Shaun the Sheep is helping us make Christmas Jumper Day 2024 the best day ever!
As the charity’s new ‘Head of Wool’, Shaun has collaborated with Save the Children to make the world better with a sweater and wants children across the UK to join the flock
Christmas Jumper Day will take place on the 12th December 2024.
Put on your favourite Christmas jumper, donate £2 to Save the Children and help kids everywhere get the best future ever.
On the same day, the school kitchen will be cooking Christmas dinner for staff and pupils and our fabulous PE department are running a ‘Santa Dash’ (so please also bring a Santa hat for the day).
If you can, please donate via our school just giving page rather than bringing in cash in on the day.
Looking forward to seeing you in your Christmas jumpers.
Year 8 have the amazing opportunity to take part in a day of art workshops in Leeds for fieldwork to do with their ‘Being Human’ expedition.
One of the basics of humanity is our ability to create, and the students will be involved in practical workshops from the Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute on Wednesday the 27th of November.
This fieldwork will take place during the school day so it is important that your child arrives on time for the coach which will leave during crew.
Please make sure your child brings a packed lunch, as they will be eating in the gallery spaces. Free school meals will be provided for students who usually have them.
This week in our wise Wednesday time we looked at online safety. students were asked to write down ‘helpful’ and ‘unhelpful’ online behaviours and display them on the board. Here are just a few of the examples that were added. The discussions around this were great and all of crew were active members in this task.
This week in crew I asked crew members to find a piece of work or something they have done that they are proud of. Students sent both written work and art work either completed in school or in their free time. We noticed that these were really individual and that they gave an insight to their identity and who they were. This is a topic we have been looking at in our Wise Wednesday sessions so it was great to see this theme carried on.
Celebrating Jenson Owen: A Triumph of Team Spirit and Integrity
On Sunday, October 6th, Jenson Owen took to the waters of Ponds Forge, Sheffield, competing in the National County Team Championships. It was a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and high stakes for Jenson and his team. Racing in both the relay and backstroke events, Jenson demonstrated not only his skill but also his resilience and sportsmanship.
The team finished an incredible second place overall. For many, this would be a moment of celebration—a testament to months of hard work, dedication, and unity. Yet, Jenson felt that their second-place finish was somehow a failure. It’s natural to want to be the best, but in reality, the result was far from a letdown. This wasn’t just about a medal; it was about the shared effort and commitment of every swimmer, the mutual support, and the camaraderie that pushed them through.
Jenson’s response reveals a deeper strength of character: courage. Courage isn’t just facing challenges head-on; it’s also having the fortitude to push forward even when the result isn’t what you hoped for. It’s easy to celebrate success, but true courage is found in embracing the journey and acknowledging that every effort, every race, and every second in the pool contributes to the whole team’s success.
What stands out most about Jenson is not just his physical prowess, but his craftsmanship and the quality he brings to his swimming. Craftsmanship in this context isn’t just about perfecting a stroke or hitting a certain time. It’s about the way Jenson approaches the sport: with a keen eye for improvement, a desire to refine his skills, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Each race is a masterpiece in the making, and every practice is a brushstroke toward his ultimate potential.
And then, there’s integrity. This shines through in the way Jenson supports his teammates, the way he competes, and the way he reflects on his performance. It’s in how he holds himself accountable, both when he wins and when he feels he falls short. But most importantly, it’s in the way he understands that being part of a team means every single member contributes to the final outcome. When they climbed onto that podium for second place, it was a shared victory—something bigger than any individual performance.
Standing by the side of the pool, cheering him on, were his parents, myself, and Miss Burns. We couldn’t have been prouder. To witness Jenson push himself, to see him give everything he had for his team—that’s what sportsmanship and teamwork are all about. His parents beamed with pride, sharing in every moment, knowing that the courage and integrity they see in him each day were on full display.
So, while Jenson might feel that he fell short of his own expectations, to us, it was a massive triumph. Not because of a second-place finish, but because of the heart, the spirit, and the unwavering determination he showed. In a sport that’s often focused on individual results, Jenson reminded us all that it’s the collective effort and the character we build that matter most. That’s something no medal can measure.
Crew KBA have been working hard in sessions and it has been great to drop in and see so many students creating beautiful work and giving brilliant suggestions to discussions. Here are just a few examples that I managed to capture.
I look forward to seeing parents and carers during the SLC’s (student led conferences) 7th October (I have sent a sign up link in an email). This is an opportunity to see how students are settling in and for them to discuss their habits of work and learning.
Crew Caldwell had a fantastic start to year 9- we focused on answering the guiding question ‘how can I show kindness to myself and my community and have a positive impact?’ We participated in some great activities, we created hampers for our local care homes, had a walk around lakeside and ended with fieldwork in Flamborough.
Crew Darling has kicked off Year 10 in style, showing true XP values!
Our first week was packed with team-building activities, including a blindfold challenge that tested trust and courage (well done Junior for leading Crew to safety!), and winning the Egg Drop, proving their craftsmanship and teamwork are ready for the year ahead!
During a micro-adventure around Doncaster, Crew spread kindness, delivering flowers to strangers, including staff at Sue Ryder and Cancer Research, who helped them collect antiques and a mascot. A huge thank you to the people of Doncaster for supporting and embracing our acts of kindness.
Back in school, we listened to expert speakers (XP Alumni) around careers, getting to grips with options for the future! We continued to spread Kindness around school and act as stewards of our community!
Crew Darling has started a scrapbook to capture these memories and achievements, and there’s plenty more to come! Most importantly, we had a fantastic week rebuilding Crew and the bonds which will support us through our GCSEs!
Watch this space for more awesomeness from Crew Darling!
We had a great week on Outward Bound. Everyone in the crew tried something new and was challenged to show courage. The week began with a quick plunge into Ullswater which certainly woke us all up after a long coach journey! The challenges continued with gorge walking, waterfall climbing and a lengthy hike up Hallin Fell. Pupils were very tired, with many even asking for an earlier bedtime so they could get some much needed rest.
One of the most memorable experiences was the overnight camp. Pupils set up their shelters at the lakeside, hunkering down in their sleeping bags until it was time to wake up and enjoy the sunrise over the water. The ration packs were surprisingly tasty, with macaroni cheese and full English breakfast gaining rave reviews.
Although everyone was pleased to get home and enjoy the comforts of their own beds, we had a wonderful time getting to know each other.
Check out one of our students’ latest beautiful Expedition products, featuring powerful folk songs created by Year 7 at XP Gateshead, inspired by the rich mining heritage of North-East England. From performing mining-related songs to studying historical events and visiting Beamish Museum, our students have captured the essence of the miners’ stories.
