King Edward VI School
Christmas Bulletin 20th December, 2012
T
his has been an exceptionally busy term with highlights including the magnificent concert at St. John's, Smith Square, a highly professional production of The Recruiting Officer and a packed Carol Service at St. Mary's Church. Sport has, in spite of some very challenging weather, kept many of our students active and charity work, primary school partnerships and Duke of Edinburgh have all been to the fore. We have also been cementing our links with Stroud School and putting together plans for future development there, linked to our own already published investments in a new theatre, art department and additional sporting facilities from 2014. Two teaching staff are departing at the end of this term. The Director of the Sixth Form, Mr Jones, has decided to retire to pursue his interest in military history and Mr Dopart [Modern Languages] has been appointed to a post at a school in Basingstoke. We are very grateful for the contributions both have made to King Edward's, one for a term and the other for 26 years! Mr Jones will be replaced by Mr Culver and Mr Havers is promoted to the position of Deputy Director of the Sixth Form. We have appointed Mr Lawson to teach Spanish and some French. Mrs Shorter, the School Accountant is also leaving for a new position and we are very grateful for all that she has done for the School. We had another inspection in November conducted by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. We are delighted with an outstanding report. King Edward's is described as a " ...thriving and highly successful school at which pupils gain a rich and varied educational experience. The school meets its aims in full ... the school has met the recommendations from the previous inspection [in 2008] ... the school meets all the requirements of the Independent School Standards Regulations 2010." There is only one recommendation for further improvement which is to "ensure that the quality of all teaching is raised to the standard of the best practice." A link giving a full copy of the report may be found here. With best wishes for a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Charities Commission Charitable activities remain a real strength of the School and the Autumn Term is always a busy term for the Commission. The First Year Toy Appeal Fun Run was outstanding with over £1,950 raised and other prominent events produced excellent responses including the Shoe Boxes for Romania Appeal with a record 255 boxes, the summer camp disco, non-uniform day in aid of Wessex Heartbeat, doughnut sales as well as Children in Need and Christmas stalls. The total raised for charities for the term is approaching £7,500!
AJ Thould Head Master
Parents’ Childnet Talk Internet Safety Seminar for Parents Tuesday 15th January, 2013 at 7pm in the Dobson Theatre
You are invited to attend the Know IT All seminar presented by Childnet International. This is a very informative presentation which will give you an insight on how your child uses online and mobile technologies and the pitfalls and risks that can be associated with it.
Burns Supper and Ceilidh Saturday 2nd February, 2013 The South Africa team will be hosting this annual event in support of the Goedgedacht Trust.
The seminar will last for approximately one hour and refreshments will be available from 6.30pm
Tickets will be available to purchase via KESpay from 20th December at £25 per person. This is a black tie event.
Please click Childnet for more information.
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THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY
Notice to all Upper Sixth Candidates
The attention of pupils and their parents is drawn to the fact that the School day begins at 8.30am. By this time, all pupils are required to be inside the School buildings, attending to their lockers, and making their way to their Group Bases, where they must be by 8.40am.
Forms to request GCE unit resits in June are now available from the Examinations Office, or can be downloaded from the School website - click Resit Form All completed forms for known resits to date must be returned to Mr Courtney by 10am on Thursday 31st January.
It is not sufficient to aim to arrive at the School grounds by 8.30am (or later), as there is not enough time to do all that has to be done and still be in group base at 8.40am.
All completed forms for resits following the results of the January examinations must be returned to Mr Courtney by 10am on Tuesday 12th March.
It is recognised that from time to time, due to failings of public transport, some pupils may arrive late; but these occasions should be very rare, and when they occur with any regularity, alternative means of transport should be found, to ensure punctual arrival in School.
Substance Abuse Talk for Parents Tuesday 22nd January at 7pm in the Dobson Theatre
Your fullest co-operation is sought to ensure that pupils begin each day promptly.
Bob Tait of Drug Education UK, is a former member of the Royal Navy Drugs Education Team and he has been working with the School on Drug and Alcohol Education for many years. He delivers sessions to our students in their First, Third, Fourth and Lower Sixth Years as part of our PSHE programme.
Theatre Studies Previews & Performances Advance Information A level Theatre Studies Preview Evening 7.30pm on Wednesday 12th March.
This year Mr Tait will be giving a talk to parents on the evening of the 22nd January which will deal with all forms of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. It will also contain advice about such matters as parties. Mr Tait will talk for approximately one hour and then take questions. Please click Drugs talk for more information.
Open Instrumental Lesson Week During the week of 4th – 8th February, parents are warmly invited to come to the School and attend their child’s instrumental lesson.
