Karen Tweed provides an update on the valuable support offered to students during difficult times...
Pastors still here for YOU!
THE Gosport School Pastors were an integral part of school life prior to the pandemic but given “most are of grandparent generation” what have they been doing since the pandemic struck? The short answer is perfectly summed up by coordinator Karen Tweed who said: “Gosport School Pastors have always claimed to be ‘here for you’ and we still are. “Whether we are able to be in school or not, we meet regularly to pray for the school communities.” Scan the playground at Brune Park or Bay House on any given day in 2019 – a place and time which suddenly seems a lifetime ago – you would almost certainly spot a Gosport School Pastor. But as the world descended into chaos and schools were shut their very important work ground to a halt. Their time was spent tidying up home and gardens, “they have never been tidier,” Karen says, but all were waiting for the day they could return to our schools. In July, the call came and they were invited to meet a group of students at our Spring Garden Lane facility. Karen continues: “We were delighted
Gosport Futures to find out how they were coping and to enable them to share the highs and lows. “The end of term came and as the summer holidays began, we were filled with renewed hope that there might be some kind of return to normality in September.” And we all know what happened next. Since then, they have been helping our admin and year group teams’ package and deliver food to our most vulnerable families. Unable to help our students in person there are now plans to offer online support. Karen said: “We look forward to being that listening ear if someone needs to chat. “Of course it is better to meet in person but we will do what we can for now. In the words of the famous song ‘We will meet again’”.
STEM makes a difference AHT lead Elizabeth Hillawi (pictured) says the GFM STEM programme gives students the skills and mindset to help them make the world a much better place. Throughout history in times of uncertainty people have turned to science to try to solve our problems. From small town doctor Edward Jenner who created the first smallpox vaccine to mathematician Alan Turing who cracked the WW2 Enigma Code. The curiosity fostered in STEM based subjects is the key to future discoveries which could eventually save our planet.
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GFM
Trying to make the world a better place through science is what the GFM STEM programme is all about. The aim is to take the endless possibilities and link them to real life situations – when school was open as normal, we worked on green energy
Gosport Futures Spring 2021
Developing character for adult life A FOCUS on character development is helping the young people of Gosport become well-rounded and emotionally intelligent citizens. Embedded into the inclusive and broad curriculum, the GFM are committed to cultivating positive character qualities in their students. The secondary phase is working towards the School of Character Kitemark by the Association of Character Education, which “summarises the educational attitude that promotes the development of positive values and attitudes in young people”. Assistant Headteacher for Performing Arts at the GFM, David Malcolmson (pictured) said: “We place great importance on character development as we believe that supporting parents to develop students as well-rounded people enables them to prepare for their adult lives. “We aim to provide students with a greater understanding of their behavioural choices and an awareness of how they fit into the wider community.” designs – since closure, we have worked on computer simulations and basic coding. The real love for STEM, however, comes from tinkering with ideas and reading about problems with no solutions. The benefits of this kind of creativity are so important for our young people, it does wonders for their confidence as well as their mental health.
