The Minster School. A Church of England Voluntary Aided School

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1 The Minster School A Church of England Voluntary Aided School Newsletter January 2015 Issue 1 In this edition... Message from the Head Teacher Christian Union Spotlight Music Day Sporting Fixtures & Results Year 9 STEM Day Sizewell Hall Christian holiday opportunity Proposed road changes outside school Christmas End of Term Services Choristers at Christmas 6th Form Pantomime First Aid Training for students New Code of Conduct A Level Geography Trip Spring Term English Competitions Forthcoming events... Wednesday 28th January Y9 Options Evening Thursday 29th January Y8 Clumber/Rufford Humanities Day Message from the Head Teacher Welcome to the first of our new more regular newsletters, published every three weeks or so. The aim is to keep you up to date with the latest news and events from school, celebrating students and all they do. Each edition will include a number of sections, the first being an update from me, followed by successes, celebrations and finally opportunities to share with families and students, whether directly from school or from other linked organisations. Forthcoming dates for your diary are also included in each edition. You may recall that in an earlier letter, I mentioned the development of ways to support the best student behaviour in school and our new approach has been operating for a number of weeks. Alongside a staged sequence of sanctions to support behaviour in lessons, a new code of conduct is designed to ensure all students understand our basic expectations when in school. Many of the school community unquestionably meet all aspects for the code every day and far exceed them, demonstrating a very positive and caring ethos towards others. I am hopeful that our new focus will help others to do the same. The new student code and sanction system used in lessons is included with this newsletter; your support is essential to reinforce consistent messages and the very best for all students at the Minster School. Thanks as always for this. Alongside this clear and structured approach is a commitment to also develop the care and support for students with both elements hand in hand so we can ensure that school is a happy, safe place to be and to learn. In the next edition of the newsletter I am looking forward to updating you about how feedback to students is being used and improved to support learning and progress. I hope you find the rest of the newsletter informative. Mr Parris Head Teacher Friday 30th January Y8 Thoresby/Welbeck Humanities Day Y9 AP2 sent home Monday 2ndFebruary AS PE Orals this week Y7 Inter-House Football Competition Wednesday 4th February School Holy Communion Service Thursday 5th February Y9/10 Intermediate Maths Challenge Y9 Clumber/Rufford Parents Evening Monday 9th February Y8 Inter-House Football Competition Tuesday 10th February Y9 Thoresby/Welbeck Parents Evening Wednesday 11th February JD Parents Evening Thursday 12th February Y10 Battle Fields Study Visit (Western Front) León study visit meeting for parents/carers at in C47

2 Dates continued Celebrations and Successes Christmas End of Term Services The Christmas End of Term Services took place on the final day of the Autumn Term. These were led by our school Chaplain Fr. Matthew Askey in the Minster itself. The services were a great opportunity for each House to come together to reflect upon the true message of Christmas, to give thanks for all of the great work done in school last term, and to ask for God s blessing on the new term. Friday 13th February Y11 Reports sent home and AP2 analysis out Y7 AP2 sent home BREAK FOR HALF TERM 16th - 20th February A huge thank you to all of the students and staff who worked hard to bring all of the elements of the service together - especially to the musicians (ably directed by Mrs Whiles), readers (wonderfully rehearsed by Mrs Baguley) and House Captains. A joyful way to finish our term together. Mr Jordan Christian Union (C.U) The C.U meets every Wednesday during core lunch in B18, for fun, discussion, prayer, Bible and sweets. A big thank you goes to Owen Sparkes, who led the meetings during the autumn term, as he leaves us later this year to take up a place at university. This year we will be enjoying visiting speakers and the students themselves will be given a greater opportunity to lead the group! Fr. Matthew Choristers at Christmas Every week, throughout each and every term, a group of fourteen Minster students spanning years 4 to 9 rehearse and sing in Cathedral services for around 17 hours every week. Christmas is an incredibly busy time. After the rest of the school has broken up for Christmas celebrations the boys, who are joined by Lay Clerk adult singers in many services, have a number of very significant duties. In addition to extensive rehearsals, the choristers sing in two carol services, each attended by many hundreds of people, along with regular evensongs and a Christmas day matins. This year, as every year, the quality of music was of the highest professional standard with note-perfect performances. Congratulations to all the boys for their on-going efforts and for the service they give to Southwell Minster, not forgetting the great pleasure they bring to congregations and audiences. 6th Form Pantomime This December saw the annual staging of the Sixth Form Panto Aladdin. It is impressive that from start to finish the whole production is devised, led and performed by the students themselves. Students designed the set, music and costumes to put on a very enjoyable and funny show. It wouldn t be a Panto without the odd mishap, but that didn t stop the cast from seeing a worthwhile result from all the hours of rehearsal time. Roll on next year and who knows what the production will be, but for any current Year 11s with an interest in Theatre/Drama there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved. Mr Samuels

