The highlight of this week was World Book Day. On Thursday many students and staff dressed up as their favourite books characters, there were competitions organised by the English Department, book reviews in tutor time, literacy themed lessons and a ‘Book Swap’ at break and lunch. Thank you to Mrs Loveridge, Mrs Kirby and the English Team for arranging such a great day.
It was good to see so many Year 8 Parents/ Carers at Parents’ Evening on Thursday. These evenings are always important so that Parents/ Carers can find out more about how they can support their children at home. If you attended the evening and did not get a chance to complete the evaluation, we would welcome your feedback: https://forms.office.com/e/zicHjFdq13
On Friday Mr Clark-Lyons (Associate Assistant Headteacher) sent a survey for Parents/ Carers to come about the end of year Reward Trips; please do complete this if you can so that we can plan the trips. A reminder that all the information about our Rewards System can be found on our website: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/rewards-recognition/ Well done to the Year 10 students who were nominated for Hot Chocolate with the Headteacher this week and everyone who came to Proud Friday. We always like to end the week with a celebration.
Year 11 have worked very hard on their Mock Exams over the last two weeks. Some students will still be in exams this week for ‘Catch Ups’ if they were absent last week and we have the PE Practical on Wednesday. Keep up the good work, Year 11.
Afterschool intervention returns on Tuesday and Thursday this week for Year 11.
Next week is WEEK 2
Question of the Week
Please select your answer in the form below, all fields marked * are required and to help prevent SPAM this form is protected by Google reCaptcha v3.
Each week we will ask parents/ carers a question in the Weekly Message – this will either be about a topic we are focussing on or an aspect of our school improvement plan. We would appreciate it if everyone answers it when reading the Weekly Message.
Events w/b 10 March
Year 11 Catch Up Exams Week
British Science Week
Year 7&8 NGRT Tests
Wednesday 12 March
Year 9 & 10 Rotary Technology Competition
Year 11 Physical Education Practical day
Parent Coffee Morning
Thursday 13 March
Year 9 & 10 Drama Filming
Friday 7 March
INSED Day – The school is closed to students
Future Dates
W/b 17 March – Year 10 Review Assessments
Tuesday 18 March – Year 7 Achieving Excellence Evening
Friday 21 March – Red Nose Day
You can find all letters sent home over the week here – https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/letters-to-parents/
The canteen menus can be found here: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/food-and-drink/
Please check your child’s Attendance regularly on Class Charts
Theme of the Week
Assembly: Pi Day and Practical Maths
Next week, our school assembly will be celebrating Pi Day (14 March), a fantastic opportunity to explore the wonders of mathematics and its relevance to our daily lives. While the symbol π (pi) might seem abstract, representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, it unlocks a world of practical applications.
Beyond the classroom, maths is the bedrock of countless everyday activities. From calculating the best deals at the supermarket to understanding the algorithms that power our smartphones, mathematical thinking is essential. Maths is used by architects who use geometry to design buildings, engineers who rely on calculus to build bridges and even musicians who use mathematical ratios to create harmonies.
Our assembly will emphasise that maths isn’t just about memorising formulas; it’s about developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning. These skills are transferable and valuable in any career path, whether your child aspires to be a scientist, an artist, or a business leader.
We encourage you to engage in conversations with your children about how they encounter maths outside of school. Perhaps you could bake a pizza together, discussing the circumference and area, or discuss the probabilities involved in their favourite sports. By connecting mathematical concepts to real-world scenarios, we can help students appreciate its importance and cultivate a lifelong love for learning. We hope to see you and your child engage with the Pi Day celebrations.
Tutor personal development programme: Prioritising Sleep for Success
This week, our tutor time personal development programme is focused on the crucial role of sleep in student wellbeing and academic performance. For teenagers, getting enough sleep is not a luxury, but a necessity.
During adolescence, the body undergoes significant developmental changes, and sleep is essential for supporting these processes. Ideally, 11-16 year-olds should aim for 8-10 hours of quality sleep each night. This allows for optimal cognitive function, improved concentration, and better emotional regulation, all vital for navigating the challenges of secondary school.
However, many students struggle to achieve this. Factors such as increased academic pressure, social media use, and irregular schedules can disrupt sleep patterns. The blue light emitted from screens can suppress melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. Additionally, caffeine and sugary drinks, often consumed in the evening, can interfere with sleep quality.
Parents can play a crucial role in supporting their child’s sleep hygiene. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine, including limiting screen time before bed, can make a significant difference. Creating a calm and comfortable sleep environment, free from distractions, is also important. Encourage healthy eating habits and regular exercise, as these contribute to better sleep.
Open communication about sleep-related concerns is essential. If your child is consistently struggling to sleep, consider seeking advice from a GP. By prioritising sleep, we can help our students thrive both academically and personally.
This Week at the Dinner Table…
Encourage your son/ daughter to ensure they get some quality sleep each night. Discuss the following:
- How are you feeling energy-wise? Are you getting enough sleep, or do you find yourself feeling tired during the day?
- What do you think helps you get a good night’s sleep? And what things do you think might be making it harder for you to sleep well?
- We talked about how important sleep is for learning and mood. Have you noticed any connection between how much sleep you get and how you feel in school?
- Let’s talk about your evening routine. What do you do in the hour or two before you go to bed? Is there anything we could change to help you wind down?
- If you could design the perfect bedtime routine, what would it look like? What would you do, and what kind of environment would you create?
