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Telephone: 01304 201151 Absence Line: 01304 200155 Fax: 01304 200152 E-mail: admin@astorcollege.org.uk
Dear Parents/Guardians
the
LINK Summer 2012
The last term of the academic year is always particularly exciting, whilst writing this I am still looking forward to our re-arranged Sports day on the morning of Wednesday 18 July and the AS Art Exhibition on the evening of Monday 16 July. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all Yr10 students and parents for cancelling the Work Related Learning Week. This has always been a great event and many staff had worked very hard to plan for this exciting week. Despite all our best efforts we were unable to cover the additional staffing required and I hope that we will be able to organise this worthwhile activity again in the future. I must say a big a thank you to the 70 students, Miss Cloke and Miss Gerrard for performing and organising our fantastic Dance show ‘Le Cirque De La Danse’. The theatre was packed every night and I know that many of you enjoyed watching our talented students perform. The Dover Federation for the Arts continue to organise the National Students’ Arts Exhibition with the Royal Society of British Artists at the Mall Galleries in London. Congratulations must go to the 9 students who had 10 pieces of work selected: A Greenstreet Yr 13 (2); E Shepherd Yr 13; R Kember Yr 13; S Saru Yr 13; L Care Yr 13; J Petulla Yr 13; S Cozens Yr 13; B Heath Yr 13 and W Perfect Yr 13. In addition, two of our artists, Liam Care and Sumam Saru were selected to become RBA Scholars by the RBA President, Mr J Horton. They will exhibit at the annual RBA exhibition at the Mall Galleries in March 2013, with some of the countries best artists and will continue to be encouraged through the RBA mentoring programme. A reminder that students will be in Year groups with the following Directors of Year, Deputies and Pastoral Managers next year: Year 7 Director of Year Mr Clue, Deputy Mrs Chapman and Mrs Castle as Pastoral Manager Year 8 Director of Year Mr Jones, Deputy Miss Cloke and Miss Biddle as Pastoral Manager Year 9 Director of Year Mr Harrison, Deputy Ms Shahroodi and Mr Wright as Pastoral Manager Year 10 Director of Year Mr Gibson, Deputy Mr Davies and Mr Esdale as Pastoral Manager Year 11 Director of Year Mr Moore, Deputy Miss Withrington and Mr Sadler as Pastoral Manager 6th Form Director Mrs Walton, with Deputies Mrs Jones and Mrs Butterfield. I do believe that the students are wearing their uniform with pride and it is having a very positive impact on behaviour. I would like to remind you and thank you in advance for ensuring full uniform is purchased and ready to be worn correctly at the start of next term: College blazer, plain black shoes; white shirt with top button done up; college tie and black trousers or skirt. Uniform can be purchased from Brigade via our website or Channel uniforms and further information is available inside this publication. The College will be open to collect exam results for the 6th Form on Thursday 16 August from 10:00-12:00 and for Year 11 on Thursday 23 August from 10:00-12:00. Staff will be available to support you with applications for our 6th Form or Higher Education on those days. I hope you all have a lovely summer holiday and students return to Astor on Thursday 6 September. Very best wishes
Mr E Pallant Head of College
THE PE ELITE SQUAD This group comprises of Year 7 students who have shown a combination of sporting prowess, organisation, sportsmanship, reliability and potential leadership qualities. As these young people will form the backbone of our gifted and talented register and represent Astor at both matches and by running sports events around the region and county, they have to be role models in behaviour, uniform standards and effort in PE, other subjects and around the college generally. They have done us proud this year with successful rounders, football, netball and athletics teams. They were Astor’s ambassadors at the ‘Pass the Passion’ sporting festival and had a great day out at Tree Jumpers. In questionnaires, the students have commented that it has helped them improve their behaviour or effort in other subjects as well as PE. Well done to them all and good luck to these students who are on the verge of being invited to join this squad next year.
Students being introduced to Taekwondo at Pass the Passion.
Safety instruction at Tree Jumpers.
No touching the ground between trees was allowed and students learnt how to protect each other.
Students had to work out how to get through certain parts of a giant spider’s web without touching it!
The thunder storm!
FRENCH DEPARTMENT Below is a report which was put together by residents of a small town in the South of France where Miss Le Cor from the French Department used to teach. It was written by one of the students she used to teach in France.
GEMENOS
Music Department The Music Department has had an exciting year developing the performance skills of students in all year groups and also broadening skills in music technology. There have been many advances made, including the successful completion of the first year running the BTEC Music Performance course at Level 3 with 100% pass rate.
It was a very enjoyable experience developing the vocal and instrumental skills on the course including experiences at KETV recording studio, a collaborative ensemble project with Thanet College students and entertaining solo lunchtime solo recitals at Easter time. The BTEC students have been learning more about performance and development of popular music for their coursework by attending a Motown Greatest Hit night at Hawth Theatre in Crawley in June, which was West End quality and was a very valuable experience for all. A few students also attended the Folk Festival in Crawley at the end of June to enrich their knowledge of original artists and how to develop your own personal style. The performances by Jim Moray were particularly impressive to our students with his level of knowledge and instrumental skill on display.
Year 9 students were led using ‘Musical Futures’ teaching tools whereby all students learn pro-actively in groups or as soloists on a chosen instrument, for example, acoustic guitar, drum kit or piano. The students enjoyed the independence and also the freedom to learn an instrument often not accessible to them unless they take private lessons. The scheme worked very well to develop student self-confidence and positive work ethic as well as practical skill.
All years made advancements in their use of music technology with the use of the software Steinberg Cubase Essentials inclusive of African composition in Year 7, film composition in Year 8 and club dance remix in Year 9. The BTEC level students began to develop their understanding of the recording studio set-up at KETV and learnt how to use Pro-Tools and record using the live room, which is an amazing benefit to our students and generally a rare opportunity that we can offer regularly at the College for the 6th Form students.
The Evening of Music this year was a great success with outstanding performances by all students involved and it was very well received by the audience who have praised the high standards and talent that is being nurtured in the music department. There was a range of genres included in the concert showing the broad repertoire presented to our students to challenge them. The XTRME Harmony group performed their best performance to date with popular Blues influenced number ‘Feeling Good’ hitting some tremendous jazz harmonies in 4 parts. The auditions for the XTRME Harmony group have been completed and the new and exciting group are almost double in size with the new talent that has come through from the Year 9 students as they prepare to enter Year 10 in September. We are all really looking forward to the planned music tour to Costa Brava in Spain in July 2013 where we will perform 3 concerts alongside the GCSE and BTEC students. Gifted and Talented students from the Performing Arts Department took part in a Folk Music Workshop as part of the Deal Festival on Monday 2 July led by Kerry Andrews; composer and song writer and 3 professional instrumentalists. It was such a valuable experience for all involved with an exciting warm-up session followed by the group working together to re-arrange the popular Folk song Wayfaring Stanger and then in smaller groups working on unique arrangements of a chosen Folk tune. Videos of the event can be found on the College website.
Huge congratulations to two of our students Michelle Aloe and Sam Mummery, who are following the music performance course in September in the 6th Form, for being awarded a music scholarship by the English Speaking Union (ESU) in June to support their musical ambitions. The ESU were impressed with their level of instrumental skills alongside their vocal potential and we are very proud of their achievements to date and excited about their potential over the coming years. I have been running a Community Choir on Thursdays from 6pm-8pm here at College and it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience with enthusiastic singers from the Dover and Deal district. Members of all ages and ability levels are welcome to join us in September starting on 6 February. Anyone who enjoys singing and socialising with other like-minded people will have fun so please come and join us! Next year there are more exciting plans with a World War II Concert in October, performances in the Annual Federation Carol Service in December, Songs from Musicals Evening in February, BTEC Solo Recitals in March and the annual big music event in May so please keep your eyes open for more information and come and support our progress! Mrs J Stapley Director of Music
POWERLIFTING The Astor Powerlifting team were in Woking at the weekend to take part in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex powerlifting competition. All members of the Astor team came in first in their respective classes, with Chris Simmons getting first place in the Senior 74kg class and also taking best lifter overall with a squat of 200kg, bench press of 158.5kg (a new British Record) and deadlift of 230kg. In the under 18 age group first places went to Sam Pile in the 63kg class with a squat of 115kg, bench press of 77.5kg and deadlift of 150kg, Cameron Keyes in the 83kg class with a squat of 175kg, bench press of 107.5kg and deadlift of 222.5kg and David "Diddy" Cridland in the 120kg class with a squat of 185kg, bench press of 120kg and deadlift of 207.5kg. In the under 20 74kg class Andrew Dixon came first squat of 160kg, bench press of 95kg B) and deadlift of 220kg. Peter Dixon
Uniform can also be purchased from Brigade Schoolwear via their website: www.brigadeuniformdirect.uk.com
Principal, Mr E Pallant BA(Ed) Hons NPQH
Important Dates For Your Diary Development Days Term Begins UCAS Evening at 7.00pm Year 11 Exam Preparation Evening at 7.30pm Year 11 Interviews Year 6 Open Evening (College closes 2.40pm) Art Exhibition Preview (Town Hall) 6.00pm Speech Day (Town Hall) 6.30pm Year 13 Interviews National Exams Year 7 Parents’ Evening 4.30-6.30pm Development Day Academic Review Days (all years) Production Week - ‘We Will Rock You’ Christmas Lunch Federation Carol Service at Charlton Church 6pm End of Term Early Closure 1.30pm National Exams KS4/5 Parents Evening 4.30pm - 7.00pm Year 9 Options Evening at 7.30pm Prospective 6th Form Evening 7.30pm Development Day National Exams Academic Review Days (all years) Development Day Bank Holiday (college closed) National Exams Year 11 Prom Year 11/13 Leavers’ Day Parents’ Evening (Years 7, 8, 9) 4.30-7.00pm 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
4 and 5 September 2012 6 September 2012 19 September 2012 20 September 2012 1 to 5 October 2012 25 September 2012 8 October 2012 9 October 2012 23 October 2012 5 November - 16 November 2012 20 November 2012 23 November 2012 6 and 7 December 2012 10 to 15 December 2012 18 December 2012 19 December 2012 21 December 2012 9 January - 1 February 2013 29 January 2013 7 February 2013 13 February 2013 15 February 2013 27 February - 2 March 2013 18 and 19 March 2013 28 March 2013 6 May 2013 13 May - 26 June 2013 23 May 2013 24 May 2013 13 June 2013 19 to 21 June 2013 25 June 2013 2 July 2013 4 and 5 July 2013 8 to 13 July 2013 15 July 2013 16 July 2013 24 July 2013
Term Dates
Holiday Dates
Students begin Thursday 6 September 2010 (Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 September - Development Days)
Monday 29 October to Friday 2 November 2012 Monday 24 December 2010 to Friday 4 January 2013 Monday 18 February to Friday 22 February 2013 Friday 29 March to Friday 12 April 2013 May Day Monday 6 May 2013 Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May 2013 Thursday 25 July to Monday 2 September 2013
Tuesday 4 September to Friday 26 October 2012 Monday 5 November to Friday 21 December 2012 Monday 7 January to Friday 15 February 2013 Monday 25 February to Thursday 28 March 2013 Monday 15 April to Friday 24 May 2013 Monday 3 June to Wednesday 24 July 2013
DFA MAT Company Offices Astor College, Astor Avenue, Dover, Kent, CT17 0AS, Tel: 01304 201151, Fax: 01304 200152, email: admin@astor.dfamat.com