As we approach the last week of the half term, we wanted to acknowledge how fantastic the year group have returned to school after the Easter break and what an excellent start they have had to the summer term. We are really proud of the maturity, resilience and determination that has been consistently demonstrated by so many of our students during what is now the final part of Year 7.
Throughout this half term it has given us great joy to see the year group in their lessons, engaging and learning in the classroom, as well as socialising with their friends at lunch time and catching up with their teachers. So many of them have grown into responsible young adults this year and we cannot believe they are only a half term away from the end of Year 7. We are confident that students will continue their hard work and positive attitudes and we also look forward to new exciting experiences together such as sports day and many more extracurricular activities. Year 7 are already a force to be reckoned with in the sporting field.
Students took part in both cricket, football, golf and athletic tournaments over the last few weeks. Below you can see a picture of our athletic champions, from left to right: Harry S, Ben M, Joseph N, James S, after a very fun and successful sunny day!
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Miss Barker for her care, support and kindness since September and we wish her all the luck in the world as she starts maternity on Friday 26th May. Miss Gale will be our new acting Assistant Head of Year. Miss Gale is currently the tutor for 7.10 and will continue to support them closely whilst also overseeing the year team. Next week we will all make sure we celebrate both exciting updates, alongside student achievements, during our much-anticipated Achievement Assemblies.
A huge well done as always!
Head of Year 7: Miss B Marshall
Assistant Heads of Year 7: Miss H Barker & Miss O Gale
Tutor time this week has been exceptionally busy. As well as all of our normal activities like Wellbeing Wednesday and reading on Thursday we started to celebrate some of our attendance successes from this half term and the academic year as a whole. Many congratulations to all of those students who celebrated 100% attendance since September!
Well done to Year 8 boys cricket team who beat Nottingham High School by eight runs to progress to the city semi-finals. The athletics teams have also been really busy with a tournament last week in Newark and this week at Harvey Hadden.
Thanks to all families that have paid their first instalments for the Walesby trip, the activities are being finalised with the centre so we can publish a kit list for students attending.
Please can all students make sure they have their planner every day.
Head of Year 8: Mr D Mordue
Assistant Head of Year 8: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 9, a positive week with 3,100 positive points achieved this week. This week during our personal development curriculum, we have covered a range topics. During tutor time students have discussed the importance of exercise in supporting our mental health. Students also completed a tutor reading task on Thursday and our motivational Monday focused on positive points and attendance. All students should be aware of their current attendance and positive points and we encourage students to continue to check Class Charts for the positive points! Our personal Development Period focused on ‘Fake News’ this week. Students completed a range of tasks where they learnt how to identify ‘Fake News’.
In lessons we continue to be pleased with student’s engagement and contributions in lessons. We have enjoyed looking through students exercise books this week and have been pleased with the care which is taken when completing written work in books. In science students have focused on ‘energy’ and have been completing calculations for energy efficiency. Students have also enjoyed completing practical experiments in Science this week. In Food technology, students have completed a ‘Ready steady Cook’ challenge. We were really impressed with the results!
In our Assembly this week we shared positive feedback which has been sent about the Year 9 Computing groups. It was fantastic to read feedback which shared how well the Year 9 students had completed the ‘Lightning Talk’ presentations, showing confidence, respect and maturity. Well done!
On Friday, we enjoyed celebrating our achievements this week. It’s great to see so many students achieving our awards each week. Well done to the students who were recognised this week:
Attendance Prize Draw:
Positive Points:
Bronze Award (400 Points):
Silver Award (600 Points):
Gold Award (800 Points):
A massive well done to the Year 9 students who represented school at the Athletics competition this week. Next week we have Cricket Fixtures with more Year 9 students representing school. Students have also been invited to compete in the staff/student Badminton tournament on Thursday 25th May. It’s been great to see so many students signing up for this!
Well done Year 9, keep up the great work!
Head of Year 9: Miss I Sheldon
Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss A Lloyd
During active tutoring this week, Year 10 began to think about how to prepare and revise for their end of year assessments during the final two weeks of June. On Wednesday morning we discovered the benefits of good sleep and how that links to a positive mindset for revision and assessments themselves. This was swiftly followed by a TEAMs assembly on Thursday from Miss Thomas about setting the conditions for revision, the importance of 'good focus' and how we can achieve this at home. More information regarding the format of the assessment fortnight and revision checklists will be shared next week.
Star student credits are awarded to those who go above and beyond in the lesson and the following students received the most this half term: Damon L, Keeson W and Chloe W. Well done! Also, we now have our first Gold Award winner in Year 10 - Evie B in 10.3 has now achieved over 800 Pride Points since September which is a fantastic achievement. We have many Silver Award winners with over 600 credits, but a special mention to Emma P, Beth H, Eva H, Faye N, Chloe C, Kingsley T, Kyle I, Niamh OB, Sydney C and Sophie L for being the next top 10 students in Year 10.
With the deadline looming quickly and an opportunity to use half term to secure a placement, please continue to support your child with their Work Experience and contact Mrs Farmer (ffarmer@toothillschool.co.uk) or your child's tutor for additional support.
Head of Year 10: Mrs L Munro
Assistant Head of Year 10: Miss C Thomas
We are so pleased with Year 11 students who have had a very busy week, where for many of them, they have sat their first examination. As we continue into week two, students have been given the key dates for their extended sessions in English Maths and Science, the dates of which are below:
•English - Tuesday 23rd May P6 and 7 before your English Literature exams
•Maths - Thursday 18th May P6 and P7, Tuesday 6th June P6 and P7, Tuesday 13th June P6 and P7 before your Maths exams.
•Science - Friday 19th May P3 and P4, Wednesday 24th May P6 and P7, Thursday 8th June P6 and P7, Monday 12th June P6 and P7, Thursday 15th June P6 and P7
As the year group are missing some of their tutor set sessions due to exams currently, we want to remind them and their families that tutors are still here to support, and should any of you have any worries or concerns, then please make sure you contact their tutor straight away so we can help.
Head of Year 11: Miss L Hughes
Year 11 Achievement Leader: Mr R Wickens
News this Week - Gold residential update from Toot Hill College Students Phoebe L and Amber C
For Gold DofE, participants undertake a residential experience alongside their skill, physical, volunteering and expedition activities. For their residential trip, Phoebe L and Amber C are travelling to Costa Rica. They've written a short report of what they will be up to:
We are volunteering at an animal and wildlife centre in Costa Rica to help look after many different animals, specifically turtles, birds, sloths and monkeys. The reserve in which we are staying in is named ‘Reserva Playa Tortuga’, which is also a research centre. We will be collecting data to aid their work during the day and also completing surveys at night. We are doing it for our Gold DofE residential section, and we believe it will improve our communication skills, teamwork and independence as we are travelling alone. DofE is a great opportunity to build your confidence. The residential section in particular allows you to branch out and pursue and develop your own interests by doing something that benefits you and the community.
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