ASA TODAY Issue 46

Careers Fair

Students had the chance to speak to STEM companies about careers opportunities.

Page 13

Africa Trip

Read a diary of the fully fundraised trip in this special pull out.

ASA TODAY

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

The All Saints’ Academy Newspaper

Pages 9 - 12

www.asachelt.org

All Saints’ Academy Soars up the League Table All Saints’ Academy, Cheltenham continues to make great progress in its overall GCSE and A Level performance. The Joint Anglican and Catholic sponsored Academy has climbed up the recently published school performance tables for overall GCSE performance, which is now measured by the new Progress 8 score.

The Principal, Dermot McNiffe, puts this rapid progress down to the high expectations that are set for all students at All Saints’ Academy.

“High expectations of student discipline for learning and an expected studious approach to lessons and homework has been the key to our success. The ethos for learning during school hours and outside of school hours, whether in the Academy or at home, has dramatically improved and as a result we are securing excellence in student achievement. This now puts us in the top three non-selective schools serving the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area.”

“We have heavily invested in good quality staffing and leadership to ensure that the highest standards of teaching and learning are consistent right across the Academy.”

Continued on page 2.

Performing Arts continues to grow Twenty-nine All Saints’ Academy students took to the stage at the Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury as part of the annual Shakespeare Schools Festival.

This was the fifth year All Saints’ has taken part in this exciting drama project. Previous years have seen Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice and Taming of the Shrew. This year the largest cast yet performed Julius Caesar.

The students spent months preparing with Mr Aitchison, who directed the production.

Special commendations go to Callum Bell, Chantae Sellers, Peter Etheredge, Tamzyn Regan and Harvey White who all put in their best performances ever!

See photos of the production on page 15.

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

By Mrs Edgar

PR & Communications Manager Chief Editor We have had a very busy Term 1 and 2 this year. Students have been involved in a variety of projects such as Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Academy auditions for our upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast, sporting competitions and creating Christmas Hampers.

Over the last few weeks we have also been supporting our local primaries Christmas Fairs. We have been helping pupils create Christmas Slime and they have also had the opportunity to meet Belle from the upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast!

If you are interested in writing for the Academy newspaper please email asatoday@asachelt.org

ASA TODAY Editorial Team Chief Editor: Mrs Edgar Editor: Miss Smith

EDITORIAL www.asachelt.org

Continued from the front cover.

“Despite the national challenges with the GCSE reforms this year, we have bucked the trend and our results will continue to improve. We are incredibly proud of our students and their determination to learn and succeed. Evidence of this great work is highlighted in the significant improvement in our GCSE and A Level results in 2017”.

“We are confident our results will continue to rise year upon year. Our Year 11 students have already sat their mock examinations during the autumn term. The buzz for learning, achieving and succeeding at All Saints’ Academy will no doubt ensure the best ever GCSE and A Level outcomes next Summer.”

“At All Saints’ Academy there is a real desire to achieve excellence in all that we do whilst living out our Christian values of love, peace, justice, respect, reconciliation and service to others. Our Academy is open to serve all young people living in the Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester area. We are lucky to have brilliant modern facilities and resources with a talented staff team who focus on providing a caring, enriching, academic learning environment for all our students to succeed. It is not by chance that we are a successful Academy, it is down to our ambition, passion and drive to provide an excellent education for all our students.

2

By Mr McNiffe Principal

Wow what a fantastic Autumn term we have had at All Saints’ as you can see from our front page article we are now in the top three performing non-selective schools in Cheltenham.

We have certainly hit the ground running this year in ensuring we push on to achieve even greater success over this year for our students. The articles in this edition highlight how involved we are a wide range of enrichment opportunities for our students from our Trip to Tanzania, the Cheltenham Literature festival, Shakespeare Schools performance and involvement in our local primary school Christmas fairs.

Enjoy the read and all our best wishes for Christmas and New Year!

Christmas Hampers

Formerly known as Parent Forum This group - which meets once a term, for an hour, to discuss a whole variety of issues related to life at the Academy.

All parents are welcome to come along and share any concerns, feedback or suggestions they wish to raise on matters linked to the life of the students at the Academy.

Over the years topics discussed have included Homework, Academy Uniform and Parents’ Evenings.

If you are interested in attending please email Mrs Crawford on acrawford@asachelt.org.

We look forward to seeing you.

Beauty and the Beast Show dates: Thursday 1st March, 7pm Friday 2nd March, 7pm Saturday 3rd March, 12.30pm & 7pm Book your tickets on parentmail now!

Address: Blaisdon Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 0WH Phone: 01242 711200 Absences: 01242 711203 Email: admin@asachelt.org

Well done to students, parents, carers and staff for generously donating food and gifts to the Christmas hampers!

34 hampers were donated to the YMCA.

www.asachelt.org

@asachelt

NEWS

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

www.asachelt.org

Dan Hicks wins Business Award

By Mr Kerr

Business Teacher

Dan Hicks has been awarded the ‘Stuart Langworthy Training Business Award’ for his dedication, enthusiasm and hard work inside and outside the business classroom. The award is given to pupils who show strong enterprising abilities and who show promise of being successful entrepreneurs. Dan showed true entrepreneurial spirit with his efforts in the Tenner Challenge, where although no profit was made, he learnt a valuable lesson in stock control. Dan also showed his natural salesmanship abilities when he helped the Sixth Form Young Enterprise team to sell their products at Open Evening.

Dan is now Eminence’s top salesman and highest individual revenue earner

in just one evening!

Inside the classroom, Dan has shown a real change in attitude in Year 10 and has got his head down to achieve Distinction level work in all three of his assignments which is very impressive. It’s worth mentioning at this point that the whole Year 10 Business Studies cohort have shown fantastic attitude and determination since their course change and they all deserve great praise.

Well done Dan!

Children in Need Fundraising £134 raised!

3

SPIRITUALITY

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

www.asachelt.org

Harvest Stations Clifton Diocese Chaplaincy

By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain

The Chaplains set up five interactive prayer and reflection zones on the theme of Harvest, Harvest of the Grain, Harvest of the Sea, The importance of fresh water for all, Fairtrade,

spreading the Harvest and Thankfulness. Members of the Chaplaincy Team assisted visitors as they moved around the stations.

