This week, crew Kahlo had a visit from Rufus. It was lovely to get some fresh air – what a lovely start to the day!
When Rufus came to visit crew Kahlo
Category : X26
What a busy first couple of weeks crew Kahlo has had in Year 9!
There’s never a dull moment at XP, especially at the beginning of term. We kicked off the new year with an outward bound trip where we went abseiling off a bridge (80ft!) and caving:
On our second day of Year 9, crew took part in a number of fun challenges (working as a crew) in the morning and then played the other Year 9 crews in a bench ball tournament. We ended the day with a community meeting.
On our third day of Year 9 we walked to Potteric Carr nature reserve and then did a ‘Solo’.
When we got back to school, crew prepared for their POL to explain what they had done that week and what they had learnt from it. They worked well as a team to present to their peers and parents.
As you can see – we don’t mess about! We start as we mean to go on here at XP.
Cant quite believe that crew Kahlo are in Year 9 already – bring it on!
Wow, it has been a fun packed first week back. From Doncaster to Derbyshire, from 60ft above ground (on a bridge) to 20ft below (in a cave!).
Crew Blessed were amazing during this week, supporting each other, over coming their fears and all while having fun.
We even managed to get parents into school in person for the first time in a very long time to present our answer to the guiding question – “What does it mean to be Crew?”
This week has been great to bring Crew back together after the summer break and a fantastic way to kick start their Year 9.
Hi X26 – just thought I would add another blog post to remind you all what the plan is for your first week in Year 9 (I can’t believe you’re going to be Year 9’s!!)
Your first day back is Wednesday 1st September and you need to be in school at 8 am (this is because you all need to do a covid test before we set off). You will be out of school all day so you need to come prepared with the following:
- Backpack
- Packed lunch (this will be provided for students on FSM)
- Bottle of water
- Hiking boots (these should be in your backpack – come to school in your trainers)
- Waterproofs (trousers and a jacket)
- Plastic carrier bag (to keep everything dry in your backpack if it rains)
- Baselayer top (not cotton)
- Midlayer top (not cotton)
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Sun hat
- Hiking trousers (not cotton)
- Hiking / thick socks (not cotton)
- Wellies (or these can be hired on the day for £1)
(All of these items will be used again throughout Year 9 – not just for this week).
We are expected to be back at school between 4.30 pm and 5.00 pm if you need to organise a lift home or plan which bus to catch.
On Thursday 2nd September you will be in school all day and need to be in for the normal time (8.20-8.30 for crew). You need to make sure you bring your usual school equipment with you (pen, pencil, ruler, and device). Make sure you wear sensible footwear as you will be doing some activities in the sports hall and outside. You will be able to have a school dinner if that’s what you usually do or bring your packed lunch with you.
School will finish at the usual time of 3.15 pm.
On Friday 3rd September you need to arrive at school at the normal time for crew (8.20-8.30am) but will be out of school in the morning. You need to bring the same things that you have been asked to bring on Wednesday (apart from wellies – you don’t need those). You also need to bring your equipment and device to use in the afternoon.
You also need to bring a packed lunch and a bottle of water as we will be out at lunchtime (this will be provided for students on FSM)
School will finish at the usual time of 3.15 pm.
I hope you have all had a lovely summer break and we will see you all next week!
Students today and tomorrow who hold prescribed medication at school will be handed back their medication. Students who require medication to be taken at school in the new term 2021/22 will be required to fill in the medication form.
The Google form is required to be filled in and then press send. This then gives staff consent to administer medication and for it to be kept on school premises.
Please ensure Inhalers, Epi-pens and other prescribed medications are sent into school with the child’s name and expiry date clearly visible.
Well, it’s been a busy couple of weeks in crew. We have been working hard and cracking on.
This week, crew Kahlo has been looking at ‘British Values’ as part of our crew curriculum. We have been learning about how British Values teach us tolerance and respect for others.
We even made a display in our crew room.
We then moved onto looking at the difference between weather and climate. Pupils carried out research into causes of climate change.
I wanted to highlight this beautiful work by Bryan and Jessy. For our current Y8 expedition ‘Wherever I Lay my Hat’ where we have been looking at the artist Luke Dixon for inspiration. Pupils have practiced adding lines and patterns to simplified copies of his work and also using a viewfinder to zoom in on details. I don’t know about you, but I think Jessy’s pencil-tone portrait is absolutely amazing! I only asked for a line drawing – but she went for it! We didn’t want to add any lines (like Luke Dixon does) over this drawing – so we have photocopied her work and she is adding lines to a copy so she has not one but two beautiful pieces of work!
On Thursdays, crew Kahlo has started to think about the HoWLs grades that they would give themselves for that week in each subject area and crew. Pupils critiqued each other’s grades and commented on whether they agreed with them or not. This led to loads of discussion about what ‘work hard’ looks like and how they could try and improve their own ‘get smart’ in lessons. It has been really great to have Mr. Challen in crew with us as he has been able to comment on pupils’ work in their maths lessons.
A very productive couple of weeks crew! Keep up the good work.
The Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) school age vaccination team will be visiting XP school shortly to continue the HPV programme for all boys and girls in Year 8 (1st dose) & 9 (2nd dose). Thursday 6th May 2021 is the day allocated. All parent/carers of Year 8 students only should have now received an email with an attached link from your child’s crew leader. It is really important you fill in the form that is attached with the email in the link. This will save time in phone calls being made a week before vaccines in response to whether your child will be having the vaccine or not.
If you have not received the link for the HPV vaccine from your child’s crew leader then please contact them or myself [email protected] requesting the link for the HPV vaccine.
HPV Vaccine Overview
It’s been great to be back so far this term! We’ve been spending time getting back into the routines of working hard, getting smart and being kind.
On our Tranquil Tuesdays reading sessions, we’ve started a new book called Pet by Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi. This book has been sparking some great discussions in crew as it address some quite challenging themes. I’ve been so impressed with how maturely crew Thunberg have approached the issues that this book touches on.
We’ve also taken the time to challenge ourselves to engage in something a bit more sporty by playing dodgeball against other crews. It has been lovely for me to spend time with Crew Thunberg doing something like this, as I don’t get a chance to see them when they’re doing PE. I was blown away by the sportsmanship and the drive and determination shown by everyone in crew Thunberg.
Attendance has also been fantastic in crew so far — it’s great to see everyone turning up to school every day prepared and ready to do their best!
Well done on an excellent start, Crew Thunberg!!
Crew Blessed have been enjoying reconnecting in recent weeks.
It’s been great to get back into Mindful Mondays. Today we wrote positive postcards for staff who have supported us.
Tranquil Tuesdays have been relaxing with some focused reading going on and we have taken responsibility for our own HOWLs in Thoughtful Thursdays.
Wise Wednesdays have been great to get into too, with some meaningful face to face discussions about British Values.
During Crew today our learning target was: ‘I can explain how you can participate in politics and why political participation is important’
Our check in was a discussion around this satirical cartoon:
We then thought about why Marcus Rashford was so passionate about free school meals and whether or not you have to be a politician to be involved in politics.
We looked at the ways you can participate and why it is important that we do and use our voices.
Finally, we all participated in politics!
