Box Hill School
February 2021
Latest News
National Children’s Mental Health Week 1st – 7th February 2021 There has never been a more pertinent time to recognise the mental health of children, at Box Hill School we participated in this week with numerous initiatives developed by our pastoral team. Within our remote PSHEE lessons staff worked with students in every year group to discuss all the changes that have happened over the last year. Importantly, we looked at the strategies that students can use to cope with the new period of remote learning. We are encouraging positive discussions around mental health and sharing healthy and productive outlets for our students moving forward. As part of this, we launched ‘Time to Talk Day 2021,’ which this year focuses on ‘the power of small’. The idea is that a small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference. We are also encouraging everyone to engage in small acts of kindness as we move through this period of remote learning, as well as beyond.
Remote Learning The migration to a world of remote learning and teaching was not the start to the Spring term we had hoped for, yet we find ourselves here again. Whilst not an ideal scenario, Box Hill School has risen to this challenge again making some enhancements and refinements to our highly successful remote teaching provision from the last time schools closed. Fundamental to our remote learning strategy is the recognition and insight that students require as much structure and routine as possible, continued accessibility and interaction with the school community, an innovative online curriculum and underpinned by supporting their physical and mental wellbeing. Our high quality teaching and learning has continued virtually, with almost all lessons live in the style of a digital classroom, ensuring our students maintain the important interaction and connection with their peers and teachers. Lessons continue to be innovative and engaging, maximising all the latest technologies from break out rooms to Quickfire Lite quizzes and even room surfing! Supporting our student’s health and mental wellbeing is paramount during these times, that’s why our lines of communication between students and families are always open. Tutors, House Parents, Heads of Year and our Senior Pastoral Team are all readily available to help with any concerns or to offer advice. “Virtual Registrations” occur twice a day to enable students to maintain connections with their form and Tutor. In addition, weekly assemblies are being recorded with themed topics in order to keep our whole community together and inspired. We firmly believe that learning outside the classroom is fundamental to developing the skills that lead to confident, resilient and wellrounded young men and women. In normal times we run an extensive co-curricular programme with over 50 activities running three times a week. During remote learning we believe it is more important than ever for our students to enjoy this experience, therefore we have adapted our range of co-curricular activities to run on a weekly basis all delivered ‘live’ by our teachers. A selection of extra-curricular initiatives including fun house competitions, whole school challenges, weekly quizzes and opportunities to collaborate in ways that are fun, such as year group PE lessons and Dance classes, has also been developed. We are very proud that this period of remote learning is a challenge that our students and staff have risen to, showing great tenacity, passion and success.