The Lister Weekly Update #30

Lister students made a strong impression at this year’s Debate Mate Cup, competing against different schools from across London. The school entered 3 teams, each made up of 6 dedicated and passionate students, who all demonstrated exceptional public speaking skills and critical thinking throughout the event.

All 3 teams performed impressively, each winning 2 out of their 3 debates. While Lister did not make it to the final round, the experience was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible progress and potential of every student involved.

Staff and coaches praised the students, not only for their debating abilities, but also for their teamwork, confidence, and determination. Lister is proud of it's Debate Club and their achievements, and the students should be equally proud of how far they’ve come. This year’s Debate Mate Cup was a clear reflection of their hard work and growing talent.

As Year 11 students continue their hard work towards their GCSE exams, your support at home is more crucial than ever. Here is a reminder of some effective ways you can help them navigate this important period:

Creating a Conducive Study Environment:

• Dedicated Space: Help them establish a quiet area free from distractions where they can focus on their revision. This doesn't need to be a separate room, but a designated space where they know they can work undisturbed.
• Minimize Interruptions: During their study time, try to minimize interruptions from siblings, phone notifications, and household activities. Let other family members know when your Year 11 student needs quiet time.
• Provide Necessary Resources: Ensure they have access to all the materials they need, such as textbooks, revision guides, stationery, and a reliable internet connection if required.

Supporting Organisation and Planning:

• Revision Timetable: Encourage them to create a realistic revision timetable that breaks down subjects into manageable chunks. Help them factor in breaks and allocate time to each subject based on their needs. There are many free templates and apps available online that can assist with this.
• Prioritize and Plan: Help them identify their weaker areas and plan their revision accordingly. Encourage them to tackle challenging topics earlier rather than leaving them until the last minute.
• Regular Check-ins: Have regular, brief conversations about their revision progress. This shows you are interested and allows them to voice any concerns they may have.

Encouraging Effective Revision Strategies:

• Active Revision: Encourage active revision techniques rather than passive reading. This includes:
  • Flashcards: Creating and testing themselves on key facts, dates, and vocabulary.
  • Mind Maps: Visually organizing information and making connections between topics.
  • Practice Questions and Past Papers: Working through exam-style questions under timed conditions to familiarize themselves with the format and identify areas for improvement.
  • Teaching Others: Explaining concepts to you or siblings can solidify their understanding.
  • Summarizing: Condensing notes into key points.
• Regular Breaks: Remind them to take short, regular breaks to avoid burnout. Encourage them to step away from their study space, stretch, and get some fresh air.
• Variety is Key: Encourage them to use a mix of revision techniques to keep things engaging and cater to their learning style.

Roblox, the online game platform and game creation system built around user-generated content and games, officially referred to as "experiences", has announced a new set of parental controls. The website which ranks among the most popular games platform for children in the e-space. The new features have been adopted to allow parents to take more control of their children's game time

Parents can now block individuals who communicate with their children, as well as have more detailed oversight of how their child uses the programme. The South-West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) has produced a comprehensive run down of these changes. Please follow the link below for more:

https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/roblox-launches-new-parental-controls/

Kooth is a fantastic tool for young people. It allows them to access free and confidential mental health support online. If you, as a parent or carer, have questions about it or want more information you can use the handy guide for parents and carers which is linked below.

Making an account at Kooth is quick and straightforward; we ask for a few bits

of personal information, but nothing we could identify them from. The person

selects a username and password, and then immediately they are able to access

a lot of the site.

This includes articles, written by Kooth staff and by other service users, exploring

different aspects of health, wellbeing, and day-to-day life.

There are also discussion boards around particular questions or concerns, and

various spaces that individuals can use for themselves such as a journal,

mini-activities (designed to support mental wellbeing), and a goal setting area.

They can also, if they wish, send a message to our team of practitioners, or come

and join the chat queue for a live text-based conversation with a practitioner.

Follow this link to find out more:

Kooth PDF

Time for Young People is an extension of the Children's Society Charity. The have a work place - a modern version of a youth club - newly opened on the Barking Road. They offer numerous events and workshops to support the positive development of young people in Newham. These workshops are a fantastic opportunity for young people aged 8-25 to connect with others in the community, dive into creative and educational activities and learn new skills all in our supportive, safe, and friendly Hub. Our goal is to boost well-being, resilience, confidence, and foster a positive mindset.

Please see the flyers linked for more information.

Exam Stress and Coping Skills

Time Workshop Programme

Here we highlight year groups' success and the particular form groups and individuals in year groups who are earning the most praises. Keep an eye out for your child's name here and see whether their form group have had particular success through the week!

The Thought for the Week next week is focused on mental health. Please discuss the thought with your child who will be looking at the thought in assembly and discussing the idea with peers and the year team.