Dear Families
Last week was another shorter week of four days for us but as always, we covered a lot of learning at XP Gateshead.
Assessment information snapshots
After seeing their updated snapshots, our students have highlighted areas of their work they want to improve. This may be around habits of work and learning (HOWLs) – work hard, get smart or be kind or academic performance. When walking around sessions last week and talking to students, it was great to hear them talk about the improvements they wanted to make and how this could look in sessions. I look forward to seeing their efforts and work to meet pledges in all sessions over the coming weeks.
As parents, you will be receiving an email from your child later this week and they will share their current snapshots with you along with their reflections and pledges. They will also invite you to their last SLC (student led conference) of the year and give you further details about this.
Visitors to our school
We had a lot of visitors in school last week. We welcomed Chris Harte. Chris is Government & Academic Engagement Lead for Google Education. Chris was in the UK from Melbourne, Australia to attend the Education World Forum and of all the schools in the UK chose to visit ours. Chris was also interviewed by Y8 students for their current expedition on migration, and discussed with them his experience of migrating to Australia over 13 years ago.
We also interviewed candidates for Safeguarding and Attendance Lead this week. Visits to XPG always start with an ambassador tour from students. They introduce our school, talk about expeditions, Crew and share their work and the work of others. During interviews, a students panel always takes place as well as feedback from students after sessions if candidates have been asked to deliver a lesson or run a discussion group with our students. Our students are key stakeholders in all aspects of our work here at XPG so their voice is important.
I wanted to share just some of the comments and feedback we received from visitors in school over the last week or so:
“I just wanted to send an email to thank you for your time today. I really appreciated your kindness, support and encouragement. In the time I spent with you I was able to see that XP Gateshead offers students a warm, personable environment in which they are at the heart of everything you do”
“I think your school is fantastic and the children are an absolute credit to the XPG. Would you pass on my thanks to those children involved in today’s interviews, and tell them to keep being their amazing selves”
“The depth of understanding students display when talking about their learning is stunning. Of all of the schools in the world that I have visited, this is where I would want to teach.”
“The maturity of how your students approach tasks is impressive – the quality of their questions, their listening skills and how they interpret information. It’s how they collaborate as a group, support and challenge each other’s thinking and as they told me, ‘share the air’. “
Beautiful Work from Miss Powers
Staff, like students, are always learning at XP Gateshead and looking ‘up and out’ to develop their own practice and the practice of others. Bonny Power was successful this week in securing a place with the Great North Maths Hub as a Secondary Mathematics Specialist. This is a great opportunity for Bonny and XP to be involved in mathematics development at a regional and national level – congratulations Bonny!
This week
PE sessions
As you know, Mr Currie will be covering PE sessions with our students whilst Mr Devitt continues his training placement in another secondary school. Sessions went well last week and students started a PE dance module.
All students will have a PE session on Mondays until Mr Devitt returns. To maximise time in each PE session, we ask that G28 (Year 8) come to school dressed in their PE kit on Monday so they are ready for a sharp start to the session. They will then be able to change into fresh clothes at the end of the session. G29 (Year 7) students will change to PE kit at the start of the session and will be able to wear this until the end of the day on Monday.
Year 7 Fieldwork
Mr Mead has posted an update on our website about important fieldwork for Year 7 following the expert session students had on oysters as a keystone species.
G29 Students are carrying out fieldwork on Wednesday 17th May and need to be in school at 8.10am and are expected to be back in school between 4.00pm and 4.30pm. More details can be found in Mr Mead’s post here.
Extended Study and clubs
Extended Study and clubs are running after school this week. On Tuesday we have hula fitness, Wednesday is our robotics club and Thursday is Nature Club and Rock School.
G30 Transition – Family Meetings
We look forward to meeting all of our new families over the next two weeks for their individual online meeting. This meeting will be a chance to get to know our new students and their families individually and share key information and our home school agreement.
LGC Meeting
Our Local Governing Body (LGC) Summer meeting takes place this week on Thursday 18th May.
Looking Ahead:
Half Term and 1:30pm finish on Friday 26th May
As usual, if you have any questions please contact your child’s crew leader in the first instance.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Julie Mosley
Co-Principal