GREENACRE 2017

NEWSLETTER Spring Term

This issue: Students participating in Science STEM Message from Activities- See Page 7 School Games Mrs Bridger & Winners! Mr Reese Science STEM Activities There is always an excitement on returning to school in the New Year. Genius Squad Resolutions were still intact on January 3rd and there was much to look forward to. Year 8 have started the year with their Options Evening; Many thanks to the Rowing Team parents who took time to comment kindly on the positive experience they and Going to the Nationals their children had at the Options Evening.

‘Skills for Life’ Manager During this term, Year 11 have had their Sixth form interviews and know exactly what they need to do to secure a place on their chosen course; it has been fantastic to see record numbers applying for our sixth form. Next term will be very busy with our Year 11 preparing for their final GCSE exams and making decisions about their future. Students will need to be more focussed and resilient than ever, showing real determination to achieve their goals. Year 11 parent/carers and students have now been notified of their bespoke daily after school intervention sessions which start next term; it is VITAL that students attend these sessions as it will make a real difference to their GCSE outcomes in August. I would urge all parents and carers of year 11 to fully support this Get live updates on what is happening strategy; after all, we are all working towards the same outcome – a at the Academy follow us on twitter at: brilliant set of results for every one of our Year 11’s which will @GreenacreAcad of course improve Continued on Page 2... GREENACRE ACADEMY NEWSLETTER Spring Term 2017 Message from Maths Mrs Bridger & GCSE Revision books Mr Reese their future life opportunities. The maths department have purchased a supply of GCSE mathematics revision guides which are available for year Year 10 are also thinking of the future and their work 11 students to buy at the cost price of £4.50. Year 11 experience in the final summer term. We held successful students can also buy the same type of calculator that assemblies to students which introduced the process. will be used in the exam, again at cost price of £6.50. All students should be attending school every day and a Both of these will be invaluable when preparing for the drop in attendance can significantly reduce their final summer GCSE mathematics exams. GCSE grades. This is an important Skill for Life to imbed in our future generation of workers; therefore we would very much appreciate the support of our parents in ensuring your son/ward is at school every day and on time.

Next term we welcome back Mrs Edge who will be PIXL Maths APP Don’t forget that all students have access to the PIXL returning as our Head of School following her maternity Maths APP which is a fantastic resource where they can leave. Mrs Edge has been into the Academy during this revise maths on a computer or their phone. Students term and has been impressed with the conduct of our can get their login details from their teacher and we students. would like them to use it regularly so that they can become independent learners. Daylight is lengthening as we look forward to all the challenges and opportunities of the spring term at Find the PIXL Mats APP at: http://mathsapp.pixl.org.uk/ Greenacre Academy, achieving excellence for all in an ever changing world. We wish you all an enjoyable and productive half-term holiday. For Years 11, 12 and 13 in particular, this is a crucial period as they begin to prepare in earnest for their summer examinations.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 20th February in full school uniform with full Corbettmaths equipment. Another excellent resource for revision and practice Mrs Bridger Mr Reece materials is corbettmaths.com where you can find Acting Head of School CEO, Greenacre videos, worksheets and practice papers suitable for year Academy Trust 7 through to sixth form.

Page 2 GREENACRE ACADEMY NEWSLETTER Spring Term 2017 Marlowe House Churchill House Well done Marlowe House on yet another successful The end of term 3 already..! Where did that term go? term! Individually it has been a great term for many of you – I was very pleased to see so many of Churchill boys building upon This term has seen several Marlowe students selected successes from earlier this year and it was brilliant to see so for ‘Student of the Term.’ This is a fantastic achievement many more of you invited to either of the Zero point parties as it means those who have been awarded this title have too. I am also proud to see how well many of you are been singled out as being outstanding learners in that performing on a weekly basis – with 7 of the last week’s top 10 Housepoint earners being from Churchill house-enjoy your specific subject! The Marlowe students who have passes lads! Those of you who work hard consistently and obtained this great accolade are: Hashim Farid – has always do the basic are the cornerstone of Churchill house and I been identified as a budding mathematician, George thank each one of you; I hope those of you who could Larman – has shown a real flair for Media Studies, Jake contribute more would try to emulate some of the great role Cooksley has shown an excellent work ethic in Design models that we have amongst us.

and Technology, and Ethan Wadmore has made a Sadly we currently sit bottom of the pile in terms of housepoints valuable contribution to the school’s vocal group - well with the same theme reoccurring: once again managing to earn done, boys! a vast amount of housepoints but losing substantially more through receiving detentions and sometimes letting them This term has seen Marlowe forms attempt to improve escalate. If you are one of those who does earn a few their overall attendance, well done to all who have made detentions, you know you will have a detention – it is your job a concerted effort to improve attendance and to find out when and where and get it done at the first punctuality. In addition to this, forms have also been opportunity; don’t let it escalate and cost the house even more focusing on raising their housepoint totals – form CP housepoints than it already has – we are a team and in this have excelled at this and Hashim Farid and Louie together!

