New build update / POL rearranged

By Jamie Portman7th June 2018

Just to give parents an update on progress towards moving into the new build – we were hoping to make the transition tomorrow (Friday 8th June) but due to low level snagging issues we are unable to do so. We will however, provide students with a tour at 9:15am as they haven’t been in the building for a few months now.

We will be reassessing the situation next Monday 11th June where a date may be given for moving to our new school. Let me reassure parents that the school is looking fantastic (surpassing all of our expectations) and is 99% ready, but we feel as though it would be foolish to move into a building that is not fully ready for us. The final transition should only be a very short period of time away.

As a result of the delay, we have had to rearrange the ‘That’s Sick!’ Presentation of Learning from the originally planned Tues & Wed 12th/13th June, to Tues & Wed 26th/27th June (2 weeks later). The time of 4:30pm-6pm remains. Our plan is to also tie this event in with providing tours of our new school for parents and carers.

7 Explorer: Tuesday 26th June from 16.30-18.00
7 Pioneer: Wednesday 27th June from 16.30-18.00

Stay tuned for further updates.

STEAM Immersion Fieldwork XPE

By J Smith31st May 2018

Dear Parent/ Carer

As part of the immersion activities to launch our new STEAM Expedition, C24 will be going on fieldwork the first week back in June.

-Pioneer will be out on Tuesday 5th June

-Explorer will be out on Wednesday 6th June

 

This is again an exciting opportunity will enable students to grapple with the guiding question which will underpin our new learning expedition.

However, as before, we aren’t revealing the exact location until the day of travel, as we would like to maintain an element of mystery with regards to the upcoming theme.

The arrangements are as follows:

  • all students to arrive at school by 8.00 am on their day of travel to ensure a prompt departure from school at 8.15am
  • we will be travelling by coach (approx. 70 min)
  • A packed lunch will need to be brought by all students
  • all students will need to bring a bottle of water and optional snack (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks or sweets, please)
  • please bring any prescribed medication required, clearly labelled in a plastic bag or envelope with your child’s name and required dosage
  • sensible clothing, walking shoes, waterproof coat/ warm coat need to be worn (we will be outside for part of the day)
  • all students will return to school at approximately 3.20 p.m

 

In the interests of ensuring a prompt departure from, and return back, to school it is important that – as always – our students arrive on time on these fieldwork days.

Many thanks.

Mountain Biking Crew is back!

By D Pearson14th March 2018

We’re pleased to announce the return of XP Trust’s Mountain Biking Crew, after school beginning Friday 16th March (3.30 – 5.15), now that the days are getting longer. Led by Chris Green we take students out for nearly 2 hours to improve their levels of fitness and to practise their off-road skills.

Unless engaged in intervention, C21 students who will complete a cycling proficiency course before their silver Duke of Edinburgh cycling expedition should also join this group to prepare themselves for the challenge, and the Crew is open to all other students on a first come first served basis (places are limited). Please note that for safety reasons the Mountain Biking Crew activities are dependent on favourable weather conditions.

This follows the Bicycle Buddy initiative that saw a professionally qualified cycle technician attend XP School recently to service our students’ bikes. The facts and stats were:

Total Bikes serviced = 17

Brake cables fitted = 9
Brake Cable outer fitted = 2
Gear Cables fitted = 4
Brake pads fitted = 4 ( 2 sets )
Brake Noodles fitted = 5 – these are the pipes that hold the cable in place at the brake caliper.
Bottom Bracket adjustments = 3
Bar end caps fitted = 4
Tyres Inflated / checked = 16
Headset adjusted = 3
All free-of-charge courtesy of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.

First day back Monday 12th immersion fieldwork C24

By J Smith6th March 2018

Dear Parent/ Carer

 

As part of the immersion activities to launch our new STEAM Expedition, C24 will be going on fieldwork on Monday 12th March 2018.  This exciting opportunity will enable students to grapple with the guiding question which will underpin our new learning expedition.

However, as before, we aren’t revealing the exact location until Monday, as we would like to maintain an element of mystery with regards to the upcoming theme.

The arrangements are as follows:

  • all students to arrive at school by 7.50 am to ensure a prompt departure from school at 8.10am
  • we will be travelling by coach (approx. 45 min)
  • Lunch will be provided free of charge for all students
  • all students will need to bring a bottle of water and optional snack (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks or sweets, please)
  • please bring any prescribed medication required, clearly labelled in a plastic bag or envelope with your child’s name and required dosage
  • sensible clothing, warm coat and shoes need to be worn (we will be outside for part of the day)
  • all students will return to school at approximately 3.20 p.m

 

In the interests of ensuring a prompt departure from, and return back, to school it is important that – as always – our students arrive on time on these fieldwork days.

Many thanks.

 

Our weekly round-up from 7DP

By D Pearson11th February 2018

Monday 5th February – We held an XP East Community Meeting.

