HGS Weekly Newsletter | Spring Term, Week 4 | Date: 31 January 2025
|
|
|
|
|
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).
You can see our three-weekly menu here - we are on Week 2.
|
|
SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
|
Good afternoon,
This week started with Holocaust Memorial Day and we marked this important day with a special assembly led by Mr Hanse, Mr Adams and Violet in Year 8. The assembly was skilfully crafted, making links with the curriculum, the school values and the personal history of our community members; thank you Mr Hanse, Mr Adams and Violet.
On Wednesday after school, we were joined by some ex-colleagues as we unveiled a memorial for our former Site Manager John Oswald, who sadly passed away in 2016. Having been our Site Manager for 13 years, John made a lasting impression on the school and those he worked with. The memorial is positioned outside in a direct line of sight from the cottage where John once lived.
This week saw the Intermediate Maths Challenge take place; thanks to Miss Chowdhury for organising it and fingers crossed for all the students as we await the results.
This week also marked the start of the Chinese new year, with this year being the Year of the Snake. To all our community members celebrating, "Xin nian hao!" May you be blessed by prosperity and health in the coming year.
A birthday bash for Year 7s and Year 13s as well as the issuing of a number of Headteacher's Awards provided some more points for celebration this week.
Congratulations also to the Year 13s who this week secured offers for university places at Oxford and Cambridge - well done!!
As you will see detailed below, there have been several brilliant accomplishments in a variety of sports recently. Congratulations to all the students for the successes they achieved in their respective sports.
Next week we will be joined by ELSA again on Thursday as Year 9s have their careers event - the recent Year 11 event was a great success and I look forward to seeing Year 9s engage fully with their day too.
And last but by no means least, we celebrated a very special birthday this week - see below!
Have a good weekend.
James Crowther, Headteacher
|
|
|
Our Extracurricular Clubs timetable for the Spring Term is now published. Do take a look and consider trying something new. We encourage everyone to sign up for at least one activity of their choice.
|
|
|
Hertfordshire County Council will be providing supermarket vouchers for each child entitled to benefits-related Free School Meals to cover February half-term. Eligible families will receive a digital supermarket voucher to the value of £15 per child, which will be emailed by Edenred on Thursday 6 February. Please check for this in your junk folder if you don't see it.
|
|
|
We marked a special birthday this week! Always a friendly and welcoming source of sustenance (especially coffee), and a lovely place to take a break and catch up for sixth formers and staff alike, our cafe - affectionately known as Toni's Cafe - was 10 on Thursday!
|
|
|
Sports hall successes! Well done to the Year 8 indoor hockey players who placed 2nd in a tournament of close games! And congratulations to the Year 7 futsal team, who have become district champions and are through to the county finals in March!
|
|
|
Huge achievements for HGS trampolinists at the zonal round of this year's national schools' competition! All three teams were overall winners, with Daisy, Mirelle and Lily achieving a top 5 finish to qualify for the finals. Bonnie became individual zonal champion, having won at regional level in November. Onwards to the national finals in Derby in March! Thank you as ever to all at HBS Revolutions for their coaching and support.
|
|
|
Congratulations go to sisters Grace and Violet in Year 7 for their accomplishments at That’s Showbiz, the UK’s largest groups dance competition. At the Elevate National Final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, they were awarded 1st place in the Classic genre for their Mini Small Group routine, and they also won Best Small Group and Best Technique. The routine also placed 2nd in the entire age category. Plus they finished in 1st place with their mixed age group routine, coming 2nd overall! Well done for all the hard work that went into these results!
|
|
|
And last but not least, congratulations also to Gladys in Year 7, who took part in the Eastern region fencing competition last weekend and secured a place in the British youth championships in the summer!
|
|
|
Our annual display of Year 7's book review skeletons and Year 8's book review bags have taken over our arches and pillars! Lots of wonderful detail, colour and illustrations accompany the students' reviews of their chosen books.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTICEBOARD - SEND / WELLBEING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What is offered by
Services for Young People?
Hertfordshire Services for Young People deliver a range of youth work projects for young people aged 11-17 (up to 25 for care leavers and those with SEND), in young people’s centres and other community venues in all districts of Herts.
They are committed to giving young people high-quality opportunities to learn life skills and excel in their personal and social development. They also aim to address issues at the earliest opportunity to give young people the best chance to thrive, have a voice in their community, reach their potential and make a successful transition to adulthood.
|
|
|
Autism / ADHD workshops
Nessie in Education will be running My World and Me workshops after school. This is open to students from all local secondary schools in Years 10 and 11 who have an Autism and/or ADHD diagnosis, or are on the pathway to referral.
|
|
|
|
|
A partnership of local agencies, DSPL publishes a weekly round-up of courses, workshops and events related to young people's wellbeing and additional needs in the North Herts area.
See all upcoming events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
