Excellence in a caring community

February 2016

Upcoming Events It has been another busy and productive half term with much to celebrate. You may have Monday 22 February Start of Term seen that the Department for Education Thursday 25 February Year 9 Parents’ Evening recently published their 'league tables' for Tuesday 1 March Year 6 Forensic Science Day schools. Although I know they do not show Thursday 3 March Year 6 Forensic Science Day the whole picture, it was good to see that Hobart were Monday 7 March GCSE Drama Practical the fifth highest performing state secondary school in the Tuesday 8 March GCSE Drama Practical county in terms of GCSE results. More pleasing was the Wednesday 9 March GCSE Drama Practical fact that in terms of progress (the improvement students Thursday 10 March GCSE Music Concert make during their time with us) we are third in the Tuesday 15 March GCSE PE Practical county and sit amongst the highest performing schools Wednesday 16 March GCSE PE Practical nationally. Thursday 17 March GCSE PE Practical Friday 18 March Year 11 English Language This is a reflection of just how hard our students worked, Mock Exam but also of the professionalism and dedication of our Monday 21 March GCSE Art Practical (Group A) staff. All our evidence points towards another record Tuesday 22 March GCSE Art Practical (Group A) year for 2016 too. All excellent news! Tuesday 22 March Year 7 Parents’ Evening I would like to thank all parents and carers for their Wednesday 23 March GCSE Art Practical (Group B) support with our firm line on standards with uniform. Thursday 24 March GCSE Art Practical (Group B)

With this in mind, please check our uniform policy You missed it...... Oh Yes you did! carefully before replacing uniform. Please also be aware that the Governors have approved the introduction of school skirts (with a Hobart logo) that we will introduce in September. We plan to consult with our students over the exact design before Easter. The new skirts will be available to purchase soon afterwards. With this in mind, I would suggest only replacing skirts if absolutely necessary or if asked to do so by staff.

As this newsletter goes to press, I have not had the pleasure of watching our school production of 'Grease'. What I am able to say is that from the rehearsals, it Loddon Players production of Sleeping Beauty was certainly looks like it will be a highly professional and everything a pantomime should be, especially for someone enjoyable production. A big thank you to all who have like me, plenty of "He's behind you" "Oh no he isn't" "Boo" helped and supported with the purchase of tickets. etc. and wonderful interaction with the audience, I guess there was a script somewhere, but it had us all Jim Adams laughing and participating so much that really didn't matter. The compulsory singing a song and a fantastic Headteacher slapstick set with paint and glue everywhere and the cast laughing as much as us. What a fantastic evening out for all Notice the family and a huge thanks to the wonderful students, Please could students leaving on foot use the current and past, from Hobart - you know who you are "Oh footpath and please could parents park in the yes you do....." for brightening up the cold dreary month of village and not on site or on the access road January. Oh and I must add my thanks to the front of when picking up students. house team who let me stay in my seat and be served during the interval. Mrs Horn

www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh

Toe to the Oche The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

At the beginning of the school year a Student/Staff darts tournament began. We played one round a week and it has taken until now to complete. We have seen some terrific games with both high scores as well as some games finishing with the first dart Took place at Beccles Hall in December 2015. The dancers thrown at the double! The included Ellie Bingham, Abby Harper Bourne, Katherine Hayes matches have been played with dedication and and Lucy Brandon. Ex-students Annabel Morton and Rebecca commitment from both the students and staff and I Hooper were the Unicorns. would like to thank everyone for their support and participation. The final Food Technology was played last week and I am delighted to announce Year 7 really had a “gold plated” experience with making the winners of the 2016 their own designs of burgers. Student/Staff darts tournament were Oliver Hall, Year 8, (who shot the winning double) and Mr Knights. The very close runners up were Zachary West, Year 8 and Mrs Horn. All finalists received a trophy. Many congratulations!

10 January 2016, Sandringham,

The Army Cadets were asked to select members to attend the Sandringham Remembrance Service attended by HRH the Queen. Brandon Russell was lucky enough to be selected and with a group of 15 others who paraded past the Queen whilst saluting her. Also in attendance were the Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge and Prince George, along with the Archbishop of Canterbury. This was a very proud occasion for the youngsters and we are lucky enough Race for Life 2016 to have photographic evidence. Brandon is on the left hand side. We are again offering girls the opportunity to complete Race for Life at the Norfolk Showground on Sunday 15 May 2016. This Cancer Research UK event gives the girls a chance to raise funds for this important charity and experience the atmosphere of this event. Parents are also welcome to join our team.

