Flexible Friday crew Marsha P. Johnson had some time in the art rooms to create some shoe designs!
We had great fun doing it…. I wish some of these were for sale!!
Flexible Friday Crew Marsha P. Johnson
Category : X27
We had a furry visitor in crew Marsha P. Johnson last week!!
Rufus came to put smiles on our faces and generally run around outside with excited students and his choice of
sticks….
In our crew sessions this term we have tried to get outdoors as much as possible. We had a lovely visit from Rufus where we took him for a walk around the school, ran around chasing him and some crew members had a go at grooming him. Thank you Rufus and Kate ap Harri for a lovely morning!
The other Friday we made it out the school grounds for a walk. Can you see XP in the background? It reminded us of our walk in Wales. I was so impressed with how crew worked together and made sure no one was left behind just like in Wales.
Last week it was our turn to litter pick around the school. This was really important that we took action for stewardship of our school and we enjoyed getting out and seeing what we could find.
A fantastic start to year 8, well done crew Goodall!
This school year has started off with an action packed first week where X27 went to Wales!
Here are some photos alongside some thoughts from the students from crew Marsha P. Johnson…
“I really enjoyed the jetty jump because we were able to do something that some people were afraid of (heights) and we got to challenge ourselves. Also I enjoyed the hot chocolate because it tasted really good and we got it for breakfast and dinner and it tasted nice.” Billy
I liked the walk because even though we found it hard and argued with each other we still supported one another” Mckenzie
“I enjoyed the gorge walking because we were all working together to make sure everyone was safe and not slipping over, we did this by warning each other which rocks were safe to stand on and which rocks weren’t. We also helped each other down the waterfall and not leave anyone behind.” Sienna
“I enjoyed the gorge walk because it was funny watching everyone sliding and falling everywhere.I also enjoyed being shown the different plants and insects we could eat on the sides of the paths because they we weird to try” Grace
“I enjoyed doing the gorge walking, basically just watching Morgan fall over constantly. The walk was a struggle for multiple people, but we all still kept going. On the way there people were eating plants, we saw a bunch of cows, we drank river water. The food was definitely….something. Personally I didn’t like it but there wasn’t much else we could eat so we kinda just had to stomach it.” Millie
“I liked the jetty jump but it was scary. I really enjoyed the gorge walk. There were lots of rockslides. I liked the walk because there were many cool places to look at and be.” Nadia
“I enjoyed messing around with pieces of bread with my friends and jumping off a jetty and persuading other people to jump. It was funny with all the screaming and shouting. The funny thing is the scary part was climbing back up the ladder” Ewan
“I enjoyed doing the jetty jump I found it really challenging and over became my fear of the ocean heights I was very proud” Charlie
“I liked the gorge walk it was really fun because there was slides but it was hard because we had to help each other to not fall and to encourage each other” Theo:
“I enjoyed the walk to the campsite where we walked by a waterfall and found different plants that we could eat. One plant we found tasted like a green apple.” Elizabeth
“I enjoyed the gorge walking because I kept falling onto my back and it made me and Miss Taylor laugh. It was also a new experience and I would love to do it again.” – Morgan
“I really enjoyed the gorge walking because Morgan kept making me laugh and it was something I wouldn’t normally do. It was awesome to spend time with the crew outside of school and get to know them a bit better and have a load of fun in the outdoors”. – Kat Taylor
Today students aged 12 in Year 7 and all students in Year 8 and Year 9 were given information letters and a consent form for the Covid Vaccine. These students are able to have a Covid Vaccine on Monday 27th September. Please could parents read the information letter and return the consent form back to school by Thursday 23rd September. If a student is not having the vaccine, this can be indicated on the consent form and returned, please.
We are pleased to announce that we are now finally (!!!) able to take the students of X27 on fieldwork, to enhance their understanding of the Humanities aspect of our latest expedition: Being Human. On Tuesday 5th October, we will be leaving XP at approximately 8.15am to travel to Liverpool’s Royal Albert Docks.
There, one class will visit the International Slavery Museum to research the impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, having examined how the Slave Trade was perpetuated by the expansion of the British Empire. The other class will spend this time at The Museum of Liverpool, taking part in a workshop that explores how the docks were ‘The Gateway to the World’ in terms of trade, empire and immigration. After lunch, the two classes will swap over.
Students should aim to arrive at school at 8am promptly, in order to register, check-in and board the coach, to allow for a prompt departure. Students will need to bring sufficient water and a packed lunch, as well as a few snacks. Students who are entitled to a free school meal, can order one via this Google Form, or by communicating that they would like one to their Crew Leader or Humanities teacher. Please note that we are a nut-free school, so nothing should contain nuts. Fizzy drinks and energy drinks are not permitted. As always, we expect students to leave no trace of their visit or time on the coach, by clearing away any litter they may have.
