King Edward VI School
Easter Bulletin
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24 March, 2016 he second half of term concluded with an outstanding sell-out Spring Concert at Turner Sims Concert Hall and our Thanksgiving Service at Winchester Cathedral. We have also had a very good term on the sports field as the chill has given way to the first hints of spring sunshine.
It has been a busy half of term with a combination of a variety of school trips and activities, the visit from students from Charlotte Country Day School in North Carolina, trips abroad for our students including historians in Berlin, linguists in Salamanca, various charity events for Sports Relief, the annual dinner dance raising funds for the South Africa project and the KES PTA Quiz. There are some rather exhausted students (and staff!) in need of a break, particularly with an unusual number hit by flu, but School activity continues over the holiday. Over April our students are involved in visits to Cordoba, Mutterstadt, Schifferstadt, Montpellier, the annual ski trip to Italy and, with perhaps a little less glamour, the New Forest, Dartmoor and Snowdonia to begin the Duke of Edinburgh expedition season. I wish you a good break over Easter and hope to see a number of you at various events in the summer including the Science Festival and Sports Day in June with, we all hope, some sunshine! AJ Thould Head Master
UNIFORM NEWS
THERE WILL BE LATE BUSES ON THE FIRST DAY BACK AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAY
The School Shop has now shut its doors and we will be using an online provider, Stevensons, from April 2016. Thank you to all who came to the closing down sale and kept staff so busy!
Summer Term Leave of absence
Should you require an item of uniform before we go online, our Second Hand Shop, OBNO (Outgrown But Not Outworn) has a huge range of second hand uniform and sports kit and also some new items left over from the shop sale. OBNO opens every Wednesday in term time from 1-2pm and has moved temporarily into the old School Shop location in the North Playground.
Friday 29 April - Fifth Year Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm Friday 13 May - Lower Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm Friday 27 May - Upper Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm
The design of the new sports kit has been launched to pupils and this has been met with great excitement and will be available when the shop goes online. Please note that the new kit will be compulsory for current pupils in September 2017 and for new pupils in 2016. All pupils will be able to wear the new kit as replacement items as soon as it is available. The school daywear uniform will not change.
Tuesday 14 June - Lower Sixth Return to lessons
Fifth Year Book Collection: Friday 17 June at 8.40am
Full details of how the online shop will work will be sent to you next term but in the meantime:
Upper Sixth Book Collection & Leavers’ Assembly: Wednesday 29 June at 8.40am
If you would like to volunteer an hour of your time for OBNO, please click here. If you would like to see more about the new sports kit, please click here. If you would like to know more about Stevensons, please click here.
All Fifth Year and Upper Sixth pupils are required to attend on their respective days Tuesday 3 May is a Monday timetable 1
Life with a Teenager Evening for parents Wednesday 11 May 2016
First Year Parent & Pupil Rounders Tournament There will be a First Year Pupil and Parent Rounders Tournament held at: Wellington Sports Ground on Friday 10 June at 6.30pm Refreshments will be provided If you are interested in taking part in this fun event, please email Miss Stone on amls@kes.hants.sch.uk with your child’s name, Tutor Group and indicate who will be partnering them.
This is an evening where parents have the opportunity to attend two from a selection of six workshops surrounding issues commonly met by parents with teenagers. The evening will be held in the Dobson Theatre and surrounding rooms and will start at 7.30pm with refreshments available from 7pm. The workshops will be 45 minutes long and will be repeated, so that parents can choose any two to attend. The evening should draw to a close by about 9.30pm. The sessions are: How to survive, and enjoy, your child’s teenage years Teenage mental wellbeing Supporting those affected by eating disorders or selfharm (including families and friends) How to talk to your teenager about sex and contraception, Supporting a teenager with their studies Mindfulness as a technique for managing stress in teenagers.
21 October - 28 October 2017 Open to all current Second, Third, Fourth & Fifth Year pupils. Please contact Mr Mapstone on pjm@kes.hants.sch.uk or click here for further details.
