HWA Blog - 10.7.26
I see the sun has decided to make another appearance this week, disrupting our usual routines once again; nevertheless, we have not let the warm weather stand in our way much like our fellow England team, who aren’t letting the conditions distract them from their pursuit of victory. I did notice a few sleepy heads on the corridors on Monday morning, but full credit to them for supporting their team and still making it into school ready to learn.
It has been another incredibly busy and successful week across at Hollinwood Academy. We started the week with our Duke of Edinburgh residential, where our student’s demonstrated resilience, teamwork and determination as they embraced the challenge. We also welcomed students for our final Transition Day, helping them prepare for the exciting next stage of their educational journey.
The middle of the week was equally packed, with our Geography field trip providing valuable opportunities for learning beyond the classroom, while our primary children thoroughly enjoyed Sports Day, showing fantastic enthusiasm, sportsmanship and determination throughout. To round off the week, our Year 6 children headed off to Gulliver’s World for their residential experience. Thanks to the hot weather, we were able to secure an upgrade into hotel accommodation, which proved to be a much more comfortable option for the group and helped ensure they could make the most of their trip.
As I reflect on the term, it is impossible not to acknowledge that, whilst it has been full of memorable experiences, successes and celebrations, it has also been a time of sadness for our school community following the loss of our much-loved colleague, Miss Mathews. She is greatly missed by staff, children, young people and families, and her impact on our school continues to be felt every day. We have been touched by the support shown by our community and the many tributes that have honoured her memory.
I cannot quite believe that we have just one week remaining before we close for the summer holidays. This term has been exceptionally busy from start to finish, filled with achievements, opportunities and moments that will remain with us for years to come. The pace certainly is not slowing down yet, and we still have plenty to look forward to in our final week of the academic year. Thank you, as always, for your continued support, and I look forward to sharing more celebrations with you before we break for the summer.
Sharing the highlights of this week…
DofE Residential
On Monday and Tuesday this week, our Duke of Edinburgh cohort headed to the hills for their first residential experience of the year. The group demonstrated fantastic
teamwork, resilience and determination throughout the challenge, and we are delighted that everyone successfully completed it. There was also a memorable moment on Monday evening when, after some difficulty settling down for the night, everyone had finally drifted off to sleep, only to be woken at 2am by Nicholas’s alarm. Having forgotten to switch it off after setting it for the England game the night before, the unexpected wake-up call caused plenty of laughter among the group. Thankfully, spirits remained high, and everyone soon settled back down for a few hours of well-earned sleep. Well done to all involved on a brilliant achievement.
D of E
WOW moment – shout out to Charlotte one of our parents
A huge congratulations and thank you to Charlotte, one of our amazing parents, who recently completed the Race for Life 5K in an impressive time of just one hour and raised nearly £250 for this important cause. Charlotte took on this challenge in honour of friends and family members who have sadly lost their lives to cancer. This year's run was particularly special, as Charlotte ran in memory of our much-loved Miss Mathews, whom we tragically lost in May. We are incredibly proud of Charlotte's kindness, and commitment to raising funds and awareness, and we thank her for such a touching tribute to Miss Mathews and all those affected by this disease.
VR experience
NSUB, an immersive technology company visited our school today to deliver a workshop using VR headsets. Our year 10 students tested the product, which took users into the ocean to battle against plastic pollution. We enjoyed the sessions and highlights included being in the ocean, helping to save the planet, fishing and seeing the seagulls. Even Mrs Duffy had a go at using the headsets.
VR Headset
Geography fieldtri
The Y10 geography students visited the Etihad Stadium to learn about its role in the regeneration of East Manchester. They first listened to a presentation from a member of their education team. It was great to see them giving lots of answers and showing off their geography and football knowledge. Next, they got a tour of the stadium. This showed them the ongoing developments, creating more jobs and boosting the local economy further. Finally, they took a quick look at the surrounding area, and how the housing and services are being improved for the people of East Manchester. Despite the exceptionally warm weather bringing the trip to an early finish, the group showed great resilience, enthusiasm and maturity throughout the day. They worked incredibly hard, remained focused and represented the school brilliantly. We are very proud of their positive attitude and excellent behaviour. Well done to all who took part and to Miss Bottery for organising the trip.
Geography Field Trip
Sports day
Thank you to Mr Ottaway and Mr Leeson for their hard work in organising another fantastic Sports Day. The event was a great success, providing our children with the opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, determination and sportsmanship while having lots of fun. We would also like to thank our secondary students for their outstanding support throughout the day and for putting their photography skills to excellent use, capturing so many wonderful moments of fun, laughter and achievement. The photographs perfectly reflect the positive atmosphere and sense of community that made the day so special. Well done to everyone involved.
