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Friday 12 March 2021 |
Educate girls – save the planet |
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Do you remember a TV series from about 15 years ago called Heroes? The catchphrase was ‘save the cheerleader, save the world’. Well, my catchphrase is ‘educate the girl, save the world’. It’s more than a catchphrase, though – it’s real. A recent report from Project Drawdown said that one of the most important keys to tackling climate change is “access to … high-quality, inclusive education”. Worldwide, “[w]omen with more years of education have fewer and healthier children… [they] realize higher wages and greater upward mobility, contributing to economic growth. Their rates of maternal mortality drop, as do mortality rates of their babies. They are less likely to marry as children or against their will. They have lower incidence of HIV/AIDS and malaria. Their agricultural plots are more productive and their families better nourished.” This is why I’m focussed on the transformative power of girls’ education – both in developing nations and here in the UK. Read more here Cheryl Giovannoni |
Science Week at Northampton High! |
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It has been truly fantastic to welcome so many distinguished guests to Northampton High as part of our special Science Week. Students and colleagues from our school community and from other GDST schools have had a wonderful time learning from experts in their respective fields, during the lunchtime speaker series each day this week.
We have been delighted to welcome Laura Wheeler (Google whizz and social media guru), Professor Rose Luckin (Professor of AI at UCL), Dr Suze Kundu (Material Scientist with a focus on nanotechnology), Dr Annette Thomas (CEO of The Guardian Media Group) and Rhona Pearce (Physiologist and Sports Science Manager at Loughborough University). If you missed any of these talks, you can listen again following these links: Laura Wheeler – 08.03.21 Next Friday, we finish of our talks in grand fashion with another very special guest, as we welcome Grace Webb from CBeebies’ ‘Grace’s Amazing Machines’ to school virtually for two live talks – something pupils are very excited about! We look forward to bringing you a full review of the week’s activities, in which we will hear from students to find out their favourite and most memorable parts of the week. Thank you to our amazing guests for joining us for what has been a marvellous celebration of all things scientific! Mr Nash |
Erasmus+ Virtual Mobility Conference on Creativity and Digital Competences |
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In a different world, Monday 8 March 2021 would have seen us welcome our four Erasmus+ partner schools – both students and staff – from Dr Johanna-Decker-Gymnasium in Amberg, Colegio Paulo VI in Gondomar, Patrona Hungariae Katolikus Iskolakoezpont in Budapest and Rigas Valsts vacu gimnazija in Riga physically in school. As this was obviously not an option after all, we opened our mobility conference on Creativity and Digital Competences virtually. The focus for the Northampton mobility was ‘Equal Opportunities’ and the fact that Monday was also International Women’s Day as well as the launch of our virtual mobility meant it was a double celebration here in school. We were thrilled to host a presentation by Pinky Lilani CBE, who shared her story with an audience comprising staff and students from our partners schools along with our own High School students. Pinky entertained and inspired us with her words and advice, and it was wonderful to see that questions were coming in from our Erasmus guests as well as our own students via the chat function. You can view Pinky’s inspiring talk by clicking here.
Some feedback from students in our German partner school Looking ahead, more Erasmus+ events are scheduled to take part over the next few weeks. We are looking forward to welcoming a range of guest speakers, two of our own former students delivering a British Sign Language session, the creation of a film with an Equal Opportunities theme by the students and virtual social events for the students hosted by our own Erasmus ambassadors. Finally, as our project has now been extended until 31 August 2021 and if travel to the UK from our partner school countries is permitted, there may still be the possibility of a physical reunion to celebrate the end of this project which began in September 2018. How wonderful that would be?! We are delighted that we have been able to continue work on our project, ‘Creativity and Digital Competences for the World of Work 4.0’. The irony of this project title has been lost on no one over the past year, as we have used these very skills to ensure the continued success of not only the project, but of our students’ education. Mrs Hill |
Kirsten and Aiyven feature in The Week Junior Magazine! |
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We were delighted to see our student authors Kirsten and Aiyven feature in The Week Junior Magazine last weekend! Kirsten and Aiyven have set up ‘Happier Every Chapter’ a book subscription service, and we are delighted to hear of their success! Recently, the girls have appeared on ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’, and you can read all about their experiences here. Mr Nash |
Junior students take part in 'Chemical Changes' workshop |
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Elizabeth in Year 6 talked to us about her experience of participating in the ‘Chemical Changes’ workshop run by the Royal Institute, as part of Science Week: “The workshop was amazing – we saw fireworks, colourful explosions, fizzy bubbles and lots more. Firstly, they poured red nitrate mixed with water into a glass which did not look so impressive, but the trick was not over yet as they then poured potassium iodide into the glass and the colour turned yellow. This is an example of a chemical change. Then we made an origami fish to show a physical change- we decorated them, and they all looked so pretty. Then we got to do an experiment for ourselves; we needed a cup, a bowl, bicarbonate and vinegar. We put the bicarbonate in the glass then we added vinegar – we had to quickly put the glass in the bowl because it overflowed and fizzed up. In the end it smelled like vinegar and then we knew it was irreversible change because we could not get the bicarbonate or the vinegar back and the bubbles formed were carbon dioxide. Then we did an experiment called Elephant Toothpaste, when you put hydrogen peroxide mixed with washing up liquid into a glass, then you added catalyst iodide in the glass; it then looks like a volcano and gives of an exothermic reaction. Then it suddenly foams up and is super big. It was an amazing example of a chemical change!
