UPDATE: What to do if my child or someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms

4th September 2020Jamie Portman

UPDATE: As of Sunday 6th September 5pm we have not had any member of our community test positive for Covid-19.

The following was posted on Friday 4th September:
I wanted to update our community on the recent school reopening procedures, and outline the specifics for what parents should do if their child or anyone in their household has any Covid-19 symptoms.

We really appreciate the positive feedback that we have received concerning the website that we created to support parents through the reopening process. As you will have seen, the videos explain the extensive measures that we have put into place concerning entry into the school environment, building, classrooms arranged into zones, split breaks / lunches etc.

As Principal of both XP and XP East, I have been absolutely delighted with the mature and focused approach from all of our students. To say their behaviour has been outstanding would honestly be an understatement. As we progress throughout the weeks and terms ahead we will need to maintain this level of conduct, and I know that we will be able to count on parents to support us as we continue to navigate any potential challenges that lie ahead.

Remember, if students show the following symptoms parents must ensure that they are tested:

  • A new, continuous cough (where you cough a lot for more than an hour, or have three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours)
  • Fever – where your temperature is above 37.8C
  • Loss of smell or taste

In addition, the table below includes specific details about what to do regarding a range of different scenarios for anyone else in their household (for instance, the Mother of a child that goes to XP).

 

 

Mindful Mondays

By Web Blogger30th September 2020

As part of our Mindful Monday activities, members of the group have been nominating charities they would like Crew Obama to support this year. This was quite a challenging task to set for a year eight group, requiring independent thought, compassion and decision making. I have been very impressed by the pupils’ work!

 

I would like to appreciate all the children for taking time to prepare for sharing their choice in Crew. Some children have nominated charities which have touched their lives in a personal way, perhaps by supporting a family member through illness. Others have shown compassion to strangers by selecting charities such as those which support the homeless. Pupils have considered how they could support their nominated charity, with ideas including bake sales, clothing collections, pet food banks and knitting hats for premature babies. 

 

Crew Obama will now need to make decisions about where and how to lend their support. This will be no easy task as I am sure that all the nominated causes will be more than worthy.

Imogen using her ipad to present her nominated charity (SARI: Stand Against Racism and Inequality) to the group. An excellent proposal to support this charity by promoting its values around school. Well done, Imogen!

 

Year 9 Fieldwork to The Hatfield Moors – Thursday 15th October

By Katie Haughey30th September 2020

Year 9 will be going on fieldwork on 15th October as part of their ‘Welcome to the Machine’ expedition. We’ll be leaving school at 9:30AM and returning at 3:00PM, so this will not affect their drop off or pick up times, however, due to the pandemic, we ask that all students have guardian consent for them to attend.

We’ll be visiting Hatfield Moors, to collect species data and conduct scientific tests on the peatland during the day. We will be maintaining the bubbles, and wearing masks on the coaches to minimize risk of transmission, and we will be outside all day.

As part of the precautions, we ask that you fill in the following google forms, granting permission for students to attend the fieldwork on 15th October:

This outlines that if your child falls ill with covid symptoms on that day, they would need collecting from Hatfield Moors (about 40 minute drive from the school).

If you have any questions about the plans for the day or concerns, don’t hesitate to email me (khaughey@xpeast.org).

Cleaner Vacancy

By web admin28th September 2020

Job Title: Cleaner

Grade of Post: National Living Wage

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday (term time only) 2:30am to 7:00am plus 10 days during school holidays

Responsible to: Trust Premises Officer and Head of School

Purpose of the Job:
To provide a high standard of cleaning throughout their work.

Objectives:
Dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, toilet cleaning, desk cleaning, etc
Replenishing toilet rolls and soaps when necessary
Cleaning internal windows and doors
Emptying waste bins and taking rubbish to the bin store
Operating floor cleaning machinery after training
Mix and dispose of all cleaning solutions appropriately
Notifying management of any repairs and maintenance issues
Following all health and safety regulations
Tackle heavy cleaning jobs upon request

Other Responsibilities:
Work well in a small team
Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the school
Attend relevant meeting and participate in training and other professional development activities
Any other items requested by the Trust Premises Officer or Head of School

To apply for this post, please contact vacancies@xptrust.org

Application Form

Cleaner-Job-Description.pdf

[gview file=”https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/smartfile/9e5449ef5cf30a01907ea6e80d5745fb/uploads/2020/09/18113628/Cleaner-Job-Description.pdf”]

Vaccinations and Immunisations

By S Mitchell27th September 2020

The last few months have been an exceptionally challenging time for both schools and health services. This has had an effect on students receiving their vaccinations and immunisations at school.  As you will be aware the school age vaccination programme was suspended at the beginning of the outbreak leaving a large number of students outstanding vaccinations.

