Headlines - 11 October 2024 by Honywood School

James Saunders

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

I have had quite a few conversations with learners this week about the stress of their upcoming mock exams. It is true - exams are stressful. However, mock exams, or any internal assessments for that matter, have a very different purpose compared to GCSE exams. I have been clarifying this purpose in my conversations with learners to help them to approach their mocks and in-class tests with the right frame of mind and, hopefully, a reduction in stress. The purpose of an internal assessment or mock exam is to support the teacher and learner to diagnose their learning. It enables both learner and teacher to understand where the learning has taken place and where there is a deficit. It enables the teacher to plan their teaching more effectively so that it meets the needs of each individual and it enables the learner to understand what learning they are already grasping with confidence and what learning they have not quite ‘got’ yet. As we approach half term many subjects across all cohorts will be introducing tests as a form of assessment to check on understanding.

There are some ways that families can help us to further mitigate stress during assessment time. Learners need to ensure they arrive to class assessments well rested, on time and with the appropriate equipment. Please support them with this.

Whilst I am on the theme of exam stress I would like to highlight World Mental Health Day, which took place yesterday.

• World Mental Health Day 2024

• Information and support - Mind

• World Mental Health Day 2024

• Announcing 2024 World Mental Health Theme “It is time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace”.

The aim of World Mental Health Day is to ignite thinking around Mental Health. It’s nice to have a

day to recognise mental health, however I feel this is something we should never lose sight of. For me, every day should be mental health day. For us as a community of learners, parents and staff our mental health is precious. Coming to school can take its toll on us and in some cases, consume us. We must all work together and support each other to maintain our wellbeing. That is easier said than done when the demands made around us can easily get out of hand and spiral out of control, often leading to overwhelming feelings of negativity - mental health is never something to be ashamed about. The best thing to do is to talk to someone and not bottle things up. My door is always open to you all - learners, parents and staff. If you are ever having personal struggles that are affecting your wellbeing and mental health please let me know.

So let’s all come together to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. Talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. So, on World Mental Health Day and beyond it, why not check in with your friends, family, peers, or colleagues?

This year’s theme is workplace mental health. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, communities and each other.

I use music to support my mental health and the next gig in my calendar is DJing the Cohort 7 Halloween Disco. The Disco takes place on Thursday 24th October just before we break up for half term. Tickets should be available shortly - I am looking forward to seeing all our newest learners there.

In the meantime, I hope you are all able to get some down time over the weekend.

James Saunders

FRONT OF SCHOOL DISPLAY

Mr Caygill will shortly be launching a pumpkin carving competition to contribute to our front of school display. Winners will be announced on Friday 25th October. All entries will form a display at the front of school ahead of the creation of our annual remembrance display.

C9 PARENT’S EVENING

This is a gentle reminder that we will be holding a parent’s evening for C9 on Thursday 7th November. Learners will need to arrange a suitable appointment time for you to meet with their teachers. They will shortly be given their sign up sheets - If a learner loses it, a blank version can be found here: Blank Learner Sign Up Sheet I would like to thank families in advance for engaging with us at this crucial time when learners are beginning their GCSEs.

THANKS

This week’s thanks is a big one.

To: the Lead and Deputy Lead Learners who have been supporting the C6 Tours over the last few weeks: Freddie Brooks (10GWa/CKh), Faye Longstaff (10TGi), Soha Malek (10RMu), Tama Ujfalusi (10GWa/CKh), Bonnie Bunch (10CFr), Freddie Estall (10ASa), Jack Hill (10JDy), Matilda Moxham (10ASa), Mia Newiss (10PBl), Frances Rassell (10PBl), Estelle Scherer, (10PBl) Felix Skubich (10ASa).

To: the C10 Prefects for their leadership support during Open Evening and for ensuring the evening ran smoothly:

Molly Barford (10CFr), Sophie Bloomfield (10ASa), Katherine De Bruyn (10DSp), Nathan Humphreys (10VSp/CKh), Zachary Newton (10JDy), Francesca Nottage (10ASa), Callum Rider (10VSp/CKh), Evie Thomson (10JDy), Elliott Watson (10CFr), Marcia Wilson (10JDy).

To: the learners who supported Open Evening: Ameerah Abass 8TDA, Ayodamola Adediran 10CFR, Charlie Aitken 8HGO, Riley Akers 10PBL, Calan Argent 10DSP, Freddie Bacon 7AHA, Chelsea Bailey 10VSP/ CKH, Jack Baker 10ABY/GVA, Amber Bates 10CFR, Faye Bennett 10ABY/GVA, Darcie Berry 11RMu, Emily Bloomfield 7LGO, Matilda Bolton 8ADE, Callum Bones 9MHA, Abigail Boughtwood 9CTI, Hollie-Marie Brazier 8RSO, Amelia Bullus 9HLE/LMO, Jessica Burge 10ABY/GVA, Seth Burke 10DSP, Scarlett Burks 10VSP/CKH, Rosie Cagney 7LGO, Maxwell Caulfield 10ABY/GVA, Lavinia Ciobanu 8JMA, Sophie Collard 9HLE/LMO, WIlliam Collard 7CWA, John Cook 10PBL, Lilly-Mae Cooke 9MHA, Sophia Cooper 11GWA/AGI, Isla Coppin 7RST, Eva Cousens 11NPO, Ottilia Cousens 10VSP/CKH, Harvey Croft 9VHI, Morgan Dearsley 11RMU, Emily Dearsley 7AMA,

