Worthing High School
Semper Ad Excellentiam Contende Always Pursue Excellence
Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Governors, This term we welcomed both Year 8 and Year 7 students into school and have thoroughly enjoyed helping them settle in; both year groups have brought a great new dimension to the school. We started the term with our sponsored walk, raising money for Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice. The whole school community walked 12 miles to Chanctonbury Ring and back, raising over £15,000. The walk was splendidly organised by Jules Smith, Inari Karonen and Fran Timms. We very much look forward to our next whole school volunteering adventure.
Carolyn Dickinson Headteacher More from the Head on page two
Broadwater Dr Amanda Jakes
ajakes@worthinghigh.net
December 2015
2015 SPONSORED WALK RAISED £16,000! The weather looked unpredictable and the Met Office forecast was changing by the minute but with everyone dressed up and prepared for a day in the country, there was nothing for it but to go.
And go they did! The students did us proud. Braving a Biblical downpour and more mud than a January Glastonbury festival we reached Chanctonbury Ring in time for lunch. It was an amazing sight: the whole school decanted to a South Downs hillside 6 miles from home and all for the wonderful work of Chestnut Tree House. We took a different route home that meant we avoided the muddy downhill sections and all returned safely with tales of rain and puddles accompanied by a great sense of achievement.
We made it! But not without the help of Sussex Downland rescue who provided 12 volunteers who spread out over the route to ensure student safety and Tesco and Sainsburys who kept us all hydrated with their donated water. Slowly but surely the sponsorship money started to flow in for Chestnut Tree House. Then we watched the amount jump from £5,000 to £12,000 as cash was counted and then the target was overtaken until we reached a staggering £16,000 (including the giftaid contribution). Several students collected over £100 each and the top 2 collectors from each community visited the hospice to present the cheque. As the students took their guided tour there
was a warm welcome from the staff who were very appreciative of the school’s support. Thanks should also go to HDBA who as a tutor group collected £573 and Heene Community who were the top collecting school community with £3,523. Student Galatee Oger-Libor commented on her visit to the Chestnut Tree House, saying, “It had such a homely
feeling to it and was really well thought out. It was also very nice to see where all the money was going, it’s really made me want to try even harder next time we have a sponsored walk as it is vital for the children who need it.”
Daisy Seberry-Edkins added “Chestnut Tree House is an amazing place for ill youths. It was an amazing pleasure helping out the wonderful charity.”
The top 8 Worthing High Students who raised the most sponorship money visited the Chestnut Tree House (amount shown is without Gift Aid)
COMMUNITY LEADERS
Heene Stuart Townsend
stownsend@worthinghigh.net
Salvington Lee Hardwick
lhardwick@worthinghigh.net
Tarring Mostefa Beda
mbeda@worthinghigh.net
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Governors, As we go into Christmas I offer my warm congratulations to Y11 for all their hard work and focus during their recent mock exams. We are very hopeful that the results will give everyone plenty of encouragement. Very sadly in October our much loved member of staff, Davina Hauck, passed away following a short illness. We all send our heartfelt condolences to her family and remember them in our thoughts and prayers, particularly at this time of year. Hazel Amos retired from our Admin team earlier this term after 16 years of great service to staff, students and parents. We wish Hazel a very happy and exciting retirement. Tina Palermo leaves us to take up a role at Slindon College as an SEN teacher, we remember Tina with great fondness for her numerous roles within the school.
At various times Tina has been a teacher of Drama and Spanish as well as a teacher within the SEN department. We all wish Tina the very best of luck as she starts a new chapter at Slindon College. We also say goodbye to Mel Vigar who has brilliantly led the Behaviour Department for the last 2 years. Mel has had an incredible impact on the lives of a number of students and we wish her all the very best as she starts her new role with Barnardo’s Children’s Charity. Candice Taylor has also moved on from the Behaviour team to start a new career outside education, Candice also touched the lives of many students and is much missed by students and staff. We have also said farewell to Viv RoeBarnet who has left our Student Services team to take up a new admin post at the Orchards Junior School.
