Medication held at school handed back to students for summer break.

By Mrs N Mawby15th July 2021

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.

“

Hi All!

 

Well, we have covered a lot since our last post. During the last couple of weeks we have been delving in to mental health, especially with the recent mental health week. Looking at outside factors and how that can have a real impact on us and how we can take control of the situation, recognising that we always have a choice and do the right thing! this topic has sparked many really interesting conversations which i have been really privileged to be part of.

We have looked at it from; what we consume and how we consume – to – respecting our environment, ourselves and others.

We’ve also discussed times when we have got angry or upset about a situation, how we have acted and what the consequences of that were. this discussion was really POWERFUL and saw our crew really open up to each other and begin to truly trust and understand what crew really means. It was a very heartwarming moment i can tell you…#goosebumpsmoment

Riley produced some beautiful thoughtful work during a recent art class he was really proud of it, so much so he voluntarily came in during his break to try and get it finished! Now thats commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Well done!!

Alongside participating in our classes more respectfully by using our voices at the appropriate time as well as using hand signal protocols to respect our teachers and fellow classmates.

Times table Rock stars battle – last few hours can we get to the top? Lidija was smashing it out of the park!

We have also taken time to respect our immediate community by litter picking. We found some interesting bits and bobs, some a little more disgusting than others. it really made us think about how we treat the environment we spend our time in and how others feel about the environment they spend their time in.

Great work Crew Tubman, you really are getting to grips with what

We Are Crew

really means…


— R.E.S.P.E.C.T – find out what it means to me!
“

Returning to the classroom has been a little tricky for some of us. But yet again Crew Tubman have really risen to the challenge!

 

We’ve taken to using the crew wall as a focal point to revise our learning and get us back on track.

Mindful Mondays

Some of our points of learning on Mindful Monday have been around writing a letter to our future self about how we have faired during lockdown, asking how things are in the future and maybe if some things have changed or perhaps remained the same, what advice would we give ourselves.

 

Tranquil Tuesday

Resetting our reading targets is a really important part of our time. Looking at what we can do to make sure we are reading regularly, in order to benefit from a better understanding which, in turn allows us to make better word and sentence choices in our own work as well as growing to understand more challenging texts. Making sure we have regular times to familiarise ourselves with the written word and the many contexts we find it in, so Tuesday is a great time to sit back relax and enjoy our favourite author. We have also looked at what Genre we enjoy to help others find something to challenge their usual reads and expand our experiences, followed by a pledge to improve on where we are currently.

 

 

Wise Wednesdays

This has been focusing mainly on our mental and physical health, discussing and exploring what this means to us and how we have a choice over how we deal with things and who we can turn to. We have had some really mature conversations about where they feel mental health affects physical and visa versa, resulting in the conclusion that they both rely on each other and how best to maintain this.

 

 

Thoughtful Thursday

Here we are looking at reconnecting to our HOWLs and identifying how our behaviour directly impacts our academic achievement alongside our attendance, also how this impacts us as a crew. Over the coming weeks we will be analysing our classroom efforts and looking as a crew, supporting each other in order to get the best out of ourselves. Some of us may need a little more help than others but we are all there for each other.

 

We have taken time this week to reflect and analyse where we feel we sit with our HOWLs, really thinking and picking apart how we feel we are achieving in our lessons based on our current performance and how we are coming back after the break. As you can see they have used a lot of integrity in identifying where they need to work harder or need help in a subject in order to become a better version of themselves. This is something we will grapple with over the coming weeks with discussion, critique, notice, wonders and praise.

 

Flexible Friday

 

This is where we take time to catch up on any discussions we want to expand on, follow up work or finding time to share a good read. This week we have taken the opportunity to read Rosemary Sutcliff’s ‘Beowulf’

Whilst listening to the text we have used our visualisation skills to determine what we think Grendal, one of the main characters, would look like based on the description in the book.

