NEWSLETTER
Spring Half Term 2023
|
|
|
HEADTEACHER'S WELCOME
Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. As usual, it is packed with articles celebrating what our students have been getting up to.
PHSG were regional Bar Mock winners and the team are excited about the prospect of heading off for the national final. Do read on to find out more about their journey and what they have been doing. February is LGBTQ History month and our students have been getting involved in a range of activities, more details in the newsletter. Year 11 and year 13 students are preparing for their next steps, and we wish them well with their decision making. Do explore the newsletter to find out about the mock interviews and University visits that have been going on. Our newly refurbished library hosts many of our extracurricular activities so do have a look through the newsletter to see what has been happening in the library along with all the other interesting stories.
As a reminder, students return to school on Tuesday 21st February Monday 20th is a non-pupil day.
Wishing you all a happy half term break.
Very best wishes,
Mr Underdown
|
|
|
|
 |
30 Jan 2023
On Friday 27th January, Lily and Emma, 9K, attended the Holocaust memorial service at Plymouth Hoe Peace Garden.
|
 |
26 Jan 2023
Bella, 10T, was invited into ITV studios to perform as a contestant in ITV's hit TV show, The Voice Kids 2022.
|
 |
26 Jan 2023
Mia, 10L, has been awarded with 4 awards in the Saltash Speech and Drama Festival.
|
|
|
|
|
|
07 Feb 2023
Students from year 12 were visited by representatives from Exeter College and the University of Oxford this week for a workshop in how to select a college and make their application stand out, as well as tips regarding the entrance tests and interviews.
|
|
04 Jan 2023
The A Level PE students visited Marjon’s Sports Science laboratory as part of their A Level course.
|
|
|
Freya JT and Caroline H in Year 12 did a bake sale today to raise funds for the DEC for the Turkish and Syrian Earthquake. They raised £57. Any donations to DEC are being doubled by the UK government.
|
|
|
|
 |
06 Jan 2023
Year 10 have got straight back into their interior project this term, focusing on photographing their lamps to support the creation of a marketing story. We cannot wait to see the final images they produce in the coming weeks. Thank you to @aupinteriors for the use of their studio and the direction...
|
|
|
|
We are delighted to be one of 250 schools in the UK that will receive Alaska pink salmon, courtesy of the Food Teachers Centre and Alaska Seafood UK - 10,000 salmon fillets are being sent to schools! Our school is one of the lucky schools.
It’s part of the Fish Heroes project, which encourages young people to learn about, cook and taste fish. Pupils will also be learning about the health benefits of fish in the diet (did you know that we are all recommended to eat 2 portions a week?), as well as aspects of sustainability. Children in the UK eat just 84g of fish/fish products a week, of which only 21g is oily fish - way below recommendations.
Year 10 food and nutrition pupils will be cooking their own choice of salmon dish, and learning new food skills which they will be able to use in the future. As part of the lesson, they will also be able to taste the fish. Perhaps your child will be inspired and cook for you at home too?
We really hope that it will be an amazing experience for the pupils – from the delivery, cooking and tasting of Alaska pink salmon. Pupils should really enjoy the experience and learn many important life skills.
If you want to find out more, go to:
https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/fish-heroes/
https://www.alaskaseafood.org
|
|
|
 |
08 Feb 2023
With World Book Day approaching soon after the half-term break, the library team have an update on what is coming up...
|
 |
08 Feb 2023
The Library has been full of activity this term for students, who have been enjoying the competitions and events hosted by our wonderful Library Team and Student Librarians. Here is a round up of some of the highlights.
|
.jpg) |
07 Feb 2023
From 6-12 February 2023, schools, families and communities across the UK will take part in Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is 'Let’s Connect'.
|
 |
25 Jan 2023
The library has started a new competition called ‘Match the Selfie to the Shelfie’. Students can participate in the competition by going to the library and matching the bookshelf photo with the correct member of staff.
|
 |
20 Jan 2023
Always a hub of activity and a favourite spot in school amongst students, the Library always surprises us with new displays and reading recommendations to get involved with.
|
|
|
|
 |
01 Feb 2023
We are delighted to announce the marks for the top three candidates from each Key Stage, who will move forward to the Nation Winners section of the competition.
|
|
|
|
 |
07 Feb 2023
Foreign Film club takes place every Monday lunchtime in room 14 at 1.45pm. This club is open to students in all years and run by the language captains.
