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.ukwith 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
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!
Are you interested in learning an instrument?
Years 7 & 8 students can come and try out various instruments at our 'have a go' session, taking place at 12.30 on Monday 13 November in H81.
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 formand Jane will contact you directly to discuss arrangements and what your input will be on that day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.