THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

18.1

The K’Ford Times

The Kingswinford School Newsletter

Bird from the Lighting Factory and Finally, my thanks and sheer pride it was by far the biggest spectacle goes to the students in the cast Grease – the to date. We had more dancers and crew. They have shown involved than ever before under absolute dedication over 6 months the expertise and leadership of our to produce a performance that will Musical dance teacher Mrs McLaughlin be the pride of the school for a by D Cotterill and quite rightly the vocal ability of long time to come. The acting and the cast was praised by many singing performancesApril were 201 way 9 Parents, carers and students –, it above their years and praised by audience members, all under the always gives me enormous direction of Miss Abel our audience members as “made for a pleasure to direct and produce the Curriculum Leader for Music and career on stage”. In particular, the annual school production. Every Performance Faculty Director. Year 11s, who despite heavy year, against a climate where the The performance was amazing! revision workloads, still gave 100 arts are suffering, The We have some of the most percent and performed in main Kingswinford School showcases talented students in the borough roles to wow the audience. what unbelievable talent we have here at The Kingswinford School here amongst our students. Each Finally, Danny & Sandy…Josh and some of the reviews we have year the show gets bigger and and Freya. Despite the pressures received have echoed this. One better and the standards keep of their final year at school, they audience member who has been rising. This year is no exception were fully committed and gave in the theatre business for years and hosted in my mind the biggest outstanding performances as the hailed it as “The best youth show we have ever had with lead roles and should be extremely performance he had ever seen” GREASE. We had over 70 proud of themselves. and senior teachers from other students performing this year. We schools stated it was Thank you to all of you. You are hosted 2 sell out afternoon dress “phenomenal”. I personally would the reason it’s all worth it! rehearsals to 250 Year 5 students like to thank the 450 parents, and then three SELL OUT nights family and staff that came to see each receiving a standing ovation. the performances on the 27th,28th This year, KS4 students Ben Bird, and 29th March. Your support is Jack Payne and Joe Ralph vital in giving our students a operated the light and sound platform for their talents. under the expertise of Matthew THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

flicks and even somersaults. Four Mission ‘X’ K’ford students from the Kingswinford School competed in this level – Project Gymnastics Charlie, Amy, Phoebe and By M Bills Tiarna. With outstanding style and Over the past few weeks Year 5 Competition execution, the girls cartwheeled students from Blanford Mere and by C Gould into first position in the team The Church of Ascension Primary school have been undertaking exciting Science experiments as part of "Mission X - train like an astronaut" at The Kingswinford School Science Faculty. This is aimed at students across the world and is internationally recognised. It was originally created by the NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) as competition and Tiarna took home part of the British astronaut, Tim On Thursday the 4th of April, The the gold medal as an individual Peake's, mission to the Kingswinford School hosted their scoring 19.4 out of 20! Amy just International Space Station to first, very own, floor and vault missed out by a small margin of give pupils an insight into some gymnastics competition. The 0.3. of the effects of low gravity event played host to 40 students environments on the body and from 4 schools within the borough; Overall it was a very successful the consideration of diet and Kingswinford, Windsor, Cheslyn competition with all students health to remain fit. Hay and Ellowes Hall. demonstrating skill, team-spirit Students have been and sportsmanship. investigating the effect of forces In the level 1 category, two Congratulations to all schools that on bones, measuring the amount students competed for participated and we look forward of fat and energy in food and Kingswinford - Eve and to running it again next year. even testing "urine" to detect Hannah. Both girls put in health conditions! Student were extremely strong performances particularly thrilled to get to grips with control and fluency vaulting Kingswinford with a Bunsen burner for the first them into first and second position Gymnastics Spreads time. overall scoring totals of 18.1 and 17.4. into Primaries! We are looking forward to hosting the celebration event by T Macdonald Three students competed in the and seeing the pupils again after level 2 category; Primrose, Emilia With an eye of spotting future the Easter break. and Chloe. All students impressed talent, Mr Gould has started the judges - particularly during working with local primary schools their floor work, however, narrowly (beginning with St Mary’s) to train missed out on a team medal and and support their students in Primrose just missed out on her developing their Gymnastics skills. individual medal position by 0.1 marks! Mr Gould is an exceptional gymnast who used to compete Finally, the level 3 category was against Louis Smith, and we are the most highly contested. sure that, under his guidance, the Competitors were able to create strength of gymnastics across the their own routines using a variety area will rise till we are a beacon of optional skills, such as; leap of excellence! sequences, handsprings, back THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

