20th October 2023
HEADLINES
By James Saunders
HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE MAKE IT THROUGH THAT ONE? The end of each half term delivers the opportunity for us all to individually and collectively reflect on the ‘what went well’s’, ‘even better ifs’ and in this case, ‘how in the world did we make it through that one’. In my experience, in order to be able to honestly and effectively reflect, a period of detachment is required to dust off the exhaustion and emotion of it all. It is at this point that a very small and very personalised window of opportunity arises for us to identify the key individual and collective learning points of the term, and to transition those points into positive actions that in turn lead to personal growth and future success. It’s fair to say that across the course of the last 7 weeks you’ve probably all overheard a teacher having a conversation with one of your peers in which they’ve challenged them to address their Even Better Ifs and to initiate a degree of positive change in their approach to school life. This is something that I would strongly encourage you all to do the same across the well deserved half term break, in order to come back not only refreshed, but even better and more robust than before.
conflict at the time, we in fact only had 6 weeks to train, plan, prepare and deploy. The initial ripples of ‘how the golly gosh are we going to do this’ (or words to that effect) that echoed around the room in that moment, coupled with the sudden rush of anxiety as I attempted to try and piece together exactly how this was going to be achieved to the required standard within the allotted time frame, is a feeling that I’ll never forget. Neither will the way in which I remember every aspect of the battalion springing into action, addressing the issues and concerns with professionalism, thoroughness, togetherness and robust positivity. We deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan for a 6 month tour at almost exactly this time, way back in 2009. The pride that I felt across those 6 weeks of pre-deployment training and the confidence that it gave me in our ability to overcome anything ahead of what proved to be a challenging operational tour, was something that I didn’t think I’d ever get to experience ever again. However, fast forward to October 2023 and here I am again, a little bit older, hopefully a little bit wiser, but feeling exactly the same level of pride in what I do, where I do it and who I do it with, here at Honywood. I hope when you do pause to In September 2009 I was 5 days into my 2 weeks reflect across the last 7 weeks, that you’ll draw leave having just been thrashed up and down the same conclusion as I have, which is that we the Brecon Beacons for 17 weeks on the Section are an incredibly special community, who have Commanders Battle Course, when I got a call from collectively overcome seemingly insurmountable my Platoon Sgt telling me to get back to camp first barriers in an incredibly pressurised and time thing Monday, having been fast balled to deploy sensitive environment, and have not only come to Afghanistan for the 2nd time in the space of 2 out of the other side having simply survived, but years. Not such a bad thing I initially thought, it’s against all odds, having in fact thrived! what we’d all signed up for at the end of the day. However, on return, we were quickly told that The next half term is going to test our resolve we weren’t to get the standard 6-8 months pre- once again. A little bit colder, a little bit darker, deployment training, but due to the nature of the a little bit wetter and a few more creases to iron
out and logistical issues to sweep up as we move into our new home in the ‘Space Village’. Mid unit and end of unit assessments, the consistent pressures of independent study to navigate, the c9 parents evening, three weeks of c11 mock exams and much more, are all going to deliver their annual challenges and tests of our effective application of our core values here at Honywood: Trust, Respect, Equity and Excellence. But, just like this half term, we must be ready, shoulder to shoulder, to tackle these challenges head on, to apply the right balance between asking for support and motivating yourself to rise to the daily challenges that school life presents you, so that the conditions are set for you to be even more successful throughout the final portion of the Autumn Term when you return. So, please take and enjoy the time to rest, reflect, switch off and spend time with your families and loved ones, it’s well needed and very very well deserved. Jonny Williams Assistant Headteacher SPACE VILLAGE LOGO COMPETITION We have been inundated with entries for the Space Village Logo competition and have received a lovely signed picture from Tim Peake to present to the winner. Whilst we do have an overall winner we have also identified a few other categories to recognise the quality of the many entries received. We shall be making a sign for the entrance to Space Village that will include the winning design and will make a display in the building with all the designs. We shall wait until we return from the half term break to make the winning announcement so that all the learners are here. As well as overall winner there will be a community winner (as voted for at open evening), an award for originality and one for creativity. The logos will be shared after half term.
PARENTPAY UPDATE Please can all families ensure that ParentPay accounts are in credit as we start the new half term, and that learners have their cashless cards with them in school. THANKS To learners that helped out with tours - Reece Williams and Olivia Longhurst. To: Gemma Ward and her C7 class who welcomed ITV into their class and to Pippa Hutchinson, Oliver Warwick, Harriet Trustrum and Dominic Scherer who were interviewed by ITV and were wonderful ambassadors for our school.
C7 FAMILIES
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Dates for the Diary 23 Oct - 27 Oct
Half Term
31st Oct
C11 Information for the Year Ahead Family Meeting
Fri 3 Nov
C7 & C8 Halloween Disco
Thurs 9 Nov
C9 Parents Evening
Tues 21 Nov
C12 GCSE Returners Evening
27 Nov - 15 Dec
C11 GCSE Mock Exams
Fri 8 Dec
Non Learner Day