Newsletters

SPORTS DAY - FRIDAY 2ND JULY

Just to say that if our sports day goes according to plan the day will end between 2.30 - 2.45pm.

Last Day of Term

Our last day of term is Friday 23^rd July, and we will be finishing early at 12:25pm.

School Diversity Week

This week we have been running a variety of whole school events to celebrate School Diversity Week. SDW was set up by the charity Just Like Us, and the week aims to empower young people to champion LGBT+ equality to ensure that school is a safe, happy and welcoming environment for all students and staff who may be LGBT+ or have LGBT+ families. This week during tutor time, we have shared a number of sessions on the meaning of the Progress Flag, the work of Frank Kameny, the continued experience of LGBT+ students in schools and an exploration of disabled LGBT+ individuals. It has been a pleasure to hear students engaging with and discussing these themes.

Additionally, our KS5 LGBT+ student support group organised an amazing pride themed cake sale on Thursday – with a whole host of rainbow themed goodies available, along with a wear the Rainbow Themed dress code for the day! Both events raised over £200 which will be donated to our school library and also The Trevor Project, which is an international charity which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people. We are so proud of this fantastic group of students!

Today has been our lower school focus, with students being given permission to wear something rainbow themed. Students were asked to contribute a small donation for this via Parent Pay, with donations going towards diversifying our school library in relation to both authors and stories available, we can’t wait to see what Mrs Bruton adds to her collection! We have also held a guess the sweet competition with the winner being announced on Monday!

Thank you to everyone who has taken part, shared resources & donated. This week has been an outstanding way to show allyship to the LGBT+ community at The John of Gaunt.

Miss Martin & Mrs Scott 

Lego Robotics team: 

This week our Lego Robotics team competed in the regional competition against several other teams from the Bristol area. 

Our robot managed to complete four different challenges, and we also presented our project for getting children out and about.  

The Lego team absolutely smashed the presentation and have put in so much hard work over the last few months, well done everyone who has helped us out with this.  

Every member has achieved an ‘Industrial cadets’ silver level certificate, so big congratulations to Jessica Blackburn, Connor Chapman, Abi Davies, Beth Fearon, Keenan Hall, Lacey Harrison, Amera Mohamed and Charlie Wise for competing.  

Miss Nelson

Appeal for nearly new, young adult books

As part of The Word – our upcoming literature festival – we are kindly asking for donations of nearly new books that are suitable for years 7 to 11. These books will be the centerpiece of the ‘Book and Bake Takeaway’ that we will be running during the festival – where any student can freely take home a book and a piece of cake.

What: Nearly new books suitable for years 7 to 11 (please, no older adult or younger children’s books)

How: Where families can donate a book or two, students to bring them to school before Thursday 8^th July.

Where: Students to take them to the library where there will be a donation box.

Many thanks for your support!

Girl. Boy. Sea by Chris Vick

Storm, shipwreck, survival. Chris Vick's novel delves deep into the might and majesty of the unpredictable ocean, the strength of an unlikely friendship between a British boy and a Berber girl and their will to survive against all the odds.

A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea – hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next – Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1000 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.

When they land on a desert island they're confronted by a strange young man who is not what he seems... and back out on the waves once more in the dark deep, a shadow follows and waits... 

Happy Reading!

Mrs Bruton

AUTHOR VISIT IN JULY!

As part of our upcoming literacy festival, we are thrilled to announce that Y7 and Y9 will have a visit from the author of Girl. Boy. Sea.

Chris Vick writes books for young people about the sea, danger and the wonder of magic and stories.

He spent years working in whale and dolphin conservation and a lot of time surfing before enrolling on the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. He has written four books, published in several countries.

Chris has appeared at festivals including Hay, Bath Children's Literature festival and Mare di Libri (Sea of Books) in Italy and has written blogs/features for the Guardian and Bustle.com. on YA issues.

If you would like to have your book signed by the author when he visits, Waterstones in Trowbridge have stocked up on extra copies of Girl. Boy. Sea.

Happy Reading!

Mrs Bruton

Supporting Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at JoG

CAREER of the WEEK  

 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion officer

Equalities officers promote practices and attitudes to make sure people from minority groups are treated equally within organisations. 

 You may work within community services, supporting people who experience some form of discrimination and delivering diversity workshops to communities, staff and volunteers.     

Employers will require you to have a degree in any subject but most relevant ones could be in psychology, sociology, law or education.

There will be 4% more equalities jobs in the South West by 2025.

To find out more  Career Pilot  or Prospects

Supporting Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance at JoG

Current school-leaver Apprenticeship opportunities:

Wessex Water Apprenticeships (based at Bath)

• Land Entry Administration Apprentice (level 3)  https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/careers/vacancies/vac1000014770
• Quality Improvement Technician Apprentice (level 3)  https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/careers/vacancies/vac1000014779

Wiltshire Council roles suitable for school/college leavers with some admin experience (based in Trowbridge)

X5 positions for Health Protection Assistant Jobs at Wiltshire

For more information about other opportunities please see:

Young Work Wiltshire

Find an Apprenticeship