Oscar Disbrey 10VSP/CKH, Prudence Duffy 11RMU, Oliver Eastall 8FJO, Amelia Edwards 10ASA, Poppy Edwards 9NWH/GVA, Kelsie English 9CTI, Scarlett Evans 11RMU, Ruby Everitt 7ATO, Finley Eves 7AHa, Oliver Finney 10JDY, Charlie Fisher 9RPH, Lacey Fitzpatrick 9RPH, Alfie Foster 11RMU, Ronnie Ganesh 10ASA, Courtney Garton 10PBL, Bethany Gilfillan 10ABY/GVA, Freya Gillman 9VHI, Emily Girt-Izod 8ADE, Amelia Godfrey 9CTI, Oli Goodman 10VSp/ CKh, Jazzmin Goold 10VSP/CKH, Caitlin Hall 10CFR, Antonella Hallam 8RSO, Kai Harding 11GWA/AGI, Oliver Hayden 9VHi, Lois Heath 11SPL/CKH, Willow Henderson 8JMA, Emily Henrici-Fernandez 11RMU, Freya Horvath 8JVE, Freya Hutchinson 9HLE/LMO, Freya Hyland 9RPH, Harry Irwin 9KHo/RHo, Sophie Jobson 9VHI, Ellie-Mae Jobson 8RSO, Emily Jones 11TGI, Lexi Jones 8TDA, Emili Katiuzhenko 9RPH, Clemence Kemball 10VSP/CKH, Saskia Kemp 9KHO/ RHO, Beatrix King 7CMI, Theo Last 10DSP, William Lebaga 10ABY/GVA, Zachary Lote 8FJO, Jacob Lyons 9KHO/RHO, Afiyah Malik 8RSO, Olivia Marshall 7CWA, Keira Martin 11SPL/CKH, Eddie Martin 10CFR, Erina Mcsweeney 7CMI, Micah Melvin 8TDA, Joshua Milliken 8JMA, Hema Mistry 9NWH/GVA, Sydney Moore 10VSP/CKH, Lilly-Anne Mullenger 8JMA, Manny Munro-Johnson 7AMA, Ivy Murkowski 9MHA, Karis Newman 11SPL/CKH, Esmae Newstead 9VHI, Sophie Nichol 9HLE/LMO, Charlotte Nottage 7LGO, Hermione O’Neill 8RSO, Charley Omondi 10CFR, Callum Overy 9HLe/LMo, Oakley Parker 8RSO, Riley Preston 9MHA, Stanley Pyne 9KHO/ RHO, Ahfiyah Rashid 7CWA, Sylvie Rassell 7CWA, Oscar Reece 8CHO, Amelie Rees 11TGI, Amelie Rees 11TGi/MRa, Dylan Roberts 9VHI, Zoe Robinson 10ABY/GVA, Alexander Ross 11NPO, Thomas Ross 9MHA, Vasile Rusu 11GWA/AGI, Thomas Sapsford 9KHO/RHO, Curtis Sargeant 10PBL, Theo Saunders 11SPL/CKH, Max Schroder 11NPO, Anya Scott 11NPO, Remi Scott 9RPH, Olivia Shardlow 11SPL/ CKH, Zac Shuffield 11TGI, Liam Smith 9KHO/RHO, Aiden Smith 11SPL/CKH, Tillianne Smith 11NPO, Chloe Sorrell 11LPU/KCD, Daniel Spragg 9BWI, Evie Stayt 11TGI, Ryan Stephenson 10DSP, Jemima Stowers 10CFR, Emily Stubbs 9MHA, Charlotte Summers 11RMU, Luc Sykes 9HLE/LMO, Reece Szafinski 11TGI, Daisy-Mae Taylor 11RMU, Sofia Taylor Short 10PBL, Nia Moy Thomas 10ASA, Ella Thorogood 7AMA, Poppy Tilyard 11LPU/KCD, Annie Tosley 8FJO, Grace Tubbs 9BWI, Isla Turner 9KHO/ RHO, Tiffany Turner 10DSP, Lola Turner 7CWA, Jacob Underhill 8ADE, Evie-May Vaughan 9BWI, Ruby-Mae Veness 11SPL/CKH, Leo Wade 10CFR, Olivia Walby 11TGI, Oliver Warwick 8FJO, Jessica Welch 11NPO, Bzi Werner 9VHI, Joe Weston 11SPL/CKH, Elisabeth Whitehead 9BWI, Grace Williams 11LPU/KCD, Layla Woods 9CTI, Riley Worth 10DSP, Avaline Zanatta 10ASA, Greta Zanatta 8FJO