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Enrichment & Extra Curricular

Dance Enrichment by Millie and Hajira (Year 8)

On 31st January, we interviewed some aspiring dancers at Dance ​Club to see their thoughts on the enrichment. During the ​enrichment, students are given the chance to express themselves ​through dance routines and to add their own creative flair to pre-​made dances.

We interviewed the students there and this is what they said. ​Firstly, we asked them what their favourite part of the enrichment ​was. After asking a handful of people we concluded that it is an ​incredibly fun and energetic enrichment and a fantastic way to ​end the day. Next, we asked if they were experienced dancers. We ​got a range of replies with some people never having danced ​before and others who have a passion for dancing and do it ​regularly.

When asked if they would recommend it to a friend, ​everyone said they would. Overall, this showed us that ​this is a great enrichment, regardless of your ​experience.

When we visited, the students there were given a pre-​made routine and were adding to it. There was a ​brilliant atmosphere and was a great working ​environment. By just walking around, you could see ​people's different dance styles and ideas. It was a ​pleasure to interview the students and get to see the ​making of their soon-to-be masterpieces. We ​recommend it to all students as you need no ​experience, and it is a fabulous way to release energy ​and have fun!

Global Sounds by Mahi, Reeham, Salmah & Salma (Year 10)

We interviewed Mr. Williams and three of his students at his ​enrichment, global sounds. We got varying feedback, and we ​learnt students research music from different countries and would ​create their own cassette tapes of a playlist with songs from their ​country of their choice.

Those who enjoy the enrichment said it was very inclusive and ​expanded their knowledge about various global cultures. They also ​claimed it was very relaxing, providing peace to their mind. They ​said they would recommend this enrichment because of this.

Mr. Williams, the enrichment leader, said that he ​enjoyed many aspects of his enrichment, ​especially listening to music and widening his ​musical taste with his students. He did state that ​he would like more resources for making ​students cassettes.

Chemistry Club by Maylia, Bea and Emelle (Year 7)

On Wednesday the 13th of March, we interviewed members of the ​Chemistry Club Enrichment. Chemistry Club, which is for Year 7s ​only, is normally run by Ms. Brittain but has recently been taken ​over by Ms. Wright.

Maylia, one member of our group, interviewed Mathilde. This is ​what she said: “At the moment, we are creating new things every ​lesson! Generally, we create fun and explosive things and also do ​experiments!”. She continued that her favorite part is the ​experiments, because they’re fun and an exciting way to learn ​about chemicals. She explained that she would rate the ​enrichment as 10/10, and definitely would recommend it to a friend ​as it is very fun!

Emelle, another member of the team, interviewed a student named Ama. When asked about her ​enrichment, she explained that it involves “doing experiments and learning about chemicals and ​science at the same time”. So far, she said, they have learnt how to hold fire safely, make slime and ​make bath bombs. She would also rate it a 10/10 and would “one hundred percent recommend it to a ​friend because it's very fun and educational, and there’s a very nice teacher doing it”.

Lastly, Bea interviewed Jess. When we asked her why she chose this enrichment, she explained that ​she picked it because it seemed like it would be a good learning opportunity, and that she felt that the ​experiments would be fun. We then asked her: “What do you do in an average lesson?”. To this, she ​replied that they tend to do experiments with fire and explosions. She also gave the enrichment a 10/10 ​and would recommend it to a friend. We asked her to explain why, and she said that “it is very fun, and ​that the teacher is really nice. We always learn new things!”.

Photography Enrichment by Lida, Iqra & Ibtisam (Year 8)

On the 31st January, we first went to Ms. MacDonald’s Photography ​Enrichment. Upon arrival, students were first asked to analyse ​patterns across the school. This included patterns on trees, ​buildings, leaves and walls.