Friday 8th March at 7.30pm in the School Hall for parents and friends Teams of 8 The cost is £12.50 per head with supper included Click Quiz for more information and booking form
This will be a good opportunity to see the lesson in action and discuss instrumental progress with the teacher. Parents are asked to contact the instrumental teacher in advance if they would like to attend and to sign in at reception on arrival. 2
Second Year Music Showcase
PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION It is important that the records we hold for your child are as up to date as possible in case of an emergency. Please check your contact details on the Parent Portal and notify us of any changes http://parents.kes.hants.sch.uk/
Our Second year musicians will be performing for parents and friends in the Music Showcase, which is a concert in the Music Recital Room on Friday 18th January at 7.30pm, led by Miss Lizzie Collier, one of our Visiting Music Teachers.
If you have not already signed up to the Portal, please email isams@kes.hants.sch.uk for more information.
Tickets are free on request from the Music Administrator at phc@kes.hants.sch.uk Lower Sixth Physics Visit
MEDICAL UPDATES All Lower Sixth Form physicists will visit the Institute for Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton early in the new year.
If you have new medical information relating to your child or changes to information already held on our database, please notify the Senior School Nurse on schoolnurses@kes.hants.sch.uk. MUSIC LESSON INFORMATION There are no instrumental or vocal lessons before 1.30pm on Tuesday 8th and Friday 11th January, due to language tests.
The Institute is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for research and training in acoustics and vibration. Their work is aimed at improving the understanding of acoustics and vibration and their impact on the quality and performance of engineering products. The ISVR is also involved in fundamental work on understanding how humans hear sounds and process this information.
The Bike Doctor will be holding a surgery on 1st February and 1st May. Pupils can bring their bikes for a thorough free health check between 1pm and 2pm. The Surgery will be held near bike shed.
The visit will encompass aspects of the ISVR’s work which are directly relevant to the AS Physics course, and it should prove to be both stimulating and engaging with opportunities for demonstrations which are simply not possible in the classroom.
Higher Education Evening Tuesday 12th February 7pm in The Dobson Theatre
Green Team Christmas Card Recycling
This Information Evening is designed to help Lower Sixth parents understand current procedures for applications to universities. More than 98% of our students leave us to go to university and we will begin our Higher Education Programme with our current Lower Sixth students at the beginning of February.
An estimated 1.7 billion Christmas cards are sent each year in Britain, the equivalent of 200,000 trees. Around 1 million of these Christmas cards are thrown away every year. Please help us to reduce this number and save resources. Don’t throw away your used cards; bring them into school where there will be a special green bin in reception for you to deposit them in until 25th January. The Green Team will then make sure that your cards are recycled or reused in a way that will benefit the environment.
If you are a parent of a student in the Lower Sixth, please follow this link to access our information regarding preparation for University applications and our Higher Education programme. 3
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Mon 7th Jan Tues 8th Jan Wed 9th Jan Tues 15th Jan Wed 16th Jan Tues 22nd Jan Sat 26thJan Sat 2nd Feb
Term commences Fifth Year Mid-Sessional Examinations begin - conclude 15th Jan AS/A2 GCE Examinations begin conclude 28th Jan Second Year PSHE Day Childnet Internet Safety Parents’ Talk Fourth Year Morrisby Test Third Year PSHE Day Substance Abuse Parents’ Talk Admissions Exam Burns Night Supper
Please note: Please Note: A more comprehensive There will be no study calendar, which is leave during Fifth Year updated and reviewed examinations except regularly, is available on 15th January for pupils our website at with no examinations on http:// that day. www.kes.hants.sch.uk/ calendar
SUMMER TERM DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Fri 3rd May
Fifth Year Leave of Absence begins at 4pm
Fri 10th May
Lower Sixth Leave of Absence starts at 4pm
Thurs 23rd May
Upper Sixth students taking S2 Mathematics module: Study leave from 1pm to 3.55pm
Fri 24th May
Upper Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4pm
th
Away Leg 13th to 19th April
Mon 10 June
Lower Sixth return to lessons
Wed 12th June
Lower Sixth students taking C3 Mathematics module: Study leave from 1pm to 3.55pm
Thurs 20th June th
Fifth Year Book Collection Day
Wed 26 June
Leavers’ Dinner
Thurs 27th June
Leavers’ Day
Third/Fourth Year German Exchange: Mutterstadt 2013
Home Leg 2 to 8th May nd
Information Evening for Parents Tuesday 5th March from 7pm to 8.30pm in IT4
Staff & Parent Prayer Meeting Tuesday 29th January, 2013 1pm-2pm in M1
Carol Service A big Thank You to all parents who sang so enthusiastically in the choir at this year’s Carol Service. It was really appreciated by music staff and pupils alike. Photographs and excerpts of music from the evening will be on the website soon. 4