HWA Blog - 17.4.26
Welcome Back to a Busy Term
Welcome back. As always, we have jumped straight into a very busy and positive week across school.
This week, we welcomed Oldham College, who visited our Year 10 and Year 11 students. This was a valuable and positive experience, helping our young people think ahead to their next steps. Teaching and learning have begun smoothly, with students returning settled, focused, and ready to learn.
Our focus this week has been on Explore and Year 7. It has been a pleasure to visit lessons, welcome everyone back, and see how confidently students have returned to routines. Learning environments have been calm and purposeful, which has been wonderful to see.
Thank you to the children and young people who proudly shared their work this week, those knock-at-the-door moments, books in hand and smiles on faces, are always a highlight. We are also very grateful for the kind words and thoughtful cards left for us.
Looking ahead, this term will be extremely busy, with SATs and GCSEs fast approaching. Staff and students are working hard in preparation, and we are confident in the positive progress being made.
Sharing the highlights…
Explore class visits
We have thoroughly enjoyed visiting the classes in the Explore Pathway this week. The children were calm, settled and highly engaged in their learning, which was lovely to see across all the classes we visited.
In Miss Bramley’s and Miss McDonald class, children were completing a cold write centred on the theme of happy. Each child, in their own way, wrote a sentence or sentences, either using an iPad or writing on paper. The quality of the writing was beautiful, with strong vocabulary choices, and I was particularly impressed by the children’s’ ability to self-edit and correct their own mistakes.
Mrs Lerigo also visited Miss Boothroyd’s, where children were fully engaged in a phonics session. Activities included writing, fine motor tasks and practising phonics cards in preparation for their upcoming phonics assessments. Having taught some of these children last year, Mrs Lerigo shared how heart-warming it was to see the progress they have made, particularly in their writing and their ability to remain regulated during learning.
Finally, I spent time in class NPA during a maths lesson. The session focused on active counting, with children completing physical activities while recognising and identifying numbers. This was a fantastic approach to engaging children while also supporting both emotional regulation and physical wellbeing.
We look forward to visiting the Explore Pathway classes again soon.
Year 7 class visits
There has been some wonderful learning across Year 7 this week. There has been focused learning in maths in 7OYG with all students engaged in tasks and demonstrating excellent behaviour for learning. This was seen again in their computing lessons where the students were inspired to create power point slide decks on their research into digital graphics.
7JGR's science showcased students really exploring calorie intake and showing positive behaviour for learning. Classroom adaptations really supported learners too. There computing lessons were filled with quiet excitement as they researched different forms of digital literacy.
7JCH were experimenting with metals reacting with water and were engrossed. Engagement and behaviour for learning was high. They were focused in hockey in their pe lessons and demonstrated high skills levels
Well done year 7, great start to the term.
Miss Oakley’s class
This half term in Miss Oakley’s class, English learning will be inspired by the uplifting book 'Have You Filled a Bucket Today?'. The book reminds children that everyone carries an “invisible bucket” that represents their feelings. When we show kindness, we fill someone’s bucket and when others are kind to us, our own bucket fills too. As part of our learning, the children went around school performing random acts of kindness, aiming to “fill the buckets” of children and staff. The children created kind messages for all to read on the corridor and even more specific letters to teachers of their choice to remind them of how amazing they are. The children loved putting a smile on everyone's faces and learned how small, thoughtful actions can make a big difference.
COY
Oldham College Visit
On Tuesday, Sharon, an Oldham College representative, visited Hollinwood Academy to support preparation and discussion of the local college offer for Year 10 students. Year 11 students also took part in a transition visit as part of their post-16 transition planning. Students found it very informative and are planning a tour soon.
College Visits
Fundraising
Our very own Billy Harrison is keen to raise funds for Hollinwood Academy’s sensory room.
If you would like to sponsor Billy please contact school.
Let’s see what has been happening in the classroom.
In Miss Davies' class this week…
"Miss Davies' class have had a lovely start to the summer term. This week, we began our new topic, Under Construction.
