Sporting Excellence Clubs & Activities School Productions
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Ysgol Stanwell School 2XL Summer Newsletter 2015 Cylchlythyr yr Haf 2015 Sporting Excellence School Productions Clubs & Activities Contents Greetings from the School School Calendar 2015/16 School Trips 2015/16 School Holiday Dates 2015/17 Eco-Schools Stanwell PTA Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Department News Year Group News 100% attendance pupils Greetings from the school Dear Parents/Carers, It has been another busy year at Stanwell and one that finishes on a high with the publication of the Estyn report following the inspection in May 2015. I am delighted to announce that our school has been judged as Excellent, both for current standards and prospects for improvement, as well as Excellent for all three key questions. This is a remarkable achievement which justly reflects the commitment and work ethic of our school community. I invite you all to view the full report via the school website or the Estyn website and I am sure you will share our feeling of pride. Other notable highlights of this year include our two successful musicals, ‘Aida’ and ‘Lion King Junior’, our accreditation as an Improvement Hub for the Central South Consortium, our first school sportsday at Leckwith stadium and the completion of our new synthetic and natural turf pitches. In order to improve access to and from the school buses, we have constructed a footpath across the field to the boundary in Victoria Road where the bus bays will be marked out by the Vale of Glamorgan Council for use from the start of the Au- tumn term. It is clear from this newsletter that our pupils are certainly making the most of the multitude of opportunities offered to them at Stanwell and in the wider community. The achievements are very impressive and I hope you enjoy read- ing all the news of trips, visits and participation in extra-curricular activities. On behalf of the staff and governors, I wish you all a happy and restful sum- mer holiday, Derek Jones, Headteacher. School Announcements First day of term for pupils is Wednesday 2nd September AS and A Level results are available from school on Thurs- day 13th August GCSE results are available from school on Thursday 20th August CALENDAR FOR 2015/16 Tuesday 1st September First Day of Term Wednesday 2nd September First day for pupils Tuesday 6th October OPEN DAY Friday 9th October Sports Award Ceremony Tuesday 20th October Sixth Form Information Evening Monday 26th October HALF TERM Friday 30th October Tuesday 3rd November Year 13 Parents' Evening Tuesday 10th November Year 7 Pastoral Evening 14th - 17th December Senior Production Friday 18th December Last Day of Term Monday 21st December CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Friday 1st January Monday 4th January First Day of Term Tuesday 5th January First day for pupils Tuesday 26th January Year 11 Parents' Evening Tuesday 2nd February Year 9 Parents' Evening Tuesday 9th February Year 12 Parents' Evening Monday 15th February HALF TERM Friday 19th February Tuesday 23rd February Year 11 Options Evening Tuesday 1st March Year 10 Parents' Evening Tuesday 8th March Year 8 TEAMX Parents' Evening Tuesday 15th March Year 8 WORKL Parents' Evening Thursday 24th March Last Day of Term Friday 25th March EASTER HOLIDAYS Friday 8th April Tuesday 12th April Year 8 Options Evening Tuesday 3rd May Year 7 TEAMX Parents' Evening Tuesday 10th May Year 7 WORKL Parents' Evening Monday 31st May HALF TERM Friday 3rd June Tuesday 5th July New Year 7 Parents' Evening Friday 15th July Last day for pupils (provisional) If there are any changes to the above list you will be notified accordingly. Proposed Overnight Visits 2015‐ 2016 This is a proposed list of overnight trips for the next academic year. There may be some changes to it but you will be notified accordingly. Year Group Department Location Date Year 7 Pastoral / Welsh Llangrannog 16th – 18th Sept 2015 Year 7 French Boulogne, France 7th – 9th July 2016 Year 8 History London 10th – 11th Dec 2015 Year 8 French / Welsh Paris 3rd – 5th Mar 2016 Years 8 / 9 Ski Trip Austria 25th Mar – 2nd April 2016 Years 8 / 9 History France 25th – 27th May 2016 Year 9 Geography London Olympic 1st week Feb 2016 sustainability Year 9 Welsh Glan Llyn 6th – 9th Nov 2015 Year 9 PE Storey Arms Weekend ‐ May Year 9/10 Geography Iceland Half term Oct 2015 Year 10/11 Geography Sicily, Italy 22nd‐26th Oct 2015 Year 10 to 13 Performing Arts New York 15th – 18th Feb Years 10 to 13 Ski Trip Austria 12th – 20th Feb 2016 Year 10 to 13 Music Italy 1 week July 2016 Years 10 to 13 Music Italy 13th – 19th July 2016 Year 12 Geography Various, South Wales End of Nov 2015 Year 12/13 Geography West Coast America 12th‐20th Feb 2017 Year 12 / 13 Music Technology Monmouth 2 nights, November DT France 22nd – 26th Oct 2015 Year 11 Drama London 19th ‐21st Nov 2015 Years 9 to 13 Art Amsterdam 12th – 15th Feb 2016 Year 10 History Berlin, Germany 23rd – 27th Mar 2016 6th Form History London 17th – 19th March 2016 6th Form RE / Media Rome, Italy 8th – 12th April 2016 6th Form Borneo 9th – 30th July 2016 There will be many other day trips taking place during the next academic year and you will be notified accordingly via your child. If you wish for your child to attend a trip but feel that there are financial difficulties preventing your child from attending please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Year Tutor to discuss a payment option. School Holiday Dates 2015/2016 Tuesday 1st September 2015 is an INSET Day. First day for students is Wednesday 2nd September 2015. Term Begin Half Term End Begin End Autumn Tuesday 1st Monday 26th Friday 30th Friday 18th 2015 Sept 2015 Oct 2015 Oct 2015 Dec 2015 Spring Monday 4th Monday 15th Friday 19th Thursday 24th 2016 Jan 2016 Feb 2016 Feb 2016 March 2016 Summer Monday 11th Monday 30th Friday 3rd Wednesday 20th 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 (TBC) All schools will be closed on Monday 2nd May 2016 for the May Day Bank Holiday. Additional INSET days are to be taken at the school’s discretion and will be communicated to parents via printed material. 2016/2017 Thursday 1st September 2016 is an INSET Day (TBC). First day for students is Friday 2nd September 2016 (TBC). Term Begin Half Term End Begin End Autumn Thursday 1st Monday 24th Friday 28th Friday 16th 2016 Sept 2016 Oct 2016 Oct 2016 Dec 2016 Spring Tuesday 3rd Monday 20th Friday 24th Friday 7th 2017 Jan 2017 Feb 2017 Feb 2017 April 2017 Summer Monday 24th Monday 29th Friday 2nd Friday 21st 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 (TBC) All schools will be closed on Monday 1st May 2017 for the May Day Bank Holiday. Additional INSET days are to be taken at the school’s discretion and will be communicated to parents via printed material. Please note that these dates have been directed by Welsh Government in accordance with Regulations as All Wales agreement was not reached on them. Eco-Schools Mrs J Laity The Eco Stanwell committee has continued to 2. The wildlife garden - Plans to develop a work tirelessly on a number of environmental large wildlife garden adjacent to the new all- projects over the spring and summer terms. weather pitch are still ongoing, with the com- The effort and enthusiasm shown by committee mittee hoping that work will commence in this members along with the support of pupils and area during the new academic year. As part of staff, has resulted in the school gaining the third this process pupils are required to complete a and last ‘Green Flag Award’. This award recog- number of biodiversity surveys including one nises the commitment the school community is concentrating on the bird population within making towards improving the environment this area. With this in mind, a number of com- both within school and the wider area. The next mittee members participated in the ‘Big Bird stage is to gain a Platinum award, an award very Watch Garden Survey’ organised by the RSPB few secondary schools achieve. during early spring. Pupils arrived at school early and, using a check list supplied by the RSPB, conducted a thorough survey of the ar- ea. This was a national event and the data col- lected by eco members contributed towards a much larger national survey. The results of the Eco Stanwell survey are outlined below: BIRD WATCH SURVEY SPRING 2015 TYPE OF BIRD NUMBER Magpie 3 Common Seagull 10 Song thrush 4 THE GREEN FLAG Wood pigeon 6 Outlined below are some of the environmental Greater Gull 4 actions the committee has addressed: Berwick swan 3 1. Fairtrade - the committee aims to promote Jackdaw 1 and support the Fairtrade movement and as Starlings 3 part of this process, pupils from all year Blackbird 7 groups were offered a range of Fairtrade goods to help support farmers from poorer The smaller wildlife garden located near the countries of the world. During ‘Fairtrade sixth form cafe has now become an established Fortnight 2015’ a stall supplying Fairtrade garden with a range of plants, herbs and fish, goods was created during break times with offering wildlife and members of the school Fairtrade chocolate, bananas and hot choco- community a safe and relaxing environment. late proving to be very popular with both This area extends behind the art block, where a pupils and staff alike. The committee aims section has been roped off and seeded with to achieve Fairtrade status for Stanwell wild flowers supplied by Kew Gardens, the School following a number of events organ- Royal Botanic Gardens Society based in Lon- ised over the last two years.