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Telephone: 01304 201151 Absence Line: 01304 200155 Fax: 01304 200152 Email: admin@astor.dfamat.com
the
LINK December 2013
Dear Parents/Guardians
I am delighted that we have achieved the prestigious Investors In Careers Award for the fourth time. This revised criteria is very challenging and nationally validated by the Quality in Careers Standard. I am extremely proud that we continue to maintain an excellent commitment to CEIAG (Careers, Education, Independent Advice and Guidance) and is being used on the Careers England website by CXK an example of best practice. Mrs Goodwin, Director of CEAIG deserves special congratulations. The International Musical Production of ‘Anything Goes’ was performed for the last time on Saturday 7 December. It was the first time that our partner school, New Kent High, Virginia had taken the lead Director role. Both sides have learned a lot from this amazing experience. Our students performed professionally both in our theatre with UK/American/Russian international casts and again as UK/American casts in the New Kent High School theatre, USA. It has been a wonderful opportunity for all involved and was enjoyed by the audiences. Mrs Kesling-Council (Director - USA), Mrs Chamberlain (Assistant Director), Miss Cloke (Choreography), Mr Ratcliffe, Mr Everett, Mr Esdale, Mr Hornsey, Mr Tracey and Mr Horne deserve special mention for all their hard work and time to ensure such a professional level of performance from our young actors and actresses. Year 9 were extremely fortunate to have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Day organised for them by Mrs Turnbull, Director of Vocational Education. They were tasked with designing and building a trebuchet (Medieval Sling) using KNEX. Nathan Reeve was the engineer of the day and great fun was had by all. I am looking forward to the Federation Carol Service on Wednesday 18 December at 6.30pm and hope that many of you will be able to join us for an uplifting Service to celebrate Christmas together at Charlton Church. Next term will begin at pace with many Year 11 and 6th Form students taking mock exams in January. These are an extremely important indicator of final grades and used by subject staff to analyse where students may need support. This is more important than ever with exams only being taken in the summer after significant changes to our examination system by the government. Please support your sons and daughters with reminders about revision for these important exams over the Christmas holiday. Additional support sessions will continue during lunchtimes and after College throughout next term. As a result of the significant changes to examinations I am postponing the Year 9 Options evening. I will confirm the new date early in the New Year. This will ensure we are able to provide the best advice and support to Year 9 students and Parents. Finally can I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and very happy New Year. Very best wishes, Yours sincerely
E Pallant Principal
Astor College Clubs Monday GCSE Ceramics Drama Club Rebound (Juniors)
Rooms 53/50 Room 82 Dance Studio
3.30pm-4.30pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 3.30pm-5.00pm
Years 10/11 All years Junior years
Room 78 Room 81 Room 25 Fields/Sports Hall CCF Block Rooms 53/50 Sports Hall Dance Studio
3.30pm-4.30pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 3.25pm-5.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 3.30pm-5.00pm
Year 10/11 All years Year 7 and Year 8 Year 9 All years Years 10/11 Years 7, 8 and 9 Senior years
Room 81 Room 77 Gym Weights Room Room 62 Rooms 53/50
1.00pm-1.55pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm
All years Years 10, 11, Sixth Form All years KS4 (all years after Christmas) All years Years 10/11
Room 66 Room 81 CCF Block Rooms 53/50
1.00pm-1.55pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 3.25pm-5.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm
All years All years All years Years 10/11
Room 25 Rooms 53/50 Room 36
3.25pm-4.30pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 1.15pm-1.45pm
Year 9 Years 10/11 Year 7