Year 7 Tutor Groups were then invited to visit the stations during their Extended Collective Worship time. Once again members of the Chaplaincy Team assisted during these sessions helping out at each of the stations.

4

Team Commissioning Service

By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain

On Friday 24th Mr Pinless, Anglican Chaplain and I, Roman Catholic Lay

Chaplain, accompanied new members of the All Saints’ Academy Chaplaincy Team, together with several existing members to Downside Abbey for this years’ service.

Bishop Declan led the service and it began with a procession

of school banners into the Abbey. The bishop then welcomed the young people representing schools from all over the diocese. The Gospel was taken from Matthew and the passage chosen told us about Jesus calling the disciple Peter and three others to follow him, and in his homily Bishop Declan spoke about how each of us are called by God to be people of love and care for others.

In the Act of Dedication all were asked; to bring their gifts and talents to the Chaplaincy Team, to try and help other people, to be a friend to those who feel alone, to be work for justice and be a peacemaker in their home and school, to forgive others, to put others first, to care for our world and to show in their actions what it means to follow Jesus. This links to our Academy Gospel values of Respect, Love, Service, Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. The responses were ‘With God’s help we will.’ The service ended with a rousing rendition of ‘Shine Jesus Shine.’

£155 raised for

Macmillan Coffee Morning on 27th September ‘17.

A big thank you goes to all the staff who supported the event.

Harvest station in main reception

Year 7 Retreats

By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain

Harvest station in the chapel

During October and November Retreat Days for Year 7’s were held at The Rock, on Tewkesbury Road. Each tutor group, accompanied by their tutor and the Chaplain attended one full day. The theme was Community and Belonging. The morning sessions included some ice breaker activities, then students were given the opportunity to explore and have a close look at the features which can be found in Christian Churches. St Peter’s provides a perfect example of a traditional church.

Students were then invited to visit interactive prayer/reflection stations provided by the Rock staff on different topics including forgiveness, big questions, thankfulness, world issues and hopes and dreams. These allowed time to discuss and reflect/pray and take part in the activities, providing a valuable opportunity for students to share their feelings and opinions.

After break, the students in their groups were invited to produce their own interactive stations based on themes connected with Community.

This activity proved very successful and the students really engaged with it, the stations showed great thought and creativity with a variety of resources used, again each station had an activity and students chose a suitable bible

quotation from a selection given to them. Students then visited each of the stations and were given the opportunity to say/write a prayer or reflect.

The afternoon session included team building exercises which reinforced what has been discussed earlier. The days provided a great opportunity for the students to work together in small groups and enabled the sharing of ideas and feelings on the theme of Community and Belonging with Christian values at the core.

It was pleasure to have accompanied the young people and shared these special days away from the Academy environment with them and I would like to thank the staff at The Rock for the support, insight and care shown to our students.

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

SIXTH FORM

My Diary of RYLA

By Keenan Taylor Student Reporter

During the latter half of my twelfth school year at All Saint’s Academy, I was approached by Mrs J Parr and Mrs J Taylor, regarding an opportunity from the local Rotary Club. The opportunity was free admission to participate in RYLA – a leadership course for students aged from 16 to 18 with the intention of training young adults to become more confident in themselves as leaders. In early July 2017, I

met with Paul Clark, a representative of the team, who took me through the procedure and what I would be doing at RYLA – the meeting fuelled my excitement; I couldn’t wait to go.

On the morning of Tuesday 25th August, I awoke bursting at the seams with excitement. As the time to depart for the course grew nearer, my excitement was drowned out by anxiety. I would be attending the course on my own; thrown beyond the reaches of my comfort zone, only to arrive later that day with no knowledge of who anyone was. Before I knew it, Paul Clark arrived to whisk me away to the Dean Field Study Centre in the Forest of

6

Christmas Shoe Boxes

Dean at six o’clock sharp. I was one of first to arrive and was sent to my room to unpack. Soon after, Jack Greening, a student from The Crypt Grammar School in Gloucester, stumbled in with an absurd amount of bags. We greeted each other and became friends in the very same moment. Once we had unpacked, we went downstairs to the dinner hall where, through Jack, I met some others, it’s amazing how quickly you settle in and make friends when everyone is in the same situation as you. Afterwards, we were asked to gather in the lounge where we were randomly placed into four teams: Kingfishers, Cool, Three of a Kind and

Fantastic Four. I was lucky enough to be a part of the wondrous Fantastic Four. We got to know our teams very well – we all became close and I am ever so thankful for them as they made the whole experience really enjoyable.

Wednesday 26th August was our first full day at the course. It was a race to get into the showers and stuff our faces with delicious breakfast goods before eight-thirty. Once clean and fed we made our way to the lounge once more.

We were introduced to the idea of Day Leader and Team Leader. Every day, each person would vote for who they wanted for these roles. Team Leaders were in charge of looking after their team and explaining tasks to them, and the Day Leader was in charge of organising each activity and ensuring everything went smoothly – we were given these responsibilities to develop our leadership skills. On Wednesday, we participated in several group activities ranging from making a paper giraffe to putting up a tent without instructions.

Each activity taught us about the values of team-work. This allowed us to con-

nect with one another on a more personal level thorough the challenging tasks we were set whilst having a laugh.

Despite this only being the first day, it was clear that we were already itching toward success and close friendships.

The next couple of days were the most exciting and challenging of the entire course. As a team, we experienced many obstacles and hardships we had to overcome, but also entertained many moments of joy accompanied with hilarity and happiness. We participated in climbing courses that pushed members of my team to combat their fear of heights, through this we learnt the importance of support and encouragement, which we displayed frequently to push people in the team to their full potential. We participated in kayaking activities that taught me the value of patience as gaining control of the kayak proved difficult. Finally, we ventured to Monmouth where we were tasked to raise money for the British Heart Foundation by any means we liked. This experience taught me the value of initiative and creativity, whilst developing my confidence.

I’m glad to be back home, but I’m also sad. I met some wonderful people who I am delighted to call friends. Leaving them wasn’t easy but I am so thankful for the memories we created, shared and the experiences we had together.

