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The children have enjoyed learning about musical instruments this week. We learned a song called ‘Ocean Jam’ and the children carefully selected instruments to play for each section of the song. We sang, danced and played to the beat of the music! What a jam!
We are looking forward to performing our song to the nursery children in our community meeting tomorrow.
Beginning in hook week, Nursery began to draw pictures of a Sea Perch carefully chosen for it’s simple and recognisable outline and detailed body. The children first observed only the picture of the Sea Perch and completed their first drafts of the fish. Nursery worked very hard at creating drawings using lines and circles, whilst concentrating on the visual and this activity took quite some time as everyone was trying their best.
Three weeks later our Nursery children attempted a second draft of their fish, but before they began, Nursery watched a short clip about a little boy called Austin, who drew a Butterfly. When Austin drew his first butterfly, despite having the picture in front of him, it looked like the one he visualised in his head. With the critique, help and support of his peers who gave small wonders on how Austin could gradually improve his butterfly to look more like the original picture. (Please check this out on YouTube) Austin produced this butterfly below as his final draft. Our children really responded to the video clip and were amazed at how much Austin’s Butterfly had improved. This gave them a good understanding of how to critique their own work, by just changing one or two things.
Here are some of our drafts for comparison, the children worked very hard to ensure their area of improvement was achieved and we are immensely proud of them. Check this beautiful work out!!
Today Nursery Crew’s were each read a different story, The Magic Porridge Pot and The Wizard of Oz. The focus was to practise listening very carefully to understand and recall who the main characters are, what problems they encounter and how they solved the problems.
Crew Winkley and Crew Mortimer swapped crew leaders at the end of each story to question the children’s understanding and for each crew to explain to us what had happened in the alternate story. The children listened very well and were able to recall events and characters in detail! Well Done Nursery next week we will swap stories and practise again. Beautiful communication and listening skills – great work!
After working so hard all week we decided to have a little biscuit break this afternoon!
Well done class five ⭐️⭐️
Since 2019 we have been working with the educational charity The Wood Foundation, which is based in Scotland. Dozens of educators from schools in the Aberdeen area have been visiting our Trust as delegates for the last four years – learning about Crew, expeditions and Leadership.
This week for the first time colleagues from our Trust, including our CAO Andy, had the opportunity to deliver CPD to teachers in Aberdeen, visiting schools and meeting students. It was heartwarming and humbling to see Crew – sometimes called Squads and Clans north of the border – being delivered in Scotland.
We look forward to welcoming more delegates to our Trust schools in the future and travelling back to support our new friends as they continue their Crew journey.
The beautiful work from LKS2’s Expedition ‘There Is No Planet B’ is now curated outside the school! The awesome artwork, created from digital images of discarded waste, depicts various different animals whose habitats are being destroyed in the local community. To further reinforce the notion of climate emergency, through their literacy cycle, pupils also wrote persuasive speeches about how we can all bring about positive change if we work together.
Mayan Mask Madness @ Norton Junior School
History and Ethics Fieldwork @ XP School
Super focus from Year 11 @ XP East
Class 1 have really impressed me in our counting collections session this week. They thought carefully about how they would count their collection and demonstrated their mathematical thinking when recording their findings. Moreover, they worked beautifully together, listening and supporting one another. A superb effort from everyone on a Friday!
Class Five are looking to the teacher versus parent community football match! (Keep your eyes peeled for more details about it coming soon!) We have been busy designing and voting for logos for our teacher football kit!
Awesome job class five ⚽️
Our number one rule in class 1 is to be kind…always. This week we have been thinking of ways that we can show kindness. In crew this morning it was great to see the children supporting one another to read words and giving one another praise for their efforts.
Also today, a little girl in class 1 decided she wanted to make something for her friend. She spent a long time in the creative area making two matching teddy bears. It put a big smile on her friends face when he received it! How kind to think of making someone else happy. You all make class 1 a beautiful place to be!
One of our favourite times of the week is our P.E session with Mr Woods. The children loved taking part in some team work games. They demonstrated strength, balance and coordination. Great work Class 1!
The certificates this week were awarded to Rianna and Carter for great listening skills and following instructions. Super job!
Year 9 students at XPG have embarked on their “You Give Me Fever” Expedition, which has culminated in their inaugural Public Health conference, addressing the challenges of public health amidst the cost-of-living crisis. Through three case studies examining historical and current health influences, they explored the impact of living conditions, government structures, and scientific advancements on people’s well-being.
This comprehensive analysis has also resulted in a formal report that presented key health risks for Gateshead’s residents, particularly in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. The report will be shared with the Health and Social Care Committee in Parliament.
Freya, a Year 7 student at XP Gateshead has created a beautiful piece of work that has been awarded a place in one of the most prestigious art galleries in the world. The Royal Academy is famous for showcasing new and established artists, bringing their work to a whole new audience.
The Young Artists Summer show, which is open for submissions to students studying in the UK aged from 4 – 19, opens in London on the 16th July and runs until the 11th August.
Freya’s painting Mr Pigeon was part of the expedition ‘Do your bit’ and honours the sacrifice that carrier pigeons made during WW1 and has been chosen from 21,500 other submissions. A remarkable achievement for a clearly talented and inspiring young artist.
We’ll follow up this story when Freya’s artwork is in place at the Royal Academy!
As part of their Expedition ‘You Give Me Fever’, C28 celebrated their learning this week – complete with a gallery of their incredible artwork. They shared scientific writing about diseases and their impact on society, dating back to the middle ages.
They sold their prints to raise money for their DofE Expedition – and the content will also be made into a book later in the year!
Mindboggling Mayans @ Norton Junior School
Visit to the National Holocaust Museum @ XP School
Year 9 Sharing Portfolios with Visitors @ XP East