Ms. Macdonald explained that each week would focus on a ​different element of photography, with the first looking at patterns. ​We interviewed Ms. Macdonald, the biology teacher, who explained ​that photography was something that she liked to do in her free ​time. As such, she hoped that other students would try it out, ​possibly making it a part of their life.

After this, we moved onto interviewing other students. We interviewed one ​student in Year 8, who was analysing patterns on the walls and benches with ​their friends. They said: “I haven’t tried anything like photography before, and I ​thought that it would be interesting to try it out!”.

We then approached another group of students, and asked one of them if they ​were enjoying this enrichment. To this, they replied: “Yes, it’s really interesting ​and everyone is really friendly”.

Overall, this enrichment was both fascinating and fun. Everyone was friendly and ​open, making it a wonderful environment to be in. As such, we would definitely ​recommend it to others that are interested in photography!

Inside Student Parliament: A creative enrichment which brings ideas ​to the table to make a change in our education journey at MHS - By ​Jada (Year 8)

I went along to our school library, where the Student Parliament Enrichment meets. This is ​when prefects from each year group, who are invited to join this enrichment, have their ​Weekly Wednesday meetings with MHS’ vice principal: Mrs Young. I interviewed a Year 8 ​student, with whom I was already familiar, named Temi. One of the questions I asked her was ​about which topics Student Parliament discussed. She responded as follows: “The main ​topics we discuss are uniform, the curriculum and behaviours inside and outside of school.” I ​was impressed by her explanation!

I then asked Temi if she liked her enrichment. She ​explained that, yes, she does enjoy the enrichment. ​I asked her to explain, in detail, why she likes this ​exclusive enrichment. She was happy to provide ​me with her answer and responded; “I like this ​enrichment because we get to discuss our ​opinions without any judgement, and we have ​more power in the school”.

Last year, I was a prefect and was invited to be ​part of Student Parliament. I happily accepted the ​offer and took part in the enrichment for a while. I ​personally liked this enrichment because the ​atmosphere wasn't intimidating, chaotic or ​judgmental. This was especially important as I was ​asked to work with members of older year groups ​and felt at ease doing so.

Consequently, I think that this is an amazing ​enrichment choice if you are considering becoming ​a prefect! I would definitely recommend it to new ​students coming into the prefect team.

V6 News

Congratulations to the new Head Student Team

The Head Student Team is integral to the daily life of school. They have more responsibility and authority ​within the school and they work directly with the Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form.

Following their successful applications and endorsement by staff, we are proud to announce the new team of ​Head Students for the forthcoming year.

Miss Blything, Head of Year 13 said “We are fortunate to have such an amazing Head Student team and we ​can’t wait for them to get started on their work around school.”

Ben Appointed Ambassador for the Children’s Comissioner

V6 student Ben Barker has been selected ​for a national role as an Ambassador for ​the Children’s Commissioner. Ben is one ​of 16 young people chosen to support The ​Big Ambition initiative, launched by the ​Children’s Commissioner Rachel de ​Souza to ensure that, in the run-up to the ​general election, politicians and policy ​makers hear about the issues that are ​important to children and teenagers.

Rachel de Souza said Ben and his fellow Ambassadors were really ​amazing young people: “My Ambassadors have been chosen for their ​personal experiences and for their passion to try to change issues that ​really affect children and young people,” she said.

Read the story in full here.

Alistair and Rayan Attend Pathways Real Estate Day

Year 12 students Alistair and Rayan were part of a group of 13 young ​people that attended the Pathways day at Savills Bristol office. After ​a morning consisting of ice building tasks and talks the students ​went to Clifton Down Shopping Centre where the Manager gave a ​fascinating tour about and information on how the centre is ​managed and the plans for its re-development. Students then ​returned to the office to work on a small project connected to their ​visit with the help of Pathways student ambassadors and industry ​helpers from Savills. These project talks were then presented in front ​of a panel of six who asked them some tough questions on their talk.