Students need to wear sensible clothing and footwear, and a waterproof coat is advised incase of any rain whilst we are walking between the museums, and to and from the transport. Any medication students require should be labelled with their name and passed to a member of staff.
We aim to have the students back at school at 5.30pm. However, depending on the traffic, it may be earlier or later than that time. Please check the website for updates on the day; students will be allowed to communicate their expected arrival time with parents if they have a mobile phone, from the coach.
We can’t wait to again be able to offer quality fieldwork that is one of the defining features of an education within the XP Trust! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me using the email address [email protected]. Alternatively, feel free to contact your child’s Humanities teacher or their Crew Leader.
Mrs. McCarthy
Crew Goodall at Outward Bound
It’s been a week since X27 got back from our incredible trip to Outward Bound. Here is a photo before we left for Wales!
We arrived about 6 hours later, and that evening we set off to the beach for ‘jog and dip’. On the beach we circled up and spoke about comfort zones and stretch zones. While staying in your comfort zone feels safe, it’s when you can move a bit beyond that into your stretch zone is when you will learn and develop the most – this became a theme of the week as all of crew did things that were outside of their comfort zone. For some of us a dip in the sea was the first challenge whereas others loved the idea but we all went in together and encouraged each other. We all felt amazing after we’d done it – see the pictures below.
The next day we went to the estuary for canoeing which was another new experience for a lot of us. This was a test of teamwork and communication and it really did challenge us as a crew. When we got home we had a fantastic debrief where crew discussed what went well and what went wrong with a lot of maturity. Crew resolved to move forward by pledging to speak to each other with kindness and being open and honest with each other when they find things difficult so we can support each other better.
We packed up our bags for camping and hiking. We had to carry everything we needed as a team so everything was shared out between us and the bags quickly became very heavy!
We arrived late in the evening at the campsite and crew helped each other put up their tents for the night. The sky was clear and we could see the Milky Way clearly and also spotted Saturn. As Owen said, it was ‘magical’!
In the morning we went to hike up a nearby mountain. The views were beautiful and we stopped half way up for a ‘solo’ where we each took some time alone with our thoughts to reflect and to just enjoy the moment. The hike was challenging as some parts were really steep and a few of our crew are scared of heights so we helped each other through it by being kind and trying to stay positive even when it was hard. Thanks to Morgan and Joseph who led us up there.
When we got back to the Outward Bound centre on Thursday we had to unpack and degunge and crew worked together to get it sorted. I was so proud to see how much they had come together during the week. That evening we met as a crew and celebrated each other’s achievements. We went round the circle and everyone was appreciated for what they had brought to crew at Outward Bound. Here are some of the highlights:
- Roxy was appreciated for her positive attitude and confidence
- Owen was appreciated for his compassion in looking out for Oscar and going out of his way to help others
- Morgan was appreciated for his leadership in our mountain climbing expedition and how he made sure to wait for everyone to catch up
- George was appreciated for his maturity and calmness and for ‘keeping everyone in line’!
- Nadia was appreciated for her courage; she came out of her shell and overcame many fears
- Joseph was appreciated for his perseverance and keeping everyone laughing
- Harry was appreciated for being helpful and his knowledge about space when we were stargazing
- Oscar was appreciated for his compassion and was always the first to volunteer to do anything helpful for crew
- Alysia was appreciated for being supportive and for conquering her fears
- Ellie-May was appreciated for her compassion and for looking out for others
- Ruby was appreciated for her positivity and her leadership and organisation skills
It was an incredible start to year 8 and I’m so excited for this year to see how we can build on what we’ve learned to continue pushing ourselves and supporting each other.
“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.”
–Kurt Hahn
What a way to start our year.
A week in Aberdovey having fun, challenging ourselves, building relationships and making memories we won’t forgot. I know I won’t!
What I will take most from the week was not the activities but the time it gave me to get to know our crew even better. Knowing the students I teach is the most important thing that I can do to help them succeed. This week definitely allowed me to achieve this.
All of crew Akkad loved our time in Wales for a variety of reasons;
“All the new activities we were able to do.”
“I loved camping”
“Jumping into the freezing cold sea.”
“It was really fun going into the sea”
“Feeling proud after going up and down the mountain”
“Going on the Canoes in the sea”
With these only being a few of our reflections.
But this week we all realised that there is more to us all than we know, with this we now know we can achieve brilliance. Together we are stronger as crew.
All of pour fun can be caught here
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.
We’re delighted to announce that X27 / Year 7 Spanish students’ first ever Final Product is ready!