This week in tutor set Year 7 have looked at Ramadan and the celebrations around Eid whilst also discussing Christianity through the music of Stormzy. Importantly with summer just around the corner tutors also covered the topic of ‘Safety in the Sun.’
There is a Year 7 boys dodgeball tournament next week to be held at East Leake and letters have gone out to those students selected, we are sure it will be as successful as the mixed athletics event that students participated in last week at the Lee Westwood Sports Centre.
Year 7 loved having another author visit to the Learning Lounge. Mark Ballabon author of ‘Home: My Life in the Universe’ came to talk about his life as an author and copies of his book were on sale. We are so proud of the uptake from Year 7 in using the Learning Lounge.
In RSHE lessons next week, Year 7 students will develop their understanding of safe relationships.
Support link: https://nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/resources/for-parents-and-carers/#preventingchildsexualabuse
Visit the NSPCC for support with talking about difficult topics: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/talking-about-difficult-topics/
Head of Year 7: Mr D Mordue Assistant Head of Year 7: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 8, another fantastic week. Year 8 have achieved 1903 positive points this week for their hard work and engagement in lessons. Year 8 students have been focused and engaged in lessons and it has been great to visit lessons and see some of the fantastic work which is being produced. In Philosophy and Ethics, students have completed a group work task focused on Christianity. Students worked well in small groups, where they had to read key information and select the most important piece of information in the text. In languages students have completed assessments in FIT time. Students completed a writing assessment where they described what they do to keep fit. Students were asked to include key vocabulary which they have studies this half term and apply this to their written work. It has also been great to listen to students speaking skills when visiting languages lessons. Students worked in partners to practice their speaking skills, where they were able to include some complex vocabulary! In PE students are enjoying many summer sports, including volleyball and ultimate frisbee. On Thursday morning, 8H enjoyed applying their ultimate frisbee skills to mini-games. Students have shown determination when being introduced to this sport and have persevered with many challenging skills. We are again pleased with the work in Geography, and students have been focusing on plant and animal adaptions to living in the desert. Well done!
Some of our Year 8 students also enjoyed a visit from an author, Mark Ballabon, this week. Students visited the Learning Lounge during their P7E lesson where they listened to the talk by Mark Ballabon who has written ‘Home: My Life In The Universe’.
During our Personal Development Curriculum this week we have discussed many topics including the religion, Hindu and Diwali. Students have also discussed topics relating to their Mental Wellbeing and how we can look after our own Mental Wellbeing. We had our year group assembly in the Concert Hall on Thursday morning. We have been impressed with the standards in assembly and it is good to have the year group together for our assembly each week. Our assembly this week was focused on attendance and mental wellbeing where we shared many ‘self-help’ strategies which we can use to support with our mental health. Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week and our assembly will focus on the support available to students and how we can help with mental wellbeing.
Finally, it has been great to see students enjoying the field at lunch time. We praised students, in assembly, for picking up litter at the end of lunch time and again it is great to see students taking responsibility for this and taking care of our school environment. Well done Year 8!
Another excellent week Year 8, keep up the great work!
In RSHE lessons next week, Year 8 students will develop their understanding of child sexual exploitation.
Support Link: https://nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/resources/for-parents-and-carers/#preventingchildsexualabuse
Visit the NSPCC for support with talking about difficult topics: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/talking-about-difficult-topics/
Year 8: Miss I Sheldon
We were thrilled and also slightly jealous of the incredible work our Year 9s have been producing in Food Tech. Students have been focussing on presenting a dish and, as the photos of some delicious looking teacakes below demonstrate, this was very successful indeed. Thank you to Mrs Sharp and all the department for facilitating these exciting lessons.
Furthermore, Year 9 have impressed this week with overall attendance having improved from last week. It is great to see the students engaging with the importance of regular and punctual school attendance, and taking on board the information found in their planners regarding the effect of this on their studies.
In RSHE lessons next week, Year 9 students will develop their understanding of child criminal exploitation.
In RSHE lessons next week, Year 9 students will develop their understanding of child sexual exploitation.
Support Link: https://nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/resources/for-parents-and-carers/#preventingchildsexualabuse
Visit the NSPCC for support with talking about difficult topics: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/talking-about-difficult-topics/
Head of Year 9: Mrs L Munro Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss C Thomas
Yesterday, our amazing Year 10 Scholars celebrated their fantastic results with a celebration breakfast. Each of these students achieved at least a 2:1 on an academic project on plastics. During the process, students developed skills in researching from reliable resources, accessed academic texts, and also produced a 2000-word academic report on the topic. A huge feat for anyone.
