Challney High School for Girls December 2020 2 Challney Chronicle - where community matters A Message from our Headteacher This has been a term like no I’ve heard it in the chillest land - other I have experienced in And on the strangest Sea - my teaching career. Yet - never - in Extremity, However, I have been It asked a crumb - of me. inspired every day by the students at Challney Girls. Your daughters have They have adapted to all demonstrated hope and the changes required to optimism throughout this term. I keep us all safe and they send you all my best wishes for a have done so with a positive attitude and a smile! safe and peaceful holiday. The girls have consistently lifted our spirits throughout this term. I would like to thank all Joanne Mylles parents and carers for your support for your Headteacher daughters: they come to school keen to learn and are polite and kind to each other. They are a credit to you! In January 2020 we were graded ‘outstanding’ by Important Dates Ofsted and on re-reading the report recently I was Tuesday 5 January 2021 struck by one of the phrases—’Pupils live the values Spring Term starts for Year 11 of respect, readiness to learn and resilience!’ I see N.B. If you have a PPE on Monday 4 January you these qualities every day. Despite all the challenges must attend for the exams the girls are producing excellent work which you can see in this edition of the Challney Chronicle. Monday 11 January 2021 I hope that you all have a peaceful and restful Spring Term starts for Years 7—10 Christmas safely at home. With the news of a vaccine, we can hope that 2021 is a better year for us Thursday 28 January 2021 all. Speaking of hope and optimism, I have shared Year 10 Parent’s Evening one of my favourite poems below; ’Hope* is the thing with feathers’ by Emily Dickinson. The poem is Dotted throughout this edition of the Challney written to celebrate the human capacity for hope. Chronicle are pictures of various Christmas Trees Emily Dickinson portrays hope as a bird which lives that have been put up in classrooms and round the within us all, which sings come rain or shine, gale or building. storm, good times or bad. Can you see yours……? “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - 3 Challney Chronicle - where community matters Community News Year 8 Social Action- Supporting our community restrictions over the Christmas period we still have and the Luton Foodbank to give careful consideration to gatherings throughout December, affecting people who wish to celebrate Hanukkah, Pancha Ganapti, Kwanzaa, Christmas and New Year. Whatever you are celebrating over the holidays and whether you are doing this in real life or virtually (or a bit of both), here are some top tips for marking special occasions that are both safe and meaningful: • Include specific ceremonies, family traditions As a follow up to our non uniform day earlier in the and symbolic acts to give meaning to term, where we raised over £2,000 for the Luton celebrations (e.g. pray, sing, listen to the Foodbank Harvest Challenge, our Year 8 students reading of a sacred script, light candles and wanted to do more! So we have been taking part in say who you are lighting them for.) Structure some fantastic social action work for our local your gathering as this creates meaning community. We have been collecting donations of • Don’t assume everyone will understand the food and look how much we have gathered in a few purpose of the gathering; communicate about short weeks! This picture shows just how much we why specifically you are getting together have collected, from only Year 8! • Be clear about why this afternoon or evening is different to all other afternoons or evenings Challney Girls’ students have a lot of passion for you have met helping the community, they have all been very • Do different things to that which you usually generous and kind! As Luton Foodbank is local to us, do. Ask each other things that normal times we enjoy giving and seeing the positive impact we don’t allow for. Tell people in advance about make near us. We also want to thank Luton what to expect, what they should bring/ Foodbank for awarding Challney High School for Girls prepare, etc. a trophy for exceeding the target set for us for the • Create ground rules so everyone can Harvest Challenge. participate and enjoy each other Well done Year 8!! • Do a shared activity (watch something Nuha Nilam and Alesha Choudhury together or play a game or quiz), or a sharing 8N activity (e.g. open gifts). Include things that Gather round! allow for