School

Summer Term 2012 Issue 10 Coming soon - our new online - Enjoy the Summer Break! School re opens payment service! for Term 1 at 8.45am on Dear Parents, We‟re pleased to announce that we will be Wednesday 5th launching ParentPay as our preferred It is hard to believe that the end of another school year is fast approaching. September for It has certainly been a busy one with a huge variety of events and Years 7, 12 & 13. method of payment to school from 5th opportunities. This newsletter highlights some of our recent news and September 2012. Years 8,9,10 and successes. 11 arrive at ParentPay offers you the freedom to make

1.30pm. online payments whenever and wherever Our first full year as an has gone smoothly and I hope that students and parents have seen a „business as usual‟ approach. We were Enjoy the you like, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - fortunate to be awarded a large capital grant to complete some much Holidays! safe in the knowledge that the technology needed renovation work and students will see some of this completed for used is of the highest internet security available. the start of the new school year in September. We have also managed to fund a major refurbishment in the Humanities Faculty which will totally update this area. The Parents will have a secure online account, summer break will also see the old kitchen transformed into a fitness suite which will replace activated using a unique username and our current smaller provision. More of the school will have wireless internet access which will password (these will be sent to you shortly); allow the use of the latest technology. making a payment with your credit or debit

I hope that everyone enjoys a well-deserved summer break and returns ready for another busy card is straightforward and ParentPay holds year ahead in September! an electronic record of your payments for you to view at a later date. Mr. D.J. Farmer - Headteacher In addition to payments ParentPay also Nick Johns will retire at the end of term after an incredible 35 years of offers an integrated email/SMS reminders service to . Nick has seen many changes since he joined option - ensuring you never need miss a the school in September 1977. His successful career saw him lead in payment and helping you keep your child‟s school meal account in credit. several areas of school life and more lately, playing a key role in the Senior Leadership Team. In many ways Nick is Plymstock School and he is often We look forward to your support in using recognised by visitors who attended the school in the past. Nick will be ParentPay as it will help us further support greatly missed by students and friends and we all wish him a happy teaching and learning by reducing the burden of income collection in the retirement. classroom and school office whilst improving school-home communication. We will also be saying farewell to the following members of staff: Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Tetley, Mrs. Coelho, Miss. Farmer, Mr. Green, Mr. Snodin, Mr. Fennis, Mr. Chesbrough, Support your PTA - If you are buying new Mr. Armstrong, Miss. Rich, Miss. Wilkins, Ms. Darlow, Mr. Luscombe, Miss. Jolly, Miss. uniform items over the summer, Plymstock PTA Burns, Miss. Davis, Miss. Wright, Mrs. Heath, Mrs. Stimpson and Mrs. Osborn. We wish have organised a 10% discount on uniform items them all good luck for the future. (except sportswear) at the Trutex shop at Sugar Mill on 20th July and 10th August, when the shop will remain open until 8pm. Please support Ms. Baker has been an Acting Assistant Headteacher this year and has done an the PTA on these dates if you can, as in addition outstanding job. Her work on recruitment and induction has been fantastic and she has to your 10% discount, the PTA will receive a ensured that parents are fully aware of what Plymstock School will offer their children. donation for each blazer sold. Sleeping with Sharks - Year 7 Sleepover

Sixty Year 7 students slept with the sharks at the National Marine Aquarium recently as a reward for excellent commitment grades on their reports. The evening got off to a raucous start, when Mr. Bellamy and Mr. Wyatt arrived dressed in their matching sailor suits! The Aquarium staff then set the students off running round the Aquarium, playing games where they had to act out different animals and dressing up as characters from the tanks. A twilight tour of the different sections of the Aquarium followed, including a visit to the 4D cinema, where we emerged wet! There was time in the craft zone to make souvenirs, a soft-play and snack break and then more fun activities and the tale of the escaping octopus, which made for a creepy bedtime story later on.

