FTA 12/5/25

DEAR – Drop Everything and Read Your DEAR session this week is: Tuesday P6

Y7, Y8 & Y9

Highfields’ Recycling Project Update

• Student ambassadors would like to thank you all for making the effort to recycle.

• Mr Nicholls has informed us that for the first paper and cardboard bin collection, around 80% of our total paper and cardboard waste was successfully recycled.

• Around 70% of our plastic waste was successfully recycled.

• Please try to check the packaging of your rubbish to see if it can be recycled. If it says ‘Recycle at large store/supermarket’, we cannot yet recycle this (most crisp packets) Here are a few reminders of what you can and can’t recycle.

Can Recycle…  • Coffee cups • Plastic water bottles • Jelly pots • Card/cardboard food containers (if there isn’t food stuck to it)

Unfortunately, we can’t yet recycle…  • Crisp packets • Other plastic packaging that is not hard plastic • Milkshake cartons • Card/cardboard food containers that are covered in food

Day

Activity

Time

Monday

LGBT+ group

Lunchtime Lab 1

Y7 and Y8 English Homework Help

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 Rm8 or Rm10

Junior Choir

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 Music Room

Y8 Art and Craft club

Lunchtime Room 1a

Rounders club

After school 3.20 until 4.30

Sports Leaders Cheerleading Week B Athletics club Science Club

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 Parts Mob After school 3.20 until 4.30 Lunchtime Lab 3 1:05

Tuesday Wednesday

Extra Curricular

STARKHOLMES Y7 and 8

Day

Activity

Time

Thursday

Starkholmes Band

Lunchtime 1.10-1.40 Music Room

Y7 Homework Club

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 Room 7

Cricket Club

After school 3.30 – 4.30

Keyboard Clinic

Lunchtime 1.10-1.40 Music Room

Y8 Film club

Lunchtime (bring your lunch)

Friday

Extra Curricular

Starkholmes Y7 and 8

DofE Important Dates Bronze Practice Group 1 - 16th and 17th May Group 2 - 17th and 18th May Bronze Qualifier Group 1 - 6th and 7th June Group 2 – 19th and 20th June Silver/Gold Practice 9th and 11th May Silver Qualifier 23rd – 26th June Gold Qualifier 19th – 23rd July

Lumsdale Y9 - 11 Club

Time

Monday

Rounders Club

After school 3.20-4.30

Y11 English support (MWE)

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 in E3

Senior Choir (staff welcome)

After school 3.20-4.30 in MU1

Y11 English support (CO)

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 in E2

Sportsleaders

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30

Tuesday

Extra Curricular

Day

Lumsdale Y9-11 Day

Club

Time

Wednesday

GCSE and A level Photography Catch Up

After school 3.20-4.30 in C6

GCSE and A level Art Catch Up

After school 3.20- 5.00 in C4

Athletics Club

After school 3.20-4.30

Day

Club

Time

Thursday

LGBT+ group

Lunchtime in S5

Y11 English support (JFG)

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30 in E4

Lumsdale Band

after school 3.20 MU1

Basketball

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30

Cricket Club SportsLeaders Badminton Club

After school 3.20-4.30

Friday

Lunchtime 1 to 1.30

Extra Curricular

Lumsdale Y9-11

WOTW: Surmount TPS: Why do we do Word of the Week?

Having a large vocabulary is not just a skill in reading, writing, listening and speaking, but also in a general knowledge of science, history and the arts.

It makes you a more interesting human!

WOTW: Surmount Using your MWBs: What do you think this word means?

3…2…1… Show me.

1. To overcome a difficulty or obstacle.

Using your MWBs: What type of word is it?

Noun/verb/adjective/adverb etc.

3…2…1… Show me.

Verb

WOTW: Surmount TPS: Synonyms and antonyms (what are these?): Synonyms – words with a similar meaning Antonyms – words with the opposite meaning Using your MWBs: What synonyms can you think of ?

3…2…1… Show me.

Overcome, conquer, get over Using your MWBs: What antonyms can you think of ?

3…2…1… Show me.

Lose, defeated, give up

Watch the video. How does having a growth mindset help us surmount challenges?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_oqghnxBmY TPS: With your partner, what are three things you learn from watching this video?

How can you make a change to help you surmount the obstacles in your life?

Write two sentences in your form time exercise book with the word surmount in them All manner of cultural differences were surmounted.

The problems to be surmounted are, however, great.

WOTW: Surmount TPS 1: Why is increasing our vocabulary important?

Speaking frame: Increasing our vocabulary is important because…

TPS 2: Where might we see the word surmount in life?

Speaking frame: We might see the word surmount…

Secondary 15 Minute Lesson

Your latest results: “Should ending child poverty be a top priority for the UK Government?”

Yes

No

64.2%

35.8%

“If we focus on reducing child poverty, our services such as the NHS would not be stretched in the future.”

Campion School

“In order to strengthen our economy, we need to reduce child poverty. The two go hand in hand.”

Heckmondwike Grammar School

“There are other issues that are more important in the long term that will sort other issues out.

