King Edward VI School
Beginning of Term Newsletter 16th September, 2011
W
elcome back to King Edward’s to those returning and a particular welcome to those who are beginning their association with the School. We have 962 pupils in the School this term; we are full with a Sixth Form of 234.
Once again this CALLING ALL year we are inviting PARENTS & parents and friends of King FRIENDS Edward VI School to join OF forces with our school choir and KES orchestra for the Carol Service at St Mary’s Church Southampton on Monday 12th December at 7.30pm
We wish all our new staff well in their new roles and wish students in positions of responsibility as Prepositors, Heads of House and Lower School Prefects best wishes for the year.
If you sing and read a little music we would be pleased to welcome you into our SATB choir. There will be a few evening rehearsals for those who need to learn notes and then one massed rehearsal for pupils and adults. If you have sung in our adult choir previously you will automatically receive full details about repertoire and rehearsals. If you are a new parent to the School and would like further details please email Mrs Freemantle on hf@kes.hants.sch.uk.
Speech Day is on Friday 23rd September and the Chief Guest will be Dr Rob Summerhayes, a recent OE who, with his wife, cycled across the length of Africa for charity. We wish all members of the School a stimulating and enjoyable term. Head Master
Trips and Expeditions Summer 2011
Jeans for Genes Day 7th October
The summer holiday has been very busy with Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, the cricket tour in Sri Lanka, water sports in France, Summer Camp in Swanage, the expedition to Alaska, the Lovaton visit with pupils from St Mark’s Junior School, the fourth year of our trip to the Goedgedacht Trust in South Africa and our regular Charlotte exchange. These visits continue to give our students enormous opportunities and we are very grateful to all members of staff who organised and managed these so effectively.
Pupils can wear jeans on 7th October, bring in £1 and help children with genetic disorders. (Blazers, shirts & ties or blouses should be worn on the top half!)
New Pupils’ & Parents’ Evening 29th September at 7.30pm Parents of new pupils are invited to the Sixth Form Concourse and Dobson Theatre where refreshments will be served. This is an informal evening, run by KESSOC where parents will have the opportunity to meet with some staff, members of the society and, most importantly, the parents of other new pupils.
A Fifth Year Physics trip to Thorpe Park on 13th October is being organised and the whole year group is invited to take part in this fun and educational day out.
Alongside this, Sixth Formers will be running a fun evening of activities for the new intake of children, to give them a chance to meet others. Click First Year or Third Year or Lower Sixth for more information.
Students will attend a workshop in the morning, which is directly related to the Kinematics and Dynamics topics studied in the IGCSE course and there will be time afterwards for students to experience some of the rides for themselves. Click here for more information. 1
New staff joining KES from September Mr Blow Miss Costello Mrs Naylor Mrs Potter Mrs Quinn Miss Ridley Mr Tesseyman Mlle Ripoche Monsieur van Dessel Frau Rodler Stra Trenzano Cantero Mr Atwal Mr Baker
Internal staff changes
Design Technology Chemistry and Biology Economics and Business Studies History (covering maternity leave) Economics and Business Studies Mathematics Psychology and Biology Language Assistant (Fr) Language Assistant (Fr) Language Assistant (Ger) Language Assistant (Sp) Classroom IT Technician Chemistry Technician
Mr Sheppard Mrs Burrows Mrs Henderson
Miss Campbell Mr Herklots Mrs Cole Mrs Ladislao Dr Purves Mrs Penfold Mr Culver Mr Hunt Miss Mobbs Mr Eades Dr Sinnett-Jones
Unplugged Music Evening 15th October 2011 7:15 – late Main School Hall
Head of Upper School Acting Head of Lower School Acting Deputy Head of the Upper School Acting Head of the First Year Head of Science Head of Classics Assistant Head of Languages (Sp) Head of Physics Head of Geography Assistant Director of Student Guidance Website Content Manager Head of Netball Head of Capon House Acting Head of Lake House
Staff and Parent Prayer Meeting A prayer meeting will be held on Tuesday 20th September between 1pm and 2pm in the Commemoration Room. All parents welcome.
