Message from the Head
Dear Parents,
Thank you to Mr Cholerton who delivered our Anti-bullying Week assembly on Monday. You can find the link here. As I write the school is fervently doing ‘squats in spots’ as we raise money for ‘Children in Need’ and looking forward to the 4 a side football competition at lunchtime. Hollygirt staff are showing real team spirit today in their spots and onesies and Mr Cholerton is wearing spotty Derby County pyjamas!
Next Friday lunchtime, we will open the school’s Reflection Room. Students will be able to go to a quiet space in the Sixth Form (with permission and abiding by the protocols) for prayer, contemplation/meditation. We will see how we get on with this – if we get too busy, we may need to introduce a rota.
Thank you to Dr Costley for leading our Staff Meeting this week on ‘School Connectedness’. This is the research that the University of Nottingham undertook with Hollygirt to measure how Hollygirt students feel about school. There were many positive results! The research prompts us to ask questions about anything else we can do for our students – that’s got to be a good thing. What is exciting is that the current Year 10s who are Dr Costley’s research assistants are involved in the evolution of the research questionnaires used and able to give a young person’s voice in order to adapt an important research instrument. Their names will be added to any publications of the research papers – a shout out to those students – Isabella, Juno, Lily-Mai, Noah, Euan, Max, Harry, Lily, Matilda and Lawson.
Great success at a cross country fixture this week. I heard stories of nearly qualifying for county level which is no mean feat! The basketball team also did great this week.
A shout out to Year 11 who have finished their mocks! Well done all of you and we look forward to analysing results. It is important for you to look at what’s gone well and learn from these what you need to do in the real exams. I hope you have a revision free weekend!
Helen Barsham
Head
Message from the Head of Prep
Good afternoon,
Prep children have been really busy again. Firstly, Odd Socks Day on Monday was an opportunity for us all to celebrate how we are unique. This was the start of Anti-Bullying Week. Over the course of the week, the children have participated in assemblies and lessons on this theme, helping them to recognise the different types of bullying and who they can talk to if this ever affects them or their friends.
It is Children in Need today and we have lots of spotty accessories and outfits. Well done to Year 6 and thank you to parents who baked some amazing cakes for yesterday’s Bake Sale, which has continued today. A huge amount of effort went into these and we really appreciate this. Prep have also done a fantastic job with the Bearpee challenge, collectively achieving far, far more than our initial target. Later this afternoon, we will sing this year’s ‘Make a Noise’ song which we have enjoyed learning whilst thinking about the lyrics.
Year 4 will be visiting the Newark Civil War Centre on Wednesday. I am sure they will have a really interesting day. Also, on Wednesday, the boys’ football team will be visiting Repton School to compete against them. Good luck to the team.
Welbeck House are organising a Penalty Shoot Out on Friday 24th November to raise money for their chosen school charity, Stonebridge City Farm. It will cost £1 for 3 kicks and there will be prizes for those with the highest score. Children will be able to have more than 3 kicks if they wish to bring in more than £1.
We are, once again, donating to The Great Notts Christmas Toy Appeal and you will be receiving further information on suggested gifts. Please could all donated toys be in school by Thursday 30th November. Please do not wrap the gifts. We know how much these donations will be appreciated.
Please could I remind parents of children in Years 1 to 6 to fill in the pantomime consent form if you haven’t done this already.
We have a lot planned in over the next few weeks and I will send a summary of all events leading up to Christmas next week.
Have a lovely weekend,
Victoria Wright
Head of Prep
Message from the Head of Sixth Form
Independence and Opportunities
A key part of life in the Sixth Form is independence, so the students are enjoying work on projects including raising money for their chosen charity of Action Aid. Project management is certainly a key transferable skill in real life!
In addition, trips and visits have been a key theme of this week in order to broaden the student’s horizons and deepen their knowledge of their subjects. For Art Textiles, the trip to the Knit and Stitch exhibition provided an inspirational opportunity to see the work of degree students and have exposure to a wide array of craft in the textiles field. Thank you to Miss Hill for running this trip. There are expert subject talks happening in Psychology and Chemistry at Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham University respectively. Excellent ‘super-curricular’ opportunities – the university term for students exploring their chosen subjects in more depth to demonstrate and enhance a passion for their studying. We will always have a focus on seeking out relevant and engaging experiences to enable our students to grow and develop in their interests, skills and talents.
Alison Brown
Head of Sixth Form