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From the Headmistress


My assembly to Dovercourt girls this week focussed on choosing your mood. The essence of my address was to encourage the girls to think about their approach to challenges and see them as opportunities. Furthermore to consider how they may change their enjoyment of learning and life by the attitude they adopt.

Staff from both schools are undergoing training in the 'Positive Project' by the Positive Group which is co-founded by a medical doctor called Brian Marien. They aim to 'support teachers in applying evidenced knowledge and tools from psychology and neuroscience to improve psychological wellbeing and manage periods of pressure' and 'enable teachers to translate the tools directly into the classroom, supporting pupils to adopt protective and adaptive cognitive and behavioural patterns from a young age'.

We acted as one of their pilot schools for the GDST and now this excellent project has been embraced across the network of schools. So far PHS has trained three staff, one from Dovercourt and two from the senior school, and this is continuing this term with three more staff entering training and three more next term. The plan is to train as many staff as possible.

PHS is committed to assisting the girls to have healthy mindsets. Through this scheme pupils are taught ways in which they may approach difficulties, hurdles and challenges and gain resilience and grit as a result.

Later this term or early next term the Positive Group will host a session for parents so that we can all work together to enable the girls to have an independent and positive outlook. This way of thinking is suitable for children from Year 3 upwards but the talk is open to parents of children of all ages. We shall circulate the date as soon as it is finalised and encourage as many of you as possible to attend. 

Mrs Jane Prescott
Headmistress

Dear Parents


Portsmouth High School takes the personal development of the girls extremely seriously. Soft skills are important to develop a well rounded individual who can deal with issues that are thrown up by the world around them. These elements have long been a part of the school ethos and we are always looking for opportunities to extend what we offer.

Year 4 and 5 have been experiencing a building resilience programme designed by Debra Preston. Involving topics such as 'being brave' and 'being positive' it gives the girls a framework to find strategies to build their own grit. It is about solving problems and knowing where to go to resolve an issue. This fits with the 'Positive Project' which as Mrs Prescott mentions this week is being offered across the GDST. Year 3 were part of the initial trial and I will be writing about it further in the future as it is rolled out across the school.

Sport is an important part of personal development. The boundless enthusiasm of Miss Emily Leighton-Smith has given further opportunities for girls to play fixtures, run in cross-country events, swim in galas or go to early morning training sessions to name but a few. There truly is something for everyone as there is expertise across the entire sporting range. I have enjoyed taking the girls to hockey fixtures and doing my own small part to offer challenging participation.
 

Paul Marshallsay
Headmaster of the Junior School

Early Years' News

The girls in nursery have been looking at Goldilocks and the Three Bears this week, enjoying activities and role-play based around this story. They have made their own puppet theatres and taken turns to perform their Goldilocks show. We have had 'e' as our Sound of the Week, thinking about things that have ‘e’ as a beginning or middle sound in words. We have also had fun counting bears and finding the corresponding number card, as well as thinking about size.

Sports News


This week we saw the first cross country race of the season, with a fantastic performance by everyone who took part on a cold day. We had great success in the U11 with Freya Hampshire with an excellent kick at the end to win the race. We also had a team win for the U9s with the team consisting of Daisy Robbins, Olya Roostaei, Eleanor Paget-Tomlinson, Imogen Wallace, Phoebe Marston and Sophia Alani.

Yesterday we saw a busy day with 5 teams out playing from Year 5 and 6. The U10s played extremely well against Hampshire Collegiate School in the hockey with a win for the B team 3-0. Players of the match were Saoirse Turner, Charlotte Youden and Sophia Birchall.

In the netball, against Portsmouth Grammar School, they played extremely well in a well fought match. The players of the match were  Phoebe Atkinson, Hadiyh Roostaei, Summer Wood and Eleanor Wallace.

This week we look forward to netball and swimming fixtures.

Adventurer Paula Reid speaks at  Year 11 Wellbeing Conference

 
‘Life is a gift; live it to the full.  Learn, push yourselves and grow,’ was the message today from adventurer Paula Reid.
 
Fresh from the GCSE mock examinations, Y11 had a day of wellbeing workshops concentrating on their social, emotional and psychological state of mind.
 
‘According to a Government paper, students with high states of wellbeing, on average, will perform better and are more engaged,’ said Head of Sixth Form, John Paget-Tomlinson. 
 
Adventured, Paula Reid, who lives in Gosport, spoke to the girls about grit and determination.  In 2014 she trekked 1,000 km across the frozen Antarctic to the South Pole becoming only the 3rd British woman to achieve this.
 
‘I had the same fears and worries that you have.  Mine ranged from looking a fool to dying or losing a limb from frost bite.  But it is how you cope that matters.  Embrace the fear and do it anyway.  Worry less and learn to bounce back.  You’ve all just had your mocks; they might not be exactly the marks you hoped for but learn from them and be strong and resilient.  My trip was as much about mental determination and belief in myself as it was about physical fitness. Women are resilient.  The more positive beliefs you have the better you will be. 
 
‘Rise to the challenge, dig deep.  You are all made of strong stuff.  You need to be resilient, determined, courageous and have grit and guts.’
 
The girls spent the rest of the day in workshops to help with mental and physical wellbeing including hygge, healthy smoothie making, colouring for relaxation and yoga.
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