A freezing day out at the Kids EFL Cup ⚽️❄️🥶

30th November 2023Charlie Cicero

The Kids EFL cup, a football tournament hosted by club Doncaster, took place on Thursday at the Eco power Stadium. With schools only able to select a strict team of nine for the competition, a team year 5/6 NJS children made the trip to the home of Doncaster Rovers to play against invitational teams from across Doncaster, including local schools Owston Park and Askern Spa. In freezing conditions, the team played exceptionally well and enjoyed a good tournament, showcasing great attacking and defending skills – passing to good support options in space when in possession and closing down the space against attackers when in defence. Whilst the team did not progress to the latter stages of the tournament, there were several exceptional performances: strong defensive performances from Ted and Will in Year Six ensured defenders were kept in check as well as great attacking performances from Fraser, Brooklyn (both Y6) and young Blake in year 5. Additionally, a huge thank you to Mrs Flint for accompanying the team with myself in extremely cold conditions. Great effort team! 

KS2 Girls Football @ Campsmount Academy

23rd November 2023Charlie Cicero

Celebrating athleticism, teamwork, and the spirit of competition, Norton Junior School girls recently took centre stage at the Key Stage 2 football tournament held at Campsmount Academy. The event not only showcased the girls’ skill on the field but also emphasised the importance of camaraderie and self-expression in a team setting. Well done to the girls and a shoutout to Mrs Blunt and Miss Gill for accompanying the team!

Animal Classification!

23rd November 2023Stephanie Oliver

As part of their science case study, Year 6 have been using classification keys to classify Amazon Rainforest animals. They use specific criteria to sort the animals into groups including habitat, appearance, diet and which animal group the creature belongs to.

Super Sewers!

23rd November 2023Stephanie Oliver

6SO have now completed their rainforest animal soft toys and we think the outcomes are fantastic! They have learnt how to do range of stitches in the last few weeks, including blanket stitch, over stitch, back stitch and running stitch, and then applied these skills to their toys. The children will be showing these toys to the Year 2 pupils alongside an accompanying rainforest story about deforestation.

Year Six Conquers Maths Week England Challenges 🧮

22nd November 2023Charlie Cicero

Last week marked an exciting and stimulating time for the Year Six as they participated in Maths Week England 2023. The week-long celebration of all things mathematical brought forth a plethora of challenges, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and collaborative problem-solving.

One of the highlights of the week was the thrilling Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) Crew battle. 6CC and Crew Cicero eagerly embraced the opportunity to showcase their multiplication prowess, facing off against other crews within the school. The TTRS Crew battle not only tested the children’s mental agility but also encouraged teamwork and camaraderie. Among these formidable crews, Crew Cicero emerged with a commendable 4th place finish, showcasing their dedication and skill in the world of numbers, with ‘arch rivals’ Crew Oliver achieving a 1st place finish.

The Cube Challenge was a captivating conundrum for the children, introduced by Dr. Katie Steckles. The challenge required the young minds to grapple with the intricacies of transforming an eight-faced net into a three-dimensional cube. This spatial puzzle not only engaged the children’s mathematical sharpness but also nurtured their problem-solving skills and perseverance. The atmosphere in the classrooms was one of focused determination as the children eagerly tackled the challenge. The challenge served as a testament to the power of hands-on, interactive learning experiences, making mathematics come alive in a way that traditional lessons might not.

Congratulations to all the NJS pupils who participated in Maths Week England. Their unwavering enthusiasm, coupled with their impressive problem-solving skills, made the week a resounding success. The celebration of mathematical prowess is not just about numbers; it is a testament to the pupils’ ability to think critically, work collaboratively, and embrace challenges with a growth mindset. A special thank you to Mr Chadwick for organising the Maths week activities. Well done to all!

‘Scaling the mountain!’ 🗻⏳💡

21st November 2023Charlie Cicero

The Year 6 corridor has been buzzing with anticipation as their first test week kicked off on Monday. These young minds have showcased incredible resilience and resourcefulness, navigating through the challenges thrown at them in the initial days, with mountain that is maths waiting in the wings, yet to be conquered.

The energy in the classroom has been palpable: enthusiasm and determination evident. In these initial days, they’ve demonstrated outstanding qualities—tenacity, adaptability, and an unyielding drive to excel. Year 6, your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Keep up the exceptional work!

Sharing our Stories: 17/11/2023

17th November 2023Geoff Hewitt

Beautiful Work This Week

Rail City

From Market Town to Railway City – The Railway Journey that Helped to Shape Doncaster.

This is an updated collection of all the beautiful work created over the last few years by students across the XP Trust schools, inspired by the centenary of the Flying Scotsman and the railway heritage of Doncaster.

This book has given us an opportunity to update the original content of the many rail expeditions, with quotes from experts and our community about the importance of railways, the steam engines built here and the ongoing rail-related business here that will help shape the future of rail.

Published to coincide with a centenary celebration visit from the Flying Scotsman, we humbly hope that this book, created by our students and a new generation of rail enthusiasts, will become part of our railway story.

GET YOUR COPY OF ‘RAIL CITY’ HERE!

Norton Infants march for Askern CRY Foodbank

XP Gateshead: ‘Unheard voices of WWI’ broadcast on Memory Lane Radio

XP Doncaster: ‘Do Your Bit’ Radio Broadcast

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World Diabetes Day 2023 @ XP East

Jaffa cake fractions @ Carcroft School

Fantastic family learning @ Green Top

Tranquil Tuesday Reading Crew @ Norton Infants

We’ve got Vacancies at XP Trust!

Visit xptrust.org/vacancies to find out more and apply to #JoinOurCrew

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It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!