Another 4-day busy week for Year 7!
In lessons students have been very busy, especially in Geography where groups of students are exploring every corner of the school site investigating microclimates. In Maths Year 7 are problem solving and drawing pie charts. In Food Tech students have made chicken couscous salad this week, building on the skills learnt with making the fruit creations with the added complexity of preparing raw meat. Mrs White encourages all students to help out with the chopping and washing up at home- please let us know if you get any willing helping hands at home in the kitchen!
In sports, Year 7 have been incredibly busy with athletics, football, netball, and dodgeball fixtures. We have a very active and sporty year group who proudly represent the school across a wide variety of sports. A big well done to the Year 7 boys who beat Arnold Hill 2-1 to reach the Final of the South Notts Cup. Final date TBC. A special mention to Millie F who scored her first Toot Hill goal last week in the girl's football fixture- well done! We also had TWO girls’ teams playing which is fantastic to see the girls representing us so positively in inter-school sports!
On Tuesday a group of students enjoyed a special celebration breakfast in the Learning Lounge. They have been participating in a paired reading scheme throughout Year 7 with older students from Toot Hill College. A big well done to our students, and a HUGE thank you to the older students who have given their time to support our Year 7s in this reading scheme throughout the year, alongside their A-Level studies. Students enjoyed breakfast together and received two new books to get their teeth into at home. (See photos of the books handed out to students) Both of these stories have been chosen specifically by the fantastic team in the LL.
Despite the short week, many students have been getting plenty of credits under their belts, as they work towards their Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum badges. Our top tutor set for the week was Miss Gale's tutor set 7.10! Well done!
Have a great weekend!
Head of Year 7: Miss B Marshall
Assistant Head of Year 7: Miss H Barker
The sporting success continues for Year 8! It is with great pride that we report the Year 8 Hockey girls won the National state school 7 a side competition at Nottingham Hockey Club last Friday. The girls won the under 14 competition which is an amazing achievement and hopefully they will be able to defend the title next year in Year 9. The boys team finished third and played some brilliant teams throughout the day.
Both the boys and girls football teams reached the finals of their cup competitions as well. Both teams played on Wednesday and won their respective games 3-2. We look forward to publishing the dates of the finals as soon as possible.
On Thursday the PE department also took a huge athletics team to the English Schools event at the YMCA in Newark. Staff and students had a great day and largely missed the rain!
Please could we remind all students that whilst the field is open for football at lunch depending on the weather we expect sensible behaviour.
Head of Year 8: Mr D Mordue
Assistant Head of Year 8: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 9, 2368 positive points achieved this week! This week in Art students have been making 3D birds in response to their work on Catherine Wells and Alice in Wonderland. Students have bene using paper mâché and cut delicate feathers to create the overall look. They have also added refinement to their work using pen and coloured pencils. In PE, students who have opted to study Cambridge National Sports Studies and GCSE PE in Year 10, have been introduced to the practical aspects of the course. Students have started to complete units on the sports they will be assessed in next year, including Athletics and Cricket. The Thursday morning Cricket group have been practising their bowling and batting technique and it has been fantastic to see them applying this successfully to competitive games.
In tutor set, our Personal Development Curriculum has covered a range of topics this week. Students have had one morning focused on reading and one morning focused on Wellbeing where they discussed how sleep can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. During our Assembly on Thursday morning we discussed the importance of creating a good first impression. We continue to be pleased with how students conduct themselves in and around the school community and we spoke about how you can make a good impression and why this is important.
On Friday morning we enjoyed celebrating student achievements with Fab Friday. We have lots of students to recognise this week and it is great to see students achieving the awards each week. Some students now have several award badges on their blazers which is fantastic to see.
Well done to the following students who were included in Fab Friday this week:
Attendance Winners:
Bronze:
Silver:
Gold:
We are pleased to see students achieving the ‘Platinum Award’. The ‘Platinum Award’ is worth 1100 Positive Points. We are very proud of the Year 9 students who have achieved this award. Well done:
Platinum:
The next award is the Head Teacher’s award and this is worth 1500 Positive Points.
Finally, well done to the Year 9 students who represented school in the Athletics Competition on Thursday. There will be lots of opportunities to be involved in sports fixtures during the summer term with more athletics and cricket competitions over the next half term.
Well done Year 9, keep up the great work!
Head of Year 9: Miss I Sheldon
Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss A Lloyd
Despite the short week, Year 10 have been busy, especially those taking part in the practice expedition for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. It was lovely to join them on Tuesday evening at the campsite in Calverton. They had successfully navigated their route for the day and had set up camp and made dinner by the time I arrived. There was time to relax, play cards and a game of rounders before settling down for the evening. The weather did its usual British things with it swinging between bright sunshine and a thunderstorm! The students were undeterred though and very much looking forward to their final expedition next half term.
In Sociology students are continuing to make links between social class and educational achievement whereas in their Business lessons this week, Year 10 are starting new units on Training and Motivation - focusing on Human resources, recruiting and retaining staff which fits in well with their upcoming work experience. Please continue to support your child in securing their placement and complete the necessary paperwork. Any questions about this, please contact Mrs Farmer on ffarmer@toothillschool.co.uk.
Head of Year 10: Mrs L Munro
Assistant Head of Year 10: Miss C Thomas
We celebrate more sporting success this week with our Girls Football team winning the Nottinghamshire County Cup final 3-0 against Southwell Minster - an absolutely fantastic result for them for the second week running!
Our Art students have also worked incredibly hard completing their exam at the beginning of the week. With the majority of the exams starting on Monday all students must make sure that they have checked their warm up timetable and examination timetable.
If there are any concerns or queries then please contact your students tutor asap. We wish all of the students the best of luck over the next few weeks.
Head of Year 11: Miss L Hughes
Year 11 Achievement Leader: Mr R Wickens
News this Week - A Review of the Year 10 Silver DofE Practice Expedition by DofE Ambassador Niamh O
To start off the first day we were dropped off in Lowdham and about 10 o'clock we set off. It was a huge challenge on the first day as the route was full of muddy hills and it was rather rainy but, as soon as we got to the campsite, we all set up our tents, cooked our tea and went straight to bed!! On the second day we managed to stay mostly on route by practicing our navigation skills, and it was good because all the mud on our clothes and shoes had dried out in the warm sun! The next challenge is our Qualifying Expedition in Derbyshire in July.
Overall, it was very tiring and soggy, but it was even more rewarding and fun!
Photos of the Week - Volunteering
For the volunteering aspect of their DofE award, pupils have to spend one hour per week giving time to help people, the community or wider society. It must not be done for a business, but it can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organization. Erin has been looking after the horses at Pablo's Horse Sancturary in Long Clawson, Joshua L has been litter picking in his local community and Ben F has been working with the environment to help care for woodland throughout the changing seasons. Well done everyone!
Useful DofE Links
Click on the relevant link for Skill, Physical & Volunteering ideas, a DofE Activity Log or a DofE Assessor Report.
Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
FAQ's – see www.toothillschool.co.uk/dofe
Mr Tinsley
mtinsley@toothillschool.co.uk
Toot Hill School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT