Issue 4 January 2012
NEWSLETTER Message from the Head Teacher It has been a very positive start to the spring term with students and staff looking forward to 2012. The London Olympics will play a big part in school life this Year and we will be commemorating this historic event in a number of ways with an Enrichment Day in March, Sport Relief and a World Games Day in June. We are fortunate to have been selected as part of the Get Set network of schools which means we have access to some superb resources which can be used in lessons. We will be focusing on promoting the Olympic and Paralympic values, which fit very well with our PACER qualities. It is a very busy time at KSSC with our Year 10 and 11
students taking some of their GCSE exams, and Year 9 about to choose their options. 33% of our Year 11 students have already achieved A*-C grades in both English and maths, which is our highest ever at this point in the Year. We are hoping to achieve over 50% in August. We are continuing our focus on uniform and attendance. Thank you for helping us to achieve 94% attendance for the autumn term. Let’s hope this continues. Happy New Year and best wishes for a successful 2012. Ms S Coulton - Headteacher
Attendance
Dates for your diary
The current overall rate is 94%. Please remember we do not authorise holidays/leave of absence from school during term time for any reason. T Clarke, Attendance Officer.
Monday 13th-Friday 17th February Half Term
Charity Coffee Morning Please join us and students from Year 10 CoPE and the TLC for a Coffee Morning at St Chad’s Church in Stoneyhurst Road, on Thursday 23rd February, from 9am-12.30pm. The event will raise funds for Traidcraft, a charity which fights poverty through trade in developing countries. Students’ work will also be on display.
Thursday 23rd February
Year 9 Options (2-6pm,tbc)
Wednesday 7th March
Training Day (no students)
Tuesday 13th March
Enrichment Day all students
Tues/Wed 27/28th March
School Performance
Monday 2nd-Friday 15th April
Easter Holidays
Reception Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8.00am – 4.00pm Friday 8.00am – 3.00pm Should parents require assistance outside these times they We have received a Thank You card from The are most welcome to leave a message on the answer Poppy Appeal for raising £109.40 in the 2011 phone and somebody will return their call as soon as Collection. Thank you to all who supported possible. the appeal. M Hughes, Office Manager M Hughes, Office Manager
Mrs E Ivery, Assistant Curriculum Support Manager.
FREE Workshops: Supporting My Teen to Learn Starts Tuesday 21st February, 4-6pm. Refreshments provided. Parents, do you want to know about ‘Your teenager’s amazing brain’? Or ‘How to support your teen to learn independently’? We are putting on a series of FREE workshops for parents of all students—not just those who are 13 or over! The workshops will cover how your child develops, the challenges of being a teenager and how to support them. To book a place, contact Reception by phone or email and leave a message for Mrs Jakszta. 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. @KingsburySSC 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 Enrichment Day In December KSSC students took part in a range of activities designed to support their development. Year 11 met with MP Jack Dromey, followed by a presentation skills workshop kindly provided by members of the Professional Speakers Association. Kyle Thompson-Green and Laura McMahon wowed the judges with their powerful speeches. Kyle said: “I enjoyed it greatly and I recognised things I never thought about, like the power of speech.” Laura said: “The man was hilarious and made the work fun, he motivated people to work and have a good time. The tasks were very helpful to me and others.” Members of the Professional Speakers Association with Kyle and Laura from Year 11.
Year 9 took part in activities to support their choices for Year 10. One group visited Aston University to sample university life, designed their own degree course and gave a presentation about it. Thank you to all the organisations who supported this event, giving their time free of charge to benefit our students. The next Enrichment Day on 13th March will have an Olympic theme! Year 9 at Aston University: Jack Smith, Daniel Minchin, Omar Schrouder, Thomas Horspool and Jayne Beale.
S Jakszta, Senior Director, Every Child Matters
Get Set for Olympic Year! KSSC and KSSP are proud to announce The Kingsbury Primary and Special School Games, on World Sport Day, Monday 25th June. We are one of only three schools in Birmingham to receive a grant from The London 2012 Get Set Network, which will help fund The School Games. With 600 pupils from 25 schools across Erdington and surrounding areas, it promises to be a fantastic event. We have already set up a medals table for our primary school competitions, with each school representing a different country in the medal table. The pupils are also looking at the culture of their country. Sports Ambassadors Lee Simmonds, Cynthia Tham and Jessica Preece, with KSSP Manager Alison Mapp.