Tuesday ICT Coursework Choir Year 7 & 8 Karaoke Club Football Practice Combined Cadet Force (CCF) GCSE Ceramics Netball Rebound (Seniors)
Wednesday Rock School BTEC Sport Help Basketball Club Weight Training Cookery Club GCSE Ceramics
Thursday Careers Drop In Clinic (CXK) Improve Keyboard Skills Combined Cadet Force (CCF) GCSE Ceramics
Friday Year 9 Karaoke Club GCSE Ceramics Science Club
DAILY CLUBS ICT Textile Club Maths Anything Goes Rehearsals
Room 78 Room 60 Room 74 White Cliffs Theatre
7.30am-8.40am 3.25pm-4.30pm 1.00pm-1.55pm 3.30pm-5.00pm
All years All years All years All cast
Commenius Trip to Spain 2013 Half term started early for a group of year 12 students who escaped to sunny Spain to participate in the government funded Comenius Project, ‘Learning European History through Staging National Historical Events.’ The meeting in Cataroja, Spain was the fourth trip in the project and the first of the 2013/14 academic school year. The six students, along with two staff members, immersed themselves in the Spanish sun and culture, participating in Valencia’s annual Moros y Cristianos festival (literally translated to Moors and Christians in English). The festival honors the capture of the city by the Moors and the subsequent re-conquest by the Christians. Students created costumes, memorized traditional dances and marched through the streets of the city to preform for the locals. “It was really embarrassing at first, but everyone got into it, including the teachers! And the whole performance was a great success. We had a great time taking part in it,” Beth Emery stated after her performance. The meeting also included a boat tour of the local rice fields and a dramatic tour around Valencia by the ghost of Jeronimo Valeriola, who showed the group of unsuspecting students the glorious sights of the city and its dark past. “The dramatic tour was interesting,” Jodie Mack commented. “And the Valencian sights were beautiful. I enjoyed visiting the old town and the City of Arts and Sciences.” The last day found the English students lounging on the beach with the soft sand between their toes and the warm breeze on their faces. With frozen yogurt in hand, it was a great end to an amazing trip. Lifelong friends were made a tears were shed, but the group looks forward to their April reunion in England. “I am so grateful for the opportunity the school has given me. This was a great experience and I learned so much.” – Kate Misson.
On the lookout for turtles at Turtle Beach
Year 8 Boys Inter Form Football It was great to see five forms taking part in this competition demonstrating all the fun of the Inter Form competitions as several students made their competition debuts. As usual all the games were fiercely contested with everyone trying to dethrone last years champions - AA. They did get off to a good start, beating SC by 2 goals to 0 in the first game but found things tougher from there. MH overcame their lack of a full match day squad to emerge as eventual winners following a tough final fixture against MG who came close to upsetting both the main two teams. SF and SC could not be separated having identical records and battling out a 1-1 draw when they played each other.
Results: 1st
MH
6pts
2nd
AA
5pts
rd
MG
4pts
4
th=
SC
3pts
4th=
SF
3pts
3
Well done to everyone! Thanks to Mr Hornsey (clearly responsible for his sides victory) and Miss Amici (soooo humble in defeat) for coming to support.
Next event – Basketball on Wednesday 18th December
Fantasy Football!!!!!! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Team Diame Army Real Ale Madrid Harper’s XI Gerrytasaray Flack’s Failures Super Leeds Artisan Town The Mighty Herrings Silk’s Star Squad Sam Burrows Team PG Butterfingers FC Hitch Hikers Shakespeare Sonnets Unknown Binary Score Too Old For This
Manager Tom Stokes Mr Davies Brad Harper Mr Gerry Mr Flack Mr Barrett Mr Horne Jack Herring Mr Silk Sam Burrows Mr Goko Mr Exton Luke Hitchman Mr Lea Josh Byford Mr Fountain Mr Mowat
Totals 878 830 823 819 758 717 708 703 697 666 597 593 532 530 522 521 482
The Astor College Fantasy Football league has had an exciting beginning and with lots of movement over the first few months. Everything is still to play for.
