This week during tutor time Year 7 have looked at the positive impact that nature can have on well-being, how the UK Government Election and voting system works and discussed PRIDE and what it means. We are focusing strongly on attendance this half term as well with each tutor set competing weekly for the attendance cup. The tutor set with the highest attendance each week receives credits then at the end of term the tutor set with the highest overall attendance for the half term receives a tutor set breakfast.
Sports day is on the horizon and we have had lots of questions about the organisation. The PE department will send out more information to tutors in the coming weeks with how students can get involved.
With the hot weather we still also expect high uniform standards and Year 7 according to the pastoral team are the smartest year group in school so we are really proud of them. Remember to pack a water bottle to stay hydrated.
Support link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/sex-relationships/healthy-relationships/
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 for another great week. This week Year 8 students have achieved 2337 positive points. This week in English and Maths, students have sat assessments. Students have shown determination and a positive attitude to learning when completing their assessments. This has provided students with the opportunity to apply their subject knowledge and also practice working in FIT time under exam conditions. This week has also seen some of our Year 8 students deliver a languages lesson in our local primary schools. Students have been working hard planning a lesson to deliver to a primary school class. The lessons have covered a range of topics including introductions, food, school subjects, hobbies/interests, numbers and animals. Well done to all students involved in the language’s lessons, we have been so impressed with the courage shown by all students when delivering the lessons. Students have also shown great confidence with their speaking skills which has been great to see. We have more languages visits over the next few weeks, well done to all students involved and thank you to the MFL department for supporting our Year 8 students with this.
This week our Personal Development Curriculum has focused on developing knowledge and understanding of managing money and how to effectively budget. Our Wellbeing Wednesday focus this week was on the benefits of therapeutic landscapes. Students discussed how nature can impact on wellbeing and shared places which make them feel positive. We continue to run our inter-tutor set competition and this week 8.5, 8.8 and 8.6 were in joint first place with 96% attendance as a tutor group, well done! The scores will be added up next week and the tutor group with the highest score so far will have a tutor group breakfast.
It is also great to share some sporting success this week. Well done to Ben (8.10) who has been ranked as Number 1 in Great Britain for his age group in Breaststroke. Ben swam at Ponds Forge on Sunday for his swim club where he achieved his fastest time in the last 12 months, putting him at the number 1 spot! He also won 4 golds, one silver and a bronze at the meet! Well done Ben! Many of our Year 8 students also competed in an athletics fixture at Nottingham High School this week. Well done to the boy’s team who finished in 1st place and the girl’s team who finished in 3rd place. We have a Year 8 Girls Cricket fixture next week and any students who are wishing to take part can speak to their PE teacher.
Next week Year 8 students will see a change to the times of their break and lunch time. As we prepare students for Year 9, we will be having our break and lunch time during the later break and lunch. Students will still follow their same timetabled lessons and they are aware of this change from Monday 27 June 2022.
Well done Year 8. Keep up the fantastic work!
Support Link: https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/
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
This week, we were blown away by Year 9s work with Mrs Gray in Fashion and Textiles. Students designed and created a paper dress from scratch on a mannequin and, as you can see, the results are truly impressive!
This is a lovely way to remind ourselves of the importance of creativity, something the school will be celebrating on our 'Dare to Create' day on Wednesday 6th July 2022.
Amongst lots of other things, students will have the opportunity to design their own bunting, which will be put together to create a school-wide display.
In addition to this, we are really excited to have celebrated school Pride this week, with face painting and a parade. Year 9 are proud to celebrate diversity and hope the students thoroughly enjoyed their day.
Support Link: https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/
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
Year 10 have been excellent this week, settling in to their assessments and working hard throughout this period. With one more week to go please could we ask that you go through the assessment timetable for next week so that they are fully prepared for Monday.
A huge thank you for all of the support given to the year group in arranging their work experience, along with the huge effort that Mrs Farmer and her team have put in to coordinating this. For those students who are not out on work experience, there will be a full timetable for them to access in school that week.
Head of Year 10: Miss L Hughes
WOW - we've made it to the final exams. Both Miss Gordon and I are beaming with pride and will ensure that both Celebration Day and Prom are fantastic opportunities for us to enjoy a last farewell with Year 11. Over the last five years we have seen the students work tirelessly and we must recognise the additional pressures of a tricky exam season following the pandemic. The class of 2022 have taken this all in their stride and now can enjoy the best summer!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the students for their dedication and for always making our days end with a smile. It has been a joy to work alongside such an ambitious cohort and we wish them all the very best.
Before Year 11 disappear for a great summer we want to remind everyone of the exciting days ahead. Please find further detail below - we can't wait to celebrate with you!
Year 11 Celebration Day - Friday 24th June.
We are incredibly excited to celebrate with Year 11 on their Celebration Day. They have shown incredible resilience and hard work throughout the last five years, and we can't wait to see them have a great day together. In true Toot Hill tradition fancy dress is encouraged.
8:25 – 8:45 = Students to arrive and walk to tutor set in the languages block for registration
8:45 – 9:15 = Celebration Day breakfast in the Canteen
9:15 – 9:30 = Students head to the Concert Hall
9:30 – 10:30 = First Half of the Celebration Assembly
10:30 – 11:00 = Break
11:10 – 12:10 = Second Half of the Celebration Assembly
12:10 – 12:45 = Students to walk to the bus park. Ice cream and photo opportunities.
12:45 = Students depart from Toot Hill School
Year 11 Prom - Friday 1st July.
The event of the year! Students can arrive from 6 o'clock, drinks and photo opportunities will be ready on arrival. Then we'll have many more surprises throughout the evening. Not forgetting the famous awards.
Arena UK, Allington Lane, Grantham, NG32 2EF
Year 11 Pastoral Lead: Miss B Marshall Year 11 Achievement Leader: Miss P Gordon
Today, 79 Year 9 pupils are heading out on their Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition. This means that 160 Year 9's will have completed their Bronze DofE award this year - sincere congratulations to you all! Everyone should now be focussed on completing their skill, physical and volunteering activities and asking their assessor for an assessor's report. In other news, with the Silver Training expedition only 3 weeks away, Year 10 participants are busy preparing, ensuring they have suitable kit and enough high energy flood.
Our DofE researcher Lucy W (10.10) has again been out interviewing students, and this week we hear from Year 10 Silver participant Jess H.
What made you do silver DofE?
I loved doing my bronze and I'd love to continue all the way to Silver as it is a great experience and useful for the future.
Would you recommend Silver to a Bronze DofE student?
Yes, I would definitely recommend it; it is a longer process but definitely just as fun and the expedition length is much longer and in the Peak District!
What activities are you doing?
For my volunteering I am helping out at Lowdham Primary school with the after-school sport clubs. For my Skill I have taken up crotchet and I am making tops and jumpers at the moment! And for my physical I am doing netball at Bingham Bullets Netball Club.
Dates for Your Diary
Friday 24th - Saturday 25th June 2022: Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition Option 2
Friday 24th June 2022: Deadline for the penultimate Silver DofE Payment
Friday 15th - Saturday 16th July: Silver Practice Expedition
Autumn 2022: The launch of Bronze DofE for the new Year 9s, Silver DofE for the new Year 10s and Gold DofE for Toot Hill College students
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