The strength of the team is each individual. The strength of the individual is the team.

14th September 2021Web Blogger

What a journey we have been on!

I always thought we had a strong sense of crew, we were always helping each other and holding each other to account. However, Outward Bound has more than strengthened that! We have created confidence, kindness, bravery and most of all friendships!

We have bonded as crew and made it to the top of the mountain. I will never forget this moment. We were tired, hungry, thirsty, hot and ready for home BUT they pulled together, held hands, pulled each other up the mountain. What a moment!

This photo captures a moment one of our members was struggling, the boys realised they were more capable, but most importantly nobody in crew gets left behind, so they waited, and we finished together!

We talked a lot about pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones and doing things we thought we would never do. One of the days we canoed for over 3 hours and set up camp on a bay at the side of the lake. The kids had to build their own shelters and they camped out all night, eating rations and star gazing! It was amazing to see them enjoy every moment and even though some of us felt homesick, we were in it together! Check out the amazing views and the 5 star accommodation!

I can honestly say that this trip bonded us more than ever and we are most certainly CREW!

Miss Ibbotson

Crew Frank Conquer the Cave…

13th September 2021Web Blogger

Crew Conquering the Cave! 

In Crew Frank during the first week, we achieved many things some of us never would have imagined we’d ever do! Some of us conquered fears, some of us yelled a lot, but most of all we all had fun as a crew.

First off, Ava showed courage by entering the cave in the first place even though they don’t like being in small, compact places. 

“When I went into the cave, I felt nervous at first but then I felt better when I got in there because it was wider and I had more space. I felt safer when we got down there because I had more people with me.”

I asked them one last question, asking them how they felt the more time they spent in the cave. 

“Um… probably worse because the more we went into the cave the less space we had and I didn’t like it, I wasn’t fond of being there. I don’t like small spaces like that so I just didn’t like being there.”

One of our other crew members, Mackenzie spoke about how compact the cave was and how uncomfortable it was to get through it.

“I felt alright going into the cave but when I finally got down there I didn’t feel comfortable going into small spaces. I just wanted to get through it all with the crew.” 

Lastly, our newest crew member, Charlie Czerwionka, talked about how she managed to get through that cave with her new crew. 

“On the way down into the cave I felt scared, I saw spiders and it really freaked me out. When I met the crew in the cave it made me feel better because I knew that everyone was there and they made me feel supported and safer because I wasn’t the first person to get down there. Exploring the cave made me feel better because It took my mind off the spiders and fears now that I knew I was safe and knew where I was going. I never would’ve expected to be exploring a muddy cave my first week of XP East”

She showed true courage, due to the fact that this was her first week at XP East and she has really fitted In well with Crew Frank. We’re excited to see how our crew relationships strengthen with Charlie throughout the year.

Personally, I think we all had troubles getting into or through the cave, how we , as a crew, got through it all together and it really helped us all to build up our crew relationships once again.

I’m really proud of everyone for getting through that cave and showing courage all day! First week of year 9 and we’re already stronger as a crew.

Olivia

The “building blocks” of a new expedition in E24 Spanish

12th September 2021D Pearson

What does Jenga have to do with studying a modern foreign language? Last week our E24 Year 11 GCSE Spanish students competed against each other (except Rhys’s group that was using the much smaller “son of Jenga” kit) to construct the tallest free-standing tower possible in five minutes.

The construction of the towers formed part of an immersion session on Spanish food and festivals, and connected to the Spanish “castells” or free-standing “human towers” tradition, practised in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the in the Valencian community.

New College Taster Day Monday 27th September

11th September 2021A Parker

Posted on behalf of Mrs Burns, Careers Lead: 
Today again Scott Faulkner from New College delivered a presentation to our year 10&11 cohort.  I can now confirm that there is an opportunity for all our C24 & C25 students from both schools to attend the NCD taster day on the 27th September.
Could all students complete the form below for the taster day at New College on Monday 27th September. They need to choose 3 options and then a 4th standby. This information needs to be completed by Monday and prospectuses have been shared. The links to the college for both taster day  options and the online prospectus are below.
Please encourage your students to choose sessions they think they will enjoy or are intrigued by rather than in friendship groups, this is an important opportunity to try out before they enrol. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me. Crew Leaders will also be able to support and advise.
On the day we will be picked up by a coach at XP schools and taken to New College, we need to ensure all students leave from XP. Lunch is provided by college which I am excited about. They will attend 3 sessions and return to school by the usual finish time.

Covid19 update from our meeting with Public Health Doncaster

10th September 2021Jamie Portman

Andy Sprakes and I had a meeting with Public Health Doncaster and representatives from Doncaster Local Authority yesterday afternoon in order to discuss the cases of Covid19 in our schools. 

Due to the current situation, Public Health Doncaster has advised us to implement the following measures:

  • All students and staff (except those who are exempt) should wear face masks in communal spaces such as corridors, toilets, dining areas etc (the wearing of face masks is voluntary in classroom situations.)
  • Students are also encouraged to wear face masks on their way to school, particularly if they are using public transport. The Stronger Communities Team have offered their support in the local area to encourage students to follow this guidance whilst they are waiting at bus stops.

The above are in addition to the measures that we already have in place in response to increased infections:

  • Daily testing of Y8/X27 students for 10 days ending on 16th September
  • Testing all other students twice per week for 10 days ending on the 16th September
  • A request that parents maintain the testing of students at home via testing kits that school have provided.