|
|
|
|
 |
07 Feb 2023
Well done to the Year 8 Cricket team who competed in the West Devon round this week. They beat Ivybridge and Tavistock but lost narrowly to DHSG. The girls demonstrated some excellent bowling and fielding skills and player’s player was awarded to Felicity.
|
.jpg) |
25 Jan 2023
The PE Department are delighted to be working with the Youth Sport Trust to deliver a project called Active in Mind to a group year 7 and 8's.
|
 |
18 Jan 2023
This week a group of year 9 netball leaders went to the Life Centre to help run a Bee Netball event for the Plymouth Schools Sport Partnership.
|
|
|
PE Notices
Just a polite reminder to students and staff regarding PE uniform and expectations:
We ask that students who wish to wear leggings or tracksuit bottoms rather than the shorts or skorts, can purchase these from alternative shops other than the uniform shop, but they must be plain navy blue to fit in with the uniform.
Can we please also remind parents that students with asthma that they should always bring their asthma pumps (in date and labelled with their name) to every PE lesson.
Lastly, a number of groups are trampolining at the moment and due to the health and safety legislation that piercings must be removed when trampolining (and cannot just be taped) it is best to refrain from having a new piercing this term.
|
|
PLEA
If you have any PE kit or trainers that are too small and no longer used, please donate them to the PE department for our spare kit cupboard. Donations can be left at reception. Thank you.
|
|
|
 |
08 Feb 2023
Yesterday, our Year 7's swapped their regular timetables and used their skills to set up 'A community project', as part of the Year 7 Enterprise Day
|
 |
07 Feb 2023
PHSG Bar Mock team have won their regional heats and are heading for the national final on the 25th of March at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
|
 |
01 Feb 2023
The 1st February marks the start of our forth #WeAreOne event of the school year! Throughout the month, our students will explore the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community and their journey to achieve their rights today.
|
 |
31 Jan 2023
On January 18th 2023, twenty-six members of the PHSG cast of Six-Teen Edition had the incredible opportunity to meet the professional touring cast of Six at the Theatre Royal.
|
 |
26 Jan 2023
Last weekend, our very own Food and Nutrition Teacher, Mrs Brown, attend a workshop run by the Fish Heroes programme who are developing the opportunities for students to cook fish in school.
|
 |
26 Jan 2023
On Wednesday 25th January, the Year 10 GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition classes had a visit from three chefs from the Royal Navy. They gave them some useful information about different career paths in the Royal Navy and then ran a Ready, Steady, Cook competition.
|
 |
25 Jan 2023
Plymouth High have created a support group for students with parents in the Armed Forces (PIAF). The group focus on not only support by adults, but support amongst the students too. We want to create a space and a time for the students to be amongst others who understand what t...
|
 |
23 Jan 2023
'Ordinary People' is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023. Holocaust remembrance is important to us at PHSG, therefore we are supporting the Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 on 27th January to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered during the Hol...
|
 |
20 Jan 2023
On Tuesday 17th January 2023, our Year 11 students had the opportunity to practice their job interview skills during a mock interview.
|
|
|
|
Student & Class of the Week
|
|
 |
08 Feb 2023
Student of the week: Ruby, 7L. ''For helping with a tour for a prospective parent and year 5 student. She had a wealth of knowledge about the school and life in Year 7. Thank you Ruby.'' Nominated by Ms Barker. Awarded 10 House points.
Class of the week: The Bar Mock Trial Team...
|
 |
30 Jan 2023
Student of the week: Gabbi, Year 13. '' For achieving 100% on one of her mock papers for core maths.'' Nominated by Miss Roughton. Awarded 10 House points.
Class of the week: Freya and Erin, 8pTeP class. ''For producing an informative Textiles TV Advert on Fast Fashio...
|
 |
17 Jan 2023
Student of the week: Grace, 8T. ''For a massive improvement in attitude to learning in French.'' Nominated by Miss Yarwood
Class of the week: 10A GCSE PE with Mrs Pickles. ''They always come to the lesson with a positive attitude. They give 100% every lesson no matter how...
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting Absence
If a student is absent, then parents should contact the school each day of absence before 9am.
Tel number: 033 33 602230 (Option 1 then Option 1 for 6th Form, Option 1 then Option 2 for all other year groups).
Email: absence@plymouthhighschoolforgirls.org.uk
Parents must notify the school on the first day of an unplanned absence – for example, if their child is unable to attend due to ill health – by 8.30am or as soon as practically possible.
