20th December 2024
HEADLINES
By
James Saunders
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
We finally made it to the end of the term. I would like to finish the year by thanking our learners, staff, families and community for their support. Every day I am impressed with the conduct of our learners and the climate around school. It has been an absolute pleasure to show visitors around our school this term. They always comment on how wonderful the environment and culture is and how lovely, polite and engaging our learners are. Many have told me that we have the best culture and behaviour of any school in the area. That does not happen by accident - it happens through all of our learners conducting themselves as mature young adults and our community working together to live through our values. Sure, we sometimes make mistakes and get things wrong. But just like a family we never turn our back on one another.
As I reflect back on some of the amazingly inspiring things that have happened at Honywood this term I feel an immense sense of pride. You are all great. After enduring a year of temporary accommodation we began the term very excited to be getting back to normal and having a normal year - fingers crossed. We welcomed our newest and largest cohort of C7 learners and kicked the term off with a trip to Mersea. This was followed by our C11s going off to a careers fair to ignite discussions around their next steps and college applications. At the start of October we were able to showcase the school on Open Evening. The night was a real success with the highest attendance yet. After 4 weeks of daily personalised tours we ended the first half term having welcomed almost 200 individual families through the doors for a tour of our school.
The second half of the term has been just as busy. A few other highlights of the term include:
• NHS Careers trip
• Portsmouth Warship trip
• C11 Geography Trip
• BBC Bitesize Careers Workshop
• Thorpe Park visit
• C7 Meet the learning group leader evening
• C10 Democracy Day
• C9 Dance Trip
• Rugby trip to Twickenham
• KS3 Disco
• ARu STEM visit
• Mental Health Champion launch
• C12 Returners evening
• Christmas Concert
• C11 Macbeth Screening
• Community Christmas Lunch
I recently spoke about the importance of the arts’ in my summary of the amazing Christmas Concert last week. It is so important to provide learners with the opportunity to express themselves creatively. Finally I would like to end on the wonderful work that everyone did to mark Remembrance Day. From the display at the front of school to the staff football match, at every step our learners, staff and community were working in harmony and were truly inspiring.
These are the things that brought me to Honywood in the first place and have certainly made my job so enjoyable. What links these two events in particular is the spirit of collaboration and altruism. Without a collaborative and altruistic approach so many things are almost impossible to achieve. When I have seen the school working at its best this term it has been as a result of partnerships, of groups working together, of mutual support and respect, of people giving up their time, and of collaboration.
We are constantly reviewing our provision at Honywood which often results in change. Change is a key part of life and is often inevitable. Adapting to change is difficult to achieve and it is only when we collaborate as a community and work in partnership that we will move things forward for the benefit of
our learners. Altruism takes effort and I would like to thank you all: learners, staff, parents, and volunteers for continuing to freely give up that most precious commodity, time, in order to support the school in its journey.
Whatever your beliefs or view of Christmas, the one thing the period does do for us all is provide time: time for families, time for loved ones, time to reflect and think, time to be altruistic toward others - time. However you choose to mark your time over the next few weeks I would like to encourage you to embrace it.
It has been a real pleasure leading the school this term. I wish you a happy holiday.
All the Best.
James Saunders
GOODBYE TO COLLEAGUES
I would like to draw your attention to a few staff changes that will be happening after Christmas and ask you to join me in thanking colleagues that will be moving on from Honywood at the end of this term.
Firstly I would like to say thank you and the best of luck to Kathy Doughty. Kathy has carried out many different roles during her 22 years with us, with her most recent one supporting the Finance function at both Honywood and the SAT Hub. I’d like to wish Kathy a happy and healthy, well earned retirement and thank her for her long service to Honywood School. It is the ongoing commitment that Kathy has shown that helps shape our wonderful school community and she will be missed by many. I wish her the very best in her retirement and thank her for the support she has given to Honywood over the last two decades.
We also say a fond farewell to Hollie Lever as she leaves us after Christmas to spend more time with her family. Hollie joined our Humanities Department this time last year and quickly found her place within the team. Hollie has been a great colleague to those around her and a fantastic teacher to many of our learners. I’d like to wish her well for the future and thank her for her contribution to our school community over the last 12 months.