Have a look at what they thought…

 

 

 

Another great week for crew Tubman, looking forward to next

 

All that best

 

 

 

— Resetting the Bar
“

We made it!

 

I just can’t say it enough about Crew Tubman, they continually blow me away with how resilient they are and have participated in all that has been thrown at them.

 

From taking part in off screen activities to writing and composing songs! this little bunch has been what has kept me sane and going through this incredibly challenging time. I honestly don’t think i could have done it without them. them and of course our honorary crew member Niamh who is 4 she has brought us a little ray of sunshine and joy to our crew check ins in the morning.

(more…)

— Across the Finish Line
“

As you all know I am extremely proud of this Crew. Crew Tubman have shown they are XP through and through.

 

 

They have shown many of our character traits, most importantly, they have shown…

Courage

  • To put ourselves outside our comfort zone to develop and deepen our learning and character

Looking deeper into this our students have shown great courage in learning on line and being greatly out of their comfort zones and yet have still carried on regardless.

Integrity

  •  To build resilience, responsibility and a never give up attitude.

By continuing to take responsibility for their own learning, turning up and mostly on time, to online learning and completing work in a way that has never been done before. They are making history as you read this!

Never in the history of kids going to school have kids ever had to do what our students are doing right now? No kids in the history of kids have ever had to do school at home, sitting in their bedroom, watching their teacher on a computer, staying focused surrounded by many distractions and often feeling like it is groundhog day. Our students are making history!

We haven’t given them nearly enough credit for rolling with the punches. I’ve told Crew Tubman how proud I am of them. That kids this year are doing the impossible and they’re doing a really great job.

We’ve thanked everyone from healthcare workers to grocery store employees but we haven’t thanked the kids enough for bearing the burden of what we’ve put on their shoulders this year.

We’ve said kids are resilient, and they are. But they are the real superheroes in this whole scenario for having ZERO say in their lives but doing their best to adjust every day. 

 

SLC’s

 

We also saw Student Led Conferences last week and they have worked really hard, to again do something that is daunting, unknown to them and challenging. Not only from understanding how they need to deliver it, but also dealing with the technicalities requires on top of presenting, and they took it all in their stride..

The students worked towards presenting their progression so far in HOWLs grades, Academic Progress and Minimum Expected Grade as well as how they have adapted. Sharing their highs and their lows, looking at how we can hold themselves and each other accountable and looking at our areas of improvement as well as celebrating our successes, as Lidija has done here.

Lidija’s words…

“I feel that this is a beautiful piece of work, i feel like this because i spent a lot of time on It.

I used mixed media art, which is mixed art supplies used to create a piece of art. 

I am really proud of this work because i spent a lot of time on it and it came out looking very good.

My art is a recreation of a piece of art by Rowan Leckie Our learning target was LT: i can mix and apply watercolour paint with accuracy in a near and controlled manner.“

 

 

After completing their Student Led Conferences we took a moment to discuss how we felt that we grew from our experience, how we had progressed, what we would do differently and how we overcame our fears. I guess you could say they felt the fear and did it anyway!

 

Well done Crew Tubman – another great achievement.

— Just keep swimming
“

We thought it was time that we let you know we have finally chosen our crew name. The students worked long and hard deliberating over who would best represent us and how we felt about crew, ourselves and each other.

There were many names researched and presented but we finally settled on ….

Harriet Tubman

This was Darcy’s suggestion and we all felt that she perfectly captured what we as a crew were about through Harriets legacy.

 

Here are the important values that we felt we as a crew, shared with Harriet, and if we did’t have theses values, we would aspire to them.

“We chose this name because we can relate to her because she was brave, She showed integrity, she stood for honour, she stood for truth, she stood for equality, she didn’t give up and she stood up for the right to do amazing things.” Evie

“We chose this person because she is independent and she escaped slavery at the age of thirteen which was a big accomplishment – proving that we can accomplish whatever we put our hearts and minds to. She showed our character traits and we felt she represents our crew.” Nenna

“We think she is a good role model because she showed integrity and courage by standing up for what was right and the courage to stand by her beliefs even though she could have lost her life. She took responsibility for her family and went back to save them from being slaves.” Riley

Snow Day

Very proud of my crew as they have continued to turn up for crew and lessons regardless. They really are showing perseverance and commitment to their learning.

