Newsletters

GHS Connect #38 Monday 19 July

From the Head

I’m looking forward to celebrating with everyone, albeit virtually, on Wednesday, as we say our final farewells to those who are leaving and finally put this year to bed! I will say more on Wednesday, but thank you all so much for such incredible dedication and hard work, in what I think has honestly been the hardest year ever, certainly in my 20 years in education. It has felt beyond impossible at times, but as usual, we have worked together and in having a common aim to do the very best for our students, we have yet again managed some real successes in spite of all of the challenges.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful break.

Mia

Learning and Teaching

Spotted!

More great examples of teachers keeping up really high expectations with their students all the way to the end of term, making sure no potential learning moment is wasted!
 
> Joe Wilcox creating a Do-Now that is self-differentiated. He has built this into his classroom routines so students come in and know what to do. As they can choose a task that is accessible, it means that there’s no low-level poor behaviour:

> Chloe Altman using the racism in football incident on social media to inspire her year 9s to write a letter to MP Oliver Dowden about the Online Safety Bill.

> Abbey Allen ensuring that students really understood the key vocabulary of the lesson-the word sacrament-before delving deeper into the topic. 

> Ben Dupres building students’ knowledge of countries with a fun online quiz

> Johnny Edmondson projecting a  warm and friendly manner to students- meaning he’s already built a positive relationship with the class for next year.

> Andrea Hetherington taking the time to support a vulnerable student who fears tests. Andrea gave the student time, choices and and reduced what was expected. The student eventually made the right choice and sat the test.

Learning and Teaching: displays

Great displays keep popping up all around the school.  Thank you for the huge efforts people are making with these to make the learning environment stimulating and to ensure key messages are displayed across the school. We only have a few days left on this so please make sure they are completed (or passed to Daisy and her team)  before we finish for the summer. 

Inclusion & Pastoral

Well, we made it. As I write my last bit for GHS Connect this year, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for your Inclusion and Pastoral work and support in the most extraordinary circumstances. 

There a handful of things to keep in mind this week as we get through these last 2 and a bit days:

1) Year 7 and 8 SMHW sessions - staff affected by this have been emailed but just to let you know that Years 7 and 8 will be having some sign up sessions when they are not taking part in Sports Day;

2) SMHW staff - please sign up! Last few to go...

3) Assemblies - thank you to everyone for your support with the assemblies last week. I hope that students have taken on board the message from those assemblies and continue to embrace diversity;

4) Support for students over the holidays - this week’s Virtual Tutor is all about what they can do to help themselves if they are struggling over the holidays at all.

Have a brilliant, brilliant summer everyone! See you in September.

Lou Grimley