There is a plan of recovery to ensure that all these students are caught up by the end of August 2021. Please see the dates below that are scheduled in for the 20/21 academic year in order to deliver vaccinations to the eligible students at XP/XP East School.

YEAR 10 BOYS & GIRLS SLB/MEN-ACWY 26/01/2021

YEAR 9 BOYS & GIRLS   SLB/MEN-ACWY 26/01/2021

YEAR 8 BOYS & GIRLS 1ST DOSE HPV 06/05/2021

YEAR 9 BOYS & GIRLS 2ND DOSE HPV 06/05/2021

Please Note: Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, NHS England have also specified that the seasonal flu programme this year will be extended to include Year 7 students. This will be the first time that Flu vaccinations will have been delivered in secondary schools. Flu vaccinations take place in December 2020.  Further information and permission letters will be sent to all parents for consent nearer the date.

If you have any questions please forward them to nmawby@xpschool.org

Crew Turing: Practicing First Aid, Shading, Gratitude, and FINALLY WINNING A SPORTING AWARD!

By Katie Haughey26th September 2020

Crew Turing have made a start on the Duke of Edinburgh skills segment over the past couple of weeks. Each student is working towards their bronze award this year, comprising of a skill element, outdoor physical challenge as well as volunteer work. We’ve been completing the St John’s Ambulance first aid course, a skill that could make a difference to someone’s life in the future.

We started last week by learning about how to put people in the recovery position if they are unresponsive. Each crew member took it in turns in pairs to practice putting another crew members in the recovery position, while others gave kind, specific and helpful feedback. This week we’ve been working on what to do if someone is having an asthma attack.

Another highlight that I’d like to mention was the lovely art session I covered this week just passed. It was nice to see my crew members working hard towards their other subjects and improving their drawing skills. Above is Sami, Lewis, Reece and Lexi working on their graduated and blended colour work.

A couple of weeks back we collectively read this article in the Guardian, titled ‘At 31, I have just weeks to live. Here’s what I want to pass on‘. I was struck by the quality of reflection after reading Elliot Dallen’s life lessons, particularly this one on gratitude.

The importance of gratitude. During my worst moments – the shock of cancer diagnosis, the mental lows and debilitating symptoms of chemotherapy – it was difficult to picture any future moments of joy, closeness or love. Even so, at those times I found comfort in remembering what I have: an amazing family, the friends I’ve made and times I’ve shared with them, the privilege of the life I’ve had.

We did a whiparound on all the little things we were grateful for that we might not have had access to due to covid. Some spoke of missing hanging about with their friends at the weekend, missing gymnastics and other sporting training, or missing a hug from their grandparents. Over the past week, I’ve asked my crew to come up with some of the things they’re grateful for, here are some snippets:

Finally, I just want to congratulate my historically not-so-sporty crew on being announced as 2019-2020 Year 9 winners of the sporting competitions! Huge appreciations to Torran, Mollie and Lexi for putting on sport-related crew sessions for us to help improve stamina and skill prior to the matches. I have a feeling 2021 could be the year we don’t come last in every sport-related event….

XP16 Community meeting / crew session (KAP)

26th September 2020web admin

It was great to get so many of the post 16 students together on Friday morning. We spent time going over the norms and expectations of our post 16 students and our understanding of these. As I’ve already mentioned in my previous blog students will be expected to be in school every day from 9.15 to 3.15pm unless this has been previously arranged with me.

We then went to the sports hall to have some fun together by playing a few team games which brought a lot of laughter and fun which has been much needed after the extremely tough few months we have had, it was good to see smiles on their faces!

Following this, year 13 students spent time with Mrs Rhodes who will be supporting students to complete their UCAS applications and give advice for moving on after XP16.

Mrs Rhodes will continue to deliver these sessions each Friday after our community meeting and students can also arrange to meet with Mrs Rhodes at other times during the week for additional support.

Next week while the year 13 students are working with Mrs Rhodes, the year 12 students will spend time with Mrs Hewitt who is leading the design and implementation of our ‘Ideas Cafe’. this will be an area that will be used by the trust where educators and learners can mingle and share their learning. Our XP16 students have been welcomed by the trust to not only share this area but to help design and create it alongside Mrs Hewitt. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this develops.