Helen Griggs, Pathways Programme Delivery Officer said “I would ​have to say that the standard of presentation from everyone was ​exemplary and some of the best I have seen on an Insight Day.

“Seeing as these students had met each other only hours earlier ​and then seeing them work together to deliver their ideas with such ​confidence in just an hour and a half they won the respect of ​everyone in the room. It was great to see the confidence of students ​grow over the course of the day and to see them use the ​information from their site visit in their presentations.”.

Alistair said “‘I really enjoyed having the responsibility of putting a ​pitch together in a practical area where we can see and also ​meeting students and senior professionals in the sector.”

Pathways will continue to work with our ​students and will support with work experience, ​e-mentoring and applications for bursaries. ​Participation in the project also guarantees a ​conditional contextual offer (2 grades lower) ​should they wish to apply for Real Estate at ​Reading.

Should any other sixth form students be ​interested in a real estate career there is an ​opportunity to apply to Henley Business School ​for their 4 day residential course 2-5 July. More ​information by clicking here.

Year 12 HE+ Cambridge Residential

HE+ is a collaborative programme between the University of ​Cambridge and its Colleges, working together with groups of ​state schools and colleges in 19 regions of the UK. The ​University of Cambridge is committed to widening ​participation to higher education and HE+ is one of their core ​programmes working to deliver this.

Year 12 students this term joined other Bristol sixth form ​students to attend the Cambridge residential to get a real ​flavour for life at Cambridge, attend some taster lectures and ​talks and allow students to experience what being a student at ​Cambridge is really like.

Schools of Sanctuary

Schools of Sanctuary supports the thousands of children and young people seeking sanctuary in the ​UK, raises awareness of the experiences of people seeking safety, and plays a key role in building a ​culture of kindness and compassion.

The MHS & V6 community are taking steps to play our part to build a welcoming and inclusive ​society. We have signed this pledge and are working hard to become a recognised School of ​Sanctuary.

We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and ​proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary ​values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us ​to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, ​included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to ​support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them ​and their local City of Sanctuary group.

Voices of Venturers Trust

Congratulations to all the ​students and families from ​Venturers Trust schools who ​participated in the Voices of VT ​event, showcasing their diverse ​home languages and cultural ​attire. It was heart warming to ​witness the variety of languages ​and backgrounds represented ​at our schools. Special thanks to ​Mrs. White and Mrs. Isaac for ​organising this significant event ​for our Trust community.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

We know how beneficial the DofE scheme is to our students and communities- it ​is recognised by employers, universities and colleges as a mark of achievement ​and personal development. It is also a lot of fun, as participants can choose ​activities that suit their interests and passions, make new friends, have fun and ​build confidence.

There is a training walk for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze & Silver on Saturday 15 June ​2024. We are setting off from Churchill at 9.00 am and plan to be finished by 4.00 ​pm latest. The meeting point is Churchill Memorial Hall, Ladymead Lane, Churchill, ​BS25 5NH. What 3 Words ///meatballs.coaching.fail

If you have any questions about the DofE scheme at our school, please contact ​Mrs Donovan, our DofE Coordinator (ceri.donovan@montpschool.org)

Sports News

MHS KS4 students were fortunate to have the opportunity to ​take part in sessions provided by Bristol Bears Community ​Foundation in their curriculum PE.

Project Rugby is a Premiership Rugby community ​programme which aims to increase participation in rugby ​by traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women ​and girls.

Rich Hynes from Bristol Bears delivered high quality sessions ​which the girls thoroughly enjoyed, learning about the sport ​of rugby but also about teamwork through sport. All of the ​sessions really engaged the girls. A big thank you to Rich ​and Bristol Bears.

MHS had the opportunity to ​take part in a football ​session and tournament ​run by Bristol Rovers ​Community Trust for ​International Women's day. ​Many thanks to St Bedes for ​hosting the tournament.

