XP Gateshead

Dear Families

What makes a great education?

You may remember that last term students in G29 were challenged to give a keynote at the MTEM conference on what makes a great education. Over a week they drafted and put together an incredible speech which we have now recorded back in school.

The words of our students are truly beautiful, and this week I have the honour and privilege of sharing their words at international conference in Denmark. As well as meeting colleagues across education with equally innovative learning models, I will also have the opportunity to visit LEAPS schools to see how they are making their buildings work for their models of learning.

On Friday I was able to share my (limited) progress in Danish with the students as we celebrated the European Day of Languages. The day was marked with readings from students, live linkup with The British Council, a themed lunch and El Classico football match and lots of students in red and yellow celebrating other cultures and languages. Thanks to all families that supported this event and a special thanks to Mohammed, Desiree and Chanel and to Miss Fielding for her work coordinating the day.

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We also had important fieldwork for LOOL groups, and for G30’s expedition and a student-led piece of fieldwork for Crew Darling, heart dissection in STEAM and our very first Axiom Maths club for Year 7.

We have another important week coming up with our Open Evening on Tuesday after school. Again, thanks to all families that are lending us your children for the evening. The students really do run the show from beginning to end and it is this that families remark upon year after year, the warmth, leadership and pride that students show in their school.

The importance of reading 

In recent weeks we have shared details of the Extended Study that is set for each year group. Reading is in many ways the most important part of the week’s extended study.

As you know, reading is a key focus at XPG. It is not only the first building block to allow students to access all areas of the curriculum but reading also plays a significant role in their life chances and their wellbeing. We know that to be good learners, students need to first be good readers. Studies have shown that ‘those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations. Reading for pleasure is also associated with better sleeping patterns’. 

At XPG our students are exposed to many texts – reading in sessions, studying an anchor text in each expedition, a weekly Crew Read during Tranquil Tuesday and the daily 20-30 minutes reading expectation of their accelerated reader book. Over the last few weeks, students who are not currently reading at an age appropriate level have started attending intervention sessions. 

Please support us by monitoring your child’s reading, ensuring they are reading their accelerated reader book (which may be on ePlatform or a physical book they have borrowed from our in-school library) and reminding them to complete their daily 20-30 reading minutes.

Clubs

We will trial lunchtime and after clubs for a week, starting on Thursday and Friday of this week and then Monday to Wednesday in the following week. Clubs will then start fully in the week commencing October 13th.

The draft set of clubs can be found below. This may be adapted in light of the trial that starts later this week on Thursday.

Our week ahead 

G30 Class 1 – Fieldwork to the Farrell Centre

Students in G30 Class 2 will be travelling to the Farrell Centre on Newcastle University Campus tomorrow morning – Tuesday 30th September –  to learn more about their brief for their final project and to see the exhibits at the national centre for architecture. More details here.

Breakfast Club supported by Magic Breakfast

Breakfast club continues each morning from 7.45am.

Extended Study 

Our supervised extended study will run again this week after school from 3.30pm until 4.30pm. We will be starting tasters for clubs soon. More info to come in a separate post.

PE sessions this week

Please can parents make sure that their child has a PE kit  for PE sessions. We expect students to change into their appropriate PE kit, and not wear the same clothes they wear in school. Similarly, students must change out of PE kit afterwards, into their normal school clothes. For safety, jewellery must be removed and hair must be tied back.

• G32 students (Year 7)
  • Class 1 have PE on Monday
  • Class 2 have PE on Wednesday 
• G31 students (Year 8) have PE on Tuesday.
• G30 students (Year 9) have PE on Thursday.
• G29 and G28 students (Year 10 and Year 11) have PE on Monday

As usual if you have any questions, please get in touch with your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance or email general enquiries to [email protected].

Thank you as always for your ongoing support.  Together we are stronger #WeAreCrew.

Julie Mosley

Dear Families

At the start of last week we spoke to all students about the need to uphold our character traits in light of the multiple challenging situations that our society faces, where young people – often through social media – are more likely to be exposed to views which promote violence or discrimination.

Teaching through expeditions and having Crew at the centre of our work affords us the opportunity to go beyond the National Curriculum with our students and in addition pay close attention to making a stand for social justice, cultivating diversity and belonging and protecting our planet – key issues of our time and ones that we need the next generation of young people to continue to address.

Whilst the solutions to these issues are difficult, we know that as individuals, as families and as a community the way to face them is with respect, courage, integrity, craftsmanship & quality and above all…. Compassion.

As we have said many times before, our character traits are not just words on a wall. We expect each other to model them and support and challenge each other to do so – that goes for all members of our community: students, staff and families alike. 

Celebrating the development of character through beautiful work in the community

Every week our students demonstrate our character traits in spades, and every week we celebrate these and honour them through our community meetings and share updates here.

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We also take great joy in receiving messages from families about development of character and successes outside of school. Below are some recent achievements of our students, going above and beyond in beautiful work and developing their chacrater!

Will in Year 11 and his brother smashed their target to raise £500 for Crew Franks Charity Sir Bobby Robson thanks to some amazing support!

Harry in Year 10 gained a sliver in Teams Kumite and a bronze in Pairs Kata when competing in the Northern Open Classic International Karate Championship.

Brooke in Year 8 has achieved her maiden first place, and after stepping up to grade 3. This is a brilliant achievement.

Sylvia in Year 8  recently competed in a relay meet representing Gateshead Harriers, running in the 4 x 100m U13 relay team placing 3rd and then 2nd. Gateshead Harriers won the overall competition and secured the ‘cup’!

Hector and Josh in Year 7 also completed the Junior Great North Run, and Hector was awarded club member of the year for his trampolining club as well as receiving an award to recognise his success at national competitions throughout the season with his syncro partner.

Mia in Year 7 has been volunteering with Richmond Exotics, a local reptile rescue and education centre, for over a year. She’s raised almost £300 so far by making and selling homemade bracelets, crochet animals, keyrings, and sweets at stalls and events.

European Day of Languages – Friday 26th September

On Friday this week we will celebrate the European Day of Languages, focussing on the importance of valuing other cultures as well as where the study of language can take you in life, and the doors that a language opens.

Students are invited to come to school in Spanish themed dress on Friday, which could be as simple as a red or yellow item of clothing. We think Miss Fielding might well come dressed in full flamenco!

We will also mark the occasion with a range of events in school, many of which also have a Spanish focus, that being our taught language at KS3 and KS4:

• Spanish dancing before school
• A community meeting to discuss the importance of experiencing and valuing other cultures and languages
• An online workshop with the British Council for Year 9 and GCSE Spanish students.
  • This workshop will feature young adults speaking about their own study of languages and the opportunities this has given them in life.
• A Spanish themed menu at lunchtime.
• A game of ‘El Classico’ football at lunchtime.
• Competitions in school.

Our week ahead 

G30 Class 2 – Fieldwork to the Farrell Centre

Students in G30 Class 2 will be travelling to the Farrell Centre on Newcastle University Campus tomorrow morning – Tuesday 23rd September –  to learn more about their brief for their final project and to see the exhibits at the national centre for architecture. More details here. Class 1 will be doing the same fieldwork next week.

G28 LOOL – Geography Fieldwork to Seaham

Students in G28 Geography will be carrying out fieldwork on Thursday 25th September  to look at the impact of coastal erosion on Seaham’s beach.  They will be travelling on foot and by rail. Students will need to be prepared for the weather and will need a packed lunch. We will return to school by 3.30pm. More details to follow.

G28 LOOL – Religious Studies Fieldwork to a local Mosque

Provisionally we are also close to finalising fieldwork on Thursday 25th September  for GCSE RS students to visit a mosque, connected to their study of Islam for their final examination. This will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Crew Darling – Fieldwork to Northumberland and the Farne Islands.

Last year Crew Darling carried out sponsored work on a Crew day to be able to fund a visit to the Farne Islands and the coast where their Crew’s namesake Grace Darling carried out her incredible rescue. Crew Darling will be travelling to Northumberland via minibus and then weather permitting using Billy Shiels boats to tour the Farne Islands on Friday 26th September during the school day. More details have been shared with families in an email from Mrs Ross.

Breakfast Club supported by Magic Breakfast

Breakfast club continues each morning from 7.45am.

Extended Study 

Our supervised extended study will run again this week after school from 3.30pm until 4.30pm. We will be starting tasters for clubs soon. More info to come in a separate post.

PE sessions this week

Please can parents make sure that their child has a PE kit  for PE sessions. We expect students to change into their appropriate PE kit, and not wear the same clothes they wear in school. Similarly, students must change out of PE kit afterwards, into their normal school clothes. For safety, jewellery must be removed and hair must be tied back.

G32 students (Year 7) have PE on Wednesday.

G31 students (Year 8) have PE on Tuesday.

G30 students (Year 9) have PE on Thursday.

Due to our staff day on Monday, there is no PE for Year 10 or 11 this week.

As usual if you have any questions about your son or daughter please get in touch with your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance or email general enquiries to [email protected].

Thank you as always for your ongoing support.  Together we are stronger #WeAreCrew.

Julie Mosley