3 A Level Geography Visit Geography students enjoyed an excellent day at Brackenhurst on the course which was run by Nottingham Trent University. There was a talk on how employable Geography students are due to their versatility and wide skills base, and students looked at the career opportunities for Geography graduates. Students had an opportunity to do some work using GIS and plotting places on Google earth, which they really enjoyed, and to join lectures about flooding, especially in Southwell, and about planning. Students got a real feel for what university is like and hopefully it will encourage some of them to apply to study Geography next year. Mrs Timms Spotlight On the last day of a busy term in the Music Department, we hosted our Spotlight event which was designed to give all students in the school a set of engaging experiences focused on different aspects of music. Each form participated in 4 different activities throughout the day, including performances and workshops with visiting professionals who led them though musical styles including African music, urban music production, samba, recording techniques, P-bones (plastic trombones!) and more. Each workshop extended students musical skills as well as their creativity, communication and teamwork. One of the highlights of the workshops was the build your own ukulele which was enjoyed by all who took part. We were joined this year by the vocalists from the Acafellas who performed and led a workshop including singing, vocal training and beatboxing. A group of our own students put together a School of Rock concert, led by a Year 10 band which each house enjoyed. This was a great opportunity for the school to come together with a shared focus on the last day of term, and to celebrate in the talent of many students whilst enjoying new musical experiences together. For our Sixth Form there was a careers marketplace event with a special focus on the music industry, performing arts, media and journalism. Representatives from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, Confetti, Theatre Royal, Life Magazines, Midland Academy of Dance and Drama and more came to chat with students and offer career guidance. We look forward to building on this next year. Our thanks to the staff and student volunteers and performers who organised and ran the day. Little shop of Horrors Rehearsals are currently underway for the production of Little Shop of Horrors. This off-thewall show contains the most unlikely ingredients for a typical boy-meets-girl story. Take a naive and accident-prone hero, an attractive but kooky heroine, a demon dentist and a horticultural oddity which thrives on human blood and, believe it or not, you have an irresistibly feelgood show that will have everyone leaving the theatre with a smile on their face. The incredibly talented and enthusiastic cast are working hard to perfect all aspects of this demanding show. The show runs from Tuesday 10 th March Friday 13 th March at 7pm. So make sure not to miss this fantastic production! Tickets will be going on sale soon. Like The Minster Music department Facebook page if you want to keep up to date with all the exciting events leading up to this production.

4 Sports Results and Fixtures Since Christmas a number of sporting fixtures have been cancelled due to the poor weather. However, we are delighted to be able to report on student performances in the Cross Country and Athletics events. Congratulations to everyone who took part and represented the Minster School so ably. and for some fantastic individual performances. Year 7 Girls team Newark and Sherwood District Cross-County Championships: Year 7 Girls team won Year 7 Boys team won Year 8/9 Girls team won Year 8/9 Boys team won Year 10/11 Girls team came 3 rd Year 10/11 Boys teams came 3 rd Year 7 Boys team Newark and Sherwood District Indoor Athletics Championships (Year 7 only): Girls team won Boys team came 2 nd First Aid Training During this half term all Year 9 students took part in First Aid training which was provided by St. John s Ambulance. Students spent three hours learning about life-saving strategies and techniques which are an invaluable life skill. All students enjoyed and valued the sessions and the providers reported that the students were brilliant and enthusiastic. The Minster School Parent-Teacher Association funded the first aid training for students using money raised through their fundraising events and activities, as they have done in previous years. Currently, all students from Year 9 up to Year 13 (originating in this school) have received First Aid Training as a result of the MSPTA, and the school would like to extend its thanks to the MSPTA for this opportunity. Year 9 STEM Day STEM day consisted of a full day of Science, Technology and Engineering activities with Maths used in the process. The day was based on a hypothetical context of a space project to land a vehicle on a planet surface, collect items of value and to operate a commercial exploration mission. The various competitive activities of the day included rocket trajectory experiments, robotic vehicle control and journalistic media production and editing. All students met in the Main Hall where they were briefed and arranged into teams and introduced to STEM Ambassadors, two male and two female, who visited us for the two days from industrial STEM-related backgrounds. The visitors addressed the assembly in the hall during periods one and five to talk about their experiences and STEM careers which was incredibly inspiring. Period five consisted of an assembly of everyone in the Main Hall to hear further presentations by the Ambassadors, teamwork, celebration of the day s activity and to hear the results of the day and the winning teams. Prizes were awarded to the first, second, third positions before they departed at the end of the day and included one radio controlled Quadcopter per member of the team for first prize and a solar powered device for the second and third prizes. Certificates shall be awarded to recognise certain specific achievements by individual students. Everyone had a great time. Mr A Lewis

