Dear Families
It’s been another busy and productive week at XP Gateshead.
In these final weeks of term, rather than wind down, our students step up in their work and dedication to craftsmanship and quality. They are all working hard on final products, responses to their guiding questions and preparing for upcoming Presentations of Learning. This brings lots of challenges as you can imagine but I am so proud of the courage, determination and resilience shown by our students and staff on a daily basis.
G28 Engineering/Technology students
Our G28 students spent the morning at Royal Grammar School on Wednesday, in preparation for a day of manufacturing on Friday this week during the school day. The students have been designing a plinth to hold an iPad so that it can become an interactive kiosk. This is going to be used by our G28 Interactive Media students as part of their design work on an interactive quiz associated with their Viking studies.
A big appreciation to Dr Bunce from RGS, who also works with our digital leader and LGO robotics team, for helping to facilitate these days!
G29 First Aid Training
On Wednesday our Y9 students were involved in first aid training as part of their DofE skill development. Sam Clark from First Aid Schools was blown away by the maturity shown by all of our students and their response to all challenges set. Our students now know some basic principles of assessing an emergency situation, contacting emergency services and how to perform basic skills required to sustain life while awaiting their arrival. They are now more prepared to handle various emergency situations including administering CPR and using a defibrillator.
G28 PoL – Is Charity Enough?
On Wednesday afternoon our Y10 students welcomed new members of our community into our school. Our students put on an Afternoon Tea full of homemade goods along with Christmas treats which really demonstrated the power of connection and community. It was wonderful to see the smiles and hear conversations between our students and older members of the community. Please see the website post for more details and some extracts of students’ answers to the guiding question.
G31 Fieldwork
Students in G31 have been studying Gateshead’s and the North-East’s place in the UK since 1066. There current studies see them learning about the industrial revolution and our coal mining heritage. On Friday they carried out fieldwork to St Mary’s Church in Heworth and saw the memorial to the Felling Pit Disaster – which will feature in their songs as part of their PoL next week.
The Week Ahead
G29 PoL at Farrell Centre and Great North Museum, Wednesday – Newcastle University 3:45pm
We are really looking forward to seeing our Y9 present their learning this week at Newcastle University. They will be sharing their responses to the guiding question from this expedition – How are structures important in helping us to explain our world? Their work will be part of the ‘Concrete Dreams’ exhibition at the Farrell Centre and their art work will be exhibited at the Great North Museum.
Students will be travelling over to Newcastle in the morning, so will need a packed lunch on Wednesday. They need to be prepared for the weather as they will also have a campus tour as part of their day.
Families should arrive at the Farrell Centre /Great North Museum in Newcastle University Campus at 3.45pm. We will put out a separate post tomorrow with information on which families will be starting in which location. Parking is available further north on Claremont Road, or the two sites are within walking distance from Haymarket Metro Station.
Christmas Charity Events
On Tuesday Crew Stanton are running an after school Christmas Crafts session to raise funds for their charity ‘Tiny Lives’. On Thursday Crew Frank are hosting a Christmas quiz and all funds raised will go to their chosen charity ‘The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation’.
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.
PoLs next week
- 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.
- G28’s PoL will be on Thursday 19th December in school at 4.30pm.
Degunge Next Week – Friday 20th December
A reminder, especially for families of Year 7, that students finish at the earlier time of 1.30pm on the final day of term to allow for staff to de-gunge classrooms and restock class supplies in readiness for the start of the new term.
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