Bronze and Silver DofE update

By A Parker14th November 2020

Here’s a quick update on how our Bronze and Silver students are progressing with their DofE award.

Skills

Both groups are well on their way to completing the skills section, and will be demonstrating their First Aid skills and knowledge at the end of term to their other year group bubble Crews at a mini Presentation of Learning event (hopefully they’ll not have to use their skills in ‘real life’ anytime soon!)

Volunteering

Students are also about to start work on their volunteering section, where they will be undertaking various school community service activities, such as litter picking.  In addition to this, all Crews have chosen a charity to support this year. There would usually be various fund raising activities planned across the year, but CV19 restrictions mean that this is going to be a bit of a challenge as they can’t do the usual things like bake sales, etc. But we’ll do what we can!

DofE aside, we as a school think it’s very important to support our wider community, so Silver students across both schools will be collecting items for Christmas Food Hampers, to be donated to our local food bank.  They’ll also be designing/sending Christmas cards to local care homes. These activities will be done during Crew’s Mindful Monday sessions.

Physical

We are more than aware that many out of school clubs that would usually count towards the physical section have been disrupted.  Students will still be able to submit evidence of what they’ve done so far, and we will support them by providing in-school activities so that everyone is able to complete this section.

Expedition

We are hopeful that we will be able to run the outdoor expeditions next year, depending on the situation and national restrictions in place at the time.  The DofE have made changes to the qualifying criteria meaning that participants will be able to gain the full award without the need for overnight stays, and hikes will probably start and finish at school.  The Expedition Team are excited to start planning and exploring some local walking routes!

That’s all for now, but if you have any questions about the temporary adjustments to the Bronze and Silver awards please visit the DofE website or contact [email protected] (Outdoor Expeditions Lead) or [email protected] (DofE Activities Coordinator)

Thank you.

Crew Turing: debates vs. disagreements, the US election & HOWLs sweepstakes!

By Katie Haughey9th November 2020

Crew Turing have had a really eventful end of term 1. We’ve been spending time as part of the Wise Wednesday sessions looking into the effects of social media on our lives and mental wellbeing.

The sessions have been centred around deconstructing how much time we spend on social media, each crew member looked at their average screen time using their smartphones. We were all gobsmacked that so many people had clocked over 10 hours on one of the days at the weekend!

We also watched The Social Dilemma, the documentary that explores the damage social media has caused to society, focusing on its exploitation of its users for financial gain through data mining. It explains how its design is meant to nurture an addiction, its use in politics, its effect on mental health (including the mental health of adolescents and rising teen suicide rates), and its role in spreading conspiracy theories such as the flat-earthers.

At the end of last term we culminated the work done in Wednesday’s crew sessions by preparing for a debate, arguing for and against the motion:

‘social media has caused more harm than good’,

All crew members prepared speeches as well as rebuttals. I was especially impressed with how maturely my crew took on board the debate, as we’d spoke in the Wednesday afternoon sessions on the difference between a formal and structured debate, and an argument. Both sides were actively listening to the other, and responding to the opposing team’s arguments. I’m hoping that this work will help them prepare for their PoL towards Christmas.

Another activity I have really enjoyed has been following the US presidential election. On Tuesday last week, we examined the presidential system of the US and how the electoral college works. We discussed the merits and pitfalls of this electoral system, as well as learned about the two presidential candidates. Over the following days last week, we were checking the BBC news website to see how the swing states were looking, it was really exciting watching the votes roll in.

We also went on to watch the Newsnight broadcast from the night of the election, and noted down tonnes of key information about both of the campaigns, and the candidate’s policies. Congratulations to Dylan, Mollie and Ralph who managed to call bingo on their note catcher sheets!

I’d like to give a special mention to Jess, who was able to fill in her entire sheet with key information from the broadcast, I was totally blown away. All crew members except one person predicted Biden’s win on Wednesday afternoon, after we did the maths on how many votes Trump would need.

Finally, my crew came back to school knowing that their teachers had been asked to input the data for their habits of work and learning. Last week during academic crew, I created a doc with all of their names and subjects on, so they could predict their HOWLs before the data was released to them. We had really interesting discussions about homework records, effort in class, and it was great to see people showed real integrity if they felt this term hadn’t been their best. I’ve minimised the images below, but blue is excellent, green in good, and yellow is secure.