Tuesday 6th February – We checked in, by sharing with each other what we had been up to over the weekend. Maclaren continues to gain medals for his Taekwondo skills!

Wednesday 7th February – After the daily “house-keeping” duties (attendance register, lunch orders) we spent the whole Crew session reading as according to the expectations under the Accelerated Reader programme.

Thursday 8th February – Crew time was spent updating, identifying, collating and then signing off tasks in our SSS portfolios.

Friday 9th February – Our whole School Trust Community Meeting provides a weekly opportunity to give apologies and pledges, share appreciations and make stands for things that we feel strongly about. XP East usually holds a further school-specific Community Meeting in the afternoon.

Spanish assessment next session – extended study

By D Pearson27th January 2018

Our students are aware that they will complete an assessment of their knowledge and progress in Spanish next week. They will be asked to write a paragraph about themselves in Spanish, that might include details such as:

  • Their name, age and birthday
  • Subjects that they like and dislike and reason(s) why
  • Food and drink that they consume and/or don’t consume
  • Details about family members such as number of brothers and sisters, names and ages of relatives etc.

To help them to prepare for their assessment they were set reading homework on self and family the week before last, they have been provided with a handout to structure their ideas, and they have received a copy of the slides used in sessions and examples of students’ work (taken from their exercise books) that evidence these learning targets. The handout is also included on these slides that have been e-mailed to our students’ school e-mail addresses.

For those students who have requested and now received a Spanish pen-pal, this paragraph could form the basis of their first letter to their Spanish correspondent.

My Maths Update

By J Smith14th November 2017

As some students have made me aware, they are unable to log on MyMaths using an apple device and some students on a Windows device without an updated flash player.

I have extended to the deadline for both classes to Friday 1pm to allow all students who are unable to access My Maths at home to use the laptops at school during break, lunch, or extended study.

In the meantime, can all students who are having any problems with devices bring them into school where we can sort out the problem with the browser for any future work set.

Thanks

SLC Appointment Booking

By J Smith14th November 2017

XP East would like to invite all parents and carers to C24 first Student-Led Conference (SLCs).  This will be our student’s opportunity to present, share and discuss their learning with you, their Crew Leader and any other invited staff.

The week beginning 20th November, every student will be hosting a Student-Led Conference. Please select a day and a time that is convenient for you to attend the SLC. They will take place across both XP East and XP for a period of 2 weeks.

We ask that parents and carers check their emails and respond to the ‘Sign up genius’ invitation that has been sent by crew leaders to book a time slot for their student.

We are counting on 100% attendance at conferences so that we can encourage, support and recognise the progress in learning that has been made by students in their first term at XP East School.  Therefore, your role in this process is crucial in supporting the learning of your son/daughter.

We look forward to seeing you!

La nueva tecnología en la clase de español…

22nd October 2017D Pearson

¡Hola!

We’re pleased that the devices ordered through Freedom Tech to aid teaching and learning in and beyond the classroom have now arrived. For those students and parents who have taken delivery of a device – and find themselves with time on their hands in the next two weeks – you may wish to visit the following websites that use emerging technologies to teach Spanish:

FREE BBC Languages site

FREE Spanish lessons online

Learn Spanish for FREE

FREE Spanish resources

https://www.memrise.com

http://rosettastone.co.uk

www.fluentu.com

There are many more out there, some are free, and some have Apps for language learning on the go…..

 

 

Our C24 inaugural fieldwork arrangements

By D Pearson7th September 2017

After careful planning and preparation, we are delighted to inform you that Y7 (Class of 2024 students) are ready to embark on their first fieldwork visits next week. This will enable them to grapple with the guiding question that underpins our current learning expedition.

However, we aren’t revealing the exact locations until Monday, as we would like to maintain an element of mystery with regards to the theme of our first expedition.

The arrangements are as follows:

Monday 11/09/2017

  • 7P students will depart promptly from school at 8.45 a.m. returning at 3.00 p.m, for a city in the north of England. Students will need to bring a packed lunch and, if necessary, any prescribed medication.
  • 7X students will depart promptly from school at 1.15 p.m. returning to school at 3.15 p.m. Students will be conducting fieldwork outdoors and so will need suitable rainwear and, if necessary, any prescribed medication.

 

Wednesday 13/09/17

  • 7X students will depart promptly from school at 8.45 a.m. returning at 3.00 p.m, for a city in the north of England. Students will need to bring a packed lunch and, if necessary, any prescribed medication. We recommend that students brings snacks with them as lunch at the venue will not take place until 1:30pm.
  • 7P students will depart promptly from school at 1.15 p.m. returning to school at 3.15 p.m. Students will be conducting fieldwork outdoors and so will need suitable rainwear and, if necessary, any prescribed medication.

In the interests of ensuring a prompt departure from, and return back, to school it is important that – as always – our students arrive on time on these fieldwork days.

Many thanks.