It’s incredible to think that we are already entering the final week of the half term! Year 8 continue to impress in the classroom, and it has been lovely to see the friendships developing across the year group. They are a genuinely kind and considerate cohort of pupils, and it is a pleasure to see them supporting one another and contributing positively to school life.

There is still plenty to keep pupils busy this week, with further assessments taking place in Arabic, Islamic Studies, Qatar History, Geography and Computing. I encourage everyone to stay organised, review their notes and make the most of any revision opportunities ahead of these assessments.

It was fantastic to see so many pupils attending squad trials last week and giving new opportunities a go. EVO has also kindly provided every pupil with a voucher for a free trial sports session. This is a brilliant opportunity for pupils to try something new, develop their skills and perhaps discover a new sporting passion!

We are all eagerly awaiting the return of outdoor lunch, and I would encourage all pupils to bring a DESS hat to school next week, just in case we get the green light from Ms Murray! Pupils will need to have a hat with them to enjoy lunch outdoors; otherwise, they will need to remain in the shaded areas.

Junior Duke of Edinburgh has now launched, so pupils who signed up should be able to access their online portals. Please encourage your child to check their emails for the relevant information. If they experience any difficulties accessing their account, please do let me know and I will be happy to help.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming many of you to our Parent-Teacher Conferences this week, either in person or online. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and celebrate their achievements so far this year.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I hope you all have a happy, relaxing and restful midterm break, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back for the next half term!

We are pleased to invite pupils to put themselves forward for a place on our Eco Committee. This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to play an active role in making a positive difference within our school community, while developing valuable skills in leadership, communication, teamwork and responsibility.

Being a member of the Eco Committee also provides pupils with meaningful experience that can be highlighted on future school applications when they graduate from Year 8 and move on to their next school. It demonstrates a willingness to take on responsibility, contribute to the wider school community and show leadership beyond the classroom.

The application process will be as follows:

1. Prepare a short speech 🎤
Pupils should prepare a speech of no more than one minute, explaining why they would like to join the Eco Committee, why they would be a good fit for the role, and any ideas they have for making our school more environmentally friendly.

2. Present to their class 🌍
On Sunday 18th October, pupils will have the opportunity to deliver their speeches to their classmates.

3. Class vote 🗳️
Following the speeches, pupils will vote for two representatives from their class to join the Eco Committee.

We look forward to hearing the pupils' ideas and seeing our Year 8 students take on this exciting opportunity to make a positive contribution to our school.

Students should use the ‘Mark as Done’ option on Google Classroom to submit completed assignments and keep their To-do list organised.

Thank you to Isaac and Aariz from 8A, who very kindly put together this guidance for pupils who are unsure how to submit their work.

We hope you are enjoying using our new Edulink One platform. 

If you are having any issues, please contact Mr Devine.

If you signed your child up for locker keys and lanyards, these should have been distributed by now. If your child is still waiting to receive theirs, please contact their Form Tutor via EduLink One.

We would like to remind families that students are not permitted to bring mobile phones to school. The only rare exception to this rule is for students who require a phone to order an Uber or arrange transport at the end of the day.

Well done to our top scoring Year 8 pupils in Quest 4:

⭐ Luisa Manoel 8A

⭐ Aariz Chaudhry 8A

⭐ Isaac Finch 8A

⭐ Abdur-raheem Ali 8B

⭐ William Fuller 8C

⭐ Aisha Waqar 8C

The final Quest 5 has now taken place and we look forward to Mr Bray's email highlighting the highest performers and also those who will progress to the next round of the competition.