In aid of the Jamaica Netball Tour More details click here
NEW FIRST AID COURSE Pupils from the Second Year and above who are interested in the new first aid course starting on 3rd October need to collect details from the medical room.
SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL AND YOU COULD WIN A CASH PRIZE KESTRAVAGANZA is a draw organised by the King Edward VI Society (KESSOC). The aim is to raise funds for worthy schemes within the School, for the benefit of the pupils. It achieves this by selling balls in a draw to parents at £10 each. Each ball is entered in a total of 10 draws held from December through to September. There are three winners in every draw. Winners receive a cash prize, the size of which depends upon the total of balls in the draw. You may purchase as many balls as you wish. The more balls “sold” the bigger the prizes! Click here for more information and how to take part.
MODERN LANGUAGES INFORMATION German Mr Kukla will be leading this year’s Aachen Trip on Friday 9th December. Letters for this trip can be obtained from all German teachers or email Mr Kukla on mgk@kes.hants.sch.uk for more information. Third and Fourth Year German students should sign up during this first half of term for the German Exchange to Mutterstadt in May/June 2012. Letters from all German teachers or email Mrs Allen sla@kes.hants.sch.uk for more information. Hosting for this year's Sixth Form Mutterstadt Exchange takes place from Friday 23rd to Friday 30th September.
SIXTH FORM INFORMATION EVENING Wednesday 19th October
Spanish A trip to Andalucía for Third and Fourth Year Spanish students will take place on 30th March returning on 3rd April 2012. Letters are available from all Spanish teachers or email Mrs Ladislao on eml@kes.hants.sch.uk for more information.
This evening is an opportunity for external and existing Fifth Year pupils and parents to access information about examinations offered by the School and to start thinking seriously about their Sixth Form choices.
French There is an Information Evening for the Angers trip on Tuesday 4th October at 7.30pm in the Hospitality Suite for students and parents. A gentle reminder also that the final instalment for this trip is due by the end of September.
After short presentations by the Head Master and the Director of Sixth Form there will be opportunities to talk to staff and students about specific subjects and broader issues. 2
Mr Herklots
Upper Sixth Practice University Interviews
We are pleased to say that Mr Herklots is making good progress after he was taken ill last week. However, he will be away from school until half term. He has been cheered by the many expressions of goodwill from a wide range of students and staff.
Practice Interviews with external academics will be available for UVI students on 2nd, 3rd and 4th November. Students who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should make themselves known to their tutor and, in due course, book a place through the Student Guidance staff.
A number of timetable changes have been forced on us at short notice but we are pleased to say that we have been able to provide a member of the physics department for all of the public examination classes that would otherwise have been taught by Mr Herklots. We thank all of the science teaching staff who have had to make sometimes significant adjustments to their teaching schedules at very short notice.
Romania Shoe Box Appeal Following the success of last year’s appeal the Charities Commission will be circulating information soon. The deadline for returning shoe boxes is 19th October. See www.linkromania.co.uk for more information.
Any concerns relating to these changes should be sent to Mr Courtney, the Academic Deputy Head (rtc@kes.hants.sch.uk).
First Year Parent Directory Click here for information on how to be part of the KESSOC First Year Directory.
Sports Fixtures
Operation Wallacea Expedition 23rd July - 5th August 2012 Open to all Sixth Form pupils
Regular fixtures are played on Saturdays throughout the year and pupils, if selected, are expected to make themselves available. Home matches are played at School or at our playing fields at the Wellington site in Stoneham Lane.
There are still places on the expedition to Mexico which includes one week of conservation work in the jungle around the Mayan temples of Mexico and a week SCUBA diving on the coral reef off the coast . Please email Mr Hall for further details - sgh@kes.hants.sch.uk
Details of fixtures can be found on the School website in ‘Sports and Fixtures’ under the ‘cocurricular’ tab.
Ceremony of Admissions DVD The School has produced a DVD showing footage from the Ceremony of Admissions.
Parents are very welcome to watch and support the teams.