Special mention

One person who I am particularly proud of this week is Jasmin. She has also been made this weeks honorary Vice President, (in honour of the recent Inauguration). As she has supported our crew not only in session but has given up her own time to do a little hang out with a small group of crew members, to support them with their understanding of an extended study maths task. I was impressed with her leadership and supportive skills. Not only did she guide but she checked with them for understanding. Asking relevant open questions to gather whether they had understood what they had done. Truly inspiring. Fantastic integrity and compassion Jaz!

 

Winning Formula

We are currently top of the leaderboard in our howls across the board! This is a great start to the year, but it doesn’t mean we can rest on that achievement. We now have to work at maintaining and improving that! Watch this space I know they will smash it.

 

“Stay safe and take care”

From Crew Tubman

— Its all in a name…

Little things make a big difference!

By Nicola Marshall17th December 2020

Our crew have been working together this term and we have produced this blog as a crew.

This Christmas we are helping the French-gate centre support the Trussell Trust Foundation which is the largest food bank in the UK. Each of us are doing our bit by donating either socks or chocolate (if you’re feeling generous then both). These gifts are going to people in poverty who don’t have these luxuries, and they will receive these gifts every time they go to a food bank in the coming festive weeks.

It is important to give chocolate and socks to the people that aren’t as fortunate as us. During Christmas time children will not feel as left out around their friends, it would also put a smile on their face and that makes us happy. People who need the gifts will go to the food-bank during Christmas time and get a gift to open. It will help the food bank provide more for those who are in poverty this year.

What we are doing is giving people who aren’t as fortunate as ourselves items like chocolate and socks. We are doing this because we want people to be happy on Christmas day and so they have items under their tree on that delightful day. Thanks to charities like food banks these people can get the items they need to make them happy. 

 

It’s important because it helps people in poverty or people who can’t afford good things like socks or chocolate. We ask people to help out that little bit for Christmas just because a lot of kids and people don’t have any presents under the tree so we ask you to help out just that little bit for everyone else who deserves a Christmas. The littlest gifts we give mean the world to some adults and children living in poverty or that are less fortunate, that’s why at Christmas we give gifts

We have learnt that poverty is a lot more common in places like Glasgow, London and even Doncaster. We found that Poverty was more common than we initially thought. It’s not just homeless people but that is not the case even people with a job can be in poverty, not able to pay all their bills or buy enough food. It is very difficult to get out of but easy to get into and will change a lot of things in our lives, it can change your relationships, friends, people in your life. Although benefits help they are not enough to live comfortably. Many people still have no where near enough and with people limited to a few food bank vouchers a month, this becomes quite difficult.

At this time of year helping charities and people less fortunate than ourselves helps us to remember to be grateful for the things we have and that gifts need to come from the heart, that you think about the gift you are giving and how it can benefit that person.

Many thanks for reading our Blog.

Have a lovely Christmas see you all again in the new year.

Embracing the unknown!

By Nicola Marshall3rd December 2020

Well what can i say?

I am so proud of our Y7s! They have adjusted to the change brilliantly, at a time where there is so much uncertainty, they have got themselves set up, found out what they needed to do and cracked on!

Fantastic!!!

Online learning isn’t the easiest, but I have been seeing their happy little faces every morning on time (for the most part) and ready to learn. we’ve had the odd onesie but on the whole i’m really impressed with the maturity and punctuality of our students at a time when its easier to give up and stay in bed. A HUGE well done to you all. I’m really looking forward to seeing you back in school.

 

During isolation we have looked at our Habits Of Working and Learning (HOWLs) and we have made our pledges to make these better, but to be fair i am really impressed with my crew, great HOWLs all round.

