AllAll Saints Advocate Advocate Vol 6 No 3 February 2015

ALL SAINTS ACADEMY

been several times when we have had to advise From the Principal students about the colour of their hair; please do not allow your child to dye their hair an unnatural Dear Parents/Carers colour. Finally, visible body piercings are not permitted. I suppose the barometer for correct How time flies! Christmas is just a dress code is a student who does not draw breath away and yet seems so long attention to themselves because of their ago. We have had a busy half-term appearance. at All Saints which has culminated in three magnificent performances of the Wizard We are trying to make improved use of Student of Oz. The next edition of the Advocate will report Planners within the Academy and if we have to fully on the success of the show and as I write I can send a message home for whatever reason we are only report in admiration on all the hard work encouraging staff to write in planners. Staff will which students and staff have put in so that the also write details of detentions in planners. If your performances were the best they can be. Many child currently does not have a planner they can thanks to all who have contributed to the after purchase a new one from Student Reception or via school sessions and indeed the two Saturdays VIVOs. If we as a whole Academy community can spent in rehearsals. be consistent on this, then the atmosphere will be better for all of us. Behaviour and Uniform/Dress Code In January we re-launched the Climate for Learning We have also tightened up on behaviour this half- and we now have an on-line Behaviour Log which term and whilst we do not enjoy imposing is already producing positive results. However, we sanctions on children, we feel that sometimes we need even more support from you, the parents/ have to apply a sanction in order to achieve the carers of our students. First of all, we ask that you necessary positive behaviour. As has been the case ensure your child fully co-operates with the since we opened, the vast majority of our students Academy’s dress code; for students in Sixth Form behave impeccably in and around the Academy and this means smart business dress. For students in we would, therefore, want the support of all our Years 7 to 11 expectations regarding Academy parents/carers in helping us to encourage students’ uniform are clear; the full Uniform Policy can be behaviour, including their thirst for learning, to be found on the Academy website and details are also outstanding. As you know, we have made huge in your child’s Student Planner. In particular, improvements to our ethos, aspiration and leggings, stretchy skin tight trousers, stretchy skin students’ attitudes in the last few years and by tight skirts, bright coloured socks and trainers are working closely together we can make student not acceptable. Our definition of a trainer is any behaviour as good as anywhere else in the country. shoe which has a soft sole – although it might look Your support in these matters is welcome and like a shoe a soft sole would imply that such a shoe valued. could be used in the gym indoors. There have also (See pages 9 and 10 for more information).

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org FROM THE PRINCIPAL Continued Year 11 and PiXL Many of our recent efforts have been put into additional after school classes for Year 11 students, known perhaps to relevant students as Period 11. As we move ever closer to the onset of Summer 2015 examinations the programme of Period 11 and support for individual students will intensify.

Since September as an Academy we have been involved in a PiXL Club (Partners in Excellence), an organisation which has 2000 secondary schools within its membership. The aim of the Club is to raise students’ attainment and, therefore, it is appropriate that we are part of such an initiative. No fewer than 15 of our teachers have attended PiXL Conferences and each one has returned with vigour and energy to try out new things in their teaching. Let’s hope this translates directly into GCSE and A Level results in 2015.

Finally, thank you for your continued support. We know we still have work to do but the atmosphere at All Saints is really buzzing, the students love their Academy, they are amazed at the facilities, and they tell us that they feel safe and that they are happy. Long may this continue.

Tom Waterworth Principal

THE LUNCHBOX

A competition has been launched for students to name and design a new outdoor ‘lunchbox’ kiosk which will serve food/snacks during breaks and lunch-times. There is a £100 prize for each of the two winning students, or £200 for one student if they manage to win both categories!

The kiosk will be situated in a new canopied outdoor eating area. Work on preparing the ground will begin during the Easter holiday and the kiosk will be ready for use during the Summer term and the (hopefully) sunny weather.

Paula Burgess Assistant Principal – Finance & Operations

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 2 YEAR 11 PROM

The Prom Committee has been working hard organising fund- raising events for the Prom. We hosted our first cake sale in January and such a sale will take place every other Friday at break- time. All proceeds go to the Year 11 Prom and in return students and staff can buy yummy treats from our Catering students. Upcoming events include a music concert hosted by BTEC Music students. We look forward to seeing more of you at our future cake sales! The Prom Committee

MAIN GATES INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The electronic gates are now fully operational. From the Principal continued Page 2 We are very pleased with how this has improved The Lunchbox Page 2 the security of the building and in turn ensured the safety of our students throughout the day. All Year 11 Prom Committee Page 3 visitors to the Academy now need to speak to Main Reception via the intercom in order to gain Main Gates Page 3 access to the site. As previously, the gates will Operation Santa Page 4 remain closed to vehicles from 8.15am to 8.30am each morning and between 3.15pm to 3.30pm Sixth Form London Visit Page 5 (Mon – Thurs) and 12.55pm – 1.10pm (Fri); this is to ensure that students can access and leave the Ultimate Dodgeball Challange Page 6 site safely. Catering Visit Page 7

Student Success Page 8 It is important to note that Main Reception and switchboard close at 4.00pm Monday to Thursday Congratulations Page 8 and at 1.00pm on Fridays. Therefore, there is no Climate for Learning Pages 9 & 10 access to vehicles after these times but anyone wishing to visit the Academy may park off-site and Heart Defibrillator Page 11 access the Academy via the pedestrian gate. Vivo Miles Page 12

Attendance Page 13

Information Pages Page 14 Diary Pages Page 15

3 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org OPERATION SANTA All Saints Academy held a non-uniform day on the last day of term before Christmas and donated £500 to “Operation Santa”. The initiative has raised approximately £4000 to ensure a special Christmas was had by all at Keech Hospice. Funds were used to provide gifts for adult patients, and to build Santa’s Grotto for a children’s Christmas party, where each child and their siblings received a present. Parties were also held for the many volunteers who give their time freely to Keech Hospice. Donations also enabled Santa to deliver presents personally to patients being cared for in the community.

Keech Hospice Care receives approximately 30% of its running costs from the NHS, and the support offered was therefore very gratefully received. Claire Mcinally, Fundraising Volunteer Coordinator at Keech, thanked staff and students at All Saints Academy for ‘making the difference’.

Sharon Reid PA to Principal

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 4 SIXTH FORM LONDON VISIT All Saints Academy Sixth Form students set off on a wonderful Christmas treat on Wednesday 17 December 2014. The visit was to reward them for their efforts and achievement in their studies at the Academy and was entirely funded by the Academy. The first part of the day included a visit to the Winter Wonderland, where the students wandered around the various stalls and attractions. Following this, they set off to see a production of ’Wicked’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, the incredible prequel to ‘The Wizard Of Oz’. Finally, to round off the day, they returned via Regent Street to see the beautiful Christmas lights and officially begin the Christmas countdown.

Julie Baldwin Acting Assistant Principal and Achievement Leader for Sixth Form

On the London visit there were many things I enjoyed, like in Winter Wonderland I enjoyed the range of food and gifts. My favourite was the German BBQ stand. In my opinion the highlight of the visit was the performance of Wicked. I have even kept the ticket because I enjoyed it so much. I hope there is another visit as great as this one for next year.

Connor Clark Year 12 student

5 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org ULTIMATE DODGEBALL COMPETITION The British Heart Foundation is the UK’s number one heart charity and works to provide support and research into cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, on Tuesday 16 December 2014 All Saints Academy was proud to host a dodgeball fundraiser for this important charity. Each student and staff member was asked to donate 50p to play or 20p to observe the event and the competition had a fantastic turnout, with fourteen teams entered to play. It was extremely pleasing to see students from Years 7 to 13 come together to be involved in sport and raise money. The two staff teams were particularly tired by the end of the day, having played over ten consecutive games! Students really enjoyed the event and the winning team left with a small prize for their efforts on the day.