Sports Day
And finally, Gulliver’s world year 6 residential.
On Thursday, our Year 6 children set off on their trip to Gulliver’s World, and what an unforgettable adventure it was.
From the moment they arrived at school, there was a real buzz of excitement in the air. The children were raring to go and couldn't wait to begin their adventure.
Despite the hot weather, spirits remained high throughout the trip. The sunshine certainly didn't stop the fun, and the children made the most of every moment, enjoying the rides, attractions and activities with their friends. There were plenty of laughs, lots of excitement and memories made that will be treasured for years to come.
One of the highlights of the trip was the overnight stay at the hotel, which made the experience even more special. The children loved spending the evening together, sharing stories from the day and enjoying time with their classmates outside of school. It was a wonderful opportunity to build friendships, develop independence and create lasting memories.
The following morning, the fun continued as the children enjoyed more activities before heading home, tired but happy after an action-packed adventure.
We are incredibly proud of all of our Year 6 children, who were excellent ambassadors for our school throughout the trip. Their enthusiasm, positive attitudes and sensible behaviour made the visit a huge success. A fantastic time was had by all, and it is safe to say that the Gulliver’s World residential will be remembered as one of the highlights of their final year at primary school.
A huge thank you to all the staff who supported the visit and helped make the trip such a memorable experience. Their care, dedication, enthusiasm and hard work ensured that every child had the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic adventure safely. THANK YOU.
Gullivers
Let’s see what has been happening in the classroom.
In Mrs Duffy’s class….
"As we come to the end of another busy and successful term, we would like to take the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic achievements, experiences and hard work of our amazing Year 10 students. It has been a term full of exciting opportunities, personal successes and memorable moments, and we are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished.
This term has seen students take part in a range of activities both inside and outside the classroom. From trips to Ashton to watch Toy Story 5 to international travel experiences in Berlin, our students have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and represent Hollinwood with pride.
Logan has had a fantastic term and recently represented Hollinwood at the North Chadderton School Chess Tournament. Logan competed against students from other schools, playing an impressive 10 games throughout the day. Demonstrating excellent concentration, resilience and strategic thinking, he only lost 3 matches. We are incredibly proud of the way Logan conducted himself and represented the school during the competition.
Ivy and Jasmine have both been working exceptionally hard on their GCSE personal projects. Ivy has been developing a fascinating art project focusing on different types of eyes, carefully studying detail, shading and expression in her work. Jasmine has shown great creativity through her papercraft project, designing and creating a range of different animals. Both students have demonstrated excellent dedication, independence and creativity throughout the process and should be very proud of the progress they have made.
Matthew continues to be a fantastic role model within the form. He has excelled in ICT this term and consistently produces work of a very high standard. Matthew approaches every lesson with a positive attitude, puts maximum effort into all his subjects and is always willing to challenge himself. His commitment to learning and determination to do his best in everything he undertakes has been outstanding.
Nicholas has worked incredibly hard in English as he continues to prepare for his GCSE qualifications. He has shown a great deal of maturity and perseverance when using his anthology to support his work and has produced some excellent pieces of writing. His confidence and ability within the subject continue to grow, and it has been wonderful to see the progress he has made this term.
Akeem has demonstrated a fantastic attitude towards learning in Maths. He has become much more involved in lessons, contributing ideas and engaging positively with class activities. His hard work has been reflected in some very positive end-of-block assessment scores, and he should be extremely proud of the progress he has made. His determination and willingness to keep improving have been a real highlight.
Niamh has continued to impress us with her commitment and enthusiasm towards her Leadership qualification. She is currently working on Book 5 and has shown excellent progression throughout the course. Niamh consistently demonstrates a mature attitude towards her learning and takes great pride in completing her work to the best of her ability. Her dedication and perseverance have allowed her to make significant progress this year.
Alexis has certainly kept us entertained and informed during form time by making sure everyone stayed up to date with the latest World Cup scores. Alongside this, Alexis has been working incredibly hard in English where she is creating a magazine based on her favourite singers and artists. This project has allowed her to showcase both her creativity and her excellent taste in music, while also developing valuable literacy and design skills. It has been wonderful to see the effort and enthusiasm she has put into her work.
Maddie has had an unforgettable experience this term after travelling to Berlin as part of her Photography trip. Since returning, she has shared many exciting stories and experiences with the form. Maddie explained that one of the highlights of her trip was visiting the famous TV Tower and, of course, enjoying plenty of salad along the way! She has also helped educate the rest of the form about Berlin, sharing information about German culture and her experience of visiting a German school. Maddie represented Hollinwood brilliantly and has returned with memories that will last a lifetime.