Amber Shepherd completes her apprenticeship with us this December, we have so enjoyed having Amber as part of the Admin team and wish her all the very best for her future career. We thank Zoe Yacoub who has stood in for six weeks within the History Department and wish Zoe well in her next school. In November we welcomed Alexandra Blanchard into our Student Services team and in January we welcome Harriet Blain to the MFL Department and Michael Rae to the History Department, as well as Amy Roberts who joins as Deputy Finance Manager. I am grateful to all parents for their continued support of our drive to improve standards through ensuring correct uniform is worn and that students are fully equipped with pencil cases, calculators and maths sets. I do hope you all enjoy a peaceful Christmas and I very much look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Wednesday January 6th. Very best wishes Carolyn Dickinson Headteacher
TERM DATES AND ARRANGEMENTS: The last day of this term is Non-Uniform Day on Friday 18th December 2015. Please note that there will be an early 1.30pm finish. The Spring Term begins with two Inset days - Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th January 2016 All year groups return on Wednesday 6th January at 8.40am Week 1 on our two week timetable 2
NEWS FROM THE GOVERNING BODY CHAIRMAN The Governing Body of Worthing High School meets every month. Copies of our agendas and minutes can be found on the school website at: http://www.worthinghigh. net/governing-body-meetings-agenda-andminutes Minutes are always put onto the site after the next monthly meeting, once they have been ratified. The school website also has a profile of each of our 15 Governors, including our 3 new parent governors Peter Noone, Rachel Gordine and Nicola Thompson. On the 12 December we will be holding our A.G.M. at 4pm and all parents/carers are invited to attend. If you would like to come along please can you email the clerk @ clerktogovernors@worthinghigh.net so that we can ensure we have sufficient seating arranged. The governors were very sad to hear of the passing of Davina Hauck a long serving member of support staff at Worthing High School. She will be missed greatly by the whole school community. Worthing High School Admissions Consultation 2017/18
GCSE PRESENTATION EVENING 2015 On Thursday 12 November over 300 students and their guests attending our annual Year 11 Presentation Evening. The evening provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students and special awards were presented. The keynote speaker was Matt Hillier, Deputy Headteacher, who reflected on the students’ time at Worthing High. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Hyder-Wilson Trophy which is presented to the student who has excelled the most academically and through their support for the school. Carolyn Dickinson, Headteacher and Tony Cohen, Chairman of Governors presented the award to Emily Coles.
Over 30 awards were presented. Please visit the school website to see which students received awards.
Worthing High School is proposing changes to the current school admission policy which will take effect from September 2017. The consultation period runs from Friday 27 November 2015 to Monday 11 January 2016. For further information visit our website: http://www.worthinghigh.net/news/496/ worthing-high-school-admissionsconsultation-2017-18/#.VmGM6LuFO7Q 3
NEWS FROM ALUMNI
Memories of The High School For Girls, Worthing – Sept 1957 to July 1964, and my subsequent career. Barbara Chandler, Nee Haslewood. Barbara has sent in a long memoire, including a photo, about her time at our school. We have chosen snippet to share with you: “I am forever grateful to Mrs Cripps, who was our first year form (class) teacher and tiny. She also took us for English: she arrived in the room for our first Grammar lesson swathed in her huge academic gown, which grammar school teachers all wore then, and produced from her deep sleeve a glass penguin which she ceremoniously placed on the desk in front of her. We were transfixed. Then from the other sleeve she produced a chalk and wrote on the blackboard, also with a flourish, ‘Polonius the Penguin is seated on the table. He keeps his eye on form III2 as far as he is able.’ You see I remember it! She then parsed the sentence – broke it into its parts, explained what they were and the uses of the parts and then made us practise simple sentences in the same way. We all learned instantly and were thereafter her slaves. And Polonius was on the table every day in that year. Such a wonderful teacher.”
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year old self – embrace every opportunity on offer in both work and play without getting into debt. Now that I am approaching 70, I am retired from paid employment but am busy working as a charity trustee for Horsham & Mid Sussex Voluntary Action which supports some 450 organisations and charities, most of which provide front line services to some of the most vulnerable people in this area. Rob Hyder-Wilson Head Boy 2011/12 Rob emailed the school recently: “As you know I was offered a place to study medicine at Oxford. I just wanted to get back in contact to let all of the staff who may have taught me know that I am now in my first term at Christ Church college and to thank them for all of the help through my GCSEs”.
R ob H yder-Wi ls on H eadboy 2011 /12
Louise Baileff WHS 2007- 2011 I am currently working part time whilst I also study a part time Law degree with the Open University and I volunteer twice a week as a Special Constable for Sussex Police. I went to Worthing College to study Law, Business and Maths with Statistics. I also run a Cub Scout pack in my spare time for 22 - 8-10 year olds where we do activities to teach them life skills and have fun. My future goal is to become a full time police officer and work my way up to investigating major crimes. The advice that I would give to my 16 year old self would Barbara Chandler (Nee Haslewood) far left with the be: Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Appreciate the fact rattle, Paula Nicholson (Nee Grant) centre with rattle, that any teacher there will do in the school Gym. anything they can to help you, Penny collection photo taken in 1963 or 1964 when don’t push away their kindness. the gym was taken over by girls showing their Don’t take school for granted but I support for Oxford or Cambridge (boat race) by the know school can be stressful and length of a line of pennies which were given to charity. the pressure put on you at such Paula Nicholson (nee Grant) recalls: “I joined Worthing a young age but everyone there High School for Girls in at Easter 1958 when my is there to help even if you don’t family moved from Chichester. School was followed think so. by a degree in Geography and Social Sciences in the Finally, remember to say thank heady days of the 1960’s. At that time the headmistress you. Your teachers are spending of WHSG – Miss Hedley – felt that young women should their life doing their absolute best Loui se B ai l eff W H S 2007/11 aim to study Greats at Oxbridge, followed by Arts at a to set you up for yours. Don’t work decent Redbrick, then Medicine or nursing. I suppose against them and just say thanks I have lived by the advice I would have given my 16 you’d be surprised at how much it means!