18.1 The Spring English Primary Schools Cross by A Wall Literacy Book It's an exciting time for DofE at Country

The Kingswinford School - as of By Jade 1st December 2018 the school Quiz became a Directly Licensed by P Hendy Centre with DofE, this means we are an internationally recognised centre for provision of DofE.

This year, all of Year 9 and 10 students were offered the opportunity to take up the Bronze award which consists of four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skill

and Expedition. The Kingswinford School was I'm delighted to announce 54 privileged to host a heat of the On 19th January, a race took place at students have taken up the Primary Book Quiz. Warley Woods to choose the West fantastic opportunity to earn Midlands team for English schools. It was We welcomed students from snowing the night before, therefore it was their selves the award and extremely cold. At the qualifier I came 8th, on the 8th and 9th of March Maidensbridge, The Glynne and so I wasn’t an immediate part of the team the students completed their Roberts Primary Schools, who (top 6 was an automatic place and there expedition training. The two came to compete for a place in the were two managers pick places.. grand final, which took place in days training included: team th March, at Children’s On 17 February I found out that I had a building, camp craft, first aid, manager’s pick place! navigational skills, an Library Services, . th introduction to expedition On 16 March it was the English Schools The book knowledge and facts Competition in Leeds. The team travelled and how to pack a rucksack. remembered by all of the students by coach and when we got there it was was truly amazing, particularly the continuously raining, so the course was As the expedition season very muddy. As I was last to qualify, I was small details about storylines. A th would like to take 8 in the pen and when the gun went lots opens, we huge ‘Well Done’ to everyone of people kept falling over due to how this opportunity to wish all of involved! slippy the course was. Whilst I was the students good luck for running the mud was flicking up from their upcoming expeditions peoples’ shoes into my mouth and eyes. K’Ford Library Floods! over the next few months. by T Macdonald When I had finished the race, I was told that I came 5th for the We are very proud of our library at region and 266th out of 353 people in the Next year, The Kingswinford Kingswinford and the importance of . School will be offering both reading shines through our entire

the Bronze and Silver award approach to Key Stage 3 English with the to Year 9 and Year 10 use of accelerated reader and dedicated reading lessons. So it was will great respectively. For anyone who dismay that we found a burst pip had wants more information on flooded one end of our library. DofE please look at www.dofe.org and/or email Fortunately, our insurance company have been wonderful and are seeking to [email protected] replace all of the lost elements with cademytrust.org.uk. some more modern furniture and carpeting bringing new life to our wonderful library!

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

Dwarfs, The Hobbit, The Cat in the World Book Hat and from many Roald Dahl books. Day

by P Hendy

During lunchtime, students had the opportunity to turn detective in the Literary Clue Crime Competition, which involved Staff really got into the spirit of searching for clues, hidden around World Book Day once again by school, to track down an dressing as children’s book suspected criminal from a well- characters to promote the known children’s book. importance of reading. Did you know that just 10 minutes reading every day can improve the future prosects of a child?

In school, amazed students were taught by characters from Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

were interactive exhibits,

Macbeth geological samples and videos to by C Cannings watch. They were even shaken up in a Kobe supermarket as an On Wednesday 13th of March, the earthquake hit. Sky (7K2) said ‘It English department took over one was wibbly, wobbly wonderful!’. hundred Key Stage 4 students to The second activity was a the Theatre to see workbook on ecosystems and the National Theatre’s interpretation of pupils were able to complete their Invigilator Opportunities one of William Shakespeare’s own research into animals. There most famous and well-known were exhibits from many We are recruiting for additional plays ‘Macbeth’. This was a continents to investigate and Je invigilators to support both the fantastic opportunity for the (7K2) said ‘The blue whale external and internal school students to see the play that they skeleton was amazing!’ examinations. have already studied, or are about to study, in an impressive stage After lunch there was an Candidates should be able to production. opportunity to explore some other work as part of a team and also exhibits with dinosaurs and independently. The students thoroughly enjoyed creepie crawlies high on the list. this educational experience, were Successful applicants would be very complimentary of the expected to have a high degree performance and will no doubt Carding Mill of availability during the Summer reap the benefits in their studies. exam season (May / June) and Valley also be available to support The staff were very proud of the mock examinations etc at by M Child way the students presented various dates throughout the themselves as their behaviour was In early March GCSE geography academic year. exemplary and they were excellent groups spent two days representatives of the school. investigating stream processes in If you are interested in joining the stunning scenery of the our team, please visit the

