Settle College Matters
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Settle College Matters BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE STUDENTS CELEBRATE OUR BEST EVER RESULTS ON GCSE RESULTS DAY Newsletter October 2016 MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL It has certainly been a busy and successful first half-term! The new Years 7 students are a lovely Year group and they are settling in well. It is good to see so many Year 7 students getting involved in extra- curricular activities - they are doing particularly well in sports competitions! We were really pleased to see so many families at Open Evening in September. I think this was probably the busiest Open Evening we have ever had, with attendance by many families out of our catchment area. We hope to welcome them in September. There have been lots of student successes so far this term, both in and out of school, as many of the articles demonstrate. Well done to all those students who contribute to every aspect of school life, as well as within the community. Our Year 11 Prefects are doing a great job so far this year and many of our Sixth Formers have trained as 'Reading Buddies' to help the younger students with their reading. A group of students in Year 7 and 8 are currently training as 'E-Safety Ambassadors' and they will be teaching us all how to keep ourselves safe on line. Later on this term, a group of around 20 Settle College students will be trained as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. The training will be delivered by ‘The Diana Trust.' Our students are always keen to help and I was delighted by the number of students who helped out at Open Day and Evening. Ms Doyle and I recently attended an event at the House of Commons on Friday 23rd September, as a result of the school being selected as a 'showcase' school in this year's edition of The Parliamentary Review. It was good to celebrate success and share good practice with schools from across the country. The provisional DFE performance tables were released on Thursday 13th October and can be viewed on line: DfE Performance Tables 2016. SETTLE COLLEGE Progress 8 score is 0.56 This score is Confidence interval is We are very pleased that Settle College is positioned third in WELL ABOVE AVERAGE +0.35 to +0.77 North Yorkshire, top in North Craven and in the top 4% of (about 10% of schools schools in the country based on the new Progress 8 Above average measure. Well done to all students and staff for their hard (about 20% of schools in work, commitment and dedication. Thanks also goes to our England) Average students families who provide support and encouragement (about 35% of schools in at home. England) Below average Have a lovely half-term break. (about 20% of schools in England) With best wishes Well below average (about 10% of schools in England) Ms Costello Extract from 2016 DfE Performance Tables Students return to school on Monday 31st October 2016. 2 PARENT GOVERNOR ELECTIONS A reminder that there is to be an election of Parent Governors. The Governing Body, when it is complete, is made up of eleven Governors, of which two are elected by parents. There will be one Parent Governor place to be filled, with effect from 5th November 2016. The term “parent” includes anyone who has custody of a child registered at the school, as well as “natural” parents. Parents can stand for election and vote in secret in the election, if a ballot is needed. A letter detailing the arrangements for filling the vacancy has been sent to parents via our electronic contact system and can also be found on our website at: http://www.settlecollege.org.uk/parents/recent- communications/ If you do not have access to the internet or have not received a letter via email, please contact my PA who will be pleased to forward a hard copy letter to you. Parents/carers are invited to submit a nomination form and self-declaration form for the above vacancy. Forms are available from the school via the Principal’s PA (on the above number, extension 254 or via email: [email protected]) and must be returned to me by 12:00 noon on Monday 31st October 2016 at the latest. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information or assistance. Ms M Costello Principal & Returning Officer STUDENT OF THE MONTH WINNERS SEPTEMBER 2016 Year 7— Matthew Hill Year 8— Mar Barclay Year 9— Emily Palmer Year 10— Jessica Sowerbutts Year 11— Sophie Armitage Year 12— Kathryn Souter Year 13— James Eather Community Award Winner— Helen Jones 3 THE WORK OF THE PARENT PARTNERSHIP GROUP At their meeting on the 5th October, the Parent Partnership Group focused on the following: Strategies to improve publicity; How good is the Year 7 induction programme?; Have students settled in well at Settle College (Year 7, GCSE and A-Level students)?; New success stickers; Settle College results. If you would like the opportunity to support the College and voice your opinions, parents/carers are invited to join the Parent Partnership group. Please e-mail me at [email protected] Mr G Paisley Assistant Principal ‘PARENTS AS LEARNERS’ WORKSHOP On Thursday 22nd September 2016, Settle College delivered a 'Parents as Learners' Workshop for Year 7 parents. The focus of the evening was to explain the new assessment system for Year 7 students. We also looked at the challenges ahead, at GCSE, for the new Year 7 students, as expectations have increased. If you would like further information from the evening please contact me at: [email protected] yorks.sch.uk There is also information on Settle College's website. There will be other evenings for parents to attend throughout the year. Mr G Paisley Assistant Principal 4 OLIVER This year, we are delighted to announce that our school production will be ‘Oliver!’ All Year groups are involved, along with Year 6 pupils from our feeder Primary schools. Students are rehearsing on Wednesday evenings 3:30pm-5:30pm. Please put the dates in your diary and look out for more information in future editions of Settle College Matters. Mrs S Power Subject Leader Drama 5 FUNDRAISING FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT We are delighted to report that Year 10 student, Jordan Firth, recently raised a fantastic £900 for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking part in their ‘Braving the Shave for Macmillan ’ fundraising event. Well done Jordan. Jordan—before his ‘Brave the Shave’ event! Mrs G Walker Year 9, 10 & 11 Pastoral Officer 6 HURRICANE MATTHEW: HAITI In Geography recently, we have been tracking Hurricane Matthew. We completed some research on Haiti's social indicators such as life expectancy and number of people per doctor and used this to try to predict the outcome of the Category 4 storm. Please find below a selection of the poetry work students wrote as a final task, to summarise the terrible disaster that continued in Haiti days after the storm has left. Mrs R Whitaker Subject Leader Geography Horrific Haiti The dreadful terror shook across Haiti Leaving the county torn The hurricane destroying Destroying lives Houses split into No food no water Agony spread like a disease Spreading and spreading How will it all end Death to all Is what they thought More people found But not for long Injuries fell Children shivered Children shivered Scared What going to happen next? Haiti desolate Too calm For I If only If only I was not me Home and safe Warm and loved Now I am Empty and cold Lost and gone Shaken and shook Empty and gone… By Danielle Lightbody Year 9 Student 7 Hurricane Matthew storms through Haiti Arriving with rain and stormy weather It kills and it rips through poor old houses Thanks to the aid workers who help through the day It makes a difference and we really do need it So without them we would not be here Under the debris lies the dead broken bodies Fumbling away rocks Forgetting the dead Everyone matters, well that’s what they say Researchers will know how hard things get So please donate now and save them from death By Matthew Coleman Year 9 student -o0o- Haiti's’ lands have been flooded The terror shrieked across the country The wind the rain the hurricane Ruined peoples lives The houses broken The people are all hoping For the help and change needed As they are all hurt or dead The amount of death was atrocious The storm has broke us But we will stand tall And we will fight for what little we have left The pipes were broke The sewage fled The cholera broke out Now people are dead We will win against all odds our lives will not be ruined forever By Jessica Harrison Year 9 student 8 Survivors People heed help but none is coming, Children need food to fill their tummies, Mothers need to know their baby is safe, And I don’t know but I’m trying, The ship was sent out yesterday, But will it make it through the rain? People come but no one stays, And still I keep on trying, Battered cargo reached the shore, You get what you get but you still need more, Living here’s an awful chore, But my workers keep on trying, Bandages are running out, Wounded people scream and shout, And those that haven’t given up, Forever keep on trying, Cholera, Earthquakes more disease, Buildings crashing to their knees, People stuck forget to breath, And everybody’s dying, People need help and help is coming, Bandages, food and clothing coming, You get what you get and you keep on living, So just keep on surviving.