SAFER CYCLING Safer Cycling Presentation at Worthing High School 6th November 2015 Gavin Ross a local fire fighter from Worthing Fire Station delivered an assembly to Year 9 students about cycle safety on the morning of the 6th of November. The presentation included road positioning and why motorists do not see cyclists. All students who cycled to school that day then had the opportunity to sit in a fire appliance or LGV to see the blind spot for drivers which can be the cause of many cycle fatalities. All students then had front and rear lights fitted to their bikes for free.
This was the latest in a series of visits to local secondary schools with the aim of encouraging safer responsible cycling through the ‘Safer Cycling Project’.
Local Firefighter Gavin Ross developed this project during 2014 with help from work colleague Gavin McCourty and in conjunction with the Worthing Cycle Forum (WCF) and Sussex Police. In September of that year an initial presentation was made to year 11 pupils at St. Andrew’s School, featuring a light-hearted introductory cycling video followed by various group participation scenarios to help develop the project theme. With the benefit of grant funding from WSCC’s Worthing CLC Community Initiative Fund and support from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Day Aggregates, who provide one of their large 8 wheel lorries - fitted with all the latest equipment and technology to aid drivers’ visibility to demonstrate the ‘blind spots’ that HGV’s and other LGV’s have, we were then able to expand the scope of the project to include all pupils who cycle to school.
At the end of the presentation, participants have ‘strap on’ front and rear lights fitted to their bicycles. Gavin Ross went on to explain that ‘’this this was the fourth presentation to local schools after Davison and Durrington High Schools and also that – following the serious accident involving a local paper boy on a dark early morning earlier in the year - the project had also expanded its scope to include two sessions for local ‘paper boys & girls.’’ Ms S Ayres Assistant Headteacher
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LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE
We will start reading in February but are at present selecting the long list
for students to vote for the books they would like to read. This will then form the 5 shortlisted titles. The presentation evening date for next year is: Friday 24th June 2015, please put in your diary, it is a fantastic event. Students get to meet all the shortlisted authors and Juno Dawson, last year’s very popular winner, will be hosting. For more information: http://amazingbookawards.co.uk/
Have your say………... ‘The Amazing Book Awards has been a real Godsend. It just seems to keep getting better every year. The question on everybody’s lips in the first book club of term this year was “When does the ABA start again?”. It is well worth the subscription fee. I can’t thank the organising team enough, really!" --- Mrs Sykes-Little, Librarian, The Academy, Selsey "The ABA shortlist challenges the students to try reading different genres and inspires discussion about the plots and characters which the students enjoy very much... Having the chance to meet the authors at the Awards night, hearing who has won and seeing the winners receive their prizes is a very special moment. Our students are looking forward to the new shortlist of books." Jane Fella, Librarian, The Weald School
ACCELERATED READER Accelerated Reader is run during library lessons with Year 7 and 8 students. We have had some fantastic results and students are really enjoying their reading, many signing up for book club on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes. AR helps students progress with their reading by enabling us to select books that are appropriate for their levels. We then have regular competitions each month and award prizes for top points scored, most 100% quiz results and badges for word count. I am thrilled to have already awarded badges to the following students so early on in the school year.
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Year 7 Silver 2,500,000
Year 7 Bronze 500,000
Year 8 Bronze 500,000
You can monitor your child’s reading progress through Home connect. All students have been sent home with a letter on how to access this. If you have not received the letter and would like more information please either email on: aphelan@ worthinghigh.net or telephone the LRC on: 01903 229294.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE Author - CJ DAUGHERT Y CJ was one of the most exciting authors we have had visit WHS. She inspired us all with details of her writing career from starting out as a journalist for the university newspaper then on to working as a crime reporter, political writer and moving to England to work in the British Government.
She then told us how she got her ideas for her much loved Night School series from controversial university clubs and then we discussed her new book The Secret Fire. Some very interesting student questions were answered and CJ gave books to the ones she liked the most. We would love to have her back here
soon. Her career was so exciting we were all completely enthralled.