Our base for the night was the area in front of the huge main tank and after a treasure hunt, we laid out our sleeping bags, had our midnight snack and settled to watch a film. Finally we settled down for the "sleeping" part of the sleepover with the giant tank dimly glowing around us. After an early start, breakfast and more soft play (how many Year 7 students can you fit in one softplay area?) we thanked Tim, the Aquarium's sleepover organiser and set off for home. As we have come to expect of Plymstock students, they were an absolute credit to the school and Tim said our group was the best he'd had. A big thank you too to Mr. Bellamy, Miss. Evans, Miss. Harris, Mrs. Hordern and Mr. Wyatt for giving up their Friday night to help make the trip such a success.

Ms. Baker Plymstock School Mentoring Schemes celebrated success at the fourth annual Inspiring Volunteering Awards hosted on Thursday 7th June by The Herald, Guild and Plymouth University. The awards celebrate the work of those who give up their time and efforts for free, to help others. Our Peer Mentoring Team, 'Sort It', were nominated for the Volunteer Team of The Year and four of our peer mentors, Anna Snell, Catherine Fairbanks, Jordan Baker and Damon Knight were invited to attend. Our peer mentoring team are students from Year 10 who support younger students within the school with homework, friendships etc. The panel were particularly impressed with the Peer Mentoring Support Line that the team are launching within the school. This allows younger students to request support by texting 07528682757. Peer mentoring is about passing on knowledge and experience to a younger age group and it also provides for mentors to work towards achieving accreditation.

One of our peer mentors, Damon Knight, took home the Turning Point Award (as often the best peer mentor is a person who has experienced some problems in the past but uses this experience to help others). Damon said, "I feel very proud to win and it's a great opportunity for me and the school to show what we do. Letting people know that you're there for them is really kind and that's why I do it."

Our Adult Voluntary Mentoring Scheme, New Horizons, was also nominated for Volunteer Team of the Year and celebrated success with Mrs. Val Gregory, who took home an award for Long Term Achievement. This scheme involves adults from the community who volunteer and offer support to students, mainly in years 10 and 11. They provide extra support and encouragement throughout the GCSE years. This works extremely well as each member is an independent person who is not linked to home or school and they give up their time for a student who is not reaching their full potential. Mentors, Mrs. J Kinchin and Mrs. P Constable also attended the awards.

In Year 11 we also offer academic mentoring for students by matching them to Plymouth University students who come in after school and offer additional support sessions. If you are interested in volunteering or feel that your child may benefit from taking part in one of our mentoring schemes, please contact our mentoring co-ordinator for the school, Mrs. J. Brotherton, who is also the Buckland House Mentor. Mrs. Brotherton also attended the Volunteering Event and is extremely proud of all the volunteer mentors.

In June, some former Hooe Primary School students (Glynn Moody, Ellie Saunders, Isla Golder and Sam Schofield) accompanied by Mrs. Oaten and I, went to Hooe Primary School to give them an introduction to Commonwealth languages, as part of their Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Whilst there, we taught the children how to say „hello‟ in several Commonwealth languages and performed the heads shoulders knees and toes song in Spanish. We also gave them the chance to compete in a French quiz about the Diamond Jubilee and taught them some of the words of the Haka and

This term our pupils were offered the fantastic opportunity to what they meant. We used our time there to show what Plymstock could take part in a drama practical workshop, run by Plymouth offer in terms of language possibilities and it also gave us the opportunity University‟s Theatre and Performance faculty. Twenty three to practice our own language skills. It was a fun experience, as well as a challenge because some of the pupils were only four years old! Year 8 students took part in the session, which took place in and around the Roland Levinsky building, and focused on how By Max Cavrot (A9 BMW)

to perform drama based on their surroundings. Every one of our students worked really well, and took a variety of techniques On Wednesday, 13th June, I took a group of eleven gifted and talented and ideas away with them. As well as the workshop, pupils linguists to Plymouth University Business School, for a Mandarin Chinese were also invited to watch performances from current 3rd Year taster day. We had an excellent time, eating speciality Chinese foods students from the course. Once again, I hope our pupils learnt a (including seaweed and several concoctions made from Tofu), learning to lot from watching what it takes to perform at degree level. I write our names using Mandarin characters and learning how to count to would like to thank all the staff that took part over the two days, 10 with our voices and our hands. We also experienced traditional and I hope to continue these strong links with the university in Chinese music, opera and dancing. It was a great experience and we the future. 谢谢 would like to say (thank you) to all who were involved in the planning Mr. Chick and delivery of the day.

