Through our links to the National Consortium for Languages Education, we have had a Spanish Assistant, Maria Gonzalez, this year, working with Spanish classes. The British Council recently came into school to film Maria and her experiences in a school in the UK. They are creating a film to encourage more schools to have a Modern Languages Assistant.
They filmed Maria’s day, including working with pupils, and interviewed staff and pupils about working with Maria.
Year 10 students Gabriella G and Gabriela M, tell us about their experiences of working with Maria and being involved in the filming.
Gabriella G:
‘The language assistant, Ms Gonzalez is very helpful! She’s always there when we need her, especially when our Spanish teacher, Mr Everett, is busy helping other students. Having a native speaker in our lessons helps a lot as we can hear how Spanish should sound and learn more about the culture! It’s also very helpful as we can learn things that might not be taught in textbooks. We learnt so many things with Ms Gonzalez for example, how the school in Spain is like, school trips, the food, her friends, trips like the one where she went to Barcelona with her friends, songs, celebrities and more. She explains things very clearly and is always patient with us. I think having a language assistant is very important and I think everybody deserves to experience how fun and how helpful it is!’
‘About the interview and recording last week – it was so fun! It was such an amazing experience. We first had a “fake” Spanish lesson where they recorded us speaking Spanish with Ms Gonzalez. At first it was a little scary and I was very nervous, but it was fun to practice speaking Spanish, and Ms Gonzalez was just so helpful too, giving me hints on what to say next.’
‘Then Mr Everett selected some students for an interview and Gabriela M and I got chosen! During that interview, we got asked a lot of questions about Ms Gonzalez, what we learnt, what the lessons were like, our favourite word in Spanish and more. The interview felt so natural, like we were having a normal conversation. It was so fun to share the things that we had learnt with others. Recording that interview made me realise how much I’ve learnt and how helpful and amazing having a language assistant is! At the end we also got to record a video with all the students in Year 10 who picked Spanish saying “amamos a Maria” (We love Maria). I had so much fun!’
Gabriela M:
‘During Spanish lessons our language assistance, Ms Gonzalez is very thoughtful and always ready to help. She always corrects us when using wrong terminology and she’s very calm and demure while explaining. With her we learn more about Spain and its culture, which is very helpful when learning the language of the country; for when learning something new we have to be attentive because there’s never too much detail, and we definitely are not ignorant. I think having a language assistant should be an experience felt by everyone, because if you can practise the language (and also listen) you’re learning, and you feel more in touch with different cultures. Ms Gonzalez is very attentive when writing and speaking which is very helpful when she is helping me and other students with the work. It’s very hard to get things incorrect with her as she spots mistakes right away!’
‘Last week during the filming, me and my friends found it very fun and we talked about things such as how our Spanish lessons work and how we find Ms Gonzalez helpful and how Mr Everett is a very good teacher. We were able to use the Spanish skills that we learned, with the makeshift conversation and we got to do an interview in which we had to talk about Spanish words and the subject and the teachers. The interview was very relaxing and I had quite a lot of fun. We got many different opportunities which I’m very grateful for. Overall I really enjoyed it, it was such a great experience!’
Thomas, Year 7, who is part of the Northgate News, spoke to Dr Anderson for the latest staff interview. Dr Anderson teaches in the Geography Department and joined Northgate in September. Find out what he had to say in response to Thomas’ questions below.
Have you ever wanted to teach any subjects other than Geography?
I like History so would like to perhaps teach that as well.
Why did you choose to teach geography?
Because I really enjoy travelling and like to teach people about the world.
Do you travel much and if so where has been your favourite place to visit?
My favourite place to visit has been Mexico.
Is there someone in the world that you haven’t been to that you would like to?
The Pacific Islands.
What is your favourite part of geography to teach?
Cities.
Why did you want to teach at Northgate?
I really like the Northgate Learning Cycle and the people are really friendly.
We understand you teach at university – what is that like and what do you teach?
I teach global development which is part of Geography but a separate part.
What is your favourite food?
Curry and any Indian food.
Do you like sports and if so what is your favourite?
My favourite is sailing.
Which actor would play you in a movie of your life?
Hugh Grant
What are your hobbies outside of school?
I enjoy sailing, running and skiing.
What is your favourite type of chocolate?
Tony’s Chocolonely
Describe Northgate in 3 words
Lively, welcoming and kind
Quick fire Questions
Maps or Globes? Globes
Mountains or Beaches? Mountains
Sunset or sunrise? Sunrise
Field trips or Classroom lessons? Field trips
Volcanoes or Earthquakes? Earthquakes
Rainy day or Sunny day? Rainy day
Physical geography or human geography? Human geography
Marking work or planning lessons? Planning lessons
Field trips or guest speakers? Guest speakers
Group work or individual tasks? Group work
Thank you to Dr Anderson for taking the time to answer Thomas’ questions. We always look forward to finding out a bit more about our teaching staff and support staff at Northgate. We look forward to the next interview.
James, Year 7, and Willow, Year 9, who are part of the Northgate News, spoke to Miss Peach for the latest staff interview. Miss Peach teaches in the Art and Design Department. Find out what she had to say in response to their questions below.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I enjoy helping others and teaching others new skills. I was also inspired by my Maths/form tutor when they helped and supported me during my time at school.
Why did you decide to teach Art and Photography?
I love the creativity and the freedom that it gives for students. I love being able to see students grow in confidence and I enjoy transferring my knowledge to students.
What subjects did you choose for GCSE?
Food, Art and I did drama for a little while.
Did you always enjoy art when you were younger?
Yes, I’ve been creating art since I was very young. I mostly used to draw horses.
Have you had any other jobs apart from being a teacher?
I was a PAL mentor and ambassador at university and I was a cover teacher for a short duration of time before I did my teacher training.
Is there a particular artist that inspires you and if so, why?
Salvador Dali – I like how he symbolises using objects to represent hidden meaning.
What is your favourite aspect of Art to teach?
I love teaching the fundamentals such as drawing, shading, and painting.
Can you describe Northgate in 3 words?
Supportive, welcoming, creative
What are your hobbies outside of school?
Gaming, horse riding, journaling, and scrapbooking
If you were not a teacher, what would be your dream job?
Something related to animals, maybe something that is within the equine care sector.
What is the best thing about being a teacher?
Getting to know students, and seeing them grow and develop within themselves and their skills.
Quick fire questions:
Watercolours or pastels? Soft pastels
Art or Photography? Art
Eat in or eat out? Eat in
Winter or summer? Summer
TV or movie? Movie
Book or podcast? Book
Tik Tok or Instagram? Instagram
Vacation or staycation? Vacation
Tv drama or Tv documentary? Tv Documentary
Sweet or savoury? Sweet
Thank you to Miss Peach for taking the time to answer Willow and James’ questions. We always look forward to finding out a bit more about our teaching staff and support staff at Northgate. We look forward to the next interview.
Many of our students at Northgate take part in sporting activities outside of school. There is plenty in the local area they can do from football and rugby clubs, to going to the gym, swimming and martial arts.
Mirren, Year 10, and a Northgate News Team member, tells us about her passion for badminton.
‘After school, on a Thursday, I go to a badminton club at Dereham Leisure Centre. It is for children aged 8 – 14 and runs from 16:00 – 17:30. It also costs around £28 per term (7 – 8 weeks). I really enjoy it and I am looking to become a junior coach at the club. I joined the club May 2021 without ever picking up a badminton racket in my life and our coaches helped me all the way through my badminton journey. People within the club have achieved so much. A few of us have qualified with a junior coaching certificate. Some of us play for Norfolk County and travel all across the county for different games and a few of us help out with badminton here at Northgate! Our main coach, Julie, is very sweet and welcoming. Me and my friend, in Year 9, always walk to badminton and we have a laugh at the club while also learning new things as we go.
‘Recently, I have been looking at other club opportunities so I can not only just coach at the junior club, but then also play with other people as well of all different ages. There is a club on a Tuesday from 9:30 – 11:00 and that club is very cool! It is open to people of all ages and is a bit more on the competitive side. That is run by Charlie, also at Dereham Leisure Centre, who is also a coach at the junior club. He has however taken a step back from that and is focusing more on the other clubs he runs such as another club on a Thursday. That one is for 18 years old and older. It runs from 19:30 – 21:00, also at Dereham Leisure Centre. Both of these clubs are £3.80 a session. If you are interested, reach out to the team at Dereham Leisure Centre and they will be happy to tell you more about the club and the people involved in making it happen.’
‘Badminton is a really great and fun sport if you are looking to try something active, competitive but also maybe just having fun with your friends in a game of sport. Maybe this sport is for you!’
We are pleased to introduce our March bulletin. In our bulletin this month there’s updates from the Library, photos from the recent ski trip, Maths Challenge success, information about the upcoming World Book Week and much more.
We hope that you are able to take some time to have a look at all the goings on at Northgate from the last month and enjoy seeing what we’ve been up to. Please share with your friends and family via our Facebook and twitter pages.
Miss Theobald (School Council Coordinator) + Northgate School Council.
On Friday, 7th February, the entire Year 7 cohort came together for the annual Number Day activities, organised by Miss Theobald from the Maths department.
Over the past 15 years of Northgate’s participation in Number Day, Year 7 students have raised over £3,300 to support the vital work of the NSPCC and Childline. This year was no exception, with students enthusiastically engaging in a variety of activities throughout the day.
During Period 4, half of the year group gathered in the main hall to kick off their session with number aerobics. Some volunteers took the lead in demonstrating the moves, setting the tone for an energetic and enthusiastic start.
The main event was a quiz, where students competed both for House Team points and individual prizes within their teaching groups. The competition was fierce, with some challenging questions testing their mathematical skills. However, the students’ determination shone through.
In the final part of the session, students explored real-life graphing by creating a human coordinate grid. Each student was assigned a coordinate and followed instructions such as “stand up if your x-coordinate is 2” or “stand up if your y-coordinate is -3.” This interactive activity allowed students to visualize vertical and horizontal lines while incorporating key mathematical terminology like parallel lines. It provided an excellent introduction to straight-line graphs, a topic they will develop further in their Maths curriculum.
During Period 5, the remaining Year 7s had their turn to participate. They also engaged in a unique and intriguing game focusing on number properties, adding to the fun and learning of the day.
Beyond the classroom activities, students had the opportunity to take part in a teacher treasure hunt during break and lunchtime or from home via Satchel One. Twenty-five teachers were assigned numbers, and students answered questions such as “What is the sum of the Maths teachers?”, “Which teachers are square numbers?”, and “Which teacher is the smallest prime number?”
Returning this year was the popular virtual escape room. Twenty-five students took on the challenge in their own time, solving complex problems and cracking codes to navigate through ten different rooms in the school. This activity showcased some outstanding problem-solving skills.
Congratulations to the following Year 7 students who won the main quiz in their teaching groups:
7Aspire: George M
7Tenacity: Ava M
7Endeavour: Mason D
7Courage: Benjamin C
7Integrity: Sophie S
7Motivation: Harry C and Logan H
7Valour: Maisie B
7Determination: Keegan C and Oliver O
Winners received puzzle books, stress balls, stationery kits, and vouchers for Café North.
The winner of the teacher treasure hunt was Oliver M, who received a puzzle book, a stress ball, and a Café North voucher. Meanwhile, Charlie S emerged victorious in the Escape Room challenge and was rewarded with an Amazon voucher!
In the House Competition, the contest was incredibly close. Attenborough claimed victory for the second year in a row, followed by Rowling in second place, Holmes in third, and Hawking in fourth.
Reflecting on the success of the day, Miss Theobald shared, “It was wonderful to see so many students enthusiastically taking part in the activities in the hall and even continuing the excitement at home through the optional competitions. Year 7 has demonstrated impressive mathematical skills, and I’m eager to see how they develop in the coming years at Northgate. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!”
One of the participants, Natalie P, said, “I really enjoyed Number Day, especially the quiz because it was really fun and I love quizzes. I also learned number aerobics! I took part in the escape room too, and I really enjoyed it.”
Mrs Smith, Head of Maths, was delighted to present the certificates and prizes at the final Year 7 assembly of the half term. To round off the event, Year 7 classes took part in a special lesson investigating the McNugget Number—an engaging mathematical concept (Google it to find out more!). This activity showcased fantastic problem-solving skills across the year group.
A huge thank you to Miss Theobald for organising and running such a fantastic event. Well done to everyone who took part, and a special thank you to those who collected sponsorships to support Childline and the NSPCC in their vital work!
Thomas, Year 7, who is part of the Northgate News, spoke to Dr Anderson for the latest staff interview. Dr Anderson teaches in the Geography Department and joined Northgate in September. Find out what he had to say in response to Thomas’ questions below.
James, Year 7, and Willow, Year 9, who are part of the Northgate News, spoke to Miss Peach for the latest staff interview. Miss Peach teaches in the Art and Design Department. Find out what she had to say in response to their questions below.
On Friday, 7th February, the entire Year 7 cohort came together for the annual Number Day activities, organised by Miss Theobald from the Maths department.
