HGS Weekly Newsletter | Spring Term, Week 6 | Date: 14 February 2025
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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).
You can see our three-weekly menu here - we are on Week 1.
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SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Good afternoon,
We are now at the halfway point in the academic year and this last week has included some fantastic opportunities and events for our students. Monday saw the Austen and Bronte thrift sale take place; on Tuesday we welcomed a team from Tesco to lead a 'world of work' day for our Year 10s, as well as 'Mr Orange' from Learning Performance to lead workshops for Year 11s and their parents; on Wednesday Year 8 parents came into school to hear about Take Your Child to Work Day; and yesterday Year 9s heard a presentation by Marayln Turgel, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who facilitated these experiences for our students - these are some examples of what makes the educational experience here at HGS truly exceptional.
The presentation from Maralyn Turgel is always one that gets students and staff thinking deeply about the horrors of the past and, sadly, those that still take place today - as well as enabling us to reflect upon the resilience and strength of the human spirit. I spoke with a number of Year 9s yesterday and it was clear that the talk had made a real impact - please do take the time to ask your child about it, what they learned and how it made them feel.
Yesterday was also a very important one for a member of our staff - Mrs Pryde, who has now retired after 25 years of service to the school working in administrative and finance roles. Staff gathered on Monday, over tea and cake, to thank Mrs Pryde and wish her a happy retirement - I'm sure the wider school community will join us in giving thanks and wishing her well for the adventures that lie ahead. All the very best Mrs Pryde, and once again thank you!
With the New York Business Studies trip underway and the ski trip due to depart tomorrow, there will be lots to share with you upon our return on Monday 24 February. And with the second round of GCSE mocks commencing after the break, I wish Year 11s good luck with their revision.
Wishing you all a restful half term break.
James Crowther, Headteacher
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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 was emailed by Edenred on Thursday 6 February. Please check for this in your junk folder if you haven't seen it.
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SEED APPEAL: Do you have any flower / vegetable seeds going out of date this year that you would be able to donate to the HGS Eco Club? If so, students are asked to bring them to the Woodside reception office. Thank you!
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Each year we welcome Maralyn Turgel, whose father was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust, to talk to our Year 9s about his experiences. The details and personal stories she shares bring home the realities of the genocide. As ever, we are grateful to Maralyn for visiting us and for her engaging, educational and affecting talk.
Here are some of the comments students wrote about the event:
"It was so powerful to hear such an important story told out loud. Your speech was so impactful and inspiring, and makes me want to make a difference to the world. Thank you Maralyn."
"It was really eye-opening, making me grateful for the simplest things. It also drives me to make a change."
"It was so vulnerable, so sad, but so educating and eye-opening that you brought this story to us. That itself is a blessing and privilege - thank you, Maralyn."
"Thank you for coming to tell us about your family's history. It really touched me and even made me very emotional."
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Tying in with both National Apprenticeship Week and the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, we welcomed members of Tesco Property to run workshops with our Year 11s. The team specialise in developing new Tesco stores and managing the company's estate. Students had the chance to draw on their STEM, design and presentation skills as well as their imaginations to share their own visions of a new Tesco store for the future.
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Summer dreaming, on such a winter's day! Year 8 have been learning about composition and impressionistic painting techniques through studies of our local lavender fields.
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The Austen x Bronte Thrift Sale was a huge success. We had wonderful volunteer students from both houses working together to run this joint event. We sold all manner of second-hand clothes and accessories, plus we had an impressive cake stall, which certainly drew a crowd. In the 45-minute lunchtime event, we managed to raise over £400 for Hitchin Pantry and Happy Days children's charity. Thank you to all those who supported the event by making donations, baking cakes and volunteering on the day, as well as everyone who came to buy!
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Congratulations and good luck to Jemima in Year 8, who trains four times a week with Marriotts' Women's Artistic Gymnastics 3 Squad, and who has been selected to represent the county in the Hertfordshire County Squad for 2025.
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To celebrate World Book Day the Library is holding a book fair and cake sale on Thursday 6 March. The sale will run all day in the Library, where students will be given a £1 World Book Day token. Years 7-10 classes will visit during lessons and everyone is welcome to come along at break and lunchtime.
David's Bookshop in Letchworth is bringing a wide range of titles to choose from, as well as the special £1 World Book Day books. Students can pay by cash or card on the day, or reserve a book to collect and pay for the next day (cash only).
The cake sale will be held in the Library at break and lunchtime, with all proceeds going to World Book Day. Payment by cash only please.
We'd be very grateful if any students or parents/carers would like to make some cakes for the sale. Please make sure they don't contain nuts and bring them to the Library in a named container with an ingredients list before registration on Thursday morning.
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Design Hitchin Town FC’s 2025/26 Warm-Up Shirt!
Hitchin Town Football Club is inviting local children to design the club’s pre-match warm-up shirt for the 2025/26 season. Open to under-16s in Hitchin and the surrounding areas, this is your chance to get creative. Designs must use their template, available to download here: https://hitchintownfc.club/designtheshirt/ and feature the club’s home (yellow/green) and away (purple/pink) colours. Submit your design by Sunday 9 March 2025 by email to media@hitchintownfc.club or hand it in at the club shop during home matches on 22 February or 8 March.
Four designs will then be shortlisted, with supporters voting for the winner. All those shortlisted will win 4x tickets to the final home match of the season. The lucky winner will then be presented with their newly designed shirt once produced ahead of next season. All entrants automatically join the Junior Canaries supporters club, packed with competitions and prizes so get designing and be part of the club’s history!
 
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NOTICEBOARD - SEND / WELLBEING
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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.
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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.
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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
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