HWA Blog - 5.6.26

Welcome back.

 

We return this week with heavy hearts following the sad news of the loss of our much-loved colleague, Holly Matthews. Holly was a dedicated and caring member of our school community and will be greatly missed by both staff and children.

Thank you for the kind words of support you have shared during this very difficult time.

Holly’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 17th June. As a mark of respect, and to allow members of our community the opportunity to attend the service and pay their respects, school will close at 1:15pm on this day. School will contact transport to inform. There will be no after school club, and we ask that all children are collected promptly at this time.

In the coming months, we will be looking at ways to create a lasting memorial at Hollinwood Academy in Holly’s memory.

Thank you once again for your continued kindness, strength, and support.

 

Sharing the highlights of this week…

 

Year 11 exams

Year 11 have returned to their GCSE exams this week with Physics and Maths, and they are working incredibly hard despite being under such pressure often putting even more pressure on themselves. Their determination to succeed really shines through, and it’s clear how much they want to achieve and do well.

Well done, Year 11 I am so proud of you. Keep going, you’ve got this.

 

Miss Oakley’s exciting learning experiences.

In Miss Oakley’s class, the launch of their new book Dog Man, a comic-style story about a half-dog, half-human police officer, was brought to life in an exciting and imaginative way. The classroom was transformed into a bustling police station, where the children eagerly immersed themselves in their roles. They confidently booked “prisoners” into custody, took fingerprints, and wrote detailed incident reports with great enthusiasm.

The excitement reached new heights when Miss Gordon and Miss Needham were discovered in the holding cell, prompting the children to step fully into their roles and ensure that justice was served, swiftly and fairly.

COY

 

 

 

Year 8 classroom visits.

It was fantastic to see Year 8 working with such focus and enthusiasm in computing today. They were eager to show off the brilliant work they’ve been producing — the class is designing and building their own health and fitness smartphone apps using specialist software, and the results are truly impressive.

 

Let’s see what has been happening in the classroom.

 

 

In Miss Natalia’s class this week…

 

"Hi everyone,

We came back to school after the half-term break feeling well rested and happy, especially after enjoying lots of lovely sunshine.

This week in our Talk for Writing lessons, we have been exploring Amazing Airplanes. We had lots of fun practising CVC words from the story, making our own airplanes, and beginning to sequence the different scenes. It has been exciting because we love flying machines.

In Maths, we have been learning all about sharing and grouping. We did an amazing job-sharing items equally between 2 and 3 people. Everyone showed understanding of fairness, well done.

During Music, we explored tempo by moving to slow and fast music. We found the slow music very calming and relaxing, but the fast music was definitely our favourite!

In Science and PSHRE, we have been learning about staying healthy and making good choices. We practised how to brush our teeth properly and talked about ways to keep our bodies strong, including doing some fun exercises—which we all really enjoyed!

In Art, we have been experimenting with lines, using different levels of control and pressure to create our own effects.

Most of all, we loved seeing our friends again after the break. There were lots of smiles, laughter, and happy faces, it’s been wonderful to be back together again."

 

NPA

 

In Miss Harrington’s class this week…

 

"Before half term, we began the exciting transition into our new classroom, and this week we have returned ready to settle in and make the space our own for our final half term before summer.

Students have enjoyed a slightly wet but engaging walk around Park Bridge, using some spectacular binoculars to spot features on the horizon. We also visited Portland Basin, where students stepped back in time to experience a Victorian classroom learning, among other things, that left-handed writing was not allowed!

In English, students have begun working on their oracy booklets, starting to plan and develop speeches that they will deliver in class at the end of term.

In Maths, they have been exploring triangular numbers. During targeted support sessions, we have been learning about how stress can affect us both emotionally and physically, and how we can build “taps” into our stress buckets to stop them from overflowing.

In Art, students created their own sun catchers using glue and food colouring, producing beautiful patterns designed to catch the sunlight.

In History, we have continued to deepen our understanding of the transatlantic slave trade, including learning about the treatment of people during the journeys across the Atlantic.

Miss Harrington, Mr Hall and Miss Mir-Williamson have loved seeing the students’ enthusiasm and resilience this week."

 

 

Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are We trust each other STARs

 

Miss McDonald’s STAR of the week is David - Independently using your communication board to request an activity. Well done, David.

Miss McDonald’s HWA We trust each other goes to Freddie- Great knowledge and confidence in Maths. Well done, Freddie.

Mrs Bailey’s HWA We trust each other goes to Jack - For following his new visual schedule and working hard to complete his work too.

Mrs Bailey’s STAR of the Week is Euan - For fabulous interactions with adults, making verbal requests in social play. We are so proud of you.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week is Willow – for super tolerance and trying hard in lessons.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We trust each other goes to all reception for showing passionate interest in the new topic Commotion in the Ocean.

Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week goes to Romy for engaging in learning and helping her friends to make good choices.

Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We trust each other goes to Louie for making good choices and have a positive attitude towards learning.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is Haroon for having a good week and making the right choices.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s we trust each other star goes to - Abdul for being a trusting friend.

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Hope for being a great role model this week.

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Kian for coping really well with change this week.

Mr Corrigan’s WOW moment is. Albi-Lee for talking about his feelings.

Mr Corrigan’s congratulates Jack for being proud of his friends.

Miss Hulme’s STAR of the Week is Gabriel for his fantastic work in our Geography lesson.

Miss Hulme’s HWA We trust each other goes to Tommy for being so kind and sharing some of his snack with his friend.

Miss Donbavand’s STAR of the Week goes to Cole for recognising when he needs help and asking for it.

Miss Donbavand’s HWA We trust each other goes to Lewis for trying his best with his English cold task.

Mrs Boylan’s STAR of the Week goes to Louis for excellent behaviour on our first week back to School.

Mrs Boylan’s HWA We trust each other goes to Kai for fantastic Maths contributions on Thursday and Friday.

Miss Davies’s STAR of the Week is Noel for requesting regulating activities throughout the school day.

Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Winter- For always being helpful joining in with all our activities this week.

Miss Oakley’s HWA We trust each other goes to Rafael- For excellent role play skills during our English lessons this week.

 

STARS of the Week (5.6.26)

 

 

 

Well done to everyone.

 

Have a good weekend

Miss Gordon.