A year of Personal Development at the Polygon

Personal development has had an action packed year with some exciting trips to look back on. 

We started the academic year with the New year 7s being taken out on a power boat ride up and down the Solent, courtesy of the charity Wetwheels. 

 

Personal development then headed into the woods to explore the beautiful new forest, this involved trekking upstream, jumping river banks, finding bones (not human…atleast we think), nests and even an injured goose!

Exploring the great outdoors! 

Some pupils were also given the opportunity to visit either Longdown dairy farm or Longleat safari park. Both trips enabled the boys to encounter some unusual experiences that really made them face their fears! 

  Hunting for eggs…but mainly getting pecked by Hens!!🐓 

Exotic animal encounters 🐍

Over the winter months personal development headed indoors  to Parthian climbing centre where the boys had to kit up and really put their trust in one another as they supported each other up and down the climbing walls. 

Nothing builds trust like knowing your friends are the only thing holding you up 😬

Personal development finished the year at SWAC and Woodmill, kayaking, sailing, raft building and Padddle boarding…

Personal Development whilst being alot of fun ensures that the pupils push themselves and gain exciting new experiences through challenging but fun activities….and getting wet!

 

    

  Roll on next year…

3HI End of Year Trip to Thorpe Park

 Yesterday 3HI went to Thorpe Park for their end of year trip. The boys were all so brave! (Braver than Miss Long!), and behaved so well. We had a lovely day.

Fun, Fires and Forest school

 Another year of forest school done and we are very grateful to youth options and the area we have at Itchen valley. 

Through the forest school provision we are able to give the pupils the opportunity to learn fire skills from preparing the fire and chopping the wood, to cooking up a storm of varied dishes each week. 

It’s all in the prep…

From hotdogs to pancakes, and stir fry to s’mores, they have cooked a huge variety of dishes on the open fire…and they’ve all been a hit! 

Cooking up a storm! 

Group games such as 99 in and capture the flag are always  firm favourites at forest school….but this year we introduced Laser tag, that was a game changer! 

Sometimes the staff HAVE to join in, just to make up the numbers…😬

A very stealthy red team! 🙄

And sometimes the boys like to finish the sessions doing what they do best….being big kids, in the park! 

And yes, Miss Ifould had to join in to make up the numbers again…😬🙄

 

Whole school extended writing

 

Extended Writing

This term pupils have been heard at work creating extended pieces of writing in all subjects!

In Mathematics they have been writing about  how to work out times tables and addition. 

In Art they have been looking at the shapes and what the Earth looks like. 

For PE they have been looking at diet and writing about what changes someone has made how they have effected the person. 

Within cross-curricular around school Science and PSHE pupils writing about their trip to Life-Lab and Mathematics pupils writing about their recent Outdoor Learning trip to SWAC. 

PSHE pupils have also been showing their cross-curricular learning by writing about the importance of physical exercise. 

In Technology they have been exploring different products and designing their own, writing about what products they have taken inspiration from for their deigns. 

For RE they have been looking at creation and writing their own theories and ideas down, as well as retelling the Christian creation story, 

Finally for English KS4 pupils have been writing newspaper articles and letters, whilst KS3have been looking at writing tension and world wars, writing short spooky stories and poems. 

All Pupils have worked very hard on their extended writing pieces and should be very proud of themselves! 

Assembly

 Assembly

At The Polygon we have an assembly on Fridays. This is done in tutor groups with class tutors. The whole school looks at a PowerPoint on a global/international theme each week, integrating as a whole school theme for our International Award.  To also link to our Careers programme we look at a "job of the week" to extend our pupils knowledge of the workplace.. Halfway through the assembly Miss Kinder or Mr. Penfold will do the draw and call pupils who want to, into the hall to join him when picking winners from the tombola/attendance data.

Pupils have a chance to win prizes, including a £5.00 and a £10.00 cash prize!

Below are some photos of last weeks assembly. You can see pupils collecting the trophies for their classes and receiving their money. Aiden was asked to pick a ball from the tombola for the £10.00 prize and he very luckily picked his own name out! He had 100% attendance that week so was able to keep the rewards.

Fun in the Park

 On our walk back from the swimming gala yesterday, we stopped to play in the park. Here are a few of our pictures :)

There will be a blog about the gala to shortly.

KS3/PSHE Trip Day

 

Recently the PSHE department paid for the whole of KS3 to go to the cinema to see the new Inside Out 2 Movie. All the boys had a fantastic day. After the cinema we walked into town to go to the park for lunch and then we walked back to school, taking in the sights and landmarks that Southampton has to offer. We visited the Jubilee fountain, ponds and monuments and really enjoyed being out in nature.

Reading outside the classroom

Today we thought we would take our reading lesson outside and enjoy the sunshine! 

KS3 Puberty

Every year The Polygon School provides every pupil in year 7 with a selection of toiletries that can support changes during puberty. We discuss puberty in PSHE and the importance of hygiene. This year we wanted to provide the pupils with a bag too so got creative with our art skills and designed personalised tote bags. 

This project was such a success that Mrs Newman will be helping all pupils to print a Swimming Bag in DT lessons next year! We cant wait to see what they create. 

Well done year 7!

Diversity Day 2024!

It was amazing to see the whole staff team and pupils out in the sunshine smiling, dancing, playing drums, singing and walking around the playground united after break today. We are so proud of our school community everyday but today was special! 

A massive well done to Alex for addressing the whole school while reading a speech detailing what Diversity Day means to The Polygon. Thank you to Mr T for bringing in your drums and leading the singing. 

Today is about celebrating the amazing diversity in our school community and celebrating all the wonderful complexities of people that make us individuals. The rainbow flag may represent the LGBTQ+ community but pride is so much more. Pride celebrates all types of diversity. All races, religions, disabilities, genders, identities and socio-economic backgrounds. 

Pride is a celebration of love 

Pride is a celebration of acceptance 

Pride is a celebration of kindness

All people have the right to be treated equally and be respected no matter what background they come from and that is what Pride is a celebration of.

Our staff team are so proud of our pupils!

Enjoy the sunshine!