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King’s Academy Ringmer Newsletter December 2017 club run by Ms Hunnisett and they I wish you all MESSAGE FROM have already tasted success in a a safe and THE PRINCIPAL competition. The PE department’s relaxing break school teams have had another over the festive Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and excellent run of wins – more on this period and Governors, later in the newsletter. a happy and We have also welcomed a number healthy 2018. It’s been another exciting and very of visitors to King’s Academy Ringmer busy term at King’s Academy Ringmer. to work with our students on extra- The students continue to work hard, curricular projects and share their contribute to the school and wider expertise – we had the poet Brian Matt Hillier community and generally make us Moses visit to run a poetry workshop principal very proud. and some year 11s took part in a creative writing workshop run by Year 11s have been working tirelessly university lecturers and preparing for and sitting their mock undergraduate students. NEW STUDENT examinations. Their focus in the LEADERS classroom and dedication to their We said a final good bye to last studies is commendable. Year 10 year’s year 11 at our GCSE have made a successful start to their Presentation Evening; this was a GCSE subjects and are making strong wonderful opportunity to celebrate progress. For year 9, it’s been a term their exam success again and we of reflection as they think about their were also lucky enough to welcome future and academic achievements back Dan Keeley who delivered an to inform their GCSE option choices. inspirational speech. We very much Year 8 continue to work hard and look forward to continuing to work with contribute to the life of the school Dan over the next year and supporting both academically and through the work he does around raising their involvement in extra-curricular awareness of mental health issues. activities. Having successfully made the transition from primary to Celebrating success is an integral secondary school, year 7 are now well part of what we do here and we have settled into school life and taking full just celebrated the students’ success advantage of all the opportunities on in our Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 offer here at King’s Academy Ringmer. Achievement Assemblies; this was a chance for us to reward students Head Boy Chris Whitehead Head Girl Bay Street The extra-curricular life of the school for their effort day in and day out at school and show case some of the Deputy Head Student Rachel continues to flourish. This term saw Richards the introduction of a school debating outstanding work that goes on. ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE LOCAL HERO DAN DAVID DIMBLEBY CAROLS BY EX-STUDENT BLUEBELL KEELEY COMES BACK PRESENTS AWARD AT CANDLELIGHT NICHOLLS PLAYS AT TO RINGMER ART EXHIBITION COMMUNITY CONCERT TWICKENHAM! - PAGE 2 - PAGE 5 - PAGE 10 - PAGE 20 KEEPING IN TOUCH KEY DATES Wednesday 20th December A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at the King’s Academy! This term – Last day of Autumn term – school ended with a traditional Carols by Candlelight at finishes at 12.30pm. which we raised over £300. Mr Hillier is keen to support local organisations and as such we will Tuesday 2nd January – be donating all funds raised to the Ringmer INSET DAY Scouts. We would like to thank the local businesses for their generosity in providing Wednesday 3rd January – such fantastic raffle prizes. Start of Spring Term We will be setting up a new PTA this year but in Wednesday 24th January – a slimmed down and focussed form. Its role will be to build links with the community and to fund Year 10 Subject Teacher Parent Evening raise for both. Our Senior Marketing Students will be leading on this and we would love to hear from anyone, parent or not, who would like to help with Spring Half-Term – this project. Monday 12th – Friday 16th We say goodbye to Mary Smale, from the village, February who is retiring after nearly 20 years in our Maths Department. We wish you all the very best and thank you for your hard work supporting so many Wednesday 21st February – students. Year 9 Options Evening Please keep up to date Wednesday 28th February - with the latest news by Year 9 Subject Teacher Parent Evening following our facebook page! Thursday 29th March – End of Spring Term at 3.15pm. TERM DATES AND ARRANGEMENTS: The last day of this term is Non-Uniform Day, Christmas Jumper on Wednesday 20 December 2017 Please note that there will be an early 12.35pm finish. CHRISTMAS BREAK – Thursday 21 December 2017 - Tuesday 2 January 2018 Wednesday 3 January 2018 - Inset Day Wednesday 3 January 2018 - All Year Groups Return Half Term Break - Monday 12 February - Friday 16 February 2018 Last day will be Thursday 29 March 2018 – normal finish time ie; 3.15pm Easter Holidays – Friday 30 March to 13 April 2018 Monday 16 April 2018 – All Year Groups Return Half Term Break - Monday 28 May - Friday 1 June 2018 INSET Day – Tuesday 26 June 2018 Last day will be Friday 20 July 2018 Please note that there will be an early 12.35pm finish. 