HGS Weekly Newsletter | Summer Term, Week 3 | Date: 3 May 2024
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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: bank holiday, school closed
Tuesday: SAVOURY MINCE & ONION PIE, PASTA BAKE (v), CHEESE & TOMATO WRAPS (v), LEMON SPONGE
Wednesday: BBQ SAUSAGE NOODLES, CAULIFLOWER CHEESE (v), CHEESE QUICHE, CHOCOLATE SCRUMMY
Thursday: CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH NAAN BREAD, SPAGHETTI SAVOURY (v), CHEESE & ONION PASTIES (v), CARROT CAKE
Friday: PASTA BOLOGNAISE, POTATO & RED ONION BAKE (v), FISHCAKES, FLAPJACK (free from wheat, eggs, milk)
(V) = Vegetarian (GF) = Gluten Free
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SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Good afternoon,
Today we say our goodbyes to Mrs Wilson, our Catering Manager, who has ensured our students and staff are well fed and generally looked after for the last 23 years. Mrs Wilson has always endeavoured to provide great meal choices and healthy food for the school; the Meal of the Day is incredibly varied, and with the support of her team, she has ensured that everyone's needs are catered for. Over the years there have been numerous special menu days, and 'Meatless Mondays' have been with us now for a good few years. I am sure you will all join me in thanking Mrs Wilson for all her efforts and wishing her well for the future. Here's to a wonderful retirement!
Recently, the Comet published an article featuring a former colleague, Mrs Eckersall, who sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year. The article can be seen here.
Her husband is now taking on a 780km walk to raise money for charity - I have been in contact with him recently and agreed to share the story with our community in order to raise awareness and hopefully generate some support for his charitable efforts. We wish him all the best with the walk and our thoughts are with him, and family and friends.
Back in school it was a pleasure to meet with the Year 7 Mathematicians we celebrated in last week's newsletter to issue them with their Headteacher's Awards in recognition of their efforts. Well done again.
An absolute highlight this week has been seeing the Year 13 students get together and enjoy a slice of cake in celebration of their Sixth Form Passport graduation - more details below. It was lovely to reminisce - it's amazing how seven years can just fly by. With their exams just around the corner (some have actually started) and their last full day in school next week, it's timely for me to wish them all the very best of luck. I know that all the hard work will pay off and I look forward to celebrating their successes with them in the summer.
Year 10 students complete their mocks today and I must say that their approach to the exams has been outstanding. Mocks are really valuable - an opportunity to practise routines and establish good revision techniques and habits. Importantly, the outcomes will be an important indicator of strengths and areas for further work. I therefore encourage all parents and carers to have conversations with their children about the experience, their results and next steps.
Enjoy the long weekend.
James Crowther, Headteacher
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Parent Trustee vacancy
We have a vacancy on the Board of Trustees for a Parent Trustee (Governor), and welcome and encourage applications from parents of all backgrounds who would be keen to serve in this role.
Serving as a Trustee is both a challenge and a pleasure, and Hitchin Girls’ is fortunate to have Trustees who play a full part in the life of the school. Parent Trustees have an important part to play as they can bring a contemporary view through the school life of their child(ren) as well as a wide variety of skills and experience to the table.
Nominations must be submitted by 11.30am on Friday 17 May 2024.
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Year 13 Graduation event
We had a celebration for all our students who earned their Sixth Form Passport, through the time and effort they dedicated over two years in the areas of HGS Traditions, Enrichment, Extracurricular and Ethos, taking part in activities and contributing to our community outside the classroom. This is just the beginning of their celebrations and we look forward to all that's still to come. Onwards to the final exams now as study leave starts next week. Wishing everyone the very best of luck!
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A level Geography field trip
Our Year 12 Geographers were in Norwich and Southwold last month for three busy days of fieldwork, where they trialled various data collection techniques to prepare for their upcoming independent investigations.
In Norwich, they explored research methods around changing places and contemporary urban environments, including sensory mapping, epitome words, environmental quality indexes and retail quality indexes. In Southwold, they looked at strategies to collect data around coastal systems such as beach profile measurements and wave surveys, as well as a range of sampling techniques.
