Academy Newsletter Edition 1 (2012-2013), October 2012 Term 1 ends on Wednesday 24th October 2012. There is an extended mid-term break this academic year and that we return on Monday 5th November 2012, which will be a Week 1.
Welcome from the Academy Principal, Mr R Gilbert Dear Parents/Carers, Welcome to the first newsletter for Yate International Academy in this academic year. It is also my first opportunity to express the great excitement that we have all experienced since moving into the new building at the start of this term. With a new term, and what must be regarded as a fresh start for everyone, came a new set of expectations. These expectations included appearance, punctuality, behaviours and how, in general, all of the Academy community makes best use of these magnificent facilities. Students have responded well to the change and I have been particularly impressed with the way in which they conduct themselves in the Academy. The improved appearance of everyone, in relation to wearing the full Academy uniform, has been very noticeable and we will be insisting that this is maintained. Many visitors to the Academy have been hugely impressed with the very positive atmosphere that is generated in this environment and the students should be very proud of the way in which this is portrayed. This Academy building was designed with the students in mind and they have shown the utmost respect and desire to make the best of all the facilities that are provided for them. We are especially pleased that the new Year 7 students have settled in so well and are showing great potential in all of the lessons they have experienced so far. We are also delighted with the number of students returning to the Sixth Form and we are confident that their experiences in Post-16 study will prove to be fruitful, in relation to their future plans. The start of term, however, has not been without some issues that have been raised, in relation to the transition into this new environment. We have been reviewing our new day to day operational structures, on a weekly basis, and will continue to do so until we are sure that we have everything in place as it should be. There have been a number of unforeseen aspects of the way in which the new building works, particularly in relation to our new ICT facilities, but, through hard work and determination, these have been overcome to ensure that they do not have a negative impact on the learning of the students, on a day to day basis. On the positive side, I can report that our sports teams, during the autumn term of 2012, have been well supported, by boys and girls, and the rugby and netball teams have notched up notable victories. I was very pleased to hear the feedback from the Year 7 rugby tournament recently, in which the team was successful in winning that for the very first time. Classes at the end of the Academy day are particularly well attended, at the present time, and I have been very impressed with the way in which Year 11 have approached their „after schoolâ€&#x; Maths classes, which take place every Tuesday. I would like to take this opportunity also to thank all those students who showed tremendous enthusiasm at our recent Prospective Year 7 Open Evening on the 19th September. The evening proved to be a very successful one, with over 500 visitors coming to the Academy during the course of the evening, many of whom commented on the very positive attitudes shown by all of the students that they encountered. As is always the case, our students proved to be our best ambassadors and again I would like to thank them for their contribution to the evening.