SMCC Newsletter Spring 2014 - South Molton Community College
Transcription
SMCC Newsletter Spring 2014 - South Molton Community College
South Molton Community College Principal’s News After a lovely Easter Break it is good to be back to school again for what will be a very busy term. Year 11 will be leaving us after completing their GCSE‟s, while work experience for year 10 and activities week for years 7, 8 & 9 looms on the horizon. The soring term was very successful and as you read you will hopefully be as proud as I am with the achievements of our pupils. Raising Aspirations -written by Charlotte Dodson, Year 10 On Wednesday, 5th February, SMCC invited 8 professionals from different fields of work to take part in a workshop with the year nine students. The workshops were twenty minutes long with the guests who wanted to inspire the students to achieve their best. The guests this year were from varied professions: a doctor, a solicitor, a vet, a GP, a Michelin starred chef, a police officer, a bio researcher and an artist. As South Molton is in such a rural area it can limit possibilities for the future. This may cause students at secondary school to not aim as high as they could because they believe their goals might not be possible to achieve. This is why Mr Finney introduced Raising Aspirations day. It‟s to project the message the sky is the limit; it doesn‟t matter where you come from, work hard and aim to achieve your life choices. The guests who came to speak were motivated and full of life. This was great and the year nine students seemed to capture this energy and asked great questions to the guest speakers who We actually finished the term with our year 7 boys becoming North Devon Rugby Champions which was an amazing feat which followed on from our success in other sports, music, drama and academic events. As a small school this is wonderful to see. I am sure the remaining months of this year will be as successful and look forward to sharing these successes with you as the term progresses. Jenny Glover showed an infectious enthusiasm. “I never had a day like this when I was in school”, enthused Mark Dodson, Michelin starred chef owner of The Mason Arms located in Knowstone, “I think it‟s fantastic! I could have really benefited from a Raising Aspirations day and that‟s why I‟m here, to inspire”. And they did inspire. “I found it really interesting to find out the different types of careers I can look in to choosing in the future and found listening to the way people got their jobs very inspiring. It‟s amazing the amount of dedication and effort they have put in to achieve what they have!” beamed Skye Sibthorpe, a year nine student who aims to be a vet. This day, thoroughly enjoyed by students and guests, has become a welcome annual event at South Molton Community College. Many thanks for helping to make Raising Aspirations a huge success must go to our guests: Andrew Burke from Slee Blackwell, Angus Cook, Dale Bowen, Kat Glover, Mark Dodson, Dr Kelsey Boddington, Dr Helena Murch, PC Mark Robarts & PCSO Rick Napier, Mike Colton, Alice Bridges-Westcott & Antony TuckerJones, Alan Jaques from Market vets and Sarah Grigg. e-safety – Think you’re safe online? Well think againwritten by Bradley Horsnell, Year 8 Recently at SMCC, the police came into our school to talk to us about safety on the internet, and on social networks. We are the first school to participate in this initiative. We learnt a lot of things which we didn‟t know, that are essential to staying safe online. We were surprised to learn how vulnerable webcams are as these can be hacked by paedophiles; the officer informed us about being careful, covering our webcams when not using them! A few of the other advices were: Check privacy settings on Facebook or other social network sites after every update. When uploading photos, always stop and think: “Would Grandma approve?” Don‟t send or keep inappropriate photos which someone may send you. If they are of a person under the age of 16, you could be put on the sex offenders register for having these images! When friending people, always ask yourself: “Do you know the person if you Passed them on the street?”.. if the answer is no, then don‟t friend them! Never put any personal details on the web, including mobile number etc, that way we can keep ourselves safe from any abuse or harassment. If you think something is not right remember it is never too late to get help, and that you should always tell someone you trust or click the “Report Abuse” button available on the social network sites. Digital Parenting http://www.theparentzone.co.uk/parent/information/digital_pa renting This is a very useful site for parents, you will find many helpful articles such as “Staying in control of mobile costs, Get safe online, Technology jargonbuster” “tips from The Parent Zone” Turn off in app purchases. If anyone is going to spend your money this weekend make sure it‟s you and you know where it‟s going. Turn on safety mode on YouTube. It‟s dead easy. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Safety tab. If it says Off change it to On. Job done. :) Dave Watkins Maths events A number of students have taken part in events which follow on from their good performances in the Intermediate Maths Challenge in February. On Thursday 20th March Adam Palmer Welsh from year 10, Sarah Gunn and Helena Read from year 9 took part in the Maths Kangaroo, a European event which is the next round of the On Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th March Adam, Matt Gentle and Ed Stone travelled to Exeter. They were invited to take part in the UK Mathematics Trust Circle event held at Exeter University. Well done to all of these students Performing Arts & Physical Education Dept. Music GCSE Music & PETROC We recently held some really successful performance/recording sessions here at school. We had three levels of assessments happening: - GCSE, BTEC Level 2 and BTEC Level 3. Our sincere thanks go to Lee Thommen, John Bangerman and students from Petroc for their input. Our huge thanks also go to Leo Braukmann-Pugsley (Exeter College) for doing the sound recording for us. Our Year 10 and 11 GCSE pupils benefitted from an enjoyable and inspirational time which gave them the opportunity to expand their experience. Instrumental Lessons Information about our wide range of Instrumental Lessons can be found on the school website http://www.smcc.devon.sch.uk/music%20lessons. htm Some of our tutors are able to give free taster sessions – just ask! Instrumental Amnesty Just as it says! No fines or cross words! If you have an instrument that you borrowed from school, no matter how long ago, we would love to have it back please. Just drop it at reception (anonymously if need be!!). Thank you. Instrument Donations Several parents and friends of the school have donated good quality instruments and these have been invaluable. If you have any instruments at home which are no longer in use, you may wish to consider donating them to the School. These would be well-used and much appreciated. Please contact Mrs Wisken cwisken@smcc.devon.sch.uk Well Done Maddie! Congratulations and well done to Maddie Warren, who now has her own EP out. We plan to place some samples on the school website with details of how to buy her tracks. Carol Wisken Drama After the success of Dracula last year, the Drama Department decided it wanted to continue with the high quality drama productions, but wished to try something new. The result was 'Plastic'- a short 40 minute film that is currently in the late stages of production and will soon have its premiere at school. This film has, in as many ways possible, involved the students in all levels of production. All the acting, the make-up, the lighting, continuity, props, sets and more were organised and run by students. Seeing a large group from Year 7 to Year 11 be involved, the project grew from its original idea to something much more exciting and fun. Students gave up many weekends and after school (and even holiday time) to film this. To date there remain only editing, special effects and a few small re-shoots to do. Upcoming work on the soundtrack, the publicity and more will also be done by students at the school and we hope to have a red carpet premiere taking place either just before or just after the Easter Holidays. The film itself is a science fiction tale about what would happen if human looking robots were ever allowed into a school, and has been a terribly ambitious and rewarding project. More details about when the premiere is going to happen will be available soon - we hope you will be able to come and support your fellow students. Marc Torley Physical Education Girls’ Rugby South Molton Community College have consistently run boys‟ rugby teams at U12 through to U16 level but have recently been working with a group of young ladies at U15 level. We have received help in their training from Wayne Reed (Community Rugby Coach) and Matt Jess (Exeter Chiefs). On 7th March we entered our first girls‟ rugby team into a County U15 competition at St Luke‟s school in Exeter. They overcame Park, Tavistock, Teignmouth and St Luke‟s schools to win their „pool‟ and eventually lost in their semi-final