Devonport have consistently been in the top ten Please remember to do the basics, be organised and plan housepoint earners – well done! ahead. Sort out your uniform, equipment and PE (if you need it) the night before, as this will set you up for a positive day and Please make sure you return to school in term four with take the stress out of your morning routine! What are the all of your basic equipment and wearing correct uniform basics? Wear full school uniform to line-up (including your – let’s start the new term as we mean to go on! shoes and tie) and have your planner and basic equipment ready for the day ahead. Be proud that you are a student of Finally, I’d like to wish all Marlowe students, Mrs Ward, Greenacre Academy; and particularly proud that you are part of Mrs Hill and our hardworking form tutors a restful half the greatest house - Churchill house! term and thank you for all your hard work during term Well done to those of you in the Churchill Championship top 30; three. you are doing yourselves and the house proud! Ms. Wall

Have a great half-term!! Mr Roberts, Mrs Cowburn and Mrs Hill.

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Dickens House Chaucer House I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Dickens Well done Chaucer House on another successful term! students on an excellent third term! It has been a This term has seen several Chaucer students selected for pleasure to see every one of you continue to display our ‘Student of the Term.’ This is an outstanding Skills for Life principles both in lessons and around the achievement and shows the hard work and dedication of Academy. students in the house. The Chaucer students who have A massive well done to Joshua Martin (Y8) and Robert obtained this great accolade are: Lewis Goold-Davies for Wood (Y8) who have managed to get into the Top 10 Art, Benjamin Harding for Modern Foreign Languages Housepoint earners for the entire school two weeks in a and Cassidy Leishman for PE - well done, boys, this is a row! The two boys along with some other Dickens boys fantastic achievement! received a week long queue jump pass for the canteen, This term has seen Chaucer forms attempt to improve keep it up! their overall attendance, and almost all students are Congratulations to form HW who won the first ever making a conscientious effort to ensure they are in full Form Challenge which was awarded for the fewest school uniform. It is important as a House we continue negative incidents over a week long period. You have to represent ourselves in the best possible light. demonstrated the behaviour expected of Dickens As a house we continue to lead the way with house students on a consistent basis, enjoy the Sports hall! points by 1600 which again shows the high levels of Dickens house was once again strongly represented in commitment displayed by you all. the ‘Student of The Term’ awards. This is a great Please make sure you return to school in term four with achievement as the recipient has been recognised for all of your basic equipment and wearing correct uniform their outstanding work and effort in a specific subject. – let’s start the new term as we mean to go on! The Dickens students who won the awards are: Jarrett Mears – Photography Finally, I’d like to wish all Chaucer students, Mrs Wall Samuel Ballington – Business and our hardworking form tutors a restful half term, and Lewis Byrne - History thank you for all your hard work during term three. Miss Lockwood I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Ms Boynton and all Dickens Form Tutors for their hard work and commitment during Term 3. Have a great break!

Mr Franklin

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Year 3 & 4 Greenacre Sports Hall Athletics Kent School Games

On Thursday 26th January, the year 3&4 Winners! Games Sports Hall Athletics competition took place at Following the Games Handball Medway Park. There were two sessions, one in Competition, which was the largest event in the UK of its the morning and one in the afternoon involving 29 kind and Greenacre winning the U13 trophy, today primary schools, 14 of which are from the Greenacre Greenacre have become the County Champions and will Sports Partnership. Well done to Swingate Primary be representing Kent at the National Finals in May!! School for winning and being the highest placed GSP

school and who will now through to the Kent School The 8 pupils were: Games Finals. Conner Wasway Enrico Ituama

Conner Dale Harrison Negus Please find the following results: st 1 Luke Tutt Hashim Farid 1 Swingate Primary 1188 2nd Warren Wood 1168 Jack Coopes Cassidy Leishman

