News & Stars from John & the PHS Team!
Welcome to Percy Hedley School's Whole School Blog!
Nieve was at PHS for six years
Hi everyone
I hope you’re all well
I wrote to you all last week about Nieve, a much-loved pupil here at PHS, who died in the school Easter holidays. Nieve’s funeral is today, and some staff are attending. We’re all thinking about Nieve and her family, and we wanted to dedicate our messages to you this week to her memory
Have a good weekend, all the very best, take care and we hope to see you soon, as always
J
😊 from John & the PHS Team 😊
School Photos
This is from Beth and Hannah and they were really lovely last year
It’s that time of year again – school photos! Building on the success of last year’s fundraiser for FoPHS, we are offering this lovely event again. Photographs will be taken and edited by one of our talented teachers, Beth Edwards.
Based on feedback from last year, we are now streamlining the process, and will be taking the photos on set days, so children can look their very best! A letter has been sent/emailed home today with more information. Please follow the link on the letter to sign your child up. The deadline is 26th April, and we will not be able to accept responses after that.
Dates for photographs are:
29th April – ELTBA
13th May – Engagement
20th May – Accreditation
Any queries, please contact Eileen Robinson on e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
First, let’s hear from our three Super Steering Groups which deliver our Key Drivers through the curriculum
Literacy
Let’s hear from Becky, our Literacy Lead! It’s always good stuff!
Another week with lots of training for the literacy team this team- more ELS introductory training for new staff, Clicker training (software to support writing with lots of exciting features!) and more training with Pickatale, an online library we have access to.
You may have heard us discuss Pickatale in previous blog posts. We are involved in trialling features for this online e-book library, to help them create a resource which is fully accessible for our student group. Pickatale aims to promote a ‘Love of Reading’, and there is a LOT of different content on there applicable for a very wide range of student ages, student interests and literacy levels. Think of a Netflix for books! Please keep a look out for a letter giving you a log in for your child to access Pickatale at home – you can download the app for free on your phone and tablet and log in to access e-books wherever you are.
For more information follow the link below.
Whilst we allow students to choose whichever book they are interested in, Pickatale does also give us the option of filtering books by reading ability. If this is something you’re interested in please contact your class teacher for further information – and keep an eye out for log ins next week!
Personal Development
One of the best things about our school! Let’s hear from Jo and the team!
PSHE & British Values/Citizenship
In 1HW we have been working on “My Voice Matters” during social communication. The students are prompted to vocalise or use their communication aids at the beginning of the session, using a microphone as an object of reference and the adults emphasise how good it is for the students to use their voice in a range of ways. The students also have choice time, play with their peers and discuss their favourite songs. Throughout the session, the students are working on actively drawing others into social interaction, reacting and recognising familiar adults and peers and to practice using vocalisations or gestures as a means of gaining attention
Earth Day
For Earth Day on Monday, 2KH talked about what we can do as a class to help planet Earth. We wrote a few of our ideas down on the Earth Day Pledge hand. Over the next few weeks we plan on doing some of these activities including recycling more and growing plants.
In 6LD this week, as part of our Art and Leisure session, we decided to create a piece of artwork inspired by Earth Day 2024. The students watched a video all about the different ways we can help to protect our planet and then created a lovely door hanger to remind us every day of our personal pledges.
Here are some examples of the wonderful and well thought out pledges from some of the students in 6LD. We have also added a few pictures of our ‘Eco warriors’ creating their door hangers.
Sid – “I am going to plant some vegetables in my garden.”
Owen – “I love the Lake District. If I see any plastic in the water, I am going to ask my family to help me get it out.”
James – “I will help the Earth by saving energy. I will switch my lamp off every day.”
George – “I will make the garden beautiful for the bees and butterflies.”
Physical Development
And of course everything that is fabulous in the world of Physical Development too! And it’s a good one!
I like to ride my bicycle….!’
On the run up to the summer holidays some of our children will be attending our weekly drop-in cycling session. This is a great opportunity for them to practise and learn various skills associated with cycling as well as enjoying the freedom of being cycled or cycling themselves. In school we have a variety of different bikes including mountain bikes, recumbent bikes and trikes, we also have bucket seat bikes for those students who are unable to independently cycle themselves but like to experience cycling. Take a look at some fabulous pictures from their session this week! Some even chose to complete their Active Mile on their bike!!
If there are any children interested in joining the cycling session please get in touch with your class teacher or physio
Another fantastic cycling session on Wednesday. Some students chose to cycle some of their active mile!
Lesson of the Week – Sheep!
Sounds good! Here’s Lauren!
We have had a fantastic sensory cooking lesson today! We have been looking at different parts of the UK and today we looked at sheep in the countryside. The students explored some candyfloss, to feel how soft sheep wool is, before using a candyfloss machine to make their own candyfloss! Benjamin, Gracey and Joseph all enjoyed making candyfloss and eating it, whereas Amelia liked making candyfloss for staff in the room. We had a very fun, but sticky afternoon!
Another great lesson of the week!
Brilliant stuff here from a brilliant class
Another great lesson of the week!
This is from Beth – what a great class that is!
2BE’s theme this term is ‘Outdoors’ so we are going out somewhere different every Thursday. Last Thursday we went to Jesmond Dene. Pupils chose an individual task to complete (collect rubbings of different textures, record interesting sounds, find something big and small, take photos of different coloured items) as well as an I Spy sheet. Pupils helped make a vlog which has been shared with parents via Earwig and this shows all of the things we saw, felt and heard. Here are a selection of photos which show how much fun we had!
Fabulous Trip of the Week – from Natalie!
This is excellent – have a read!
This week our Post 16 John Muir group visited Plessey Woods Country Park and met up with Lee who manages things there. The students are helping Lee making improvements to the park each week. The students started by exploring an animal trail and cleaning the signs because they got so dirty in the wet weather! This means the park can now open the trail to the public. The students also raked up the bark in the park to make the ground level for future visitors. All the students did a fantastic job and Lee was super impressed with them! Here are some photos of the students carrying out their hard work:
Safeguarding Updates – this week, Personal and Intimate Care, from Rebecca
Aylisha is our Safeguarding Officer, Rebecca is the DSL, and there is a great team, including Claire, Tracy, Corin, and other colleagues who look at other aspects too. For the blog, they give us weekly updates, which cover a range of topics. Here’s Rebecca our DSL with another important topic.
This week our blog is about the new systems that we are introducing in school, following our full foundation wide review of our policies and procedures for ‘Personal and Intimate care’.
We now have a new policy which covers both the difference between personal and intimate care, and the way that this is worked with across the foundation.The policy was written in collaboration with all services to ensure this covers our population of service users.
For the school, we now have a procedure document, which shows how we will comply with the policy with our students, in our setting. As part of this procedure teams will begin working with students and parents to write an intimate care plan, for those who require this. This plan will detail the care needs of the pupils, what their needs are in terms of intimate care, their preferences and the voice of both parents and the student where appropriate. Teams will be sending these home for you to support them with over the next few weeks.
Copies of both the policy and the procedure can be found on our school website or at the links within this document. Please take some time to look over these. These are a working document and will be reviewed regularly.
If you have any questions about this please contact either myself, Rebecca Fletcher or our Lead Physio Steph Tucker
Always contact Aylisha aylisha.holland@percyhedley.org.uk and the DSL Team if you need to
School Lunches
We appreciate your co-operation and understanding as we implement this new system. If you encounter any challenges during the registration process or have questions please contact school on 0191 216 1811. We will be moving to the full price for lunches from w/c 15th April when we get back from Easter – that’s £2.50 for two courses. Also the school meals page is now up and running with various bits of info….
Updated Code of Conduct
Here’s a link to our Code of Conduct, which is also on the website in the Parent and Carers Area – Percy Hedley School’. Most schools have these now, so please do have a read – they aren’t used very often
Friends of PHS – the FoPHS!