Carding Mill Valley. vacancy section of the school website for an application form.

Visit to the

National History The first day's groups experienced pleasant late Museum by H Gray winter sunshine and although the stream was still chilly, Instrumental examinations students were able to take Year 7 students visited The many useful measurements Congratulations to all of the National History Museum in and see clearly how stream students who have taken Music London recently, where they had characteristics can change examinations this term. We look two activity booklets to complete. over just a couple of forward to hearing about your The first was about plate tectonics kilometres. The groups, on successful results! and students had to ascend a the second day, experienced huge escalator into the heart of a a heavy downpour just as If you would like to learn to play huge model Planet Earth that they started taking their first an instrument then please see glowed and rumbled. There set of measurements and Miss Abel for a letter detailing the information you need.

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

although this made data Duke of Edinburgh award, an recording quite difficult they award that is now offered to all April Enrichment were able to witness how the students in years 9 and 10 at the stream's velocity and school. This activity gave students Day discharge reacts very quickly the opportunity to experience by N Abel / L Mroczko / K Wilkins to a downpour in a classic v- cooking challenges and develop shaped valley. Within an their map reading skills. Our most recent enrichment day hour the sun was out again, took place on Wednesday 10th April so students could dry out Year 10 students took part in an and involved a variety of activities. and enjoy the scenery with E-safety session giving them Year 8 students focused on their well-earned picnic important information to enable exploring careers in Music and lunch. them to use the internet safely. Year 10 also took part in drugs Drama within the British Arts Industry. The students started by awareness workshops that travelling to Cineworld in provided valuable information on Wolverhampton to watch Bohemian this key topic. Rhapsody. The students sang along and some were quite emotional Year 10 students also took part in towards the end of the film, an enterprise challenge where captured by the power of music and they designed a new Coca Cola how it can affect so many lives in brand, this involved student such a positive way. working in teams to create a new In the afternoon, students produced recipe, design, budget plan and a a project that explored careers January sales presentation for their new linked to Music and Drama, product. researching specific roles, skills, routes for progression and thought Enrichment Day A small number of year 9 and 10 about which career they would by K Fox students were selected to take choose if they followed a musical or Our enrichment day on Tuesday part in a cycle proficiency course dramatic path. th 29 January involved a huge during the day, this was provided Miss Abel said the students were very well behaved and were a credit range of activities for all year by Dudley Council and gave the groups. to our school and from today, I hope students invaluable training on the students have a better insight Years 8 and 9 both had the road safety when cycling. Despite into careers within the British Arts opportunity to attend an offsite day the cold weather the students had Industry. trip. Year 8 went to the “We the a great day! Miss Abel would also like to thank Curious” museum in Bristol, this all of the staff that supported the trip Overall it was a fantastic day with and accompanied the students. venue offered lots of interactive all students being given the STEM experiences for the opportunity to engage in a variety Year 9 students visited the prestigious Oxford University. They students, while there they also of activities both on and off site. watched a planetarium show. Year had a tour where they learnt about 9 visited the Royal Shakespeare the fantastic history of the university Company in Stratford where they and visited two of its picturesque had a back-stage tour around the colleges to see where the students live and study. theatre. Both visits met “visit a museum” on the WAT pledge. Year 7 took part in Prevent and knife free sessions, Prevent is an important government initiative to protect citizens against terrorist threats. Both sessions provided students with valuable information on two very important issues. Year 7 were also able to sample some of the skills required for the