Our Young Sports Ambassadors are busy supporting younger pupils and the excitement is building. In December we chose medal table leaders Abbey Catholic Primary to represent KSSP at the School Games Christmas Party at 10 Downing Street where the pupils met the Prime Minister, sports stars and took part in lots of activities. There are lots of PE and sporting activities taking place at KSSC in and out of school hours across the coming months, but its not just about sport! During 2012 the school is working across all curriculum areas to promote the Olympic and Paralympic values and support learning in all Year groups and all Faculties. Watch this space for more news in the coming months. A Mapp, Manager, Kingsbury School Sports Partnership S Walters, Curriculum Leader PE A Cotter, KSSP Coordinator Countdown to London 2012: Pupils from Abbey Primary with teacher Mrs Kennedy
Together we can
FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE FACULTY The Performance Faculty includes Dance, Drama, Music and Physical Education. Key Stage 3 students cover a broad and balanced Drama and PE curriculum and have access to an extensive extra curricular programme. Students are rewarded regularly for their work and commitment to extra curricular activities which include Vivo Miles and rewards trips. Examples include the Hoods Cast going to see We Will Rock You at the Hippodrome, a skating trip for the Netball Club and going to see the World Trampoline Championships at the NIA. At Key Stage 4, students continue to study PE and can opt for a number of courses including GCSE Dance, BTEC Performing Arts, Dance and Acting, GCSE PE or BTEC Sport (Extended and Certificate). L Millward, Faculty Leader, Performance
Drama Students are working on their GCSE Unit: Page to Stage for their drama exam. The play they performed was "Citizenship" by Mark Ravenhill; a tale of teenage angst, isolation and difficult decisions. The students are currently running at 62% A*-C and fully expect to improve on this with the current work that is being produced. Following the success of the Black History performances, Year 10 BTEC students are working on a Theatre in Education piece to be performed in the Summer to local Primary Schools. They are also liaising with Primary Schools to help support their curriculum through drama. J Nordone, Teacher in charge of Drama
GCSE Drama students Haden Simner, Jessica Derek, Shakeena Blake and Cereise Hannon
Year 10 Rugby The Year 10 boys’ team have had a successful start to their season after winning the Birmingham schools competition at Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Club. They beat other local schools and got through to the semi finals of the Midlands Rugby League competition – an outstanding achievement as they were playing in a very competitive league against schools with much more experience of playing rugby. They played against Bishop Ullathorn School in Coventry on a very cold and windy afternoon. The final score was 34 8 to Bishop Ullathorn, but all the boys involved competed extremely Year 10 Boys’ Rugby Team well against a very experienced side. They never gave up, and they put in a massive amount of effort right up until the final whistle. D Roberts, Assistant Achievement Leader Year 9
Music project has a special guest tutor KSSC's music project celebrated its first anniversary recently with a guest tutor. Set up in 2010 as an after school club with Urban Devotion and SAFE Group, it now offers weekly tuition in guitar, keyboard and software as well as after school on Tuesdays for collaboration and song-writing, performance and recording skills. Thanks to funding from West Midlands Police, the group are producing an album of original tracks, to be completed KSSC Music Students with Drew Reid from Love2Live and Tom by July. Shearer from Urban Devotion
Drew Reid from Love2Live is a former record producer for the Sony BMG label, (working with several top 40 artists) and an experienced trainer for Apple. He is supporting the music club for 6 weeks. Love2Live is working with organisations like Urban Devotion to enhance the range of creative training available to young people. By making links such these, KSSC can draw on the skills, experience and resources of the likes of Drew, for the benefit of students. Watch this space for details of an upcoming album release Pupils from Abbey Primary and performance event! with teacher Joel Mrs Goodlet, Urban Devotion, K Rose, Partnership and Communication Manager Kennedy
Together we can
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY Sports News KSSC Year 9 and Year 10 Football teams are both playing in the Quarter Finals of the Aston Villa Cup on February 2nd at Jacey Road. The Year 9 team beat Hodge Hill 5 - 1 and the Year 10's beat Great Barr 2-1. Both teams are also in the semi finals of the District Cup against North Birmingham Academy (Date TBC). Both teams have played excellently so far this Year and we hope they continue to perform to gain success. C Brough, Teacher of PE
Bushi Judo Club @ KSSC Leisure Centre Half Term Sports Camp Kingsbury School & Sports College Leisure Centre
We offer everything from recreational Judo for fitness and fun to serious competition training, for both kids and adults, beginners or graded.
10am-3pm, 13th to 15th February. Ages 5-12.
Mondays 6.30-8pm. Beginners/graded. £2
3 Days £30
Fridays 6.15-7.45pm. Beginners/graded £2
2 Days £24 1 Day £15
Contact Hugh on 0121 373 3805 or Carl on 0121 605 9946
To book go to www.sport-mad.co.uk or contact 0870 919 3529
E: bushi@blueyonder.co.uk
W: www.bushijudoclub.co.uk
Hoops 4 Health Hoops 4 Health is a British Basketball League initiative,
fusing
basketball
coaching
with
healthy living advice. The Worcester Wolves are delivering Hoops 4 Health sessions to Year 7 as part of our new link with Worcester University. On 9th January the team’s players, Tommy Freeman, Sherrad Prezzie Blue (both from the USA) and David
Year 7 girls with players from Worcester Wolves
'Tin Tin' Watts delivered sessions based on healthy eating, anti smoking and the benefits of regular exercise. They were informative and a lot of fun! The players are also working with Birches Green Junior School, and will be returning to KSSC very soon to see the students put what they have learned into action by doing an exercise programme and playing some Basketball! All the students involved were very well behaved and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. D Roberts, Assistant Achievement Coordinator Year 9
Social Enterprise @ KSSC The Social Enterprise Club (KSEC) are developing Olympic themed resources for use with a local primary school (tbc). They are creating a range of Olympic coloured characters and activities using graphics packages, and we hope to spend an afternoon after Easter leading an Olympic-themed activity session completing puzzles, colouring and word search activities. Jordan Hannon - KSEC Manager As part of the Kingsbury social enterprise project, the TLC ICT group are creating phonic alphabet cards for distribution to local nurseries schools and reception classes in local primaries. They will be using their own graphics and text to create the finished product during the Spring term. P Jennings, Lead Practitioner ICT & Enterprise
Together we can