Jianzi is a traditional Chinese game played with a giant weighted shuttlecock that you have to try and keep in the air using body parts other than your hands – it’s proved quite a hit with our year 9 students for period 7.

We have started the second half of the school year and so our 3rd block of period 7. New Mind options for students in years 7 to 9 include German, Poetry, Creative Writing, Crime Scene Investigations, Science Experiments and Engineering as well as a chance to take part in a Model United Nations. After the huge success of our ‘sleep out’ we have opened up the Interact Club to year 8 (previously just year 9) and it’s great to see a larger team working under the guidance of Harpenden Rotary Club on plans to raise even more money.

Many favourites in Mind continue, including Hairdressing Skills for year 9, Rockets for year 8, STEM Club, Orienteering, Logic Puzzles and Spheros for year 7. Chess remains as popular as ever with lots of year 9 and 10s signed up for period 7, a thriving lunchtime club and our first ever KWS Chess Tournament not far away.

New Soul options include Jianzi as outlined above, Yoga, Foraging, Jigsaws, Theatre Appreciation, Journaling and Sewing Projects.
We must give a special thanks to Sabrina at Baking Buddies who continues to provide sessions for our year 8s. These sessions are running throughout the year and are really popular with students; they produce some delicious items in the 30 minutes session – no easy feat!

Other Soul options continuing due to their popularity with students include Board Games, Ceramics, Model Cars, Mindful Colouring, Reading, Art Club (see the giant watermelon slice below!) Gardening, Repair and Re-wear and Chinese Cinema.

Year 10 have enjoyed some new opportunities to chill in their period 7s, as they approach their first GCSE mocks after Easter. The new options of Darts, Card Games, Origami, Chess, Knitting & Crochet and Music Technology are all proving to be really popular. Others in Year 10 have embraced the opportunity to study towards a Further Maths GCSE, or improve their Science Practical skills and some are working as Sports Leaders with younger students. Kayaking sessions also continue. With huge thanks to Stanborough Park and our own Mrs Gaydon, these students will be back out on the lake on Monday afternoons after Easter.

Body options have continued with winter sports for now and will switch to summer sports after Easter. These include Tennis, Cricket, Athletics and Rounders alongside an opportunity for students to spend time working out in our new Wellness Centre. Our popular choices of Dodgeball and Run/Walk will also be back for most year groups. Other exciting opportunities in our last block this year (starting 8th May) include Aviation Studies, Cycling and Ranger School.