The group stayed at the University of East Anglia campus and utilised Earlham Park to try out data collection approaches related to water and carbon cycles, including rates of carbon sequestration, infiltration rates and air quality transects.
Following this fieldwork and the day trip to King’s Cross earlier in the year, our students are now equipped to formulate their own enquiries, methods and methodologies, and are getting ready to collect their own data over the summer holidays.
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Classics Italy trip
Classics students from Years 10-13 were in Italy during the Easter holidays for a five-night tour of some of the most important sites of the ancient Roman civilisation. In Rome they were able to take in the Forum, the Capitoline Museum, Trajan’s Column and of course the Colosseum, plus Giolitti’s for the best gelato in the city – it would have been wrong not to!
Our Classicists then travelled south to Sorrento, from where they went on excursions that included climbing Mount Vesuvius, walking the ruins of Pompeii and sharing the stunning sea view that Pliny had across the bay in the 1st century AD. Thank you to Mrs Coe and all our staff who made this trip so inspiring and memorable.
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May Diversity display
It's May already and summer is just around the corner. This month we will be marking Deaf Awareness Week and Mental Health Awareness Week. There are also lots of other important dates coming up this month - do take a look at the display and calendar to find out more. Thank you to Emily, Evie, Emma and Ellie in Year 10 who helped prepare the resources for the display! Have a wonderful May!
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Cheerleading World Championships - congratulations Harriet!
England smashed it this year at the International Cheer Union World Championships, which are held annually at the ESPN Disney World of Sport in Florida. Harriet's All-Girls Elite Team took the Bronze medal for their routine 'Globed', in an incredibly difficult division behind USA and Norway.
A mixture of gymnastic tumbling, acro stunting and dance, Cheerleading is a growing sport in the UK and is set to be included in the Olympics in 2032. There are teams open to everyone at any ability or age. Anyone interested in joining a club or finding out more can visit the Cheerleading Association website: https://ukca.org.uk/
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It's Tennis time
Years 8, 9, and 10 students competed in their first tennis fixture of the season against St Francis in the Nicola Mabbit tournament and won overall.
Meanwhile Year 10 Sports Leaders assisted with a primary school tennis tournament this week at Letchworth Tennis Club and received compliments from the organisers for how they helped the children on the court. Well done everyone!
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Athletics - combined events
Three of our students took part in Herts Athletics Combined Events recently, where they had to compete in events including Hurdles, 800m, 200m and either Shot Put or Javelin. They competed to a really high standard with Juliet finishing 8th and Emily finishing 5th. Particular congratulations go to Edythe who finished in 2nd place and will now be considered for representing Herts in the Regional finals.
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Stress-busting tips for exams
Our friends at Phase Hitchin have put together this very useful set of tips for revising and managing exam stress. Do take a look for some great practical advice.
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Second-hand Book Sale
If you love a bargain, don't miss the second-hand book sale outside reception at lunchtime on Wednesday 15 May. All books are ex-stock from the HGS Library and will be available at bargain prices. Proceeds from the sale will go to Book Aid International, a charity that sends new books to schools, libraries and hospitals around the world. So not only will you be gaining some great new reads, you'll also be helping a fantastic charity.
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Pride of HGS - voting is still open!
Our Ellie Swanton Pride of HGS Award, named after our former Head Girl (2017) who it set up, is a means of recognising the amazing work that our Sixth Form students do both in and out of school.
Anyone can nominate a Sixth Form student, and there are three categories:
CHARITY: Someone who has been working to support a charity, such as fundraising or volunteering, either inside or outside school.
COMMUNITY: Someone who has given their time to support the local community or a local community group.
SELFLESSNESS: Someone who has given their time or efforts selflessly to help others. It could be supporting a particular individual, or generally being willing to give time and energy in any situation, either in or out of school.
All nominations via this form please: https://forms.gle/2eNdh9uyhP8ukFeC7
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Episode 2 of our podcast is here! Continuing with the theme of Aspiration, it features Year 12 students talking about their hopes and dreams for the future.
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NOTICEBOARD - WELLBEING / SEND
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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
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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:
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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.
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Improves outcomes for wellbeing and attainment
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Widens choice for children and parents/carers
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Removes barriers to learning
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Uses resources more effectively
More info including parent workshops
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