Mr. Downes HMS Heroes from across the city attended the Queen‟s Jubilee street party in Devonport Dockyard.

Our representatives thoroughly enjoyed the day and were great ambassadors for the school. Well done to Rees Westlake, Victoria Weir, Ellie Woolsack is part of the Cultural Olympiad. The project enables anyone to contribute to Goodsell and Alice making a cushion from British wool. These are being given as a personal welcome gift Kellett. from the people of Britain to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Building the Anderson Shelter Door Just before half term we received the donated yarn made from British sheep in its natural colours and in true Plymstock spirit teaching assistants, administration staff, By Will Davies (10DCW) students from Years 7, 10 and 11 and teachers (even male sports staff!) got their knitting needles out over the holidays and excelled themselves. Our aim was to produce up to eight completed cushions with knitters contributing as much or as little as they were able to. I am pleased to report that we have not only achieved target, but surpassed it with a total of thirteen completed cushions of 40cms square.

They will now be sent to Woolsack to be filled with natural wool fleece, sewn with wool and gifted to each of the athletes requesting them - possibly the cycling teams.

Chief knitter on the podium was Teaching Assistant, Mrs. Deacon I attended the allotment club when it first started but who single-handedly produced 4.75 owing to other commitments was unable to continue complete cushions! She was closely followed by Faculty Assistant, Mrs. Carter who on a regular basis. Recently, Mr. Wallace opted for created 1.5 entire cushions. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time and made some of us to attend lessons every Tuesday for six it such a success. weeks with Mr. Hughes in the Enterprise area, so Mrs. Sanders - Design & Technology Department that we could study the stock markets on the internet (The Stock Market Game). When Mr. Hughes asked Year 7 Fish if we would like to help out with the allotment and to Competition help build an Anderson shelter, my interest in the club returned and I decided to build the door. My All students in Year 7 were recently main focus in creating it was to keep the elements invited to take part in the Fish Competition. The Fish Competition from entering the shelter and probably ruining the involves students writing a review equipment inside. All I used was some timber, about their favourite book on a fish- screws, a drill driver, a hinge with a latch and some shaped piece of paper. This year, weathering; so this door only took a minimal amount students were exceptionally of time to construct. Luckily, I put the door up only a creative and they produced some day before the weather turned ugly. Finally, I‟ve impressive work which was displayed in the school library. The contributed something to the school! books included bestsellers such as „War Horse‟ by Michael Morpurgo and „Twilight‟ by Stephenie Meyer. The designs and layouts of the fish were uniquely assembled; they ranged from coloured drawings and interpretations, to 3D papier mâché The Unsung Hero Award embellishments. The winner of the competition was Jerome Clench (C7 GBH) who The Unsung Hero Award is presented each week to will receive a £20 Book voucher. the member(s) of staff who have been nominated as By Kate Lowman (B8 CHW) going „above and beyond‟.

The awards for June and July: BBC Student Farewell, Question Time Mrs Stimpson! All the staff who pitched in during the flooding in the sports area as an exam was taking place. Well done The School Council joined four By Kate Lowman (B8 CHW) to them all - a great team spirit! MPs and hundreds of other

students in a schools „question At the end of this academic year, Mrs. Farmer who was nominated by her NQTs for Mrs. Stimpson will be leaving her help and support. time‟ live internet debate recently. Our students Plymstock School. After 15 years Mr. Paterson for his support to the school. were able to „blog‟ their of working hard in the school comments live to the MPs and library and as a dedicated maths Mrs. Tetley who was nominated by her tutor group the audience on topics ranging faculty assistant, she will be missed by students as and TAs. from gay marriage to the police a librarian and as part of the maths office crew. Mrs. Lowe for her hard work with the Year 6 checking private emails. “Good luck”, say some students, others say, “Thank Induction days. Mr. Oliver you for a wonderful time at Plymstock!” We wish her Deputy Headteacher all the best with her future plans. Football KS1 Multi Skills Festival

