Partnership with our local community is one of our core values at The earls High School, and one that students readily engage with, raising huge amounts of money for local charities.
Recently, the students and staff have donated 1500 items of food to the Halesowen Foodbank. The largest donation was made by form 8A2, who donated a staggering 236 items. We feel incredibly of the whole school community for their efforts and generosity.
In the run-up to Easter, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 at TheÌý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ celebratedÌýInternational Empathy Week. We recogniseÌýthe vital factÌýthat to create a better world, weÌýneed to understand and empathise withÌýthe people in it.
Through a series of films,Ìýstudents explored important areas such asÌýSustainability, Diversity, Mental Health,ÌýBlack Lives Matter and Immigration. Activities, delivered during regular PSHE lessons, led to wide-ranging discussions about what each of us can do to understand and appreciate ourselves, our friends, and people from all walks of life.
We are delighted to be able to safely re-launch our programme of extra-curricular activities, beginning this week with year 7 bench ball. We are really proud of the variety of clubs we offer at The Earls, as there really is something for everyone; sports, dance, drama, music ensembles, chess, history, eco-leaders, D of E, photography and much more, and we have missed being able to work with the students on these activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mrs Booth, from our PE department, led a group of students in an enthusiastic (and very loud!) game of bench ball this week. Year 7 students Jay, Sahara and Emily described the experience as ‘the best – I’ve missed this during lockdown’, ‘amazing, fun and enjoyable, it makes me happy’ and ‘really exciting – I am so happy we have more activities again’.
Teagan Aston, a talented Year 7 student, has really made the most of her time at home during the Covid-19 lockdowns to complete her Bronze Arts Award. To achieve the award, she had to complete a wide range of activities including building a portfolio of her own artwork, exploring the arts as a visitor, researching other artists and sharing her skills with others. This saw her take part in a world-record-breaking online art challenge and visiting the Harry Potter Studios, as well as teaching her friends origami and creating both traditional and digital artwork.
Teagan shared her portfolio with her Art teacher Mr Nesbitt, who commented:
“Teagan is a very talented student, but what she has achieved here is exceptional!”
Teagan was presented with a certificate and Arts Flash by Head of Art, Mr Hickman. Congratulations Teagan, we are all very proud of you!
Jack and Charlie made an incredible model cell with cake as the basis for the cell. It was decorated with strawberry laces as photosynthesising chloroplasts, a donut nucleus to store the DNA and a mini-marshmallow cell wall to control the movement of substances in and out of the cell. A yum-yum for the vacuole and chocolate sprinkles for the mitochondria topped off this excellent project.
We were incredibly impressed by the effort that the boys put in, and are reliably informed that the cake tasted as good as it looked. Congratulations boys for putting so much effort and creativity into your learning!
This term, students in Year 10 have been learning about what it means to be British. Students have been reading a range of texts which explore the experiences of black British men and women, and the prejudice encountered by those who were invited to Britain to re-build the country after the Second World War as part of ‘The Windrush Generation’.
Students were asked to research and create a presentation on a moment of significance in black history which they then delivered to the class. Many focused on Mary Seacole and her contribution to medicine and healthcare during war; the Bristol bus boycott of 1963 which pushed through legislation to make it illegal to discriminate someone due to their race and ethnicity; and Malcolm X and his famed visited to Smethwick in 1965.Ìý
We were incredibly proud and impressed by the hard work that our students put into this task and the inspiring, positive message that was spread through acknowledging and learning about moments in black history that have helped to shape the world we now live in, where diversity and multiculturalism is celebrated.
We are really excited to be able to launch next year’s school production, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.
Step in to the magic of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and join Charlie Bucket and the other lucky winners of Golden TicketsÌýas we experience a ‘world of pure imagination’.
This amazing production will be performed next May (2022) to a sell-out audience of friends, family, staff, and members of the local community.
Auditions are taking place in the next few weeks with roles for everyone front and backstage, so keep an eye out for information in school, and come and be part of something incredible!
Who would have thought that a table of scrumptious cakes would cause such a stir among teachers in a staff room?
On Thursday 17th June, the school held a staff fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society, who support people with dementia. We successfully raised an impressive £311.60 (+Gift Aid) from generous donations by the wonderful teachers and support staff at our school. We would like to thank everyone involved for supporting a cause that is close to the hearts of many people in our school community. We look forward to planning more fabulous fundraisers in the future.
On Friday, we saw the welcome return of the Macmillan fundraiser and what a fitting finale to Open Week 2021. Our Year 7 students were outstanding, with the standard of baking being higher than ever this year.
The school was overwhelmed with donations of home-baked cupcakes, large cakes, cookies, brownies and flapjacks. Had Paul Hollywood been available, he would certainly shake your hand but instead we had the expert eyes and taste buds of Mrs Narrowmore, Mrs Bryant and Mrs Bates doing the judging.
Together, we raised a record-breaking £508.27 and none of this would have been possible without the generosity of donations, time and support from all.Ìý We were visited by more parents than ever and a good time was had. My thanks also to members of the Junior Leadership Team and their friends for running the event and the staff for helping me make this event possible. We are amazing!
On Wednesday 29 September, 46 Year 7 boys and girls took part in ‘Boys House Basketball’ and ‘Girls House Football’. House sports are fun based competitions and it was so great to get these kicking off!
Massive well done to all that took part and represented their house. Results as follows…………
Boys Basketball:
1st Place – Abbey: 40 points
2nd Place – Shenstone: 30 points
3rd Place – Hingley 20 points
GirlsÌýFootball:
1st Place – Abbey: 40 points
2nd Place – Hingley & Cobham: 15 points each
3rd Place – Shenstone 20 points