House Update
Every fortnight in tutor time, students go through the House Bulletin, however, we thought Parents/ Carers might like to know about some of the events coming up:
- House Table Tennis Event:
We are running our annual House Table Tennis event during tutor time. On the day of the event, students will register with their tutor, before coming to the exam line up area.
Year 7 – Tuesday 11 March
Year 8 – Wednesday 12 March
Year 9 – Thursday 13 March
Year 10 – Thursday 13 March (Lunch-Time)
- Year 8 Swimming Gala:
On Wednesday 19 March we will be hosting our first Year 8 swimming gala. This will run from 1.55pm – 3.30pm. Students will be able to sign up in tutor time to the different events. All students are welcome to take part and win points for their House.
British Science Week 2025
It is British Science Week from 7-16 March 2025, with the theme ‘Change and Adapt’! We are celebrating this with our Years 7-10 this week.
‘Change and Adaptation’ are fundamental in science and this is evident in various STEM fields. As the global population grows, cities and communities evolve. Plants and animals adapt to survive in their environments, while technology has rapidly transformed our lives — for instance, consider how communication has shifted from rotary phones to smartphones. Therefore, as we enter the fourth decade of British Science Week, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on these changes in our Science lessons this week, while also exploring STEM careers and participating in a National competition.
Year 7 will be looking at adaptation in the animal kingdom, Year 8 and 9 will looking at the potential of Space Mining in a STEM design project and Year 10 will be focussing on both our future in Space travel as well as disaster relief on Earth. There will be some activities for KS3 students to join in on at lunch times as well.
We also encourage celebrating Science beyond the classroom. Here are some science activity ideas that secondary school students can do at home, ranging from simple experiments to more longer projects:
- Volcanoes help shape our world. You can make a DIY Volcano Eruption using baking soda, vinegar, and food colouring. This demonstrates an acid-base reaction.
- Plants are always changing. You can conduct a plant growth experiment, by growing seeds (e.g. cress, herbs or beans) under different conditions (e.g. with different amounts of sunlight, water, or soil).
- With the changing planet DIY Water Filtration Systems are a useful skill to make. You can build a basic water filtration system using materials like sand, gravel, charcoal, and cotton. Test the system by filtering dirty water.
- Watch a Gummy Bear grow with Osmosis! Place gummy bears in different solutions (e.g. water, saltwater, sugar water) and observe how their size changes over time (leave overnight) due to osmosis.
Activities like these not only encourage learning but also foster creativity and critical thinking in students. Many of them can be adapted depending on available materials too.
PSHCRE
On Tuesday 4 March Year 9 completed a PSHCRE day focussed on the theme of ‘Healthy Relationships’. Students were able to reflect on the learning they have completed in lessons and discussed themes to prepare them for life beyond The Hamble School. The students were exceptional on the day and we had very positive feedback from the many external speakers who came in to work with students.
A particular favourite with the students was CPR training delivered by the Southern Ambulance Service. The students also completed sessions on consent, sexual health, peer relationships and keeping safe in the modern world. This work will be a strong foundation for future work in PSHCRE in Year 10.
Thank you to Year 9 for their engagement and hard work.
Self-Harm
Understanding Self-Harm
Self-harm is when someone intentionally hurts themselves to cope with overwhelming feelings. This can happen when someone feels numb or is struggling with intense emotions, and hurting themselves can seem like the only way to manage.
If you are worried your child might be self-harming, it’s important to know you are not alone. It is important to seek professional help and support.
Signs to Watch For:
- Unexplained cuts, burns, or bruises
- Wearing long sleeves or pants, even in hot weather
- Withdrawing from family and friends, or expressing feelings of failure or hopelessness
- Outbursts of anger or irritability.
If you notice any of these signs, it is important to approach the situation with care and seek support for both you and your child. The link below provides helpful resources:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/self-harm/
Class Charts
We would like to highlight the many benefits of using ClassCharts to stay connected with your child’s education. Our weekly audit shows that ClassCharts is an excellent tool for tracking your child’s academic progress, behaviour, and attendance in real-time. By actively using ClassCharts, you can gain valuable insights and stay informed about their learning journey.
Additionally, ClassCharts provides all the information of on your child’s homework tasks so that you can track and monitor the work they are doing at home.
If you need any assistance or have any questions about using ClassCharts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mrs Griffiths using classcharts@thehambleschool.co.uk
Preferences
Year 8: Last week we launched the Year 8 Preferences web page (https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/preferences-2025/year-8-into-9-preferences/). This allows Year 8 students and Parents/ Carers the opportunity to look at the range of subjects available to them in Year 9. We are proud to offer a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum that enables students to achieve the very best outcomes. Preferences forms will be emailed to students’ school email addresses and Parent/ Carer contacts on 14 March.
Year 9: A reminder that the Preferences form is now open. This week students have received additional support in assembly and tutor time to help inform their choices. We encourage parents / carers to look at the information on the Preferences web page (https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/preferences-2025/year-9-into-10-preferences/) with students before submitting the form.
The deadline for Year 9 Preference Forms is Monday 17 March.
Support
If you or your child would like support with wellbeing, please check out the links of our website: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/student-wellbeing-support/
Rewards
The students listed below achieved the most reward points this week – Well done to you!
Year 7 – Ava-Rose W 7-3
Year 8 – Harriet S 8-1
Year 9 – David B 9-5
Year 10 – Scarlett W 10-9
Year 11 – Charley T 11-5