I’m proud to say that we’ll keep in touch and see one another regularly.

Upon my return, the Rotary club approached me and asked if I would participate in their annual Shoebox campaign and plant some bulbs on the school premises to promote their End Polio campaign. I was honoured to participate in both, getting other members of the team involved. The bulb planting was a huge success and we were able to supply them with 20 filled shoeboxes. I was also asked to present my experiences at one of the weekly Rotary Club meetings. I was greeted with warm welcomes and applauded for my presentation upon my leave. I cannot fathom nor put into words how thankful I am to be sent on the course. It was truly an once-in-alifetime opportunity that has taught me the values of self-worth and leadership.

Well done to our kind Sixth Form students who made fantastic Christmas Shoe Boxes! These boxes have been collected by the Rotary Club who are then distributing them to disadvantaged children in Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Romania.

Cheltenham Literature Festival Visit On Friday 13th October, eleven Sixth Form students (including myself) visited the Cheltenham Literature to participate in a Journalism and Publishing workshop. We arrived promptly – nineforty sharp – eager to see what the day would hold. We sat in a tent named ‘The Nook’, joined by several other

organise items of news into categories and list them in order of importance; this activity led to discussion breaking-out across the venue and provided students with insight into how a typical day as a journalist panned out. It propelled my desire to be a journalist.

After a long lunch, students returned to The Nook this time we were greeted by members of the Oxford University Press whom came to discuss the process of publishing. The second workshop pushed students to get involved and had them creating a word copy, a

schools, and were greeted by Journalist, Phil Collins and Deputy Editor for the Times, Emma Tucker, who began to discuss the importance of journalism and the articulation of the paper. They also taught us the importance of loyalty toward their business and we discussed their competitors and why some sources may not be trusted. Scott Tizzard said: “Despite some bias towards The Times, it was an informative and interesting day.” Students were asked to

front cover design and a PR event for a soon-to-be-published book, WALLS. Sammie Smith said: “It was really interesting and an interactive opportunity that allowed us to have more of an understanding into book publishing.” Attending the Literature Festival was an incredible experience that inspired students to enter the sphere of journalism and publishing, with student Tamsyn Lewis saying it made her “want to look into their fields of work.”

By Keenan Taylor Student Reporter

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

SIXTH FORM www.asachelt.org

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED Join a thriving Sixth Form and study a range of A Levels and BTECs. There are also opportunities to play for Cheltenham Town Football Club, mentor younger students, write for the Academy Newspaper and go to places such as New York.

Our new prospectus can now be seen online at: www.asachelt.org Apply via our online application form: WWW.ASACHELT.ORG/SIXTHFORMAPPLICATIONFORM

7

REMEMBRANCE

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

By Mr Pinless

RE Teacher Anglican Chaplain If anything celebrates the unique culture and ethos of All Saints Academy it has to be the way that we observe, celebrate and respect Remembrance Day. There are few times in a school of 1000 students where tongues can be stilled to a point where true silence exists. A famous song, that my parents used to sing when I was a child, has a line that states ‘Silence is Golden’. I think never a truer word is spoken then when we pause for those few minutes in the year.

For silence, like gold, is precious, it has great worth and value. It is not something that abounds commonly in day to day life, but when it’s found it’s treasured and rejoiced over whilst it lasts. Some people may experience great hordes of it, where others might not.

In an Academy like ours , sometimes that golden silence is rare, but when it is found it becomes all the more precious. As we commemorated our remembrance this year in our assembly, as our choir sung, our cadets marched, as our students read their poems and as we observed our silence, we remembered the sacrifice of those

www.asachelt.org

many thousands of brave individuals who chose to serve others rather than be served. Our silence was precious and befitting of those people who gave themselves in body and mind in service of something bigger than themselves.

All Saints’ Academy is its own individual community, but also serves our wider area. It was therefore a real pleasure this year to serve both our local community of West Cheltenham and also the wider community of Cheltenham in their individual acts of remembrance. As such, whilst many of us were gathered in the hall Olly Ray, Jade Pearce (Year 11), Leo Haylett-Griffiths (Year 8) and Mrs Spence went to participate in the act of remembrance at The Rock, on Tewkesbury Road. Here our students were joined by members of the local community to observe a silence outside church by the war memorial. Olly and Jade read the names of those listed in the memorial while Leo Haylett-Griffiths (Year 8) presented a wreath on behalf of the Rock and the School. Mrs Spence remarked that ‘this was a true privilege to observe and demonstrated how our values of love, peace and justice are modelled beyond the Academy walls.’

This year also saw another exciting opportunity for us participate in a greater scale within the county as students of the Academy were invited to participate in the Cheltenham Festival of Remembrance.

This was a great privilege as All Saints’ was the first Academy to ever be invited to such a prestigious event, attended by a number of VIP guests, including the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, our local MP, as well as serving members of the armed services. Two students, Stephanie Odokara and Ethan Ayres (Year 10), who read their original poems, were accompanied by Mr McNifee, Mrs Spence and myself to the event where they enjoyed a concert by the Gloucestershire police band and male voice choir.

One of the undeniable highlights of evening was the parade of the standards as they were brought into the hall. At the end of the parade, to celebrate 100 years of Women in service a number of women representing the forces paraded into the hall. The stars being two ladies aged 95 and 105 who served in the second world war in the Royal Navy Wrens and as a Mosquito pilot delivering planes to air bases. The students remarked it was a real privilege to see them march in proudly with their medals pinned to their chests.

When the moment of remembrance approached both Stephanie and Ethan read with a confidence and clarity that honoured the occasion and as the poppies fell from the ceiling a golden silence descended again that reminded us that sacrifice is never easy but should always be remembered.

A poppy on my chest A poppy on my chest, For those who gave their lives.

For those who put their country, Before their families, before their wives.

A poppy on my chest For all the tears shed, By members of the families, Of the men the war cast dead.

A poppy on my chest, For those who had the guts, To sustain greater injuries than bruises, scars and cuts.

For those who were man enough to put their country first, Be it for their better or be it for their worst.

A poppy grown in a field of sorrow, A spec of hope for a new tomorrow.

