Hi Everyone,

Well, we’re another week closer to Christmas (I can’t believe I’ve mentioned it already) and, as I drive home in the evening, I can see that some of you have decided to add a bit of early cheer by putting up your Christmas tree; I guess we all need something to lighten the mood at the moment.

A further three students unfortunately tested positive for Covid 19 this week but, once again, our internal ‘track and trace ‘ system did its job and we were able to identify any students who were close contacts and get them off home safely. Remember, that if anyone in your household has symptoms and is getting, or is waiting for the results of, a test, everyone in the household must isolate until you have either been informed that the test is negative or you have isolated for the appropriate length of time. If you are isolating but are unsure of how long you need to stay at home, please see the guidance on our website. To those of you who are currently suffering, we wish you a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming you back to school as soon as you are well.

Please also remember that if you are isolating, or even if you have had a positive test but feel well enough, you should still be following your usual timetable on Google Classroom; it’s the only way to avoid falling behind. We know how difficult this can be but the team at Blacon High School is making every effort to enable your continued learning, even in your absence.

New Build

The new building continues to change before our eyes. This week, the first floor is laid and supporting steels for the roof are added.

Christmas in the Diner

Yes, you spotted it, I’ve mentioned it again. Kelly and her team have a great week of festive fun and surprises planned for the last week of term. There are going to be not one, but two opportunities to have a Christmas lunch. The dates are Tuesday 15^th and Thursday 17^th December. In addition to this, there will be a massive selection of festive fayre on offer all week so if you’re partial to pigs in blankets or mad for a mince pie, keep your eye out at break and lunchtime every day. Look out for a few Christmas surprises as well.

Headteacher’s Commendations.

It’s always great when you have something to celebrate and Mr Stockdale nominated three Year 9 and three year 10 students for headteacher’s commendations this week as a reward for their excellent work in English. The awards were for Speaking and Listening presentations and literature responses to Romeo and Juliet. As always, a massive well done to you all.

Also receiving awards this week were two students who attend our extra-curricular Computer Science Club regularly and have been working through the GCSE Computer Science syllabus. They will be entered for the GCSE summer 2021.

They have been working through this via Google Classroom and have shown both independence and resilience, and were motivated to continue working all through lockdown.  What dedication!

UK Polar Network Antarctica Day flag project 2020. 

Student from Year 7 at Blacon High School are joining students from over 150 schools in 8 different countries who are taking part in a competition to design a flag for Antarctica Day 2020, which is incredibly exciting! We can’t wait to see the Antarctica Day flags from our students.

One flag will be chosen from each school and we are hoping that most of the flags will reach Antarctica in time for Antarctica Day.

Entries have been sent in by the Year 7 pupils. Well done to all the competitors and the best of luck to everyone. The winner will be announced next week and we will share a photo of the flag that was selected.

1066 (and all that!)

Year 7 are currently working on the Norman Conquest of 1066. They have learned what happened to the old King, Edward the Confessor, and how England was left in crisis following his death and the fact he left no heir.

Students were asked to prepare a campaign for one of the claimants to the throne in 1066 and were given packs of information on one of the three claimants. They were given only one hour to prepare their campaigns and presentations in small groups.

Each group presented their campaigns to the rest of the class in the hope that they would receive the most votes. Lots of groups came up with imaginative ways to convince the class that their claimant should be the next King of England.

At the end of the presentations the class held a vote to decide who would be best suited to rule England. It was close, however, the most popular potential King was Harold Godwinson!

Have a great weekend everyone and stay safe.