Charlie Small Teacher of Sport Health & Leisure

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 6 CATERING VISIT TO BLETCHLEY COLLEGE

Before Christmas a group of Year 11 Catering students had the opportunity to go to the Brasserie restaurant, at Bletchley College. Students had an excellent time finding out about further education courses, taking part in practical food tasks in the college kitchen, and enjoying a three course meal as part of their research for their controlled assessment task. All students were fantastic representatives of the Academy and really loved their day.

A big thank you to all the staff and students at Bletchley College for making it a valuable and enjoyable experience.

Sam Beckley-Lines Teacher of Food Technology

NEW GOVERNORS

I am pleased to welcome two new members to the Governing Body at All Saints Academy: Alex James, Business Community Governor, is Head of Human Resources for the UK and Ireland for Aryzta, the world’s third largest bakery company who have operations in Dunstable. Alex has taken on the role of Link Governor for Careers and has already met with Academy staff to discuss how best to support students in providing information and guidance on Careers and Work Experience. The Revd Lynn Money, Principal Sponsor Governor, is Vicar of St. Fremund’s Church in Dunstable, and is Link Governor for Key Stage 3.

John Wallace Chair of Governing Body

7 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org STUDENT SUCCESS Student Success! We are always pleased to hear of the successes of All Saints students past and present and this term were delighted to learn about one ex-student in particular:

Ryan Riordan joined All Saints in 2010 and left in 2013, having achieved the best GCSE results that year, to pursue his educational career at Luton Sixth Form College.

Ryan’s parents are delighted to advise that he has now earned a place at Cambridge University to study Medicine. Staff at All Saints wish Ryan every success in the future.

CONGRATULATIONS! Assistants to Achievement Leaders We have made two internal promotions within the Academy: Jo Ojulah (LSA) will be supporting Allan Grubb (KS3) and Nick Carter (Receptionist) will be supporting Alison Spicer (KS4). The Assistants to Achievement Leaders will work with Achievement Leaders in all aspects of their roles, and will have a high level of interaction with students and their parents/carers. Jo and Nick will take up their new posts as soon as possible after half term and we wish them luck as they move into the next phase of their careers.

We hope you will agree that these are two fantastic appointments which will strengthen the Academy’s Achievement Teams.

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 8 UNIFORM

Parents/carers are asked to refer to the Uniform page in the Student Planner or the Academy website. There are increasing instances of students contravening the Uniform Policy and the Home/School Agreement. As a reminder:

 Skirts must be of the correct style, bearing the Academy logo (available to purchase from Best Look Dunstable) and of a suitable length  Skin tight mini skirts are not permitted  Skin tight trousers and leggings are not permitted  Visible body piercings are not permitted  Hair must be of a natural colour

Please note that leggings are not a suitable alternative for girls to wear in place of the Academy skirt or trousers, so please ensure that your daughter has spare items of uniform for emergencies.

Please note that in accordance with the Behaviour Management Policy we will be contacting home if any student (boy or girl) is wearing incorrect uniform, has visible body piercings or has unnatural hair colour, either to request that correct items are brought into school by parents, or to arrange for the student to be sent home to get changed. Staff will now log issues regarding uniform and equipment on the Behaviour Log and sanctions will be issued accordingly.

CLIMATE FOR LEARNING & BEHAVIOUR LOG We have introduced an electronic Behaviour Log this term which means that we can record behaviour incidents centrally, issue sanctions as per the Climate for Learning and monitor detentions more closely. The flow chart on the next page shows the stepped process which forms the Climate for Learning. Please note that we are able to issue 20 minute detentions without informing parents in advance, however a note will be put in a student’s planner when a detention has been issued confirming the date/time/venue of each detention. Where a student cannot do an after-school detention, this will be re-issued for a Friday afternoon.

The Behaviour Management Policy, including the Climate for Learning, is available to view on the Academy website.