STUDY SKILLS Do you feel your child would benefit from developing their study skills? A program is now running for Lower School Pupils, where they can be mentored by Upper School Scholars, known as Lead Learners. If you are interested pleased email Miss Jones on rlj@kes.hants.sch.uk
SWAC are running a number of Power Boat, Paddle Board and Dinghy & Keel Boat sailing courses over the Easter holidays which are open to pupils, siblings and parents at a discounted price. Details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS Students need to see Miss Jordan in the Student Guidance Office to confirm their attendance on our university visits. Students will also need to register online with each university for individual lectures, whether making their own arrangements to attend or travelling with the School.
cricket-hockey.com There will be fitting and sale of cricket equipment from cricket -hockey.com on Thursday 21 April between 1-5pm in the Table-Tennis Room. Should you have a specific item from their website you would like to look at, please email them through their enquiries form, stating that you are a KES pupil and they will bring it along for you to try. They will also bring a full range of equipment, including shoes.
Summer Internal Examinations First and Second Year Friday 20 to Wednesday 25 May
Fourth Year Careers Induction
Third and Fourth Year Monday 6 to Friday 10 June
In the summer term all Fourth Year Tutor Groups will be given the opportunity to visit the Guidance Centre, during Group Base, for a brief introduction to the careers’ resources available within the School.
First and Second Year exams will each be 45 minutes, whilst Third and Fourth Year exams will be up to 90 minutes long. Fourth Years will sit their exams in the Main Hall and Sports Hall. Where possible, Third Years will also be given an opportunity with the large examination venues as early preparation for their GCSEs. In order to help pupils prepare, the School has developed a Student Learning Section of our website. This can be found under Academic/Curriculum/Student Learning. There, pupils can find information on everything from successful study skills advice to appropriate year revision guides. If parents have any further suggestions on materials they would like to be included, please contact Miss Jones on rlj@kes.hants.sch.uk.
First Year Modern Language Choices This year, First Year pupils have been studying one modern language, however, from the Second Year they will have the opportunity to study a second. Information about languages on offer will be sent out after the Easter break along with instructions for the online form. OBNO Shop (Outgrown But Not Outworn) The OBNO Shop has a great deal of excellent quality secondhand uniform and sports equipment for sale. Opening Hours: Wed 1.00-2.00pm For more information contact Sophie Liardet by email sophie@sophieliardet.com 2
Upper Sixth Starting University in September 2016 - Finance Information
PUPILS LEAVING THE SCHOOL For all pupils, other than those in the Upper Sixth, who intend to leave at the end of this academic year, a reminder to parents that written notice must be received in all cases by the Registrar or the Head before the start of the summer term. This includes those not intending to move from the Fifth Year to the Sixth Form.
If your son/daughter is hoping to start a full-time course at university or college in September 2016 he/she should apply online for student finance. Applications should be made as soon as possible to make sure the money is in place at the start of the university course.
Staff and Parent Prayer Meeting Tuesday 3 May 1.00pm to 2.00pm in the Commemoration Room. All parents are welcome to attend.
Students don’t have to have a confirmed place – they should use their first choice and change it online at a later date if necessary. The deadline for completed applications is May 2016
YOUR CHILD & SOCIAL MEDIA Social media moves at a fast pace and often parents are the last to know how their children use online and mobile technologies and the pitfalls and risks that can be associated with it. With this in mind, we will be running an afternoon and evening session at School for parents called ‘Your Child and Social Media’ on Tuesday 19 April. For tickets and more information please click here for the afternoon session and here for the evening session.
Please be aware that the School does not have any input into this particular aspect of Higher Education. Any queries need to be dealt with directly by going to: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/ EducationAndLearning/ UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/ index.htm HPV Vaccination Programme The second dose of the HPV vaccinations for Second Year girls will take place on 4 May. Girls need to check the medical room door for timings.
Click here for advice for parents about online safety and social networking.
We are looking forward to a fun -filled couple of days. All students will be contacted in due course with more details about their chosen activity.
First Year: INDEPENDENCE A two-day adventure for the whole year group to Fernycrofts campsite in the New Forest. Second Year: CONFIDENCE Second Years have already chosen their options: Normandy trip, Climbing, Photography or Watersports in Poole.
