Another busy and fantastic week for our Year 7 students, who are continuing to impress us with their sense of responsibility, kindness and hard work.
This week is our third week of our reading scheme in the Learning Lounge, in which Year 7 students have been invited to participate in a peered reading scheme with a student from our Sixth Form. This has been really positive so far, with students participating during Mondays and Wednesdays during tutor set. Year 7 have also been engaging really positively with their Year 7 book, While the Storm Rages by Phil Earle. Students are reading this during tutor set on Tuesday morning with their tutor and it is wonderful to see so many of Year 7 reading aloud and sharing ideas about the storyline as it unfolds week on week. We are looking forward to welcoming the author into school later on this year.
We would also like to say a HUGE well done, to the Year 7 girls football team for their incredible win (10-4!) in their first fixture.
On Friday this week, we had a special tutor set with a focus on Remembrance. It was brilliant to see some students come to school in their cadet uniform. Finally, I would like to remind of the upcoming Parents' Evenings for Year 7:
Wednesday 16th November (T and S)
Thursday 24th November (H band)
Have a great weekend!
Head of Year 7: Miss B Marshall
Assistant Head of Year 7: Miss H Barker
This week during tutor time Year 8 had an assembly from Dr Eardley on Monday covering expectations. Tuesday there was a HOY assembly from Mr Mordue covering kindness and doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. For Well-Being Wednesday students discussed how to react and cope with unkind comments online, Thursday we carried on with the class reading book In the Sea There Are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda then Fab Friday celebrated all of our wonderful achievements this week.
Speaking of achievements, the Awards Evening at Kelham Hall on Wednesday evening was a wonderful event. It was so nice to reconnect with parents putting names to faces and obviously celebrating the achievements of our young people. We look forward to similar events in the future and hope that everyone enjoyed the event.
Good luck to all those students travelling to Leeds this weekend for the regional cross-country finals, fingers crossed the weather is kind.
Head of Year 8: Mr D Mordue
Assistant Head of Year 8: Miss L Jordan
Well done Year 9 for a great week! This week during tutor set students have spent time reflecting on their achievements so far this year. Students listened to an assembly on Wednesday morning where they considered what they were proud of from last half term and their targets for the next half term. On Tuesday morning students focused on wellbeing where they completed a task identifying what would be inappropriate to post online and discussed online safety. Students have also listened to an assembly focussed on Remembrance Day on Friday morning. We have also reminded students of the positive rewards they can achieve for their behaviour points. We have students who are very close to achieving 400 points (Bronze Award) and we look forward to sharing when students reach the Bronze Award. Due to Remembrance Day on Friday, we didn’t deliver our usual Fab Friday celebrations. We will be recognising students for their achievements next week and this celebration morning will include this week and next week’s achievements.
During lesson this week, students have been working hard and we have been pleased with the level of engagement across subjects. In Spanish, students developed their confidence in their speaking skills and linking key words and phrases, focusing on the present and future tense. In Food Technology, students completed practical lessons where they use a range to skills to make fresh pasta. Many Year 9 students have also been involved in a National Languages competition online on Monday. Thank you to the languages department for providing our students with this opportunity and well done to all students who entered the competition!
In History student have spent time exploring the importance of Remembrance Day from a historical perspective. They have also been learning about the significance of a poppy as a symbol and the meaning of different colours of poppies. Students have dedicated their own poppy to either soldiers who served, family or friends or soldiers of the British empire.
On Wednesday evening we hosted our ‘Achievement Evening’ at Kelham Hall. It was fantastic to see Year 9 students invited to the evening, where we celebrated successes from the last academic year. Well done to Isabella (9.1) who was awarded with the Headteachers Award for our year group. During the evening we listened to an inspirational speech from Melanie Barratt, a Paralympic Champion and Olympic Swimmer. Thank you to Melanie, who also visited students, in school, to congratulate them on their achievements.
Well done Year 9. Keep up the great work.
Head of Year 9: Miss I Sheldon
Assistant Head of Year 9: Miss A Lloyd
Another action-packed week at Toot Hill School – it is hard to believe this was only the second week back!
We are sure we will not be the only Year Team leaders to reiterate this week just how proud we have been of our students for their comportment and representation of our school during OFSTED's visit. Year 10 were visited on Wednesday morning during tutor time and really showed their maturity and depth of understanding in the discussions around sharing intimate images, and the feelings of pressure and coercion that can accompany this.