Finally, I would like you to join me in saying farewell to my good friend and colleague, Assistant Headteacher, Paula Downes. If you were at the Christmas Concert last week you would have heard me dedicate the performances to Paula, who, over her almost twenty years at Honywood has made an outstanding contribution to Expressive Arts. Paula began her time here as a music teacher but more recently has turned
her hand to Technology and has been responsible for our outstanding Food results and new Food room. Alongside that she has been an instrumental part of the leadership of the school. Whilst I am sad to say goodbye to Paula, I am happy for her to be able to take the next step in her career. Paula has been seconded to work across our Trust of schools, within the Teaching School Hub. She will oversee the Early Career Framework and Appropriate Body, assuring the quality of teacher induction, covering Braintree, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford.
It is often said that we rarely remember what people said to us but we never forget how they made us feel. I still remember my first visit to Honywood and what stood out was meeting Paula. As I stood in a room full of staff for a meet and greet feeling very nervous she made me feel at ease and welcome - that support has continued to this day. It was a moment I have never forgotten. I wish Paula the very best in her new role and look forward to working with her in this capacity. Good luck Paula.
As a result of these departures we will be welcoming a couple of new members of staff in the new year.
Firstly, we will be welcoming Tim Paternoster who will be joining the Technology team to take over teaching from Paula Downes. Tim has actually just finished his second week at school completing a handover with Paula and meeting her classes. Tim will also be adding further capacity to the Science Team.
Due to Hollie Lever’s departure from Geography we have also appointed Katy Paternoster into the team (yes, they are related). Both Katy and Tim come to us with a wealth of experience in schools. I know that Katy and Tim will be warmly welcomed into our Honywood community.
I am also delighted to inform you that current staff members Katie Cody and Hannah Giles will be taking on the role of Finance Assistant and administration of Lettings from January 2025.
SUPPORT FOR LEARNERS AND FAMILIES THIS CHRIRSTMAS
Christmas can be full of happy celebrations with friends and family, however it can be a difficult time for some learners or their families, and a time we might feel more pressure to feel or be a certain way.
School can often be the most stable and consistent element in our lives. There are services available over the Christmas holidays to listen and offer help and support.
Here are some useful contacts and links should learners or families need support whilst school is closed:
Kooth
Kooth offers free, confidential and anonymous online support and counselling for 11-23 year olds. Their team will be available to provide mental wellbeing support over the festive period.
Childline
Childline provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem. Call: 0800 1111 anytime or online chat with a counsellor.
Crisis Tools
Crisis Tools helps support young people in crisis. Short accessible video guides and text resources are available for free here.
Every Mind Matters
Every Matters offers expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Good Thinking
Good Thinking is London’s digital wellbeing service and provides a range of resources for people to help improve mental wellbeing including free NHSapproved apps.
Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is a mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place.
Papyrus
Papyrus provide confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person. Call: 0800 068 3131 or text: 07860 039967 (9am-midnight, 365 days a year).
Samaritans
24/7 365 days a year – they’ll help you and listen to how you’re feeling. Call: 116 123 or email: jo@ samaritans.org
Beat
Beat provide support to help young people who may be struggling with an eating problem or an eating disorder. Call 0808 801 0677 (for help in England) (9am-midnight during the week and 4pm-midnight on weekends and bank holidays). Email: help@ beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
Shout
Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when immediate assistance is required Text “SHOUT” to 85258.
The Mix
The Mix provides free, confidential support for young people under 25. Call: 0808 808 4994 (3pm-midnight every day) or email.
YoungMinds provide lots of tips for staying well over the Christmas period.
Stay safe and be kind this holiday period.
THANKS
To the following learners for helping with the KS3 Film afternoon and the setup.
Freddie Estall, Elliot Watson, Matilda Moxham, Frances Rasell, Faye Longstaff, Soha Malek, Tama Ujfalusi and Freddie Brooks.
C9 prefects - Erin, Harvey, Bethany, Lacey, Sophie and Sophie for supporting the Christmas lunch for the Coggeshall Old People’s Lunch Club.
WELL DONE
to Mary Mcleod, Jake Leonard, Fran Salmon and Isla Turner for helping a disabled gentleman following a fall in Coggeshall. We are very proud of our learners and the kindness and compassion they demonstrated in a mature manner.
