Halloween Baking KS3 & KS4

 Last week the whole school enjoyed making Halloween biscuits. We do this every year and it’s something that the boys really look forward to. For KS3 we make the dough in advance so that the boys can just cut the shapes they want, bake, and decorate. KS4 made their dough in their first lesson of the week and they baked and decorated in the second lesson.

Below are some of their lovely designs. Happy Halloween Everyone and enjoy the half term!

It's Pumpkin time for 3DRB

  3DRB Pumpkin competition entry

For this years Pumpkin competition 3DRB did things a little differently. Due to having 9 pupils in the tutor group, it was decided that they would all have a section that they could paint. The pupils painted their sections, one at a time during tutor time, over the course of 2 weeks and were all very proud of their parts. Whilst we didn't win they should be proud of what they achieved. 

KS4 ICT

 

Do you have any "iDEA" what KS4 ICT looks like at The Polygon?

With a new year, brings a new cohort of Key Stage 4 pupils. This means that The Polygon can continue its long partnership with iDEA.

I have no "iDEA" what that is!

The Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award, known as iDEA is an international award winning programme that helps you develop digital, enterprise and employability skills.

Through our series of online challenges, you can win career-enhancing badges, unlock new opportunities and, ultimately, gain industry-recognised Awards that help you stand out from the crowd.

Will anyone have any "iDEA" what work I have done?

Of course they will. You can badges in five different areas.

Within each category you complete projects or "badges" which will appear on your record of achievement

Well done Oscar

The pupils will have the chance to work through badges at the BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD levels. Gaining a certificate and a CV boosting award at each stage.

Pumpkin competiton!

Well done to all the tutors groups who took part in the pumpkin competition this year! 

It was great to see everyone get so involved and creative.

Congratulations to 3NT who were this year’s winners! 

Key Stage 4 Trip To No Limits-Southampton

Recently, 4PR, 4NA and 4CM were all invited on a trip to the Southampton No Limits hub based at 13 The High Street.

This trip was the culmination of lots of link up work between the youth organisation and Polygon PSHE lessons with Mrs Foster and was the right time to introduce our young men to the facilities they have on site.

No Limits is an independet charity organisation that offer information, advice, support and counselling for Young People across a huge spectrum of issues they may be facing; from sexual health, relationships, mental health. housing, debt and employment.

On the trip, the boys spoke to the staff at the hub and had a chance to look around the facilities to familiarise themselves in case they ever need to access the services in the future. The hardest part is often walking though the door for thr first time.

We very much look forward to continuing our working relationship with No Limits in 2024-2025. 

Black History Month

Our whole school community has come together to celebrate Black History Month. 

KS3 have focussed on the work of Benjamin Zephaniah and learnt about his poetry as well as challenges he faced at school and coping with dyslexia. We found his Turkey poem entertaining and will be thinking of the Turkey's this Christmas. 

Pupils have been independently picking texts from our Black History collection within the library and PSHE library in class to learn about inspirational people. 

Mr T is performing at The Mayflower and Southampton Guildhall as part of Black History Month celebrations in Southampton but we were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of his talk today. It was interesting to hear about his life and stereotypes he faces as a Black Muslim with dread locks. Thank you for sharing Mr T the boys were very respectful and you could hear a pin drop. Thank you. 

PSHE KS4

KS4 pupils have be working with Yellow Door on a project about Violence Against Women and Girls. As part of this project we have been exploring the concept of masculinity and the impact of social media. Below are reflections from each class. 

I am so proud of the honesty and compassion the pupils have conveyed for each other so far during this project and look forward to continuing the work with Wayne from Yellow Door after half term. 

 

PSHE KS3

KS3 have been working hard on transition, safety, resilience, identity, using positive vocabulary and understanding empathy. Check out Year 8's creative collages, Year 7's resilience challenge and Year 9 work on empathy and positive language choices.   

Well done KS3!

 

Reading

We are very passionate about Reading at The Polygon and understand the massive potential for helping our pupils to know more, remember more and be able to do more as a result of what we are teaching them if their learning is underpinned by high quality texts and practical immersive lessons. We work hard to up skill pupils vocabulary and teach them to become curious and creative with language. It has been fantastic to see pupils reading for pleasure in the library, taking part in reading interventions with our specialist reading teacher and Josh from the Saints Foundation and seeing boys wanting to read aloud to senior staff to demonstrate their progress. 

 

It’s getting SPOOKY in 3HI

 3HI have been enjoying their tutor and well-being sessions carving their pumpkins ahead of the pumpkin competition…

The boys got into pairs and each had a pumpkin to carve their own designs onto. 

Will 3HI produce a winner in the school competition though…Billy’s confident!