Surprising revelations made by crew

By Miss Jones9th May 2020

This week we went back to basics a little for our crew google hangout. We discussed a few protocols like ‘microphones to be on mute unless you have been directly asked to speak’ and to put your hand up and wait if you have a question. I decided to go through this because our previous hangouts have been a little rowdy and off topic. When everyone talks at the same time, it’s really difficult to hear anyone.

Once the new rules had been established, we did our check in which was ‘What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?’. Now, this is where I was really surprised! There were some very unexpected answers. For example:

Broccoli, olives, ketchup (who doesn’t like ketchup!?), garlic, asparagus, shepherds pie, instant mash, coleslaw, tuna, Harry Potter dog food flavoured jelly bean and finally – a caterpillar and a worm!!

After those revelations, we looked at our crew tracker. This is where I have been keeping tabs on crew and their progress with their home learning tasks. I have shared this document with parents as well so they can see the work that is being completed and what needs to be done.

By talking about work that some members of crew have completed  – it really helps the other students understand the tasks and help each other (which has been really lovely to see)

We then moved onto a quiz which was made up of four rounds; general knowledge, films, music and capital cities. Jessy won with a massive 24 out of 25, with Arthur coming second with 21 and Tammy third with 20. Olivia has volunteered to prepare a quiz for next week and be the quizmaster. I wonder how many questions I will be able to answer!

REMEMBER – our crew hangout is every Tuesday at 12 noon and is compulsory. 

All but one crew member attended the last one, it would be SO good if we had every member of crew joining next week (and every week that we are in lockdown).

I would also like to say a big well done to Olivia, Arthur, Harrison and Max for joining Miss Vayro’s google hangout session for Hums on Mondays at 1.30 and also Nida for joining one.

Can ALL crew please ensure that they join Miss Vayro’s hangout EVERY MONDAY at 1.30 please.

This will help you with your expedition and also give you an opportunity to stay in contact with your classmates (which I think is really important).

Lastly for this week, I wanted to share some emails that I received from Mrs Collinson. She wanted to let me know that some members of crew EJN have been working really hard on their Spanish work:

Massive well done! Keep it up.

 

Crew EJN being creative!

By Miss Jones1st May 2020

Crew EJN have produced some beautiful work based on the artwork of Wassily Kandinsky during lockdown.

By Nida

By Tammy

By Bryan

By Arthur

By Jessy

By Olivia

They have also started their new expedition ‘Above all, compassion’ off with a bang by designing a storyboard to show the environmental changes during ‘The Lorax’.

By Harrison

By Arthur

By Jessy

There is a website that has been created especially for this expedition to help pupils find the tasks that they need to complete and to give them extra guidance. The link for the website is here.

Keep up the good work crew and remember that I want you to concentrate on the most recently set tasks on google classroom and try to meet your deadlines. If you fell behind with the work from the beginning of lock down – that needs to be done after you finish the new work.

Take care and stay safe!

Year 7/8 Common Mission

By Charlotte OGrady1st May 2020

As part of Common Mission in year 7/8 we are launching The Book of Memories. Crew leaders will be sharing this during google hangouts. We would like you to produce a virtual (slides) or book of your memories during this time so that we can look back and reflect on our time at home.

Each week you will be given a theme to help you create your book of memories and give you ideas of activities you might be able to do at home. Your crew leader will share the introduction with you and how you can make your book and also the first theme which is “What is in my cupboards”

We look forward to seeing your ideas and sharing with us what you have been up to whilst at home.

Stay Safe Everyone

Ilinca’s Year 8

Crew EJN’s top tips if you get bored during lockdown!

By Miss Jones23rd April 2020

This check in for our crew google hangout this week was ‘What are you grateful for?’. I shared a doc that crew could add to and as I suspected, their answers were all pretty similar. Here’s what they said:

  • The sunshine
  • Having a garden that I can go out in
  • WiFi
  • All the members of my family are safe and healthy
  • The internet
  • My family 
  • My friends
  • My pets
  • My crew
  • I am grateful for my mum and stepdad because even though they are really stressed with work because they are supplying oxygen for the hospitals they are still providing food on the table and clean clothes for me to wear everyday and they make sure that all my needs are done.
  • The NHS working long shifts to help those who are vulnerable.
  • That I get to video call my Nana and Grandad lot
  • Asda Click & collect
  • Swingball and Trampoline
  • The fact I have a roof over my head
  • I have food and water 
  • I have amazing people in my life
  • The fact I go to one of the best schools in the uk 😉
  • Football
  • Hot tub 
  • Education 

As you can see – that is a LOT that we feel grateful for. I think on the difficult days during lockdown – this is the kind of list that we need to read to remind ourselves of all the great things we have around us. It was lovely to see crew being so grown up about this situation. I am so proud of them.

