Dear Families
What a great first week back it has been! Our students have returned well and quickly got back into the swing of things, working hard and enjoying the great learning opportunities they have had this week. We’ve had some amazing expert sessions in and outside of school which continue to feed into current expedition work supporting our students in their response to their guiding questions.
G31 – How can stories influence and shape communities?
Work has started on our final product of folk songs – more below about an expert visitor this week. Students also have been continuing to learn about our region’s history including the reformation during the reign of Henry VIII and have also been continuing to learn about the particle model in science which was harnessed during the industrial revolution – another stop on our history of Gateshead and its place in Britain.
G30 – What does it mean to be human?
Our Year 8 students had a fantastic week, carrying out fieldwork at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sheriff Hill and interviewed Humanist experts in school. The fieldwork connected to the work students have been studying in STEAM sessions on gas exchange and circulatory systems. Students enjoyed hands-on sessions in the Respiratory Simulation Room and met the clinical lead for organ donation. They also got the chance to see the area where their final art product “Reflecting Humanity” will be exhibited.
Our students enjoyed their session with a Humanist expert who spoke to them about the Humanist belief that we have one life and therefore should ensure we make the most of our time on Earth by living the best life possible for ourselves and others, including future generations. As is always the case, the experts praised the high quality questions and discussions they had with our students and the maturity they demonstrated.
G29 – How are structures important in helping us to explain our world?
This week our Year 9 students worked alongside experts from Newcastle University making audio recordings of the built environment which will be manipulated so that they can be used as part of the audio installation that students will produce as part of the ‘Concrete Dreams’ exhibition at the Farrell Centre. In addition to the audio for the soundscapes that have now been recorded, students will be interviewing members of the community to collect oral histories of the iconic original car park on the Trinity Square site.
G28 – How did bonding help the Vikings forge a strong legacy? / Is charity enough?
Students this week were able to make connections between both of their learning expeditions in Year 10.
In Science they have been carrying out a required practical which requires the preparation of a pure, dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate using a Bunsen burner to heat dilute acid and a water bath to evaporate the solvent. Students also reinforced the importance of: using appropriate heating devices safely, using appropriate apparatus and techniques, including a suitable choice of reactants and the safe use of equipment to purify mixtures. All of this is leading to students being able to analyse viking artefacts, based on connecting their properties to their chemical structure and internal bonding.
In HUMAN students had an expert session with local members of the Dickens Society, who were able to help students to make connections between themes in the book of charity, community and bonds, and also root these in the context in which Dickens was writing A Christmas Carol. More information soon on how students will put their learning to use in an event in school for our community designed to tackle loneliness at Christmas and beyond!
G30’s stunning Memory Lane Radio broadcast
I think that the biggest highlight of our week though must be our G30 radio broadcast of unheard voices from WWI. This was played on Memory Lane Radio on Sunday 11th November at 11am as part of their Armistice Day programme. Listening to the beautiful voices and words of all 50 of our students was simply stunning, their writing was powerful and really emotive. If you didn’t get the chance to tune in on Sunday, here is the link to the recording.
I highly recommend you get a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy the 55 min programme.
Our week ahead
PE sessions this week
Our PE sessions this week are as follows. Please ensure that your child has their full PE kit.
- All G30 students (Year 8) have PE on Monday..
- For G31 students (Year 7)
- G31 Class 1 students have PE on Tuesday.
- G31 Class 2 students have PE on Wednesday.
- All G29 students (Year 9) have PE on Thursday.
- All G28 students (Year 10) have PE on Thursday.
Extended Study and Clubs
Our clubs will all run this week (see schedule below) along with extended study sessions every day except Friday. Our before-school fitness and running clubs on Tuesday and Thursday will start at the earlier time of 7.45am this week.
For a small school, we offer a wide selection of enrichment opportunities to our students and this week we are adding Mandarin Club to the list. Please encourage your child to get involved in our clubs (lunchtime or after school) to explore their interests or find new ones. Being active or creative, learning new things and being part of a team helps connect us and boost our mental wellbeing.
Working with experts, fieldwork and PoLs
G30
Our year 7 students are this week meeting with Clare Price, who is the wife of David Price OBE who sadly passed away in May this year. David was a friend and advocate of XP Gateshead and was a renowned figure in the world of education. As part of their final product, students in year 7 are writing folk songs about important local figures from our region’s history – and one of those songs will be about David. We look forward to being able to perform our songs to you in December at our PoL in St Mary’s church in Heworth
G28 – RS Conference: ‘Poverty – a Humanist Concern’
A group of our year 10 students are attending a conference on Friday. The purpose of the event is to bring together key individuals and organisations to share best practice: politicians, funders, schools, charities – including recipients of North East Humanists’ own microgrants scheme, and ‘Support and Grow’ who provide invaluable support in their local community.
Families of children that are attending have been contacted by Mrs Ross.
POLs (Presentations of Learning) this term – dates for your diary – all now confirmed
- G31’s PoL will be on the evening of Monday 16th December at St. Mary’s church in Heworth at 4.30pm.
- G30’s PoL will be on Wednesday 18th December in school at 4.30pm.
- G29’s PoL will be on the evening of Wednesday 11th December at the Farrell Centre and Great North Museum in Newcastle University Campus at 3.45pm.
- G28’s PoL will be on Thursday 19th December in school at 4.30pm.
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].
Julie Mosley