I was slightly disappointed to see that some students felt that they dipped in certain classes, and I’m expecting upcoming pledges to relate to those lower than average predicted HOWLs. We’re going to review these predictions this coming week once the actual grades are released!

XP16 students need to be in school each day from 9.15am to 3.15pm

By XP East9th November 2020

Welcome back to the new term, I hope everyone managed to rest over the holidays.

I just wanted to reiterate the message I posted out last term that all xp16 students need to be in school every day. If for any reason a student needs to be away from school this needs to be discussed and agreed between parents and Mrs ap Harri.

Students should sign in at reception as soon as they arrive at school and must sign out when they leave school at 3.15pm. If students need to leave early again this must be agreed with Mrs ap Harri beforehand.

It is really important that students are in an environment that is supportive of their studies and we believe school is the best place for this. During the last Covid lockdown it was apparent that the majority of students in post 16 didn’t study as well at home as they do in school.

If we have already discussed and agreed situations where students need to be out of school during the school day then this will continue to be supported by us.

Please feel free to phone or email me if you have any concerns regarding our post 16 provision.

Thank you for your continued support

Kate ap Harri
Post 16 Lead

E24/Y10 Online provision timetable for year bubble closure

By Jamie Portman8th November 2020

In light of the announcement concerning the closure of the E24/Y10 bubble at XP East the following arrangements have been made to support students whilst working at home:

  • All Crew sessions and lessons will take place LIVE via Google Hangout and the timetable is highlighted below. 
  • Students will receive input from teachers and have time to complete activities on Google Classroom.
  • Students are registered in Crew (8.30am), at the beginning of the morning session (9.15am) and afternoon (1.15pm).
  • All students are expected to join each session.  If a student is absent, Crew Leaders will contact home to ascertain the reason why. If a student is unable to join a session, for example, they are unwell, we ask parents to  please contact the office.
  • Crew Leaders and Subject teachers will send Google Hangout invitations to their classes.

mens sana in corpore sano – Crew Young

By D Pearson8th November 2020

Several centuries ago the Romans observed the connection between mental and physical health – “mens sana in corpore sano” translates from Latin as “a healthy mind in a healthy body” – and more recent research has shown that physical exercise can not only help arrest the decline in cognitive skills amongst older generations, but also boost memory, neurological networking, concentration and mood in younger learners.

Last Friday Crew Young and their E24/Year 10 group were given a choice of physical activities in Crew time, though limited by the need to maintain social distancing wherever possible, they were intended to promote team work and competition with their peers. Most opted for dodge-ball, whilst Lewis and Tom refined their basketball skills. Very impressive!!!!!

Confirmed positive Covid19 case – Y10 XP East students to self isolate for 14 days

By Jamie Portman8th November 2020

Dear Parents / carers of Y10 students at XP East,

We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the Y10 year bubble.

We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child has potentially been in close contact with the affected student as they are a member of the Y10 XP East year bubble. In line with the national guidance your child should now stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.

We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of COVID 19 to others in the community. 

If your child is well and does not have any Covid-19 related symptoms at the end of the 14 day period of self-isolation they can return to usual activities on Monday 23rd November.

Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day self-isolation period. 

We will now move to an online educational provision and details of this will be available on our school website shortly.

All other year groups at XP East (except Y7 who are currently isolating) will remain open.

After speaking with the family of the student in question today, I understand that they are doing well and we look forward to having everyone back where they belong on the Monday 23rd November.

Best wishes everyone.

Jamie Portman

XP16 Crew Day: Tuesday 10th November.

By XP East8th November 2020

This Tuesday will be a full crew day for XP16 students. All academic sessions have been cancelled, however students are expected to attend and take part in the day’s crew sessions so please let me know asap if there are any issues with this.

The day will start at 9.15am and finish at 3.15pm.

Most of the day will be spent outside so please make sure you have warm appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring a change of shoes for wearing in doors.

Kit List:
Warm layers
Warm hat & gloves
Waterproof coat and trousers
Appropriate footwear
Shoes for indoors
(If you have difficulty getting any of the above let me know by the end of the day on Monday).

I have recently become a Forest School Practitioner and am currently working on bringing aspects of Forest school into XP Trust’s Outdoor expeditions programme.

The very first shaping up project is to create our Fire Circle. The fire circle (with or without a lit fire) is another circular area for crews to come together to share experience and build community.