low participation for those that For many of us, this time of year is a time for finding would prefer this joy in the planning and celebrating of various • Agree a charitable organisation to support as festivals and events that bring families and friends a family or take part in a charitable event together. With lockdown restrictions in place, it is together (maybe the Luton Food Bank?) safe to say that this year’s celebrations will be very • Talk about plans for next year and include different to those gone by. For some of us, the some new and positive ways of doing things. formal parts of religious festivals may change with Taken from the Luton Child & Educational places of worship operating to different rules. For Psychology Service Newsletter December 2020 others, the informal gatherings and family traditions that accompany times of celebration will be affected. We know that people have been under lockdown restrictions for Diwali on 14 November and we now know that despite the lifting of 4 Challney Chronicle - where community matters Curriculum News—Biology Biology Staff entries…. During National Biology week from 3—11 October, the Science Department ran a Biological colouring competition, with a different picture for each year group and even one for staff! It was lovely to receive so many entries, particularly from Year 7 where there were more than 50 submitted! The winners were as follows: Year 11 – Myda Ahmed 11S Year 10 – Rahmah Kouroughli 10I & Saarina Ahmed 10A Year 9 – Amira Shah 9J Year 8 – Barira Hussain 8S Year 7 – Hurain Amir 7N Mrs S Chick Department Leader—Science Student Winners…. 5 Challney Chronicle - where community matters DT Collages Sweet Pizza and Knife Skills Disney Project Design Work 6 Challney Chronicle - where community matters DT Collages Mickey Ears Practical Work Disney Pizza Boxes 7 Challney Chronicle - where community matters DT Collages and IT News Rulers, Cam Toys, Mini Torches and Candle Holder What have we been up to… Practical Work In the IT/Computing department we have been approached to trial a program for EDT (Engineering Development Trust). We started this project with one of the groups in Year 9 who have really worked hard to put their ideas together and presented their ideas in a video which has now been sent to EDT for judging. The winning group in the Year 9 team were Aalia Yaqub, Hagra Tasadduq, Harum Ahsan, Amna Zafar and Miriam Nazir (9A) We have also been working with TeenTech to provide our students in Years 8 and 9 with opportunities to participate in Live Events and meet with industry partners to understand the impact of technology and career opportunities that will be available for them. Our first event was on 18 November 2020. The topic was Cybersecurity. Students had the opportunity to ask the expert questions and participate in a Cyber Challenge. Saffa Saghir 8P entry for the Cyber Challenge 8 Challney Chronicle - where community matters House News—Brady Brady It’s been a busy first term at CHSG. Students have House Captain Maryam Minhas 11S adapted excellently to the ‘new normal.’ Despite the different way of working, many have showed maturity and respect to one another and still been hugely involved in 2020/2021 Brady Leadership Team house competitions and wider school life. House Captain – Maryam Minhas 11S Competitions include Manga art, Remembrance Vice Captain – Aysha Tariq 9J and more recently, story writing. Subject captains I’m looking forward to reading the submissions to Science – Sehar Watif 9J the story writing competition over Christmas and Maths – Annika Siddiqui 9L conferring with English subject Sports – Robbin Omobamidele 9L Arts – Raheela Razaq 9J captains to find a winner! ICT – Mahiya Rahman 10L Wishing you a restful holiday and Humanities– Yusra Ahmed 10R I look forward to seeing you in 2021. English – Amira Fatima Shah 9J Miss L Hourihan MFL – Alisha Safdar 9L Head of House Congratulations to these two talented young ladies from Brady, Halimah and Yaminah (7N) House Charity (pictured below). They have been signed to MK Students have been voting in forms for a new Dons FC ! Excellent work girls, we’re proud of house charity. The local charities to choose you! between were: Our Minds Matter Women’s Aid TOKKO Youth Space Signposts Brady staff have also been busy. Mrs Potter has Keech Hospice Care been leading a knitting project within school and Keep your eyes peeled in the new year for the the wider community. Blankets have been made winner of the vote! from squares that staff, students and community members have knitted.