A flower grown in a field of dirt, A flower that survived the war and hurt.

Though millions died, They didn’t die in vain, They gave their lives to bring us, The world we have today.

£106.50 was raised by All Saints’ Academy for the Poppy Appeal.

Many thanks to all who contributed and special thanks to the Sixth Form volunteer collectors.

George Hymas (Year 7)

8

AFRICA MISSION

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

By Miss Morley

Head of Health & Social After two years of careful planning and an epic amount of fundraising, on Tuesday 18th July the Africa Team 2017 began the long journey to Kigoma, Tanzania. Three flights later, some travel sickness and a nap in Dar Es Salaam airport, we had made it.

Our arrival at Kigoma airport felt like the start of the adventure. We were met by members of the Diocese of Western Tanganika, who mastered the art of smiling, shaking hands and carrying our bags whilst chattering away in Kiswahili and English with precision.

This was the famous Tanzanian hospitality that we had heard so much about.

We were also introduced to Khamisi, our mini bus driver for the trip. As first impressions go, he was reasonably intimidating – but his size and presence would soon become something that the team would appreciate and rely on!

As we left Kigoma airport, the team were a mixture of over-tired and overwhelmed. It is hard to describe our first bus journey, as there was so much to see and to take in. People were bustling up and down the road; cars, trucks and people balancing full length planks of wood or bananas on the back of their push bikes, with little thought for traffic laws or personal safety.

After a quick stop at our first accommodation, a wing at the training hospital, with surprisingly comfortable rooms and en-suite bathrooms.

Bizarrely, the sink taps had no running water. We made our way to our first school, Archbishop Kahurunanga, where we were met by the entire school lining the drive. There was a scrum at the door when we tried to get off the bus, so many people wanted to say hello and shake our hands. Mr Pinless was working the crowd like a pro, with the entirety of the school trailing in his wake. After the greetings and gratitude’s, our team were introduced to their first buddies, students from the school who had been assigned to look after the ASA team. The team took everything in their stride and were soon chatting away to their new friends.

Over the next few days, the team threw themselves into the challenge of attending a Tanzanian school.

The school put on several performances for us, including traditional dancing, talks on evolution and an interesting debate on the importance of education.

The All Saints’ team taught some lessons on English vocabulary and spiritual leadership. The afternoons were dedicated to sports, this was an excellent bonding opportunity for the team. Netball and football are already popular in Tanzania, so Mr Pierce and I were able to coach the school’s teams. We also wanted to introduce some new sports to the Tanzanian students and over the two afternoons had great fun explaining the rules of tag rugby and rounders.

www.asachelt.org

9

AFRICA MISSION

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

Everyone in Tanzania seems able to hit, throw and catch a ball, so the games were fast paced and excellent fun. We had a Volleyball match against the staff which felt like the entire school were watching. At the end of the two days, we were extremely happy to present Madame Rose, the headmistress of Archbishop Kahurunanga, with half of the sports equipment and kit that was kindly donated by our sponsors.

Our first weekend in Tanzania provided us with some free time to explore the area around Kigoma. We set out to Ujiji, a town on the banks of Lake Tanganyika, famous for being the site when Henry Stanley, an explorer and journalist, met Dr David Livingstone, a missionary and explorer. Where they met, there is now a museum and we were lucky enough to have a tour from the very charismatic Babu (Swahili for ‘Grandfather’ and a term of respect for older men). We then ventured to the Lake. Local children from Kigoma dived naked in and out of the water and wooden boats bobbed on the surface of the lake. Fishermen were bringing in the catch and it was all so busy and exciting. We headed back to Kigoma to explore some of the shops and the markets, before starting what turned out to be one of the most hilarious and terrifying road trips to the rural town of Kasulu. Our mini bus, whilst not small, was incredibly cramped with all of our gear. Tanzania’s roads are an experience in themselves - even the potholes have potholes! It was also incredibly dusty and visibility was nonexistent. Khamisi did an incredible job in navigating but Miss Wellington still kept being hit by Chris Screen’s giant holdall every time we braked. In desperation Mr Pierce seized a hard hat from somewhere to protect himself should the TV come flying off its bracket. Miraculously, we made it to Kasulu aching but in high spirits.

Our first Sunday in Kasulu, myself, Mr Pierce and Mr Pinless were up before day break to attend the first of two services at Kasulu Cathedral.

We travelled there with the Bishop and Rev. Helen Sammon, a vicar and qualified doctor who attended the last trip and was a key member of our team.

When we arrived at the Cathedral, it was touching to see how revered the building was. Christmas lights and decorations were up all year round, with lace bunting and silk sheets adorning the walls. We were expected to sit at the front of the Cathedral on the dais (a low platform for a throne), with the Bishop and the rest of the church officials. Things were all going well until Rev. Helen got up to preach her sermon, leaving us stranded with the Kiswahili hymn book and no one to follow! Rev. Helen preached her sermon and, during the collection part of the service, received a chicken as a gift from a member of the congregation. The collection is an important part of Tanzanian church services and, unlike the slightly furtive donations made in English churches, people parade down the aisle to add their donations to the basket.

www.asachelt.org

10

Below is a poem that Mr Pinless wrote whilst we were out there, inspired by how seriously the students take their education and how they see it as a ticket to a new life. This was written after a visit to Nyasha Secondary school.

Education, education, education Helps you rise above your station To stand above your future set By those who don't perceive your value yet.

For education liberates the mind Enables the jewels of future hope to find Shining gems of priceless worth That with sound investment brings new life to birth.

Liberation is the goal With new found skills that inspires the soul to dream, to ponder, To believe with wide eyed wonder That your place here on earth can be so, much, grander.

Than this lowly station.

Your aspirations held in check.

But with education you receive Fresh cards from an unspoilt, unfettered deck.

But stop.

Listen.

Hear these words.

Your liberation starts with knowing That life requires resilient sowing though things are hard and choices few Tightly grasp them from each day that's new.

For education, education, education It forms afresh a new creation With those old set limitations undermined Through education, liberation you will find.