9 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org CLIMATE FOR LEARNING FLOW CHART

Stage 1 Quiet Reminder

Stage 2 Verbal Request

Students who are Stage 3 more than 3 Incidents within classroom: minutes late to tutor will move Moved from seat and 20 minute Curriculum Area Detention directly to Stage 3 Incidents outside classroom and lateness to tutor: 20 minute Achievement Leader Detention

Students who fail to Stage 4 attend a 20 minute Moved out of classroom and 1 hour Curriculum Area Detention Achievement Leader detention will move directly to Stage 5

Stage 5 1 hour Friday Achievement Leader Detention

Stage 6 2 hour Friday Leadership Detention

Certain severe behaviour Stage 7 types will automatically move to Stage 7. 1 day exclusion/isolation

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 10 HEART DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING

All Saints Academy is the proud recipient of a brand new heart defibrillator which was donated by Sarah Pyatt (via SADS UK - a national cardiac charity) in memory of her son Jake Gallagher. Jake tragically died in 2013 at the age of 16 following a cardiac arrest triggered by a previously unknown heart condition. Sarah has worked tirelessly to raise funds for SADS UK and has also donated a defibrillator to St. Vincent’s RC Primary School in Houghton Regis.

Training on the equipment was delivered to Academy staff this term by the East of England Ambulance Service and there is now a record that a defibrillator is on site at the Academy in the remote event of a cardiac emergency in the community.

The defibrillator is located in Main Reception and is marked with a plaque in Jake’s memory.

Emma Ashley Student Health & Welfare Support

11 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org VIVO MILES

Below are the top five students in each year group with the highest number to date. Vivo Miles is the Academy’s reward system, awarding students under various categories, which will then enable them to collect virtual money; working in the same way as Tesco Club Card! Each student is given individual login details and can access their account from home. If you would like to know more about Vivo Miles please visit www.vivomiles.co.uk If you would like to look at your child’s Vivo Miles account, please speak to your child and they can give you a separate ‘parent login’. The Top 5 students in each year group with the most amount of Vivos are…………..

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 1 Sophie Keating 1 Saskia Davies 1 Kieran Denny 1 Caoimhe Rose 2 Alexandros Niciou 2 Bartlomiej Parecki 2 Pavan Asodia 2 Chloe Martin 3 Jack Hickles 3 Ryan Elliott 3 Stephen Ball 3 Max Gorgone 4 Freya Pullen 4 Jersey Villanueva 4 Jasmine Khaliq 4 Dara Santo 5 Daniel Sharpe 5 Jake Brennan 5 Jack Chilton 5 Jack Groh

Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

1 Rhianne Harvey 1 Rosie Chilton 1 Casey Frasi

2 Lauryn Miller 2 Robyn Halston 2 Lucas Robinson

3 Robert Attfield 3 Diana Ogonyo 3 Matthew Sibley 4 Emmanuel Omotayo 4 Chandler Russell 4 Jodie Gorman 5 Bryan Ogonyo 5 Mathew Lark 5 Jamie Nolan

Louise Lissaman Acting Vice Principal

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 12 ATTENDANCE We would like to say well done to the students who received boxes of chocolates and bowling vouchers for maintaining 100% attendance this academic year. Keep up the good work! Students also received rewards for being on or above the Academy target of 95%, and the most improved attendance. If any students have any ideas for future rewards please let me know.

Medical Appointments A reminder to Parents/Carers that medical appointments should be made out of school hours where possible. We do appreciate that this is sometimes difficult and would ask that students only take the necessary time out of school, not the whole day. Medical evidence will be requested for all students.

Punctuality Please ensure that your child arrives on time for school. Students need to be on the Academy premises by 8.25am so that they will not be late to registration at 8.30am. Students who arrive late will be required to do a 20 minute detention on the same day, failure to attend will result in a 2 hour detention with their Achievement Leader on a Friday afternoon. If your child has a detention already and is late it will be rolled over for the next available day. Being frequently late for school adds up to lost learning: Arriving 5 minutes late every day adds up to over 3 days lost each year Arriving 15 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year Arriving 30 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 19 days a year

Attendance & Persistent Absentees The Academy attendance target is 95%; any students below this will be monitored and if they drop below 85% All Saints Academy will need medical evidence to be able to approve any absence. Medical evidence can be any one of the following: copy of an appointment card/letter, a note from the GP/Practice Nurse giving reason for absence, a copy of a prescription made out to the student, or any other suitable documentary evidence. A decision on whether or not to authorise the absence will be made by the Academy.

