Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
We have a very busy blog this week, there is so much to report on over the last seven days!
Our PE department have had an action-packed week of events. They have provided the following round up of all the events, tournaments, and fixtures in which they have participated.
On Saturday 11th November, Mrs White and Mrs Ebden took the Junior girls cross country team to the Regional Cross Country finals in Taunton. The girls are now 4th in the Southwest of England, and they were only four points away from qualifying for Nationals which is fantastic. We could not be prouder of the team – what an achievement!
On Monday night, the Under 16 Hockey team played a fantastic match against The Abbey. Our defence was incredible; well done to our goalkeeper Simran who did a great job! Congratulations also to Mrs White’s “People of the match”; in defence Mia & Liv and attacking/ midfield: Sascha & Frankie.
The Under 13 Netball team had a great night at the Under13 Southeast Berkshire Netball Tournament, where the A team finished 3rd in their pool, playing against some very tough opposition. The B team came 1st in their whole plate competition! Well done to all the students who played. Great work!
On Tuesday, our Year 10 Sports Leaders did a fantastic job at the District Panathlon. They were highly commended by the organiser from Panathlon UK and other staff on their excellent leadership skills. Thank you all!
A HUGE congratulations to our Panathlon team who came 2nd in the Wokingham competition. They performed brilliantly in every event and represented the school in superb fashion.
On Wednesday the Year 7 netball teams played in a mini tournament at Bohunt. They lost out on one match throughout the whole tournament. Some excellent play by both teams and so much progress made! Well done!
A massive well done to the Year 7 football team for winning the Wokingham Football Tournament on Thursday night! We had a very enjoyable evening of football at Emmbrook, a lot of quality football on show and Miss Stanborough is very excited for our league to get underway soon!
On Thursday, the Under 14 Hockey team also had a successful evening at The Abbey School. We had some unbelievable play but unfortunately lost out 3-1 to The Abbey. That was our best game yet and Mrs White is excited to see the team progress! Mrs White commented that their ability to take on feedback and implement it is just fantastic! Well done to Person of the match: Eliza and to Mrs White’s People of the match: Emma and Zanthe.
Thank you to the PE department for supporting our students to take part in so many events. Students get so much from these events and really appreciate the guidance and support the department offer. Please encourage you daughter/son to get involved.
Moving on from PE to Law….Miss Ward (Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form) and Miss Harris (Head of Year 8 and English teacher) took a group of students to the Women in Advocacy event at the prestigious Gray’s Inn in London. Alolika and Aarushi have shared the following write up of the event:
This was an inspiring experience that significantly enriched our understanding of the legal profession. The event provided valuable insights that will undoubtedly shape our futures in the field. The panel discussion on the current state of women and justice, coupled with student performances celebrating advocacy figures from the past century, offered a comprehensive view of the progress made and the challenges still faced. The presence of The Rt Hon Lady Justice Geraldine Andrews DBE added a remarkable touch to the event, as her words of wisdom resonated deeply with aspiring legal professionals like us. Lady Justice Geraldine Andrews, who is an ex-Holt student, serves as an inspiration; her remarkable achievements in the legal field represents the possibilities that our school continues to provide.
The reception that followed the panel discussion was a unique opportunity to engage with experienced lawyers, allowing us to pose questions and seek advice. This interactive session not only clarified aspects of the legal profession but also facilitated meaningful connections. The event’s overarching goal to foster connections between current women in the justice system and future applicants was evident throughout, creating an atmosphere of celebration for the strides made over ten decades while acknowledging and confronting the persisting challenges.
“This experience has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on our journeys into the legal profession, and we are extremely thankful for the inspiration and insights gained.” – Aamna
“Having the opportunity to fully engage within a community of esteemed legal professionals has provided me with valuable insights into my life’s aspirations.” – Alolika
“The event inspired me and gave me confidence that I can achieve my goals despite the hardships along the way. This networking event gave me important advice that I’m grateful for.” – Aarushi
Now onto Maths! On Friday, the maths department hosted the Year 8 House maths event. This was a great event. I was fortunate enough to attend; it was lovely to see all students fully participating. I even had the opportunity to solve some puzzles myself…. I have included a few below if you would like to challenge yourself:
Thank you to Mr Green and the maths department for organising the event. It was lots of fun!
It is also an exciting time of year for our sixth form team… they have been busy appointing a new Student Leadership Team, open evening and a sixth form taster day. Miss Ward will tell you more next week!
Finally, I wanted to end this week’s blog by thanking everyone for the tombola donations that came into school on non-uniform day. These prizes will be available to win during the Christmas Fair on 8th December. Any funds raised go directly to the school through the ‘Friends of The Holt’ organisation. These funds allow us to buy those important ‘extras’ that make so much difference to the students at The Holt School.
Mrs Martin