SACRED HEART CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PASTORAL NEWSLETTER |
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INTRODUCTION FROM OUR HEADTEACHER: |
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Welcome to the very first edition of our Pastoral Newsletter. School is such a busy place so it is important to have a direct focus on how we can work together to help and support your daughter during the years she is with us. We want to help every student develop resilience, confidence and self-worth, and we are here to support them through their successes and their setbacks. Pastoral care refers to ‘emotional, social and spiritual support’ and it is something that we pride ourselves in here at Sacred Heart. A young person’s happiness and well-being are widely recognised as the foundations to success. We want the very best for each and every student and will go the extra mile to support them. Mrs S Howell, Headteacher |
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THE WELLBEING HUB | SIGN UP FOR YOUR ACCOUNT HERE: |
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The Wellbeing Hub is an online platform providing professional high-quality resources to support mental health and wellbeing. Alicia Drummond, founder of Teen Tips set up The Wellbeing Hub based on the principle that everyone who cares for a young person should have access to professional resources regardless of income, circumstance or background. Sacred Heart began using the Hub in Sept 2022 and since then it has developed into a resource that can be used by: Parents / Carers Students School staff
This unique set up provides each user with their very own account of which they can log in and out of as they please. The online site is easy to navigate and full of information sourced from the most current and trusted research. Professionals such as Psychotherapists, Educational Psychologists, Conflict Resolution Coaches, Counsellors and Doctors are just some of the practitioners who contribute to The Wellbeing Hub content. For students, each key stage has access to age-appropriate content meaning the content changes as they get older. For staff there are a range of professional development courses as well as tips and advice at their fingertips. Parents can access courses on parenting toddlers to teens, Q&A and keep up to date with the most current mental health and wellbeing topics. Feedback from parents and students has told us that what makes this resource different to other resources out there is that its content is available via many different forms such as: Podcasts Vlogs and blogs Articles Webinars
Some of the highlights include: Sacred Heart Wellbeing Ambassadors meet regularly to discuss mental health and wellbeing and provide a ‘student voice’ for their year group. The saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is most certainly true when it comes to mental health and wellbeing and it is important that we don’t wait until there is a problem before taking action. We encourage everyone to take daily active steps in looking after themselves and prioritising self-care. It is not only our students' wellbeing that this resource supports but also the adults in their lives too. If you have not yet signed up for your free account, please do so by using the link: https://club.teentips.co.uk/register/parents/?ca=dd1085857396ca46c83f755a319b0bd4 |
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WORDS OF ADVICE FROM MISS LEWIS: |
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As the Associate Senior Leader for Pastoral, I work closely with all Heads of Year, the Head of Lower School, Head of Upper School and Mr Clarke. One of the most important parts of my job is ensuring all students are safe and happy, both in and outside of school. When this isn't the case I work closely with the Head of Year to help look for additional support, whether this be for an individual, siblings, friends, or sometimes the whole family. The support we have available in school is vast: from Caroline and Grace our school counsellors, our school nurse drop-in on a Thursday, all the way through to seeking additional support from outside agencies. Last half term I delivered the Student Survey and Safeguarding assembly, which fed back some impressive statistics from the 2022-23 survey, and also reminded students of key safeguarding messages. This half term, all students will have a Safeguarding assembly on Protected Characteristics, an assembly which has taken shape over the last three years and is constantly changing; although our key takeaway message remains the same: respect for all. This was something that came back exceptionally strongly in the student survey. If you are worried about your child, friend or sibling, no matter the reason(s), the first thing I'd encourage you to do is let the Head of Year know. We will be able to offer advice and support and will keep you informed along the way. It might be that you just need us to be aware of something happening at home which may be difficult, or it might be that you need that little bit of additional support. If you are looking for some additional support, you can have a look at the 'Parents' tab of the school website, and click on 'Parent Support Services'. This page is always being updated with details of support available across the city. |
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TRANSITION FROM KEY STAGE 2 TO KEY STAGE 3: |
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The transitional journey from primary school to secondary school is one of the biggest challenges a young person will face during their school years. New peers, lots of teachers, bigger buildings, larger class sizes and more homework are only a few of the changes that can cause a student to become worried about starting a new school. It can also be a time of worry for parents as they enter what can feel like the 'unknown' - these feelings are completely normal. At Sacred Heart we have an extensive transition programme designed to alleviate fears, provide answers to questions and help the girls and their families settle in as soon as possible. Assistant Head Teacher Mr Ashton-Thompson begins this work around April and works closely with the primary Head Teachers before visiting all the primary schools along with the Head of Lower School. During these visits they meet with year 6 students and talk to them about what life is like at