Kindness Fortnight 2025
We had a very positive fortnight celebrating kindness in February during our Kindness Fortnight. As well as a multitude of things that happened in lessons, we also encouraged further kindness with the additional activities below.
Chemotherapy Pump Bags
Mrs Martin designed Chemotherapy Pump Bags to be made and donated to a local cancer charity. These will be used to help patients carry their chemotherapy pump bags in. Well done and thank you to all staff and students who took part. If you are still making yours, the final deadline to pass your finished craft to Mrs Martin or Miss Mathews is Friday 14th March.
Kindness Leadership Award
Well done to all of our students who took part in our Kindness Leadership Award challenge, and will receive their certificates soon
Kindness Notes
A kindness note was distributed to all students, who kindly gave them out to staff and students, raising smiles.
Kindness Bench
Miss Devaney and the well-being team have painted this bench, which can be used by any student to encourage students to sit and have a chat with them at break or lunch.
Kindness to the Environment events
Various events were held to encourage us to be kinder to the environment. Mr Hartley organised a litter pick, Miss Devaney showed students how small pieces of plastic can be recycled and the English Department ran a discussion on “How We Can Be Kinder to our Environment”.
Resilience Fortnight will be happening 22nd April-2nd May.
A Level British Film Institute Seminar
“The BFI trip was most informative and interesting; we were shown multiple advertisements and music videos, such as ‘Sephora’ and ‘Alright’ by Kendrick Lamar, alongside completing activities in the booklets provided.
It was engaging to see a wide range of media products that were not our set texts because it helped us create a foundation for a quick-fire analysis on unseen media products – which would benefit us when faced with our unseen text section in our exam. This learning has also helped us to fully observe and apply theory in an appropriate manner.
We were also given the opportunity to explore what South Bank had to offer. There were a range of food stalls to choose from and scenic views to take pictures of.
Overall, this was a positive experience and I, as well as my classmates, feel much more confident going into our exams.”
Marium Nabi
Year 13 Media Studies
World Book Day
Thank you to everyone who put the effort into taking part in the amazing activities and dressing up for World Book Day! It was a pleasure seeing the whole school enjoy the day and all of you creating memories together. Thank you especially to:
- Ms Jethwa,
- Ms Omar,
- our Literacy Leads - especially Aamnah Mehdi (year 12 lead),
- sixth form volunteers (Laiaba Shafiq and Salma Syed- our Library leaders,
- everyone in the English department, and
- all those who made the day so wonderful!
I'm already looking forward to next year's World Book Day!
Thank you so much to everyone who took part in World Book Day! I really appreciate all the literacy leads and library monitors who contributed to the escape room experience. A heartfelt thanks also goes to the teachers who made it all happen. We should all give ourselves a pat on the back for our hard work and dedication in making this event a success!
Ms Jethwa, Librarian
The winners for World Book Day's 'Best costume' competition:
- 3rd - Aiza Ovais (dressed up as Sherlock Holmes)
- 2nd - Ayesha Williams, Haddy Bojang, Rayna Chanan, Grace Davies, Ayla Aslan (dressed up as The Smurfs)
- 1st - Caterina Popescu (dressed up as Cruella De Vil)
A Huge Well Done to everyone who joined in the World Book Day costume parade!
Diary Dates
- Thursday 20 March- Mrs Doubtfire Theatre Trip
- Friday 21 March- Red Nose Day (Mufti Day)
- Thursday 27 March- Year 9 Consultation Evening
- Thursday 27 March and Friday 28 March- GCSE Food Tech Practical Exam
- Monday 31 March- Year 9 Options Deadline
- Friday 4 April- End of Term (3pm finish)
- Tuesday 22 April- Summer Term Begins
Media Based Recruitment Webinar
Interested in a career in the media industry? Looking to recruit entry-level talent? Join this extensive webinar hosted by Windsor College covering all things recruitment in the Media industry!
Whether you are a prospective student, parent or carer, or a potential employer, the team will tell you all you need to know !
- Date- Tuesday 25 March 2025 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Location- This webinar will take place online, with the link emailed to you nearer the time.
For more events and online webinars, please check your school inbox, as Mrs Anwari has sent out many emails with useful information.
Interested in training to teach in Slough?
Slough Initial Teacher Training Hub, working in partnership with the University of Reading, offer a range of routes into primary and secondary teaching. Trainees benefit from a programme of professional studies at the University’s Institute of Education and will be based in local schools for their teaching placements. For more details, please visit the Teaching School Hub website here.
Mindfulness for Student Well-Being: March Focus
As we welcome the month of March, it's the perfect time to focus on nurturing our mental and emotional health through mindfulness practices. Mindfulness—being fully present in the moment without judgment—can help students manage stress, improve focus, and foster a positive mindset as we move through the rest of the school year.
This month, we’re highlighting the importance of mindfulness and offering simple ways to incorporate it into daily life:
1. Breathing Exercises: Taking a few minutes to focus on your breath can be a powerful tool for reducing anxiety and increasing focus. Try the 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. This can calm the nervous system and centre your mind.
2. Mindful Moments: Throughout the day, take brief moments to check in with yourself. Whether it's during a class break or while walking to the next lesson, take a few seconds to pause, notice your surroundings, and check in with how you're feeling. It’s about being aware of the present moment without rushing to the next task.
3. Gratitude Practice: Practicing gratitude can help shift your mindset from stress to appreciation. Each day, try to write down or think of three things you're grateful for, no matter how small. This simple practice can help create a more positive outlook and reduce stress.
4. Mindful Listening: During conversations or classroom discussions, practice listening without distraction. Focus on what others are saying without immediately thinking about your response. This can enhance relationships and improve overall communication.
Mindfulness doesn't require special equipment or a lot of time—it’s about being present and paying attention. As we embrace mindfulness this month, let's support each other in cultivating calm, focus, and well-being.