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

18.1 part, and to those who gained managed to place 6th! The four certificates! students should be incredibly proud of themselves for this Maths Gold achievement

Dean Jukes Year 10 Enrichment Update On Tuesday 12th March we took by R Deakin Silver a group of our most able Year 10 mathematicians to a Maths Fest competition at Redhill School. Luke Young Our students enjoyed the Jessica Tamber challenging problems and both Joel Hackett teams were awarded a prize Sasha Cooksey during the event. Jack Lynock

Bronze The Big Maths Quiz On Wednesday 13th February, Sophie McColgan we took a group of students to In’am Kiyani The Maths Big Quiz at The Awais Sharif University of . This Eleanor Timmis was a fantastic event involving Joshua Griffin Jack Fletcher 400 students from across the West Midlands, competing Diya Ashaq against each other. It was a Grace Poole great opportunity for the Abi Howell students to be stretched and Thomas Mecrow challenged in their mathematics Michael Averill as well as experience the Joshua Baker surroundings of a prestigious Sean Davies university. Alex Deakin Pierce Jones Lewis Wenlock Myla Haywood Sana Farooq

This year was the first year we have competed in the Team Maths Challenge, held at the Wolverhampton Girls High School. Each school has to put Intermediate Maths forward their best two students in years eight and nine, and they

Challenge Success work together to complete tasks.

2019 Our team comprised of Dean Jukes, Joshua Griffin, Ava Reminders… Students competed in the Griffiths and Freya Smith. Intermediate Maths Challenge Maths clinic on the 7th February. It is aimed at The tasks comprise of problem A reminder to students that if Year 9 and 10 students, who solving questions, and there they are in need of support with were put through their paces on were four rounds: The Group classwork or homework then to a number of challenging problem round, Crossword, Shuttle and come to Maths Clinic which solving questions. A massive Relay. Despite the stiff takes place every Tuesday well done to everyone who took competition from the other twenty-seven schools, we THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

lunchtime from 12.40pm – 1.15pm in MA2. Book Appeal – • Black pen NEW Puzzle club • Pencil House • Eraser Mrs Deakin is running a puzzle • Pencil sharpener club on a Friday lunchtime for • Ruler in cm Competition Years 7 and 8. This will take • Scientific Calculator place in MA3 from 12.40pm – (e.g Casio FX85- ‘Read it and 1.15pm. GTPLUS) • Pair of compasses • Protractor Share it’ NEW Chess club by P Hendy • Glue stick Mr Patel is running a chess club • Green pen Do you have books at home, on a Monday lunchtime for all suitable for students age 11-16, years. This will take place in that you no longer read? MA2 from 12.40pm – 1.15pm. Plea from Mrs Deakin Why not donate them to the GCSE Higher Past school library?

Paper club This is a House Competition and the following rewards will be This is open to Year 11 students awarded for books donated: who want to get more practice at past exam papers. This will take One House Point for every place on a Thursday lunchtime student who donates a book – from 12.40pm – 1.15pm in MA3. these must be given directly to Mrs Hendy in the library in order Equipment reminder for House Points to be awarded

Please could you ensure that in Hot chocolate with Mr January your child returns to If anyone has any lego that they Macdonald for the student in school fully prepared for their would be happy to donate, I each house who donates the Mathematics lessons. It is vitally would be very grateful. I am most books. important that your child has the hoping to run a Lego Masters correct equipment, not just for club during the Summer Term A £10 gift voucher for the examinations, but also in their and am in need of lego. student who donates the most books overall Mathematics lessons to help Many Thanks. improve their confidence in using it correctly. Closing Date : Friday 3rd May 2019 Below is a list of equipment that they are required to bring to every lesson:

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

Modern Dudley Children’s Book Awards by P Hendy Foreign Mrs Hendy and a group of our Year Languages 7 students, along with students from by J Curtis schools all around the Dudley Borough, have been eagerly Earlier this term we ran an MFL reading the seven books shortlisted day for students in year 8. for the annual Dudley Children’s During the day students had to Book Awards, with a view to voting research French and Spanish for their favourites. towns to find the best holiday The shortlisted titles were: destination. They were then given a budget to plan a 5 day Boy Underwater by Adam Baron holiday there and design an experience for a family, A Different Dog by Paul Jennings translating and unpicking Eye of the North by Sinead O’Hart information from foreign language websites as well as Year 7 Trip to Twycross Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St English ones. The aim was to Zoo John support students both in On Wednesday, 120 Year The Sand Dog by Sarah Lean developing their language skills 7 students descended on but also in understanding the Twycross Zoo! Secrets of a Sun King by Emma cost and complexity of holidays Carroll – if they are anything like our The sun was shining and Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny children, we hope they might be many of the students loved McLachlan a little more appreciative of the the independence of being challenge of organizing a family able to explore the zoo in The books were all brilliant and holiday in the future! small groups and see all come highly recommended by our Later in the day they used the animals they wanted. readers, but a winner had to be keywords from the day to chosen and our students attended compete to create the longest Several members of the the award ceremony, which took paperchains of French and public remarked on how place on 12th February 2019 at The , where the result Spanish words! polite the students were, in was announced. particular opening doors for other guests and being The overall winner was ‘Truly, very sensible and Wildly, Deeply’ by Jenny respectful. Even the 4 MacLachlan; a comedy and a love students who made the not story story about disability, so sensible decision to try friendship and trust. Jenny attended out the Wet ‘n’ Wild the ceremony along with fellow playground had other authors Sarah Lean and Adam visitors commenting how Baron. polite and friendly they had More details can be found at been. www.thedcba.co.uk. Follow the In the lorikeet exhibit, action at twitter.com/theDCBA students were able to feed the birds and some even landed on the students! Students loved the butterfly house with how close the butterflies flew them. (continued overleaf)

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 20.1

Twycross Zoo next September – good luck in your continued… Final Words SATs and we look forward to seeing by T Macdonald you on our Transition day on the 2nd

Others said their favourite of July – we have some exciting Well one of the longest spring half things planned for you all! animal had been the giant terms in history is finally drawing to tortoises, which were over a close, and not before time! Finally, I would like to take 100 year old! The baby Students and staff have been the time to thank our dedicated staff who have given their all this term, orangutan and gorilla made working their socks of, not only to under some challenging an appearance and prepare for year 11 GCSE circumstances, to support our although we were in awe of examinations, but also to support all of our other students to ‘Be students. how cute they were, we Teaching is an often- learnt about how Extraordinary’. Thank you all for your patience, this is a challenging undervalued career these days – it endangered they are and is tough and too often thankless. time for all schools, not helped by a discussed what we could More and more responsibility is late Easter break. placed on schools (and so on do to help. Next term will see the teachers) who have committed their A fantastic day all round challenge ramp up again for year 11 and I would ask students in all other lives and livelihoods to support and I am very proud of our years to understand the pressure young people. It can become too easy to forget that these are real Year 7students, who were our students (and staff) come under people, working tremendously hard fantastic ambassadors for as the exams begin (and they start in challenging circumstance – we our school. as soon as we get back for some students!) and recognize that this is are all only human but our staff year 11’s ‘time’. seem to perform superhuman feats Next term also sees our on a virtually daily basis. So, I would like to offer my thanks, and should new name appear – ‘Kingswinford you wish to do so yourself (or Academy’. We expect this will be a encourage a student to do so) I cosmetic change only and that all practices and policies will continue know that it is always gratefully as before, but it will reflect our pride received!

in the progress our school is making Many thanks and a very Happy as an Academy in part of a fabulous Easter to you all! Trust.

I would also like to welcome a new cohort of students who may well be reading this newsletter in anticipation of joining the school

Upcoming Events Date Activity Monday 29th April Term begins (9.30 am start for students) Tuesday 30th April – Thursday 2nd May French Speaking exam – individual appointments Tuesday 30th April Junior Maths challenge Wednesday 1st May – Thursday 2nd Art exam all day May Friday 3rd May Mission X Celebration Event (School Hall) 2.00 – 3.00 pm Monday 6th May Bank holiday – school closed Tuesday 7th May Student Senate meeting 12.40 pm – 1.30 pm Wednesday 8th May Spanish Speaking exam – individual appointments Thursday 9th May Year 9 Dance trip to London Monday 13th May GCSE exams commence