A huge well done to the Year 7 hockey players ​who competed in the indoor hockey ​tournament at Bristol Free School this week. ​They drew with Redland Green School, and lost ​to Bristol Free School. They showed excellent ​determination and resilience.

Please click here for MHS ​​sporting fixtures and ​results ​table.

Attendance

We encourage all students to make the effort to attend school every ​day. Our goal is to foster an environment where every student strives ​to maintain an attendance rate of at least 96%, celebrating their ​commitment to learning. Please note, in line with our Attendance ​Policy we are not able to authorise absence for family holidays during ​term time.

Our attendance strategy is designed to:

• Encourage, acknowledge, and reward excellent attendance and timeliness
• Minimise absences as much as possible
• Make sure that every student receives the full-time education they are entitled to
• Promptly identify and address absence patterns
• Assist students in transitioning back to school after an absence, offering support to ​boost confidence and bridge learning gaps
• Foster strong relationships with families to ensure students have the necessary ​support to attend school, keeping parents and carers informed about their child’s ​attendance and absence records
• Offer guidance and advice to all stakeholders (parents, carers, students and staff).

Consistent school attendance has a positive impact on motivation and achievement. Thank you for ​your continued support and communication with your child's attendance.

Careers News

We firmly believe that high-quality careers education and guidance is crucial to ​young people's futures, and this is a priority at MHS & V6 Sixth Form. Our goal is to ​help our learners prepare for the workplace by providing them with a comprehensive ​understanding of the professional world, including the various paths to jobs and ​careers that they may find both fulfilling and rewarding.

BT GROUP WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EASTER BREAK FOR V6 STUDENTS - ​A MESSAGE FROM BT GROUP

Is your young person looking for some Easter Work Experience in Bristol? We’ve got them covered. ​BT Group are back in Bristol with another incredible work experience opportunity for young people ​with Huge Tech Firm BT Group on Wednesday 10 April, from 5pm - 7:30pm.

BT Group are one of the world’s leading communications services companies, home to TNT ​Sports, Telecommunications, Data, Broadband, Technology, Creative Media, TV and much more! ​Operating in 180 countries worldwide, BT have over £21 billion in revenue, employ just over 100,000 ​people and have an office near you.

This in-person insight event will allow your child to dive into the world of technology at an ​incredibly large technology company, teach them all about the variety of careers within this ​industry, allow them to take part in interactive workshop sessions, and connect with some ​fantastic senior leaders at BT Group. Having such a well-recognised technology firm on their CV ​will be an impressive name to have when applying to future roles, and they will also be awarded a ​personalised BT Group certificate after the event.

This event is anticipated to be incredibly popular, and due to the high volume of applications we ​expect to receive, we will have to close the application link once all places have been awarded. ​We encourage your child to sign up ASAP to ensure that you do not miss out.

Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PVC25GS

If your space is confirmed, you will be notified via email from a member of the Young ​Professionals Team. We look forward to welcoming you soon to BT Group's offices in Bristol.

Post-18 Careers Information Evening

Thank you to all those that attended the Post-18 Careers ​Information Evening.

Please click on the links below/to the side to view the slides ​that accompanied the in-person presentations.

Careers Padlet

House News

Comic Relief

Competition Update

Trips and Visits

Outward Bound

Students from Year 10 joined other Bristol school to journey to the Outward Bound centre in ​Aberdovey for a week-long residential in the remote landscape of Snowdonia.

This is the second year running that Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees has helped to coordinate the ​Outward Bound trip for young people from some of the most disadvantaged parts of the city; and ​for two years running the trip has been offered to students at no cost, with full financial sponsorship ​secured from the Society of Merchant Venturers, alongside a subsidy and grant from the Outward ​Bound Trust and Avon Outward Bound Association.

The students aged between 13 and 15 are from Merchants’ ​Academy, Montpelier High School and Bridge Learning ​Campus, and for many, this was the first time they’ll spend a ​week away from their families and the first time they’ll ​experience a wild country expedition.

