NEWSFLASH
Fortnightly Newsletter of Woodhouse Grove School
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Theatre Trip
Last week, 50 Drama students from Years 10 to 13 went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Leeds Playhouse. It was a wonderful production full of imaginative visual devices and magical projections. There was a wealth of production elements to analyse and evaluate for the GCSE and A level exams and it has led to exciting
MFL’s Gingerbread Houses
In MFL club this week students have been getting in to the Christmas spirit by decorating gingerbread houses. They learnt about the German tradition of gingerbread houses (Lebkuchenhaus) which dates back to the 1800's and was originally inspired by the Grimm brothers’ fairytale 'Hansel and Gretel'. Students had to build and decorate their own houses and then enjoyed eating them afterwards.
Christmas Carol Service
It was a lovely evening in the Grove Chapel on Sunday for this year's Carol Service, with exceptional singing from the choir and lovely readings from students. Thank you to those who gave charity donations on the evening.
Christmas Puzzles
This week Mrs Jemmett hosted Christmas break time activities, including puzzles, fortune tellers and word searches.
Space Design Competition
7 of our students took part in the UK Space Design Competition on Saturday. They had to work online with students from 4 other schools to develop a proposal for a mining settlement on Mercury. The students soon discovered the difficulties of working with new people to deliver a given brief within a timescale. They enjoyed the experience and learned lots about themselves whilst gaining skills to apply to project work in the future. They didn’t make it through to the national final but will be back to try again next year!
Cross Country Leeds Trials
On Saturday, athletes from the Grove competed at the LSAA cross-country trials. A record number of our runners - thirteen in total - qualified to represent the Leeds Schools' squad in the West Yorkshire trials. A special well done to Archie Peaker Y10 and Charley Clark-Taylor Y9 who both came first in their respective races.
Synagogue Trip
This week Year 10 GCSE RS students had a guided tour of Bradford Reform Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Yorkshire. Students were introduced to key features of the synagogue, had a reading from the Torah scroll and learnt how worship in reform and orthodox synagogue differs. Students also had the opportunity to ask our tour guide, Mr Grizzard further questions about Judaism. This was an excellent opportunity to put their learning into a wider context.
Netball Success
Well done to Jess Strudwick Y11, who played for Wales U17s in a match against Worcester University, where Wales won 82-76.
English Lessons
After a busy term, learning about Greek word roots on the learning platform Vocabulous UK and analysing techniques in children’s literature, Year 7 have enjoyed creating their own Mr Men and Little Miss characters in the final week of term.
Grove Actually
Last week we welcomed author Sharon Wright for an evening discussing her new book, ‘Mother of the Brontës’ based on the Brontë sisters’ mother, Maria. It was a lovely evening with a book signing and readings from Mr Higgins, Miss Hughes and Mrs Shoesmith-Evans and the main event was a tour of the lounge and the corridor where the Brontë parents would have likely met!
Stem Club Competitions
Old Grovian Visit
It was wonderful to have OG Elena Mountford back in school with us on Wednesday this week. She lead an assembly with Year 9, showing images from her Army career and talking about what she has learned and would recommend to students today. She also came to a Year 13 class and talked openly about her career and army progression. Several staff members who taught Elena all enjoyed catching up with her!
In Y8 STEM club last night they brought the term to a close with a Christmas themed balloon rocket competition. After decorating their balloons it was Team Santa Vs Team Reindeer to get their balloons to the other side of the line first. It was a close call but Team Santa won 5 4 in the end!
Riverbank Project
Please watch this space! We will need your help in the New Year to give our young saplings the best chance to grow and thrive!
Sixth Form Careers Week
Sixth Form mathematicians and further mathematicians enjoyed a talk entitled 'Saving the world with maths and physics' by Chris Patterson from Solent University during Sixth Form careers week. This gave them an insight into engineering and how engineers can solve some of the world’s problems.
We also had 2 Old Grovians who talked to our Sixth Formers about the careers they’ve chosen and their life after The Grove.
OG Ellie Nott come in to speak with our Sixth Form students about healthcare careers and specifically midwifery.
OG Deepa Sharda is currently studying dentistry at Bristol University and spoke to the Sixth Form about her career to date.
Boarders’ Ball
What a fantastic evening it was last Saturday at our annual Boarders’ Christmas Ball. It was great to see the boarding community come together to enjoy this special occasion. Thank you to all staff and students for their support to make it extra special this year.
Online Safety
Safety and privacy settings on social media: With many children and young people using social media it is important to understand what features are available to you to help protect your children.
Take a look at this link here to see what is available to you and how to set up your child's social media. We would also advise doing this with your child so that you can discuss the features together.
Grove Awards
This week saw the first presentation of Grove Awards for 2023. Congratulations to Year 7s Charlie Cooper, Shern Van Den Hof, Year 8s Aaron Ahmed, Caragh Jemmett, Sophie Moffat and Year 9s Miranda Bayliss, Rosalind Bayliss. They completed challenges ranging from knitting in aid of a dementia charity to 10 weeks attendance at Dungeons & Dragons club and learning Punjabi.
Geography
Y9 geographers have been assembling volcanoes as part of their Plate Tectonic topic.
Mock Trial
Well done to our 3 Year 12 students who took part in the virtual Bradford University mock trial. Acting for the defence, they argued that their client was not guilty of theft. The students examined and speech. The judges commented that the girls were "excellent", "well prepared" and "confident". They are now looking forward to the next round.
DT Creations
Year 7 have been finalising their pencil rolls in textiles lessons, within the design and technology department. As you can see, some have been exceptionally skilful in their sewing technique.
Park Run
The next Park run event is now confirmed for Saturday 14th January 2023, Bramley Parkrun. To register click HERE.
