Principal's message: Back in the swing…
For this week only, I’m using my message in the newsletter for important administrative purposes as we return from the Easter break to ensure we all pick up where we left off.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MEYA (Year 7)
HOME COVID-19 TESTING
The LFD mass testing programme that we conducted in school last term followed by the testing at home brought a great sense of confidence and feeling of safety to our school community. We conducted over 1500 tests all of which were negative and your reporting of home testing results reinforced that feeling.
I would be very grateful if you could continue that consistent reporting following home testing on Mondays and Thursdays. Here is a reminder of the link to report to school:
HOME TEST KITS
All pupils who received their home test kits last term, have enough to use up to and including Thursday 29th April 2021.
We have received news this week from the Government that we should receive another batch of home test kits next week. If we do, it is our intention to distribute them next Friday. I do not yet know how many we will receive and subsequently how long the next round of home testing will be, but will update you in next week’s newsletter.
CONFIRMATORY PCR TESTING
The Government have asked us to inform you that if your daughter tests positive using the home-testing kit, then she will need to isolate and book an immediate PCR test. If that test is positive, then follow NHS guidance on isolation. If it is negative, then your daughter can return to school.
SCHOOL BUS SERVICE BOOKINGS FOR YEAR 6 PARENTS
Thank you to our year 6 parents who have indicated if they intend to use our school bus service next year. We have had 58 requests so far. As per our welcome evening on 9th March 2021, we want to be in a position to confirm places on routes before the summer holidays.
To that end, the final cut off date for booking a place on our school bus service for next year is FRIDAY 7TH MAY 2021 at 12pm.
STEVENSONS UNIFORM SUPPLIER
We have received the 2021 price list for our school uniform from Stevensons. The list can be accessed via the school website.
Jon Gargan, Principal
STEM
On Tuesday we were fortunate to have visitors into the school since the last lockdown. Ericsson and Didcot Steam Centre who were running sessions throughout the day. We are very grateful to all the visitors for their time and support. Girls were introduced to the transformative nature of 5G technology and were challenged to come up with a modern day problem that could be solved by 5G technology. The thing we are most excited about is the amazing potential of 5G connectivity. 5G has near-endless possibilities and will bring the positive change to industry and society alike. 5G truly will be “Technology for Good”, and teams were then presenting their findings to small classes before a final heat in the hall where Ericsson staff judged the best presentation of them all! The winning team were Manasvi, Alara, Stuti, Stefna for their idea about the Solar System and being able to experience the feelings to extra-terrestrial travel. As well as hearing about the wonders of 5G, students were able to practice and develop their creativity, teamwork and communication skills. Ericsson were delighted with how fantastically engaged the students were and the amazing ideas they came up with. They kindly provided goody bags for the students which the girls loved.
The Didcot Steam Centre visit ran parallel with the events of the morning until the next group were made ready in the afternoon by forming companies and allocating teams ready for their turn the following fortnight from now. A group of Year 8 students spent the morning of their STEM day with a few volunteers from the Didcot Steam Centre. They first had to construct a cantilever bridge using CD cases and then they experimented with different shapes to discover which was the strongest. They found that a triangle produced the strongest structure, and then they constructed a truss bridge which had to be over 38 cm long, over which they ran a railway track over it. It was a great morning of experimental engineering.
The afternoon was excellent too, where girls were able to put their knowledge of biodiversity and its importance to good use while getting some exercise outdoors with a chance to compete in a competition worth £1000 to the lucky entry! BP is a long-term supporter of STEM and continues to encourage and energise every generation, helping them gain a better understanding of the importance of STEM subjects. The Ultimate STEM Challenge was designed to help young people develop their creativity, problem-solving skills and employability by tackling real-world challenges.
The competition is based on insights from the ground-breaking ‘Enterprising Science’ research which shows that the more science capital (science-related qualifications, interest, literacy and social contacts) a young person has, the more likely they are to pursue a STEM career. Science capital is a measure of our engagement or relationship with science, how much we value it, and whether we feel it is ‘for us’ and connected with our life. It recognises the significance of what we know, how we think, what we do and who we know in shaping our relationship with science. It also helps to shape and frame experiences which are designed to support STEM engagement.
We rely on the intricate balance between animals and plants to provide us with all of the things we need to survive and thrive on Earth, but with animal and plant species in decline all over the world, that balance is in danger. So this year, the BP Educational Service Ultimate STEM Challenge invites young people across the UK to come up with a design for an amazing wild area, that includes natural and technical solutions for improving biodiversity in school grounds, at home or in the community, and helps to tackle the decline in our native wildlife. The challenge is open to 9 to 14-year olds across the UK. Entries will be judged in two categories: age 9-11 and age 11-14. Students may enter as individuals or teams of 3-4. A winner will be chosen from each age category, as well as an overall challenge winner. The overall winner will receive a £3,000 prize to spend on creating their home for nature, while the category winners will receive £1,000 each.
