King Edward VI School
Easter Bulletin
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29 March, 2018 he second half of term has concluded with an outstanding sell-out Senior Concert and our Thanksgiving Services held at both KES and St Nicolas’s Church. We have also had a very good term on the sports field as the snow 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 Poland, linguists and artists in Salamanca and Milan, scientists at Space Camp in Belgium, various charity events and the KES PTA Quiz. There are some rather exhausted students (and staff!) in need of a break but School activity continues over the holiday. During the Easter break our students are involved in visits to Andalucia, Vienna, Montpellier, Mutterstadt, Menorca, the annual ski trip to France and, with perhaps a little less glamour, the New Forest and Dartmoor 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
PUPILS LEAVING THE SCHOOL For all pupils, other than those in the Upper Sixth, who intend to leave KES 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 end of the spring term. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the Registrar on 02380 799216. KETA Bus Service Cancellations To cancel a pupil’s place on the KETA bus service a term’s notice is required in advance to keta@kes.hants.sch.uk Summer Term - Leave of Absence Friday 4 May - Fifth Year Leave of Absence begins at 4:00pm Friday 25 May - Upper Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4:00pm Fifth Year Book Collection: Friday 15 June at 10.30am Upper Sixth Book Collection & Leavers’ Assembly: Wednesday 27 June at 8.40am
THERE WILL BE LATE BUSES ON THE FIRST DAY BACK AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAY 24 April, 2018
All Fifth Year and Upper Sixth pupils are required to attend on their respective days 1
HIGHER EDUCATION MATTERS
SCHOOL LUNCH REMINDER
UPPER SIXTH
The deadline for changes to School lunch arrangements for the autumn term is:
Upper Sixth Starting University in September 2018 Finance Information
4pm Friday 29 June
If your son/daughter is hoping to start a full-time course at university or college in September 2018, he/she must apply online for student finance. Applications should be made as soon as possible, to ensure the money is in place at the start of the university course. Students do not need 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 for finance is 31 May 2018. 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 www.gov.uk/student-finance.
It will not be possible to meet requests that arrive after the deadline Please email dinners@kes.hants.sch.uk giving pupil name, tutor group and the change intended. No action is required if arrangements are to continue as at present. Any request using the dinners@kes email address will have their request acknowledged
LOWER SIXTH Music Technology Club
University Open Days Students need to see KJ in the HE & Careers Office to confirm their attendance on our university visits. Students will also need to register online with each university for individual lectures. There are still places left on our trips.
Mr de Silva will be starting a new Music Technology Club on 27 April and welcomes pupils interested in programming, sequencing, sampling and all things technical to attend.
Careers Fair - 18th May, 2018
The Club will meet in the Technology Suite on Friday lunchtimes (week B).
For Fourth Years from 4.00-5.00pm For Lower Sixth (and Lower Sixth parents) from 6.00-7.00pm Further details next term.
TRIPS & VISITS HUB We have an extraordinary amount of trips taking place over the Easter break. Please see below a reminder of dates and places.
Morrisby Feedback interviews Further to the Morrisby psychometric test which was held on Wednesday 28 March, one to one interviews are scheduled between 30 April and 11 May (inclusive) in the Guidance Centre. Students have already been issued with dates and times. Parents are very welcome to attend these interviews, and are reminded that they must sign in at our Reception and wait to be collected by their son/daughter.
Third & Fourth Year trip to AndalucĂa 29 March - 2 April Skiing in France 31 March - 7 April Fifth Year & Sixth Form Creative Arts to Vienna 3 - 6 April Third & Fourth Year Exchange to Mutterstadt 13 - 20 April Sixth Form French to Montpellier 15 - 20 April U13 Pre Season Cricket training to Menorca 17 - 21 April Upper School & Upper Sixth Theatre trip to London 17 - 19 April
Mindfulness Course for Parents We are delighted to advise you that we have arranged for the School Counsellor, Annie Davison to run an 8week Mindfulness Course for KES Parents in the summer term. This course will start on Monday 30 April, 2018, 7pm - 8.30pm. The practice of mindfulness has been found to promote health and wellbeing, improve mood and energy levels and reduce anxiety. Mindfulness does not conflict with any beliefs or traditions.
Duke of Edinburgh Dates Fifth Year and Lower Sixth - Dartmoor: 3 - 6 April Fourth Year - New Forest: 10 - 12 April Sixth Form - Elan Valley: 16 - 20 April Fifth Year and Lower Sixth - Dartmoor: 16 - 19 April
To apply for the course please contact Annie on ad@kes.hants.sch.uk
Second Year Glamp
Staff and Parent Prayer Meeting Tuesday 22 May 1.00pm to 2.00pm in the Commemoration Room. All parents are welcome to attend.
We are organising a climbing and pony trekking trip for Second Year pupils on 15-17 June 2018 based at our centre on Dartmoor. Please click here for more information and to express an interest. 2
Sailing News
Summer Internal Examinations
There are a couple of places left on our Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Sailing courses running during the Easter Holidays. The courses will run from 9-4 pm on 16 - 20 April. The fee for the course is £130, which includes an RYA logbook and certificate. Please book Direct with SWAC quoting KES on 023 80915753.