to last year‟s National Champions Clyst Vale. The quality of their rugby was outstanding and they were well supported by a number of parents, Wayne Reed (Community Rugby Coach) and Matt Jess from Exeter Chiefs. We also have a group of younger girls who are very keen and we are hoping to take both U13 and U15 girls next year. Students work out with an Olympian! Cassie Patten, Bronze medal winning 10k open water Olympian, visited the school to work with our students as part of the Sky Sports Living for Sport program. The program fits nicely within our raising aspirations whole school program that the college organises to give further opportunities to our young people. Cassie delivered various sessions throughout the day and signed autographs and posed for photographs. The students enjoyed being able to hold a real bronze medal and feedback from all the students was very positive. Cassie discussed the issues she faced throughout her life and explained to students that nothing should ever hold you back from aiming high and working toward your dreams. Cassie has some major learning difficulties, which she has learnt to live with. She went on to represent Team GB at Beijing and she is now training to become a PE teacher. It was a fantastic day, as the excitement Cassie generated was priceless. It was so pleasing seeing the students hanging on her every word. We wish Cassie luck for the future and we will continue to work hard to be part of the project organised by Sky Sports. Richard Uffendell Head of Performing Arts Faculty Head of Physical Education Department Library News Robert Muchamore streams live into SMCC On World Book Day, Thursday 6th March, SMCC pupils participated in a Live Streaming Event to celebrate the work of renowned writer, Robert Muchamore. Muchamore, famous for his „Cherub‟ series once visited South Molton Community College to take part in a writers‟ workshop. On this occasion he was live at an event at Acland Burghley School in London where he launched his new series, „Rock Wars‟ which has been picked as one of ten titles for World Book Day. Pupils who are keen readers of Muchamore‟s work watched the event. They had prepared and submitted questions on the themes and ideas in the novels, and were delighted when year 8 student, Jack Routley, had his question selected and answered by the author during the live event. Jack Routley, 8D, had his question answered This is the first time we have taken part in a live streamed event and Mrs Turner and Mrs Sauerzapf are very grateful for the support of our technicians, Neil and Jane. World Book Day 2013 On Thursday 6th March we celebrated World Book Day. As well as the Robert Muchamore live streaming event, pupils in Year 7 all took part in an exciting book quiz in the Library at lunchtime. There was also a Hunger Games/Lord of the Rings Quiz in which many students participated. The World Book Day website is also worth a visit, with many activities and games based on our favourite characters. You can find it at www.worldbookday.com and there is also a World Book Day app which can be downloaded onto any Apple or Android device. Box Tops for Books Carnegie Shadowing 2014 The shortlist for this year‟s Carnegie Book Award was announced on Tuesday 18th March. We will be avidly reading and posting reviews right up to the day the award is announced on 23rd June. Shortlisted books are available for loan from the Library. Shadowing will culminate in an event at West Buckland School on 19th June, where schools from all over North Devon meet and give presentations on the books. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/shadowing site/ This is just a reminder that we are still collecting the tokens from the top of Nestle cereal packets. They can be dropped in the collecting boxes found just outside Reception or on the Library Issue Desk. Extra-Curricular Clubs There are plenty of extra-curricular activities on offer, the timetable can be found on our website and on the front page of the VLE. There is also a Press Club on Wednesday lunchtime in room 4. If you have any news you would like us to report either come along to Press Club or email news@smcc.devon.sch.uk Rosemoor visit On Thursday 27th February, the year 11 GCSE ELBS group travelled to RHS Rosemoor to gather information for the „work related report‟ component of their coursework. The students had an excellent day and had the opportunity to partake in a workshop on plant propagation, conduct a tour of the gardens and do some pond dipping and forest foraging. Art Trip Mrs Noseda is in the process of organising a trip to the Eden Project for