3rd Burnt Oak2 1080 th Game 1: St Georges vs Greenacre: we won 2 - 1 4 Featherby Juniors 1066 th 5 St. Margaret’s Junior 1042 Game 2: Herne Bay vs Greenacre: we won 2 - 1 th 6 Balfour Juniors 986 7th Academy of Woodlands 978 Game 3: Harvey Grammar vs Greenacre: we lost 2 - 0 8th Fairview 926 9th Park Wood Juniors 876 We then went through to the semi finals again Dover 10th New Horizons Children’s Academy 858 Grammar and beat them 3 - 2. Delce 816 Eq. 11th Bligh Juniors 816 We went through to the finals which was against Harvey 13th St. Michaels 814 Grammar who we had lost to in the earlier rounds. After St. Thomas More 812 an intense game we beat them 1 - 0 and became Kent Eq. 14th Cedar 812 School Games U13 Handball Champions! 16th Saxon Way 790 17th Horsted 774 This means we will be representing Kent at the National 18th Hoo St. Werburgh 774 Finals in May! 19th Thames View 766 20th St. William of Perth 726 If you see the team please congratulate them. 21st All Faiths 680 22nd Cliffe Woods 672 23rd Maundene 652 24th Miers Court 574 25th Meredale 572 26th Wayfield 546 27th Kingfisher 512 Fair Play Award AM – Horsted Fair Play Award PM – All Faiths 1. Highest placed Greenacre SP School, invited to the Kent SG finals.

2. Highest placed Howard SSP School, invited to Kent SG finals.

In addition, congratulations to Horsted Juniors for winning the Fair play award!!

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Key Stage 5 IT and Business KS3 Computing

Our 72 new IT and Business students started the New Over the past term students in KS3 have been looking at Year by taking their first exam for their Level 3 hardware and software. They have been exploring the qualifications. Over 20 hours of after school sessions inner parts of a computer, identifying what their role is were made available to support all students in passing and how they work. For example we have explored how their first exam. Overall there were many positive certain internal parts of a computer work in a similar comments from both IT and Business, so fingers crossed way to organs in the human body. for them when their results arrive. We have also looked at the possible devices that can be One exam down and the preparation starts again! Both connected to a computer system to improve IT and Business have started their preparation for their performance or to add new feature, such as webcam next exam on Wednesday 17th May (IT) and Friday 26th used to record what it sees and what it hears. Students May (Business). have also explored the idea of "internal" and "external" hardware components to further their understanding of IT is now looking at the uses of information in the public the entire computer system. domain, globally, in the cloud and across the internet, by individuals and organisations. They will discover that More recently we have developed into software and it's good management of both data and information is different forms. For example students have looked at essential, and that it can give any organisation a software applications and their many uses, operating competitive edge. systems and how they work within the computer system. Next term we will be moving into programming, where Business is now looking at the skills and understanding students will learn the basics of a programming needed to work effectively within a business language, including how to design a program using environment. This includes arranging meetings, working flowcharts. with business documents, making payments, prioritising Miss Whiteway business activities and communicating with stakeholders.

Both new courses link with the Greenacre EMPLOY ME focus as all learners will develop transferable skills that are valued by higher educators and employers such as, communication, planning, teamwork, research and resilience. Mr J Eacott

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Science: STEM Activities This term students from year 7 had the opportunity to take part in a morning of STEM activities using popular films to explore ideas from Science and Maths.

We have another STEM activity coming up at the start of next term for students in years 7 and 8. Students will have the chance to enter a competition called ‘Solutions for the Planet’ using their ideas from the day.

Remember STEM club is in room 001 every Thursday lunchtime for year 7 and 8 students. They are currently creating a futuristic city!

Science: Half term challenge Remember Science experiments aren’t just for school – why not try an experiment in your kitchen at home? Acids and Alkalis are in many common household products, you could make your own Red Cabbage indicator to find out about different substances. Remember to work with an adult while doing any experiments and ensure you stay safe.

Want more ideas? Try the websites below https://sciencebob.com/category/experiments/ https://www.scienceathome.org/

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Science: Year 11 revision As we all know exams are fast approaching and students should be doing regular revision at home. Some ideas to help you:

 Why not try making flash cards of the key terms from Biology, Chemistry and Physics?

 Use post-its to display ideas from a topic around your bedroom.

 Use your revision guides – read a page, cover it, see what you can remember.

 Create mind maps on each topic of your exams.

 Complete past exam papers – all your teachers will be happy to mark these for you!