AFRICA MISSION

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

People give what they can, and if a monetary contribution isn’t possible, bring produce and livestock to be auctioned off. The chicken named ‘Kevin Ferdinand’ was one such gift and we believe he ended up as part of Ephraim’s, (another fantastic contact that we made part of team) Sunday dinner. The rest of the team joined us for the second service. In the afternoon, we embarked on what Grant described as a ‘minipilgrimage’ into the hills outside of Kasulu. In these hills were a series of crosses that depicted the final stages of Jesus’ life. Our selected Diocese buddies joined us, and the walk was another excellent opportunity to get to know one another. The views were stunning and the walk was a highlight during the team’s reflections that evening.

On Monday we visited Nixon’s school Nyasha Secondary school.

Nixon is a teacher at this school and is a close friend to the first All Saints’ group who visited Tanzania in 2014.

Our intentions were to deliver a similar program to the one we had delivered in Archbishop Kahurunanga but, as a group, we found our time at Nyasha more challenging. There were some marked differences between the two schools. Archbishop Kahurunanga is a church run school whilst Nyasha is government run. There were a lot more students at Nyasha and at one point, we found ourselves with around 500 students on the sports fields. As with all of the students we had met in Tanzania, curiosity over the visitors was the main factor and several students were being interviewed by groups of Nyasha students. On the second day, the novelty had worn off slightly for the Nyasha students and the All Saints’ team were able to deliver more of the program we had intended, as well as beginning to forge relationships with certain members of the student body. We made donations of sports equipment and kit to Nyasha Secondary School, which were much appreciated by all.

The next day meant we were leaving the Bishop’s compound to begin what had been dubbed as ‘Culture Camp’. The Diocese of Western Tanganyika (DWT) students would be joining us for this leg of the trip, with the aim for both teams to live together for a total of 5 days. Throughout this time we visited Kabanga School and Orphanage, which had a marked impact on the ASA and DWT teams. We also had the opportunity to visit Bishop Makaya High School, the school that is being supported by the Diocese of Gloucester. This was the site that the team of the first trip worked so tirelessly on, so it was a real privilege to visit and see the progress that had been made.

We had a tour of the extensive grounds of the school site, and also helped to clear some of the brush from an area that they hope to build on. The ASA team were given traditional Tanzanian tools including a jembe (like a garden hoe), a sickle type tool and machetes.

The DWT took great delight in mocking the ASA teams attempts to use.

www.asachelt.org

11

Trip to Kabanga Primary School We travelled as a team along with our Tanzanian friends, to Kabanga Primary School, a school with both able-bodied children and disabilities. This is the main place where albino children go for their education, as in Tanzania, they are hunted based on a belief that they possess magical powers.

At the start of the day, we believed this would be one of the toughest days to see all of these children struggling in fear of persecution, but also from general impairments including deafness and blindness. We had to travel to many different government buildings just to gain permission to enter the school, but when we arrived, it was much easier than we imagined.

It was amazing to see all of the children of different abilities, working alongside each other in one safe and happy place. Although the concept was tough, we quickly came to realise that staying at this school, was the best place for the children, and was an encouraging place where they could get an education.

We spent the day going in and out of lessons to see how they learn together, and finished off with spending some time with the students, playing together with them with simple things like balloons and soft balls, a chance that these students may rarely ever get and was very enjoyable just to make new friends and spend time with them.

This was one of our favourite days of the trip, and was encapsulated by a quote found on the walls of the school “We can’t reach any higher if we can’t feel ordinary love”, as the love shown by everyone at the school was great to see especially with the children from different abilities and backgrounds.

Matt Jones

AFRICA MISSION

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

Bishop Makaya High School will be the only high school in the area of Kasulu, so the uptake of students benefitting from this school will be incredibly high.

On this afternoon, the ASA team introduced the DWT students to some traditional sports day type games and races. The ‘over under’ race with balloons was particularly popular.

Another highlight of the trip came on the Saturday, when the ASA team had the opportunity to visit their DWT friends’ houses and families.

Two ASA students and two DWT students made up each group and there was much excitement at the end of the day when the teams were back together and could exchange stories. Some of the boys had crashed a wedding that was happening on the street outside, whilst others had visited primary schools and flour mills. Mr Pierce and I had been invited to Nixon’s house, which was a real pleasure. The 2014 Africa team had made a gift to Nixon which meant that he was able to start building his own home and, because this increased his status, he was then able to marry. He now also has a son, Christian who was named after a member of the previous ASA team! We were fed a large amount of food and soda, and took a tour of the area Nixon now lived, as well as visiting his local church. We left feeling proud of the legacy the previous ASA team had left, and hoping that we could do the same.

On the Sunday, the groups were split again allowing us to visit several churches in the surrounding areas. The DWT team members were a real asset during this process, as we would have all been lost and confused without them there. The music in Tanzanian church services is a real experience. The sound systems are turned up to maximum and the choir, dressed up in their matching outfits, perform intricate dance moves to the songs that they have pre-recorded during that week. When the ASA group met back up we all had gifts that had been given to us, another example of the Tanzanian hospitality. We had several litres of palm oil, 4 huge whole sugar canes and another chicken, Kevin Ferdinand the 2nd, was roaming around the pastoral centre where we were staying.

This Sunday was our final day with the DWT team, and the evening included a farewell dinner attended by the Bishop Saddock and other church personnel. This was a wonderful evening, with much singing, laughter and gift giving from both teams.

Mambo soasoa, ‘Everything is OK’, had become the team song and the performance was brilliant, with enthusiasm rather than skill being the overriding factor. Both teams were moved when it came to the final goodbyes.

Once we returned to Kigoma, the team headed to the banks of Lake Tanganyika and the stunningly beautiful Jacobsen’s beach. This gave the team some much needed down time and an opportunity to reflect on everything that we had seen and done. The team were determined to learn from their experiences and many hoped to either return to Tanzania or continue with

www.asachelt.org

12

humanitarian work in the near future.

We also have hopes to invite our new friends back to All Saints’ Academy.

The team would like to thank everyone who helped and supported us with this project. A celebration evening with videos from the trip and testimonies from members of the team will be happening in January next year.

