Battle Abbey School Newsletter: 6Th March 2020
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Issue: March 6th 2020 Cover Artist: Maisie Kirby’s GCSE (Year 11) final Battle Abbey coursework piece ‘Bird Dress’ School Newsletter: 6th March 2020 www.battleabbeyschool.com|[email protected] Issue: March 6th 2020 Dear parents, Dear Parents, Despite the gloomy weather and mounting concerns over I am delighted to start our news with our hot-off-the-press win Coronavirus, we are in a very buoyant mood at the Abbey at the Hastings Music Festival! Our fantastic choir won their following the latest batch of public examination results. Once category, gaining an honours mark and returning home with again, our wonderful Maths department and students have the John Lockey Banner, which is proudly on display in our delivered a set of outstanding results in the GCSE exam, taken entrance hall. They sang the very moving ‘Can you hear 6 months early. Building on the amazing successes of last year, me?’ by Bob Chilcot, with every child using sign language for the department has gone one step further and has recorded the chorus followed by ‘Simple Melody’ by Irving Berlin which the best ever grades with 72% of students being awarded they clearly enjoyed swinging along to with their imaginary a grade 7-9 and a phenomenal 81% of students achieving instruments! They have worked very hard to master these two a grade 6-9. When looking at the top marks, 1 in 5 students songs and many thanks and congratulations must also go to secured a grade 9 – which for a non-selective school is simply Mrs Manktelow for leading them to this triumphant result. incredible. It just goes to show what is possible when a year All pupils took part in World Book Day this week with many group is focussed and collectively supported to achieve at activities organised into an overall House competition. Pupils the highest possible level. Huge congratulations all round. from Reception to Year 6 took part in a book quiz in their Not to be outdone, a group of our Year 13 students have also houses followed by a super drama challenge. Each house just received their results for the EPQ (the Extended Project had to perform a short sketch, incorporating every character Qualification). Their achievement was equally impressive with that pupils were dressed up as for book day. There was a 60% of the cohort securing an A or A* grade and a stunning wide range of characters this had to include, from traditional 93% of all results graded at A*-B. These grades come at such fairy tale favourites to Viking warriors! They all used their an important time as they will help to provide a real boost in imaginations brilliantly and produced 4 very amusing confidence to all those students facing public examinations sketches! The points board was very close throughout the this summer. day, with St Martin’s finally gaining the most points. Congratulations to all St Martin’s and to Miss Flanigan for It proved to be quite a day all round, as these results organising an exciting and memorable day! coincided with our efforts to support World Book Day. I am indebted to Ms Bolyn, our librarian, for taking a lead with this We are still focused on Green matters, helped last week important event and for organising a fascinating array of by the Year 3 trip to the garden centre. They returned with activities for our student to enjoy. A reading ‘obstacle course’ house plants for every form room, giving clear instructions on in our historic library proved to be a real hit and I loved seeing how to care for them, to improve our indoor environment. the engagement of all concerned. We couldn’t enjoy the The poster competition winners were announced for all those glow for long however, as the reading extravaganza was who entered to become Ecowarriors and we look forward to quickly dismantled and, in its place, the careers fair was set hearing about their first project. up. The Careers provision at Battle Abbey is really comprehensive and this event provided students with another We wish the very best of luck to those entering Hastings music opportunity to speak to working professionals in a diverse festival next week for singing, piano, strings and our KS1 range of work places. Once again, thanks all round. Ocarina group! We finished the week with a very busy open day – in fact, our With best wishes for the weekend, busiest March open day on record. Many thanks to all the staff and students who showed off the School in its best light Nova Shoesmith and I am equally grateful to a valiant team of Fobas helpers for their support on the day too. Best wishes David Clark www.battleabbeyschool.com|[email protected] Issue: March 6th 2020 