Another hugely impressive term is coming to a close, with students across all years demonstrating their Geographical knowledge, skills, dedication to the subject and their amazing resilience during what has been an unprecedented time at Penwortham Girls. We have missed trips and ‘out of classroom activities which often bring our subject to life and inspire our young Geographers.
I would like to start by taking the opportunity to say well done and keep up the hard work to our GCSE Geographers in both Years 10 and Year 11. Both year groups have had a challenging time since September to say the very least, with the Year 10 students getting their heads around the jump in intensity and pace of lessons. Year 11 have completed a tough but I’m sure ultimately successful programme of Progress Check exams, the results of which very encouraging indeed. A well-deserved rest on the way! I would also like to mention the GCSE students who have had to isolate at home and have worked really hard to keep up. Some lessons have been broadcast live via Microsoft Teams and we appreciate students getting involved (and their patience while we struggle with the tech!)
Lower school year groups have also been hard at it, tackling big issues like our energy needs and the resources we take from underground in Year 8 and 9 respectively. Look out for an energy audit of your home by members of Year 9 – you might be able to cut your carbon footprint AND your bills! Year 7 students have completed wonderful work on Ordnance Survey maps and we have some skilled cartographers of the future it would seem! They are currently learning about wild weather, both in the UK and in the tropics and are building up to an assessed piece on an ex-hurricane hitting Preston! This will be a piece of journalism and will be done with advice from the English Department.
We are missing our lovely Geography classrooms and our fantastic Geography Christmas tree but there will be Christmas Geostar tasks set across all lower school year groups – details will be on Class Charts. If you complete one, please ensure that you pass it on to your teacher (via email might be best) so we can award Medals and Head’s Commendations.
Finally, we have had some excellent ‘Where’s Earthy?’ responses recently, with the speed of replies getting very impressive (is there some creative cheating going on!?) The latest instalment is below – Earthy has a clue for you this time round too. Email your answer to: g.bowles@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk.
Have a great holiday and if you are celebrating Christmas don’t forget to ask Santa for some new walking boots to get out into the great outdoors. Merry Christmas from myself, Mr Ward and Miss Wignall – Ho, Ho Ho!
Mr Bowles