Monday 31st July This morning was a very early start as we were heading to an orphanage on the way back to Kigoma. As usual for breakfast, we had a boiled egg and a bread roll. Shortly after, we put our luggage back on our bus and set off.

The roads were dusty and very bumpy so managing to stay seated in the unstable seats of our Tanzanian bus was a challenge. Luckily, us and the bus made it to the orphanage in one piece.

We first arrived at a church in which we were welcomed in to be introduced. After a short talk, we had a look around the church and then walked down to the orphanage.

From the minute we stepped into the doors, we were overwhelmed by the responsibility the workers had over these children. The children were 0-2 years old and brought to the orphanage to be given milk that their fathers couldn’t provide. Their mothers unfortunately would have passed away during child birth. It was heart breaking and quite distressing to hear the stories behind the children at the orphanage. Although we couldn’t change their past, we did all we could to make their day very special.

As a group, we had a look around the orphanage and were handed babies that were only weeks old. We were shown their conditions and limitation of milk. We spent an hour or so playing games with them and cuddling the babies before the meal of rice and meat.

After eating, we gave them a sum of money to provide for these children. As you could imagine we were thanked a great deal and had really made an impact. This was one of the best things to see during our trip, knowing we had contributed to provide milk to these children.

Although the day was tough and some of the stories behind the children being there were sad, it was amazing to think we had given them such a good day and money towards providing for milk.

Jess Sykes

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

CAREERS www.asachelt.org

STEM Careers Fair

By Mrs Parr

Pastoral Manager Post 16 Our STEM Career Fair brought students face to face with a range of prospective employers and higher educational establishments. 20 employers, businesses, apprenticeship and higher education providers were on hand to discuss opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Students were able to take part in practical activities and use new technologies including an ultrasound machine which tells students if they are going to grow taller, an iPhone retina scan which took pictures of the inside of their eye, monitor their heart rate with an ECG machine as well as test electrical circuits.

Events like this are an excellent way of raising awareness to our students of the great opportunities which exist in education and employment.

“I spent time talking with Sixth Form students and the representative from Plymouth University about both generic degrees and Business related degrees. It was very thought provoking for the students and gave them a focus to work on moving forwards. The STEM Career Fair was a great event, which is really valued by the students and could make the difference between someone having the confidence to go to university or not.”

Mr Kelly Head of Technology Faculty

“It was fantastic to see our Year 10 students so engaged, positive and polite! They are a real credit to our Academy and I was impressed with the level of ambition our students have!”

Miss Pettit Progress Leader

Diary Dates

1st February 2018 Creative Industries Career Fair “The overall buzz and vibe from the STEM fair was awesome. Students (of course) loved the free gifts but in my lessons they were actually explaining where the gift was from and what careers they could do linking to it.

A lot said they loved the heart rate stall and several girls in Year 8 said they left feeling very positive about starting a career in the NHS and midwifery.

My Year 10 drama class took all the performing arts brochures that they could to bring back to show me!! All very excitable!”

Miss Baynham-Williams Head of Drama

13

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

By Mrs Parr

Pastoral Manager Post 16 A group of students from Years 10 and 11 attended The Skills Show, the largest free experiential skills, apprenticeships and careers event in the UK. The Skills Show provided something for everyone. The experiences on offer were diverse and included skills such as plumbing, photography, nail art, programming, 3D design, TV and radio production, aeronautical engineering and criminology.

Over 130 top local and national employers were at the Show, including Royal Mail, IBM, BAE Systems, NHS Careers, HS2, Airbus, Barclays and Toyota, offering top jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.

Impartial career guidance about careers, job opportunities, qualifications and training from the experts was on hand to give information and advice on skills, potential career choices, job opportunities, qualifications and training.

There were also spotlight career talks from apprentices, to famous faces, including former rugby world cup winner, Will Greenwood, Phil Smeaton from Costa Coffee and Dawn Elson from Gatwick Airport.

By Mrs Parr

Pastoral Manager Post 16

CAREERS www.asachelt.org

14

Skills Show

The Skills Show Sectors The Skills Show was divided into five areas, each providing a focus on particular industry sectors: - Construction & Logistics - Engineering & Technology - Health & Hospitality - Digital & Business - Creative & Design

By Mr Ferguson

“I met new people and had an opportunity to try some practical activities.”

Mary Jane Dancey Year 11 “A great day out with fun practical activities and good ideas about different careers.”

Jessica Johnson Year 11

“This was my first experience of the Skills Show at the NEC and it was a superb. In fact, this was one of the best educational trips I have ever attended. The Year 10 students who attended the trip were given an eye-opening experience into every career possible. There was something for everyone! Every Year 10 student was a credit to the Academy in the way they conducted themselves throughout day. A great event. Well done Mrs Parr and Mrs Taylor!”

Mr Bradley Assistant Vice Principal

Progress Leader

Forty five students in Year 11 visited the skills show in Birmingham and had the most valuable and rewarding experiences.

Students were able to interact with practical workshops and stations presented by manufacturing firms including Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW and British Aerospace.

They were also able to experience presentations by the BBC, Army, Airforce and the team behind the land speed record attempt. It was a massive event and allowed all the students access to an endless variety of courses being run by employers, colleges and university across the country.

Throughout the day, students were able to ask the all-important questions they had directly to potential employers and providers and opened their eyes to new opportunities available to them.

Careers Pilot

Career pilot is our preferred online career resource; it is a great website for both young people and their parents/ carers to use to find out detailed information about:

• All choices at 14, 16 and 18; • 22 job sectors and 100s of Job Profiles; • Places to study in the South of England.

The site also has Career Tools to help young people decide their choices and to identify their skills.

The site helps young people explore their options and make informed decisions about future study and work.

Careerpilot also has a Parent Zone which aims to help parents and carers get answers to career-related questions. The Parent Zone also has a quiz to help parents find answers to key questions that can impact on young people’s decisions. www.careerpilot.org.uk www.careerpilot.org.uk/parent

By Mrs Taylor

Assistant Pastoral Manager Post 16

SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

www.asachelt.org

15

DEPARTMENT NEWS

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

www.asachelt.org

Students Meet Hillary Clinton

16

Internet Safety Talk by The Shades

By Sasha Nichol Student Reporter

By Nicola Crawford Student Reporter In mid-October I and four other students were given free tickets to attend the Hillary Clinton talk as part of the Cheltenham Literature festival. We all jumped at the opportunity and couldn’t quite believe that it was true. Before we even went on the trip there were preparations to be made, each of us had to submit a question which could possibly be chosen by the organisers to be asked to Hillary. About a week before the event I was told that I had been selected amongst seven people from other schools to meet and have a photo with Hillary before the event.