I am also delighted to tell you that moving forward I will be personally looking after the pastoral care of all our XP16 students and will be in touch with all parents & carers over the next week or two. In the mean time if you have any questions you would like to ask me, please either phone the school or email me at kapharri@xptrust.org

 

Thanks
Kate

Crew Ibbotson

By Web Blogger24th September 2020

For the last two weeks we have been looking closely at diversity in crew, resulting in some fantastic and really mature discussion. We have looked at what diversity is, what ways people are different and why we should embrace these differences. This creates a culture at XP that is like no other!

I would like to thank a few crew members individually – Tammy, Alyssa, Brodie and Riley – for sharing some really personal and difficult things in crew, which I think brought us all closer together and really consolidated our bond. We have each other’s back in crew Ibbotson NO MATTER WHAT and that is evident from the courage and compassion shown in these sessions. We understand that whilst we may not all play in the playground together, WE ARE CREW, and that’s what matters.

It’s an honour to work with such wonderful young people. 

We have also been working on memory techniques in crew last week. We played some memory games and tried to figure out the best way we remember information as individuals. You can see Alex, Cam and Ben in the picture trying very hard to remember all the items they were shown (I promised the winner a sweet!). It was so much fun  and very insightful for us to figure out which way worked best for us, hopefully to help us in our sessions!

Crew MKE Blog….# 2

By Web Blogger24th September 2020

Michael Jordan once said……..” talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships…”.

All of the new students within XP Trust have embarked upon the most important championship of their academic (and life) career so far…..and Crew MKE are really beginning to work together as a team.

They have had a solid start to the next phase of Crew. We have collectively and individually developed our awareness and understanding of one another’s needs and abilities – and this is vital if we are to progress incrementally onto the next step, and the next, and so on…

The students have decided on two final Crew names to identify with ( I can tell you that one is a Premier League Footballer who does massive work with charities and has recently managed to change a Governmental decision regarding the allocation of school meals to children who may otherwise go without……and the second is a global pop superstar who has utilised her profile and skills to support social activism in areas relating to mental health awareness and LGBT rights. The students are really excited about these two choices, so we’ll announce the winner shortly.

Friday afternoons are the time when we really get together as Crew and are given the time and the opportunity to show off individual skills in order to develop ourselves and inspire others. The first student to do this was Isabelle, and her session proved to be a bit of a groundbreaker – not only for us as participants, but for Isabelle herself.

Imagine the scene…its Friday afternoon, the students have come to the end of a long and demanding week….and Isabelle has elected to teach a collection of three Year 7 Crews……Origami !!!!

Isabelle wasn’t phased by the task. From the moment she began to demonstrate how to make an origami swan to the group of around 35 students, she had them in the palm of her hand ! As soon as the inevitable pleas of ‘I don’t know what I’m doing” and “I don’t know where I am” began to come, Isabelle calmly and confidently went to each student – in the guise of a Florence Nightingale figure – and tended to every students needs. She was AMAZING…

When the class was complete and the students had gone, just one solitary swan sat on top of a desk, as if to pay tribute to Isabelles display of character. WELL DONE ISABELLE !!

On the basis of this session, we have decided to introduce a Crew MKE ‘Superstar of the Week Award’ and the title will carry a trophy which the recipient will take home for a week and then present to the next winner on a Friday afternoon. The first recipient of this trophy (when it arrives ) will be Isabelle.

This weeks Friday Figure It Out session will be presented by Sofiya who will be teaching Sign Language !    Well done Crew MKE….

 

XP16 important updates for students in school

By web admin23rd September 2020

Dear parents & carers,

It has been great to see our XP16 students back in school.

All students need to come into school for 9.15am this Friday (25th September) for a Community meeting. We will be discussing plans moving forward in their programme of study and then focusing on year 13 students with UCAS references and moving on from XP. The year 12 students will spend this time for pastoral care and other life skills.

From Monday 28th September students need to be back in school from 9.15am – 3.15pm everyday. It is important for students to be studying between taught sessions in a supportive environment.

Students need to register at 9,15am in their first session with their teacher. Any students that are not in a taught session will register with me at 9.15am at the top of the main steps in the XP16 area.

If students need to leave school for any reason before 3.15pm each day have prior permission from myself and must sign out at reception before they leave for fire regulations and safe guarding.

If you have any further questions or would like to talk with me regarding your child’s programme of study in XP16 please feel free to phone or email me.

Thanks

Kate
Post 16 Lead
Outdoor Expedition Trust Lead