Year 9 have been studying the issues associated with the burning of fossil fuels in their Geography lessons. The girls have been investigating alternative sources of energy including wind and solar energy. Year 9 were given the challenge to design and build a model of a wind turbine or solar oven.
Here are some photos and a video of the wonderful designs.
Click here for a Video of one of our pupil’s Wind Turbine
Since the lockdown, the Year 12 Law classes have covered a wide range of topics from negligence to self-defence. We have been focusing on the crimes of theft and robbery, and one challenge set was to build a revision wall with each of the bricks representing a different aspect of the law of either theft or robbery. Some examples of the excellent work submitted are shown below. The mature attitude to their learning that Year 12 have showed has been impressive and should stand them in good stead for their June mock exams.
I wanted to encourage students to be creative practically during Lockdown; many do not have instruments at home with the exception of their voice. So far they have made string instruments and some wind instruments. Students have created drum kits out of everyday items at home but I wanted even more creativity, so I asked them to download Incredibox and create some pieces.
Below are a few examples of what they produced. Simply click on the names below to see the compositions.
Mrs Punchard
Year 12 returned to school for their first day of teaching on site since March. It was great to see them back and staff reported how impressed they were with the levels of engagement. Welcome back!
We know that the Black Lives Matter movement is important to our pupils, staff and their families. We have posted a set of slides in each year group classroom to help everyone to explore the issues that it raises and help us all to understand more about it. There are also lots of ideas in the slides for how to find out more. We also recommend that pupils log into their Library account which has lots of links to wider reading on this topic for all ages.
World Oceans Day is designed to celebrate the world’s oceans and its biodiversity whilst reminding us of the perils of over-fishing, climate change and pollution on our marine life. As part of my Extended Project Qualification, I am studying ocean acidification which will have a massive impact on marine life in the future if not controlled. Just one example of this is corals that will not be able to build their exoskeletons if the ocean becomes more acidic. For more information, click on the images.
Hannah Talmage (Year 12)
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 has come at a very appropriate time as we are all having to find ways to cope and carry on in challenging times.
MHAW 2020 focused on kindness and why it matters. The joy of giving our time, support and donations benefits the person receiving them and ourselves, but the theme of kindness also involves being kind to ourselves. As we have heard a lot, we are in unprecedented times, and as such, there is no map we can call on to ensure we can cope with the change and uncertainty we are facing. We need to be kind to ourselves, to give ourselves the time and space to develop our own ways of coping and, hopefully, thriving.
Our MHAW has been based around The 5 Ways to Wellbeing – Giving, Taking Notice, Connecting, Learning and Being Active. Each day, activity ideas and information have been shared on the Year Group Google Classrooms, and it’s been great seeing how many girls have been trying out activities such as the Kindness Bingo and some of the mindfulness activities like colouring and body scan meditations.
Pupils have been sharing some ways that they have been coping during lockdown with lots of girls enjoying Joe Wicks’ YouTube workouts, yoga and running. Many girls said that keeping to a routine has really helped them feel in control and has made the time pass quicker. Families have been playing board games together and going for lovely walks. Staff have also been finding ways to find a routine and keep active. Mr Dudley has been running the equivalent of a marathon each week (26 miles!) and has managed it every week so far! Mme Hallauer is enjoying getting into running as well and is using an app a pupil recommended called Couch to 5K. Miss McLeman is using the same app and has completed her first 5K this week! Well done, everyone!
There have been lots of crafting and cooking skills on display as well with staff and pupils learning new skills or developing existing ones. I learnt how to knit some slippers, but I did not do this because I needed slippers… I did it as I needed to find a way to relax and stop thinking about the thousands of thoughts spinning around during the long days of lockdown. Finding something that you enjoy, which occupies your mind and possibly your body as well, helps to reduce your unhelpful or negative thoughts. This half term holiday, why not try out different activities to see if you can find one that works for you. Not every activity will work for everybody, for example, Miss Parkin has made some excellent loaves of bread, but I had complete failures every time I tried, although they would have made great doorstops!
It is important to know where you can find information and support for your wellbeing and mental health. information has been shared in the Year Group Google Classrooms about advice and services that are still available for the pupils and their parents/carers during the lockdown. I want to take the opportunity to highlight the following services again:
– Chat Health 07480 636 050 – Text service for support from the School Nursing Team 9 am-5 pm Mondays – Fridays.
– Herts Mind Network 01923 256391 – Advice line for 10-17-year-olds. Emotional support, advice and information if you are worried about Coronavirus and how the current measures impact you. Open on Mon, Wed and Fri 13:00 – 16:30, Tues & Thurs 17:00 – 19:30 and Saturday 10:00 – 13:00.
– Childline 0800 1111 – Phone line for children and young people available between 9 am and midnight every day offering a listening ear and advice.
– Shout Crisis Messenger 85258 – A free 24/7 text service for people experiencing a mental health crisis and who need to speak to someone as soon as possible.
– Samaritans App – Launched this week, the app offers support and guided activities to improve wellbeing and mental health.
Please contact your daughter’s Form Tutor or Head of Year if you need further support with your daughter’s wellbeing or mental health. The pastoral team has a twitter page, and an Instagram account both called @bhgs_wellbeing where information is shared, and services are signposted.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to Natalie, our school counsellor, for providing lots of activity ideas and resources and also all of the staff and pupils who have helped and engaged with this online MHAW.
Over this term, Year 8 Historians have been discovering the history of Victorian London. This topic has focused on the lives of ordinary people during the Industrial Revolution. They have conducted a public health investigation and followed the process undertaken by John Snow in his discovery that cholera was water-borne. They have analysed contemporary sources into child labour, living conditions and workhouses.
Year 8 have been incredibly hard-working at home and have produced some excellent work. We were particularly impressed with their campaign posters to support or oppose Victorian workhouses.
Over this term, Year 9 Historians have been working incredibly hard on the topic of World War Two. Part of their work focused on researching the national and local experiences of men, women and children on the Home Front during the six year world conflict. The project work that was produced was exceptional and demonstrates the determination and hard work that students are continuing to do at home. Students were able to uncover some of the vital contributions made by the people of Hatfield and Welwyn and were given the opportunity to share their personal family experiences. It was fascinating to learn about our students’ relatives who were members of the military during the war and the stories of evacuation.
Well done Year 9!
Year 7 Spanish, Year 8 German and Year 9 French & German classes have been exploring countries where the languages they are learning are spoken. They then made a tourist promotional presentation on a location of their choice to visit in the future.
Here is a sample of the hard work they have put in and the many places they are looking forward to visit soon.
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Woods Avenue
Hatfield
Herts
AL10 8NL
Tel: 01707 275331
Fax: 01707 270244
Absence Text: 07860 095596
Email: admin@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk
Co-Headteachers:
Ms T Nickson
B.Ed (Hons), MA, NPQH, FCCT
Mr A Wood
BA (Oxon), MBA, NPQH