Marvin Rees launched the programme for Bristol schools last ​year after he himself took part in an Outward Bound course as ​a teenager, an opportunity that he describes as a key factor in ​helping him strive to reach his full potential by escaping the ​city’s physical and cultural boundaries, climbing hills and ​mountains and experiencing awe.

During the week, which fell during Ramadan, students faced ​a range of challenges including rock climbing, abseiling, ​river walks, hiking, camping, rope balancing and water ​activities. For many of the students who will faced these ​challenges for the first time, the bravery, resilience, ​determination and teamwork required to complete the ​week-long course are attributes that have increase their ​confidence and self-belief long after they return home, as ​they set ambitious goals for the future.

The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity that ​inspires young people to take on adventures, overcome ​challenges and develop confidence and self-belief, ​preparing them to embrace all the opportunities that life ​will offer them.

Events

World Book Day

The start of March saw a number of ​wonderful events to mark World Book Day.

Students were busily decorating their tutor ​room doors as book covers, the whole-school ​dress up saw a number of literary characters ​brought to life and an epic pre-loved book ​sale saw a number of our students going ​home with books kindly donated by our MHS ​families.

Ramadan Mubarak

Thank you to all of the staff, students ​and the families that attended our ​Community Iftar this term. It was a ​beautiful celebration.

All that attended were delighted to ​be a part of the event. We heard ​important words of peace and ​kindness from many of our students, ​parents, staff and community elders.

One year 11 commented “We really ​enjoyed the amazing food and ​listening to the inspiring speakers.”

A big thanks to the staff that helped ​compere, coordinate the evening ​and serve the delicious food.

World Hijab Day

World Hijab Day is an annual event ​celebrated on 1st February to raise ​awareness about the hijab and promote ​religious tolerance and understanding. The ​event was founded in 2013, and has since ​been celebrated in over 140 countries ​around the world.

The day encourages women of all faiths to ​wear the hijab and experience what it feels ​like to be a Muslim woman for a day. It also ​aims to dispel common misconceptions ​about the hijab and promote the idea that ​wearing the hijab is a personal choice and ​a symbol of empowerment for many ​Muslim women.

Led by our student Diversity, ​Equality and Inclusion group, ​and involving many of our wider ​body of students and staff, ​World Hijab Day has provided a ​fantastic opportunity for our ​school community to learn ​about different cultures and ​religions, and to promote ​diversity and inclusivity.

British Science Week

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.

In school our students have been taking part in a number of scientific skills and challenges. The teacher ​badge hunt saw students listing the name and area of expertise of a number of scientists. Science Film ​Club allowed students to watch clips and films related to time and there were interactive experiments for ​students to get involved. Thanks to our team of science teachers for putting the events together.

High School Musical

This term’s production of High School Musical Jr was a huge success with a number of our students ​involved in the action both onstage and behind the scenes. The event was a huge success with lots of ​tickets sold.

Year 11 Food Exam Round 2

Year 11 have been producing some wonderful dishes as part of their Food and Nutrition GCSE Practical ​Exam.

Parent Bulletins

We keep families informed ​about important events at ​school and upcoming ​notices every week.

To access our current and ​previous bulletins, please ​click here.

Friends of Montpelier High School

The Friends of Montpelier High School plays an important role in supporting and ​strengthening our community of students, parents and teachers.

The Friends does this by:

• bringing together parents and teachers to discuss how best they can ​support the education for students of Montpelier High School and V6 Bristol
• organising fundraising activities for the school
• supporting school events such as musical performances and open ​evenings

The impact of our work provides funding for equipment or enrichment opportunities to our students. It also ​allows us to connect with other families, school and Venturers Trust staff and the wider community.

Please follow us and contact us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/CGSPTA/) with your ​ideas and feedback or to say 'hello'. You can contact us by email - mhs-parentsassoc@montpschool.org