Third Year: COLLABORATION For those who haven't opted for the Battlefields trip there will be a repeat of last year's hugely successful Dragon's Den, which is based in School. Fourth Year: COMMUNITY Those not going on the Geography field trip will be asked which activity they would like to do with our local Primary School children. Last year we had Multi-sports at Wellington with around 60 Year 4 primary school children taking part, and others opted for Public Speaking, Art, Science, Classics, Drama or Maths at School. The partnership pupils had a great day and our pupils really enjoyed the experience. Lower Sixth: SELF-IMPROVEMENT There is something for everyone in the Sixth Form, and some have signed up already. Many of the Lower Sixth will be on the Biology Field trip, but there is plenty on offer for those left behind including a trip to CERN, various University Open Days, helping out with the First Year camp or the School Allotment, or perhaps paying a visit to Southampton University to get cracking with the Extended Project. Parents are reminded that no breakfast or lunch will be available on either 30 June or 1 July even if the activities are on the School site. Parents have not been charged for lunches on these dates. 3
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Mon 18 April Fri 29 April Mon 2 May Mon 16 May Fri 27 May Wed 1 June
INSET Day: School closed Second Year Camp: Dartmoor: returns 2 May BANK HOLIDAY Fourth Year GCSE RS Examination (am) First and Second Year Spanish trip to Catalonia departs: returns 31 May Break up for half term Second Year Camp: Dartmoor: returns 4 June
Please note: A more comprehensive calendar, which is updated and reviewed regularly, is available on our website at http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/ calendar
As ever, there are one or two students who could do with a haircut and please note that pupils will be expected to return in normal school uniform next term. When the weather is sufficiently warm we will inform the School of the introduction of summer dress. Higher Education Matters
Tout ce qui est français 2016!
Seminars for students who will be facing extra vocational tests for university (Law, Medicine, etc.), commence Friday 22 April. Lower Sixth students should check to see which meetings are appropriate for them to attend.
Sixth Form Montpellier Trip Monday 11th April to Saturday 16th April Normandy Second Year Visit Wednesday 29 June to Saturday 2 July
27June is designated as UCAS Day for the School, and all members of the Lower Sixth MUST be present to receive training in the electronic application procedure.
Information Evening 7.00pm on Wednesday 25 May in the Dobson Theatre
Upper and Lower Sixth students will receive their public examination results on Thursday 18 August and our usual “face to face” advice service (known as the Post Examination Clinic) is available on the Thursday and again on Friday 19 August in order to help students make appropriate decisions based upon exam marks and grades. Details of times will be posted on the school web site and will, in addition, be sent to Upper Sixth students within the usual Post A Level Advice Booklet in July.
Austausch in den Osterferien Third and Fourth Year Mutterstadt Exchange Sunday 10 to Sunday 17 April Sixth Form Schifferstadt Exchange
Please be aware that due to this commitment, e-mail cannot be given priority. Students have been advised to attend the clinic at the published times if they would like to discuss their post qualification position.
Sunday 10 to Monday 18 April
WATERSPORTS 2017 We are ready to launch our annual Watersports trip for current First, Second and Third Year pupils. The dates booked with Rockley Watersports are from Sunday 20 August to Sunday 27 August 2017. The trip involves travel by coach and ferry to the south west of France, where the centre, La Rive, is located on Lac Biscarosse, which is about 35 miles from Bordeaux. The group will stay on a four star campsite, which has its own secluded area amongst pine trees. Activities include windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, catamaran sailing, body boarding and mountain biking. All activities are fully supervised by highly qualified staff to ensure that your child has a safe and enjoyable stay. All water based activities require the use of a buoyancy aid and pupils must be able to swim 50m. The cost of the trip will be £580, including all meals on the site and travel. If you would like your son or daughter to take part in this trip, please pay the deposit of £100 via KESpay as soon as possible since places are limited. In the meantime, should you have any questions about the trip, please contact Mrs Quinn on sq@kes.hants.sch.uk. 4