To give you an example of how your child’s attendance can be affected please see the facts below:

20 days off per school year = 90% attendance 90% attendance = 4 whole weeks off school 90% attendance in Years 7– 11 means half a year off school 90% attendance for your child throughout Primary and Secondary School means they will have missed a whole year of school in their education

Absence All Absences should be reported at the earliest possible convenience on each day of absence, by calling 01582 619700 and selecting Option 2. Please be aware if the Academy has not been advised of student absence there is every likely hood that Mr Copperwheat (Education Welfare Officer) will carry out a door knock and visit the family home.

Holidays during term time Mr Copperwheat is supporting the Academy in the use of Fixed Penalty Notices where parents/carers take students out of the Academy for a holiday. Penalty Notice fines for holidays in term time are £60 per parent per child if paid within 21 days and £120 if paid between 22 and 28 days.

May I thank you for your continued support in ensuring that attendance at All Saints Academy continues to improve.

Mrs Debbie Grayson Attendance Officer

13 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org FIRST AID PROCEDURES

A reminder to Parents/Carers that the Academy does not employ a nurse and members of staff are not medically trained. However, a number of staff are trained in First Aid. The following procedure should be followed in the event of a first aid incident or in the event that a student feels unwell:

 If a student feels unwell, they should report to Student Reception where a first aid trained member of staff will make an assessment. In the majority of cases students are encouraged to return to lessons unless they are obviously very unwell. It is worth noting that the Academy cannot issue painkillers to students and any student reporting a headache will be assessed, offered a drink of water and encouraged to return to class as soon as possible with the option of returning if they continue to feel

unwell or their symptoms become worse.

 If a first aid trained member of staff feels that a student is too unwell to remain in school, they will contact the Parent/Carer to get permission to send the student home or to make arrangements for the

student to be collected.

 Only once all of these steps have been followed are students permitted to sign out of the Academy. Students should NOT contact their Parents/Carers via mobile phones and ask to be collected without the above procedures having been followed, otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

The Academy thanks Parents/Carers for their continued support in this regard.

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

A reminder for all Parent/Carers to please advise the Academy of any change of address or telephone numbers. It is important that our records are up-to-date; correct telephone numbers are vital in order that we can make contact in the event of an emergency. VISITORS’ CAR PARKING

Visitors’ parking on site is limited but we are pleased to advise that there are six allocated short-stay parking spaces (including one designated disabled parking space) immediately outside the Main Reception for visitors to the Academy, including our Parents/Carers.

CHANGE TO SWITCHBOARD OPTIONS

Please be aware that the options at switchboard, between 8.00am and 4.00pm (1.00pm on Friday) have been amended. Please listen to the whole message before selecting the option you require.

www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org 14 Diary Dates 2014/2015 February Fri 13th Last Day of Term - Half Term Tue 17th Shrove Tuesday Wed 18th Ash Wednesday

Mon 23rd Staff Training Day

Tue 24th Students Return to School Year 10 Immunisations 24th Feb - 6th March Year 8 into 9 Pathways Interviews Thu 26th Sixth Form Parents’ Consultation Evening

March Thu 12th 4YP Careers Year 9 Fri 13th Visit to Big Bang Fair Tue 17th St Patrick’s Day Thu 19th Key Stage 3 Showcase Evening Mon 23rd Rising Year 7 Cheese and Wine Evening Year 10 Reports to Parents Thu 26th Year 10 Parents’ Consultation Evening Fri 27th Last Day of Term - Students finish at midday

April Mon 13th Staff Training Day Tue 14th First Day of Term for students

15 www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org

Principal: Tom Waterworth BA MA

ALL SAINTS ACADEMY DUNSTABLE HOUGHTON ROAD

DUNSTABLE LU5 5AB

Telephone: 01582 619700 Fax: 01582 619701 Email: [email protected] Web: www.allsaintsacademydunstable.org

Business & Diocese of St Albans Science Enterprise

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