Weekly Newsletters

Hollie received the award for being instrumental in driving forward the well-being and Mental Health support within KSCS.

Her passion for this subject has shone through. She has independently contacted numerous organisations in her quest to raise awareness of the stigmas and issues affecting young people like herself. She has been actively involved in volunteer work, raising money for charities and has secured a £200 grant for our school, which has enabled us to fund ways of raising the profile throughout the school and provide resources for a lunchtime well-being club, currently attended by several year 7 and 8 students. 

It must be said that Hollie has had support from a small team, consisting of four friends who feel similarly to her about mental health:

• Anisha
• Bethan
• Lilly
• Saffron

Together they have conducted a student voice to find out what pressures year 11 in particular are facing and what they feel would help them to cope with upcoming exams. Through taking ideas and concerns to their Principal, they have been able to implement a number of strategies, including designing and producing Help Cards which signpost young people to the services they can access both in and out of school when in need, or if they know someone who is in need. 

Year 11

Congratulations for the determination, dedication and composure that all of our students have shown in the recent examinations.  I recently shared my lack of experience in knowing what they are going through, other than from a parent’s point of view.  As we travel into the final stages of the GCSE examinations we will be communicating on a daily basis via a text message when students need to be in lessons and when they may legitimately go home.

Best wishes

Bryan Erwin
Principal

Well, today you're in for a treat because I am going to take you on a journey in which I will reveal how we as a group of five, year nines managed to go from a few planks of wood, some dedication, and the assistance of an amazing teacher; to this wooden masterpiece.

It all started with an aspiration; an aspiration to do something challenging, something creative. Then the decision was made: furniture, something useful… a table.

Our first objective was to drill diagonal holes into the planks; in order to connect them. This was a tedious task, but we got there in the end. Once the table top was completely flat, we started cutting out the legs. With the legs complete we once again drilled angular holes.

After frying our brains with measuring out the rails and the placement of the legs; we began to attach them the drill roared uncontrollably while we beat it to success. This cost us some muscle power, but in no time the table was free-standing and sturdy enough to sit on. The structure was now complete.

Now came the endless task of sanding. Over and over we sanded to perfection. After a week of smoothing, we got approval and began to apply the varnish. This repetitive task eventually leads to accomplishment. We added one coat and smoothened yet again, then we coated it again and again, three layers in total.

The table was now shiny and looking complete, but there was just one thing missing - the colour contrast. So, soon we hope to paint the legs a light grey colour to finally ‘after a lot of hard work’ finish of the showpiece.

Table creators: Daniel Wright, Richard Coric, Ethan Lutterer, Valentinas Balsys, Rami Saqre 

Written by: Richard Coric 

Mr Breen
D&T

We are proud to say that 10 Ken Stimpson students were selected winners and have had their work published in the ‘Stranger Sagas’ book!

Our winning students are Amy Hunter, Adam Dyble, Jayde Harradine, Isabel Skinner, Chiara Dowsett, Luca Scialla-Cooper, Ryan Davies, Matthew Mills, Jake Syddell and Amy Clarke. Huge congratulations to you all!

Over the coming weeks we will publish all the winning entries in the newsletter for you to enjoy…

At birth everyone’s tattooed with their date of death. Mine’s dated yesterday. My hands expertly trace the sides of my bed as I take my first breath of the day. I sit relieved in a comfortable silence. It’s wrong. I keep repeating it. Tears of happiness escape out of my eyes like a broken tap. Each tear representing each tear I’ve ever had, finally gone! I can’t mask my excitement as I enthusiastically leap out of my bed, elated that I can live another day. Jumping down the stairs like a spring, “Hi Mum!”

She doesn’t reply. She only cries.

Amy Hunter – Year 9

Mrs Willoughby
Head of Faculty: English

Aspire are still in first place this week.  The other houses are not far behind and with a little push may take the lead.  We have such a little time left of this academic year, use this time wisely to make the most of the school time.  Exams are still going ahead, we wish you lots of good luck as each one passes.  

Mrs S Blackledge
Attendance Officer