2 GCSE PRESENTATION EVENING On Thursday 9 November, King’s Academy Ringmer held its annual GCSE Presentation evening. Last year’s year 11 leavers were invited back along with their parents and carers to collect their GCSE certificates. The school also took this opportunity to acknowledge students who have contributed outstanding performances over the last academic year in their specialist subjects. Faculty Leaders nominated one student for each subject who stood out from the whole year group as the hardest working and most focused student. The school welcomed back ex-student Dan Keeley, who left Ringmer in 2001, as their Dan Keeley with Ringmer students from left to right, Isabel guest speaker. Jones, ‘Best Attainment Result’, William Hugall ‘Best Dan, who has Progress Results and Maya Mendez who received the become a local Stephen Green Eco Award. celebrity recently for his charity but now manages life with Bipolar; his recent amazing work, had just charity run raised £16000 for CALM (the Campaign hot-footed it Against Living Miserably). back from his latest incredible Students really connected with Dan and appreciated fundraiser, his very open and honest story involving all the highs where he ran and lows that he has been through. His enthusiasm and 1250 miles in passion for life, his drive and focus to achieve whatever 65 days in his you set your mind to, alongside hard work, was clear and ‘Rome to Home’ inspirational to everyone, not just the students. expedition. Dan Keeley with our own Leader of PE, Athlete, blogger The school would like to thank all students, parents and Mr Coulthard who ran the Newhaven and fundraiser carers who came on the night and a special thank you to to Ringmer leg with Dan. Dan spoke about Dan. Please see Dan’s story and how to donate on his his life and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/iamdankeeley career after leaving Ringmer, how he has struggled, open, which made it easy INTERNATIONAL for us to talk and socialise LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE with everyone, even though most of the other students COBIS – Council of British International Schools in were over 2 years older than conjunction with The King’s Group invited Ringmer’s us. All of the workshops Head Boy, Oscar Beale, and Head Girl, Emily Trent to were extremely informative; attend an annual leadership weekend to provide training they helped us explore and life skills for senior students from around the world, what type of a leader we including the Netherlands, Qatar, Egypt, Spain and wanted to be. Coming from Portugal. a previously closed school, The conference was not only an opportunity for Oscar an international view of the and Emily to become more involved in the King’s group world and to network with but also gain more of a rounded view on what leadership other students from around is. The students experienced interactive sessions with the world was an invaluable trainers and motivational speakers, opportunities to experience that I will never forget.’ In their down time, develop self-awareness, interpersonal skills and life they explored the capital city. competencies. Emily said, ‘the experience was one not to forget; It was the first time both Oscar and Emily had travelled everyone I met was welcoming and friendly despite an without an adult, so were naturally a little nervous flying age gap. I have organised to meet with friends I made on their own, and had similar worries about not knowing from overseas in the future. The conference taught me anyone when they got there. But their worries soon valuable leadership skills that will aid me throughout disappeared once they were collected from the airport my life. Travelling, working, learning and socialising and taken to their accommodation, Oscar said, ‘the first independently also opened my eyes massively for the thing we noticed was how everyone was just so kind and better.’ 3 REMEMBRANCE DAY YOUNG FIRST AIDERS Thank you to Mrs Moorhouse for a beautiful We have just had our first cohort of year 11 successfully Remembrance Day; assembly, Mrs Moorhouse complete their Young First Aid Certificate! spoke about Harry Patch who was the last known Lunch time surviving British soldier to have fought in the WW l club is very trenches. Two year 11s read poems from WW1 successful with students from all different age groups attending.