HGS Weekly Newsletter | Spring Term, Week 10 | Date: 15 March 2024
|
|
|
|
|
REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCE
We have an online absence reporting form for all absences (whole day or part of the day). If you are unable to use the form you will need to email absence@hgs.herts.sch.uk with the student's name and tutor group, reason for absence and expected return date (if known).
[Every day - Pasta / Jacket Potatoes & Toppings, Panini of the Day]
** MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
** GLUTEN-FREE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST **
Monday: PASTA CHEESE PARCELS (v), CHICKEPEA & LENTIL KORMA (v), CHEESE QUICHE (v), JAM SPONGE
Tuesday: BEEF LASAGNE, THREE BEAN CHILLI (v)(gf), CHEESE & ONION PASTIES (v), DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP SPONGE
Wednesday: CHICKEN STEW & DUMPLINGS, BROCCOLI & CHEESE PASTA (v), PESTO, TOMATO & CHEESE-TOPPED BAGEL (v), CARROT CAKE
Thursday: BACON, LEEK & POTATO BAKE, SPAGHETTI SAVOURY (v), SPICY BEAN BURGERS TOPPED WITH SALSA & CHEESE (v), APPLE & BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE (free from eggs, milk)
Friday: SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN (gf), MACARONI CHEESE (v) BATTERED FISH, CHOCOLATE KRISPIE (free from eggs)
(V) = Vegetarian (GF) = Gluten Free
|
|
SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
|
There have been a huge number of successes and events this week to celebrate and give thanks for, but before I do that I need to reiterate a very clear message about dropping off and picking up students. Recently I have received a number of concerns about cars pulling up in the school car parks and on the zigzag lines outside school to pick up, drop off and wait for students. This is dangerous behaviour and makes what is a busy road at these times significantly more hazardous. We - students, staff and families - are a community and there is a shared responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of each other. If you have previously engaged in this behaviour, I politely remind you that the school car parks are for staff and visitors (by arrangement) only. I also ask you to identify a location, well away from the school gates, for picking up or dropping off. Thank you in advance.
This has been a particularly busy week in school, closing with a non-uniform day for Comic Relief and a Food Drive for the local foodbank. As ever, students and families have given generously towards the Food Drive supporting an important local charity. Thank you to everyone, with a special thanks to Mrs Reynolds and her team of students who organise these regular collections.
Additionally today, Mrs Goose and Mrs Woods have been hosting the North Herts Schools Book Awards, for which we have been joined by students from nine other local schools. We were delighted that one of last year's winners, Yasmin Rahman (Why is Nobody Laughing?), was able to come and talk to the students about her inspiring journey to becoming a published author despite the challenges she faced.
Students across Years 7, 10 and 12 have benefitted from other external speakers too this week. Year 12s had a day with Peter Radford from Beyond This, an important workshop focusing on sex and relationships, whilst Years 7 and 10 had a range of hands-on group activities with a team from Tesco. Thanks to everyone who came into school to help enrich our curriculum. If you have a child in these year groups please do ask them about their experience this week - what they learnt and how it will help them in the future are simple questions to get the conversation started.
This edition of the newsletter also features sporting success for some of our footballers who play for Hitchin Belles - good luck for the final! Also, you can read about another achievement for Anna in Year 8, who is adding to her previous success in a national maths competition - well done Anna.
With just under two weeks to go, this term really is flying by and we still have the Classics Play, the Gym & Dance Competition, the Science Fair and the Year 11 Steps to Success evening to look forward to.
Have a good weekend,
James Crowther, Headteacher
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tesco Days
We welcomed back representatives from Tesco this week to run workshops for our Year 7s and 10s on various aspects of the supermarket business. Team challenges included designing a breakfast meal deal and pitching it, and designing a whole new Tesco store and presenting on its unique features and ways in which it would be more sustainable. Our thanks to the Tesco team for the opportunity to learn and think about the industry in different ways. We had some good creative ideas from students and it was great presentation practice as well.
|
|
|
Sports Leaders
Well done Year 11s who ran their last ever sports festivals for Whitehill pupils to complete their Level 2 Sports Leaders course, devising a variety of inventive games and activities for the children.
|
|
|
Cup final for our Belles in blue!
Hitchin Belles U15 Blues, including Year 10 HGS students Lily, Maisie, Bethany, Maia, Summer and Olivia, have made it to the Herts County Cup final, a big achievement given the very strong competition!
The match will be on Saturday 23 March at Herts FA, County Ground in Letchworth. Kick off will be at 2.30pm and all support will be very welcome!
|
|
Bebras - national finalist!
Anna Poliakoff in Year 8 finished 13th place out of the final 20 in the Oxford University Computing Challenge - which started with 209,000 students from across the country taking part in the Bebras Challenge. Anna scored 52 / 72 by solving eight out of the 12 problems in a very tough final round. Huge well done!
|
|
|
It's been a very busy week in our Library with the book sale in collaboration with Next Page Books, and a big cake sale in support of World Book Day, to raise funds to supply books in disadvantaged communities around the UK. Thanks to all the students who baked for the sale and helped run it as well. The week rounded off with the annual North Herts Schools Book Awards - more on that next week!
 
|
|
|
|
|
The Association of British Science Writers is accepting submissions for this year's Young Science Writer Award, one of the most prestigious events in their calendar.
The aim of the competition is to encourage talented 14 - 16-year-old students with a passion for STEM and writing to submit an 800-word essay on the topic of their choice.
|
|
|
Just Talk Poetry Competition 2024
There are no restrictions on style or content - just take the theme of 'The Power of Small' as your starting point. You can interpret the theme in any way you find meaningful.
Competition Details:
- Open to: All Hertfordshire KS3, KS4 and KS5 students
- Competition Dates: Entries to be submitted between Monday 11th March and Thursday 28th March 2024.
- Entries must be sent to the Pastoral Team by Thursday 28th March. We've had several winners and special mentions in the past. Winning entries will be published in a poetry book and the winners will receive their own copy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hertfordshire County Council is proposing new bus improvements in Hitchin. The improvements include:
- a new southbound bus lane along the A600 Bedford Road to improve bus journey times into Hitchin town centre
- a new northbound bus lane on Queen Street and upgrades to bus stops and new pedestrian crossings.
For further details and to have your say visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/busimprovements
|
|
|
|
|
NOTICEBOARD - WELLBEING / SEND
|
|
|
|
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is offering a free online ‘Managing Study Stress’ webinar for students who are aged 16+, which covers some of the key content delivered in our in-person workshop.
The webinar offers insights into the common triggers and symptoms of stress and provides guidance on cognitive and behavioural techniques which students can learn and use themselves to tackle these symptoms. These skills can be particularly helpful for students as they are preparing for their exams and/or completing coursework. The webinar will next run on the following dates:
Please note this webinar is open to the public and those attending will be anonymous.
More info and register
|
|
|
Reducing Conflict online workshops
Wednesday 20 March, 7 – 9pm via MS Teams
Conflicts are a regular occurrence within families. It’s often a normal part of everyday life. However, conflict that is frequent, intense and poorly resolved has a significant negative impact on children’s mental health and long-term life chances. This 2-hour workshop explores different types of conflict between couples and families. It will provide support in understanding the causes and impact of parental and family conflict on children and gives practical steps and strategies that parents can take to help improve their family relationships.
Book
|
|
|
DSPL is a Hertfordshire-wide partnership approach in which parents/carers, school staff, local authority officers and other agency staff work together as part of an Area Group, to ensure that there is a range of provision and support services available in their local community that:
-
Meets the needs of children and young people (aged 0-25) with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as close to home as possible.
-
Improves outcomes for wellbeing and attainment
-
Widens choice for children and parents/carers
-
Removes barriers to learning
-
Uses resources more effectively
More info including parent workshops
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