The LRC is open until 5.00pm each day. If you need to contact a student during this time the number is: 01903 229294
MACMILLAN CANCER FUND The annual bake sale and fundraising goes from strength to strength. I was hugely proud when we raised ÂŁ965 pounds last year by having a cake sale and a non-uniform day. This year we raised an extraordinary ÂŁ1082.75. Wow!!
A huge that you to all the staff and students who baked, and a special thank you Tom Parke and Ella Bourne who rallied the student bakers. Mrs Bayford Science
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PROJECT CRACKIT! A number of students from year 7 and 8 were selected to take part in a 6 week project called Crackit! The aim of the project was to link Design and Technology and Sport in an interesting way. The students who were selected had shown a flair in Graphics this term and were perhaps not that interested in sport. Each week 1 hour was spent playing Cricket with Sussex County cricket coaches and the other hour designing characters related to Cricket to put onto a cricket bat, ball and T shirt. An outside design agency has delivered the content for this along with the help of Mrs Allibone and Mr Walker. Students are currently developing their characters ready for printing. We look forward to seeing the end results. Mrs M Swinbank Head of DT
YEAR 9 DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CLUB Members of the Year 9 Design and Technology club have designed and made a series of sculptures based on the elements of wind, fire and earth. They have used various found objects including a CD player and an old bike to create quite a spectacle in the garden. Mr Smith hopes to open the club to Year 8 students in January. The young designers are: Robert Bradley Georgia Cox
BROADWATER COMMUNITY WELCOME YEARS 7 & 8 In October it was a pleasure to welcome our new Year 7 and Year 8 Broadwater students to Worthing High School with a welcome breakfast. Year 7 Broadwater Community students attended their breakfast on 20th October and Year 8 Broadwater Community students attended their breakfast on the 22nd October and it was lovely to see them socialising with students from their Year group. It was a wonderful opportunity for our Headteacher Mrs Dickinson and other members of Worthing High School’s Senior Team, Broadwater’s Pastoral Leader, Mr Fenlon and myself to get to know them and discover their transition highlights so far. Students told us how much they are enjoying their secondary school experience not only in terms of their learning and lessons but also new friendships. We all look forward to working with your child during their time at Worthing High School.
Nicole Funnell Aznii Mesham Amy Saunders Jessica Turrell Thanks to Mr Message, our DT Technician for his valuable support and advice 8
Dr Amanda Jakes Assistant Headteacher Broadwater Community
CAREERS FAIR POST 16 EVENING Worthing High hosted yet another successful Careers Fair and Post 16 Evening for our Year 11 students. After a short talk regarding choices Post 16, students and parents were given the chance to wander round and talk with the various exhibitors to discuss career opportunities with local and national employers.
Colleges and other sixth form providers, along with Brighton and Sussex Universities where also on
hand to offer advice on a multitude of courses, so that our students are well informed to make the right choices on where they want to go once they have completed their GCSE exams. In this ever changing world of work it is really important to keep students informed of the employability skills that make them ‘employable’. Along with good technical understanding and subject knowledge, employers often outline a set of skills that they want from an employee. These skills are what they believe
FEEDING BRITAIN’S FUTURE In October a group of Year 9 students were invited to attend a session as part of a programme called ‘Feeding Britain’s Future’ that is funded by the Institute of Grocery Distribution. The aims of the programme are to provide students with an insight into the world of work, provide an
will equip the employee to carry out their role to the best of their ability.
We are extremely grateful to all those who gave their time and help to participate with this event. Liz Millar Careers Adviser
Sainsbury’s. They spent time talking to the students about their working life, how they got into their particular career role and the skills that employers are looking for in employees. Student, Patrick Bangura who attended the session said, “I thought it was really interesting because it give us all a head start for the future.”
insight into the food and consumer goods industry and to support students in the transition into the world of work. Amongst the representatives were an area manager from Marks & Spencer, a civil servant from Defra, whose previous job was to brief the Prime Minister and 9
Liz Millar Careers Adviser
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WORD OF THE WEEK
VOCABULARY INITIATIVE
At Worthing High we have recently introduced a new vocabulary initiative in the form of ‘Word of the Week’. The ‘Word of the Week’, or WOW as the students know it, introduces new vocabulary that they may not be familiar with. So far this term, we have introduced words such as exuberant, tenacious, morality and most recently infallible. This initiative is to increase and develop the vocabulary of all of our students to better enhance their ability to access reading materials across the curriculum. We try to not only address new vocabulary for our students but also the word origin of these
NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE We are delighted to report that 18 Year 11 Worthing High School students graduated from the National Citizen Service (NCS) with Concordia in the summer this year – an absolutely fantastic result!
