The students had a wonderful time at Yorkshire Wildlife Park last week, exploring the different areas and comparing the characteristics of each animal to those within the rainforest. The Amazonia section gave us some good information about the rainforests and the animals found there. We look forward to learning more about the rainforests and their inhabitants.
Rather than take a long haul 11 hour flight to Brazil, years 5 and 6 enjoyed a digital immersive experience on Monday as they tried virtual reality. Coming face to face with a variety of rainforest animals, from jaguars to sloths, the children got a real taste of the jungle and the diversity of life that lives within it. Thank you, Prime VR! 👍🏼😄📷
What a way to start our expedition! On Tuesday, Year 3 were extremely excited as we went on our fieldwork to Murton Park. We started the day by donning our tunics and dressing up as Romans.
We had amazing lessons from the Centurian and took part in three fabulous workshops: writing in latin, creating clay oil lamps and training to be a Roman soldier.
The children were a credit to the school and themselves, being praised by Murton Park staff members for their exemplary behaviour and engagement.
Happy Friday! I cannot believe we have already reached the end of our second week back at school but what can I say, time flies when you’re having fun and the children have been having a fantastic time these past couple weeks. From team-building activities last week such as tower building, to becoming fully immersed in all things Roman this week for hook week, the children have been doing it all!
It’s been a wild week in year six where the children have begun their autumn expedition, The Lungs of our World. 6CC have researched the Amazon rainforest and the many animals that inhabit it, presenting in depth fact files and even creating a shoebox habitat for their chosen animal.
The week culminated with a field trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park to see some of the animals they’d researched face to face. The class also took part in a surprise workshop to add context the learning of this term’s expedition. 🐯🐵🐗🐍🦓🦍🦏🦛
Last week our new Year 7s were the 9th cohort of students from XP to head off to the Aberdovey Outward Bound centre to answer the guiding question ‘What does it mean to be Crew?’. These are their reflections after just three days of their secondary school journey…
Orchestra in residence at XP
XP is now the official new home of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association.
Fifty years ago John Ellis MBE created the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association (DYJA).
Over the next half century, with three bands and a fourth ensemble made up of alumni, the organisation was to become internationally renowned.
The Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra has played at some of the awesome venues in the world, from the Royal Albert Hall to Buckingham Palace, the United Nations in New York to Ronnie Scott’s in London. Always delighting audiences and showcasing the young people of Doncaster’s talent and virtuosity.
Now, after many years at Beckett Road, DYJA are moving into our XP school, which will become their base. Their office, rehearsal and teaching rooms and music library – as well as full band rehearsal space will be here with us at Middle Bank.
Andy, our Chief Academic officer commented:
“We are absolutely delighted, across the XP Trust, that the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association is now based at our founding school, XP.
To support and be associated with an organisation that has travelled the world, sharing its music and the amazing talent of Doncaster’s young musicians, is very exciting and part of our ongoing commitment to the local community.
As we look forward to celebrating 10 years of XP in 2024, this feels like another landmark moment in our story – and we hope this is so for DYJA too as they continue their decades-long journey.”
Charlotte Arrowsmith, Chair of the Board of Trustees added:
“This feels like a new and exciting chapter for us at DYJA as we enter our 51st year. We’re delighted to have moved into XP School – and we’re looking forward to working and creating here, in such an inspiring place.”
#C30Austerfield
Plover’s Colour Run
Acts of Service: C28’s Sine FM Adverts for Moorends Foodbank
It was certainly a hot one but Year 5 had a wonderful time visiting The Yorkshire Wildlife Park yesterday! The children took part in an endangered animals workshop learning how and why animals are becoming endangered and what we can do to help. Our highlights were definitely spending time with the wallabies and polar bears.
During crew week, our guiding question was – How can crew be strengthened by acts of service to others? After holding crew sessions, Yr5 decided to litter pick whilst on our walk to Brockadale, visit The Laurels residential home to take gifts and spend time with residents as well as hold a bake sale to raise money for charity.
We are we’re blown away with the amount of donations received across Norton Campus and are excited to share that we raised a whopping £142.70. As a crew, we will decide where this money goes.
Crew Oliver had a lovely crew session yesterday morning for National Read a Book Day where we each shared our favourite book and then we enjoyed The Tunnel by Anthony Browne – one of Miss Oliver’s favourite books.
Today is National Read-A-Book Day and to celebrate Crew Gould and Crew Blunt read their favourite books with their classmates. Hopefully this love of books will continue!