5 Information and Opportunities New Code of Conduct As mentioned by Mr Parris in his introduction; our new approaches to behaviour are being used to support the best learning experience for students in all lessons. Parents have told us that their children feel the classroom environment is more focussed on learning and that students clearly understand the system. We are working hard in school to ensure that we maximise the impact of this new approach supporting learning for all students across the school. Ensuring consistency in all classrooms and at social times in school will go on improving things for the students. Further details of the Code of Conduct and Sanctions System can be found at the end of this newsletter. We are grateful for the support parents show the school in reinforcing with their children the need to follow the Code of Conduct. When sanctions are issued, including detentions and isolations, we know that these have a greater impact on student behaviour if school and parents both stress to a student the need to complete the sanction, reflect on his or her behaviour and then modify this behaviour in the future. It is with this in mind that we have introduced new systems to keep parents informed when detentions are issued. Parental support for these detentions helps to develop students respect for the school and so improves behaviour and learning for all students in school. Mr Price Sizewell Hall Christian holiday opportunity Bishop Tony Porter, Bishop of Sherwood, and his wife are helping to lead a Christian holiday for young people aged 16 21, at Sizewell Hall, Suffolk, this year from 1 st 8 th August. To find out more about what Sizewell has to offer; about the leaders and the how to take part in the holiday please go to: Road changes and variable speed limit Nottinghamshire County Council plans to introduce 20mph speed limits outside all schools in the county and as part of this programme the Council is currently considering introducing a 20mph speed limit outside The Minster School. Speed surveys have been undertaken outside the school and the speed of traffic is considered low enough to indicate that the scheme may be introduced without additional speed reduction features/measures. As the school is on a main traffic distributor road a variable advisory 20mph speed limit would be introduced which will operate at school start and finish times, Monday Friday during term time only and 30mph (or appropriate) limit at all other times. It is envisaged that the signage will be implemented before the end of this financial year, i.e. 30 th March More detailed information can be found on the school website:

6 Spring Term English Competitions This term the English department is promoting two national competitions, one from the BBC and the other from Waterstones. Students with a passion for creative writing are encouraged to find out more from their English teacher. To view some of last year s winning stories go to:

7 Student Code of Conduct The Basic Expectations This Code of Conduct applies in lessons and in social times, in the real world and the virtual world, when someone is watching and when no-one is. Engage with learning and allow others to learn Be on time for all sessions and wait quietly for the teacher Enter the classroom calmly and be prepared with the required equipment Follow the teacher s instructions; listen carefully to the teacher and to other students when they are talking Keep personal electronic devices out of sight in all learning sessions unless the teacher asks you to use them for learning Stay in the classroom throughout the lesson visits to the toilet or water fountain should not normally be necessary Talk about your learning rather than your social life in lessons Wait for instructions before packing away or leaving the lesson Show respect for others and our school Follow instructions from members of staff first time every time Tell the truth Listen politely to what other people say and show respect through good manners Care for those around you. Bullying should be addressed by everyone, don t do it, don t allow it to go on, report it if you see it. Neither swearing nor violent behaviour is ever acceptable Wear the correct uniform smartly Keep the school free from litter Eat only at the right time and in the right place Respect school property and report any damage Classroom Sanction System This system is used by all members of staff in all classrooms. It provides clarity to members of staff and to students and helps ensure a positive learning environment at all times. Clear Sanctions S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Sanction 1 - First warning When a student is showing behaviour which is persistent, disrespectful or disruptive, he or she will be given a first warning. Sanction 2 - Final warning If the behaviour continues during that lesson the member of staff will give a final warning which must be logged on SIMS. Sanction 3 - Departmental Detention When a student carries on misbehaving after being given a final warning, he or she will be given a detention by the member of staff. Departments will have systems to determine when this is served and with which member of staff. This must be logged on SIMS. Sanction 4 - On Call Should the issuing of a detention fail to change the behaviour of the student, the member of staff will use the On Call system. The student will usually return to the classroom supported by the On Call member of staff. They will log this on SIMS. Sanction 5 Removal from Class and Senior Staff Detention If the student demonstrates that they are unable to return to the classroom and behave appropriately, they will be removed by the On Call member of staff and taken to work elsewhere. The classroom teacher will provide work for the student to complete. This will be logged by the On Call member of staff who will also issue a Senior Staff Detention in addition to the Departmental detention already issued.