Sacred Heart and answer their many questions! The girls are then invited to spend two days at Sacred Heart in the Summer term where they can meet new people, experience lessons, and complete their CAT tests. Parents are also invited to attend a presentation evening with their daughter where lots of information is shared regarding ethos, curriculum, pastoral care, attendance, and parental engagement. Before the big day in September arrives, there is another opportunity for girls to make friends and settle in and this is through our Summer School programme. Ms Palma (Head of Faculty for Performing Arts) arranges a full week of fun activities for Year 6 girls only. At Sacred Heart we acknowledge that this important transitional milestone will be experienced differently by the girls and our aim is to ensure that all girls feel happy, safe and supported as they settle into their new school at a pace that works for them. One of the ways in which we do this is through providing a wide range of support, opportunities, and guidance, a few of which are featured in this newsletter. Parents should try not to worry too much if their daughter doesn’t settle straight away. As mentioned previously it is different for everyone however parents should ensure worries or concerns are communicated to the Head of Year so that any intervention can be introduced as quickly as possible. A strong relationship between home and school is key to ensuring a child feels safe, happy and that they can achieve anything they put their mind to. We are incredibly proud of our current Year 7 girls – keep going Year 7 you are all superstars! Miss M Baldwin, Head of Lower School |
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My name is Chloe and I am in 7ERY. Before starting Sacred Heart I was very nervous. I thought I would get lost all of the time and not make any new friends. When I started in September all of my worries went away as the teachers reassured me I would be fine. I quickly got used to my new school and Sacred Heart has taught me that there will always be someone there to help and support me. |
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My name is Jessica and I am in 7ASH. I can remember feeling very nervous and anxious about how big Sacred Heart is and the number of students compared to my primary school. After a while I got used to it and doesn’t feel quite so big now. I would describe high school as fun, and it also makes me feel more independent. I hope to continue to make even more new friends and work hard in my lessons. |
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My name is Jessica and I am in 7ASH. One of the things I like about Sacred Heart are the after-school clubs. I have joined the Drama Club and Football Club. I have not had the best start to Year 7 as I broke my foot, but everyone was so kind to me and helped me get to my lessons and carry my things. I was worried about getting lost as the school is so big, but I know my way around now quite easily. I am not sure what I want to do when I am older, but I am looking forward to finding that out and trying my best to achieve my goals. |
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My name is Brooke and I am in 7EDN. When I was in Year 6 I was anxious that I wouldn’t ‘fit in’ at Sacred Heart but now I realise that this school accepts people for being themselves without any judgement. I was nervous to go to British Sign Language club but now that I have joined it was the best decision I made. In the new year I am excited about coming back and continuing with the BSL club. |
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My name is Cherish and I am in 7ASH. Whenever someone asked me what I thought high school was going to be like I would reply ‘scary and difficult’. Now that I am here I have realised the help and support here is massive and amazing! In the new year I hope to keep making new achievements and finding out what else Sacred Heart has to offer. |
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My name is Olivia and I am in 7KHN. Before I joined Sacred Heart I was very nervous about getting lost and making new friends but upon reflection my worries went away very quickly. Everyone was so welcoming and showed me where everything was. |
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MISS EVANS (HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL) TALKS ABOUT BEING A RESILIENT LEARNER: |
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My name is Miss Evans and I am Head of Upper School at Sacred Heart. The Upper School consists of Key Stage 4, therefore Year 10 and 11 pupils who are studying for their GCSE’s. The Head of Year 10, Mrs Small and Deputy Head of Year, Mrs Bennett, support the Year 10’s in their transition into their new, selective curriculums. Alongside the personal tutors they have established a good working relationship with the pupils in the year group and encourage all pupils to focus on their own personal development, aspirations and futures. I am also the current Head of Year 11 and work with Ms Bloomfield, the Deputy Head of Year, and together we support the behaviour, safeguarding, attendance, and academic progress of Year 11 students. In my role as the Head of Upper School, my focus is the promotion of high standards in all aspects of school life for all pupils. I work with the KS4 Heads and Deputy Heads of Year to actively support the vision, ethos, culture and policies of the school. It is my aim to inspire and motivate students as they progress on their journey towards their GCSE’s. In the Upper School students have selected some of the subjects they are studying and are exploring the subjects they enjoy the most and may wish to take further and study at Level 2 and 3, A-Level and Degree Level and which might underpin their future careers. Students are also refining the skills needed to be successful learners so that they can continue their educational progress beyond 16 – a key aspect of development in KS4. In becoming successful and resilient learners, we aim to support students in Upper School to: be leaders in their own learning engage with the world around them question everything think for themselves show resilience be determined to succeed to have inner motivation and self-discipline cultivate good study and revision habits know how and when to ask for help be willing to take risks, fail, and learn from mistakes
