THE LINK Delta Academies Trust Newsletter 15 - JUNE 2021 ISSUE No. Events are back DELTA NEWS Delta Academies Trust Newsletter Welcome Serlby Park: Mayor Holly Exemplary Serlby Park student Holly has been voted in as Bassetlaw Youth Mayor. She will hold the post a year and be an ambassador for children and Welcome to the latest young people. Holly will celebrate edition of The Link. their achievements, as well as be This edition gives us a taste of life an excellent role model. after lockdown and the prospect Throughout her term she will of getting back to normal. It also attend compulsory events like gives us a flavour of the exciting Remembrance Day, and chosen projects taking place across the events such as fitness and mental trust. While restrictions have health, as she feels strongly about remained, the last few weeks have both. felt more like normal, and we can Holly has been a member of plan with a little more confidence. the Bassetlaw Youth Council, One thing our staff and children organised by Bassetlaw Council, across the trust can look forward for three years and was nominated to, is visiting our fabulous for Mayor, which she won. Environmental Education Centre The Year 11 is studying 7 GCSEs at Dallowgill, in the heart of the with predicted grades of 9 in all Yorkshire Dales. We took another subjects. important step towards its opening last week when Trevor Holmes was She has a clear vision for her appointed as our centre manager. future and plans to study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Geography Trevor already worked for the at A Level and hopes to study Trust and was based at Ryecroft medicine at Sheffield University. Academy. In between her studies and her I would like to thank the six pupils Bassetlaw Youth Mayor Holly mayoral duties, Holly runs and from England Lane - Lennox, Lexi, swims competitively. Lilly, Joshua, Mylie and Cole - who joined us for the interviews (see page 5). I was most impressed by the De Lacy: Team’s fighting talk professional manner in which they approached their task. They were Students from De Lacy Academy took on more than 40 private a credit to their Academy. I was also reassured that we made the and selective schools from across the world in an international right choice when the panel agreed with the student panel, it just took debating competition. us slightly longer to get there. The 5 Year 11s - Shane, I would like to thank staff involved Angela, Tyler, Stephanie and in Year 6 and Year 11 assessments. Maddison – gave up their The disappointing news that tests weekend to represent school and exams were again cancelled and country in the event was made bitter sweet after the hosted live from India by The hard work and efforts of students Rotary Club in New Delhi. and staff. After a loss on their first I’m confident that given the debate, the academy team professionalism of our teachers came out fighting and won and leaders, pupils and students their next one. will be awarded the qualifications Tyler was awarded the best that reflect their effort and ability. speaker award in that round. Once again, you have made a real While they did not make it to difference to the lives of children in the finals, all really enjoyed the our Trust and their communities. event and even made friends This will be our last issue before with some of the international “It was a great experience for our debate and their ability to keep the end of the academic year. May students. academy and our students,” they cool under pressure.” I take this opportunity to wish you Assistant Principals Nic said. A huge congratulations to Tyler an enjoyable and restful summer. Taberner and Rob Howell “We were really proud of how for his best speaker award. Paul Tarn organised De Lacy’s our students engaged with the Chief Executive Officer involvement. 2 DELTA CHARITY Delta Academies Trust Newsletter Serlby Park: Mayor Holly Willow Green: Wacky total Competitors in Willow Green Academy’s Race for Life raised an amazing £5,187.00 plus £988.50 gift aid. It was organised by Assistant Teigan, in Year 5, said: “I feel proud Principal Ash Duncan and the staff of the whole school. I cannot team. believe how much we’ve raised.” He said: “We initially set a target for And Addison, also in Year 5, went the school of £1,000 and thought on: “It was so much fun, I just want that it would be amazing if we got to do it again. anywhere near that. “It’s great that we can have fun and “To hit this total is incredible and help others at the same time.” just goes to show the support we A Year 3 parent fed back it was have here in the community for “great” to attend an event like this good causes.” again in school. Head of Academy Christopher “The organisation was superb and Parkinson said: “The children have even though we were having to really taken to this event and the follow the COVID rules it felt great challenge of raising money for to be back. The kids really enjoyed such a good cause. it.” “I have no doubt that it has been It was the first event since their efforts in raising the profile of lockdown where parents could be Race for Life that has led to such invited to watch children take part As is tradition with the Race for Life an unbelievable final total.” in an activity. events, the course began with a group warm up conducted to the Thanks to the organisation of the sound of music. Even some of the whole Willow Green team and the parents were seen dancing along. superb cooperation of the parents and carers, the event was a huge After completing the course, success. the children received an official Race for Life medal to mark their All of the children from Reception achievements. to Year 6 completed specially- designed obstacle courses while The money raised will make a being cheered on by parents and difference in the fight against carers. cancer and Willow Green pupils, parents and staff should be proud of their efforts. De Lacy: Team’s fighting talk Thank you to everyone involved and to everyone who donated. 3 DELTA NEWS Delta Academies Trust Newsletter Garforth: Calm Ruby’s 999 drama with school and said she kept calm Premier actions from a Garforth Academy pupil which helped her by reminding herself that help was father, Leeds United’s matchday announcer, receive emergency on the way. Ruby said: “I had to keep an eye treatment have been praised. on how he was breathing to make Leigh Nicholson (42), suffering Ruby had had an online first aid “I had to lie down and managed sure it wasn’t getting any worse. I heart problems, had begun to lesson only two weeks before. to dial 999, said ambulance, then was told to try and keep him calm hyperventilate and managed to call Leigh said: “I felt like I couldn’t get that’s when I had to hand over the as well as try and keep myself and an ambulance, but was unable to a full breath into my lungs, I had a phone to Ruby and she handled it my brother calm. speak. really bad night. from there.” “It was a bit much at the time. I had His children, 12-year-old Ruby and “In the morning it started to get Ruby checked her dad’s breathing to ring my mum as well to make 10-year-old Jack, stepped in to worse and worse. My arms and while waiting for the first responder sure she knew what was going on, speak to the 999 operator, keeping legs started to feel numb, I started to arrive, all while keeping her dad and keep my Grandma updated their dad calm and liaising with to go really dizzy and my heart was and little brother calm. with everything. their mum - who was at work at racing - it felt like it was going to She had just received online “I just thought to myself - the first Leeds General Infirmary. burst out my chest. training on how to administer CPR responder is on their way. And I had just done a lesson on CPR a couple of weeks before this. I was preparing for the worst.” Leigh was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition which causes an irregular and often fast heartbeat. He was given medication to help his heart rate come down before being discharged later that day and will see a cardiology specialist to discuss how to manage the condition. Leigh, who is well known among Leeds United fans, shared his story on Twitter and was flooded with hundreds of messages. Ruby and Jack were praised for keeping level-headed and the brave pair even received the offer of an Amazon voucher as a well- done gift for their actions. “They deserve that and so much more”, Leigh said. “It makes me well up, I’m incredibly proud of how calm and level- headed Ruby was. It’s a situation that you never expect your children to be in.” • Story and picture courtesy of the Yorkshire Evening Post. A special story was unearthed when a Year 9 pupil studying the Windrush generation at Garforth went home to discuss the issue further with her family. Eve discovered her grandfather began weightlifting. shared her story with her class.