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End of Term Newsletter WINTERNEWSLETTER December 2020 Thoughtful student cares for his community Earlier this year Dear parents, carers and friends following a trip to It has been a momentous year for fair and a traditional Christmas Newcastle, Year 7 the whole country. At about this lunch! Mrs McMullen, Miss Hall student George, asked same time last year, we watched and Dr Willis have done wonders for donations and Greggs events unfold in Wuhan as the in creating a choir performance meal deal vouchers for virus took hold. No-one imagined with one student filmed at a time! the catastrophic events that would Some of our students have also his birthday so he could overtake us. Now a year later, we are participated in a local church virtual donate them to the hearing news of a vaccine that brings service. It’s amazing what socially homeless people he had us immense hope again for the distanced things we have managed seen in Newcastle. future and we are grateful to those to get up to and the students have scientists who have been working thoroughly enjoyed them. During October half term, tirelessly for this breakthrough. There have been crimes against George and his family were Our students have been through fashion as Christmas jumpers, ties able to deliver over £200 a lot, and so much change has and socks were donned to raise worth of vouchers to the happened, that it is at times difficult money for charity. Our local care Newcastle Foodbank. George to comprehend! Systems in school homes, we hope, have enjoyed our bought some meal deals are very complex and controlled, students' lovely singing via our social and gave them to some yet our students are coping media channels at a time when our very appreciative people magnificently (although longing for students would normally be visiting on Northumberland Street normality). We are so proud of them. the residents. in Newcastle. Newcastle Foodbank contacted the When we reflect on the lockdown Fundamentally, Christmas is about family and invited them along period, as difficult as it was for so family and a time for making to meet Newcastle United many, we did feel that we were able memories, excitement, and fun. We Football Club player, Isaac to work very closely with you and also always remember those for Hayden, who regularly donates build strong relationships. We would whom it is a difficult time. like to take this opportunity to thank to the foodbank. you for engaging with us during the All those connected to Hermitage Academy are a crucial part of a We were delighted to hear turbulent period. Together we are the news, which once again working on establishing a culture wider family and we want to wish shows how kind and caring our where kindness and compassion are you all a very Merry Christmas, as families are! at the forefront of our relationships we recognise and value every one of with each other. This is vital in the you, and hope for good health and social media world, where things can happiness for all in 2021. rapidly become unkind and we thank those parents who are keeping a Darren Stewart close watch on this difficult terrain! Head of School Dr Janice Gorlach This year we have celebrated the Executive Headteacher twelve days of Christmas with displays, carols, festive films, a craft Meet the babies Meet our staff's little bundles of joy, born over the last academic year... bringing hope and happiness IMPORTANT DATES at such a turbulent time! for your diary Due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we cannot commit to any fixed school events at the moment. Please keep checking our website and social media channels for the latest updates. ... Keeping our children safe whilst online Due to increased time spent indoors, our children and young people may have been spending more time than usual online. We understand that is it hard for parents and carers to keep up with the latest games, apps and social media, however the NSPCC have created a very handy tool to help stay informed of the risks involved. It also includes useful information such as age rating as well as top tips for usage and staying safe. www.net-aware.org.uk We're social! Follow our social media accounts to stay up to date with all of the latest news from around the Academy! @hermitage_acad @hermitageacad Our very festive kitchen staff really are providing the Christmas cheer! With Christmas music playing in the dining hall and the smell of turkey in the air our students and staff have experienced a real festive treat. Students and staff have had an Thank you to all those involved amazing Christmas lunch this and for all your hard work Student year and are so grateful for during this turbulent period. the opportunity to have a little We have all been well fed and success! get together (socially distanced looked after by our fantastic This term, we have and safely… of course!) Festive catering team and for that we tablecloths were laid and are truly grateful! launched our 'Monday decorations placed to really get Marvels' and 'Great everyone in the festive spirit. Eights' initiatives to celebrate the many successes of our brilliant Year 7 and 8 students. The idea behind the Monday Marvels initiative is to celebrate the fantastic work our Year 7 students are doing both in lessons and in the school community. Monday marvels are students who give 100% effort in everything we ask, demonstrate The show must go on! fantastic behaviour and who are It has been a challenging year for all of us and great role models to their peers. the drama and dance department have had to Alongside Year 7, we have be particularly imaginative in creating practical launched Great Eights, a weekly lessons that are fun, purposeful and covid-safe. celebration of students who have demonstrated consistently We love running extra- Drama clubs have been high standards of work in curricular clubs and activities exploring improvisation and lessons and who have gone for our students and were dramatic styles and dance above and beyond with a devastated when we had clubs have been working on a particular task or been a great to cancel our planned 2020 Christmas themed dance which ambassador or role model for production of Hairspray. We we hope to film and present on their subject. We awarded our have been limited in what we the school website – look out first Great Eights in November can offer in the way of extra- for it! and look forward to celebrating curricular activities this term, more students each week. We however, we are delighted We would like to extend clubs will be launching more initiatives to say that we have been to include Year 9 students very soon! able to take some tentative in the new year, but this will steps towards re-starting our depend on available space at drama and dance clubs for our lunch times. We hope to work younger students. towards drama and dance films A big thank you to and, fingers crossed, begin everyone who took part We have trialled the clubs for plans for a live production for in the Christmas cake Year 7 and 8 students this term the summer. raffle, we have raised with numbers kept strictly limited and year groups kept If you have any questions about £125 for the local hospice! separate. The studios are the clubs please contact Mrs Thanks so much for Ms well-ventilated and activities Johnson or Mr Lauder. Carruthers for organising do not involve close contact or (and her mum for baking movement which requires deep the delicious cakes!). breathing. Christmas crafts Christmas card Every year group has been busy competition in the run up to the end of term creating some seasonal Christmas Our students really showed off their artistic talent in our 'Twelve Days of Christmas' crafts to get in the festive spirit! Christmas card competition. The entries Each year group had the opportunity to come came flooding in and it was extremely difficult to the library after school and make some to narrow them down. We have some very tree decorations and festive cards. Our Year 7 talented artists at Hermitage Academy, that's for students really got into the Christmas spirit and sure. The students really loved being involved made some lovely pieces to take home to family and it was a pleasure to review so many and friends. thoughtful ideas. Mrs Dixon would like to wish all of our crafters a very happy Christmas! Creative writing As part of our ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ activities, the English department ran a creative writing competition entitled It won't be lonely ‘Christmas of the Future’. this Christmas... Students were tasked writing the opening of a short story describing what Christmas might be Normally at this time of the year like in 2050. The responses were amazing! our students are found singing their hearts out at our local care homes It was so difficult to select the winners but a huge congratulations goes out to: Jumanha in and making the day of many elderly Year 7, Leah in Year 8, Molly and Adanna in Year residents. Sadly, this year we are 9 and Jordan in Year 10! unable to do this, but we still wanted to find a way to reach out. Students across all year groups have very kindly written some messages of good will to the residents. Some letters included poems and the students shared funny stories to bring a smile to the faces of the residents.
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