Friday Headlines

the weekly newsletter from EHS

Pastoral support and engagement during lockdown

21 January 2021

Since lockdown, we appreciate how difficult it has been for all those working from home, parents and pupils alike. The pastoral team at EHS are working hard to ensure that our pupils are getting all the support and encouragement they need to allow them to enjoy and excel in all aspects of school life remotely.

Every day starts with an online registration and form time. This is an opportunity for pupils to touch base with their form tutor and fellow pupils on a regular basis and to raise any concerns or extra support needed.

We have a number of online events taking places via TEAMS in all Senior Year Groups and encourage the pupils to get involved, there really is something for everyone!

YEAR 7:

Ms Jones Owen and the Year 7 Team are running the form time scavenger hunts and quizzes. The weekly mindfulness colouring competitions and the weekly Year 7 showcase.
The weekly Year 7 showcase is a presentation of activities that the girls have been up to throughout the week. Everything from LEGO creations, cake baking and oil painting.
The Year 7 book club is also very active and up and running.

YEAR 8:

Ms Mooney and the Year 8 team are running the Year 8 5-aside and the Year 8 sandwich!

The 5-aside allows Tutors to run smaller group sessions in their forms to ensure the girls have opportunity to talk with their Form Tutor and other members of the form in a smaller setting.

The Year 8 Sandwich encourages all girls to contact the pupil above and below them in the register at least once a week. Alongside regular contact, we hope that this initiative will form new friendships within the year group.

Year 8 also have their Spirit Challenge whereby they work towards their Spirit Badge during lockdown. The Challenge encourages pupils to move away from their screens and become creative, active and enjoy the great outdoors. We have already received a wide range of entries; everything from gymnastic skills, baking, ancestry research and painting.

YEAR 9:

Ms Ajmal and the Year 9 team are running FaceTime Friday where the girls can join the Year 9 Team at lunchtime for a quick chat.
The Year 9 Team also run 'A Flurry of Good News' which is a weekly roundup of personal achievements, no matter how big or small!

YEAR 10 & 11:

Ms Hayday and Ms O’Hare along with the Year 10 & 11 team continue to gather nominations for their rewards raffle. This is an initiative used in Year 10 and 11 to recognise and celebrate pastoral efforts, academic success and other extraordinary achievements. Pupils can be nominated by anyone on the staff throughout the week and will receive raffles tickets to collect over the course of the term.
Year 10 are also running the “Where in the World” initiative, combining staff and student walking, jogging, running, biking and rowing activities! The distance is combined and we love seeing where in the world they can end up each week.
Year 11 are also running their “Kind Acts Bingo”. Over the course of the week pupils complete any of the tasks in a given grid. Just like in a game of bingo, they can aim to make 1 winning line, two winning lines…. Or if they are feeling ambitious enough and find the time…. Aim to complete all of them to get a FULL HOUSE for BINGO!

Heads of Years and deputies continue to support pupils one to one if required via regular meetings. Their email addresses and information about where to find help in and outside of school are made available to all pupils on the pupil school closure tile. Form tutors will also be running their pupil reviews in the lead up to the February Half Term.

Ms Welsh also offers one to one support during the week and is producing activities and resources for the girls about how to look after their mental health during lockdown.

Ms Ehiogu, Ms Hayday and Ms O’Hare also run pastoral drop in clinics during PSHEE lessons where individuals can talk about any issues and concerns. Nurse Al-Anis “take a breather” session also provides help and guidance about how to look after our mental health during lockdown.

Pupils from all year groups have also been attending school council meetings and have had the opportunity to give lockdown feedback in a pupil voice questionnaire.

This is all in addition to the co-curricular provision that include challenges and competitions running alongside the academic provision in school.

The pastoral team at EHS continues to work tirelessly to support all pupils while they are away from school. I personally wish to thank them for all that they do everyday to ensure that each pupil has a voice and remains engaged in their learning.

- Ms A Cirillo-Campbell

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