We decided, during out google hangout on a task that we could work together on that might help other students (and teachers!) on what to do if you get really bored during lockdown. These are crew EJN’s top tips on how to cure lockdown boredom:

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I hope crew EJN have given you a few ideas!

Stay safe!

Miss Jones and crew

Working hard and getting smart

By Miss Jones17th April 2020

I have been looking through the work that crew EJN have been doing whilst they have been in lockdown. Some pupils are finding the whole situation more difficult to adjust to than others (which is totally understandable). Everyone deals with things in their own way. I have emphasised this during our crew google hangouts and explained that they need to be kind to themselves and just try their best.

Whilst tracking the work that crew have been completing I have noticed that Nida, Arthur, Tammy and Harrison are consistently completing tasks that they been set. These students have been working extremely hard and I’m really proud of them.

Here are some examples of their work:

Keep up the good work crew….and remember – if you need any help or support with any of the tasks you have been set – make sure you contact your subject teachers (or me)

Keep safe.

Crew EJN are adjusting

By Miss Jones1st April 2020

Crew EJN had their first google hangout video chat on Tuesday. Callum, Tammy, Harrison, Brandan and Arthur checked in. It was so nice to see their faces and just have a general chat about how they are finding things at home.

There were some worries and concerns from a few of my crew that they were going to ‘get depressed’ while they were off. I told them that this is a very strange time and that they’re going to have a lot of ups and downs. At first, they might think that its fun and exciting to be off school and to have free time – but sometimes, its not that good really. I told them that their routine has been totally changed and that is totally out of their control. I told them that even though I sound like a boring, old lady – that the best thing they can do is be kid to themselves, eat well, sleep well (not too much), make sure they go out for fresh air and exercise and try and do their school work. Just to try their best!

It would be lovely for the whole crew to get together for the next hangout so we can catch up, do a quiz or make each other laugh. I might make us a crew Kahoot!

We have also kept in touch by using the google chat facility that we have access to which has been really good for asking about the work that has been set and getting advice and support (again, not all of crew EJN are active in that chat – and it would be really good if everyone got involved asap).

I have created a shared slide show for crew EJN to document their time in ‘lockdown’ so they can look back on it and reflect on the things they did with their time. I have also been updating them on what my daughter and I have been doing. I have found that this has helped me realise that I am actually doing OK and don’t need to worry too much.

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WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

 

Crew EJN working well as a team whilst preparing breakfast

By Miss Jones27th February 2020

Crew EJN were treat to breakfast during crew time today. They worked great as a team to prepare toast and hot drinks and also cleaned up the room really well.

It was a really good way to end this term and have a bit of a chill and chat while we were discussing ‘kindness’. A student from crew had created a presentation all based round the importance of kindness to others and how unkind behaviour and actions can really affect someone and hurt their feelings.

It was a lovely atmosphere and pupils got their fill of biscuits, toast, brioche rolls, hot chocolate, tea and coffee!!

Crew EJN out litter picking this morning

By Miss Jones28th January 2020

Crew EJN were on ‘Clean Up’ this morning. We were lucky with the weather – even though it was cold and fresh, the sun was shining (and I think it woke them all up a bit!)

They were a little shocked at just how much litter had found its way onto the school grounds from the car park.

 

Good work crew EJN! A great way to be stewards of your school!

XP Christmas Jumper Day was a big success!

By Miss Jones13th December 2019

Staff and students at XP came out in force sporting their Christmas jumpers today to raise money for ‘Save the Children’.

Pupils were in good spirits as you can see from the photos taken at this mornings community meeting.

I will announce the total amount of money raised when it has been counted.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for joining in and raising money for a very worthy cause.

Well done XP!

Crew EJN working on their teamwork

26th November 2019Miss Jones

Crew EJN discussed what they thought good teamwork looked like then put this into action whilst playing benchball to burn off some of their energy!

We played against crew HMI over at XPE and are going to organise a re-match where we will meet again and test our teamwork within crew!

Our crew circled up half way through the game to discuss how they could change their tactics to win. They took it in turns to voice their ideas. Harrison was a natural leader who took the lead.

It was brilliant for our crew to spend some time outside the classroom and having fun whilst learning about eachother and developing our skills. Well done crew!