During the summer, these students took part in an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. • The students challenged themselves during the residential (5 day, 4 nights) at an outdoor activity centre, developing confidence and teamwork skills. • They developed skills for life during the second residential at Brighton University – developing employability skills and new qualifications. • They made a difference in their local community by giving 30 hours to plan and execute their team challenge. Team Ninja (Worthing based)
new words to help them develop understanding of roots and be able to transfer this knowledge when encountering new words. Researchers such as Anthony Palumbo (2015) have suggested that by introducing students to a wide range of vocabulary, it “improves both word recognition skills and subject specific understanding”. ‘Word of the Week’ will continue into the New Year and is displayed on our doors and discussed during tutor time. We are looking forward to rewarding our students for their proactive part in this new vocabulary initiative.
SOUND TRAINING Five teachers have recently been trained to deliver a new literacy intervention programme called ‘Sound Training’. Sound Training can improve students’ reading ages by up to two years in just six sessions by helping them become better decoders and develop strategies for understanding new and complex vocabulary.
We are now delivering Sound Training to students in Key Stages 3 and 4 to boost their progress across the curriculum. Mrs S Cole - Literacy co-ordinator
decided to raise awareness for the mental health charity SANE. They did this through using their musical talent by busking in Worthing and Brighton. All their hard work and dedication resulted in their main event- an open mic night at the East Worthing Working Man’s Club, where they raised over £1000 for the charity, alongside the much needed awareness raising for mental illness through social media and on-the-ground work. Flying Banana’s (Worthing based) dedicated their Team Challenge to support the work of The Saturn Centre, supporting people who have been sexually assaulted. They did this by putting together ‘essentials’ packs for victims entering the centre (including soap and other necessary items). Their event was ‘Saturn Splash Day’ which they held at Thomas A Becket school, involving a tombola, face painting and other activities, to raise money and awareness for their cause. “NCS was a rollercoaster ride of four weeks which allowed me to meet so many more people of my age, it took me out of my comfort zone but I feel that most of all it allowed me to learn more about myself, find myself, as well as making new and some lasting
friendships along the way!! An unforgettable experience and even better, a really cheap and amazing holiday, I would definitely do it again, and recommend it!! A great way to bond with many others, have a great, active, productive and successful summer, after which I was happier, as well as having a sense of pride and achievement at what I’d partaken in during the four week programme!”
Owen Knight Y11 (last year)
The benefits of participating with NCS are: • It looks great on a student’s personal statement and features in ‘like to see’ skills and achievements during UCAS applications. Is acknowledged by employers and those providing apprenticeships. • Makes CVs and job applications stand out against the competition • Students develop teamwork, leadership, public speaking skills and the confidence to pursue their ambitions. Continuing our partnership with the National Citizen Service, we are pleased to announce that they will be visiting the school in February 2016 to offer this fantastic opportunity to our current Year 11 students. 10
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT TONIGHT! Parents, friends and members of the local community are welcome to join Worthing High Students for their annual Carols by Candlelight tonight, Thursday 17th December 6pm at Broadwater Church. The evening will provide an opportunity for us to celebrate Christmas and showcase the musical talents of our students.
The audience will be treated to a beautiful evening of festive music, readings and musical performances from over 50 students.
The evening will start with a candlelit procession to Once in Royal David City sang by Lily Thomas to set the atmosphere. The audience are more than welcome to join in with traditional and new carols. There will also be readings from students and staff and a beautiful song written and performed by Aine Gradisher. The Choirs will sing traditional favourites such as The Coventry Carol and Ding Dong Merrily on High beautifully and the instrumental group will enthusiastically perform a new composition - Christmas Canon and the rousing Children’s Christmas March. David Martin, Music subject leader said: “We are privileged to visit the beautiful and historic St. Mary’s church in Broadwater once again which we know will set the scene magnificently. Our students worked very hard to pull off some challenging four part harmonies. The evening is always very moving and sets everyone up with a really Christmas glow for the season.
We were very grateful to Rev Gary Neal and Steve Jewell, the Verger of St Mary’s, for having us back and their kind support.
Please come along tonight!
CHRISTMAS LUNCH A record number of students enjoyed the annual festive dinner celebrations in the school restaurant this week. Students were treated to an excellent Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a unique pudding of Chocolate and Cranberry Sponge. Festive music played and crackers and table decorations made the restaurant seem even more festive than ever! Many staff joined the students for lunch and a great time was had by all!
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LEAVERS PROM 2016 This year the Leavers’ Prom will once again take place in Brighton at The Hilton Brighton Metropole on 1 July 2016. Last year’s Prom was the best one yet, with 180 students attending, all of whom had a great time and we received lots of positive feedback.
allergies they should make the school aware when ordering their ticket.
Full details of the Prom will be sent out to parents and students in the New Year but the event will be by invitation only.
The evening will finish at 11.00 pm and students will not be allowed to leave unless collected by a parent or carer.
Tickets will cost £33, which includes the hire of the venue, a two course sit-down meal and a free drink on arrival.