In lessons, students have been applying themselves excellently - this week we saw some English lessons where students were exploring the importance of the Ghost of Christmas Past to Scrooge's transformation - students used paired talk and the use of purple pen to enhance and uplift their ideas around this. This will then be used in the development of an essay response. Please see the examples of work from Leona W and Mia H.
The highlight of this week was celebrating the incredible achievements of this year group on Wednesday's Achievement Evening, which Mrs Munro thoroughly enjoyed. In her speech, Mrs Munro spoke about the idea of courage - something that so many of our Year 10 students show every day, for all sorts of reasons, and expressed our feeling as a Year Team; that we really couldn't be prouder of our lovely bunch. Amongst all the recognition for Year 10 achievers, two of our students were lauded in particular. Sally A was the proud recipient of the Headteachers Award for Year 9 thanks to her unwavering commitment to her own personal development; she is an absolute credit to the year group with her outstanding attitude to learning, give-it-a-go mindset and commitment to sport. We are also proud to share that Niamh O'B was awarded the very special Rachel Clifford award. This is awarded to only one student in the whole school for embodying the Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Pride ethos and contributing to the community in a positive and inspirational manner. Phenomenal achievement and a wonderful evening.
Head of Year 10: Mrs L Munro
Assistant Head of Year 10: Miss C Thomas
This week Year 11 have been completing the final week of assessments and we are yet again are thoroughly impressed with their attitude and the effort that they have put in to these.
We have also been pleased with the attendance at Extended Study this week, and look forward to this continuing for the rest of half term.
In Chemistry this week the triple scientists have been working incredibly hard, carrying out titration experiments, applying their understanding of the theory into practice.
A reminder that the college application process has opened and we look forward to seeing many of Year 11 at Toot Hill college next year.
Head of Year 11: Miss L Hughes
Year 11 Achievement Leader: Mr R Wickens
Today marks the 104th Anniversary of the armistice of 1918 at the end of The Great War. We observed this event with Max G (Year 11) playing The Last Post with our cadets guarding him. This was a moment for the whole school to reflect on all those who have given their lives in service of our democracy.
Achievement evening:
This week we had our annual Achievement Evening at Kelham Hall. As part of the event, our newly formed joint orchestra, combing students from Toot Hill and The West Bridgford School, performed in the stunning state rooms at Kelham Hall while parents/carers and students entered the building. This was the orchestra’s first outing since it was formed in September and our students played fantastically and showed what hard work and dedication they have. It was also an opportunity for some of our students to perform before each event and also some stand-alone performances from some of our GCSE and A Level Music students.
It’s a wonderful time in the Music Department where students are thriving and there are plenty of Extra Curricular opportunities. All students are welcome to many of our ensembles, including our school production, for which rehearsals start next week.
Mr K Seymour
DofE Stars of the Week
Huge congratulations to the following students who have already added all of their skill, physical and volunteering activities to eDofE: Ygraine A, Jack A, Evan B, Lydia B, James B, George B, Olivia B, Lyra C, Yue Kei C, Amy C, Abigail C, Scarlett C, Caleb C, Meg C, Annie C, Evan C, Charlie D, Cody E, Issac E, Florence F, Junyu H, Olivia H, Corey J, Luke K, Joshua L, Reuben M, Elliot P, Ruby P, Fraser P, Henry R, Megan R, Isabelle S, Issac S, Isabelle S, Will S, Idina V, Olivia W, Issac W and Phoebe W.
I recommended today as a deadline for Year 9 Bronze participants to achieve this as a strong and purposeful start is directly linked with quick and efficient progress and a timely graduation. If you are not quite there yet, don't worry, but please use this weekend to do as much as you can.
Photos of the Week
There has been some fantastic cooking and baking taking place this week. Here are Elliot P, Amber C and Caleb C's creations!
Useful DofE Links
If your child is searching for a skill, physical or volunteering activity click here for lots of useful ideas. Download a DofE log for recording activities here. Existing participants can access the DofE Assessors Report webpage page here - this is the quickest and easiest way to ask your assessor to complete an assessor's report.
Dates for Your Diary
November:
Recommended Deadlines:
Summer 2023:
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