Issue 5 February 2012
NEWSLETTER Message from the Head Teacher Hello everyone, We are back at school after a well earned break. I hope you will find lots of interesting features in this February edition of the newsletter. You may also have seen our increased profile in the local press as we try and promote all the positive aspects of KSSC. This half term we are going to focus on making sure that learning takes priority and to support this I sent a letter to parents and carers explaining our expectations about the basics such as mobile phone use, uniform, punctuality and behaviour. If you did not receive a letter you can view this on the web site at www.kingsbury.bham.sch.uk under the parents’ drop down menu. I hope that you are able to support our drive to make learning the most important aspect of school life and help reduce the time we spend on dealing with other issues.
There are a number of important activities happening over the next few weeks. This week, year 9 will be selecting their option courses for next year; we have maths and science GCSEs for year 11 at the beginning of March and an INSET day on Wednesday 7th March. A whole school Enrichment Day based on the Olympics takes place on Tuesday 13th March. Year 11 will have their final year group photograph on Wednesday 16th March and we will be organising activities for Sport Relief on Friday 23rd March. Two items that we were unable to include in this newsletter are the extra-curricular timetable for this half term and the new school menus from Chartwells. Both of these can be found on our web site. Here’s looking forward to a good half term. With best wishes, Ms S Coulton, Headteacher
Attendance Matters! Attendance overall is currently 94.09%. Please may we remind all parents that if your child is absent from school for whatever reason, you must inform the school by 9.15am at the latest, on each day they are absent. A number of parents are not informing school of their child’s absence. This results in staff spending time trying to contact parents to let them know their child has not arrived and to find out the reason for their absence. This is also important for the child’s safety. It is, therefore, essential we have up to date contact details for all parents and carers in case of emergency. If your contact details have changed, particularly your mobile number, please inform the school straight away. T Clarke, Attendance Officer.
Dates for your diary Wednesday 7th March
Training day (no students)
Tuesday 13th March
Enrichment Day (all students)
Wednesday 14th March
Year 11 photographs
Friday 23rd March
Sport Relief
Friday 30th March
Easter Holidays
Monday 16th April
Students return
@KingsburySSC
Mrs Rose Alexander It is with sadness that I have to inform you that one of our staff, Mrs Rose Alexander, passed away on Monday 23rd January after a long battle with cancer. Mrs Alexander was a teaching assistant at KSSC, most recently in the Humanities faculty. Since joining the school in September 2004, she supported many of our students in and out of lessons; a job that she did with great enthusiasm, skill and kindness. Mrs Alexander was a co-tutor in year 7, forming positive working relationships with the form tutor and the form group. She was a true team player in both the year 7 team and in the faculty and was well liked by staff and students. Mrs Alexander had a generous nature and wanted to be involved in life beyond the classroom. She helped out at events like Black History and brought in Caribbean food for us to enjoy. Mrs Alexander will be greatly missed and we wish to offer our condolences to her family. School will be organising a memorial event for her this half term. A collection is being made in aid of the John Taylor Hospice and any contributions would be gratefully received. S Coulton, Headteacher
This newsletter is also available online at www.kingsbury.bham.sch.uk. If you would like to receive newsletters by email please email: enquiry@kingsbury.bham.sch.uk with ‘Newsletter’ in the subject header.
Kingsbury School and Sports College, Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 8RE Web: www.kingsbury.bham.sch.uk
Phone: 0121 373 1080 Fax: 0121 306 4878
Email: enquiry@kingsbury.bham.sch.uk
FOCUS ON ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING Art students of the month This award is made to students whom the Art Department feel have made exceptional progress, excelled in their commitment to their studies and attitude to the work that is set. This month’s awards are for fantastic work on surrealism. Congratulations to the following students, your 100 Vivo’s and certificates are on their way to you: KS3: Dayle Demaret-Smith, Jayne Beale
Jayne Beale
KS4: Fadhila Ismail
Fadhila Ismail
A Daniel, Curriculum Leader, Art
Dayle Demaret-Smith
Westminster visit Several students from Kingsbury School & Sports College and our neighbouring Queensbury School, paid a visit to Parliament recently. The House of Commons, House of Lords and Westminster Hall were some of the places we enjoyed, and we had a meeting with our MP Jack Dromey. Simbarashe gave a tremendous replica Barack Obama speech, and Tinu tried out the Queen’s royal wave. This prestigious trip gave an insight into the role of our leaders, and without doubt our Student Council benefited from this trip. Witnessing a debate on the reform of the Welfare Bill in the House of Commons, students were intrigued by the stimulating debate. Unfortunately we KSSC and Queensbury students with Jack narrowly missed the Prime Minister’s Question Time. Dromey MP at the Houses of Parliament. Overall it was enjoyable and most certainly eventful, and the Student Leadership team and the rest of the students who attended would like to give their thanks to all the teachers who organised the trip. C Murrain, Student Leadership Team
Spelling Bee Year 5 children from 7 of our local primary schools took part recently in the first ever KSSC Spelling Bee in our Over 40 KSSC students across Key Stage 3, school hall. The competition was fought who entered a competition run by Young hard over two rounds, giving us an indiWriters, have had their stories selected for vidual winner from Marsh Hill and the publication. The challenge was to write an team winners Birches Green Junior, engaging, entertaining story, in only 50 Birches Green Junior Team coached by Karen Frost. Students and words. Congratulations to them all—too staff gave up breaks for the last four weeks learning a range of many to print here but letters are on their way home, and the stories will be published words. They were enthusiastic and very competitive and we hope this was the first of many competitions. in May. J Bunn, Achievement Leader Year 7 M Atherton, Teacher of English
Together we can