Next, we played NAME THAT ELEMENT! O= Oxygen C= Carbon AL =Aluminum HG=Mercury. The scientists put lithium into a bowl of water and tried to trap the hydrogen gas which it produces when it touches water. They trapped the hydrogen gas in the test tube, and it pushed the water that was in the test tube out. They quickly took the test tube out and got a blow torch, lit the gas and then fire started coming out of the test tube – when the test tube was near the glass it made a big POP sound. Next, they did an experiment called the Screaming Jelly Baby. First, they got a test tube and added potassium chlorate. They got a blow torch and pointed it directly at the bottom of the test tube. Then they added the jelly baby which was used as a fuel because of its high glucose content. After a while, a big colourful flame came out – it was amazing! Then they did the last and final experiment which was called Zombie Fire – they added nitrogen, hydrogen chloride and water AND green sparks and fire came out – it looked like a firework and you were left with zinc oxide once the flames had died out. I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who helped make the workshop happen. It was a great experience and Year 6 were happy we could participate”. Elizabeth A |
Equestrian Team qualifies for Royal Windsor Horse Show |
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We have received very exciting news from the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) that we have qualified a team to compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in July! The NSEA announced on Wednesday that we are one of 18 schools across the country who have pre-qualified for the inter-school Show Jumping competition, based on our wins over the past 18 months. This hugely prestigious 4-day show takes place in Windsor Great Park, and this is the first time we have had a team qualify, so is an amazing opportunity for our squad. We are so excited for this amazing opportunity! To find our more information about the event, please click here. Mrs Harvey |
New Balance English Schools Virtual Cross Country Championships 2021 |
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The English Schools Cross Country Championships could not go ahead as normal this year, due to the ongoing restrictions caused by the pandemic. To keep the spirit of the event alive, the committee have decided to launch a virtual event that they hope will generate healthy competition between athletes across the country, even though we will not be able to be in the same place at the same time. To enter the event all you have to do is: sign up – enter the race, for free, via the link below, telling us which course you have chosen, your time, the county you represent, your age group (race distances are different) and an email of the person who is verifying your time here. As a department, for safety reasons we would strongly encourage you to complete this run either with an adult or at school. Age Groups Junior – Thirteen years and under fifteen years of age on 31 August at the end of the current school year (Year 8 and 9) Intermediate – Fifteen years and under seventeen years of age on 31 August of the current school year (Year 10 and 11) Senior – Seventeen years and under nineteen years of age on 31 August at the end of the current school year (Year 12 and 13) Race Distances – (used for simplicity purposes only) Junior Girls – 2k (Junior Park Run) Intermediate Girls & Senior Girls – 5k Race Week We are giving you a two week window to record your time. Entries will open on Monday 15 March and will close at midnight on Sunday 28 March Verification of times Times must be verified by a coach or teacher, their email is to be included on the entry form as part of the verification process. If you would like to enter and run during school time please come and speak to me for course details. Mrs Littlewood |
Book of the Week |
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We Should All be Feminist by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – recommended for U4 and above ‘I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently…’ What does “feminism” mean today? In this personal, eloquently argued essay – adapted from her much-admired Ted Talk of the same name – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
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offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness. Drawing extensively on her own experiences and her deep understanding of the often masked realities of sexual politics, here is one remarkable author’s exploration of what it means to be a woman now – an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists. Miss Buxton |
360° Virtual Tour Experience |
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It was fantastic to meet so many lovely families as part of our Open Events last week. As part of the virtual events, we were delighted to launch our new 360° Virtual Tour Experience. This function gives you the opportunity to explore our entire 27-acre bespoke site, taking a look at everything from the classrooms, Sports Centre, Forest School and everything in between! To take a look for yourself, please click here. Mr Nash |
Sport Spring Term Extra-Curricular Timetable |
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Backchat Magazine team launches Instagram page |
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Our school magazine ‘Backchat’ is student run and celebrates creativity in all its forms. Please take a look at the magazine’s dedicated Instagram account, where the team have been promoting the work of women journalists throughout this week with a series of posts. Click here to find out more. Mr Viesel |
GDST Talks |
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We are delighted to announce the next of our GDST Talks programme, taking place on Thursday 18 March at 6pm with Emma Gleadhill.
We are also excited to share with you a recording from a recent event which took place on Thursday 4 March with Dr Nihara Krause, on the subject of ‘The Science of Motivation – Helping your Children to keep going’. This recording can be viewed here. Mrs Wilmot |
GDST Alumnae: 'Where will your story take you?' |
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Car Park Polite Reminder |
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A polite reminder to our parents to please give way to cars exiting the Junior School section of the car park. We thank you for your continued cooperation. Mr Stubbs |
Term Dates 20/21 |
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Term Dates 21/22 |
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Northampton High School |
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