Upper School staff endeavour to support the students to achieve these skills through various opportunities, experiences and careful mentoring. |
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HEAR FROM OUR HEADS OF YEAR 8 & 9: |
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I am Mrs Woodhams, I am Head of Year 8 this year. I have been teaching Health and Social Care at Sacred Heart for 8 years. Before that, I worked as a physiotherapist. What advice would you give to a new student starting Year 8? My advice to a new student starting Year 8 would be to seek out all of the support we have here at school to guide you in forming new friendships and finding your way around. Be bold and brave and try out a new extra-curricular club, we have so many to choose from and it is a fantastic way to meet new people. Your form tutor can buddy you up with someone in your teaching class to help you find your way around school, and teachers are always happy to guide you if you get lost (everyone gets lost at first!). Your form tutor is there for you every morning to help you get organised for the day, and as your Head of Year, you can always find me during the school day in my office or on the corridors! Miss Peplow is our Deputy Head of Year who is brilliant at sharing ideas for getting organised and completing homework, and we will work together to make sure you have the best start. A study club runs every day after school in our library, which is a great place to get homework done with support from teachers. You can access computers there and even speak with our librarian who can advise you on the best reading books! What would you advise a student struggling with their mental health to do in the first instance? If you are struggling with your mental health, the first thing you can do is speak to a trusted person in school. Miss Peplow and I are here to support you along with your personal tutor and teachers. We have two counsellors in school, Caroline and Grace. They run drop-in sessions on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunch time, and Maria, our School Chaplain often is around to provide a listening ear if you ever need it. If you prefer to access some advice on your own, ‘The Wellbeing Hub’ is an amazing online resource that you can log into and find the right support for you. You can also look at this with parents and carers to start those difficult conversations that can benefit your mental health in a huge way. In summary the best first step you can take is talking to someone about how you feel and we can take it from there. |
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Hi I'm Mrs Palmer, I am Head of Year 9 and teacher of Dance here at Sacred Heart. As Head of Year 9 what do you think makes this stage unique? I would say Year 9 is one of the most difficult and dynamic years for our girls. It is a year of significant change in their development as young women. Their minds and bodies are experiencing an influx of hormones which in turn affects their mood, concentration, sleep and relationships both at home and at school. In terms of academics, Year 9 is important as it is a period of transition. This year the girls will consider their future and select their GCSE options. How important do you think it is to reflect and set goals in Year 9? As I mentioned earlier, this is such an important year for our girls as they are putting in the groundwork for their GCSEs and begin to select their options for further study. It is therefore so important to reflect upon their time so far at Sacred Heart; reflect upon their progress, how far they have come and the mistakes they have made. Year 9 is a time where they can make mature decisions and choices; a time to steer their path in a positive direction ready for the imperative years ahead. A perfect time to set new goals! What advice would give to someone who is having friendship issues? You are not alone! It is completely normal to experience the roller-coaster that is girls' friendships during your time with us at Sacred Heart. My advice would be to talk to someone, this could be your form tutor, a class teacher, our school Chaplain, our school counsellors, your deputy Head of Year or Head of Year. We are all here to listen and support you through the ups and downs. The mantra 'every girl needs a friend' is something which we explore in 'Girls on Board' and is something we stand by in our everyday practice as pastoral staff. What advice would you give those who are unsure on what they want to study at GCSE? The best advice I can give is to follow your passion and take subjects which you enjoy. If you are positively engaged with your learning, you are going to progress and succeed at that subject. Most importantly, don't choose your options based upon your friends' choices! If you do this, it doesn't necessarily mean you will be in the same classes. So be confident in your decision, consider your learning style too. For example, do you learn better through practical tasks instead of writing? If so, choosing subjects with more practical components such as PE or Technology, may be better for you. If you are creative, consider expressive subjects such as drama, dance and art where you can explore your creativity. In summary, choose a variety of options which you know you will enjoy – be sure to come and speak with us if you are unsure! |
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CAROLINE WILLIAMSON | SCHOOL COUNSELLOR: |
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Hello, I’m Caroline - I have worked as a school counsellor at Sacred Heart High School for over 18 years. I hold a degree in sociology and social work, a social work diploma, and a Master’s degree in counselling. I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Being employed directly by the school and working full-time means I am accessible to students daily during school hours. I work with students across all year-groups and for both short and long-term interventions. The main objective of my role is to address social, emotional, and psychological barriers to learning. My work involves supporting students with many different struggles; most often relating to various forms of anxiety, low mood, different kinds of trauma, family difficulties, and challenges for students who are neurodivergent. My work involves mostly one-to-one sessions for talking therapy with students, but also requires: communication with parents/carers, where appropriate liaising with other professionals attending various meetings training staff delivering psychosocial education to students on mental health and relationship issues staff support
