The Senior Department are truly in the festive spirit, and are hugely excited for tomorrow’s Christmas Fair! We look forward to seeing you at the (cash only) Year 7 and 8 stalls tomorrow, and for you to see their wonderful Diploma businesses in action, all in the name of charity. Which team will make the most profit? Who will win the Independence, Integrity and Inspiration prizes? Our enthusiastic Year 6s are looking forward to kick-starting their Diploma by volunteering their time, too; come and say hello to them on the FOEG stalls! We look forward to seeing you there.
What a pleasure it was to watch the Year 3-4 Aladdin dress rehearsal this week! The Senior pupils loved watching the younger ones take to the stage. Harry R, Year 7, said afterwards, ”The two brothers, Wishy and Washy, were just so funny, and really enthusiastic!”
I would like to take this opportunity to highly commend two Year 8s – House Captain, Sami and Head Boy, Ayaan – who volunteered their evening to hand out programmes and greet parents on the door as part of their Diploma. What a wonderful example of a School community in action.
Christmas festivity aside, here is what the Seniors have been up to in lessons this week…
English
An intrinsic facet of the study of English is finding your own voice as a writer and speaker. Year 7 are currently in the midst of crafting their own original poems on the theme of Culture and Identity.
We have immersed ourselves in the work of poets modern and traditional: Zephaniah, Angelou, Ernest Henley, Adcock, Agard and Goodfellow, and now Year 7 pupils are considering the message that they would like to share in their work to be performed In the Library on December 11th. Mr Balfour, an English graduate himself, will be judging the recital, and parents and family are warmly invited.
Please complete the form here to confirm your attendance.
This week, Year 6 have finished Philip Pullman’s engaging novella, Clockwork. Now the story is all wound up, they are revisiting the features of journalistic writing and each authoring a news report from Glockenheim on the mysterious events that have unfolded in the small German town. Will they report on the sudden death of the young apprentice Karl; the strange appearance and disappearance of the sinister Dr Kalmenius; or the alarming discovery of children in the mechanism of the town’s famous clock? This is the final assessed piece of writing this term.
Year 8 have continued their study of Hill’s ‘Woman in Black’, and, as protagonist Kipps found himself alone on the unnerving causeway, pupils have paid careful attention to the expertly crafted build up of fear and suspense. Year 8 found Hill’s use of subordinate clauses and complex sentence structure to be particularly effective, and they have composed their own pieces in her atmospheric style.
PSHE
This week in PSHE, all Senior Department pupils engaged in a crucial lesson about online safety, specifically focusing on responsible usage of social media platforms. The objective was to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the dynamic and sometimes challenging landscape of social media while prioritising their safety and well-being.
In Year 8, pupils explored the integration of technology into daily life and the potential threats that come with it. They examined various cyber threats such as phishing, malware, and identity theft, fostering an understanding of the need for vigilant and responsible online behaviour. The lesson focused on government guidelines for online safety, with pupils learning about specific regulations and laws governing digital interactions, including discussions on data protection, privacy laws, and consequences for online harassment.
The discussion then transitioned to potential risks associated with social media use, such as cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and exposure to inappropriate content. Pupils were provided with practical strategies for managing their online presence, securing privacy settings, and responding effectively to instances of cyberbullying. Emphasis was placed on fostering a positive digital environment and treating online interactions with the same respect as face-to-face communication.
In Year 7, pupils examined their online presence in relation to employability as part of their ‘Living in the Wider World’ PSHE topic. They reflected upon the message they want to convey to future employers and what to include or exclude in their social media profiles. Pupils were guided through an exploration of various popular social media platforms, emphasising the need for critical thinking and discernment when engaging with online content.
Design & Technology
Year 1 visit to the D&T workshop
This week, Year 1Wy visited the D&T workshop to see and understand what happens in D&T in the middle and senior department. The Year 7s did a fantastic job at demonstrating and talking about different tools, machines and materials that are used in the workshop. The pupils were shown the pillar drill, belt sander, scroll saws, coping saw, plywood, acrylic and 3D printers. All the Year 1s listened attentively and even got to have a go at using some of the tools! All the pupils were buzzing from the experience and are really looking forward to visiting again soon!
D&T club – D&T/Environment project
Pupils have been busy planning and designing their D&T/Environment projects as part of the Edge Grove Diploma. They have thought of very creative ideas that can help improve the school community and environment. These include a bird hotel, flower bed shaped as a flower, nature feeder, compost bins and a squirrel B&B! The pupils have started to make card models to help them visualise the product in 3D and identify any problems before they officially start making the projects in the Spring Term.
