HGS Weekly Newsletter | Spring Term, Week 10 | Date: 14 March 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).
WEEKLY LUNCH MENU - Week 2
You can see our three-weekly menu here - we are on Week 2.
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SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Good afternoon,
Another amazing week at HGS comes to a close; it began with a group of our students having the very special opportunity to attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, where King Charles and leaders of the Commonwealth countries were present for a celebration of the unity, diversity and shared values of the Commonwealth. You can read a wonderful description of the event by our Head Girl Bibi below.
Back in school, we had year group photos for Years 11 and 13; another 'Beyond This' workshop for Year 12; parents' evening for Year 7; and the return of the excellent Box Clever Theatre Company, who this week presented an interactive performance of Macbeth for our GCSE English students.
In addition, excitement is growing as the Addams Family rehearsals have reached their final stages - lighting and sound are in place and the staging is being refined as I write this. If you haven't bought your ticket yet then please do so, as they are selling fast with very few left for Thursday 20 March. There are also performances on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 March, all starting at 7pm. Tickets are available on ParentPay.
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Hertfordshire County Dance Festival in St Albans; it was a fantastic event showcasing dance from across the county and across the age ranges. The performances were excellent and demonstrated the hard work, talent and perseverance of those involved, and it was also great to see our local primaries represented. Dancers from Hitchin Girls' School closed the show and they were brilliant!! A huge thank you and well done to each and every one of them - Bibi, Lily, Elodie, Jess, Freya, Daisy, Erin, Charlotte, Matilda, Lucy, Lauren, Rowan, Georgie, Libby, Amity and Tabitha - and thanks also to the PE team and particularly Mrs Connolly for leading the group.
Have a good weekend.
James Crowther, Headteacher
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A reminder that it's Non-uniform Day on 21 March for Comic Relief, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
For students to wear non-uniform on this day we ask for a minimum donation of £1 via ParentPay. Any students who can't donate due to financial circumstances are still welcome to take part.
On non-uniform days we still have expectations about appropriate dress for school, and the following items are not permitted:
-sleeveless or cropped tops
-shorts
-flip-flops or backless shoes
Our usual rules regarding jewellery and lanyards also still apply.
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We felt very lucky and privileged to have won in the schools’ ballot to represent the UK at the Commonwealth Day Service, a vibrant multi-faith ceremony that took place at Westminster Abbey this week. You can watch it on iPlayer – see if you can spot the HGS contingent!
Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration of the unity, diversity, shared values and family spirit of the Commonwealth, encompassing 56 member states, or 2.7 billion citizens, across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.
"The service in Westminster Abbey was truly wonderful. It was a joyous celebration of diversity, interlaced with powerful messages of strength and endurance in the face of adversity. From vibrant Kenyan dances to bagpipe groups, and from the world's first Hindu eco-temple to moving music and poetry performances, the event really showcased talent and tradition from all across the Commonwealth. It was also amazing to see prominent figures such as King Charles, and leaders and ambassadors from various Commonwealth nations. It really brought home to us the unique role that the Commonwealth plays in addressing shared global challenges, especially in these turbulent times. We feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such an important event. A big thank you to Mr Jones and Mrs Noble for taking us!"
Bibi Winter, Head Girl
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Last Thursday GCSE English students were treated to a powerful three-person staging of Romeo & Juliet by Box Clever Theatre Company. Deftly blending Shakespearean verse with modern language and styling, the interactive production had our Year 11s captivated. Box Clever returned this week with another electrifying and up-close performance by a trio of actors, this time bringing Macbeth to vivid life and once again presenting a very memorable interpretation of a curriculum text.
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Fantastic job by those students who were selected for and participated in the district swim gala last week in Watford as part of the North Herts team. Millie won gold in 50m freestyle and Lily won bronze as part of the 4 x 50m freestyle relay!
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A few years ago our then Head Girl, Ellie Swanton, set up the Pride of HGS Awards as a means of recognising the amazing work that Sixth Form students do both inside and outside school. There are three categories students can be nominated for:
Charity: Someone who has been working to support a charity, in or out of school. This can be through fundraising, volunteering or any other relevant activity.
Community: Someone who has given their time to support the local community or a local community group, inside or outside school.
Selflessness: Someone who has given their time or efforts selflessly to help others. This could be someone that has supported an individual, or can always be relied upon in any situation to give their time and energy.
Anyone can nominate a student. It can be someone outside of school, a friend, a parent or a teacher.
Nominations will close in the first part of the Summer term. The overall winner will be presented with the shield.
To nominate a student please use this link: ttps://forms.gle/sxxvTKPoM2S5PWEq9
We look forward to reading your nominations!
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Our World Book Day cake sale last week was very popular, with the queue going all the way down the main stairs at one point and our student helpers kept busy selling all the lovely cakes and bakes! Thank you to everyone who baked for the sale and supported it on the day.
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NOTICEBOARD - SEND / WELLBEING
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North Hertfordshire College is pleased to announce an open afternoon at Springboard Letchworth on Tuesday 1 April, 3pm – 5pm
Springboard
Letchworth Town Hall
Broadway
Letchworth Garden City
SG6 3BX
Springboard is a full-time personalised course which provides students with the support, knowledge, skills and confidence to become more independent, make informed decisions and ultimately progress into mainstream college and work.
Springboard is for young people aged 16 and over who require additional support before progressing to a cross-college vocational course or employment. Many of the students have a diagnosis or traits of autism. Many have associated emotional and mental health needs that require specialist and bespoke support before they can move on and make a successful transition to adulthood.
The students study Employability; Functional Skills Maths and English from E3 to Level 2; Creative Arts (Drama) Therapy; Life Skills; Personal Development and Wellbeing; Vocational Tasters in Art and Cooking; First Aid and Enrichment, and complete 34 hours of work experience in their vocational area of interest.
Students need to meet assessment criteria in order to access the provision but individual needs are always considered and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, subject to funding being approved by the Local Authority.
If you would like to attend please RSVP to Mickaela Windsor mwindsor@nhc.ac.uk or Rebecca Lewis rebecca.lewis@nhc.ac.uk, or call 07943 526089.
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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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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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