Whilst my one-to-one sessions are largely talk-based, I can and do work in creative ways to facilitate communication if talking feels too difficult for students. For example, we may use art or digital images as a form of expression; we could use Russian dolls to explore our internal world, or small miniature toys to represent members of our family and our relationship to them. I have various items in my office that some students like to play with while we talk, as this facilitates relaxation and a sense of emotional safety. I love the work I do with the students here and feel it a privilege that they allow me to support them. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of emotional connection to heal and transform lives. |
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A small group of Year 8 students were selected this half term to take part in a course of yoga sessions as part of their PSHCE lessons. Kristy from Find Your Flow Yoga was invited into school to deliver these sessions to the students in our Dance Studio. These sessions were organised to provide an opportunity for students to explore a potential hobby which students may find they enjoy and choose to take up in their own free time. Benefits of Yoga for children: Allows time out for calmness Opportunity to focus on their wellbeing To teach them how to redirect energy positively Help them calm their minds, especially during times of anxiety or stress Help manage their emotions Provide breathing techniques which can be brought into their everyday lives Self-regulation
After the girls' first session, Kristy praised all the students with regards to their enthusiasm, maturity and politeness. The feedback from the girls was extremely positive and they expressed how they were looking forward to the next session. The experience taught the girls that mindful practices such as Yoga can instantly calm the body, focus the mind and allow a person to be present in the moment. Seeing the girls take a proactive step towards improving their mental health and wellbeing was simply wonderful - well done everyone and keep it up! |
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POP UP STANDS AND DROP IN WITH SCHOOL NURSES: |
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The school health team are offering various pop ups within school during the school year that are held over lunch time on different topics including Vaping, Emotional Wellbeing and LGBT. We also offer a confidential weekly drop in within school in Meeting room 3 on Thursday lunch time. Your school nurse can support you with your health and wellbeing. If you are unable to attend the Drop in but need support, please ask school to contact the school nurse to arrange an appointment. |
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ZONES OF REGULATION INTERVENTION: |
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As a school we recognise that all pupils can struggle to regulate their emotions and manage big feelings. When a person becomes dysregulated it can feel like everything is going wrong and they find themselves in a position where they simply can't return to a neutral state of mind. This can be particularly unsettling for pupils with ASEND (Additional Special Education Needs and Disability) and/or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Dysregulation can cause a pupil to become disengaged from the classroom or even prevent them from entering the classroom at all. There are however a wide range of strategies and tools that can be used to support young people for example - holding a 'Zones of Regulation' session. During a session we look at how we cope with our feelings and emotions, we do this by trying to understand and identify our emotions. We use calming techniques such as breathing, counting and the five senses strategy. We also provide a space where pupils can talk about how their emotions make them feel. We explore and identify potential triggers for particular emotions and feelings then try to put strategies in place to avoid or deal with these triggers. By encouraging pupils to accept all of their emotions and feelings while trying to remain within the 'Green Zone' they begin to shift their mindset, build resilience and increase self -esteem. The sessions are repeated as necessary demonstrating to pupils that it takes time to learn how to self-regulate and that staff are here to support them every step of the way. |
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NEWCASTLE UNITED FOUNDATION: |
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This term a group of Year 9 students have been meeting fortnightly with Charlie Brooks from the Newcastle United Foundation. Charlie is the Senior Youth Health and Wellbeing Project Officer for the programme and works with young people across the city. Charlie and the girls have covered issues such as friendships, online safety, confidence and self-esteem, self-image, empathy, friendships and communication. The girls have enjoyed the sessions so far and have come up with some fantastic affirmations to carry forward with them as they head into Key Stage 4. We are delighted to say that Charlie will be returning next term to provide support for some of our Year 8 students, we are so pleased to be able to welcome her back to Sacred Heart! |
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My name is Maria and I am the School Chaplain at Sacred Heart. My job is to promote and develop the ethos and spirituality in our school community. One aspect of this is done through working alongside the Pastoral Team. Being part of the Pastoral Team means I can be another contact for those needing one to one support. This can range from those who simply need someone to listen, someone dealing with a bereavement, struggles with home and family life or behaviour in school. I'm here to remind students that they are never alone in whatever struggle they face. I work closely with Heads of Year and Deputy Heads of Year and will see students via referrals from them or by dropping by my office on a break or lunchtime. |
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Click the link below for our contact details on our website: | | |
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