Parents should ring the main school phone number and report their child’s absence to the Attendance Officer together with the reason.
|
|
Road Closure
Please note, St Lawrence Road will be closed by the National Grid between 17th May to the 18th August for major roadworks. Access to the main school gate will not be affected, however, cars will not be able to pass down the one way system through to St Lawrence Road. We recommend that if you use this road when collecting / dropping off your child, that you consider seeking an alternative route.
|
|
PARKING
Please can we ask Parents for consideration when parking near the school, there have been some instances where it has been difficult for our students to walk safely due to the volume of cars.
There have been occasions where students have been late leaving for a sports fixture because parents had parked blocking the minibuses. Students can exit the site via Alton Road, and parents may consider this a convenient pickup point or one of the other streets surrounding the school.
Be reminded that there is NO PARKING allowed on the double yellow lines outside the school main gates.
|
|
|
HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Students may contact staff if they have queries, firstly by visiting them in their department area, and only contacting them using school email system if they really can’t see them in person.
Parents may wish to contact staff. The following outlines what the Headteacher regards as important considerations regarding home/school communication, particularly by email:
¨ All communication must respect the dignity of the recipient.
¨ Within 48 hours: receipt of an email will be acknowledged by school either by the person contacted, or the most appropriate person able to deal with the issue (term time only, not after 5pm nor over a weekend).
¨ Within 5 working days: school will provide a response to the email by telephone or in writing, or e-mail. This may include informing the sender that more time is required to provide a full response. If this is the case, staff should indicate a time frame for a response.
¨ Staff will not be expected to monitor or respond to emails outside their normal working hours (nor at weekends and published school holidays).
Whilst this is extremely rare, if a member of staff receives an e-mail or call which is of an aggressive tone, sets unreasonable demands or could otherwise be interpreted as harassing, they will refer this to a senior line manager in the school, who will decide if consideration needs to be given to dealing with further communication under our Complaints Policy.
|
|
PARKING
Out of respect for our neighbours and for health and safety reasons there is NO PARKING on the school site or for collecting/dropping off students on the double yellow lines outside our school gates.
|
SCHOOL NURSE DROP IN
Don’t forget for our students, the School Nurse visits school to provide a “drop in” clinic on Friday Week A at lunchtime. Just pop along to the Counselling Room.
|
|
STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
For safety reasons if your daughter has to leave school during the school day, and you are unable to collect her, she must have a note in her planner with clear instructions that you give permission for her to leave unaccompanied. Without your express instructions to this effect we will not allow any students to leave school unless they are collected by an adult from reception.
|
NUT ALLERGY
Please be aware that we have students who are severely allergic to nuts and we would, therefore, appreciate where possible that you try to avoid putting nuts into packed lunches.
Although we are not going completely nut free, we have stopped selling packets of nuts as snacks in the canteen to try to reduce the risk to them and appreciate your support.
|
|
SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE SAFETY
Our Children are spending more and more time on their mobile phones. Making them aware of the dangers of social media, and protecting them from these dangers can be very challenging. These are some of the better known sites that pose risks to children—are they on your child’s phone home screen?
To help safeguard your child please regularly take the time to talk to them about the way they use their social media apps:
Do they always know who they are engaging with?
Do they share their passwords?
Do they feel comfortable with what they are seeing and doing?
Do they feel pressure from “friends” to do/say things they don’t want to?
For more information please regarding online safety, please visit our website: www.phsg.org/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar Term Dates 2022-2023
Term
|
Starts
|
Ends
|
|
One
|
1st September 2022
|
21st October 2022
|
| Autumn Half Term |
24th October 2021 |
31st October 2022 |
|
Two
|
1st November 2022
|
16th December 2022
|
| Christmas Holidays |
19th December 2022 |
2nd January 2023 |
|
Three
|
3rd January 2023
|
10th February 2023
|
| Spring Half term |
13th February 2023 |
17th February 2023 |
|
Four
|
20th February 2023
|
1st April 2023
|
| Easter Holidays |
3rd April 2023 |
14th April 2023 |
|
Five
|
17th April 2023
|
26th May 2023
|
| Summer Half term |
29th May 2023 |
2nd June 2023 |
|
Six
|
5th June 2023
|
21st July 2023
|
| Summer Holidays |
24th July 2023 |
September TBC |
Curriculum Enrichment Week
Monday 3rd July—7th July 2023
Non Pupil Days
1st September 2022
2nd September 2022 - Only Year 7 and 12 in school
26th September 2022
21st October 2022
20th February 2023
1st May 2023 (Bank Holiday)
|
|
|
