Academy Newsletter Edition 14, December 2011 FRIDAY 16th DECEMBER 2011: ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAST DAY OF TERM Periods 1 -3: Normal Lessons Period 4: Mentor period 12.30pm: Guild Assembly 1
12.45pm 1pm
Guild Assembly 2 Academy Closes
Welcome from the Academy Principal, Mr R Gilbert Welcome to this Christmas edition of the Yate International Academy newsletter, and the final one for 2011. It is difficult to comprehend how time moves so quickly and that we are about to enter one of the most significant years in the Academy‟s history, alongside King Edmund Community School. 2012 will be a landmark year for the Academy, with the opening of the new build coinciding with the London Olympics, and providing a sporting and cultural legacy for all of us in the community of Yate. Progress with the build itself has been significant since the Topping Out Ceremony in September. the building is now almost fully watertight and you will have seen, from Stanshawes Drive, that the south block is built with the elevations showing that windows have been installed. Inside the building, many of the classrooms have now been completed, in terms of partitioning, including corridors and circulation spaces. From inside the building, you also get a sense now of how the building will operate on a day to day basis, particularly in relation to lesson changeovers during the Academy day. I have been hugely impressed with the work and professional approach shown by Willmott Dixon throughout the process, and this has come to the fore, particularly in the last few months. As well as the design and build of the facilities themselves, Willmott Dixon have been heavily engaged in working with a range of students on various projects in the Academy during this period of time. This has provided the opportunity for students to experience construction, in the real sense, and I am sure that those who have been involved have seen the value in that. During the early part of 2012, we will be sending out further information on progress with the build and will be discussing the impact of the changeover, in readiness for September 2012, and what that will mean for a good transition into our new facilities. On 24th November 2011 it was a privilege to be at the Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol for the Federation Presentation Evening. This evening celebrated the successes and achievements of last years‟ Year 11, alongside those of their counterparts at Winterbourne International Academy. The guest of honour, Dr Antony Jinman, a renowned Polar Explorer was hugely motivational in his keynote address to the students, parents and carers at the presentation evening itself. His theme of „Achieving your ambitions‟ resonated greatly with the audience and I am sure provided all of our students with the motivation to achieve further in the future. It was very pleasing to see many parents and carers at the Academic Review Day on Thursday 1st December and I know that there was a lot of positive feedback for the Academy at that evening. We are very pleased with the progress that all our students are making and this was evidenced in a very successful, and well attended, event. It is very important that we maintain close contacts with all parents and carers regarding your child‟s progress and, if you were unable to attend that event for any reason,