Overall, Public Health Doncaster have suggested a graduated approach which may lead to other measures being implemented in the future. However, positive Covid19 cases have recently significantly reduced, and we will continue to monitor the situation as closely as possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Jamie Portman.

Mrs Townson’s big chop!

10th September 2021J Townson

[Shared with permission from Mr Sprakes]

After school today I am going to the hairdressers to have 12 inches of my hair cut off, which I will donate to the Little Princess Trust; this is a charity which provides real-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair, for example, through alopecia or cancer treatment. It costs at least £550 and approximately 10 hair donations to make each wig. Please visit www.littleprincesses.org.uk to learn more about this wonderful charity and the work that they do to provide wigs and fund research to support these children.

If you would like to support me in this, please use our character trait of kindness in your comments about my new hairstyle on Monday (!), share information about the charity with others, or, if you feel able to, you can donate through this link to my fundraising page.

C26 (Y9) Bronze DofE

10th September 2021A Parker

C26 (Y9) across both schools have made a the first steps toward achieving their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award!

Students, with the support and guidance of dedicated DofE Leaders and Crew Leaders, will spend time each week working on a programme of activities which include:

  • Skills: students will be undertaking a 3 month First Aid programme.
  • Volunteering: students will spend 6 months raising money for their Crew charities, becoming reading mentors to younger students and litter picking around our community.
  • Physical: 3 months of undertaking any sporting activity done as part of an organised club out of school, or by joining any of the after school clubs which will be launching soon!)
  • Expedition: planning for and undertaking 2 days/1 night hiking expedition (dependant on Covid restrictions at the time).

Find out more here!

By the end of the academic year students should have done enough to have achieved their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Students are expected to achieve all sections of their Bronze award programme unless they have a valid reason not to.

The DofE programme forms a crucial part of the Trust’s Outdoor Curriculum, and we are extremely grateful to the FXP for their continued support and fundraising efforts to ensure that we are able to purchase the Bronze welcome packs and enrol every student onto the DofE award scheme.  The welcome packs will be delivered to your home addresses after students have registered on the eDofE app and include a handy discount card for outdoor specialist shops!

If you have any questions specifically about the Bronze award, please contact your child’s Crew Leader, or you can contact me (Angella Parker) direct: [email protected]

*Just a note to add we have plans in place for C24 and C25 to complete the expedition element of their DofE award later this year! 

Year 10, week 1&2

9th September 2021Katie Haughey

It doesn’t feel right typing that my crew are in year 10(!!!!), entering their fourth year at the school, and their final two years at XP. We spent the first week back working together in crew, where we asked ourselves ‘how can we prepare for the next climb?’

One of the activities we partook in an intercrew competition, discussing strategies and cheering each other on while we completed the minute to win it tasks. While the activities were a little daft, it was nice to see crews circling up to strategize and making sure everyone was included.

On the Friday of the week we spent in crew, we were fortunate enough to get to walk the Monsal Trail. It was quite a physically demanding route at times, but the compassion I saw from my lovely ‘care bears/photographers’; Jess and Charlotte, was phenomenal. I’d like to give them a special mention for carrying others bags, slowing their own pace to help others catch up, and their supportive words during the route.

I’d also like to give Sami a special mention, he had the opportunity to flex his GCSE Geography skills as our navigator, and I felt he did a great job!

The walk was a great practice for the Y10s Duke of Edinburgh award, that I’m hoping that most my crew will opt to do this year. I took a tonne of pictures and videos on the day which I’ve compiled below:

Back in our new Crew Room in week 2, we discussed what is required of us over the upcoming two years with GCSEs approaching. We looked at how we procrastinate, and how we can start drip feeding a little revision into our habits at home to start the following two years right. Also, we celebrated Callum’s 15th Birthday the only way we know how – with chocolate fudge cake and lemon drizzle cake for the quirkier members of my crew.

That’s us checked into Y10!

E27 Homeward Bound….

9th September 2021XP East

What an amazing week we have had at Outward Bound in Ullswater and what a beautiful location for our students to start the beginning of their school year.

It’s been full of fun, adventure and amazing learning opportunities for our students after such a tough year of lockdowns and uncertainties. 

I am incredibly proud of our students’ achievements this week and the strength they’ve found in themselves and each other when faced with challenges that have pushed them out of their comfort zones.

There have been many moments this week that I’ve witnessed our students facing their fears head on, overcoming them and then empowering their peers and crew leaders to do the same. We are able to climb these ‘mountains’ we face because of the supportive environment around us that is nurtured within crew. Students will bring what they have learnt back into the school environment and continue to become the best version of themselves.

Crew’s finale to the week is a short presentation answering the guiding question, ‘what does it mean to be crew’?

I also want to bring to your attention that after yesterday’s expedition a number of students returned to the centre with ticks which have been dealt with and removed appropriately. As an extra precaution we are sending students home with information leaflets and advising students to check themselves again when they are home. If you have any further worries or concerns please contact NHS 111. 

We are hoping to leave the centre at approximately 12pm. I will update you again when we set off with an estimated time of arrival back at XP. Please remember this can change due to traffic so keep an eye out for further arrival updates throughout the day.

Best wishes,

Kate