Liam has worked extremely hard throughout the term, particularly in Spanish where he has been preparing himself well for the challenges of next year. Liam has shown a positive attitude and a determination to continue developing his language skills. In addition to his academic achievements, Liam has successfully completed his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. This is a significant accomplishment that required commitment, resilience and teamwork, and we are very proud of his achievement.
Yassin has continued to work hard across all subjects and has shown excellent commitment to his learning throughout the term. His positive attitude and determination have helped him make strong progress and achieve some fantastic outcomes. Like Liam, Yassin has also successfully completed his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, demonstrating resilience, dedication and a willingness to challenge himself outside the classroom.
We would also like to recognise all of our Year 10 students for the maturity, resilience and enthusiasm they have shown throughout the year. Whether through academic progress, extracurricular achievements, leadership opportunities, creative projects or representing the school in the wider community, every student has contributed something special to make this term a success.
As we look ahead to Year 11 and the important year that awaits, we are confident that our students will continue to build on these achievements. They have demonstrated the skills, determination and positive attitudes needed to succeed, and we are excited to see what they accomplish next.
Well done, Year 10. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. We hope you have a wonderful summer break and look forward to seeing all the amazing things you achieve next year."
GDY
In Miss Bailey’s class…..
"What a fantastic week we’ve had in Engage Two! It has been another busy week full of learning, laughter and lots of sensory fun. It has been wonderful to see the children so engaged, curious and eager to explore everything we’ve been doing together.
Our ‘Wonders of the World’ topic has continued to spark lots of curiosity. This week we’ve explored volcanoes, rainforests, glaciers, waterfalls and the Northern Lights through a range of sensory experiences. From watching bubbling volcanoes to exploring the rainforest, and diving into a chilly glacier sensory tray, the children have embraced every opportunity to investigate the world around them in their own unique ways.
In Communication, we’ve been focusing on developing vocabulary and encouraging the children to make purposeful requests using their preferred method of communication. Whether through speech, symbols, gestures or communication devices, we’ve seen so many lovely moments where children have confidently let us know what they wanted, shared their excitement or sought out an adult to join in their play. Our foam cake splat activity and biscuit decorating gave us the perfect opportunities to practise these skills while having lots of messy fun together.
Sports Day was another highlight of the week. It was wonderful to see the children taking part with such enthusiasm, celebrating their own achievements and getting involved in the different activities on offer alongside their friends. The laughter and the smiles on their faces said it all!
Our Curiosity: Cause and Effect sessions have had a real summer feel! The children explored fruity water play using lemons, limes, strawberries and fresh mint, enjoying the different colours, textures and smells. We also got wonderfully messy making cloud dough ice creams before cooling down with some real ice cream cones in the sunshine. With the hot weather this week, we’ve certainly made the most of lots of outdoor water play too!
As we approach the end of another incredible school year, we have found ourselves reflecting on just how far each of our children has come. Every child has grown in their own way—whether that’s finding their voice, building relationships, becoming more confident to explore, learning to regulate their emotions or simply feeling safe enough to be themselves in school. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of each child’s journey this year, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything they have achieved."
RBY
Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are We trust each other STARs
Miss Parrinello’s STAR of the week is Olly for doing amazing and engaging in the lessons this week, especially in maths.
Miss Parrinello’s HWA We trust each other goes to Teddy for having such a positive attitude to learning this week, coming into the classroom for some activities and good listening in lessons.
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week is Harris- Wonderful work making maps this week.
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We trust each other goes to Alfie- for showing a real awareness of his surrounding this week.
Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week goes to Nico for having such a positive week.
Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We trust each other goes to Ethan for his fantastic efforts with his work this week.
Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is George for having a wonderful week and making super choices.
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Jack for a great attitude at sports day.
Mr Corrigan’s WOW moment William & Kian for being proud of their friends.
Mr Corrigan’s congratulates Teddy for coping really well with the noise at lunch time this week.
Miss Donbavand’s STAR of the Week goes to Simi for trying her best to be patient in the queues at Gullivers world.
Miss Donbavand’s HWA We trust each other goes to Jared for doing his best at Gullivers world.
Mrs Boylan’s STAR of the Week goes to Mysha for excellent behaviour and waiting patiently at Gullivers World.
Mrs Boylan’s HWA We trust each other goes to Kai for being resilient and accepting some unexpected change this week.
Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Libby- Having a fantastic Sports day, celebrating herself and her friends.
Miss Oakley’s HWA We trust each other goes to Lyla- Always contributing, smiling and sharing ideas.
STARS of the Week (10.7.26)
Well done to everyone.
Since the England game is on at a much more reasonable time this weekend, I'll be staying up to cheer them on.
Although it's a little too late for my mascot and niece, Mary, she'll be supporting England throughout the day and cheering them on in her own way.
Have a good weekend. Stay hydrated.
Miss Gordon.
