A very busy final week for Year 7, as we end our fourth half term of the year so far. We have very much enjoyed the slightly warmer, brighter and dryer weather (especially in PE!) and with the clocks changing last weekend, the students are hopefully able to enjoy their lighter evenings.
We started the week with the excitement of the STEM Roadshow on Monday. This was a fantastic event and students listened intently and left engaged and inspired. A huge thank you to the staff who made this possible- especially Mr Walters!
Miss Barker visited a food technology lesson on Thursday and was so impressed by the skills shown by our Year 7s... Please see the photos of some of the fantastic meatballs created by our students.
In sports, the boys football team drew 0-0, but made it through to the semi-finals after winning on penalties, well done! The girls football team also participated in a tournament on Thursday in which they won one, drew one and lost one. A special mention to Daisy Sheppard who scored 2 goals! We also had students out on Thursday at a Sports Hall Athletics final! A very busy sporting week! Well done to all students who took part and who represented our school so proudly.
On Thursday and Friday, we celebrated our achievements for the half term with our 4th Achievement Assembly. Students were awarded prizes from their tutors, teachers and HOY for their kindness, their hard work, their number of credits and their attendance. It was fantastic, as always, to see the humility and kindness across the year group as they celebrated each other's successes.
Wishing all of Year 7 and their families a fantastic and restful Easter break, be safe and see you in two weeks.
Head of Year 7: Miss B Marshall
Assistant Head of Year 7: Miss H Barker
Every morning this week has been a celebration of all of the positives surrounding Year 8. Miss Jordan analysed data and spent hours creating a narrated power point for tutors which meant she could be in the year office to personally give out prizes and congratulate the dozens of students whose achievements were recognised. We had attendance prizes, top individual credit earners, top form class for credits, most star of the lessons, extended study awards and of course the HOY awards. The Bronze and Silver award badges for credits have gone down really well with pupils and are a brilliant addition to wear on blazers and it has been great to chat to pupils that have won awards.
This half term we say goodbye to Miss Gibbs who has been a phenomenal form tutor for 8.8 and a brilliant Art and Technology teacher, we would like to take this opportunity to wish her all the best for the future.
Remember first payment for Walesby was due Friday 31st March for those students who have confirmed their places and the trip to the Holocaust Centre in Newark is the first Tuesday back after Easter.
Head of Year 8: Mr D Mordue
Assistant Head of Year 8: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 9 for your continued hard work and determination this half term. This half term as a year group we have achieved 23,177 positive points! Well done Year 9.
This week our Personal Development Curriculum has focused on Attitude to Learning, Enrichment and also achievement awards. On Friday morning, students engaged in the Personal Development lesson, which was focused on bereavement and grief. Students showed maturity and empathy when discussing this topic. In lessons, students have continued to show high levels of engagement and the work we have seen in books continues to be of a high standard. Well done Year 9, keep this up!
We have enjoyed celebrating our half term achievements, this week, and we have recognised many students this week. Students who achieved 5+ Attitude to Learning and Home Learning Scores were recognised, along with students who have improved their scores from the 9.1 to 9.2 School Reports.
We also recognised students who achieved the most positive points this half term. Well done our top three credit earners:
Well done to Colton (9.6), Raine (9.6) and Zach (9.6) who all achieved 6 Stars of the Lesson this half term. Idina (9.5) was in third place for Extended Study, attending 5 sessions this half term. Well done to Isaac (9.1), who attended 6 sessions (2nd Place) and Chloe (9.3) who was in 1st place, attending 7 sessions!
Tutor nominations were also included in our achievement celebrations. Some of the comments which tutors shared about their tutees are below:
It is fantastic to read the nominations and well done to all students who were included in the tutor nominations.
Finally, a massive well done to our Bronze, Silver and Gold Award winners this week:
Bronze (400 Points):
Silver (600 Points):
Gold (800 Points):
We continue to be proud of the year group and it has been great to celebrate so many achievements this week. Thank you to parents and carers for your continued support. We wish our Year 9 students and their families a safe and enjoyable Easter break. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday 17th April.
Well done Year 9, have a great Easter break!
Head of Year 9: Miss I Sheldon
Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss A Lloyd
Visiting lessons this week has been wonderful; seeing students 'in action' and taking pride in their work and engaging in their studies.
In their Citizenship Studies lesson this week, Year 10 had high court room drama practising their cross-examination skills and learning how to avoid falling into the trap of leading questions. Well done to George P for his defence against Diva's passionate interrogation and for Josh WB determinedly rewording his relentless questioning of Miss Widdowson.
Catering lessons were also busy with students reflecting on their plates from the previous week and many students showed tremendous focus during their assessments in Science.
The highlight of the week was inevitably our Mock Interview Day on Wednesday. The excitement and nerves were palpable in the lead up to the day, with students keen to present their best selves on the day to the volunteer employers interviewing them throughout the day. We received lots of positive feedback including the following, "I just wanted to say again how impressed I was with the Year 10s yesterday – they were all smart, well-prepared and gave really good answers. I also thought it was nice that they all said something at the end such as thank you for your time or it was nice to meet you."
What a fantastic end of the term and my heart bursts with pride at how they approached this opportunity. Thank you too to our parents and carers for their part in supporting students in the lead up to the day.
Finally, we wish you a restful and wonderful Easter break and look forward to a refreshed and successful start to Term 3. Happy Easter from all of the Year 10 team!
Head of Year 10: Mrs L Munro
Assistant Head of Year 10: Miss C Thomas
We want to say a huge well done to Year 11 for another busy half term. They have worked so incredibly hard throughout their mocks and the weeks that have followed.
With the Easter break upon us, there are lots of available sessions for the Year 11 students to attend, and they have been given a copy of the Year 11 Easter sessions timetable so they can plan which sessions they would like to attend.
Following last week’s Information Evening, for those parents that could not attend, all students who missed this have been given a pack to take home for you.
We loved the opportunity to celebrate the success of the year group on Friday with their Achievement Assembly.
We hope that alongside revision, our year group have a well-deserved rest over the break, and we look forward to seeing them on their return.
Head of Year 11: Miss L Hughes
Year 11 Achievement Leader: Mr R Wickens
Years 10 and 11 Silver DofE Training Activities
On Friday and Saturday, the Year 10s will be undertaking their Silver DofE Training activities. The Year 11s will be completing their refresher training on Saturday. This training builds upon the practice which took place last summer and prepares them for qualifying in July. On each day all students must remember to bring waterproofs, warm layers, sturdy footwear, lunch, water and a day rucksack.
DofE Student Voice
This week one of our Year 10 DofE Ambassadors, Oliver C, has interviewed Tyler S, also from Year 10:
1. What are you doing for your DofE?
"I play football and basketball for my physical and skill. I help at Gunthorpe Primary School for my volunteering"
2. How often do you do these activities?
"I do football 3 times a week and basketball and volunteering once a week.
3. How are you finding it?
"I really like it. I think it's a great experience"
4. What have you liked about it most so far?
"I've liked interacting with the kids at Gunthorpe and developing my leadership skills"
5. Is there anything else you'd like to say about DofE?
"I am really enjoying DofE, I think everyone should be doing it"
Photos of the Week - Skill
Some great 'skill' activities are taking place this week! Kayla B has been singing, Isaac S has been performing violin with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra, Evie M has achieved a first aid qualification through St John's Ambulance, Phoebus C has been playing chess, Flora W has been painting, Niamh H has been practicing her textiles, creative arts, embroidery and crochet, and Phoebe L has been learning how to use photoshop and enhance her writing skills as part of her media and communications focus. 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