As you can guess I was beyond excited and couldn’t quite believe it.

On the day, we got there quite early and did have to queue for a while but it was definitely worth it,

around 10 minutes before she was due to come on stage me and the seven others were ushered behind a curtain and down a hallway where we waited for five minutes before Hillary walked round the corner, it is safe to say we were all star struck. The interaction was brief but she was so lovely, she made sure she shook hands with each of us, and greeted us. She seemed to me like she really wanted to make an effort to not make it feel like this was merely a formality.

Once we had done the meeting we settled down to watch her interview. I found Hillary to be one of the most interesting and engaging people I have ever listened to. I didn’t consider myself a particularly political person but I honestly found her view on the world and her defeat inspiring. The whole event was set up to promote her new book which was all about how she has recovered and regained her confidence after the election defeat. She spoke a lot about how she has learnt from it and how she wasn’t bitter about

Design Technology Revision Sessions

the defeat. One of the other points she made very clearly was the gender pay gap, not only in America but in the world. I found this one of the most inspirational parts of her speech. A lot of the time we see this subject brought up in the media but not fully discussed, to hear an intelligent and strong female talking passionately about this subject was really interesting and motivating.

Overall I found this event a very refreshing insight into politics. In Britain at the moment it feels like we focus on the same issues all the time, to attend this event and hear someone from a different country and political landscape made me realise that there is a lot more to politics than the NHS and Brexit. That politics is a broad spectrum that can range from teenage mental health and education to caring for the elderly and from issues such as abortion to the every growing presence of ISIS. This event reminded me that there is a lot more to the world than sometimes we care to recognise.

On the 8th December a band called The Shades came in to do a live performance to the whole of Year 7, and talk about cyber-bullying. They gave an amazing speech, discussing their personal stories about cyber-bullying and great advice about where to get help and how to deal with it. At the end there was a Q&A session and we were all given the chance to take a picture with them and a signed photograph. I was really moved by their speech and I am not afraid to tell anyone if I get cyber-bullied.

Wednesday’s 3.20 - 5.30pm

Thursday’s 3.20 - 5.30pm

Friday’s 3.20 - 5.30pm

Product Design CG03

Product Design CG03

Food Preparation and Nutrition NEA Support CG04

Food Preparation Food Preparation and Nutrition and Nutrition By arrangement By arrangement

On Friday the 8th December ‘The Shade’ came in and did a great performance of some of One Direction songs and other cover songs. But as well as that they spoke about cyber-bullying, showing us how to stay safe online and where to go to get help if we need it.

They spoke to us about never giving out personal information, or to meet strangers online and taught us about online safety with social media. The event was very interactive and it was great that we got to meet them afterwards.

New York Team will be departing in just...

Thursday’s 8 - 8.40am Food Preparation and Nutrition – Revision CG04

By James Windust Student Reporter

57 Days

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

Deputy Head Girl Jade Pearce

www.asachelt.org

17

Year 11 Leadership

Head Girl Jessica Sykes

Head Boy Sam Knight

Deputy Head Boy Oliver Ray

Sixth Form Leadership Head Girl

Head Boy

I joined All Saints’ Academy Sixth Form in 2016 after completing my GCSEs at Tewkesbury School.

Since starting All Saints’ Academy Sixth Form I have been presented with many opportunities during my short time here such as the Young Enterprise scheme, meeting Hillary Clinton and mentoring younger students which I believe has given me better people skills which I know will help me further in the future. These opportunities have also been key when writing my personal statement and preparing my portfolio for university applications. I am currently studying Film Studies, Art and Product Design and I have the aim of doing Theatre Design in the future.

I decided to apply for Head Girl because I thought that I wanted to make an impact on a Sixth Form that is improving constantly.

I have been at All Saints’ Academy since it first opened in 2011 and I am currently taking Business, Psychology and Sport. I am hoping to go to university to study a Business and Management degree.

The teachers within Sixth Form will always do their very best to support you in any way necessary, whether it be academic or personal and are an integral part of the Sixth Form experience. Throughout my time at All Saints’, I have been given numerous opportunities that have allowed me to develop and grow as both a student and as an individual. The key one being chosen as one of the students to go on the Africa 2017 trip to Tanzania, which was truly a life changing experience and has helped my development massively. During Sixth Form I have also spent time on a Easter School at Cambridge University and led the schools Young Enterprise team to the area finals which are just two of the amazing opportunities that this Academy offers.

Nicola Crawford

Adham Rahman

Charlotte Andrews

Clarissa Evans

Declan Austin

Matthew Jones

Elliott Waring

Keenan Taylor

Scott Tizzard

Taylor Cole

ASPENS

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

www.asachelt.org

18

Introducing our new Catering Manager An interview with Jane Thorne What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I have always enjoyed cooking and used to help my Mum when I was young and she encouraged me to bake. In turn I have done that with my own boys who are both good cooks and one is a chef.

Can you tell us what exciting menu ideas are in store for us next term?

Next term to run alongside our new menus we will be running an American themed menu every Monday. We’ll include dishes such as the obvious burgers and hotdogs. But we will also have some dishes from the deep south like Jambalaya. We also intend to start a soup and a half sandwich promotion in January that will be available at the Pod to start with.

What did you study to get in to the hospitality and catering industry?

I studied cookery at school and passed with an A. I then went on to train in the my workplace and gain experience from the bottom up. I had my own catering business for 7 years which was near Woolacombe in Devon.

What is your favourite dish to eat?

I love to eat Italian and lasagne with garlic bread is a favourite. I love Spanish food too and Valencian Paella is a favourite and as some of my family live in Spain I get to eat this quite often.

How many years have you been in the industry?