Fixing the economy and the NHS for example.”

South Nottinghamshire Academy

“We should consider that the top priority should be preventing and helping countries in war.”

Malet Lambert

51,664 young people voted this week! Were you one of them?

Your latest results: “Should ending child poverty be a top priority for the UK Government?”

1:21

Click to hear from Ali Cooper, Senior Policy Advisor on Child Poverty at Barnardo’s, about his thoughts on your latest VoteTopic results.

Your views on “Should ending child poverty be a top priority for the UK Government?” were also heard by:

Child Poverty Action Group

The Children’s Society

Barnardo’s

Department for Education

Save the Children

Want to share your views with us? Share your votes and comments by logging into your VotesforSchools account.

You can also get in touch at secondary@votesforschools.com

Today’s VoteTopic:

Are nicotine pouches a cause for concern?

UNCRC Article 24: Health, water, food, environment

UN SDG 3: Good health & wellbeing

VfS Key Theme 1: Health & wellbeing

1

Why are we talking about this?

Individual reflection (1 min) What words come to mind when you see these images?

1

Why are we talking about this?

Those lads may have felt pretty cool having their photos taken with their favourite nicotine products.

There’s a new(ish) addictive nicotine product breaking the rules. Nicotine pouches are far less visible; people might not even realise someone is getting their nicotine hit!

1

Why are we talking about this?

Today we will be taking a closer look at nicotine pouches.

These little packs can have different names: nicopods, tobaccofree snus, lip pillow, lip cushies, pack, upper decky; to name a few.

Like all nicotine products, there’s some facts about them we should know…

1

Why are we talking about this?

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance with side effects, including high blood pressure, raised heart rate and light-headedness They have soft fibre shells. Saliva breaks down the shells so the nicotine can be absorbed through the gums and into the bloodstream

Alongside the nicotine, there can be other ingredients such as sweeteners and flavourings

Here’s the “cool” sciency bit…

1

Why are we talking about this?

Later on, you will be voting Yes or No to:

Are nicotine pouches a cause for concern?

2

This is fine…

Individual activity (3-5 mins) Let’s learn some more about nicotine pouches. Take a read of the following information. For each slide, consider whether you are relaxed about the information, or quite concerned! Lean back for relaxed or lean forward to show how concerned you are.

No one needs to be that laid back that you fall and lie on your back… Just saying.

2

This is fine…

5.4% of the UK population have tried nicotine pouches.

Today, 1% of people are currently using them.

Lean back for relaxed, lean forward to show how concerned you are.

2

This is fine…

44% of people had never heard of nicotine pouches.

Lean back for relaxed, lean forward to show how concerned you are.

2

This is fine…

There is no law against selling nicotine pouches to under-18s in the UK. However, lots of experts have said that they do not want them to be used by anyone under 18.

Did you know?

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently moving through Parliament. This ban would affect the way pouches are sold.

Lean back for relaxed, lean forward to show how concerned you are.

2

This is fine…

Some nicotine pouches contain as much as 20mg of the addictive drug, roughly the same as a full pack of cigarettes. This increases the risk of addiction.

Lean back for relaxed, lean forward to show how concerned you are.

3

Addiction prediction

Class activity (4-6 mins) Voters over the years have answered several VoteTopics about nicotine products; for example, topics on smoking and vaping.

Let’s revisit these votes and see if anything has changed. For each past VoteTopic, take a quick Yes No poll in the room.

How do the results of then and now compare?

3

Addiction prediction

Will vaping be banned?

Would you vote Yes or No today on this question?

Back in autumn 2019, the vote was…

Yes 22.2% No 77.8%

3

Addiction prediction

Should we be more worried about vaping?

Would you vote Yes or No today on this question?

Back in autumn 2022, the vote was…

Yes 73.0% No 27.0%

3

Addiction prediction

Will you be the first smokefree generation?

Would you vote Yes or No today on this question?

Back in spring 2024, the vote was…

Yes 9.6% No 90.4%

3

Addiction prediction

Are nicotine pouches a cause for concern?

Challenge (1-2 mins) Shortly you’ll be voting on today’s VoteTopic question. What could change in the future that would alter your vote?

Now’s your chance to vote on: “Are nicotine pouches a cause for concern?”

Yes Oh, it’s like vapes all over again. Can’t people find a more original addiction?

Not having age limits on packs is scary. I can’t believe young people can now legally start their addiction.

A nicotine addiction is probably going to mean getting involved with tobacco products.

If it was about the flavours, you’d stick to sweets.

People moaned that cigarettes killed us.

Then it was vapes might kill us. Nicopods will be fine.

These pouches are a great way for people to cut back on smoking.

They are a cause for celebration.

Free choice is always important. People can choose from a whole variety of drugs, like alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.

No We will be sharing your thoughts on this topic with ASH Scotland, Department for Health & Social Care, London Tobacco Alliance, Teeth Team and Teenage Cancer Trust.

Log in to your VotesforSchools account to submit your vote and leave a comment.

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK