y11! It is also a fantastic way to get organised and build positive revision habits early.
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Clubs Launch: Our full timetable of lunch and after-school clubs launches next week. We strongly encourage all students to join in and participate in the activities on offer.
Thank you for your ongoing support. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance.