Sharing our Stories 11/10/2024

11th October 2024Geoff Hewitt

Beautiful Work This Week

Beautiful Curation at Green Top!

Have you seen these beautiful newly curated areas at Green Top – awesome spaces for students to learn and play in!

A great sporting week at XP Doncaster!

On Monday, students met a few of the Doncaster Rovers first team players and were able to have photos and get autographs from the players. Students asked questions about the life of a professional athlete and the journey that the players have been on playing for different clubs. It was great to hear the players speak about our character traits and how these character traits link to sport. 

Then on Tuesday students visited Hill House school to listen to Olympic gold medal GB hockey player Sam Queck. Her experience as an athlete and the ups and downs she has faced really helped our students to understand that if you want something in life you have to work hard for it! Students were able to have a photo and ask questions to Sam at the end – they even held her gold medal. 

We’re looking for an Art Teacher at XP Doncaster!

Find out more and apply now to #JoinOurCrew

Top of the Blogs

Creating Beautiful Work @ Norton Infants

American Themed Day @ Green Top

We Care Wednesday – Crew Chain @ Plover

XP Outdoors @ Carcroft School

Crew KBA – what makes up our identity? @ XP School

Working on a different planet! @ Norton Juniors

Beautiful work from Brooke @ XP Gateshead

Crew Rashford getting smart-er @ XP East

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Crew Stanton Pumpkin Decorating Competition!

By Emmy Tatters11th October 2024

Crew Stanton are hosting a pumpkin decorating competition to raise money for our crew charity Tiny Lives. You can choose to carve or paint your pumpkin. 

Students will need to bring in their decorated pumpkins on the morning of 18th October 2024. There will be 2 categories, one for XPG Students and one for younger family members of XPG. It will cost £2.50 for student entries and £1.50 for younger family entries. This is to be paid when the pumpkin is brought in on the morning of 18th October.

Ideally, students will include a note with their name and crew (there must be a named XPG student or member of staff on any entries for family member categories too) but if you forget to do this we will have some post it notes and a pen so we know who to give the prize to.

Crew Stanton will vote for the 2 winners and there will be a chocolate hamper prize kindly donated by Kirsty from Flowers and Gifts.

Students MUST bring their pumpkin home after the competition so that we don’t have any rotting pumpkins left around school over the holidays!

Students can also bring money on this day as we will be selling halloween themed baked goods at break and lunch time on the same day.



G29 Fieldwork on Monday

By Rebecca Jones10th October 2024

On Monday, 11th October, G29 students will participate in local fieldwork. Class Two will head out in the morning to visit the site of the Owen Luder car park, using the space as inspiration for designing their own structure that could be built on the Trinity Square site, along with sounds to accompany their personal oral histories. Additionally, students will spend an hour building on the virtual fieldwork they’ve completed in school, collecting primary data to answer the enquiry question: “Are there inequalities on Gateshead High Street?” They will return for an early lunch at 12:00.

Class One will follow the same schedule after their early lunch at 12:00, completing the same fieldwork and returning to school by 15:15.

Following Monday’s fieldwork, students will have an expert session on Tuesday with University lecturer Michael Jefferies, where he will explore mapping techniques and discuss how these could be used to improve Gateshead.

The weather is currently forecast to be cloudy with sunny spells. Students should bring their usual kit, including a waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes, and their normal school kit!

Gateshead Youth Assembly – Exciting Opportunity!

By Rebecca Jones9th October 2024

Gateshead Youth Assembly (GYA) is now recruiting new council members! This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in the local community. As part of GYA, you’ll represent young people in Gateshead, work closely with decision-makers, and help shape the future of services for young people in the area. Plus, you’ll have a lot of fun while doing it!

Over the past year, GYA members have designed, delivered, and evaluated various social action projects. They’ve also collaborated with local leaders on initiatives like the future planning of Gateshead town centre. You can read all about their achievements in the GYA Annual Review. Being part of GYA is a big deal—past members say it significantly boosted their personal statements for university and job applications.

GYA full meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, usually at Gateshead Civic Centre. Other Tuesdays are reserved for project work, social events, training, and activities, all planned by GYA members. Meetings continue during school holidays, except when our support workers are unavailable (typically during the first and last weeks of the month).

This year’s Training Weekend, which kicks off the GYA year, will be held on Saturday, 2nd, and Sunday, 3rd November 2024, from 10am to 4pm at The Lobley Hill Building, Lobley Hill Road, Gateshead.

Youtube video from GYA 

Training weekend sign up

Membership form

Please let Miss Jones if you are planning to join up. Valarie from the GYA will be in school on Monday and would love to meet with possible new council members!

 

Beautiful work from Brooke in G31

By Martin Said9th October 2024

Brooke brought a very special guest to school earlier this week, her silver medal from her first gymnastics competition! Brooke’s partner also did brilliantly in their first acrobatics section too. Beautiful work Brooke! Well done.

G29 Science Checkpoint assessment

By Darren Mead9th October 2024

G29  have a checkpoint assessment in Science next week  on Monday . Students have been directed to help via their Google classrooms.

Students should focus upon the following targets:

I can describe the structure of an atom of an element

  • I can identify the different parts of an atom and state their charges and masses.
  • I can use the atomic number and mass number of an element to identify the number of protons, electrons and neutrons it has.
  • I can state the maximum number of electrons found in each of the first three energy levels.
  • I can write and draw electron configurations for the atoms of the first 20 elements.

I can describe the structure of the modern periodic table

  • I can describe how the modern periodic table is arranged by atomic number and that the elements in each group have the same number of  electrons on the outer shell of their atoms.
  • I can explain why elements have similar properties because of their electronic structure
  • I can use data from the periodic table to draw the electronic structure of the first 20 elements of the periodic table

I can explain how the atomic model changed over time

  • I can explain how the discovery of the electron changed Dalton’s model of the atom
  • I can explain how Rutherford’s Gold Leaf experiment change Thomson’s plum pudding model of the atom
  • I can describe Bohr’s contribution to the atomic model
  • I can describe Chadwicks contribution to the atomic model
  • I can explain the importance of evidence in changing scientific models.

G28 GCSE Checkpoint Assessment.

By Darren Mead9th October 2024

G28  have a checkpoint assessment in Science next week  on Tuesday . Students have been directed to help via their Google classrooms.

Students should focus upon the following targets:

LT1 I can use the periodic table to work out what different elements need to be stable

  • I can interpret the Mass and atomic number in terms of the structure of an atom
  • I can draw the electronic configuration of the first 20 elements
  • I can describe how ions are formed and what charge they will have
  • I can write accurate chemical formula of compounds based upon their position in the periodic table

LT2 I can explain the properties of ionic compounds using knowledge about ionic bonds

  • I can explain the electrostatic forms holding ions together in an ionic bond
  • I can represent ions using dot and cross diagrams
  • I can explain the formation of an ionic lattice structure
  • I can I can explain the melting and boiling points, solubility  and the conductivity of ionic compounds
  • I can write accurate chemical formula of compounds based upon their position in the periodic table

LT3 I can explain the properties of covalently bonded compounds and elements

  • I can explain how a covalent bond is formed
  • I can represent simple covalent molecules using various methods
  • I can explain the melting and boiling  point, and conductivity of  small covalent molecules
  • I can describe the structure of giant covalent materials and explain their properties  (Diamond, Graphite, Fullerenes, and silicon dioxide.)
  • I can describe  the size of nanoparticles
  • I can explain the properties and uses of  nanoparticles.
  • I can discuss the advantages and disadvantage of using nanoparticle

LT4 I can explain the properties of metal materials referring to their structure and bonding.

  • I can describe metallic bonding in pure metals
  • I can explain the conductivity of heat and current in metals
  • I can explain the high melting and boiling points of metals
  • I can explain the ductility and malleability of metal materials
  • I can describe a metal alloy and explain their properties

GCSE Required Human Geography Fieldwork

By Rebecca Jones8th October 2024

On Friday, G28 GCSE geographers will participate in their first required fieldwork for their two-year course.

They will investigate the regeneration of the Ouseburn area in Newcastle, building on their first unit of study, where they explored the question: “Is Newcastle a city of opportunity or challenge?” We will be joined by Northumbria University geographer Michael Jeffries, who will provide valuable insights into the history and geography of the Ouseburn.In the coming weeks, students will analyse their findings and answer the fieldwork question: “Has regeneration had a positive impact on the Ouseburn?”

Students will spend the full day conducting fieldwork. They should bring their regular kit, including their iPads, and be prepared for the weather. The current forecast is cool with a low chance of rain.

School Dinners

By XP Gateshead8th October 2024

We’d like all parent/carers opinions on school dinners, including those who’s children have packed lunches. XP Trust would like as many children as we can having delicious healthy meals so your and your child’s opinions are important to us. Children will be asked about their dinners at school but it would be good to have parent/carer opinions too.

Please complete the below form: