Sixth Form Weekly Newsletter | Autumn Term, Week 10 | Date: 10 Nov 2023

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Y11 Virtual Site Options Launch & Careers Week
All Day
13
November
B week
All Day
From 30 Oct and on Monday every 2 weeks until 03 Mar except for 25 Dec and for 19 Feb
13
November
Y11 MFL Speak Mock Exams
All Day
From 13 Nov until 16 Nov
13
November
Odd Socks Day
All Day
13
November
MSH - 11 Mocks
8:30am – 3:30pm
13
November
Y11 Options Evening
6:00pm – 8:00pm
14
November
Children in Need Non Uniform Day
All Day
15
November
Careers Day (TST)
8:30am – 3:30pm
16
November
Occasional Day
All Day
17
November

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). 

WEEKLY MENU

 

[Every day - Pasta / Jacket Potatoes & Toppings, Panini of the Day]

** MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
** GLUTEN-FREE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST **

Monday: PASTA CHEESE PARCELS (v), VEGETABLE KATSU CURRY (v), CHEESE QUICHE (v), JAM SPONGE

Tuesday: BEEF LASAGNE, THREE BEAN CHILLI (v)(gf), CHEESE & ONION PASTIES, DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP SPONGE

Wednesday: CHICKEN & HAM PIE, BROCCOLI & CHEESE PASTA (v), PESTO, TOMATO & CHEESE PASTRY CROWNS (v), CARROT CAKE

Thursday: SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN (gf), MACARONI CHEESE (v), CHEESE QUICHE (v), CHOCOLATE KRISPIE (free from eggs)

Friday: INSET DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED 

(V) = Vegetarian (GF) = Gluten Free

SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


Good afternoon,

Earlier today the school marked Remembrance Day with a two-minutes silence; this was preceded by The Last Post and followed by the Reveille, both played on the cornet by Bethany Drakes from Year 8.  Bethany was joined by several of our students wearing their uniforms for Cadets, Guides and Explorers - it was a very moving sign of our respect as we remembered those affected by conflict over time and in the present.  

This week has also seen us celebrate Diwali - we have had traditional dress on display in the main school foyer, and on Tuesday a number of students gathered over lunch to share their own traditions and have some food together, all joining in for a dance as well. Happy Diwali to all members of our community who will be celebrating this weekend.

On Wednesday we had great success in the cross country district competition - you can read more about this below, but well done to all involved!  This week we also celebrate the success of one of our Year 12 students, Harriet Utting, who has achieved a place on the England Cheer team - congratulations Harriet.

Next week is Anti-bullying Week, starting off with 'Odd Socks Day' on Monday. Over the next few weeks students will be engaged in activities that highlight our approach to bullying, and emphasise our message of 'be an upstander, not a bystander'.

On Wednesday we will have a non-uniform day to raise money for Children in Need, and on Thursday we have our Futures Fair, where Years 9 through to 13 will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from many employers, universities, colleges and apprenticeship providers - it is set to be an exciting day.

A reminder that the next two weeks are four-day weeks as the school is closed on Friday for our Occasional Day and again on Monday 20 November for an INSET day.

Have a good weekend.

James Crowther, Headteacher


Road safety warning

All parents/carers who drop off and collect students from school by car are reminded to do so at a safe distance from the school grounds. Recently we have had a number of reports of cars parked on yellow lines and the zigzags outside the school gates. This is potentially very dangerous, and for the safety of all of our students we ask that this practice does not continue.


Next week is Anti-bullying Week, starting off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 13 November. Come wearing odd socks to embrace each other's differences, and celebrate what makes each of us unique!


HGS Futures Fair

We have lots of local and national employers plus representatives from further & higher education institutions coming in next week to speak directly with our students at this information event.

  



Happy Diwali!

Over one lunchtime this week, some of our students gave a presentation on Diwali they had put together before everyone joined in for Indian dancing and indulged in some tasty food! Mrs Virdee's stunning salwar kameez was a big hit!


Gold in cross country - in all age groups!

Outstanding achievements at the District Cross Country Championships on Wednesday despite the cold and rain! All five of our age groups (Y7 to Senior) won team Gold medals, which has never been done before. Congratulations to:

Year 7: Lauren, Millie, Hannah, Jess, Isabella, Poppy

Year 8: Neve, Jess, Anna, Molly, Ilona

Year 9: Indiya, Sarena, Edythe, Rowan, Emily, Hannah

Year 10: Bethany, Juliet, Anouska, Chloe, Lucy, Nina

Senior: Abi, Fran, Holly, Molly, Charlotte, Rose

We also have an amazing list of individual medallists: Jess (Gold - Y8), Neve (Bronze - Y8), Sarena (Silver - Y9), Edythe (Bronze - Y9), Juliet (Silver - Y10), Abi (Gold - Senior), Fran (Silver - Senior), Rose (Bronze - Senior).

A fantastic effort all round – well done to all 35 students who took part for their determination and camaraderie throughout the competition!




Shoeboxes shipped!

We were pleased to once again support Link to Hope's annual Shoebox Appeal through Walsworth Road Baptist Church, now in its 20th year. Students got involved by packing Christmassy shoeboxes with daily essentials and gifts, destined for children, families and the elderly in the poorest communities in Eastern Europe. Thank you to the Sixth Formers who assisted with this as well. The boxes are now on their way to reaching those in the most difficult circumstances in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.


Cheering for England

Following an intense two-day try-out involving more than 200 athletes, Harriet Utting  (Year 12) has been selected to represent Team England Cheer at the International Cheer Union's World Championships in Florida next April!


Parent volunteers needed -
Year 9 and Year 11 careers days

We are looking for parent volunteers to help out at our careers days in the new year, either by talking about their work role and career path (Year 9 day) or by conducting mock interviews (Year 11 day).

Year 11 – Get Work Ready, Thursday 25 January 2024

Year 9 – Discover, Believe, Become, Thursday 8 February 2024

ELSA Next Generation, which will be running both days, is a Community Interest Company run by Jane Shipley. We have worked with Jane for many years to support students as they think about their next steps and future careers.

If you may be able to help on one or both of these days, please fill in this volunteer form and Jane will contact you directly to discuss arrangements and what your input will be on that day.


Eco Club appeal

Please also remember to vote for our Eco Club next time you shop at Tesco!: Hitchin Girls' School - Vote for Eco Club at Tesco! (hgs.herts.sch.uk)


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NOTICEBOARD - LOCAL 




NOTICEBOARD - CAREERS / HIGHER EDUCATION



Housed in the VeloPark at the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, The College of Esports is the world’s first university-level institution dedicated to the industry of Esports.

As competitive video games continue to integrate into popular culture, we now have global investors, brands, and media outlets all paying attention. This year the market has experienced a total investment of USD 2 billion and this will look to increase year after year due to the increasing number of franchise-style leagues and rising audiences.

The degrees are tailored for college students who are studying a computing course or a creative media course such as games development.  

Current undergraduate degrees being delivered:

• BA (Hons) International Esports Business 
• BA (Hons) International Esports Business & Digital Media
• BA (Hons) Esports Coaching & Management 
• BA (Hons) International Esports Business & Digital Marketing 
• BA (Hons) International Esports Business & Events Management 
• BA (Hons) Games Design 
• BA (Hons) Games Art
• BSC (Hons) Games Development 

Find out more / open days


Find out more


Filmmaking funding for young people

The Short Cut Film Fund is an opportunity for three aspiring filmmakers aged 16-25 years old to receive a grant of £1,000 to create a short film with a running time of up to five minutes. This includes all stages of production from start to finish, including script, shooting and post-production. The aim of the programme is to nurture new talent from under-represented groups with recipients getting tailored mentoring support throughout.

Part of the BFI Film Academy, delivered by the Young Film Network South East, and made possible thanks to National Lottery funding, Short Cut Film Fund is open to all, with no prior filmmaking experience required. Focused on the creative process rather than product, it is designed to showcase filmmaking ambition and the potential of young creatives. There is no requirement for high-quality equipment – phones or any device can be used to capture the
individuals' stories.

Find out more and apply

University of Lincoln open days

Saturday 11 November & Wednesday 29 November

An opportunity for students to get to know the university and find out more about what it's like to live and learn in Lincoln.

Book your place

 





If you are a Black A-level student in Years 12-13 seeking to attend a top-tier university whilst gaining invaluable corporate training, without the financial burden of a student loan, the PwC Technology and Accounting degree schemes on offer could be a particularly compelling option for you. 

We will be running an introductory event to the scheme as follows:

Friday 1 December 2023 16.30 – 19.30 (registration from 16.00)

PwC Headquarters, 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Find out more and register



NHS Careers Untapped webinars

The NHS Careers Untapped team are pleased to announce upcoming virtual webinars showcasing some of the great jobs available in the NHS. The webinars will cover careers in Nursing & Midwifery, Primary Care, Allied Health Professions, Healthcare Science, Mental Health with many more. The webinars are free to attend and run from 4.30pm to 6pm.

For more information and to register click here


Work experience

Work experience is a fantastic way of gaining insight into a career, especially what a typical day is like in that job. It can be a valuable way for students to develop confidence and experience caring for people. We have a range of work experience placements across health and care for students aged 14+ , including in pathology, healthcare science, admin, midwifery, physiotherapy, pharmacy, finance, theatres, estates and facilities, digital, HR and many more.

For more information and to apply click here



Monthly virtual work experience days
for students interested in careers within the NHS

Suitable for Years 10 - 13

Next session: Sunday 3 December

This is a rolling programme with applications open throughout this academic year.

Careers covered include:

Nursing
Midwifery
Paramedicine
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Radiography
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Speech and Language Therapy
Pharmacy

During the work experience day, students will follow two patients from their initial presentation to recovery. They will observe healthcare professionals as they interact with the patients and each other, and will have an opportunity to ask questions.

This will help students make an informed career decision as well as learn about how healthcare professionals work together as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Each session is completely different, and students will be able to build on their knowledge of NHS careers as they see different patient cases and professionals work in a variety of settings, from the hospital to the community.

Students will also receive certificates as evidence of participation in the programme. The fee is £10 per session to cover administrative costs.

Find out more and register


At the Fashion Retail Academy, we have a wide range of fashion-focused courses, including Fashion Buying, Data Analytics, Fashion Business and Digital Marketing.
We work with more than 140 brands to ensure that our graduates have the skills needed by the industry. Our brand partners also provide work placements, projects, talks, and workshops.

Find out more about FRA's courses



NOTICEBOARD - WELLBEING / SEND / SUPPORT