Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Firstly, we want to thank our wonderful parents for donations so far to the Friends of The Holt Wishlist. We have raised around £4,000 including gift aid which is a fantastic amount. Below are photos of some of the newly purchased items. These include new reader pens for the learning link, food mixers in food technology and additional science equipment. Mrs Whitehouse our Head of Biology told us more about these:
For biology we have received a brain model, models of an artery, vein and capillary, a functioning bell jar (to show how lungs work in terms of the diaphragm and changes in pressure) and a potometer (for measuring transpiration in plants – we have never had one before!). We were also grateful to receive a huge DNA model – it has provided us with some unexpected entertainment, as we have to construct it ourselves – so the photo shows the first section – all of the base pairs – which took 3 of us an hour to build – so it will be an ongoing project over the summer to complete it ready for next year. All these models will be great additions to our teaching from Year 7 all the way to Year 13.
We want to say a massive thank you, as visual aids like this really do aid engagement and understanding, so we feel really lucky to be able to order something we would not normally!
A letter has gone out with all the details and below is the link – please do browse the items and if you are able to make a small donation towards the cost of these, we would be most grateful. Also detailed in the letter, are two other ways in which you and your company could help us to raise much needed funds, we hope you can help.
justgiving.com/campaign/friends-wishlist-2026.
Do not be alarmed if you see some of our sixth form students carrying ‘flour babies’ around school. The psychology department is currently exploring attachment theory with Year 12 with a hands-on project.
The flour babies are being very well cared for, with students forming strong attachments to their rather delicate companions. It remains to be seen who will manage to keep their baby intact and who might end up accidentally “cooking” theirs… only time will tell!
Also this week, 50 Year 8 students went to the Oxford University of Natural History Museum for a colour of nature workshop. Miss Hayes told us:
We were lucky enough to hold a giant hooded katydid, hissing cockroaches and touch several taxidermy animals. The students also took part in a treasure hunt around the museum, leading to one group finding a dressed-up flea – backpack and all! It was great to see so many different exhibits and learn about many different types of camouflage and colour adaptations.
Thank you to Miss Hayes for organising such a great trip.
With new summer clubs and the beginning of the new house year there are plenty of house competitions and extra-curricular opportunities for students to get involve in, please do encourage your daughter to look at the new timetable and give something new a go.
Emma Salamut-Ward
Assistant Headteacher
Head of Sixth Form