Well done Year 7 for another fantastic week. This week as a year group we have achieved 5245 positive points. Students are working incredibly hard in lessons, and we continue to receive very positive feedback from many class teachers.
Every Friday we celebrate our Year 7 achievements during our FAB Friday assembly. It really is a highlight of the week. Tutors, students and visitors all watch in awe when they hear students cheering, clapping and congratulating each other for their hard work, sporting achievements, acknowledgments of kindness...to name a few. This week we wanted to use the bulletin as an additional opportunity to showcase the incredible attitude to learning of the students below. Year 7 are collecting an unbelievable number of credits each week, but the stars below are aiming for the sky, and we couldn't be prouder.
The following students achieved the ‘Silver Award’ for reaching 600 positive points this year:
We are so proud and impressed with their focus, tenacity and approach to their studies!
We are also thrilled to announce that our first 'Gold Award' winner, who has achieved 800 points goes to...! Well done!!
As we head into the last week before half term, we are very proud of the successes Year 7 have made. At February half term we will be halfway through Year 7 and what a great 5 months it has been. Keep it up!
Head of Year 7: Miss B Marshall
Assistant Head of Year 7: Miss H Barker
This week Year 8 had a great start on Monday with a motivational form time from their tutor. Students should all be aware of their credits and attendance and looking towards the awards they can achieve. On Tuesday, there was a Teams assembly from Miss Jordan that linked features of the High Performance podcast by Jake Humphries and Professor Damian Hughes into the life of being a student. The assembly covered the themes of how an easy decision can make life harder and a hard decision can make life easier, we also understand that students can make mistakes and the assembly covered how important it is to try and not make the same mistake twice. Thursday was class reading morning and Friday there was a Teams assembly around the theme of LGBTQ.
It has been reading week and students have read for 10 minutes at the start of every lesson. Staff have found it a real pleasure to walk around and chat to students about the wide range of books they are reading with everything from The Art of War to Skuldeggery Pleasant and lots in between.
Remember next week is the final week of the half term and there is no Extended Study.
Head of Year 8: Mr D Mordue
Assistant Head of Year 8: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 9! Another 2930 positive points achieved this week for determination, resilience and commitment shown to learning. In English, students have been unpicking key poems where they have discussed an annotated key theme. Students have also completed an extended piece of writing where they have used key terms to describe how the poet suggests different relationships in the poem. In Computing, Year 9 students are currently study a topic, ‘Modelling Data’. Students have learnt how to use spreadsheets effectively including filtering and sorting a range of data. In History, students have been studying Migration and the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in England. We have seen examples of excellent work in History where students have used purple pen to reflect on a recent assessment.
During tutor time this week students have spent time discussing their Key Stage 4 Option Choices. Students have recorded key dates for the options process in their planners and we will continue to keep the year group updated with the Key Stage 4 Options process. Next week students will be attending their ‘Taster Sessions’ which will provide key information on each option subject, to help inform decisions for Key Stage 4. Students have also spent time discussing key themes around wellbeing and they have also focussed on reading on Thursday morning.
Well done to the following students who have been recognised for their hard work this week:
Positive Behaviour Points:
Attendance Prize Draw:
We continue to be impressed with the number of Year 9 students who are achieving the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. We will be sharing the names of students who have achieved these awards in our achievement update next week!
Finally, well done to the Year 9 students who took part in the UKMT Maths Challenge on Thursday morning!
Well done Year 9, keep up the great work!
Head of Year 9: Miss I Sheldon
Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss A Lloyd
Following an assembly from the Nottingham Forest Community Trust last week about the Think Big programme they are running in close partnership with Ideagen, the Trust ran several STEM focused workshops for Year 10 students under the supervision and support of Mr Walters. These workshops focused on topics such as the technology used during training and games to track footballer's movement and heart rate as well as the diversity of roles and apprenticeships available within Nottingham Forest Community Trust. Well done to Brandon, Damon, Angad, Lincoln, Charlie, Raffaele, Daniel, Jacob, Doo, Isaac, Silana, Finn, Kien, Oscar, Adam, Joe and Riley for representing our year group in these workshops.
