HWA Blog - 11.10.24
I am proud to showcase another productive and successful week of learning and adventure at Hollinwood Academy. Our office door has not stopped this week with children and young people showing off their work to SLT. I was delighted with how proud they were of their achievements.
Congratulations to our primary student council. They have had their first council meeting this week.
This week we celebrated World Space Week. World Space week is an International Event that celebrates science and technology, related to space. The children have really enjoyed exploring space and learning about climate change.
World Space Week
On Tuesday I was invited to attend a podcast with year 11 students. I was interviewed on the topic of mobile phones. It was a very productive interview, and I was able to share the reasons why we have supported the government’s proposal to limit the usage of mobile phones in school. I informed students that their mental health was a priority and how the absence of mobile phones can contribute to improvements in this area. I shared that over 90% of educators feel student’s mental health is a serious issue in school and a major contributor to this is mobile phones. I was extremely proud of how professional the boys were and how they reacted to the information shared.
On Wednesday our GCSE photography students attended a photography workshop led by New Bridge College Destiny students Gian and Max. It was amazing to see how they have progressed and developed whilst they have been at the college. The Destiny students showed the Ks4 students a variety of photography techniques that could enhance their photos. It was good to see the students working together.
Photography - 11.10.24
The Girls football trip to Manchester City was a fantastic experience for our students, Mr Ottaway took a group of students from both primary and secondary, They displayed outstanding commitment, sportsmanship, and teamwork throughout the entire trip. Everyone had an incredible time, making memories both on and off the pitch. A truly unforgettable experience, well done everyone.
On Thursday we celebrated World Mental Health Day; our children and young people took part in ‘Hello Yellow’ to raise money for young minds. Over 420,00 young people are being treated for mental health difficulties every month and many are not getting the help they need. The student council are keen to support those suffering with poor mental health, both within and beyond our school gates. Hollinwood Academy, led by the student council, joined thousands of other schools by wearing yellow to support those affected.
Hello Yellow
Now let’s celebrate learning in Mrs Quinns class…
"In Mrs Quinn’s class this half term, our topic is ‘Traditional Tales’ and in English we have been learning about various tales such as 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' and ‘The Gingerbread Man’. This week we have started our new tale ‘The Three Little Pigs’. The children have been engaging in many sensory activities during our topic such as tasting porridge, making gingerbread playdough, creating straw houses and playing with pigs in sticky mud. Some of our children have also been exploring the use of Colourful Semantics to begin to look at ‘who’ and ‘what’ is in the stories they have been exposed to.
In communication we have been exploring the words big and small, hot and cold, fast and slow and over and under linked to our traditional tales each week. This week we are learning about ‘in and out’. The children have participated in attention autism sessions to deliver this vocabulary. During the last stage of attention autism, the children have been having a go at tuff tray tasks with the support of adults as required. These tasks have included using their musical and physical skills.
During our outdoor education lesson with Mrs Jen this week we have been to Tandle Hills Country Park collecting twigs and in our music lessons with Mr Scott the children have been exploring various instruments including the guitar which George and Basil have really taken a liking to.
All in all, it’s been another very exciting and fun-filled week! Our last story this half term will be ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and we look forward to exploring ‘red’ items in the tuff tray, weaving baskets, making our own story baskets, navigating the way for ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ through a ‘block’ maze and making ‘get well soon’ cards for Grandma!
We are also really looking forward to our next topic after the half term break which is ‘Celebrations’.
JQN - 11.10.24
And Mrs Daniels' class…
"What an exciting and busy week it has been for 11ADS, settling down to be the oldest in school. They have been working independently in experiments during their science lessons based on energy in foods, they have all enjoyed burning different types of crisps and working with each other.
They have been putting an exciting podcast together in their ICT lessons based how they feel about the phone ban in schools. Alex G and Tyler had the opportunity to interview Miss Gordon to add to their podcasts.
11ADS have enjoyed writing their descriptive stories on a picture that they chose for their coursework’s in English."
ADS - 11.10.24
And finally, Miss Bottery’s class…
"This week 8HBY have been to Heaton Park on Outdoor Education while learning about safety in the community. We have seen signs of autumn while walking round as well as some squirrels getting ready for the winter.
In Food Technology we have been learning about macro and micronutrients, we have been learning on word-wall which we love.
In PE, we are learning to play handball. We now know all the rules and will hopefully be playing a full game next week.
In RSE we are learning about homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. We now understand what each term means and why it is important to be inclusive.
In EHCP we are learning about personal hygiene. We made a personal hygiene checklist for our form room to remind us what we should be doing each day.
Overall, we are settling well into year 8 and getting back into the swing of things. "
HBY - 11.10.24
Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are Caring STARs ...
Mrs Lerigo’s STAR of the week is Tommy for joining in his learning and listening to instructions.
Mrs Lerigo’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Isla for giving hugs to her friends and being affectionate.
Mrs Sutcliffe’s STAR of the week is Teddy for completing some amazing writing this week and being a happy little super star engaging in some lovely play with his friends
Miss Sutcliffe’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Effy for caring about her friends and helping them to show kind hands
Miss Oakley’s STAR of the week is Zachary for independent Maths this week, you were incredible a little mathematician!
Miss Oakley’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Abdul for Always playing nicely on the playground and getting his friends to join in.
Miss Bailey’s STAR of the week is Jack for amazing work in our sensory story session, naming all the characters from the story!
Miss Bailey’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Silva for fantastic communication with adults and playing beautifully alongside her peers.
Mrs Quinn’s STAR of the week is Ohud for his verbal communication during attention autism this week.
Mrs Quinn’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Cody for trying strawberries at school this week. This was a big achievement for Cody, well done!
Miss Pietraszewska’s STAR of the week is Roman for: his amazing independent writing in the Talk4writing lesson! Wow!
Miss Pietraszewska’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Freddie for: being kind, gentle, and caring to our visitor, Tallulah the tortoise! Well done, Freddie!
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the week is Kai for excellent independent work this week
Mr Corrigan’s HWA We are Caring star is Stanley for wonderful communication this week
Mr Corrigan’s WOW moments go to Faiha for being proud of her friends
Miss Hulme has awarded the whole class with a STAR of the week this week for adapting well to change.
Mrs Davies’ STAR of the week is Olly for verbalising the full sentence “I want more Jelli,” to request more of the Jelli Baff.
Mrs Davies’ WOW moment for having an amazing day and using taught strategies to stay regulated outside
Miss Tootill’s STAR of the week is Derry for always having a positive attitude and making people smile
Miss Tootill’s HWA We are Caring STAR is Brooke for being a caring friend and caring towards others.
Miss Gittins’ STAR of the week is Joshua for excellent behaviour
Miss Gittins’ HWA We are Caring STAR is Oscar for seeking adult support and communicating when he has felt uncomfortable
Miss Matthew’s has awarded the whole class with a STAR of the week this week for adapting well to change.
SDS - 11.10.24
Scientists of the week is Thomas from Miss Hulme’s class.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Miss Gordon