Nursery News We have finally seen the first signs of spring as the crocus are in bloom and the sun has been shining (although briefly). We man- aged to get outside to do some planting, draw long, wavy bean- stalks in chalk on the playground all the way up to the giant’s house, audition for ‘Battle Abbey Nursery’s Got Talent’ contest and develop our physical skills moving in different ways around the obstacle course. World Book Day was a huge success, we had an array of story characters from our favourite and most loved books. We had guest appearances from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland, Little Miss Sunshine, Sleeping Beauty and The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Thank you to our families for taking the time to support our celebration of reading. World Book Day is a registered charity with the mission of getting us all reading and to help with this, your child will receive a book voucher . Parents Evening for Acorns and Oaks will be held on Wednesday 18th March where you can meet with your child’s key worker to discuss their progress and development. Please book a conveni- ent time on the booking forms in the entrance. Oaks are to book their slot outside the Oaks classroom. The Little Squirrels are offer- ing parents evening on Wednesday 11th March. To celebrate Mothers’ Day this year, we would like to invite our mum’s (or aunts or grandmothers if dropping off/collecting) to a Mothers Day breakfast or afternoon tea. An invite will be emailed shortly. Could you please book your breakfast or afternoon tea ASAP for catering numbers. Unfortunately we are able to offer this to the children attending on this day only. Prep School and Nursery have their Open Day coming up, please pop along to see us. The staff will be on hand to answer any questions and give you a tour of the facilities. This is a great time if your child is off to school in September and you would like a bit more information and to meet Mrs Nessling, the Reception teacher. Dates for your diary Little Squirrels Parents Evening Wednesday 11th March 4.15pm - 6.00pm Prep School/Nursery Open Day Saturday 14th March 10.00am - 12.00noon Sports Relief Friday 13th March (wear something sporty and donate) Acorns/Oaks Parents Evening Wednesday 18th March 4.15pm - 6.00pm Mothers Day Treat Friday 20th March (for those children attending on this day only) breakfast - 08.00am - 08.45am afternoon tea - 4.30pm - 5.30pm End of term Friday 3rd April - Monday 20th April (for those attending 38 weeks) Bank Holiday Closures Friday 10th April - Monday 13th April www.battleabbeyschool.com|[email protected] Issue: March 6th 2020 Much fun was had with the pancake races on the 25th Prep School News February making the most of the temporarily dry weather! The children in Year three had an exciting visit to the garden centre where they looked at many different plants - including those that are bee and butterfly friendly. They asked lots of different questions and had a lovely time! Year 4 went to the De la War Pavillion to attend ‘Share a Story Live’. In line with our Eco drive the children walked from school and were rewarded with stories from 5 different authors. We are very proud of Sophia who has donated 9” of her beautiful hair to Little Princess Trust, well done Sophia. Year 5 created a rap in their French lesson to help them re- member the names of places in town! www.battleabbeyschool.com|[email protected] Issue: March 6th 2020 Senior School News Spirited Arts Competition The RS Department are launching the NARTRE Spirited Arts competition, offering ALL students an exciting opportunity to participate in a national competition. In its 17th year, this competition has attracted over 340,000 participants (averaging 20,000 per year!) since 2004. Hundreds of UK schools get involved, with entries coming from as far a-field as Hong Kong and Australia, Thailand and Bahrain, so we thought it was time that BAS students got to show what they are capable of! There are 3 themes open to students: ‘Picturing Faith’, The first meeting of the Battle Town Council Youth Forum! ‘God’s Good Earth?’ & ‘Where is God?’, all offering Battle Abbey was 1 of 5 local schools and colleges represent- students the opportunity to explore in a creative and ed. The two adults pictured are Battle Town Council Chair/ individual way these highly philosophical questions Mayor Glenna Favell and Councillor Caroline Would, Chair of through artistic expression. External Relations and Town Development Committee. Janet Dunn, Chair of Governors, has kindly volunteered It was by all accounts a lively session with some great herself to come & judge the entries in the Summer term discussions and ideas.