3
Telephone: 01304 201151 Absence Line: 01304 200155 Fax: 01304 200152 Email: admin@astor.dfamat.com
the
LINK February 2014
Dear Parents/Guardians
It has been another successful and busy term with numerous international collaborations, involving many students. A number of staff and students have just returned from a fantastic visit to the Czech Republic, funded by Comenius. Lots of students have been involved in this European Project that has included visits to Bulgaria, Estonia, Portugal, Spain and Italy. We will be hosting the staff and students from these schools when they all visit us in early April. I must thank Mrs Chamberlain, Miss Cloke, Miss Innes and Miss Penn for supporting the students of Rebound, who performed in the Mardi Gras at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London on 22 December 2013. We were very well received and have been selected to perform at the prestigious Saddlers Wells Theatre on Easter Sunday. Year 11 and the Sixth Form have just completed their Mock Examinations and will have their results on Thursday 13 February. We have arranged the Academic Review Days on 19 and 20 March so you can discuss any concerns and plan the support we can both provide to ensure they achieve the best grades possible. Please do not hesitate to contact Mr Gibson, Director of Year 11, Mrs Walton, Director of Sixth Form or the Personal Tutor or Subject Teacher if you have any concerns. These final exams are very close. I hope you will continue to support by reminding your son/daughter about revision timetables and all the extra support sessions that are available after College, at lunchtimes and during the holidays. The GCSE exam timetable has just been published and as a result, the date of the Prom is now confirmed as Tuesday 20 May 2014. It is a fantastic event and will again be held at the Town Hall. It is with regret that every year the students who misbehave or have poor attendance during this important time are refused entry and I hope this will not be necessary this year. Finally, we are pleased to have had so many applications for our Sixth Form but if your son/ daughter has not completed their application, please ensure they do so before course choices are finalised. Very best wishes. Yours sincerely
Mr E Pallant Principal
Combined Cadet Force St Martin’s Plain - January On the weekend of 10/11 January, the Astor College cadets took part in an adventure training weekend at St Martin’s Plain in Folkestone. The days were spent on weapon training with the addition of an assault course and experiencing a taste of military life with accommodation and three very good meals a day! The cadets also enjoyed their evening time using the social area designated for them with gaming machines and refreshments being made available. After a very intense couple of days learning how to take apart, clean and rebuild a rifle and learning how to handle a rifle safely, the weekend culminated in the opportunity for all cadets to attempt rifle shooting at a target which they all enjoyed and several cadets even obtained their Rifle shooting badge. We look forward to our next opportunity at Rifle Shooting. The Cadets were praised by the canteen staff at St Martin’s Plain for their behaviour during their stay and cadet staff would also like to thank cadets for making the weekend a success.
StartUpz is a small, new business made up of some of Astor’s 6th Form students. Our company make and design banners, websites, logos and business cards for other businesses. We do single sales and package deals and we are willing to compromise prices. We have already started to expand our business and advertise ourselves more by adding our company on to Twitter and Facebook. Please contact us for further information, prices start from £10.
Facebook - Facebook.com/startupz Twitter - @_StartUpz Or email us - startupz01@gmail.com
Introduction to Powerlifting Taster sessions The Astor Powerlifting club has been running for a number of years and is open to all pupils of Astor College. The powerlifting club is located alongside the tennis courts in the same building as the CCF. The club runs from 4.30pm to 6.00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We have entered many Competitions and received many placements since the powerlifting club was created. Powerlifting is a sport that combines three seemingly simple lifts, the squat, the bench press and the deadlift to form a total score, which determines the winner. Each lifter is allowed three attempts in the three lifts with the best successful attempt in each discipline added to the total. We would like to invite any student interested in trying powerlifting to come along to a taster session at 3.30pm on Wednesdays.
MARDI GRAS TRIP
The Performing Arts Department at Astor College have been very busy in preparations leading up to Christmas. Alongside the colleges International show ‘Anything Goes’, Astor’s very own in-house dance company ‘Rebound’ have been working in preparation for a multitude of performances. Rebound had the privilege of being asked back for a second time to perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The Mardi Gras team invited Rebound to return to the prestigious venue in the West End to perform in their Christmas children’s variety show. The school took 37 members from Rebound, with ages varying from 12-18 to London on the 22 December for the Christmas extravaganza. This was a phenomenal opportunity for the students to be a part of and the College is extremely proud to have the school represented at such a prestigious theatre as Her Majesty’s, which is currently showing ‘Phantom of the Opera’. Rebound maintained a very high standard whilst performing alongside private dance schools. The students and staff alike now have the buzz for performing at events like this and are now currently working towards another event with Mardi Gras, this time at the home of dance, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. Rehearsals are already in full swing for this showcase at Easter.
Plea for any board games you no longer need: We are running a games club for Year 7 students on a Wednesday lunch and this is proving to be very popular. If you have any board games at home that are lying unwanted and in the7’s lookout for need of some attention. Please will you bring them in and I know theOn Year will love turtles at Turtle Beach them! Many thanks, M Pasquino
Comenius Trip to Brno, Czech Republic Over the past two years, students from Astor College’s Sixth Form College have been taking part in the Comenius Project ‘Learning European History through Staging National Historical Events.’ Through this Lifelong Learning Project, students have been given the opportunity to travel across Europe to Bulgaria, Estonia, Portugal, Spain and Italy. But, on 2 February 2014, four Sixth Form students and two teachers journeyed to Brno, Czech Republic. The students and staff of Gymnazium P Krizkovskeho welcomed the weary English travellers into their school and homes and strived to give them a true Czech experience. Students from the school gave tours through the city of Brno, showing visitors the historical sites and landmarks as well as their favourite hangout spots. The English group particularly enjoyed the Savoy, a local coffee café. They spent the day visiting the great chateau and battlefield of Austerlitz before re-enacting the history that took place there later in the week. A jewellery making workshop was also held in the school. Students and teachers learned about the Czech Republic’s textile and Jewellery making history and made beautiful earrings and necklaces for themselves and as gifts to bring home to their families. It was a perfect last Comenius trip for the English students who will be hosting the project for its final meeting in April 2014. “Brno is a lovely city, the students and teachers at Gymnazium P Krizkovskeho were very nice and welcoming and I was sad to come home.”