We have set up a “Hobart High 2016” team which you can join, along with a Just Giving sponsorship page, we would welcome all sponsorship. https://www.justgiving.com/ hobarthigh2016/

See Mrs Horn for more details and forms.

www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh Technology Department would be Reading Challenge pleased to receive any buttons, ribbons and empty biscuit tins you may have at home. Thank you

Year 7 and 8 Girls Football

On Tuesday 12 January, the Year 7 and 8 Girls Football teams travelled to Thorpe St Andrew High School for the first of three 5-a-side competitions as part of the Norfolk FA Girls Schools’ Small Sided Programme. The competition is run across four venues countywide and a Finals Day is held in April.

The girls were separated into their respective year groups, with the Year 7 team in Group 1 and Year 8 The school’s English Department are delighted to be team in Group 2. Both teams played five matches running a Reading Challenge, which pairs volunteers against Thorpe St Andrew, Open , Sprowston from Year 10 with younger readers in the school. High, North Walsham High and Broadland High. The Programme’s aim is to promote and sustain The Year 7 team of Daphne Dobma, Emily Hooper, enjoyment in reading, while developing essential Maisie McComish, Ava Rodgers, Olivia Rodgers, Emma reading skills. Year 10 Reading Mentors received Wicks and Jessica Wilkinson competed really hard after specialist training and instruction before working with narrowly losing their first match 1-0. They drew the younger students to achieve specific targets. remaining four matches, three matches finished 0-0 and the other 1-1, with Ava Rodgers scoring the goal. The first group of Year 7 readers have recently completed their challenge! Congratulations to them The Year 8 team of Imy McGregor, Lucy Hampson, and a huge thanks to our Year 10 volunteers, who have Kirsty Sait-Stewart, Amelie Mortimer, Annaliese Thiel been absolutely brilliant! and Emily Matthews performed outstandingly well. Two 0-0 draws were accompanied by wins of 5-0, 2-0 and Public Speaking Competition another 2-0 victory leaving them top of the group with no goals conceded. On Thursday 4 January 2016, Sophie Anderson, Emily Humphrey and Lucy Mackie competed in the Norfolk Many positives were drawn from the Tournament for heat of the English Speaking Union, Public Speaking both teams going into the second round of fixtures in Competition. Sophie delivered an impassioned speech March. Next it is the turn of the Year 9 and 10 Girls, about the current discrepancies in the treatment of who travel to Thorpe St Andrew on Tuesday 9 February mental health patients compared to physical for their first round of matches in the same competition. health. Emily questioned the Wymondham High speaker and Lucy chaired the discussion. All three girls Both teams would like to thank Mr Block and Mr Knights were fantastic and really did the school proud. for their support and giving up the time to take them to the competition on a very cold afternoon for everyone!

Review of School’s Assessment and Reporting System

We are currently conducting a review of the school's current assessment and reporting system and would welcome your views. As part of this review, we are also keen to establish a Parent Focus group. Please follow link-to-survey-on- Survey-Monkey in order to complete a short online questionnaire. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ r/TRZ2YYW

www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh Design, Create and Innovate Year 8 Netball Team Interschool's Competition On 2 at Lowestoft February Sixth Form 2016 the College. Year 8 girls’ netball team On Wednesday 27 January attended a 2016, 15 of Hobart’s Year match at 9 students took part in the Framingham first annual interschool's Earl High AG&T conference held at School Lowestoft Sixth Form which ended College. Three teams of 5 in 14/14. students each worked Ellysia Bendall, Imogen McGregor, Gabriella Crisp, Ellen through 3 different Lockhart, Isabella Morley, Anna Treutler, Kirsty Sait- challenges throughout the Stewart and Lexi Mulley were the players and they all day which involved engineering and design aspects, contributed to the result. Both Imogen and Gabriella logistics and technology. Each team was scored on a were responsible for the goals, however special credit number of different criteria throughout. There were was given to all the defenders (Elly Bendall, Anna individual awards as well as an overall whole school Treutler and Isabella Morley) and the rest of the team award. Hobart narrowly missed out (by 1 point) to for preventing Framingham Earl High School from Ormiston Victory in the overall prize, but did win the scoring any more than Hobart did. All the girls were team prize for the technology aspect of the day in which very satisfied and look forward to their next match. they had to design an innovative new mobile phone.