I would like to create this area with my XP16 crew.

The activities the students will be involved in during the day will will help us grow as a crew through working as a team, communication, organisation and planning together, Students will also learn some basic forest skills, such as creating fire using flint and steel along with fire safety. Students will need to grapple and be resilient in order to succeed at some of these tasks.

The plan is to spend the morning creating and building XP & XP East’s very first fire circle. After lunch we will learn how to create fire using flint and steel and how to build & maintain a fire so we can have hot drinks and toast marshmallows to which we will invite some of your teaching staff to join us.

At the end of the day we will degunge, debrief the day and put out our fire as a crew, finishing for 3.15pm.

If for any reason you are unable to attend the whole day please let me know asap.

I’m really looking forward to spending this time with you all. Remember to have waterproofs and plenty of warm clothing!

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers

Kate

Another year, another pledge!

By A Parker8th November 2020

Towards the end of last term, Crew Finch undertook what has now become the annual task of setting their Pledges for the academic year.

Before doing so, we spent some time reflecting on the pledges from the previous year and, even though the last school year was interrupted, many of those pledges were fulfilled!  For example, quite a few Crew members wanted to improve their reading and comprehension skills – Big Tick to several of those who pledged to do so, as shown with our recent AR Star Reader test results (as mentioned in this previous blog.)

I wasn’t surprised to see that many of this year’s Crew Pledges were focussed around their Choice GCSE/BTEC subjects.  Although Choice is supported by a teacher or a mentor, there is a strong expectation that students become leaders of their own learning and commit to studying in their own time.  Quite a few of these pledges recognise this and acknowledge that it’s going to be hard work.

Crew have not only pledged to work hard in their Choice subjects, they have also asked Crew to support them by holding them accountable and challenging them if they’re not working as hard as they should be (just a little ‘nudge’ now and then!)

This just goes to show how much Crew support is valued and needed, probably now more than ever.

We will have regular pledge check-ins throughout the year.

Crew MKE…..Don’t Stop Believing.

By Web Blogger8th November 2020

“…Ive failed over and over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed…..”

Michael Jordan

To say that Ive missed my Crew this past week would be an understatement. That’s how important they are to me. My Crew have developed such incredible characters, personalities and relationships with one another, that at times they leave me speechless. These 13 individuals, who sat on their blue plastic chairs for the first time – only a few months ago, are travelling incrementally into the next, and the next, and the next phases of their lives with courage, determination and a desire to be the very best versions of themselves…

And they’ve achieved this change by being brave, by being honest with themselves, and by accepting that failure is something that has to be a part of their overall learning experience – somewhere along the way.

This past week has been a challenge for us all.

We’ve had disconnections, dropped calls, missed appointments, lay-ins, alarms not going off, and in KH’s case, the kitchen people ripping out his kitchen and cutting off his electricity….all challenges which we have collectively grappled and overcome.

Ive been shown more Harry Potter Wands in one week than Ive seen in my entire lifetime, and been given an insight into some of the things that make my Crew tick when they’re at home. It’s been an experience for us all.

There will be tougher challenges as we move forward, but provided we maintain the same positivity and determination which we have shown in this first challenging week, then this is something which will ultimately define us, both as individuals and as XP.

I believe in my Crew, and I know that every other Crew Leader feels the same about theirs too. Crew MKE, keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing on this learning journey but this time just turn up your determination and desire to learn by another notch on the dial.

Be excited about your learning, be excited about your futures and keep focussing on the day you walk out of XP for the very last time as the ultimate version of YOU. Every second of this journey counts, and you are the captains of your destiny, the leaders of your own learning. Believe in your dreams and aspirations and they WILL happen.

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.

Mr K

CREW HIB – Temporary return to school!

By Web Blogger6th November 2020

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all keeping safe and well! I managed to get into a few lessons on Tuesday before isolation began and I was so struck by how my crew have fallen back into Working hard, getting smart and being kind! They fell straight back into school life and it was a pleasure to watch them in their stride and doing what they do best!

We have Leo, Tammy, Alfie and Brooke working hard in Hums looking at causes of the peasants revolt and Charlotte, Brodie and Cam smashing it learning about molecules in science!

Keep up the amazing online learning, you’re doing a fabulous job all of you!

See you all soon!