Comenius Trip to Pisa, Italy The Comenius project, ‘Learning European History through Staging National Events,’ took off on their fifth meeting to Italy on the 8 December 2013. Eight Sixth Form students and two teachers from Astor College were given the unique opportunity to meet up with students and teachers from all over the continent. They were welcomed by the students at the host school, Istituto Tecnico Commerciale, who showed them the sights of the city and the surrounding area. Together with the students and staff from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Portugal and Spain, students explored the cities of Pisa, Lucca and Florence. They journeyed through history, visiting a number of well known sites such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Piazza del Duomo. During free time, they explored the city, trying their favourite Italian food, ice skating, and shopping. Astor students created a skit based on the Portuguese national historical figure Egas Moniz, a famous scientist who paved the way for future brain surgeons and won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses. The meeting was a great success. Students and staff had an amazing time exploring the city and experiencing the real Italy.
GCSE English Mock A* and A Grades CONGRATULATIONS!!! A well -deserved mention to the following Year 11 students who achieved an A or A* in their recent GCSE reading mock paper: Sam Cordery, Ti-ya Gilham – Law, Jordan Laidlow, Millie Ludlam, Shannon Scrivens-Stoakes, Tom Stoakes, Nicole Humphries, Anthoy Law, Jason Penny, Owen Stebbing, Nathan West and Jordan Rickett. A fantastic effort!
HANDWRITING IMPROVEMENT CLASSES Anyone wishing to improve on handwriting, are welcome to come along to Room 16 with Mr Lea on a Tuesday lunch (1-1:30pm). This is to improve on year 7/8/9 handwriting and develop skills for Controlled Assessments. Well Done to Mr Lea’s Year 8.2.1 Group who handed in 93 % homework from the Hunger Games Short Stories. They were fantastic to read and have enhanced levels for this term. Really pleasing. Keep it up!!!
SPUD day for Glen On Friday 17 January, students and staff took part in a SPUD day to raise money in memory of Glen Bajrami. The money raised was shared between two charities that helped and supported Glen’s family through a very difficult time; the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Glen’s friends who were part of his tutor group 9SS, collected the money which totalled an amazing
£915.34.
Principal, Mr E Pallant BA(Ed) Hons NPQH
Important Dates For Your Diary Development Day (closed for Teaching) Year 9 Options Evening 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
14 February 2014 13 March 2014 19 and 20 March 2014 27 March 2014 4 April 2014 5 May 2014 13 May - 26 June 2014 20 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 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 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 2 September 2014
Holidays in Term Time New Government Legislation, now in force, does not allow schools to authorise any term time holiday. If you remove your child/ren from College for a family holiday, please be aware that this is likely to result in a Penalty fine of £120 per parent per child. Fines paid within 21 days will be reduced to £60 and fines which are not paid within 28 days will be pursued by the Local Authority through the Magistrates’ Court.
College Attendance At Astor College we expect all our students to achieve 100% attendance although we do understand that time off for illness is occasionally unavoidable. With this in mind, we become concerned once attendance falls below 95%. Please monitor your child’s attendance closely as it can be surprising how few appointments and days off it takes before attendance becomes a concern. You can view your child’s attendance via My Child At School on our College website. We are currently writing to all parents/guardians of students with attendance below 95% and ask that you support your child’s education by addressing any problems you are experiencing at the earliest opportunity. If you would like any support or advice regarding attendance, please contact Gemma Stacey, Attendance Officer on Tel: 200105. Well done letters are also being sent out to our students with 95% and above. Please remember that for every week your child is in College every day on time, he/she will earn 6 attitude to learning points. These points for great attendance go a long way towards the end of year College reward trip so please make sure your child/ren does/do not miss out.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS HALL ATHLETICS 28 January 2014 The Year 11 BTEC Sport students planned and organised this year’s successful Primary Sports Hall Athletics event. Eight Primary schools entered into this event, with 144 students participating in both track and field events. The winning team was River Primary with Charlton Primary coming second and in third place was Capel Le Ferne Primary. The event could not have happened without all help from the Astor Young Leaders in Year 9, Year 10 and A Level students. We would like to thank Dover Girls’ Grammar School for sending a group of Year 10 Young Leaders to assist with this event.
SKY SPORTS LIVING FOR SPORTS WORKSHOP The Year 9 Elite Squad attended an all day leadership workshop on Wednesday 5 February. The workshop was run by Alastair McKean, an Adaptive Rowing Paralympic Medallist. The Young Leaders participated in a range of leadership activities; they were given the opportunity to work together as a group but also to extend themselves as individuals. It was a very successful day and Astor College hopes to participate in the Sky Sports Programme next year.
At Charlton Church At 6.30pm Wednesday 18 December 2013
We look forward to welcoming you
DOVER FOODBANK PROJECT Year 11 Sky Sports Leaders have been actively involved in preparing the launch of the Dover Food Bank Project that will start in earnest next term. We hope the whole school will get behind and support this important community project.