Empathy Week – Peer and Online Abuse and Period Equality

This week is Empathy Week 2022 and we are promoting the importance of empathy during assemblies scheduled for every year group. Empathy is strongly linked to our school core values which include social responsibility, compassion, dignity, and resilience.

Empathy Week is a global schools programme that uses the power of film to develop the skills of empathy and leadership in students across 40+ countries and 6 continents. So far over 100,000 students have been engaged in the previous two years, even through the pandemic. This year the theme is for Empathy Week is ‘Passion and Purpose’ and beyond the assemblies, there is an opportunity for your daughter to become involved in an ‘Empathy Action Project’ and work alongside the Respect Council.

As a school, we are aware that peer and online abuse is an increasing issue and we want to form a focus group of students we can work with to ensure that all students are informed, know how to stay safe and where they can access help and support if they need it.

Additionally, we have also been provided by the Department for Education with a supply of free period products to enable all learners to participate fully in education by making period products available as and when they are needed. Research shows that 1 in 14 girls say they have missed schools as they could not afford or access period products. We have found that some girls are hesitant to access these free period products and we want to ascertain their views so they can access period products freely when needed.

We are aiming to get a sound representation of student voice and action from across the school and make a real positive difference.

Mrs Hall Deputy Headteacher

Musical Buddy Groups

Mrs Cattanach’s Buddy Groups worked incredibly hard in the session before Christmas to create a Christmas Podcast to send to local Care Homes and St. Catherine’s Hospice. The students sang and performed together traditional carols such as Silent Night and more upbeat numbers such as ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’. The girls were delighted to hear that the podcast had been well received and helped brighten the days of others during the festive period. Mrs Cattanach received a number of messages. Here is one of them: “Thank you very much for taking the time to produce and send this video – it certainly put a smile on quite a few faces. Please pass on our sincere thanks to all the performers. What a talented bunch you have at the school.” Well done, everyone!

Mrs Cattanach, Assistant Associate Headteacher
Head of Music & KS2/3 Transition Manager

Singing to support Mental Health Week

This week, in support of Children’s Mental Health Week, PGHS Voices have begun working on a performance of ‘You Will Be Found’ from Dear Evan Hanson. Mrs Little chose this song as it encapsulates the message of hope and friendship really well. Please come along on a Tuesday if you would like to get involved.

Mrs A Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher & Curriculum Leader for Music

Year 8 Gaming Music

Students in Year 8 have been working on our newest piece of software, ‘Mixcraft’ to compose their own music for a computer game. Students have been learning about leitmotifs and how these can be created to represent a character. Once students have composed their leitmotif, they then record this onto Mixcraft and layer up their ideas using this software. Mrs Little and I have been really impressed with the work the students have created; they should all be able to let you listen to their work too as it has been uploaded onto Class Charts!

Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher & Curriculum Leader for Music

Health and Social Care

Year 11 Health and Social Care classes have been focusing on their revision this half term and they are getting prepared to take their final exam on Wednesday 9th February. A variety of revision sessions are planned for each group to attend, including Tuesday after school, Wednesday early morning and Saturday sessions to prepare all students for the early exam. We wish you luck, girls!

Miss Shahi
Performance, Sport and Health Faculty

Posted in PE

Year 11 GCSE PE

Year 11 GCSE PE are working hard to reach their potential target in their final practical assessment whilst completing their coursework. Thursday lunch times, Wednesday and Friday after school sessions enhanced their powerful knowledge and gave them an opportunity to practise more and prepare video assessments for their final mark in their practical sport. Good luck, girls!

Miss Tompson
Performance, Sport and Health Faculty

Posted in PE

Dance

KS3 Dance
We are now on our third rotation of dancers in KS3 dance lessons. Year 7 are working on Bollywood dance, Year 8, the Charleston and Year 9, Contemporary Dance. We have been really impressed with the effort and enthusiasm in dance lessons so far this year. Keep up the good work, girls! A reminder that KS3 Dance Club is on every Monday lunchtime and everyone is welcome.

GCSE Dance
Our Year 11 Dancers have been working so hard this term choreographing, practicing and perfecting their final choreographies for their practical assessment this week. Many of the Year 10 GCSE dancers are performing in the dances with the Year 11s and have been working extremely hard attending many extra intervention sessions.
Well done, girls! We are looking forward to seeing the end result later this week.

Mrs Tompson
Performance, Sport and Health Faculty

Posted in PE

Extra-Curricular Activities

We are very pleased to announce that the Extra-Curricular activities, including clubs and fixtures are going to start again week commencing Monday 21st February. Please can your daughter check the club timetables and keep monitoring the PE board in the changing room. Netball fixtures are also going to take place soon. We have added Cricket club to our weekly PE clubs. This will take place on Tuesday lunch-time for all years. It will be an opportunity to play competitively, whilst developing knowledge of the game of cricket.


Posted in PE

The Sound of Music

Students are now busy working towards our production of The Sound of Music which is taking place on the 13th and 14th July 2022. Most of the main characters have now been cast, but as we work towards the show, we will be looking for students who have committed themselves to rehearsals on a Tuesday evening and Thursday lunchtime to take some of the final roles on. It is not too late yet though if you are interested in taking part but don’t want a major role, just pop along to Drama Club after school on a Tuesday and to Choir on a Thursday lunchtime to get involved. Alternatively, you can speak to Mrs Woodhouse, Miss Starkie, Mr Oliver, Mrs Little or Mrs Cattanach. Everyone who wants to take part is more than welcome, as long as they are committed to rehearsals.

Mrs Cattanach,
Associate Assistant Headteacher

Curriculum Leader for Music

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award