HWA Blog - 24.1.25
What a week we have had at Hollinwood Academy.
On Monday, the amazing Rachel Li from Zarts Theatre visited us and carried out an Indian dance workshop throughout the day with some of our children and young people. This forms part of our Artsmark journey, and students got to work with props, learn choreography, and even do some juggling! Children, young people and staff had a wonderful time!
Here’s what the students had to say…
Miss Oakley’s class, ‘we LOVED the workshop!’
Jason, “I wish I could do it again, it was sooo fun!”
Xander, “I loved it, Rachel is so kind. The juggling was the best.”
Freya, “I liked it when we choreographed the dance movements and put it all together."
Mr Corrigan’s class, “Our class thoroughly enjoyed the dance class as well with everyone taking part. It was a lovely lesson and Rachel was really good. Thank you.”
A special thanks to Mrs Harrington for organising the dance workshop.
Dance Workshop
On Thursday, we had a visit from Darren Jones the Head of school at Oakwood Academy. He visited Hollinwood Academy so that both schools can learn from each other and share best practice.
Following the visit, Darren said, “It was an incredibly insightful and inspiring experience, and I was thoroughly impressed by the high standards, ambitious approach, and strong outcomes that were evident throughout the school.” He went on to say, “It was clear to see the impact of the well-sequenced curriculum and the high expectations for all pupils.”
During the visit, he observed a secondary Spanish lesson, he was particularly struck by the students’ depth of knowledge. It was clear that the solid foundations built in the primary school are really paying off, and the impact of high-quality teaching and curriculum design was evident.
Going forward, as a school we would like to continue the network that has started with Oakwood Academy, in particular making links with subject specialists between the schools. As a senior leadership team, we always enjoy the professional discussions that come with these network opportunities because they always lead to improving the outcomes of the children and young people at Hollinwood Academy. As a school we would like to thank Oakwood Academy for creating this network opportunity and we will look forward to working with you again in the future.
We have had a visit from Sheila March and Nicola Underdown who are colleagues from the Department of Education (DfE).
They have visited a number of sites across the MAT to understand our MAT and schools and the provision and offer that we provide our children and young people. They also wanted to know about our curriculum offer and how we as a SEND school can support our mainstream colleagues and we had a very in-depth conversation about this matter. The visitors had an insightful day and they were blown away by what they saw in the classroom and around the school.
We always welcome visitors and colleagues to Hollinwood Academy so we can showcase our provision, expertise and the progress that our wonderful children and young people make, while networking with colleagues within the education sector.
Let’s see what some of the classes have been doing starting with Miss Tootill’s class…
"As we progress through the term, I wanted to take a moment to share the exciting topics we have been studying in our classrooms, all while enhancing our knowledge and skills in a fun environment!
This term, we have introduced 'Social Thinking Theories' as a whole class intervention. This initiative has significantly encouraged our children to think more socially and to consider the perspectives of their peers. Each week, we delve into a new theme, which culminates in collaborative activities during our soft play sessions. It has been wonderful to see the children develop their teamwork skills, and they are thoroughly enjoying this experience.
In our science lessons, we are currently exploring the topic of 'Light'. The children are engaging with key vocabulary and are actively participating in a variety of practical lessons that make learning both enjoyable and memorable.
Simultaneously, in English and History, we are embracing the fascinating period of the Tudors, particularly focusing on the reign of Henry VIII and how monarchs have shaped society as we know it today. This has sparked some lively discussions among the children!
Additionally, last week we had the pleasure of a dance workshop with Miss Rachel, where we celebrated Chinese New Year. The students immersed themselves in the dancing and gained a deeper understanding of the cultural significance behind the festivities.
Lastly, every Friday, we are fortunate to be engaging in Team Building activities with Miss Sharples and Mrs Kulczycki. These sessions have been a highlight for the children, fostering not only collaboration but also a sense of community within the class.
We are incredibly excited to continue sharing our journey with you, and we appreciate your ongoing support."
LTO - 24.1.25
Now to Mrs Datta’s form…
"This term, students engaged in English by delving into the art of travel writing, where they explored various British destinations, capturing the nuances of local culture and landscapes.
In Science, we conducted an in-depth investigation into food chains, illustrating the interdependence of organisms, alongside a detailed study of the plant life cycle, emphasising the processes of germination, growth, reproduction, and decay.
History lessons featured a thorough examination of the Norman Conquest, discussing its profound impact on British society, as well as an insightful look into the evolution of British sanitation.
Additionally, in PE, students participated in fitness and wellbeing activities, culminating in a dynamic session of Chinese dragon dancing, which not only promoted physical health but also fostered an appreciation for cultural traditions."
SUA - 24.1.25
Mrs Lerigo’s STAR of the week is Gabriel for being ready to learn every day and showing such enthusiasm.
Mrs Lerigo’s HWA We are Innovative STAR is Nevaeh for showing great interest when painting her dinosaur model.
Mrs Sutcliffe’s STAR of the week is Albi for having a positive attitude throughout the week and for being more independent in all aspects of the school day.
Miss Sutcliffe’s HWA We are Innovative STAR is Teddy for applying his Talk for Writing skills during English and using the story map to retell the story.
Miss Oakley’s STAR of the week is Maya for always having amazing manners.
Miss Oakley’s HWA We are Innovative STAR is Libby for an amazing presentation in English all about adjectives.
Miss Bailey’s STAR of the week is Silva for fabulous communication, using TD snap to communicate her wants and needs with adults.
Miss Bailey’s HWA We are Innovative Star is Noel for exploring sensory activities in lots of different ways and sharing resources well with his friends.
Mrs Quinn’s STARs of the week are the whole class for fantastic engagement in last week’s music lesson with Mr Challinor.
Miss Pietraszewska’s STAR of the week is Olivia for trying her best to earn her daily reward by following class rules. Well, done.
Miss Pietraszewska’s HWA We are Innovative STAR is Freddie for using Numicon to add numbers independently. Well, done.
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the week is Matthew for some wonderful independent writing this week.
Mr Corrigan’s HWA We are Innovative star is Lewis for some excellent maths work this week.
Mr Corrigan’s WOW moments go to Matthew for being a kind friend in the playground & Kai for being proud of his friends for getting SOW
Miss Hulme STAR of the week is Ace for fabulous singing in our Music lesson.
Miss Hulmes HWA star is Isaam for his excellent sewing skills and being extremely careful when using a needle in our D&T lessons.
Mrs Davies’ STAR of the week is Ethan for engaging in work at the tuff trays this week
Miss Tootill’s STAR of the week is David for creating an innovative stop motion in ICT.
Miss Tootill’s HWA We are Innovative STAR is David, Cole, Brooke and Derry for coping with change.
Miss Gittins’ STAR of the week is Oscar for brilliant maths work all week.
Miss Gittins’ HWA We are Innovative STAR is Lewis for asking an adult for help when feeling sad.
Miss Matthew’s STAR of the week is Freya for producing an amazing piece of writing in Music!
Miss Matthew’s HWA star is Jacob for explaining a scientific concept to his peers using the correct vocabulary.
STARS of the Week (24.1.25)
Scientist of the week is Alfie from Miss Pietraszewska’s. Well done.
What an eventful week.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Millard