Book reviews
Some of our staff members have written a review of their favourite book. We will be publishing one each week. Hopefully, by reading these, you might be inspired to try reading something new and different. We are sure you will agree that by reflecting on other people’s thoughts and feelings about their reading material you can make informed choices about your own. Please let us know what you think and contribute your own review if you are motivated to share your opinions on something you have read. You can email Mrs Smith (ssmith2@readinggirlsschool.net)
Mrs Elliot - I have just finished The Hanging Club by Tony Parsons
I chose it because my husband had just finished about 5 of his books and I thought they would be easy reads to get me back into the habit of reading again. It worked. I read it in 5 days and am now reading the next book in the series, Die Last!
The Hanging Club is a thriller which follows Detective Constable Max Wolfe based at Saville Row in London in the Homicide and Serious Crime Command Centre.
DC Max Wolfe is tasked with hunting a gang of killers who many believe to be heroes. They have chosen to hang people who have committed atrocious crimes and been given the lightest of sentences: a gang member who's abused vulnerable girls; a wealthy drunk driver who's mowed down a child; a hate preacher calling for the murder of British soldiers.
I thought this was a really interesting plot with a macabre element to it and strong characters - both the cops and villains. There was plenty of mystery and questions to be had, graphic scenes that hold you mesmerised yet disturbed and a thrilling ending to top it all off. The other books are all piled up ready for me to read!!
The International Young Philosopher Awards 2021
We are delighted to be a part of the inaugural International Young Philosopher Awards. Our students from years 7-10 will be participating and have submitted their assignments, focussing on the topic of 'Solidarity' in our times. The girls worked in groups to produce some incredible projects; here is one such example of the great work that they have been doing in Philosophy.
You can find more information on the International Young Philosopher Awards website.
Art For Research Reading Competition
Online exhibition - Year 7, 8 and 9 students - Closing date: 26th April 2021
The AFRR Committee and judges are looking forward to receiving entries from our students and there will be prizes from the judges as well as the public's choice (the most liked picture on our Facebook page).
To enter, parents need to take a photo of their daughter's artwork, inspired by the theme 'The Environment' and upload it to the AFRR Facebook page with their daughter's first name, year group and school and make a £2 donation (for cancer research: UK’s children and young people campaign) via their ‘just giving page’.
- Art For Research Reading Facebook
- Just Giving link for AFRR (suggested donation of £2:
- Email address (entries can be sent here if parents do not have access to Facebook): artforresearchreading@gmail.com
- Please also email a copy of any entries to Ms de Witt: kde_witt@readinggirlsschool.net
Increasing Student Participation
“Talking Tokens”
Talking Tokens are issued by the classroom teacher and/or teaching assistant to pupils who participate to questions and/or ask questions during lessons. Pupils are encouraged to write their name and year group on the back of the 'Talking Token' and place them into the relevant 'Talking Token' collection box for their year group. At the end of each term, all 'Talking Tokens' are placed together and a pupil is selected at random. The more 'Talking Tokens' a pupil collects for contributing answers to questions in class, the more chances they have to win a prize.
At the end of this week the following number of 'Talking Tokens' collected by each year group were:
- Year 7 – 63
- Year 8 – 212
- Year 9 – 41
- Year 10 – 2
- Year 11 – 0
- Total number of ‘Talking Tokens’ collected this year across the whole school are 17,379
“Has your lesson been REAL (Relevant, Engaging, Active Learning)?”
Using REAL tokens students have the opportunity to give instant feedback to staff about their experiences within the lesson.
Students are provided with a token and at the end of the lesson, are asked if their lesson has been R.E.A.L. (Relevant, Engaging, Active Learning). Students theen place their token into the 'Yes' or 'No' box, which is in every teaching classroom. Staff then uses this information to make any modification to their delivery of their lesson. These tokens are then collected in at the end of every week and counted.
Results for this week: Monday 19 April to Friday 23 April 2021
YES – 606 tokens
No – 48 tokens
The PANDA (Treatment of Panic Disorder in Adolescents) Study is taking place at the AnDY Research Clinic at the University of Reading. If your child is aged 11-18 years, experiences repeated panic attacks that get in the way of their life (e.g., at school, home or with friends) and their GP is based in Berkshire, they may be eligible to take part. You can find out more about the study by watching this short (1½ minute) video: https://vimeo.com/449607886). If you would like more information about the study, please get in touch with the research team (either yourself or via your parent/carer or school staff) via panda@reading.ac.uk.
Reading Girls’ is supporting a local not-for-profit organisation called All Yours, it is a community project started in December 2020 to help people across Berkshire who cannot afford or access sanitary products. People are struggling financially more than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic and we want to ensure that as many people as possible have a clean and comfortable period each month.