I have been in the catering and hospitality industry for many years and have worked a several schools including secondary schools in Southampton were I am from originally.

SAUSAGES & MASH

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

ROAST PORK

APPLE SAUCE & POTATOES

What is your favourite dish to cook?

I love baking cakes and desserts and especially pastry dishes. However as a main course enjoy cooking Thai green curry with all the extra side dishes or a tasty Jamabalaya.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE

CHILLI CON CARNE

ONION GRAVY

GARLIC BREAD

SWEET POTATO & CHICKPEA CURRY

LEEK & COURGETTE CHEESE CRUMBLE

CHEESE & TOMATO BAKE

TUNA PASTA BAKE

COD & ROASTED VEGETABLES

TUNA SWEETCORN PLAIT

CRISPY BATTER FISH FILLET

BERRY CHEESECAKE

CARROT CAKE

CHOCOLATE & BEETROOT BROWNIE

RICE

ROAST POTATOES

WHOLEGRAIN RICE

CHUNKY CHIPS

MACARONI CHEESE

HOMEMADE VEGETABLE BURGER

HERB BREAD

CHUNKY CHIPS

BABY POTATOES

SALMON FISH FINGER WRAP GREEN SALAD MAYONNAISE

STEAMED LEMON SPONGE

LEMON DRIZZLE SERVED WITH SEASONAL VEGETABLES OR SALAD

CRUNCHY TOPPING

FRUIT TART VANILLA CUSTARD

CHUNKY CHIPS

Option 2

WEEK ONE

1st Jan, 22nd Jan, 12th Feb, 5th March, 26th March 2018

Coming Soon American themed menu Every Monday

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

By Miss Barrett PE Teacher

On Wednesday 6th December, 23 girls from Years 7 to 11 competed in the Gloucestershire Schools Gymnastics Cup. The competition involved the gymnasts performing a floor routine and a vault. For many of the pupils, it was their first time competing in a competition and despite some early nerves, all performed brilliantly. The team received some excellent scores with Elle E receiving overall first place in the floor competition and second overall in the Vault competition. Lizzie O and Jess F also performed well in the beginner category receiving 2nd and 3rd on floor. The whole team competed to a high standard and All Saints’ Academy managed to achieve overall fourth place.

The gymnasts involved were, Elle E, Kaydee W, Shanti C, Lia C, Millie C, Kelis J, Alisha S, Caitlin E, Jessica H, Tamara A, Elizabeth O, Hayley R, Ellie G, Chelsea M, Courtney T, Jessica F, Rhiannon A, Maria H-L, Lauren H, Kyani S, Daisie R, Hannah P and Kelsie D. Well done to all.

ASA SPORT www.asachelt.org

19

Issue 46, Term 2, 2017

ASA SPORT www.asachelt.org

Year 10 bring home the bronze!

20

Year 9 Rugby

By Mr Ferguson Progress Leader PE Teacher

By Mr Rollason Assistant Head of PE

‘Year 10 won a number of games against tough opposition to win the bronze medal in the district U16 championships’.

Mr Rollason Year 10 GCSE group win bronze medal at district table tennis tournament!

Wronski, Jakub Kroliczak, Ryley Kelly and Archy Greenwood won a number of games against tough opposition to win the bronze medal in the district u16 championships.

Kacper proved the most valuable player after winning 3 out of 4 of his matches. Archy, Ryley and Jakub all won two games and together they came third out of ten schools across the district. Well done boys!

Year 10 Basketball Team start with a win against Cleeve!

UPCOMING FIXTURES Year 10 football: 25th January v Bournside (away) 1st March v Chipping Campden (home) 8th March v Pates (away) Cotswold TBC Pittville TBC

Sixth Form Football: 10th January v Chosen Hill (home) 17th January v Pates (away) 24th January v Sir Thomas Rich’s School (home) Balcarras TBC Churchdown TBC

Monday

Tuesday

Lunch time 1.10 – 2.10pm

After school 3.10 – 4.10pm

By Mr Rollason Assistant Head of PE

All Saints’ Year 10’s started with a well-deservd victory in the district cup against a tough Cleeve side. The match

was close throughout and All Saints’ struggled to pull away from their opponents during the first half. During the second half All Saints’ started to put more points on the board with Brooks underneath the basket and Sicat’ s dazzling dribbling ability proving the difference. Sicat man of the match. Well done boys!

Vs Pittville (Won 66 – 10) In this second home fixture of the season the team picked up from where they left off against Cleeve and really took the game to Pittville. Excellent running from Jabbar, Walsh, Gannon and Kempson proved too strong for the visitors and gave the whole team confidence. Rucking, mauling and scrummaging were all strong and generated a great deal of possession for All Saints’, possession that this time was converted into points. A double hatrick of trys from Jabbar, a hatrick from Walsh and one from Hicks set the stall out, seven conversations from Walsh and one from Johnson added to the scorline.

Pittville were not to be outdone scoring two of their own trys in consolation. Great debuts from Gittings, Ayers and Hernandez-Morris demonstrated a clear strength in depth and hope for future fixtures. Well done boys.

Vs Cleeve (Lost 42 - 7) In this first game of the season for the boys a well disciplined and experienced Cleeve side demonstrated the importance of training and playing regularly. The All Saints’ boys looked strong in the first 10 minutes of the game and in fact dominated both territory and possession. The inability of the team to capitalise on this and find that opening to the first score cost them dearly as Cleeve broke against the run of play to score. Kicking the ball back to the visitors at the restart again gave the advantage away and without the ball the team struggled to cope with the organisation and speed of the visitors.

A break through try by Jabbar after some excellent forward play and a confident kick from Walsh were well deserved and gave the team a little of the credit they deserved in this hard fought game. Well done boys, if we can capitalise on our hard work the wins will come!

Wednesday

Thursday

Year 10 Basketball Year 9 Basketball (ER) (NF) Boys Football Year 8 (MP)

Boys Football Year 10 (ER)

BTEC Catch up session (ER)

Boys Football Year 7

Year 11 GCSE PE revision 5-6pm (MP) Netball (AM,JO,HB)

School Meetings

Girls Football (NM) Girls Football (NM)