C7 - Rickstones v Honywood
Score 3-3
Half time 0-1
Team: Erina McSweeney, Manny Munro, Ralf Gooding, Dougie Hopkins, Finley Doughton, Connor McLeod, Eddie Hutchison, Tyler Farrow, Heath Saunders (Capt), Zach Bishop, Rosie Cagney, Kalen Dodson.
Team: Faye Longstaff, Scarlett Evans, Frances Rassell, Emily Henrici-Fernandez, Sophia Cooper, Olivia Walby, Emma Jullien, Phoebe Hazell-Young
The U16’s played Brampton Manor School in the Essex cup netball competition. It was an incredibly close game and they fought hard but sadly lost 9-13.
On a heavy and bumpy pitch both teams did well to produce an even and well contested game. Honywood took the lead with a well struck shot from outside the box by Rosie Cagney. Honywood led by one goal to nil and managed to maintain that lead until half time due to some excellent saves from Erina McSweeney. In the second half, Honywood dominated the game and were rewarded by two well taken goals when Heath Saunders flicked the ball over the Rickstones keeper from a narrow angle and Kalen Dodson with an accurate finish. Rosie Cagney also saw a shot of hers hit the post with the Rickstones keeper well beaten. The home team finished the strongest and scored the goals needed to see the game finish 3 -3.
C11 - Honywood v Rickstones
Score 5-2
Team: Recep Almas (GK), Jonny Penrose, Archie Chipperfield, Harry Gosling, George Warwick, Rory Williams, Dylan Clark, Jay-Conner GormleyMorris, Joel Osiebe, Niel Viljoen, Felix Bird, David Ojowa, Reegan May.
A well played match where Honywood dominated the game with Niel Viljoen scoring 4 goals and 1 from Joel Osiebe.
Honywood v Brampton Manor Academy
Mrs F Jones
The first ever Christmas tree wasn’t a tree at all, it was in fact made of dyed goose feathers and came from Germany
Riga in Latvia was the home to the first decorated Christmas tree in 1510
The first use of lights on a Christmas tree was in 1882 by Edward H Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison (who first invented the incandescent bulb)
The Christmas pudding originated in the 14th-century as a sort of porridge, originally known as “frumenty”, which bears little resemblance to the dessert we know today. It was originally made with hulled wheat, boiled in milk, seasoned with cinnamon and coloured with saffron.
Every year, Norway sends a beautiful home-grown Christmas tree to London, where it is decorated with lights in Trafalgar Square. Standing a towering 20m tall, the terrific tree is a gift to say thank you for the help the UK gave Norway during World War II.
In 1647 Christmas celebrations were made illegal in England, and soon after, in the English Colonies in America, too! At that time, members of the government felt that the religious meaning of Christmas had been forgotten, and so banned the holiday festivities. Some people still celebrated in secret, however, until Christmas was once again legal… almost 20 years later!
The Christmas cracker was invented by London-based confectioner and baker Tom Smith (1823 – 1869) who set up shop in Goswell Road, Clerkenwell in the 1840s. On a trip to Paris he discovered the French ‘bon bon’, a sugared almond wrapped in a twist of tissue paper. Bonbons proved a hit at Christmas time and to encourage year-round sales, Smith added a small love motto inside the wrapper. The inspiration to add the explosive ‘pop’ was supposedly sparked by the crackling sound of a log fire. Smith patented his first cracker device in 1847 and perfected the mechanism in the 1860s. It used two narrow strips of paper layered together, with silver fulminate painted on one side and an abrasive surface on the other – when pulled, friction created a small explosion.
A typical 6 to 7 feet high Christmas tree is between 10 and 12 years old. Seed is collected from trees either in the wild or in specially selected seed orchards and sown in a nursery where the seedlings then grow for three to four years.
Dates for the Diary
Tues 7 Jan 2025
Tues 21 January
Thurs 23 January
Mon 27 - Fri 31 January
Tues 28 January
All learners return to school (Week B)
Disneyland Paris Trip Meeting for families 6pm
C11 Parents Evening
C11 MFL Mock Speaking Exams
Ski Trip Meeting for families - 6pm