Students in X24 Skipper and Admiral will be presenting their learning from our expedition Small Change on 5th December at 4.30pm in XP East School. Students have been working towards a number of Learning Targets focused on the GCSE text A Christmas Carol and the historical context of the period when Dickens produced A Christmas Carol. We like to invite you to hear from your son or daughter and see the work they have produced in order to answer the guiding question Why do we still need charity?  

We will also be asking, if possible, for donations to support the work of the Balby Church food and clothing bank.

FOR THE FOOD BANK: food that just requires hot water adding: e.g Instant porridge, Cup Soups, Mug shots, Instant noodles and Pot noodles (Supermarket own brands are ideal) FOR THE CLOTHES BANK: all types but the greatest demand is for jeans, joggers for men and all clothes for children aged 6-18.

 

Thank you in advance the Year 9 Team

On Monday 18th November students from X24 Skipper will be carrying out service learning between 9.15 and 11.30am at Balby Church’s Big Sort. Students will have the opportunity to talk to volunteers at the food and clothing bank as well as take part in the sorting of donations ready for the food and clothing banks opening later in the week. This will help students develop their answer to our guiding question Why do we still need charity? 

A number of students from X24 have been working extremely hard both in lesson and also in the completion of their extended study. They have completed these tasks to a high standard and also made sure that they have been handed in on time.

The students that I would like to give a special mention to are Alfie Lockey (X24 Admiral), Bella Herring (X24 Skipper) and Amber Clark (X24 Skipper) who have all finished the two studies (paper cut and sharpie block design) in class and also their extended study (Artist research).

All three of these students are now well on the way to creating a lovely charcoal study for their developing and exciting art portfolio.

Alfie Lockey:

Amber Clark:

Bella Herring:

Well done Alfie, Amber and Bella! Keep up the good work!

X24 Eyam Village fieldwork

Students from X24 will be visiting Eyam over the next two days. This visit will take place entirely within the school day (traffic dependent), therefore students require a packed lunch.

Admiral: Wednesday 4th September

Skipper: Thursday 5th September

Students will be spending some of their time walking and so will need to bring appropriate clothing and footwear, the current weather forecast suggests that we will have rain on Wednesday.

 

X23 Information Evening – Common Mission

In the months following their passage, X23 students have been looking at the ‘seven up’ TV programme and considering what and who they want to be, both in terms of their academic scholarship and the continued growth of their character.

X23 students are now at an important point in Year 9, where they will decide upon pathways of study and practice to compliment our core offer at GCSE.

As part of this process, students will be visiting some of the X22 and X21 sessions in the coming week and considering what is best for them in terms of their Common Mission of being both university-ready and ready for success in the modern world.

X23 students will consider the questions:

  • What do I enjoy?
  • What do I want to become?
  • Where do I want to go?

 

We would like to invite X23 parents and families to an information evening on Tuesday 19th February, from 5.00pm until 6.30pm. This will start at XP East in the performance area. During this time you will hear from Mr Sprakes about how students can compliment their core studies as part of their Common Mission. We will also discuss the criteria by which together we will consider which pathway is best for your son or daughter. For example, some students may study:

  • with a focus on their core subjects making sure that these are secure
  • an additional GCSE course
  • an additional technical qualification such as a BTEC or VCert
  • an arts award

You will also be able to go with your son or daughter to specific sessions – run by our teachers and students – which will explain the nature of some of the pathways that we offer.

We look forward to seeing you at this important evening.

C22 Preparation for Y10

I do appreciate there will be weeks where Tassomai can not be done and that the most important thing for students is that they have a rest this holiday, however if Tassomai can be kept ticking over it would be highly beneficial to students. 

I would be really grateful your support with this.

To both students and families, please have a wonderful summer and enjoy the deserved rest.

Mr Campbell

C22 End of year examinations

Year 9 will have their end of year examinations at the end of this term, in the week commencing 16th July.

Students will sit one GCSE style examination paper in each of the following core subjects:

  • English Language
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • History
  • Spanish

Over the coming weeks the focus of C22’s crew sessions will shift from their Duke of Edinburgh Award to preparation for these examinations and building a sensible revision plan.

Student performance in these examinations will determine the nature and level of support that they receive both in and out of sessions in Year 10.

Just a quick reminder for parents of the key dates for C22 students in Crew Nightingale and Bronte. Students will have their final kit check in Crew time on Thursday 14th June and will be bag packing on Thursday 21st June; as a result, students will have a later finish at school of around 5pm. Finally, the Friday the 22nd and 23rd June students will be completing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh walk. Students need to arrive at school on Friday the 22nd at 7.15am. We would ask that parents please remind students of the need to take care while out on expedition and that mobile phones are not allowed, unless the group have decided that a specific phone is to be used as the emergency contact or it is part of their aim to use them at which point we will remove the SIM card which will be kept safe for the weekend.

Please watch the website during the Saturday afternoon, the expected time back at school is between 5 and 6pm, but this may change due to traffic or any vital de-gunging that may need to take place before students leave.

Mrs Sprakes and Mrs Batty