The Learning Hub

Mental Health Awareness Week

To observe Mental Health Awareness Week, a series of communal events were held across the week during lunch breaks. The intention was to celebrate the importance and power of the theme ‘community’ and promote working together as a team, socialising and communicating to build connections with others.

Research has proven that spending time in nature can help with mental health problems, so the activities were designed as a perfect opportunity to enjoy and engage with the stunning school grounds. How lucky we were to have the perfect weather for it too!

Monday: Pitch Up Picnic

Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch outside in the sunshine. The number on the bottom of their plate indicated which rug to sit on. It was a chance for lunch-time chat and to make new friends.

Tuesday: Daisy Chain Chums

Everyone was invited to make daisy chains in the Walled Garden. For some it was a new experience, some teamwork and for others a challenge to see how long they could make it. Many were worn to lessons!

Wednesday: Relax and Read Al Fresco

This was a wonderful opportunity to read during break-times outside in the sunshine or under the shade of the cedar tree on the South Lawn. 3SN enjoyed their library session snuggled up under the rugs, listening to the swishing of the tree, engrossed in their favourite books!

Thursday: Bird Song-Along

Using the Merlin Bird ID app pupils took the ipads out into the grounds to find out how many different birds they could hear singing. Overall they identified twenty different kinds including; Robin, Blackbird, Blue-Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Goldfinch, Sparrow, Green Woodpecker, Jackdaw and Great Tit.

Friday: Holmewoodville

Holmewoodville was a chance for everyone to contribute towards the making of a special community and a healthy and happy place to live. Inspired by images of different buildings and features that make up a place, pupils were asked to draw something they would like to add. All the drawings were collated onto a giant landscape on the floor of the Learning Hub.

Year 7 Carnegies Book Group

This week the Year 7 Carnegies listened to illustrator Olivia Lomenech Gill talk about her book ‘Clever Crow’. It is the first time a non-fiction book has made it to the shortlist. Pupils created their own crow images using some of th e techniques and materials that she uses in her work; collage, watercolour, charcoal and pencil. They painted using feathers and created a wallet in which they can collect crow feathers. They will now use it over the next couple of weeks to log how many crows they see, where and what they are doing.