Lower Sixth Form: Wed 2 to Thurs 10 May First and Second Year: Thurs 17 to Tues 22 May Third and Fourth Year: Wed 6 to Wed 13 June First and Second Year exams will each be 45 minutes, whilst Third and Fourth Year exams will be up to 90 minutes long. Where possible, Third and Fourth Years will be given an opportunity to sit their exams in the large examination venues in preparation for their GCSEs.
Once pupils have passed their RYA stage 2 they are welcome to join the School Sailing Club. The club provides members with many hours of fun throughout the year and looks forward to welcoming new recruits. More information can be found here. If you have any queries regarding the courses, or School sailing in general, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Burrows on peb@kes.hants.sch.uk.
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.
Note from the Medical Room We have a supply of spare uniform to lend to students when necessary but unfortunately this supply is in decline due to items not being returned.
Adolescent Immunisations A reminder that all Third Year pupils are being offered the adolescent immunisations (TdIVP and MenACWY) in School. These will be delivered on Wednesday 25 April and Thursday 26 April.
Please could we ask that you check at home for any uniform that may have been previously borrowed. The items are clearly labelled ‘Medical Room’.
Consent forms should have been returned by Friday 23 March, regardless of whether you intend your son or daughter to have the vaccine or not.
If you have any items suitable to donate, these would be gratefully received. First Year: INDEPENDENCE
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.
A two-day adventure for the whole year group to Fairthorne Manor. 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 opportunities for cookery, teambuilding at SWAC and a repeat of last year's hugely successful Dragon's Den. Fourth Year: COMMUNITY Those not doing their Duke of Edinburgh expedition have been asked which activity they would like to do with our local Primary School children. Last year we had multi-sports at Wellington with 180 primary school children taking part. That is an option this year along with conservation work on Brownsea, plogging on Western Shore by paddleboard, Sport, Dance, Science, Mathematics, Coding, Art or Drama at School. Lower Sixth: SELF-IMPROVEMENT There is something for everyone in the Sixth Form. Many will be on the Geography or Biology field trip whilst others can opt for University Open Days, an introduction to the Extended Project or running a cafe for Dragon’s Den. Parents are reminded that no breakfast or lunch will be available on either 5 or 6 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 23 April Fri 4 May Mon 7 May Wed 16 May Friday 25 May Thurs 31 May Wed 30 May
INSET Day: School closed Please note: Second Year Camp: Dartmoor: returns 7 May A more comprehensive calendar, which is BANK HOLIDAY updated and reviewed regularly, Fourth Year GCSE RS Examination (pm) is available on our website at Third Year trip to the Opal Coast: returns 28 May http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/calendar Break up for half term First and Second Year Spanish trip to Catalonia departs: returns 4 June Second Year Camp: Dartmoor: returns 2 June Life with a Teenager Evening for Parents Wednesday 9 May, 2018
This is an evening where KES parents have the opportunity to attend two from a selection of four 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. Workshops available: Jan Symes: This workshop will explore what children need to make a successful transition from child to young adult and how parents can support them whilst maintaining mutual respect. It will explore how parenting changes as children become adolescents and will enable parents to share ideas and concerns whilst providing supportive information and strategies to deal with a range of common teenage issues. Annie Davison: This session will look at Mindfulness and how it can be used in the school environment. She will give a short introduction to Mindfulness, explaining what it is and why it is beneficial to practise, for those who are interested, not only for their children but also for themselves. Dick Moore: In this session, Dick will discuss adolescent development whilst identifying the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health issues likely to emerge during this period. Crucially, he will provide indicators of how to recognise the difference between teenage moods and emerging mental ill-health. Lorraine Lee: This presentation will explore how, by understanding your child's specific natural tendencies (temperament), you can minimise conflict and maximise the opportunities for your child to do well. It will also look at how this understanding can lay a strong foundation for parents and teenagers to have an ongoing positive and respectful relationship together. OBNO
WATERSPORTS 2019
The OBNO shop (second hand shop) will be open from 1-3pm on 23 April 2018 (the INSET day before the start of the summer term). We welcome shoppers and donations of items that are outgrown but not outworn. Further details here.
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 18 August to Sunday 25 August 2019.
The KESPTA is looking for a willing parent or parents to take over the running of the OBNO shop, and according to the present incumbent, is not onerous and easily manageable on top of a full time job. If you are interested in this, or in volunteering for the shop at any point in the future, please contact Sophie Liardet on sophie@sophieliardet.com.
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.
KES PTA HELP REQUIRED!
The cost of the trip will be £620, 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 £120 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.
The PTA would welcome any parent who could spare us some time to join our various teams and committees. We are also looking for a Chair and Treasurer for the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in joining us please email Jill Leask at PTA-Chair@kes.hants.sch.uk and she will be happy to discuss details.
As numbers are restricted, a reserve list is kept throughout the year; to add your child’s name to this list, please email Mrs Quinn. 4