Weekly Newsletters

Bienvenido – Welcome Back!
 
I spent my half term visiting places in Mexico and St John’s College, in Laz Paz, from where we have previously hosted a number of Mexican students and staff earlier in the year. This trip was to initiate a number of relations and foster cultural understanding which our school is committed to engage in over the next academic year. There was a real commitment to receive our students and send some of their students to experience two very different cultures. We are working on this and if the opportunity arises I would fully support it.  The people and way of life is amazingly friendly.  They start their school day at 6.30 am and finish between 4 and 5pm.  What struck me is a high value of our education system but also the very long hours they put into learning at school.

 
Standards and expectations

Now we are into the new half term staff will be challenging students that arrive without the correct uniform.  The days are shortening and the weather deteriorating and so there is also the need for a school approved coat.   No hoodies or football tracksuits are allowed.  It also includes the need for all students to bring the basic equipment – pens, pencils,  a calculator and protractor. 
We are noticing a number of students attempting to bring into school large bottles of fizzy drinks.  Unless there is a medical reason (e.g. diabetes) this is not acceptable as these drinks will affect learning and behaviour.  Staff have the right to confiscate and return the drinks at the end of the school day via Student Support or Reception.
 
 
Remembrance Assembly Friday 9 November

We will undertake our Remembrance Assembly to commemorate those that have fallen in all wars, with a focus on the 100 year anniversary of the first world war.  I am delighted we will have a number of student participants involved in the assembly. One of these is Kelsey-Mai O’Sullivan who read her Grandfathers Armistice Prayer at the recent Queensgate Remembrance event.  In addition to agreeing to contribute to our assembly, Kelsey will read the prayer at the Remembrance Event at Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday 11 November.  

She is a real star!

 
Should you wish to attend this assembly then please could you let Pauline Greenwood know.  We have limited places (up to 20) for parents that are available should you wish to attend.
 
Sad news – Former Chair passes away – Paddy Reeson
 
I received news earlier this week that Paddy Reeson, former Chair of Ken Stimpson, and sister of Kenneth Stimpson passed away.  Her brother’s work as Director of Education in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire in the seventies was renowned, so the local authority acted to name the school in his honour after he suddenly passed away.
 
We will share a fuller deserving tribute to Paddy Reeson in our next newsletter, but wish everyone to know that our thoughts are with the family and you may wish to pay your own if you have been associated with the school in the eighties and nineties.

Bryan Erwin
Principal

The interactive workshop involved students receiving a talk from Stef Malajny regarding how he founded the Peterborough-based business 35 years ago alongside his lifelong friends, brothers Antonio and Seb Scibelli.  Stef also gave the students some tips about how they could start their own businesses, drawing upon his hobby of collecting rare Northern Soul records.

The students are studying a new BTEC in Enterprise, which is a vocational course requiring students to learn practical skills about starting up and running small businesses.  Rather than just learning about businesses from textbooks or the internet this workshop gave the students the opportunity to learn first-hand from successful local entrepreneurs. 

Seb and Pietro Scibelli demonstrated the traditional way in which the pizzas are made, rolling out dough made that very day and using only the freshest ingredients.  Alongside seeing how the pizzas are made the students also took part in a pizza box folding demonstration, got to try their hand at pizza throwing and got to taste the famous Papa Luigi pizzas for themselves which arrived hot and steaming ready for the hungry students to eat at the end of the session.

Stef said he was delighted to be able to share his expertise with the students.  He said “this is the 35^th anniversary of Papa Luigi so we very happy to come in and meet with the students.  The students were extremely well behaved and receptive to our advice about starting up a small business and I hope I can inspire one or two to raid their attics and start their own little Ebay empires! One of the youngsters, Shaun Gear, impressed our team so much with his enthusiasm, he not only won a prize for pizza throwing, he has also been offered a Saturday job at the Lincoln Road branch.”

The workshop was organised by Kevin Abbott, Assistant Principal at the school.  Mr Abbott wished to thank the staff at Papa Luigi for so generously giving their time (and pizza!) to support the students on their enterprise course.  “The students have to study two local businesses as part of their BTEC. Stef’s talk has really brought the subject to life and I am sure he has persuaded our students to think seriously about putting the theory into practice and going into business for themselves in the next few years.”

Mr K Abbott
Assistant Principal

The team got on the front foot early dominating possession but just lacked the composure to take the lead. Then mid-way through the first half they were awarded a penalty kick which was buried by Bobby Ponsford. This gave the team confidence to race to a 6-0 half time lead.

In the second half there were a few tactical changes that the team had to adapt to which caused some confusion at the back that allowed TDA to pull a goal back, from some sloppy defensive work. This then spurred the team on to raise their game and they started to play again. Winning the ball back, high in the TDA half and giving the TDA goal keeper plenty of work. Then the goals started to flow again and the team ran out 11 – 1 victors

The second game saw the boys take on King’s. The team got on the front foot early creating chances, but some wasteful finishing denied the team taking the lead. Some reassuring words from the coaching staff during the half to the strike force gave them the composure in front of goal to take a 5-0 half time lead with goals from Logan Carter (2), Harleigh Camfield (2) and Bobby Ponsford.

The second half saw a few changes from the management team that did not seem to work as the boys started to get over run in midfield and kings subsequently pulled two goals back early in the second half. The management staff reverted back to the starting formation which paid off immediately with superb strike from outside of the box from Harleigh Camfield hitting the King’s bar. This gave the team confidence and they were back on the front foot scoring 3 second half goals with Harleigh Camfield getting his hat trick and the team running out 8-2 victors.

The management staff would like to praise the boy’s for all their hard work and commitment over the last two games and looking forward to resuming league fixtures in term 4.

Oliver Roddis and Mr Gray

Having gone through training and practices, it was decided that a younger team be selected. Only one student in the team is Year 11, with the rest being Year 10. 

Our first game was against Kings. Even though KS had most of the possession, nerves were apparent as numerous missed lay ups, with KS finally converting at the 7th attempt!! Kings were unusually subdued which allowed the team to find their feet. Jun Jie added to the first basket scored by himself. Kings started to get into the game with their number 15 being dominant, and causing issues for Stasilus and Ellington. At half time though, thanks to a combination of players, KS led 16-4

The second half seemed to reverse with Kings dominating with their star player getting more baskets (he ended up getting all their points) However thankfully due to Mr Reed and Mr Boothman coming to join the team (not playing!!) they were able to pass on their knowledge to the boys which in turn influenced the game. Layton getting more influential and driving more to the basket. In the end the score was 30-18 in favour of Ken Stimpson

(Jun Jie 4, Layton 5, Yonga 11, Stasilus 6, Gear 4)

The second match was against SJF, and once again Mr Hughes' was grateful to have Mr boothman and Mr Reed available so he could concentrate on officiating.  SJF seemed a much more organised team and had plenty of options. However KS stuck to their guns. It seemed a close affair, with cracks of disagreement showing in the team. Stasilus started to impose and dictate the game alongside the pace of Layton and Gear. Free shot fouls were being awarded to both teams, and when the final whistle was blown it emerged that it was a stalemate 33-33 (no overtime played at group stages)

(Stasilus 10, Yonga 13, Jun Jie 4, Gear 2, Dimmock 4)

A great start by the boys with plenty of positives to work on. The team in full were:

Diaz Yonga, Jun Jie Weng, Jaydon Layton, Shaun Gear, Andrew Genovese, Jack Dimmock, Luke Ellington, Grazvydas Stasilus, ably supported by Mr Boothman and Mr Reed

Mr Hughes
Head of PE

Students really enjoyed painting large scale and feeling a little bit more free to explore materials. Well done Hannah Wager, Alice Brett and Maria Balde.

Mrs Bamber
Head of Art

Congratulations again to Success for being this weeks leaders. Unfortunately there has been a drop in all Houses attendance for this week. Hopefully, all students have returned fresh and ready for this next half term's work to ensure they are making the most of every lesson. Attendance does have an impact on results.

"Always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think" Winnie the Pooh

Mrs S Blackledge
Attendance Officer