The 27 existing Values Leaders in Year 10 and 11 were delighted to welcome 14 new recruits from Year 9 for a morning of training and team building on 31st January. Plenty of staff including: Mr Howard, Mrs Waghorn, Mrs Krouwel and Mr Hatchard came along to congratulate the Year 9s on their success in becoming part of the team, following a written application and being interviewed by older Values Leaders.
Once Sid and Trevaughn had got students thoroughly mixed up with their Anti-Bullying Week themed purple ribbon ice-breaker, other Leaders led on sessions including: ‘Why we need Ground Rules’ to work effectively and kindly, ‘Why we choose to stand up for Values’ including Inclusion and Celebrating Diversity, and which sub-groups the Leaders run themselves that the Year 9s can choose to join.
They shared plans for the next year, which include:
- Supporting the next charity day to curate care packages for elderly residents in local care homes,
- LGBTU History Month in February,
- International Women’s Day
- Young Carers’ Day in March,
- Curriculum conversations with Heads of Department next term around gender,
as well as launching Games Club to Year 7 students and preparing for all the transition work with primary schools in terms 5 and 6.
The morning finished with an excellent session run in Learning Support by Miss Burgess, our SENDCO. She too spoke of her pride at having so many young people who want to stand up for the value of kindness and inclusion and focussed the attention of the Values Leaders on the historic work they have always done with the Learning Support Department. Miss Burgess also raised the issue of the significance of language and to challenge the resurgence nationally of outdated and cruel slurs against those with physical and learning disabilities.
As one of the Year 9 recruits shared in the student led plenary at the close of our morning “ I have been really pleased today to meet so many other kind young people”
We look forward to this strong group of well training young people being able to stand up and making a difference for all in the Heathfield community.
