Being able to pop in and out of the Upper School classrooms this week has been a real insight for me, and has confirmed how well the children are coping with our new timetable. There may be some restrictions but it has not prevented the pupils and staff from making the most of every opportunity. Year 7 were really put through their paces this week in PE; Mr Wagstaff and Mrs Lloyd introduced a series of fitness drills including burpees and planks, and I could see just how hard the children were working to keep up. The Year 8s have been back in the science labs and have been investigating chemical reaction rates, a complex investigation which initially involved some in-depth and very challenging scientific predictions.
However the real highlight for me was seeing 8RD truly embrace the Edge Grove Guiding Principles with their entrepreneurial pitch in this week’s assembly. It was also clear how the work they’ve done in the Year 7 Baccalaureate on teamwork skills and communication has really paid off. Demonstrating independent thinking, risk taking and creativity, the children made a presentation on ‘opportunity’ with the specific focus on the possible installation of vending machines on site. The senior leadership team will be considering their proposal, and will get back to the children with their thoughts and next steps very soon. Well done to the children for getting involved, and harnessing the principle of pupil voice, an aspect of school life that is central to our community ethos.
Applications for the role of Prefect are now also open to the Year 8s. The duties and responsibilities we expect from Prefects were outlined in the Upper School assembly. Children who are interested can come and chat to me, Mr Kay or Mrs Caldwell.
In the Upper School classrooms this week... In Geography, in Year 7’s lessons this week, we have been looking at the different ways tectonic plates move and what happens when they meet / separate. This has included an underwater exploration of the Mid Atlantic ridge, and some astonishing graphics from inside the Earth's crust. The three plate boundaries we are studying are constructive, destructive and conservative. Each plate boundary carries its own dangers. Please ask your children to tell you all about these different plate movements to help them express their understanding.
As part of the Population topic, Year 8 have branched out to migration. The children have a prep to research the extensive immigration of Eastern Europeans into the UK in 2004 and in class we have taken a historical approach by exploring the Windrush; how and why it has influenced our society today. The children have written some incredible letters which show immense empathy for these passengers as they embark on their new adventure. Well done all! We have included David's below.
A Letter Home by David (8RD)
Dear Family, I have now been in London for about a month. It has been very strange. The people do not treat us Carribeans very well. They are mean and racist. They go around the town spraying graffiti everywhere and they think they have white supremacy. Life is very different here in London. Not all the people have welcomed us and taken us under their wing. They think we are the bad guys. The weather here is very miserable, it is always raining and the sun never comes out. That is the thing I miss most about the Caribbean. Also I have little money for food and the food is not as nice as the food that Mum cooks back at home. At the moment I am working as a builder. It has been tough carrying the bricks and working hard and long hours in the rain. I have no friends because of my skin colour. The British have only ever seen a couple pf black people in their life. They don’t like our people. They see us as the lower class. Although London is a beautiful city. I have been to see the landmarks once or twice since I arrived a month ago. I am living in an air raid shelter. I share this shelter with 5 other people from the Windrush. We started off with 10 people but some of them have found nice accommodation. We thought we would be treated like heroes but they treated us like villains. We had fought for them in the war and they treat us like this. It is disgraceful. I hope times will change soon and I can get a better job, nicer accommodation and more food. Kind Regards, Alejandro Joseph
In Maths, Year 7 have been fine tuning their high level addition and subtraction skills ensuring they can use mental strategies to calculate answers quickly. There has also been a strong focus on written calculations including decimals and the need to show their working when answering high level problem solving tasks.
Year 8s have focused on fraction rules and being able to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions including mixed numbers and applying in problem solving contexts. Pupils have realised the importance of showing their working. Even the most successful, able mathematicians write their working down. Maths is about the journey to the answer hence why there are so many 2 or 3 marks questions.
In French, Year 7 pupils have been revising vocabulary and adjectives to describe people and have enjoyed creating presentations and posters about famous people.
Year 8 pupils have been working on creating a presentation about school and future plans. This week we focussed on reflexive verbs in order to be able to talk about daily routines. We will continue this topic and complete written and oral tasks to enhance both vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
In English, Year 7 and 8 participated in National Poetry Day, and spent some time in their classes mining the theme of 'vision' for all its possible meanings of the literal and the abstract. They have produced some fantastic work, and it was very tough for the teachers to choose which three pupils in their set earned the coveted Academic Commendations! We have included a selection below for you to enjoy.
Its razor red eyes sharpen as it stares at me. Its scaled, rough, unique neon skin slithers at me like a ribbon. It hisses at me like a ferocious cat guarding its kittens. Glaring around searching for its prey it stops, curls up and peers its eyes at a movement in the distance, suddenly it darts at the tiny mouse lurking around. Twisting and coiling around, it suffocates the tree as it slithers up Sly Stealthy Slimy Serpent
By Freddie, 7T
It gazes over the green lime jungle whilst the curtain of night falls upon the jungle. It peers his eyes for prey and does not worry about it. The prey is caught by surprise when it comes stomping and stomping till it rips it apart and devours it. It leaps over the twigs, It is still very hungry. One prey is not enough It clunks back home and scares all the animals. Four legs in the dark, In the deep dark Its thick black fur hits the water once more on his way back A fish jumps out the stream And is terribly doomed And ventures in the wild Now it is truly for time for him to go back He cannot be stopped The bear is never wrong And is waiting for the eternal darkness to go.
By Mehdi, 7L
Rivers in the Desert
A river in the desert, Warmth in the arctic Peace in a war, Calm in a storm Food where there’s none, Riches in poverty Truth in the corrupt government Power in the weak Justice in unfairness Hope in the darkness A mirage, By a brain longing for better.
By Nathan, 7W
Everyday I see something new, Something red, purple, green and blue. Everyday is different, in all kinds of ways From bustling cars to farm maize. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes not, Some things make me remember about things that I forgot But everyday I see something new, Something red, purple, green and blue.
By Charlie, 7T
Creative Arts Don't forget to check out the Creative Arts section to see all the fantastic things Upper School have been up to in Music, Art and Drama.