Combined Cadet Force Remembrance Dinner On Thursday 7 November 2013, Astor College Cadets hosted a special Remembrance Dinner to remember the heroes who lost their lives in past and current times. Lavanya finished off the evening by reading a poem she had created especially for the dinner. The 11th of November The day we shall remember Shall it be lightening, bolts or thunder? Whatever it is, we must ponder To remember That day of wonder. Soldiers in their armour All ready for rancour, Feuds that made the battleground redder Eventually becoming calmer. And here we are together, To praise each and every member Whose freedom they chose to surrender. So, let us remember . . . The 11th of November Written and read by Lavanya
Anything Goes Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of the very successful production of Anything Goes. Yet again another successful multi-cultural performance. Well done to all involved.
Anything Goes 2013
Principal, Mr E Pallant BA(Ed) Hons NPQH
Important Dates For Your Diary Christmas Lunch Federation Carol Service at Charlton Church 6pm End of Term Early Closure 1.30pm KS4/5 Parents Evening 4.30pm - 7.00pm Development Day (closed for Teaching) Academic Review Days (all years) KS3 Parents’ Evening (Year 7, 8, 9) 4.30-7.00pm Development Day (closed to students) Bank Holiday (college closed) National Exams Year 11 Prom Year 11/13 Leavers’ Day Dance Show at 7.30pm Year 5/6 Open Evening (College closes 2.40pm) Sports Day Academic Review Days and Year 6 Interviews National Students’ Art Exhibition and Gallery Launch AS Art Exhibition New Parents Welcome Evening 7.30pm End of Term Early Closure 1.00pm
17 December 2013 18 December 2012 20 December 2013 30 January 2014 14 February 2014 19 and 20 March 2014 27 March 2014 4 April 2014 5 May 2014 13 May - 26 June 2014 22 May 2014 23 May 2014 18, 19 and 20 June 2014 24 June 2014 1 July 2014 3 and 4 July 2014 7 to 12 July 2014 14 July 2014 15 July 2014 23 July 2014
Term Dates
Holiday Dates
Monday 4 November to Friday 20 December 2013 Monday 6 January to Friday 14 February 2014 Monday 24 February to Friday 4 April 2014 Tuesday 22 April to Friday 23 May 2014 Monday 2 June to Wednesday 23 July 2014
Monday 23 December 2013 to Friday 3 January 2014 Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February 2014 Monday 7 April to Friday 18 April 2014 May Day Monday 5 May 2014 Monday 26 May to Friday 30 May 2014 Thursday 24 July to Wednesday 3 September 2014
Cookery Club The year 7,8 and 9 students that have been attending cookery club have been cooking up a storm! The group is divided into kitchens named after famous chefs and they have to earn points for their kitchens. They can earn points for tidy areas and for best product. So far this term the students have made smoked mackerel pate, brie and cranberry twists, bread pudding and lemon sponge.
The group then sit down together and eat their finished products, discussing what they like/dislike, what they would have changed etc. This has been excellent for their interpersonal skills and team building.
Next term cookery club will be on a Monday. We will be making soups, potato based products and sponges. If you would like to join, please see Mrs Castle or Miss Biddle.
Dover Federation For the Arts
Carol Service 2013 At Charlton Church At 6.30pm Wednesday 18 December 2013
We look forward to welcoming you
Kent Freedom Passes (& 16+ Travel Card) Please be aware that these passes which cannot be read by on-bus electronic ticket machines due to damage or reported lost or stolen are not valid for travel. From 8 January, any pass physically damaged will not be accepted and the passholder will be required to pay the cash fare. Additionally, any cards report to KCC as lost or stolen are ‘hotlisted’ and blocked from further use, again requiring payment in cash. This is to reduce the fraudulent use of cards. Please note that if a pass is damaged by being bitten, snapped, hole punched or bent, it is unlikely to scan and will need to be replaced.
Anyone holding a damaged pass which does not scan correctly or using an old pass which they have previously reported lost or stolen and subsequently found must contact KCC for a replacement as soon as possible. The standard replacement fee of ÂŁ10 will be charged. The contact telephone number for replacement passes or any queries is 03000 41 84 84. Thank you in advance for your assistance in ensuring that any disruption to travel may be minimised.