Wednesday spelled the beginning of LGBTQ+ History Month with a whole school TEAMS assembly on Friday outlining what this month is for, the national themes for 2023 and ways we will invite students to celebrate it with us throughout the month. The first activity students can get involved in is the LGBTQ+ role models treasure hunt by spotting posters around school site to find out more about different individuals and their place in the LGBTQ+ community. The individuals we have chosen to focus on link nicely with the 2023 theme 'Behind the Lens' which celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film from behind the lens. At a time when LGBT+ lives are in the media we will encourage students to look ‘Behind the Lens’ and listen to LGBT+ peoples’ lived experiences.
Finally, a special mention to our sports teams that represented our school successfully in their matches this week; excellent sportsmanship and commitment displayed making Mr Law and Miss Hall (and myself!) extremely proud.
Head of Year 10: Mrs L Munro
Assistant Head of Year 10: Miss C Thomas
Year 11 have been completing their achievement interviews this week, alongside may of the year group attending the College interviews as well. The students have been excellent in these, demonstrating all of those qualities they have developed over the last five years. Students who would have had an appointment on 1st February, have had these rescheduled to next Wednesday 8th February.
Our girls football team won their match against Joseph Whittaker, and we look forward to celebrating their continued success.
Week beginning 6th February and 20th February are the next round of Year 11 mock assessments. Students have their timetable for w/b 6th February and will soon be provided with the timetable for w/b 20th February.
Head of Year 11: Miss L Hughes
Year 11 Achievement Leader: Mr R Wickens
Our DofE Ambassadors Niamh O, Ella L and Oliver C from Year 10 have been out interviewing students, and this week we hear from Year 10 Silver DofE candidate Lily G:
How was your DofE experience?
Very good, I found it easy to find and log my different activities and the expedition was fun.
What made it so fun?
The experience of camping with friends and being independent - e.g. carrying our own equipment and cooking our own food.
What were the main challenges?
The backpack was quite heavy, but that was to be expected.
Okay, and do you have any suggestions for the next expedition?
I would say make sure the equipment is spread out evenly so that no team members have to carry more than their fair share.
Photos of the Week - Volunteering Focus
Toot Hill students are taking part in a wide range of volunteering activities which aim to improve the lives of others in the community where they live. There are plenty of examples of students supporting the work of local sports clubs, primary schools and groups such as beavers, scouts and the armed cadet forces. Others have focussed on improving the local environment, in order to make it a better place for the community to enjoy. Emily G and Elliot P have been clearing up their local areas whilst Ben F has been caring for woodland, looking after trees and water features to benefit and encourage wildlife to the area.
Assessor's Reports
The quickest and easiest way to get an assessors report is to send this link to your child's assessor https://www.dofe.org/assessor/. As soon as I receive the report from the assessor, I can sign it off for your child.
Useful DofE Links
Click on the relevant link for Skill, Physical & Volunteering ideas, a DofE Activity Log or a DofE Assessor Report.
Dates for Your Diary
FAQ's – see www.toothillschool.co.uk/dofe
Mr Tinsley
mtinsley@toothillschool.co.uk
Our fabulous students have engaged enthusiastically with activities in the Learning Lounge during Reading and Storytelling Week, especially the book quizzes and making origami corner bookmarks. We have been pleased to see readers trying something new when they come in to borrow a book and our “blind date with a book” which will continue into next week has offered students the chance to step into the unknown and try a book they would never have usually picked up.
Next week, Jamie Russell author of the Skywake series will be in school. He will be doing writing workshops and book readings with groups from Year 7, then at break and lunch, Years 7 and Year 8 will have the chance to sign up to meet the author, get a book signed or take part in an activity he has planned.
Toot Hill School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT