Communications with Parents/Carers

Communication by Xpressions app

One of our main communication methods with parents is by sending messages by text.  This can be quite costly and we are therefore looking at alternative methods of communication.  One method is via a mobile application called Xpressions.

What is Xpressions, what are Xpressions?

Xpressions is a service, providing parents with an app to receive messages from the school.

The app is available on iOS and Android, with plans to bring it to a web browser soon.

How does the app work?

The app receives messages, called Xpressions, sent from the school. They are similar to WhatsApp or iMessage, being transmitted over the internet rather than SMS text messages. Thousands of schools are using Xpressions, swapping out SMS and saving money in the process of communicating with their parents.

How do I get set up?

When schools sign up to use Xpressions, they automatically create an account for each parent to log in. Rather than using a username and password system, Xpressions uses information that parents will always remember- their email address and mobile phone number.  You just have to make sure that your child’s school has the correct email address and mobile phone number for you.

While logged in, parents will receive a notification on their phone when a new Xpression has been sent to them from the school.

What can I do once I’m logged in?

Within Xpressions, parents can access all messages that have been sent to them by the school.

How do I download the app?

Go to http://parents.groupcall.com/setup/account-registration/ for information on how to download the app and log onto Xpressions

We will be promoting the use of the Xpressions app at parents nights etc and hope that a lot of parents/carers will opt to receive messages this way to enhance communication and reduce costs.

More information can also be found at http://parents.groupcall.com/

We are fast approaching the time of year for our annual ASG Christmas Concert.  Tuesday 12^th and Wednesday 13^th December will see performances from pupils at Northfield Academy and our associated schools – Bramble Brae, Heathryburn, Holy Family, Manor Park, Muirfield, Orchard Brae, Quarryhill and Westpark.  Come and join us to see a showcase of talent from the Northfield ASG.  Concerts begin at 7pm in the Northfield Academy hall (doors open at 6.30pm).  Tickets are available from the Northfield Academy office or on the door on the night. £2 adult and £1 child/concession.

Maths in the Pipeline

On Wednesday 15^th November five of our S4 pupils took part in Maths in the Pipeline at Chevron House. Organised by TechFest, the day involved various workshops which allowed pupils to see how mathematics is used every day within the oil and gas sector. Kelsey Brand, Steffy DeSouza, Rieley Morrison, Alexandra Wilson and Nathan Wilson worked with pupils from other Aberdeen City and Shire schools to solve problems and present their ideas. Rieley’s team won the business challenge task which involved calculating the best options for well development, oil processing and oil transportation. The pupils are being presented a Discovery Crest award for their efforts on the day.

Wood Group Visit to Northfield Academy

Eastern Region People Relationships Uncategorised

Inspiring the next generation

Sharing career experiences

We have hosted our first classroom lesson at Northfield Academy in Aberdeen, our partner school in the Scottish Government’s Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) initiative.

Ray Duffy, Wood Group integrity operations manager based in Sir Ian Wood House in Aberdeen, taught a physics lesson for two National 5 classes in mid-September. Ray inspired the students by showing them how the theory they learn in the classroom can be used in real life, and by sharing some of his own career experiences.

The National 5 students at Northfield Academy were interested in both Ray and the equipment he was using, and even remarked they can see why they are learning Boyle’s Law now, that it isn’t just something for classroom maths but can be used at work too.

Ray’s first experience of going into a school to talk about his job was when the school he had attended reached out to former pupils to give real life experience to students to assist in their learning. ‘It was something that I found to be a really enjoyable experience,’ says Ray. ‘I am still involved with my former school and when I found that Wood Group supported a local school in the same way it was the next logical step.’

Ray, along with Wood Group’s Stacey Falzon and Helen Troup, also recently attended an assembly at Northfield Academy for fifth and sixth year students, explaining the benefits of mentoring and how to get involved. By the end of September we plan to have paired our Wood Group mentors assigned to students to offer them guidance and support on the world of work, career options and the different paths available.

Sir Ian Wood chaired the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce that led to the development of this programme. Wood Group is asking employees to volunteer their support with Northfield Academy from August 2017 through to June 2018, by providing career guidance and experience.

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A STEM café was held in September at Mackie Academy, in Stonehaven near Aberdeen, where STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) related professionals, and students interested in the subjects or a related career, could network.  Wood Group’s Ian Ramsey and Guy Logan joined the event as STEM ambassadors, sharing their enthusiasm and experience with engineers and scientists of the future.

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If you would like to get involved with DYW or STEM, you can contact Stacey Falzon, our talent manager for Europe.

This power point shows the information from the SQA that was given to parents at the information afternoon on Wednesday 4th October 2017.

Parents Presentation RNQs Oct 2017

The Rotary Shoebox Scheme send showboxes all year, full of gifts, to children and families who are in need in Eastern Europe.  They supply the special strong shoeboxes and ask you to fill them with a selection of small gifts for either children, teenagers, senior citizens, families and mother & baby.  You can choose which age range you would like to fill the box for. The idea is to spread a little happiness to those who may otherwise not receive items which people in Western Europe see as everyday things.

You can collect one (or more) shoebox(es) from Northfield Academy school office.  The deadline for the shoeboxes to be returned is 7th November.

Rotary Shoebox Appeal 2017 BBC Video

Shoebox PowerPoint Presentation 2017

NORTHFIELD ACADEMY S1 GUIDANCE EVENING

The event will be held on Tuesday 29^th August 2017, from 6 – 7pm.  This is an opportunity for parents/carers of new S1 pupils to meet with Guidance staff at Northfield Academy. 

S1 guidance evening 17 18

Letter to Parents – Outward Bound 2017

The Northfield Academy Newsletter Summer 2017 is now available. Please click on the link below to view it.

Newsletter – Summer 2017

Today we welcomed back our new S5/6 senior pupils after their exams.

 Northfield Academy’s Annual Summer Fayre is being held on Saturday 10th June 2017. Doors open at 10am. Come along and test your skills at the AFC target shoot-out, have a go on the Segway Circuit, or try your luck at the raffle, bottle stall or chocolate tombola, to name just a few of the fun events at this years fayre.

A group of S3 pupils were involved in an Outward Bound Leadership Programme. The pupils decided that they would like to run a project based around Primary 7s and transition.  Pupils from our ASG schools visited for an afternoon to take part in team building exercises so they would bond with different pupils from different schools and feel more comfortable when coming up to the Academy. Here is a video of the project.

Following on from the success of last years lip sync battle, the Charities Committee has organised ‘Lip Sync Battle, The Return ’17’.  Please come along and lend your support tonight.