They began by exploring the story Iggy Peck, Architect, a fun and inspiring book about a boy who loves to build using both conventional and unconventional materials. Just like Iggy, the children have been encouraged to think passionately, explore their ideas, and experiment with different ways to build and construct. So far this week, they have taken part in a range of exciting hands-on activities, using blocks, fruit, and clay to create their own structures. These activities are designed to spark curiosity, support problem-solving, and provide lots of opportunities for exploration and communication through play.
During our communication sessions this week, they have focused on the core word help. The children have enjoyed asking for help to create fizzing concrete by requesting bicarbonate of soda, paint, and lemon juice, before asking for help to open the resources. Staff used the help symbol to ask the children if they would help them water the garden tuff tray. As well as asking and helping in structured activities, the children have also been learning how to ask for help in more functional ways, for example, asking for help to put their shoes and coats on, or help when using the equipment.
Regulation continues to be a very important part of the school day. Children have access to a range of regulation activities throughout the day to help them feel calm, safe, and ready to learn. In addition to this, children take part in structured regulation sessions such as Sensory Circuits and Sherborne movement. These sessions support children with body awareness, movement, relaxation, and emotional regulation, helping them to be more settled and engaged during learning time.
Each afternoon during curiosity, cause-and-effect sessions, children have had fun choosing from a variety of activities. These include communication activities, gross motor activities, cause-and-effect play, and activities linked to our topic. Children have been encouraged to choose what they would like to take part in, while staff support them with their learning targets and help develop their play and communication skills. A few examples include bubble parties, turn taking on the swing, exploring sensory construction-site tuff trays, and creating fruit kebabs.
Miss Davies is eager to see what the rest of the term has in store for the class. Exciting times ahead."
SDS
In Mrs Cowling’s class this week…
"First week back after the Easter holidays and the year 11s have been busy revising for their upcoming GCSE’s. They have been working hard in all their subjects to achieve their best grades.
In maths they have been recapping on all their previous topics to be more prepared and have more confidence when it comes to the exam.
In English they have been working through pass papers practising their analysis skills, they have also been practicing their passionate writing skills e.g. stories, letters, and newspaper articles.
Students have been enjoying the new school activities such as our new table tennis and chess board table.
For the Duke of Edinburgh students, they have been getting prepared for their camping trip in July, learning how to cook outside by using the correct camping equipment. They have also been going for walks around Castleshaw which will prepare them for their two-day hike in the summer.
The students who take Spanish have been working on their speaking skills ready for their speaking exam at the start of May.
In RSE the students have been learning about how to navigate life after Hollinwood Academy and how to deal with challenges they might face as independent young people.
Well done to team Cowling for a positive start to the summer term."
SCG
Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are Passionate STARs...
Mrs Bailey’s HWA We Are Passionate goes to Ethan - For excellent participation in attention autism sessions this week and joining in with morning routine.
Mrs Bailey’s STAR of the Week is Ohud - For using his loud speaking voice to make requests from an adult. We are so proud of you.
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week is Harris- for making so much progress in his writing this week.
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We Are Passionate goes to Blaire- wonderful engagement in your learning.
Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week is Effy for trying her hardest with her writing in phonics this week.
Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We Are Passionate goes to Isla for being such a good friend and helping others.
Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is Zachary for helping his friends in Maths this week.
Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s passionate star goes to Olivia for settling back into routine and making the right choices after a tricky start to the week.
Miss Pietraszewska’ s HWA We Are Passionate goes toRose, for requesting and engaging in building towers with blocks. Well done, Rose.
Miss Pietraszewska’ s STAR of the Week goes to Benjamin, for doing amazing work in phonics and being able to find and write missing CVC words independently. Well done.
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Albi-Lee for some wonderful work with Joanne this week.
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Hope for coping really well with change this week.
Mr Corrigan Congratulates Kian for being proud of his friends.
Miss Hulme’s STAR of the Week is Madilyn for eating all of her dinner today.
Miss Hulme’s HWA We are Passionate goes to Gabriel for his fabulous History work.
Miss Donbavand’s STAR of the Week goes to Simisola for improved engagement in lessons.
Miss Donbavand’s HWA We are Passionate goes to Derry for a settled first week back and communicating his feelings with staff.
STARS of the Week (17.4.26)
Well done to everyone.
Have a lovely weekend. I look forward to welcoming you to Parents’ Evening next week.
Miss Gordon
