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Principal’s Weekly Post – Week 13

The Principal’s Weekly Post

Week 13: 6 DECEMBER 2024

It's feeling festive!

It’s been another fantastic week at York High School!

Next week we are moving towards a one-way system in certain areas of the school to create a calmer environment when our students move around the school site. Our student views really matter to us and this change is a direct result of recent feedback from our student surveys.

We are very much looking forward to our Festive Showcase which takes place next Thursday. This fun-packed evening of entertainment includes a range of performances, including a variety of bands and singing groups as well as our very special staff panto. If you haven’t already planned to join us, please do so. Further information can be found below.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Gavin Kumar
Principal

Diary dates

Wednesday 11 December

Christmas Dinner


Thursday 12 December

Festive Showcase – save the date!


Friday 20 December

Christmas Jumper Day

School closes for Christmas break


Monday 6 January 2025

School closed for Teacher Training Day


Tuesday 7 January 2025

School reopens for Spring Term

Year 11 – Friday Funday!

Last week our Year 11s enjoyed Friday Funday to celebrate their resilience and hard work in their mock exams. With free cake and doughnuts at breaktime and Domino’s pizza for lunch, they were well fuelled for Period 5’s YHS Escape Room. Congratulations to those who escaped!

We’re looking forward to finding out how they got on in their mock exams at our Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 18 December – see you there!

Religious Studies – places of worship trip

After a heavy couple of weeks completing their mock exams, our Year 11 Religious Studies students ventured out to Bradford Grand Mosque and York Minster this week, as part of their Religious Studies GCSE.

In Bradford, we met with the Muslim community, saw the different parts of a traditional mosque and had the opportunity to ask some crucial questions of our faith guide. After a short stop at McDonald’s to refuel, we continued our exploration of religious places of worship, visiting York Minster, where quiet contemplation took place as pupils chose to light candles. It was exciting to see the crypt, all of the Christmas trees on display and of course, we couldn’t leave without a visit to the gift shop!

We had a really great day out, and it was fantastic to see the places of worship required for GCSE Religious Studies first hand, and useful for the pupils to engage with faith adherents.

Well done to Year 11 for their respectful behaviour in other people’s special places.

Happy Birthday Tilly!

Our school dog, Tilly, celebrated her fourth birthday last week. Sadly, she wasn’t allowed cake but she had a nice long walk with Miss Burns, a play at the paw park and some extra-long cuddles with people in school!

Excellence Every Day

Lots of rewards again this week! Well done to Esme, Evan, Angel, El, Andrea, Sophie, Amelia, Christina, Phoebe, Daniel, Olly, Gracie and Henry!

Liverpool Trip

Thank you to the Year 8 students who have returned their slips for the Liverpool trip. If you have not yet returned your slip, please do so as soon as possible, or we will not be able to guarantee students’ friends will be on the trip.

A number of forms indicate a preference on date. Where this is a necessity, we ask that you contact us via main reception to inform us of this.

Author visit and book signing event

Author Julian Sedgwick will be visiting school on Friday 13 December, when he will also be holding a book signing session for students.

Julian has kindly arranged for us to access his two most recent books at a discounted price. Students who have pre-purchased books via ParentPay will be invited to the signing session during school time, where they will meet Julian and can chat to him about his adventures in Japan.

For more information about the books we have available and to pre-order them please visit ParentPay.

Festive Showcase

One week to go till our Festive Showcase, and it’s promising to be a cracker of a show! 

OH NO IT’S NOT – ON YES IT IS!

We have a variety of musical pieces to entertain you, some festive readings, a sneak preview of GREASE, and of course the Staff Panto! 

If you haven’t got your tickets yet you need to hurry, as they are selling fast. You can buy them either in school or on ParentPay.

We also have the Festive Raffle, with tickets available now via ParentPay or at the Festive Showcase.

Christmas Jumpers

On Friday 20 December, the last day of term, students are welcome to wear their favourite Christmas jumper! This is optional and must be worn with school uniform (replacing the school jumper).

Year 6 Recreational Football

Once again we are hosting recreational football sessions for Year 6 students on Wednesdays after school. At the time of writing, there are still four places available.

So far pupils from Carr Junior, Hob Moor, Poppleton Road, Woodthorpe and Westfield Primary Schools are having a great time at this club. Their behaviour has been superb and it has been great to get to know them!

The sessions are run by our fantastic York City FC coach Xavi from Brazil, with assistance from Mariko, a futsal player from Japan, and YHS staff. These fun, informal and relaxed sessions are a fantastic opportunity for Year 6 pupils who are hoping to attend York High from September, to make new friends through sport.

If any parents/carers would like to apply for a place for their child, the application form is at the following link: https://forms.gle/rmY6P8pp8ugTg1ex5 or alternatively please email reception@yorkhigh.elt.org.uk with the subject line “Year 6 football.”

Careers Spotlight – Armed Services Apprenticeships

The armed forces are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, working to keep the UK safe. Apprenticeships are available in different branches of the military, including the Army, RAF and Royal Navy.

To find out more about apprenticeships with the Army, Navy or RAF, click here.

Creative Writing Together at York St John University

Creative Writing Together is a new programme which is part of the Creative Literacies Hub at York St John Communities Centre. This series of free sessions starts on Tuesday 7 January 2025 and is open to parents, caregivers, and children between ages 7-14. Throughout all six workshops, participants will engage in collaborative creative writing, exploring various settings, characters, and plots. Find out more and sign up via the York St John website.

Our programmes are delivered on Tuesdays. Doors open from 3.30pm but sessions will start nearer to 4.00pm to allow for the school run. Sessions end at 5.00pm and the programme lasts for six weeks. Workshop dates are: 7, 14, 21 and 28 January, 4 and 11 February 2025.

The YHS Way

As we introduce our new one-way system in English and Science we would like to take this opportunity to remind pupils we walk calmly and quietly on the left-hand side when moving from lessons and around the school building.

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