Well done to the following Year 8 students Children from Plymstock Primary Schools enjoyed being who are part of the treated to a morning of fun activities led by Plymstock School

Morley Rangers team young leaders. Children from Wembury, Pomphlett, that won the league title Goosewell, Oreston and took part in a multi skills in the Hermes League. festival held at Plymstock School on Wednesday 23rd May.

Adam Martin – L8OHT Children engaged in healthy competition and brought to life Andrew Labib – S8RLL the Olympic and Paralympic values. Congratulations to Tom Mather – A8JHH Luke Young – L8DSS Wembury who won overall.

Badminton Leaders Award

Sixteen Plymstock School students recently completed a Junior Badminton Organisers Award which was held at Plymstock School. The students learned about the rules and procedures of the game and now hope to lead recreational badminton sessions for students of all ages.

MY JOURNEY TO THE OLYMPICS

By Rory Warlow

My journey to the Olympics began at the age of twelve when my dad and granddad first introduced me to the sport of shooting. They taught me to shoot at Newnham Park in . After the first few sessions I realised it Summer Success! was something I really enjoyed and wanted to continue with. Congratulations to our athletes that made it through to the County team this year. They will For the first few years I shot mainly as a hobby, represent at the South West Schools taking part in a few competitions each year. As I Competition with a view to cementing their place started becoming more proficient and began ahead of the national finals in Gateshead this winning several competitions at a national level I July. Well done to: Jade Simson - 75m Hurdles, then made the decision to switch to shooting an Olympic discipline, Olympic skeet. This Victoria Weir - 1500m, Liam Kelland - 400m, was a big decision as Olympic disciplines are far more demanding and require a higher David Weir - 1500m, Nathan Higgins - 110m level of dedication and training. Luckily my parents were extremely supportive and Hurdles and Dan Kelland - 400m. helped me both financially and in the enormous amount of travelling involved in my An impressive set of results in Olympic year! training. Students who competed at county level, Later that year at just sixteen, I represented Great Britain for the first time at the representing Plymouth and , were European Championships. Over the next few years I won several medals at junior level Tommy Dyer, Ben Mellor-Heslop, Dylan Reeve including a silver medal at the Youth Olympics, gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth and Isla Golder. Games and a gold medal at the European Championships.

Gifted and Talented Day at Plymstock School In 2011, I then made the important step of going straight from the Junior GB team to the Senior GB team, and consolidated a good year‟s shooting by maintaining my rank as On Thursday 14th June, Plymstock School hosted GB number one and finishing in the top twenty in the world rankings, ensuring I made a Gifted and Talented event for over 50 girls from the shortlist for the Olympic selection. across the city. England Cricketer, Caroline Atkins, worked with the girls to develop their Finally in May 2012, I was officially selected to represent Great Britain at the 30th Physical, Cognitive, Creative, Social and Personal Olympic Games being held in London later this year. When I found out I had been skills. These five capabilities have been identified selected, I was relieved and excited that my hard work, dedication and hours of training as being crucial for the development of the all- both mentally and physically had resulted in the opportunity to take part in the London round athlete. Olympic Games. I look forward to competing in July and hope to put in a solid performance. The girls were put through their paces with …………………………………….…... physical challenges which helped them to develop their skills within the game. They were inspired by * Rory is a former pupil of Plymstock School (2001 - 2006). The staff and pupils would Caroline‟s testimony and how she has achieved like to wish him all the best and will be watching avidly over the summer months. We her place on the England team. The day finished with a cricket world cup where all the girls were mixed up to represent countries from around the world.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the day and many hope to join a local cricket club and continue to further develop their skills.