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Welcome back!
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from the our first two weeks back! To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Acts of service to others @ Norton Juniors
Crew Barnes: 1st week back @ XP
Beautiful Artwork by Freya @ XP East
Weekly Update for Families @ XP Gateshead
On Thursday 4th September, Doncaster author and illustrator Phill Sheppard visited NJS. He led an amazing story-telling session and showed some of his awesome illustrations. The pupils then took part in a drawing activity and learnt how to draw their own character for a story – a shark!
During Crew Week, Year 5 explored the question: “How can our crew be strengthened by acts of service to others?”
Drawing on our character traits of respect, compassion, and quality & craftsmanship, the children created beautiful gifts which were delivered to residents at The Laurels Residential Care Home. Both the children and residents thoroughly enjoyed spending time together — a heartwarming experience for all.
What a wonderful first week back we’ve had, immersing ourselves in everything Crew!
We’ve spent time building relationships through fun team-building activities like tower building (with art straws—and even shoes!), Crew Olympics, Pictionary, and so much more. Here’s to a great year ahead!
Huge welcome back to year 3 this week, the children have settled in so well and we are having a fun filled week. We have been practising our ICT skills, completing lots of team building activities and working on an incredibly special product.
Our crew expedition this week has been to answer the question ‘What does Crew mean to me?’. We have been looking at our crew norms and our character traits. Lots of children have shown courage and wonderful craftsmanship. Big thank you for all of 3SG for working hard during our first week back.
The main product this week has been our kindness rocks. We have worked hard to plan, design, prepare and create some bright, bold, encouraging messages that will soon appear around the local area. Keep your eyes out for our kindness rocks round Norton and Campsall park!!!
Well, what a week it has been and how our young people have responded to the challenges posed! The main aim of our first week back has been to explore and unpick our school Character Traits: Courage, Respect, Craftsmanship and Quality, Integrity and Compassion. As well as this, we have sought to answer our Crew Week Guiding Question – How can we work together to achieve an end goal? Here, we have worked tirelessly on a restoration project – to give some of our school picnic tables a much needed uplift. This included washing, sanding and finally painting each part of the tables to breathe some life into them. And, whilst the weather hasn’t been too kind, we are well underway to adding some colour and stardust to what were some pretty drab and dull fixtures.
Also, a nod to parents for sending their children to school with a spare set of clothes (at late notice) and a massive well done to our young people for all their hard work and endeavour this week which has produced some quite wonderful outcomes.
Have a great weekend
Mr Chadwick
Year 6 have had an amazing crew week! We’ve held crew Olympic Games, a sponsored walk, built our own bridges and much more to build our crews!
From Friday 22nd August you can start pre-ordering your child’s lunches using Relish’s Parent Portal. You can also view menus and download recipes!
Please find below instructions on how to do this.
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from the last two weeks of term! It’s been filled with all kinds of wonderful things from all of our schools. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Why the Arts Matter at XP – Our Festival Highlights @ XP Trust
At the Coalface: POL @ Norton Juniors
Climate Change Through Data @ XP
G29 What a Wonderful World POL @ XP Gateshead
At XP, we believe education should help young people discover who they are, what they stand for, and how they can make a difference. The arts are at the heart of this.
Through music, dance, drama, and visual art, our students learn to collaborate, express themselves, and craft work of real depth and beauty. These aren’t “extras” to the curriculum – they are essential experiences that develop the character traits we value above anything else: courage, craftsmanship, respect, and compassion.
Last Friday, we celebrated these values at our second XP Festival of Arts & Culture – a day filled with music, dance, and art from across all the schools in our Trust. Every primary school showcased their dancing skills in collaboration with Phoenix Dance Company, alongside cheerleaders and singers from across the Trust.
The afternoon culminated in a show-stopping parade led by the New York Brass Band, bringing everyone together for an unforgettable rendition of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”. The evening carried the energy forward with live music from XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead students, alongside local bands and professional artists.
Our students were phenomenal – both on stage and in the audience – showing once again the power of Crew in action.
A huge thank you goes to the XP Doncaster and Plover staff who stewarded and supported the event. It was a powerful example of what’s possible when we create spaces for young people to thrive.
Here’s to next year!!!
In Crew,
Andy Sprakes