her year 10 students. This will be on 21st May and is expected to cost approximately £20. More details to follow. Former students Congratulations to Mia Taylor-Jones, who left SMCC in 2012 with 15 x A* & 2 x A grades in her GCSEs, who has just won an offer at Exeter College, Oxford to read History. She attended Exeter College as she was keen to study the International Baccalaureate. “The IB enabled me to step up to the challenge and I‟ve had the opportunity for lots of independent study. Exeter College is a really nice and interesting place to study where you can meet lots of new people. I definitely recommend it!” We would also like to congratulate Emma Hulland, who also left SMCC in 2012 with excellent grades, on achieving a Royal Geographical Society Gap year scholarship. The scholarship is offered to all students in the UK; Emma was one of seventeen students to achieve this. Emma is planning to do a building, teaching and sport programme in Fiji. This scholarship can eventually lead Emma to becoming a geography ambassador. Exeter City FC North Devon Development Centre Coaching sessions now available: Yr 2 – Yr7 4:45pm-6:16pm and Yr 8 – Yr 11 6:15pm-7:45pm on Monday evenings at Park School, Barnstaple. All goalkeeping coaching is between 6:15pm – 7:45pm. Contact David Langford 07877730986, email: davidlinga@aol.com www.ecfccoe.uk.co Activities Week A polite reminder that payments for activities/trips will need to be made by 16th May. Thank you to those parents who have already paid. Community Action Day Over 100 Year 9 students from South Molton Community College have started to plan two days of Community Action on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd May 2014. Over the past few months students have identified ways they can make an active difference to the local community, and are currently planning and preparing for a number of projects. They will be working to improve the amenities or experiences offered by a number of local organisations working within our community. Some of their projects include working on the church steps area in the town centre, the back of Hobbies Day As you know, every year, each spring, an unusual event takes place at SMCC – Hobbies Day! Each pupil in year 7 is invited to bring in a representation of their favourite pastime, to make a display about it and then share it with their parents, teachers and peers. It has become a long held tradition of the school and one they are extremely proud of. The buzz of anticipation begins after the return from the Christmas holidays and finally culminates in an afternoon of joyful chaos with this year being no exception, “it‟s an amazing way for the students to get to know each other and find out something that they may not have known about their class mates. It‟s also great to see the passion, commitment and achievement which our pupils have out of school, not to mention all the amazing parents, grandparents and co. because without their support an event like this wouldn‟t be possible. So I‟d like to say a big thank you to them all.” Next year‟s Hobbies Day is already pencilled in the diary for next spring; September‟s new intake might like to start planning… the Amory Centre and a mural project at South Molton infant school. They also plan on tidying the garden at the back of the Pannier Market and around the skate park. After the recent storms some students will be going to Saunton Sands to help with a beach clean-up, clearing litter and debris and improving the amenity. 9G are organising a football tournament and Healthy Life workshops/activities with partner primary schools at SMCC. South Molton Community College Dates for your diary 30.04.14 Year 7 Parents Evening 27.06.14 PROM Night 01.05.14 Years 7 & 8 Junior Maths Challenge 01.07.14 New Intake day 01.05.14 – 02.05.14 Community Action Day 01.07.14 New Intake Evening 6pm – 7:30pm 05.05.14 Bank Holiday 02.07.14 Reserve Sports Day 08.05.14 Year 10 Theatre Trip 02.07.14 06.07.14 Year 10 RE Trip to Rome 08.05.14 GCSEs begin 08.07.14 Activ8 6-8pm Ten Tors event 10.07.14 – 22.07.14 Uganda Trip Year 7 Met Office Trip 14.07.14 15.05.14 Year 8 Parents Evening 16.07.14 – 18.07.14 21.05.14 Year 10 Art Trip - Eden 24.07.14 22.05.14 U15 girls rugby exhibition 24.07.14 Last day of term 26.05.14 – 30.05.14 Half Term 25.07.14 Summer Holiday begins 02.06.14 Year 10 Exams begin 21.08.14 GCSE Results Day 12.06.14 Year 8 HPV injection 03.09.14 Non Pupil Day 24.06.14 GCSE exams end 04.09.14 Autumn Term begins 09.05.14 11.05.14 09.05.14 – 10.05.14 Year 10 Work Experience begins Activities Week, years 7, 8 & 9. Year 10 Work Experience ends