Once again, this year the school will be offering a “Leavers’ Package” which includes a Prom ticket, a Prom photo CD, a Leavers’ Hoodie and a Yearbook. These are items which have been requested by students over the years but parents should not feel like they have to order everything as we realise that this can all add up. The Prom ticket, Prom photo CD (£5) and the Yearbook (£17) can all be ordered separately via Wisepay when they become available. However we would request that orders are placed early as it makes it easier to organise once we can finalise numbers.
The evening will start at 7.00 pm and students will take their places in the dining room at 7.45 pm. The menu will be chicken with lemon and fennel (sauce to be served separately in jugs), duchesse potatoes, broccoli and baton carrots. This will be followed by chocolate mousse in mini chocolate waffles. There is also vegetable wellington as a vegetarian option. Jugs of squash and water will be available on the tables. If students have any special dietary requirements or
Year 11 students will also have the opportunity to enter our “Design a Prom Ticket” competition for which the prize is a free Prom ticket. Each student will be able to submit up to 3 designs. The school does not make a profit from any of the items for sale and therefore the students will be hosting various fund raising events to support the costs. The first of these will be a cake sale and details will follow.
COLLEGE DRAMA SHOWCASE A group of Musical Theatre performance students from Worthing College came to visit the year 11 GCSE Drama group to share their wonderful performance of the musical Rent. There were some excellent vocals and performances; some from ex-students of Worthing High School. After they performed their extracts, our students got to partake in a physical theatre workshop run by the students from Worthing College.
All of the class enjoyed the experience and were happy to engage in a Q&A with the group at the end of the session to find out more about everything from their devising methods, to the course that they were on. Katie Hunwick, Leader of Drama
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BBC NEWS VISIT Year 9 students were excited to be able to work with professional journalist and newsreader, John Young, on a TV News workshop. The students, who are beginning to consider their option choices for GCSE, started the day by creating small news teams that had to decide what they think makes a successful TV news programme and why. They discussed several current news stories and thought about the way they are presented to the audience. In their teams, the students were given a selection of real news stories from a typical day and had to act as the editors of that news programme. Which leads would they follow? What stories would they choose? What would be their running order and why? Every so often, the phone would ring with extra information that might change the angle or add in another story that could be followed. All of the students worked hard to make quick, but thoughtful decisions and even had to write their own headlines for their news programme. Some of the students were able to practise using a real autocue and
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deliver the news headlines that they had created.
Eventually, the students got to see the original TV news programme that had been created using those real
stories and compare the way the professionals had chosen to edit the show to their own choices and ideas. In March 2016, we are planning to join in with the national BBC School Report so that some of the students who were learning about the role can become student journalists themselves and run their own news crew! Mrs Hoad Head of Media
A CUT ABOVE THE REST!
Kara Brown in HDBA (Year 10) had been growing her long hair for as long as she could remember. She decided that she fancied a change, and as one of triplets (sisters Emily and Zoe are also Worthing High students) she knew it would need to be drastic. A chance conversation with her mum’s hairdresser gave her the idea that not only could she have her hair cut, she could also donate the hair and raise money for charity at the same time. Little Princesses Trust, www. littleprincesses.org.uk provides real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland who have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. Each wig made with the donated hair costs the charity £350 so Kara wanted to raise the
money to cover the cost of manufacture. If you would like to kindly donate to Kara’s fundraising you can do so here: https:// mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/karabrown1 The story has a lovely twist, our very own Elleshia Anderson, year 11, sadly lost her own hair through cancer treatment this year but was lucky enough to have a wig from Little Princesses Trust. Elleshia’s hair has grown back now and has the problem of choosing a style. A member of staff mentioned this to his hairdresser and has arranged for Elleshia to go to Centre Stage in Worthing for a
YOUTH THEATRE VISIT On the 1st December, a youth leader with the Chichester Festival Youth Team came and joined our Drama club for a fun and engaging workshop. All the students got to participate in some fun new games and activities and started
free Hair cut worth £60! Thank you Centre Stage! http://www.centrestagehair.co.uk/ interactive with the students DRAMA WORK involved throughout and able to ask questions at the end. Some UNVALED students had studied design options and used very creative On 20th November, 23 year make up and set designs to 11 GCSE Drama students enhance the pieces. travelled to The Vale School in After a very productive and Findon to show their devised well received morning, the Theatre in Education pieces. Every student had worked very WHS students were then able to offer The Vale students hard in the weeks and months leading up to the trip to produce some Drama workshops. Each an entertaining and educational group introduced and taught a Drama exercise that the piece of theatre on a topic that younger students really enjoyed was relevant to this young
to find new ways to create stories! All of the activities were such fun, but also taught all the students new performance skills and focused on how to create interesting stories with original locations and plot lines. Poppy from the Youth Theatre gave all the students information about CFYT and explain that they run youth groups as close as Lancing so a number of students were interested in finding out about how to join. audience. Each group focused on the sensitive topic of bullying and themes ranged from Santa and his elves to The Wizard of Oz. Each group of WHS students had the opportunity to present their work to three different groups of year 3 and 4 students and each piece was 14
Katie Hunwick, Leader of Drama
and helped them to grow in confidence. The WHS students were a credit to the school all day even playing with the students at break and lunchtime and lots of new friends were made during the day! Katie Hunwick Leader of Drama
TASTE TESTING
On Thursday 3rd December, Caterlink, our school canteen provider hosted a taste testing session for students in the school canteen. The students were given samples of some the healthy option foods which have been on sale or could be sold in the canteen. The items included; super food salad, beetroot and apple bread, courgette and orange cake and a healthy option curry. Students have given us feedback about which items they enjoyed and this will be used to plan the menu for after Christmas. It was excellent to see the students trying new flavours which they were initially uncertain of- and enjoying them! To follow on from this, a competition is has been launched for students
to design a new healthy option snack product for the school canteen. Tutors have information about the competition and copies of the entry forms. Students can see Mrs Hurley for further information.