Revision challenge for half term – a question a day

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekend Explain how Describe 7 Explain the Explain the Describe and Describe decay your body forms of similarities and features of the 5 explain the and the carbon controls the energy with differences kingdoms using process of cycle amount of examples between the two key terms fractional glucose in your types of telescope distillation blood

Year 11 Science exam dates :

Core Science Biology: B1 Influences on life - Tuesday 16th May pm Chemistry: C1 Chemistry in our World - Thursday 18th May am Physics: P1 Universal Physics - Wednesday 24th May pm

Additional Science Biology: B2 Components of Life - Friday 9th June am Chemistry: C2 Discovering Chemistry - Wednesday 14th June am Physics: P2 Physics for your Future - Friday 16th June am

Triple Science Biology: B3 Using Biology - Monday 19th June am Chemistry: C3 Chemistry in action - Wednesday 21st June am Physics: P3 Applications of Physics - Friday 23rd June am

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Genius Squad On Thursday 19th January, we were honoured to welcome independence from our boys' to prepare them for their place in influential international educationalist, Angela Maiers and Lord the world. We want them to know that they are able to make Jim Knight to Greenacre Academy to develop our Genius Squad. amazing things happen and we are confident that our own Genius Squad will inspire their peers. We are so pleased to have Angela is a growth mind-set specialist who spent two hours with had the opportunity to work with Angela and Lord Jim Knight students from all year groups to help them find their inner and can see a great future in supporting our Skills for Life genius. With over 1,000,000 children around the world involved agenda" in her Choose 2 Matter campaign, we were keen to tap into the power of positive thinking.

The students involved found the experience very inspiring and followed up on a Skype chat with Angela the following day to share their ideas about how they can take them forward.

Their plan is to teach their own teachers about what is means to be a genius on the upcoming teacher training day!

Angela shared the news of her session with our students on her website: "Big WOW moment of Day One in ! Spending the morning with these amazing young leaders--so inspired by their compassion, vision and unwavering belief that change is possible. The world they create is the world we all deserve to live in."

Acting Deputy Headteacher, Mr Wise is excited by the potential of this new group, "We have been searching for more

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English KS3 KS3 have been working hard this term and have been Year 13 studying novels. Year 7 students have been working on For the Year 13s it’s time to start revising at home. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and year 8 Students are advised to put together a timetable for students have either been studying Of Mice and Men by revision that will give them plenty of time to cover John Steinbeck or Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The everything without leaving it all to a panic-stricken aim of this term’s work has been to develop students’ cramming session just before the exams. There is some analytical skills in preparation for the work that we will useful guidance in this Wikihow: do in KS4. As well as developing reading skills, we have http://www.wikihow.com/Revise-Successfully also been working on descriptive writing. Students have And here: been describing settings and characters from the texts http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Revision-Timetable that they are studying. Some of our KS3 students have

proven to be particularly talented with descriptive

writing. There are a couple of books at the end which will be very Next term, we will continue to study these texts; useful in your revision. however there will be a greater emphasis on writing Course Book and Revision Guide for Years 12 & 13 skills. Revision Express AS and A2 English Language and Literature (ISBN 978-1-4082-0654-6)

KS3 Competition Language and Literature: An EMC Coursebook (ISBN 978-1-906101-35-0)

Write a piece of descriptive writing about a lovely This is available from the English and Media Centre view. Entries should be no longer than a page and website: should use a range of descriptive techniques. https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/publications/ language-literature-an-emc-coursebook-ocr-language- literature-as-al-emc

Set Texts English KS5 Jez Butterworth: Jerusalem (ISBN 978 1 84842 050 2) English 6th Form: Looking Forward to Exams and to Next Caro; Ann Duffy: Rapture (ISBN-10: 0330433911 Year ISBN-13: 978-0330433914) Coursework Texts Year 12 George Orwell: Down and Out in Paris and London For the students in Year 12 English Language and Jenny Diski: Skating to Antarctica Literature A- Level it’s time to start preparing for the Alexander Masters: Stuart A Life Backward new units we will be studying next year. There is a list of Allie Brosh: Hyperbole and a Half books at the end of this piece. The students will be Bill Bryson: The Lost Continent studying the play Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth and a Anon: I am The Secret Footballer Anna Funder: Stasiland poetry collection by Carol Ann Duffy called Rapture. Jeannette Winterson: Why Be Happy When You Could be They will also be preparing to write their coursework and Normal? part of this involves choosing a non-fiction text from the Stephen Grosz: The Examined Life Solomon Northrop: Twelve Years a Slave list below. It will be useful to begin to explore some of Truman Capote: In Cold Blood these titles and think about which you might be Xinran: What the Chinese Don’t Eat interested in writing about.