So excited by all the things that the FoPHSare talking about and planning. A huge thanks to all of them for their time, commitment and support, with projects, ideas and all sorts. They’re also talking about the Outdoor Learning area – my favourite part of the school! It could be called the FoPHS Outdoor Learning Zone or anything! Great to have you guys on board, thanks again
The fabulous Friends are always looking for volunteers for events! If you can offer any support, please contact Eileen at e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
Exams with Kat!
Hello
The background preparations are ongoing for the upcoming exams series. Alongside the GCSE and Functional Skills Level 1 and 2 examinations that take place in May and June; there are also Entry Level Certificate Qualifications and Functional Skills Entry Level Coursework our students have been working on so hard and the deadline to submit the marks and send of all the coursework is approaching fast. Teachers are busy marking paperwork, completing necessary forms required to be send of with the coursework. The Exams Officer will submit the marks to the Awarding bodies, make sure proof of work is stored before packing up and sending of the work to the Awarding Bodies Moderators.
Important information to mention:
Exams are sat under strict exams room condition to adhere to JCQ and the awarding bodies regulations. Inspections are happening and are due in the summer series
Please see below the JCQ posters that are made visible to all candidates on the exams day before they enter the exams room. Students are under exams rooms condition when they enter the exams room. Any malpractice must be reported to the awarding body who decides thereafter on the overall outcome of the Qualification depending on the evidence submitted.
Results will be made available on Results Day, 22nd August 2024.
Busy bees are everywhere😊
Best of luck to all candidates!
Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA)
Please get in touch with me via the email below and I will be happy to respond to any queries, suggestions about the LPPA and other issues for parents
From Tracy and the LPPA team Contact t.smithson@percyhedley.org.uk
Stars of the Week!
That reflect our School Values!
ELTBA STAR OF THE WEEK!
Rosie!
Resilience
This weeks ELTBA star of the week is Rosie from the 2RC the Doves. Roise has shown amazing progression in swimming. From been unsure about putting her face in the water. This week in her hydro session she had great fun diving down for the sinkers from the bottom of the pool, well-done Rosie. Resilience’s at its finest
ENGAGEMENT STAR OF THE WEEK!
Amelia and Gracey!
Teamwork
This week it goes to Amelia and Gracey for amazing teamwork! During the active mile Amelia was trying her new walker outside for the first time! Gracey and Amelia supported each other to complete all their walking, even when the other was finding it hard. Well done girls!
KS4 STARS OF THE WEEK!
Loads of great ones!
Respect
Jess O for being supportive and encouraging with another student in music!
Laiton P for asking questions and having meaningful conversations at the careers fair!
Resilience
Dan Gib for completing his first accreditated piece of work!
Jack N for attending the careers fair!
Shaye W for completing lots of Maths work!
James R for enjoying the trip to the careers fair!
Teamwork
Josh LB and Bradon for supporting their friend to be appropriate while on public transport!
To all of our year 11s for completing the last bits of their accreditation!
To everyone who usually finds trips out tricky, all students seemed to enjoy the careers fair!
POST-16 STARS!!!
Respect
Andrew for showing respect to peers and staff. He notices when help is needed and gives it without being asked. Fantastic STAR!!!
Resilience
Aidan was really resilient at football. He took part and scored an amazing goal. Well done Aidan Shearer! SHEARER STAR!!!
Robyn did a really long day at work experience. Such resilience. Amazing STAR!!!
Makaton Signs of the Week
And a good message from Julie this week
It feels like a good week to refresh a couple of important feelings signs covered previously: happy and sad
Here are the signs:
Have a good week everyone 😊
Finally…it’s that time again – our Third Prom!
This is from Rebecca!
This years Prom invitations should now be with all of our Upper School Students. Please help us to know the numbers for the Prom by sending in your RSVP to the details on the invitations. It is helpful if you let us know how many people will be staying, if any, with the pupils, to make sure we have enough chairs etc.
It is going to be an amazing night, and judging from the buzz that has already started in school, our students are excited about it!
Prom will be on the evening of the 12th July, 6pm till 8pm
There’s an amazing invite that looks fantastic – I’ll start putting it in from next week!
…..from John & the Team here at PHS