We are hoping to receive lots of new and exciting ideas; there will be a prize for the winner and their product could be sold in the school canteen!
METHOLD HOUSE CHRISTMAS CONCERT On Tuesday 15th December, 30 musicians from Worthing High School Choir and Orchestra took the short walk from school to Methold House, to perform and entertain at the elderly day centre.
The day centre had organised a special Christmas Party for its clients. There was Christmas dinner for all, incuding all the trimmings and even a glass of sherry! The centre organized a whole host of entertainment, not just us but also an other school and even a Brass Band! The Worthing High Students handed out song sheets for the Carols and performed an hour set of Carols, readings and musical performances. Leader of Music David Martin said “ I am so proud of our wonderful students’ performances. Their lovely singing and playing created a lovely atmosphere. It was great to see our students chatting with those more advanced in years sharing a little of the true Christmas spirit. “ 15
CURRENTLY READING POSTERS As a way of promoting reading within the school all staff display on their doors currently reading posters. On asking students what they thought about the staff books they said it was really important that they could see what the teachers were reading. They enjoyed discussing the books with them and felt it was a great way of recommending books to each other. They liked the way they were changed regularly and it showed that the ethos of reading for pleasure throughout the year groups extended to staff as well. The most popular staff reads at the moment are: My Sister’s Keeper – Jodie Picoult Go Set a Watchman – Harper Lee Us – David Nicholls The Girl on a Train – Paula Hawkins After You – Jojo Moyes As well as students book clubs we do also have a staff book club which meets each term.
ANYONE FOR TENNIS? Worthing High School has expanded its sports facilities over the summer with the addition of a new multi-use hardcourt area primarily designed for tennis or netball. We now have 4 tennis courts and 3 netball courts which are sited at the Glynn Owen Centre opposite the school. The school has taken a 10 year lease on the courts from West Sussex County Council and we have invested over £30,000 to have the courts resurfaced for use by our students.
@worthinghigh for all the latest information and updates
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RICOCHET This year saw the highest number of students audition for Worthing High School’s Dance Company, Ricochet. Forty students prepared solo, duo and trio choreography in the hope to be selected as one of the eight successful students to join the company.
Mini Ricochet right, Ricochet above
I would like to congratulate the following students on their success:
Lucy Brunning, Evie Carter, Georgia Dean,Lottie Erratt-Rose, Ella Tyler,Phoebe Tyler Anna Phillips and Amelie Vinall
Miss Strudwick Leader of Dance
WORTHING COLLEGE WINTER DANCE SHOW The year 11 BTEC Performing Arts dance students were invited on Wednesday 2nd December to perform at the Worthing College annual winter dance show. The year 11 students performed their current dance piece, “Suspects Disclose” which is a dance based on the Cluedo board game. The students showed professionalism throughout the whole evening supporting the other performers from Worthing College and Davison. It was a fantastic evening and all students should be very proud of their performance.
Miss Strudwick Leader of Dance
AWARD SCHEME
The School Games Mark is a Government led awards scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition
across their school and into the community. Schools in England are able to assess themselves across bronze, silver and gold levels of the Mark. At WHS we are very proud to have achieved the Gold Mark this year. Head of PE Miss Field said ‘ we are always striving to improve our PE provision across the school and increase both participation and competition. This mark has given
us a positive framework to work towards and we are delighted to have achieved it’. 17
GEORGE NEALE - YEAR 8 George Neale, Year 8, played for Sussex earlier this term in the National Youth Chess Association U14 Championships in Northampton. Sussex came second in the competition. George has been playing chess since he was 7 years old when he joined the chess club at Broadwater C of E Primary School. He then started attending training days and tournaments across Sussex organised by ‘Sussex Junior Chess’ and through this support and the encouragement of his chess coach, Dave Graham, George started competing in national competitions. George was part of the Broadwater C of E school team which won the ‘Sussex Primary Schools Cup’ and has also represented Sussex on a number of occasions. He was part of the Sussex team which won the U9, U11 and U13 national titles.
