During the first week back in Crew Da Vinci we spoke a lot about how important this final year is going to be and how we will rely on crew more. We wrote letters to our year 11 self to open at results day. We made connections with XP primary schools and spoke about our experience with secondary school.
We worked as a crew to do an escape room within school – this involved us to work together as a team! NCS came in and spoke to us about life after XP and what it could look like.
Crew Da Vinci have came in with a positive attitude this week and let’s hope this has set the scene for the rest of the year.
Y11 have had an absolutely fabulous start to their final year and have not even been fazed by being thrown straight into preparing for and presenting their English speaking exams!
Academic Crew and Learning Labs will be running this week – full details in the Weekly Planner above.
We would also like to take this opportunity to invite all Y11 parents and students to our GCSE Revision Evening on Wednesday 11th September, 5pm-6pm. Again, details are in the planner.
As ever, if you have any questions please contact your student’s Crew Leader in the first instance or Y11 Phase Lead for your school: Angella Parker for XP East ([email protected]) and Mel Cocliff for XP ([email protected]).
I am sure you have all had excited students return home from school today, eager to set up their devices! They were all sent with a number of instructions, in support of the questions I have been emailed I am sharing information below:
Screen protector
The screen protector must be installed to keep the Applecare warranty on the iPad valid, please do this first to ensure the most successful installation.
You can follow the written guide below or use our instructional video here. Please note the password for this year is not enrolment as stated in the video, it is summer2024
Don’t unbox the iPad until you are ready to install the screen protector.
Make sure you have lots of space and a clean dust free flat surface before you start.
Remove the screen protector from its case and the iPad from the box.
Take care not to touch the iPad screen before installing the screen protector.
If any dust particles fall on the screen you can remove them with the stickers in the toolkit.
Very carefully remove the protective film from the screen protector, take care as the screen protector is made of glass.
Using the paper tab on the protector, remove the plastic protective film protection.
Align the cutout for the home button and applying a small amount of pressure to the middle of the protector touch it down to the middle of the screen.
If there are any air bubbles under the protector you can push these to the side using the polishing cloth.
Installing the iPad in the logitech keyboard case
This is really nice and easy, open the case from the box, align the camera on the rear to the top right of the case and clip it in.
First time login
Select English as your language
United Kingdom as your region (this is really important)
Select “Set up Manually” from the bottom of the page
Select your Wi-Fi
Enter the password and tap “join” and then “next”
Wait while the iPad activates (this may take a few minutes)
A screen with the title “Apps & Data” will appear – select “Don’t Transfer Apps & Data”
A new screen will appear with the title “Remote Management” – click “Next”
A page with a login box will appear
Add your username. This is the start of your school email address. Eg. if your email address is [email protected] OR [email protected] (this is dependent on the school your child attends.
Then then username would be firstname.surname31
(We apologise if the surname is not the preferred surname – these were set up using the information provided from your application to the school during Year 6. These usernames will only need to be used once.)
The default password this year is “summer2024”
The next page will ask you to click to “Enroll this device” tap the blue button
The next screen will ask you to “Enable Location Services” please make sure this option is selected.
Your enrolment is now complete and default applications will now start to download.
After school your child’s iPad behaves exactly like any other iPad. During the day we manage the iPads so that only certain apps are available.
In order to download apps at home that you have agreed your child can have, you will need an Apple ID. If you do not have one, you can find instructions on how to set one up here.
If you have separate Apple ID’s – for example if your child already has an apple device – you can link Apple ID’s in a family sharing group. More info on that can be found here.
Screen time and other parental controls are also available. You can find guides to these here.
For additional protection we recommend that you filter what your children can access at home using your own Wifi. Most hubs for your Wifi at home will have settings that will also restrict content. Log in to your broadband provider account and search for parental controls.
Please note: If you chose not to purchase a school iPad and bought your own, in order to be used in school we must add it to the JAMF system. This will ensure the same safety features are enabled and the iPad will be restricted during school hours. Please email the serial number to your child’s Crew Leader to ensure we are able to do this in a timely manner, in support of your child’s learning.
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance.
We’ve just wrapped up our first week back at school, and what an incredible start it has been! Seeing how much my crew have grown since they first joined us in Year 7 has filled me with immense pride.
Our week was packed with activities that brought us closer together as a crew. One of the highlights was painting portraits of each other—a fun and creative exercise that had us all laughing at our artistic interpretations! These moments of laughter and connection set a positive tone for the year ahead.
Our character trait for the week was compassion, and we put it into practice during a walk around Lakeside. Armed with cards and handmade origami flowers, the students brightened the day for many members of the public. It was a simple act, but the smiles it brought to people’s faces were priceless.
These activities are just the beginning as we prepare for the exciting journey of Year 9. The experiences and lessons learned will undoubtedly help our students as they step up to Key Stage 4.
I’m excited to support them every step of the way, and I look forward to all the growth and achievements this year will bring!
As Crew Winsdor came back into school last week, we were ready and raring to go! We collected in donations from our crew and cohort for our planned visit to a local care home! We decorated boxes and filled them with goodies such as biscuits, soap, magazines and hand cream. We walked with these boxes to the care homes and shared a lovely hour with the residents. At firsts the kids were a little apprehensive, but soon flourished into full conversations with the residents. It was a real pleasure to watch. On Friday we were blessed with an absolutely stunning day weather wise for our walk to Flamborough. We even got to see some seals! What a wonderful first week back!
We are thrilled to share that Crew Spencer has had a fantastic first week back at school! The children have returned with such enthusiasm, and it has been a joy to watch them reconnect with their friends and settle back into the school routine.
The first week back, our focus has been on kindness—a theme that has resonated throughout all our activities. We believe that nurturing kindness within our students is just as important as academic learning, and it has been heartwarming to see how your children have embraced this value.
Highlights of the Week
Care Home Donation Boxes: Our week kicked off with a creative project where the children designed and decorated beautiful boxes. These boxes were used to collect donations for our local care home, and the children took great pride in making them special. They were thoughtful and considerate, knowing that their work would brighten someone else’s day.
Team Building and Bonding: We also engaged in several team-building activities throughout the week. These exercises were designed to help the children strengthen their relationships with one another, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. It was inspiring to see them work together, support each other, and build lasting bonds that will serve them well throughout the school year.
Kindness Postcards at Lakeside:
On Thursday, we enjoyed a lovely walk around Lakeside. The children had a wonderful time handing out postcards filled with kind messages to members of the community. It was a rewarding experience for them to see the smiles they brought to people’s faces. This activity also gave the children a chance to explore our local area and connect with the community in a meaningful way.
Looking Forward
As we move forward, we will continue to weave the theme of kindness into our daily activities, encouraging the children to carry this important value with them both in and out of the classroom.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead with Crew Spencer!
We’re excited to share that E29 has had an amazing first week back at school! The week was filled with activities that not only sparked joy but also encouraged kindness and community spirit.
Spreading Kindness
Our focus on kindness kicked off with activities that taught E29 the importance of helping others. They enthusiastically took part in creating care packages, which we donated to local care homes. The kids loved knowing that their efforts would bring smiles to the residents.
Fun and Games
In between, we enjoyed plenty of fun games that helped the children reconnect and bond as a group. These activities were a great way to start the year with positive energy and lots of laughter.
XPkindness Trail
One of the highlights of the week was designing and setting up the XPkindness Trail around Lakeside. The children left behind inspiring messages and thoughtful surprises for the community, showcasing their creativity and compassion.
Fieldwork Adventure to Flamborough
We wrapped up the week with a beautiful day of fieldwork at Flamborough. We explored the natural surroundings, whilst on a hike and shared in the joy of outdoor discovery. We even got to see seals swimming in the sea! It was the perfect adventure to end the first week back.
We are so proud of how E29 has embraced the start of this school year with enthusiasm and kindness. We look forward to all the wonderful experiences that lie ahead for Year 9!