FOCUS ON HUMANITIES FACULTY Welcome to the Humanities Faculty. We are a large faculty with 18 members of staff, covering four subjects Geography, History, RE and Languages (French or Spanish). Students cover a wide variety of topics and are all encouraged to develop their learning skills across the range of subjects; thinking, decision making, creativity, presentation skills, teamwork and independence are all promoted. We believe that these skills will not only help students in other areas of school but will also prepare them for life after school. C Chapman, Faculty Leader, Humanities
Geographers Go Green at Moor Hall Year 10 Geography GCSE students have been examining sustainability and recently visited Moor Hall Hotel and Spa. Students were given the task of producing a marketing campaign for the hotel to raise awareness of existing Green initiatives and to generate ideas for new ones. The General Manager, Tony Hill, will judge the ideas to decide which group have the come up with the most innovative and creative campaigns. Students also looked at the many different jobs in the hotel and had a talk from Mr Hill about employability skills. At KSSC, we aim to make the curriculum more relevant to our students and see work-related learning as a valuable tool to engage and inspire learners. Mr Hill was full of praise for the students, describing them as “A well presented group of pupils who were keen to learn more about the business world and our Green initiatives. I look forward to visiting the school to judge the project in a few weeks time.” E Thom, Assistant Headteacher for Learning / Geography Teacher
Languages Four Year 10 students recently visited St Barnabas CE Primary School to take part in their French Day. Using their language skills, Kiyane, James, Raha and Rafe helped Year 3 and 4 pupils to play games and carry out a treasure hunt around the school. The students really enjoyed their time with the younger pupils and got a lot from it. We would like to thank St Barnabas for inviting us. S Yap, Teacher of Languages
Humanities get creative We try to make learning interesting and fun, employing a wide variety of teaching strategies and links to other subjects where possible. Recently, students have been creating new desert creatures to demonstrate adaptability in Geography, building medieval castles in History, and looking at town planning and fashion design in Languages. Photos of some of the students’ work are featured here. C Chapman, Faculty Leader, Humanities
History goes to court In December, Year 11 History students visited a workshop at North Birmingham Academy. The students were involved in a mock court case based on public health in the Middle Ages. They had a great day and got lots of useful tips in answering source based questions. They particularly enjoyed questioning and cross-examining witnesses dressed in medieval costume! M Hussain, Curriculum Leader, History. Our debating team recently took part in the Urban League at Lordswood Boys’ school. The squad showed incredible teamwork and debated with tremendous passion, winning the first debate on the topic of legalising euthanasia but sadly losing to last year’s champions in the second round. However, due to points accumulated we are currently the top Debate Mate school in Birmingham and 12th out of 108 nationally! Well done to all the team and good luck for the next round in March. S Luscombe, Teacher of History
Together we can
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY Eco Art If you have any unwanted items such as artifacts, magazines, card, musical instruments, trinkets, costume jewellery, large pieces of fabric, old cameras, puppets, or anything else, please consider the Art Department before heading to the tip! Please contact Mr Daniel at the school if you can help. A Daniel, Curriculum Leader, Art.
Gardening Club Thank you to Acorn Flooring for their kind donation which helped us set up our school garden. Now to raise money for seeds and equipment, we are selling ‘Roundabouts of Erdington’ Calendars for £3 each. We are also inviting local companies to sponsor raised beds, which will have plaques with the sponsor’s name. If you are interested in supporting the garden, through volunteering, or donations of money or equipment, any help would be really appreciated. For more information please contact Mr Davies at the Garden Club members Jason and Tyrell creating raised beds school. T Davies, Learning Zone Manager
KSSC supports healthy active lifestyles. February 26—March 3rd is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses - not choices. It is important to recognise the pressures, attitudes and behaviours that shape the disorder. For more information go to www.nationaleatingdisorders.org So, what can young people do to avoid the risks?
Maintain a healthy balance and healthy outlook on life Ensure you are able to balance work/school and personal life. It is essential to have a healthy diet with occasional treats. Exercise regularly with an appropriate amount of rest and relaxation. Speak to someone if you are concerned for yourself or about any of your friends
At KSSC, our healthy and tasty school meals, and the varied range of extra curricular activities on offer, help students to maintain a healthy active lifestyle. The latest Extra Curricular Timetable is on the school website under Students. S Walters, Curriculum Leader, PE
School Meals Eating a balanced meal at school is important for health and it has a significant impact on concentration levels and performance. Some students are buying food outside school instead of using the money as parents intended, to top up their dinner cards. This food is not always a healthy option! Our school meals are not only healthy but varied and tasty; there is a well stocked fruit section, a salad bar and themed days. Menus are available on the school website under Parents section. Ways in which parents can ensure their child eats a healthy school meal are: Ensuring your child has a dinner card. For £2 a new card can be ordered and the student will have a temporary one in the meantime. Topping up your children’s dinner cards by cheque rather than cash ensures they have to spend it on school meals. Please make cheques payable to Chartwells and send into school with your child. If you are still concerned or would like to discuss the eating habits of your child please ring the Finance Department at school at any time. J Armitage, Finance Adminstrator KSSC are again supporting Sport Relief and helping raise money to transform lives at home and abroad. Our activities will include a non uniform day on 23rd March, wristbands for sale and much more! Meanwhile, have you signed up for the Birmingham Sport Relief Mile on 25th March? See www.sportrelief.com for details. We’re taking part in Sainsbury’s Active Kids 2012 and we want to collect as many vouchers as possible, to buy equipment for our students to use. You can collect Active Kids vouchers from 15 February to 10 April 2012 when you visit Sainsbury’s stores, petrol stations or shop online. Please send vouchers to school with your child or hand in at reception. Your efforts to support our fundraising activities are really appreciated and make a big difference. S Jakszta, Senior Director Every Child Matters
Together we can