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English GCSE Revision Guides We recommend that students purchase the following revision guides, from Amazon, which will help them with their revision: English Language English Literature CGP complete revision and practice 9-1 York Notes 9-1: A Christmas Carol Target Grade 5 Reading and Writing AQA GCSE 9-1 York Notes 9-1: Power and Conflict poetry Revise AQA GCSE English Language Revision workbook: York Notes 9-1: An Inspector Calls for the 9-1 exams York Notes 9-1: Macbeth

Online revision:

There are many fantastic revision videos available on Yr10 and 11

YouTube – the most effective and useful videos are you should also be purchasing Yr11 those created by an AQA endorsed English teacher, your own copies of the named Mr Bruff. Simply type “Mr Bruff” into YouTube Half term and after literature texts: ‘An Inspector and his Language and Literature videos will be school revision! Calls’, ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A available to view. There are also workbooks to use in Please see your conjunction with these videos, and these can all be Christmas Carol’. teacher for days/ obtained by emailing myself or your son/ward’s English teacher – please email us for a copy of these times study guides.

Half-term revision: Past papers needed? I’d also like to take this moment to remind you of the Please email your teacher to send you English PIXL literature app, which can be downloaded some exam papers to be working on over from iOS and Android, as well as the English Greenacre Instagram page. Both of these resources half term. We also have handy step-by- will be valuable revision aids for literature and step guides to help you with the writing language. of your answers.

Are you struggling with non-fiction, Do you want to watch a DVD over the half term viewpoint writing? break? Remember, there are some great versions Over the half term, read the newspaper of ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘An and watch the news. You need to Inspector Calls’ out there to view! immerse yourself in culture and explore different viewpoints.

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Greenacre Rowing Team Going to Nationals!

On Thursday 2nd February 2017, the year 7, 9 and 11 rowing teams attended the Kent School Games Rowing Finals at Medway Park.

As they had won their local heats at the Medway Secondary School Games, they were representing Medway for the Kent Finals.

The pupils did extremely well and the results were as follows: Year 7 Boys : 1st in the team event & relay Year 9 Boys : 1st in the team event & relay Year 11 Boys : 3rd in the team event & 2nd in the relay Also Karol Ituama won his individual race and became the year 11 Kent Champion.

All these pupils will now be going through to the National Rowing Competition on Friday 17th March in London. Currently with Karol's rowing distance he will be ranked in the top 8 in the Country!

Please congratulate the following pupils if you see them: Olatomwa Komolefe Alfie Stevens Joe Antonio Karol Ituama Sam Ituama Enrico Ituama Reece Heasman Alfie Pincott Jerome Jayagurd Tyrone Clarke YJ Ogundipe Scott Gurney

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‘Skills for Life’ Manager

Hello Students,

My name is Lisa Smith and I have recently joined Greenacre Academy Trust as your Skills for Life Manager.

I understand the academy’s overriding mission is ‘Skills for Life’. Within my first two weeks I have seen how this is embedded in the infrastructure of all three academies and I am really excited to explore this further.

My role is to strengthen this area and help to ensure you can all achieve your full potential through the development of personal and business skills that will fully equip you for the world of work or further education.

Since leaving college I have worked in the private business sector for the past 27 years and have lots of experience and knowledge in what employers are looking for, how you need to present yourself and how you can stand out from the crowd when meeting a potential employer.

I will continue with the successful careers assemblies so ‘watch this space’ for some interesting career choices.

Once you have chosen your career path I am happy to work with you to find a mentor from that profession or industry that will meet with you once a term and help you with advice, preparing your CV, interview skills and broadening your knowledge of the sector you have chosen.

I will also be writing customer service and sales courses and will let you know when these are available. I am here to help you be the best you can possibly be when you enter the world of work. Please speak to your form tutor if you would like to talk to me.

I am really keen to get your feedback so if you have any suggestions or ideas for Skills for Life then please let me know.

I look forward to working with you all.

Ms Lisa Smith

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Make sure that you are wearing your full Academy Uniform uniform, with ties done up correctly! & Basic Equipment Bring all of your basic Equipment to school every Day!

Be Ready, Respectful and Responsible

Represent Greenacre Academy with pride! You are the Academy!

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