George is the current Worthing Junior Chess Champion and plays for Worthing Chess Club in the Mid Sussex league. He was selected to represent the England Junior Chess Team after performing well in a number of national competitions and played against Wales earlier this year in a fixture that England won.
George Neale pictured far left.
GET SET FOR COMMUNITY ACTION Worthing High school has been selected as a Champion Schools recruited by the Youth Sport Trust. Get Set for Community Action is a brand new programme, which aims to strengthen relationships between young people and their local communities through the Olympic Values (friendship, excellence and respect) and the Paralympic Values (courage, determination, equality and inspiration). Thousands of students will work in teams across the UK, building relationships with local community groups to plan and deliver at least two projects each, in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a Champion
school WHS will look to support 5 other schools to take part in the Get Set for Community Action programme, while also working with our own community partners.
turned cyclist) and Christian Malcolm (World, European and commonwealth medallist) the event
Two students were lucky enough to attend the launch of the Get Set For Community Action programme and meet two inspirational athletes: David Smith (Gold medal rower
was held at Aston Villa ground in Birmingham. During the day students worked through specific community events and worked through skills that they will need as a Champion school, to plan projects. Worthing High School is looking forward to running several community action projects with its cluster schools in the New Year. 18
BEN COLBURN CROWNED NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPION Worthing High Student Ben Colburn races to Championship victory Worthing High School student Ben Colburn sealed his augural Junior Saloon Car Championship crown with a comfortable 2nd and 4th place at Pembrey Circuit on the weekend of 10-11 October. This was his first ever season in the Championship racing for Westbourne Motorsport which makes his victory even sweeter. Ben came into the weekend with a 13 point lead over title rival Brad Hutchinson and he was determined to secure the victory in the final weekend of the season. He qualified a modest
4th for both races; unusual as he had started on the front row for every race until Pembrey. In race 1 Colburn got off to a good start and was able to hold his position in 4th. Coming onto lap 3, Colburn had gained some good
momentum on the two cars ahead of him he managed to get to the end of the straight alongside the two,
by the first corner, only to regain the place later on in the lap. Colburn then got clear and decided to stay in his
making a three a breast manoeuvre into turn one. Colburn managed to stay in 2nd for the rest of the race, giving him a better advantage of winning the championship for race two. In race two, Colburn’s start wasn’t as good as he dropped to fifth
position as he knew it was enough to complete the title victory. Ben said “It’s been a great season for myself and my team Westbourne Motorsport winning the championship this year! I’d like to say a huge thank you to the whole team for providing a great car and especially to my parents and brother James for their great support”. Teacher of Physical Education, Paul Gill, said “We have been following Ben’s progress all year and we are very proud of him at school. He is an inspiration to his peers and the younger students, proving that hard work and commitment can lead to success”. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=HRSTNB-wGm8
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GCSE CYCLING
This week, GCSE PE students in Year 11 took part in a 1 day Mountain Bike practical assessment at Stanmer Park, Brighton with Mr Townsend.
in a wide range of different aspects of mountain biking which included bike safety, bike mechanics, cycling on different terrains, cycling uphill, cycling downhill, braking at different speeds and how to effectively use gears on different hill gradients. Students then had to show their skills they had learnt by cycling on a mountain bike trail at the end of the day. The aim is for each student to show skills which will allow them to have mountain biking as 1 of their top 4 practical performance grades for GCSE PE. Thankfully the rain held off so the
cyclists didn’t get too wet, just a bit muddy!
16 students paricipated in the mountain bike assessment on Tuesday 15th December and an other 16 students on Wednesday 16th December. Over the course of the day, students were taught and assessed
NEW KIT SPONSORS This year we have been extremely lucky to receive sponsorship for new sports kit. We would like to thank the following companies for their generosity and Rhys Price for organizing. • Nsure – sponsored full football kit • Panic Plumbing and Electrics - sponsored football shirts • Assystem UK Limited - sponsored basketball full kit • MK Window Cleaning - sponsored football shirts • Peter Mott – Netball Kit If there are any local business that would likr to help the school, please get in touch as we have sponsorship packages available.
Miss M Field Leader of PE www.worthinghigh.net
achieve@worthinghigh.net
twitter.com/worthinghigh
01903 237864