It is not a means tested service, so people do not have to be in receipt of certain benefits, be using a food bank or receive free school meals to access our service. We would like to reach as many people struggling with period poverty as we can. If you would like to visit their website to find more information on All Yours, you can visit www.periodbox.uk
Information and Support
Coffee Morning with CAMHS - Thursday 13th May, 11.30 am - 12.30 pm. Join us for a coffee morning with Camhs via zoom and meet Mairi Evans - Clinical Director, Mary-Jane Stroud - Neurodiversity Lead for Autism and ADHD and Daryl Nicholas who is Service User and Participation Lead. This is an opportunity for you to find out about topics such as on-line assessments, different pathways, how waiting lists are prioritised, and what to expect from the crisis team if your child is seen at A&E. Mairi would like to discuss with you the strategy she will be developing to implement and embed a neurodiversity strategy for the Trust, which will include mental health and physical health services and child and adult services. To book email fran.morgan.rff@gmail.com
Make Sense Theatre For children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability aged 11 - 25. There will be free trial sessions on Thursday 29th April 2021 in Reading Rep's drama and dance studios, located at Reading Studio of Dramatic Art, Reading College, Kings Road, RG1 4HJ.
Relaxed Assembly (5.30-6.30pm) This is a gentler, more sensory approach to drama and movement for young people who may prefer a more relaxed and calm environment in which to explore their enjoyment of creative arts. Thursdays @Reading Studio of Dramatic Art, Reading College, Kings Road, RG1 4HZ - £8.50 per week, paid half- termly in advance
Gathering and Socialising
We ease young people into the session with calming and creative activities on hand and a drink and snack so everyone has a chance to arrive and get settled. Young people can have a catch up with the Make/Sense team and their youth theatre friends.
Exploring and Creating
For the next 45 minutes, our founding practitioners facilitate a fun drama and movement session suited to the needs and interests of the group. There will be enough staff on hand to facilitate sensory/calming breaks with young people if this is needed.
Half Assembly (6.15-7.15pm) This is for young people who are keen to make friends, develop their social skills whilst taking part in fun drama and movement workshops, but would prefer not to perform and Full Assembly (6.15-8.15pm) This is for young people who may have some experience of drama and/or dance and want to develop these skills and work towards productions. They may also be looking for more opportunities to socialise and make friends in a supportive and fun environment. Thursdays @Reading Studio of Dramatic Art, Reading College, Kings Road, RG1 4HZ - £8.50 and £16 per week paid half-termly in advance.
Gathering (6.15-6.30pm) Arriving to activities can sometimes make us feel anxious and people can also be delayed or get stuck in Reading traffic on the way. With this in mind, we ease our participants into the evening. Whilst chatting with friends and the Make/Sense team they can listen to music, or enjoy calming and creative activities and a drink and snack as everyone arrives.
Exploring (6.30-7.15pm) For 45 minutes, our founding practitioners facilitate fun drama and dance/movement sessions (depending on numbers we might be in two groups). At the end of these sessions, our Half Assembly participants go home.
Socialising (7.15-7.30pm) Young people who have signed up to the Full Assembly have a short comfort break. They can eat a packed dinner or have a drink and small snack on us whilst catching up with their friends. Staff will be on hand to facilitate conversations between young people to nurture friendships and social skills.
Creating (7.30 – 8.15pm) For the final 45 minutes we will come together to work as the Full Assembly on an extended performance project. This will culminate in a show once a year in the main Reading Rep auditorium, with more informal opportunities organised to share work with an invited audience at the end of each term.
Weekend *Online* Assembly – Saturdays 10.45-11.45am Google Meet online £7 per week, paid half- termly in advance.
We appreciate not everyone is able, or feels comfortable just yet to meet in person so for now we have a Saturday offering online. We need 5 young people to sign up to this online to make it viable. If we have a number of people who are keen for Saturdays to continue to take place face to face then we will be taking names for a waiting list for a September term start for this in person.
Online Assembly will be a drama based session with lots of drama games, improvisation work and the chance to create our own simple pieces of work based on themes.
Please follow this link https://forms.gle/grfpzB3AokPyEu5i8 to book on to one of our free trial sessions on Thursday the 29th April.
The new Ozone ice rink in Bracknell is running an inclusive session for children with additional needs who want to learn how to skate in a relaxed atmosphere, with support from qualified coaches. All abilities are welcome. The sessions take place on Mondays during school terms from 4pm to 5pm. Ozone is based at Unit 4 of the Western Trade Centre, in Western Road. For more information about the SEN sessions, email info@ozonerink.co.uk
Calibre Audio is a national charity that provides a free audiobook service for anyone with a disability that makes reading print difficult. The charity has over 3,000 audiobooks specifically for children and young people, including Key Stage 1-4, GCSE and A-Level texts to assist with studies. As well as providing a useful and free way to access school texts, the service is a fantastic tool for children to escape and unwind with unlimited borrowing. This is free to anyone who has a print disability such as a learning disability, a visual impairment or dyslexia. https://www.calibreaudio.org.uk
Remember that the Local Offer has lots of information about local services for families of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They have a friendly team who can answer all your questions about local support. 0118 9373777 (Option 2) (73777) https://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/family.page?familychannel=3
Wishing you all a good week - Reading Families Forum