If you would like to purchase your own copy of the DVD, please complete the order form by clicking here and return to your child’s tutor, by October 14th, with payment of £4.00. Unfortunately, we will not be able to meet any requests after this date.
Members of staff running the teams will set up cancellation procedures for the pupils in the case of bad weather.
Eating Disorders Talk for Parents 7pm on 13th October in the Dobson Theatre
Procedure for if your child is ill and unable to attend school
This will be delivered by Micki Bennett and Jess Griffiths of I*EAT which is a non profit organisation that seeks to address issues around eating disorders.
To enable us to be sure of the whereabouts and safety of our students it is important that you contact the Main School office (02380 704561 or by email absent@kes.hants.sch.uk) as soon as possible, preferably by 8.30am, if your child is ill or is going to be late.
They believe in full recovery – getting to a place where food no longer controls a person’s life. I*EAT support sufferers and carers, provide training about eating disorders and work with schools about self esteem, body image, healthy eating and eating disorders.
If the illness is on-going please contact the Main Office on each day that your child is absent.
Sessions provide an insight into media influence and the dangers of extreme dieting. For more information please email Dr Dean on hd@kes.hants.sch.uk.
We would also be grateful if you would reinforce the need for your child to report to the Main Office if they arrive late to School. 3
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Thursday 22nd Sept Friday 23rd Sept Thursday 29th Sept Wednesday 19th Oct
Upper Sixth Parents’ Evening Speech Day at Mayflower Theatre New Pupils’ & Parents’ Evening Sixth Form Information Evening
Thursday 20th Oct Friday 22nd Oct Monday 31st Oct Tuesday 1st Nov Friday 4th Nov Friday 11th Nov Monday 14th Nov
INSET Day Half Term Autumn Term resumes First & Second Year Summer Camp Disco Open Evening: School ends at 3pm INSET Day
KESSOC WINE TASTING EVENING Friday 18th November, 2011
Please note: A more comprehensive calendar, which is updated and reviewed regularly, is available on our website at http:// intranet.kes.hants.sch.uk/api/ calendar/
TERM DATES Autumn Term 2011: Tuesday 6th Sept – Friday 16th Dec (Half-term Friday 21st Oct – Monday 31st Oct inclusive) Inset Days: Monday 5th Sept, Thursday 20th Oct and Monday 14th Nov
For parents of all new pupils, join us in the Dining Room for an informal evening of wine tasting. A continental platter is included in the price of £10. Book early as numbers are limited A fun night is planned with the opportunity to purchase wines at great prices. Click the link for further information Wine Tasting Evening
Spring Term 2012: Wednesday 4th Jan – Friday 30th March (Half-term: Monday 13th Feb – Friday 17th Feb) Inset Days: Friday 10th Feb and Monday 12th March (provisional)
Homework Timetables Homework timetables can be found by clicking here and referring to which year you require.
Summer Term 2012: Tuesday 24th April – Friday 13th July (Bank holiday - Monday 7th May) (Half-term: Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June)
Due to increased costs, replacement locker keys will now cost £3.00
Autumn Term 2012: Tuesday 4th Sept – Thursday 20th Dec (Half-term Friday 26th Oct – Monday 5th Nov inclusive) Inset Days: Monday 3rd Sept, Thursday 25th Oct and Monday 19th Nov (provisional)
SITE MATTERS The summer holiday has been a very busy time for the bursarial staff. A number of projects have been completed.
Spring Term 2013: Monday 7th Jan – Thursday 28th March (Half-term: Monday 18th Feb – Friday 22nd Feb) Inset Days: Friday 15th Feb and Monday 11th March (provisional)
The largest project has been the refurbishment of new English and Languages classrooms. In addition there has been further landscaping on the Hill Lane site including the tarmacking of the area linked to the north playground and a new entrance to the sports Area, a new boiler at Wellington and a new water tank at Hill Lane.
Summer Term 2013: Monday 22nd April – Friday 12th July (Bank holiday – Monday 6th May)
Letters and Circulars This information can also be found on the Parent Portal http://parents.kes.hants.sch.uk/api/login/ If you have not already signed up to the Portal, please email isams@kes.hants.sch.uk for more information. 4