 

 

In fundraising news:

Staff have been working extra hard to support Save the Children Charity, by selling home made gifts raising a whopping £339! we hope to increase this when the children wear their Christmas jumpers on the 11th December…

So don’t forget your £1 and your Christmas jumper, but don’t worry if you don’t have a jumper, you can wear anything christmasy and still bring a £1, its all for a great cause.

“

It’s great to see Everyone back this week and we are full steam ahead. I’m really impressed with everyones’ commitment to learning and crew NML (soon to be renamed, watch this space…) are really settling in well. The involvement level of our crew sessions are developing, with richer conversation as we grow to trust and respect each other, in the safe environment we have nurtured during our first half term. Already I have seen them grow emotionally in this short time. I’m very excited to see how we will develop further.

One of the topics we have been investigating has been poverty. The students have asked lots of questions and have been able to empathise with the situations many people find themselves in. Some discussion turned, driven by the children, to problem solving and looking at ways in which they could make the lives of people in poverty better and what they thought they could do instead. From batch cooking meals to up-cycling, free-cycling and food banks.

During our community meeting we discussed this further with other crews, using a silent conversation. This is where the students were able to read, question, discuss and annotate other students written responses to a text. The text detailed someones (an adult) personal experience of poverty. After unpicking the information the students made their own contributions before passing it on to the next group for their input. It was really encouraging to see that this was also where students gained a good understanding of what it was to be in poverty, as some students were unable to connect to this subject before this activity.

I have also been really impressed by how the students are taking all this, uncertainty and change, in their stride, having to wear face-masks around school and in the corridors. Many students holding others accountable showing fantastic integrity and respect, by reminding fellow students to wear their masks. If we all do the right thing then everyone will be safe. Definitely a community minded bunch. Well done guys, keep going you are doing amazing.

 

 

Howls Reflection

During this half term we will begin to understand how engaging in and taking ownership of our own learning can really make a difference. Being mindful of our choices and using the people and resources around us to help when we find things difficult and be a kind and considerate community member by helping others when we know what we are doing. Making sure we are the leaders of our own learning.

 

And finally this week we have seen the launch of our eagerly awaited reading scheme. Students have downloaded the App and now have access to a wide range of reading material based on their reading ability. ask them to give you a tour.

See you soon…

— Welcome Back!

Single Stories…

Hi All!

great to see you all here again! One of the many things we have been looking at during our crew, is what it means to have a single story. Stories matter, they help us to understand the world. But all too often we have little information and form opinions that give us a single story… a viewpoint that isn’t quite accurate. This can become unintentionally damaging. We watched a TED talk (click on the link to see) about a successful author, but that her early writing had been from a single point of view. It had been from one perspective and with a small amount of information. She identified the problem with having single stories, how it can prevent us from truly connecting to the world around us and each other and how this can link to stereotypes, racism and unintentional damage from ill informed opinions.

I was so proud of our crew, we had fantastic thought provoking conversations, where we discussed at length our opinions, how these were formed, whether we had challenged these and sought other information to back this up, or if we had just taken things on face value. It was literally a light bulb moment for most of us and I am truly humbled at the thoughtfulness, mindfulness, courage and integrity of some of the wonderfully talented pupils that I get to work with.

Beautiful work

In Art, one of our newest crew members, Ben, produced this fantastic observational drawing. We are so proud of it and it is now hanging in pride of place on our crew wall. 

It’s hard to tell which one is the copy 🙂

Fantastic Work

 

It’s nice to be appreciated.

 

And finally for now, we have been taking time during our crew sessions to appreciate each other for our HOWLs (Habits of Working and Learning) and our character traits, by writing them a sticky note and popping it on our crew appreciation wall for all to see. At the end of the week pupils collect them up, read them and hand them out. We’ve started to collect some lovely thoughts on there already; Jasmin shared her amazing friends duck picture, which is also now on our crew wall.