We are still working hard with all of our Year 10 students who are yet to finalise a Work Experience placement. We will be writing to parents of students who are yet to inform us of their arrangement for Work Experience week beginning Monday 18 July 2021. All Year 10 students are expected to be on Work Experience that week.
Today and on Monday, our Year 10 students will be completing a Student Voice questioning during tutor set so that we can ensure all their voices are heard in how our school operates. I look forward to reading their responses and working closely with the student ambassadors on this.
Head of Year 10: Mr R Wickens Achievement Coordinator: Mrs C Hallam
Year 11 have continued to impress in their lessons this week. They have engaged in a variety of exam skill sessions and many students have also completed their final pieces in Art whilst under this pressure. Many students displayed maturity, confidence and a good understanding of the intricate details needed for the English language paper. This is paramount when preparing for the upcoming exams. Students must all actively find their English teacher if they feel they need some additional support with their English language paper. We are all here to support.
During tutor time, Year 11 have focused on promoting positive mindsets across the year group whilst also ensuring that we are talking openly about stress levels. It has been great to see a number of Year 11s engaging in the stress workshop sessions over the past few weeks – we are confident that this will make a huge difference. Year 11 must continue to focus on building their revision timetables and make sure that they factor in down time too. We have been incredibly proud to see most students actively preparing themselves for the upcoming exams. Next week is the final full week of lessons, so students must continue to engage, ask questions and attend as many Extended Study sessions as possible.
We hope you have a restful weekend and please remember that we are all here to help - if you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Year 11 Pastoral Lead: Miss B Marshall Year 11 Achievement Leader: Miss P Gordon
Students were treated to a FREE author event with Mark Ballabon to talk about his book HOME: My Life In The Universe on Tuesday 3 May. Mark is a Philosopher and this is his debut YA novel. One of the activities involved Mark analysing how they wrote their name and students were able to purchase copies of the book and have it signed by the author.
DofE Stars of the Week
Congratulations to Ruby W who has now uploaded ALL her activities to eDofE! As most students have now uploaded all their activities to eDofE, I want to recognize Bret RY and Amy R who have already finished their first activity and uploaded their assessor's report to eDofE - well done! Please can I remind all parents that you child is likely to be finishing their first activity soon and that they may appreciate you guiding them through the process of obtaining an assessor's report and uploading it to eDofE. It is possible to use the 'assessor report card' which is contained inside the DofE Welcome Pack. Digital copies can be downloaded https://www.dofe.org/run/welcomepacks/. Alternatively, you can ask your assessor to complete an electronic assessor report https://www.dofe.org/assessor/ . Either of these methods is fine – it is up to you.
Who's Been Up To What This Week?
Not a week passes without our DofE pupils involving themselves in some amazing skill, physical and volunteering activities. Molly P, Nathan S, Alife E, Freya J, Amelia E have all been busy cooking and baking. Look at these magnificent creations! Well done everyone - keep up the great work!
Summer 2022 Expeditions
Letters containing all information regarding the expeditions taking place this summer will soon be distributed. Can I please remind all parents that payment for these expeditions is due via ScoPay on Friday 27th May (Year 9 Bronzes) and Friday 24th June (Year 10 Silvers). Thank you.
FAQ's – see www.toothillschool.co.uk/dofe
Mr Tinsley
mtinsley@toothillschool.co.uk
If you are thinking about getting into primary or secondary teaching, Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT (NTS) could be for you.
At NTS, we are committed to making a difference to young people’s lives. As a teacher, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the best education for children and young people, maximising their opportunities for great life choices and well-being.
As a School Centred Initial Teacher Training provider, we are your teachers, enabling you to realise your potential and use it to change lives through excellent education.
As part of Nova Education Trust, we can offer you the chance to train in an excellent variety of city and county schools across the East Midlands. As a trainee with the NTS, you will have access to everything that our trust and SCITT’s expertise and resource can offer you in the earliest stages of your career, as well as potential pathways for the rest of your teaching career.
We work closely with the University of Nottingham to ensure our trainees achieve QTS, PGCE and be rewarded with 60 Masters credits.
Subject to application and interview, you could also get the chance to teach in Europe as part of the Teaching Together in Europe programme – a five-week teaching placement in Brussels, Rome or Prague.
You will experience exceptional levels of support both within NTS and within placement schools. As part of the programme enrolment, all trainees will receive additional benefits such as Westfield Health care, Chartered College of Teaching membership and career support.
The Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT pathway offers an unrivalled package of support and professional development to all trainees that we have called ‘The Big Seven’. It’s your passport to a societally vital, influential and highly rewarding career.
To find out more about Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT, visit our website:
www.teachnottinghamshire.co.uk
Toot Hill School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT