Week 4 in pictures and videos

Here's a look at what staff, students, the community and past students have been up to over Easter:

Evan Green (Buj) Year 13

 After nearly 4 weeks of being stuck in the house it’s safe to say I’m running out of ideas to entertain myself. My day to day life has consisted of workouts, going on runs to get my one piece of exercise a day and to escape my younger siblings who have been driving me up the wall during lockdown. I'm trying to learn a new skill which is bar flair as part of my new job role and I’ve driving my mum crackers the amount of time I’ve dropped my bottle on the floor. However, it has kept me busy and I’m slowly but surely starting to master a few tricks. I’ve also not been able to get away from schoolwork just yet with my engineering coursework keeping me busy and hopefully I will get that done soon big emphasis on the hopefully. I’m hoping you are all doing ok, staying safe and finding things to do to entertain yourselves and I’m sorry for the short message but my life hasn’t been that entertaining :).
Yours sincerely
Buj

Kieran Street - Year 13

I’ve been building things to help pass the time. We had a barbecue that needed assembling so I did that and I’ve decided I’m going to build a bike from scratch, so I started stripping our old broken bikes and I’m going to repaint everything and build a really cool mountain bike.

Charlotte Gladwin - Year 13

Whilst in lockdown I have been trying to make the most of the excessive spare time that I now have on my hands. This has meant that I have started to play the piano again, I took myself back to the basics and taught myself everything, from scales to chords. I must admit it hasn’t taken me long to pick it up again and so I am gradually working through my old piano books. I have also been helping my mum in the garden by mowing the lawn, weeding and general maintenance since the weather has been so nice. It’s as though the sun knew we were in lockdown! I must admit I am missing my grandparents dearly, but I am still very much in contact with them through phone calls and Facetime and once a week I do their shopping for them. I also miss the freedom of being able to go wherever whenever, but I know that lockdown is happening for a very serious reason and appreciate that and know that when this is over it’ll have been worth the wait. – Charlotte Gladwin

Emma's painting she been working on over the last couple of days. The NHS Nightingale Bird of Hope.

Hayley Wu - Year 13

This is a time where we need to connect and keep in contact with people so me and my friends have a weekly FaceTime where we just catch up with each other as well as a ‘pub’ quiz night. I have been doing some baking which I enjoy, even if I’m not good at it! Also, I’m watching each Marvel film and doing a mini review on each with my own personal score at the end on Twitter. My regular sleep pattern has gone out of the window during these times but oh well Hope you all stay safe :)

Miss James who works in the SLT suite left these for the workers that collected her rubbish

Well done to Georgie Freeman of 9.9 for her Easter bake. Very creative and looks delicious!

Emily Barber Year 13

Emily Barber has advertised that she's wanting to bring joy to residence of a local care home, if you'd like to contribute please email to Miss Finney at lfy@waleshigh.com and she will pass anything onto Emily

Miss Vaughan - Geography

Hi everyone, hope you are keeping safe during these uncertain times.  For me, March and April means the end of the ice hockey season and the playoffs; something I haven’t missed in 15 years but it was not to be this year.  So rather than spending Easter weekend in Nottingham, watching the Sheffield Steelers lift the EIHL Play-Off trophy for the 7th time (because we absolutely would have won), here is how I have spent the bank holiday weekend instead:
Easter Egg Hunt – thankfully the Easter Bunny is classed as a key worker and still visited my house this weekend leaving eggs everywhere; I think we found them all.

Decorating my house – after moving to my new house in September, I have had a long list of decorating that I wanted to do, lockdown has meant I’ve now finished painting the kitchen and bedroom as well as the living room and hallway that was already done.

Colouring in – Yes I know I’m a Geography Teacher and that means I have expert colouring in skills but I think I’ve excelled myself this time! I do genuinely find it really relaxing and brilliant for clearing my mind.

Mastering my Fortnite skills – I’m not normally one for computer games but it does give me a different way of keeping in touch with friends and I even managed a couple of wins!

BBQ – although we aren’t allowed out, I still wanted to make the most of the sunshine this weekend and so the second BBQ in two weeks happened.

 ‘Zooming’ through a ‘Pub Quiz’ with friends – It would have been the perfect weekend for a nice walk and a pit stop in a beer garden but instead we bought the weekly pub quiz home.  Four teams battling it out via Zoom; lost miserably, here’s hoping we do better next week.

Hope you’ve all had a lovely bank holiday weekend too and made the most of the lovely weather.  Hopefully see you very soon 😊
Miss Vaughan

Thrya Simpson - Year 12

Thyra Simpson Y12 spent her Easter weekend baking this magnificent cake and then delivered piece of this to her neighbours. Miss Finney would like this cake remade for the sixth form team when we are back to school please Thyra :D


Mr Harrison - Head of Lower School

As we come to the end of week 4 in isolation I am starting to realise that keeping to some form of routine is really important. I try to get up at roughly the same time each day and make sure I actually get up and have a cup of tea to start the day off right. I also like to keep busy and keep my brain working so this is what I have been up to!

As a History teacher I am always interested in improving my knowledge (sad I know) - I have started an excellent book called The Hollow Crown which is all about the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudors. My favourite period of History. Most days I go for a walk with my dogs (Evie and Millie) and enjoy the fresh air and a chance to get out of the house. 

We currently have my sister in law living with us in isolation so the three of us have all stayed busy. 

I think I have also painted just about everything possible! If it doesn't move then it's been painted! 

Over the course of the last 4 weeks I have pressure washed everything, painted my fencing, decking and I have just started working my way around the inside of the house. Getting used to Microsoft Teams has been interesting too - but I am looking forward to delivering some A Level lessons over the next few weeks.

I have also found it is important to have some 'down time'. Playing games - Monopoly (which I have to win), Dobble, Cards and loads of others.

 I have also enjoyed watching the TV programmes on my Sky box that have been there for ages and sitting down with my family to watch a few films. I think one of the nicest things about the current climate is I have time to speak to my friends and family - we regularly use facetime to catch up. Above all I am trying to make every day different, keep in contact with the people I love and make the most of the additional time we have - despite these difficult times it is so important to look after yourself.   

Mia Bainbridge - Year 13

Hello lovelies. This is all very strange isn’t it? I hope everyone’s keeping safe and happy, I know everyone’s starting to get a bit snippy in my house as the weeks seem to drag on. 

And this week has felt like the slowest yet, and my sleeping pattern is now non existent- I’m sure I’m not the only one. My mum is a key worker so she goes off to work most mornings at stupid o’clock and I emerge from my room about two hours before she gets home, which is a routine I’m trying to get out of. I’ve been trying to keep myself as busy as possible during the day so that I’m knackered at night but it’s not working so the past few nights I’ve been trying rain noises (sounds stupid stick with me) and they’ve helped so much. Combined with putting screens down that little bit earlier, it’s helping me get a good nights sleep and means I get to see a little bit more of the daytime. 

Last Friday I celebrated my 18th birthday in quarantine. Leggings and hoodies wasn’t quite what I had planned for my big birthday but we made the most of it and I’m very excited to celebrate properly once all this is over. I know I’m one of many celebrating birthdays in lockdown, here’s my top tips: 

1. Apps like zoom are really useful for getting in contact with all your friends and family and having a party- even if you can’t see each other.  

2. Just because there’s nowhere to go doesn’t mean you can’t get dressed up, sometimes it’s good to put some nice clothes on and do your hair. 

3. Compromise, l was meant to be going on a spa day with my mum and my auntie so instead my mum and I did facials and pedicures from home in the living room and it was nearly as good (and we’re excited to get to the so when all this is over). 

The most important thing right now is to keep positive. I’ve been telling the girls, every night you go to sleep we’re one day closer to normality. I’ve found that making a list of exciting things I want to do once quarantine is over has helped keep me motivated, as well as keeping a clean house (tidy space tidy mind), and practicing skills that you want to master. I am convinced I will have taught myself to french plait my hair by the time life goes back to normal- I’ll update you on that one. 

Keep safe, happy and healthy. Lots of love, 

Mia x

Ms Booth - Science

This is my new mindfulness activity that, luckily, I took up a couple of weeks before lockdown! 

Amigurumi. Basically 3D stuffed crochet. It originates in Japan. 

As you can see I'm slowly improving. Using free patterns on the Web and plenty of YouTube tutorials. It's really helping me switch my mind off from all the stresses and avoid surfing shopping sites or getting stressed out reading too much social media. What has surprised me is how mathematical it is when you're increasing and decreasing the stitches. 

My 1st attempt was a whale - although classed as easy, I think a little high up the easy scale. I lost count of my stitches a lot! 

I'm currently making play food for my kids but hopefully I'll move onto some scaled up microbes and organs for use in the classroom!

Ex Wales student Mark Firth has fostered this beautiful 7 month old puppy named Olive. She is a pointer and has more energy than all of our Wales students put together. For those spending time at home during the lockdown fostering a puppy or dog is a fantastic way to do something good but also help give yourself a purpose in this time too. Due to her cuteness Olive has already gone to her 'furever' home but if you think you can help another dog out check out Wags N' Wet Noses Dog Rescue.

Miss Finney celebrated her birthday in lockdown! 'I had a really lovely day despite it not being the day planned. My boyfriend had put up bunting, blown up balloons and bought a massive cake. I also received an amazing afternoon tea to my door and some beautiful flowers'.