Year 10 Netball Team Year 7 Netball Teams

Ellie Kershaw, Laura Holden, Nia Wallace, Katie Bostock, Kate Pettit, Abby Norman, Abbie Silk, Ellie Lyon, Alicia Gray, Regan Lucy Clarke and Chloe Rowswell. Congratulations to the Year Harvey, 10 Netball Freya team who Davey, Abi played away Roberts, against Olivia Framingham Rodgers, Earl High Ava School. It Rodgers. was very Maisie close McComish, throughout Grace Price, the match Chloe Payne, Arya Johnson, Abbie Corbett, Olivia and they Davey, Amy Collison played exceptionally well together which resulted in a very Congratulations to the Year 7 Netball Teams who have competitive game and a 23-19 win! Well done Year 10. all worked really hard this year, they played at home in two really competitive and friendly Cross Country games, resulting in a win for one of the teams. The

girls all played really well and have shown how much On Wednesday 27 January 2016, 14 students from they have improved. Also thank you to Year 10’s Hobart took part in the Norfolk Schools Cross Country in Regan Clarke and Chloe Rowswell who stayed to help . The conditions were very cold and windy and with the running of the game and also acted as team there were students from all across Norfolk taking part. managers. Well done Year 7. There were some excellent performances from all students who took part. A special congratulations goes to Niamh Norris, Emma Hunter and Holly Bunn. All three girls were selected to represent Norfolk Schools Athletics Team at the Anglian Schools Cross Country Championships in Lincolnshire.

www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh Living for Sport Online Safety, Parents and Carers

On Friday 29 January 2016, 10 Year 11 Do you know what your child is doing online? boys were visited by Sky Sports Athlete Mentor, Mike Mullen. This was part of the Living for A parent guide to supporting your child to stay safe on Sport programme that the boys have been a part of line is available from the School Website: which focuses on using sport to raise academic www.hobart.org.uk. It is a useful, informative guide engagement and achievement. Mike is a professional produced by Norfolk Constabulary. BMX half pipe rider who has been both British and World champion. During the day he spoke to the boys about Another recommended information site for parents is: his career and how he overcame challenges and www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents. barriers. There was also an opportunity for the boys to test their BMX skills in a variety of races and competitions. Here are some thoughts from the boys Online Safety, Students about their experiences: After half term the PCSO, working with the school, Chris ‘We did many activities containing team work and Shutt, will be leading assemblies for all students around individual exercises which did come across as staying safe online. The main focus for this will be challenging at times but quickly by following simple information around the area of texting. Leaflets will be steps such as planning and thinking about what to do given to students and electronic copies are available next we overcame the obstacles.’ Tom Eyre from the school website: www.hobart.org.uk.

‘As the day came to the end Mike mentioned that there are 6 things that can help you achieve your goals. 1. Please try to talk to your child about being safe Mental toughness. 2. Hunger to achieve. 3. People skills. on line and make sure you regularly check your 4. Sports and life knowledge. 5. Breaking barriers. 6. home computer systems. Planning for success. These are the 6 things that may help you achieve your goal.’ Tom Moore

‘Mike Mullen taught us about life skills and how to not limit yourself and never think your goals are out of Board of Governors reach. He said that you should not look back at what Parent Governor Vacancy you didn’t achieve but look at what you can achieve.’ Interested in becoming a school Governor? Henry Playford Please print a nomination pack from the schools website ‘The day with Mike taught me to not give up hope www.hobart.org.uk because if you work hard you can overcome barriers you never you thought you could.’ Marley Flute or contact the school office for a nomination pack.

‘It was relieving to have a day out of normal lessons at a stressful time in the year, coming up to our exams and to have Mike talk to us about how successful we can be with perseverance.’ Henry Dalton

‘I have also learnt with Mike that you need to set goals so you can overcome but only by yourself and that’s by following the 6 steps and by not reacting to others who say otherwise.’ Chris Davison

‘I really enjoyed our day with Mike as it has given me more motivation and determination than I already had. Meeting such an inspirational figure such as Mike Mullen really has motivated me to achieve anything that will come my way.’ Doeke Dobma

www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh www.hobart.org.uk Twitter: @HobartHigh