Freddie's Focus
For Parents & Carers
- Issue 61
- October 6, 2023
Freddie's Focus
For Parents & Carers
- Issue 61
- October 6, 2023
Things to celebrate
- Last week a group of our MFL students attended a three day trip to the south of Carcassonne, in a village called Rennes-les-Bains. The staff who led the trip commented that ‘the children were a testimony to Freddie’s, well mannered, resilient and always trying to speak French. They made us proud!’
- Monday to Wednesday this week our Year 7 students attended Winmarleigh Hall for a residential trip. This has been a wonderful opportunity for our new students to make new friends, learn new skills and spend time with the Year 7 team.
- On Thursday night a group of our Drama students went to the Lowry Theatre to watch ‘The Ocean at the end of the Lane’.
- Sporting Success this week
- Ava Broomes – Y8 – Is attending a GB Athletics training camp in Loughborough during October half term. This is wonderful. Enjoy, and please tell us about it when you get back.
- Abbie Evans – Y10 – On the 21st and 22nd October Abbie has GB water polo trials in Coventry. Good luck Abbie! Please let us know how you get on.
Great effort from the Y8 boys football team who played two competitive matches. All students showed great teamwork and commitment. Results FLHS 4 – 0 WHS. FLHS 2 – 4 BHS
Year 11 netball played well against strong opposition but lost 5-2 to St Edmund Arrowsmith and 2-1 to Byrchall
Year 7 and 8 girls football played and came 2nd and 3rd in the Wigan Schools games competition
Year 7 boys lost 5-4 against Rainhill
Year 9 Rugby lost 48-24 against St Peters
How we learn
Cognitive Load Theory was developed by John Sweller. ‘Cognitive load’ relates to the amount of information that working memory can hold at one time. Sweller said that, since working memory has a limited capacity, instructional methods should avoid overloading it with additional activities that don’t directly contribute to learning. With this in mind, here are a few things that we do in class to reduce Cognitive Load for your child:
- We build in periods of independent, silent study time so that students can focus in silence on a piece of work which has previously been scaffolded by the teacher. This allows the teacher to move around the classroom and target any students who may require further support.
- SLANT is what we use to gain full attention when it is required. This means that students are encouraged to sit up, get everything out of their hands and track (follow) their teacher. We use this to reduce additional distractions and to ensure that information and instructions are heard and understood by all.
- We break information and instructions down into smaller chunks in a guided ‘step-by step’ way rather than bombarding with too much information all at once.
- We provide modelled examples of work that we are building towards and explain how to get there so that students are clear about the end goal and are gradually guided to get there.
Homework and Self-directed study
Microsoft Office
Did you know that your child can access Microsoft Office at home for free? As a student at Fred Longworth High School, your child is allowed to download a fully working free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use on their computer, smartphone and tablet whilst they are a student at our school. Click on the button below to learn more.
Satchel:One
You can keep track of your child’s homework using Satchel:One. It is advisable to remind your child to get into the habit of checking their homework on Satchel:One regularly. Relying upon notifications is not the right approach and we advise students to turn off notifications so that they are not disturbed by them.
Homework Club
Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday-Thursday in the Library (apart from Monday week B) where support and IT equipment is is available.
Attendance
We want to do all we can to support your child to be in school every day and ask that you support this important message from home, encouraging your child to avoid missing curriculum content through absence. Here is a breakdown of the absences for the following attendance percentages:
Message from the Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been pleasing to see that so many of our Year 7 had a fabulous time at Winmarleigh. I suspect that there will be some very tired children (and staff) this weekend, but it was no doubt worth it.
Now that the new term is well underway, we will be resuming Freddie’s Focus on the Stars next week. As part of this, staff have been sending to me their nominations for the Headteacher’s Award. This reward is not just for academic achievement. It also recognises students’ contributions to extra-curricular activities both inside and outside of school and for when students have demonstrated good character. If your child is nominated, they will receive a postcard home
