Weekly Newsletters

Pride in our school - Thank you

Last Wednesday evening we welcomed hundreds of prospective students with their families as part of our annual open evening.  The evening was truly memorable due to one noticeable factor: the amazing amount of time and support given by 230 students.

What came across to our visitors and to the staff was the high level of pride that students displayed in showing off their school and facilities.  I wish to thank every one of the students involved and to the parents for allowing them to take part in the open evening.  I am often asked what drives me on and I can honestly say that the ability to work in a school where we have so many wonderful students is a big bonus for me and other staff.

This week was another eventful one, action packed with visits and visitors bringing learning to life.  On behalf of the students, I am grateful for the time and energy that the members of staff involved have put into making the trips and experiences so worthwhile.  You can read some of these rich learning experiences later in the newsletter.

Bryan Erwin
Principal

Staff were invited to enjoy free tea or coffee with cakes and savouries, generously baked and donated by members of staff. Our well-being ambassadors did a wonderful job making the drinks and giving out quiz sheets with cake anagrams, guess the tea and a 'Tea & Talk' quiz. These helped our staff to switch off from thinking about work for a few minutes, with many working in teams which promoted relaxed conversation. 
There was a wonderful atmosphere in the room and a clear appreciation of the opportunity to take a small break from the busy day. 
We would like to thank everyone who supported this event and the staff who generously baked. Special thanks to our ambassadors who, once again have shown tremendous commitment and are a credit to themselves and our school.

Mrs L Gregg, Mrs R Patman, Mrs S Brackenbury
Wellbeing Team

Supporting the GCSE module ‘Medicine Through Time: The British Sector on the Western Front’, students engaged with the past in a way which was engaging, interactive, immersive and fun. The workshop was supported with many artefacts, hands on learning, role play activities and carefully chosen period images and film.

Led by authentically dressed Royal Army Medical Corps Medical Officer and Orderly, the students experienced what it was like as a ‘Tommy’ with full military uniform and equipment. They also became stretcher bearers and even experienced a gas attack. Students also viewed actual footage of a casualty evacuation station filmed during the Battle of the Somme and considered the evacuation chain; from ‘Battlefield to Blighty’ and roles of different medical staff working on the Western Front. Based entirely on actual experiences of those who served Britain during The Great War, the legacy of battlefield medicine concluded the session with students considering how experimentation, improvisation and innovation developed medical techniques and technologies leading to better care for Great War casualties and everyone since. A powerful and captivating experience thoroughly enjoyed by year 9 Historians.

Student Reviews

“I thought the fact that the historians were dressed in realistic costumes added to the overall effect – I actually felt like I was going back in time.” Roxanna Tansley

“The historians kept giving us advice that will help us in our GCSE’s.” Gracie Woodcock

“We participated in a recreated scene of stretcher bearers in action and what it was like to be one…I got to see videos and pictures with items of different medical equipment, a surgical set and Thomas Splint.” Amelia Gray

“I really enjoyed being able to hold the equipment, including artillery shells. Overall it was a fun and exhilarating workshop.” Kieron Miller
 

Miss R Sinclair
History

Mrs C Read
Head of Year 7

It has been great to welcome new students from all year groups to both Choir and Drama Club. Rehearsals for our revised school production are now well underway. Please keep an eye on the newsletter and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/KSCSPerfArts for what we are up to.

We are extremely proud that our School Choir and Acappella groups have been invited to perform for a third time at Disneyland Paris next July. Disneyland receive thousands of audition tapes every year from across the globe so to have won not one, but two performance spots for a third time is a huge honour and testament to the hard work of the students. Of course a trip such as this takes a lot of organisation and the financial implications also have to be considered. Therefore, with the help of our choir parents, we are starting our fundraising for this trip and beyond. We have a number of ideas that we would love our school community to engage with over the coming months but, as Christmas approaches, I would ask you to consider our Easy Fundraising page at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kenstimpsoncsc/.

Easy Fundraising is an online tool which costs the consumer nothing. Once registered the user chooses their cause. When shopping online at many of the major retailers such as Amazon etc you can then ‘click-through’ the Easy Fundraising page. Following this a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the Choir and Acappella group here at school. There is also an app for your phone or a Chrome ‘plug-in’ that will tell you if your purchase could donate monies, making the process even easier.

We really would appreciate your support in this manner as we move forward. Please keep an eye on the newsletter for news items from us including fundraising and performance events.

And don’t forget our Extra-Curricular clubs:-

Monday, 3.30-4.15pm: Drama Club (5l17)

Tuesday, Break 1: Keyboard Club (5l22)

Wednesday, 3.30-4.30pm: School Choir (Assembly Hall)

We look forward to seeing everyone there and in the future.

Mr R Norman
Head of Performing Arts

All Year 7 students will bring home a Library membership form over the next few weeks and we would encourage all students to join, as reading is one of the most important skills your child will learn in school. Should any student from other year groups also like to join we have included a link to the application form in this newsletter, this can be returned to school or the Library.

Mrs R Patman
Pupil Premium Administrator - Careers and Wellbeing Mentor

It has been great to see such a receptive audience to a topic we often shy away from discussing as a society. 

Students have been reminded of the various support options in school including mentoring programmes, the well-being hub, sporting and crafting clubs and the ‘worry box’. Students have also been reminded of the 'Thrive' mobile app that they can download. This offers a range of mindfulness and relaxation activities to promote mental well-being. 

Finally, I would like to publicly thank the student ambassadors who helped deliver these assemblies - Hollie, Stuart and Roxanna - a great job all round!

Mr P Swift
Assistant Principal

With a few changes to the line up from last season the boys made a slow start, conceding early possession to the home team. As the half went on the boys grew into the fixture with Logan Carter getting in behind the Sir Harry Smith defence and forcing the home keeper to make some good saves. One of the saves resulted in a corner which Logan whipped across the home box to find Bobby Ponsford at the back post who converted from close range.The boys played out the remaining few minutes of the half to take a half time 1-0 lead.

The second half started with the home team on the front foot and creating a couple of good opportunities to which the stand in keeper Jayden Stacey pulled off a couple of good saves. The boys then rallied to get better possession of the ball and put a good move together down the right hand side, which resulted in Joshua Moore whipping in an incredible cross. This went over everyone and the keeper to give the team a 2-0 lead. The boys then withstood some home pressure to hit the home team on the break and score a further two goals in the final 5 minutes, with Logan Carter scoring both of the goals.

The boys return to action next Monday as they face AMVC. I would like to congratulate them for their hard work, especially those students that came in last minute, it was very much appreciated!! 
 

Mr N Gray
PE Teacher