March 2013 Dear Parent/Guardian, by The

March 2013 Dear Parent/Guardian, By the time you receive this term‟s edition of „Community News‟ Easter will almost be upon us. With such a short half term, it has been even more of a challenge to try to fit in everything that we need to do, in terms of teaching, learning, assessment and reporting home. Fortunately, with the positive response of our young people, as well as with your ongoing support and involve- ment, we have not only met pressing deadlines but fitted in a whole host of extra curricular and enrichment activities as well. I sometimes look back on particular weeks and think: how did we manage to fit all of that in to such a short space of time? Taking last week as an example of all that is on offer at saltash.net, we had a very special visit to London on the Monday by 8 students and 2 staff who had been allocated tickets to be part of a 1000 strong audience at the Commonwealth Day Observance ceremony in Westminster Abbey; on the Tuesday, the National Teaching Award judges were in school assessing the whole of the Year 9 Pastoral Team in the „Outstanding Team of the Year‟ category and many thanks are expressed to all parents who supported this visit by coming in and talking to the judges; on Wednesday, we had one of our best Theme Days with an incredible range of activities on offer both at „home and away‟; on Thursday, the Comic Relief charity fundraising began in earnest with a Variety Show at lunchtime organised by our hard- working 6th formers; on Friday the money raising efforts continued with a fabulous „Great Saltash Bake Off‟ at breaktime and lunchtime and a memorable Musical Mile in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Saltash after school. If all of that wasn‟t enough, we also had the wonderful concert organised by Mr Oakes and friends on the Saturday evening in our school hall in aid of the National Deaf Children‟s Society. Never was a „day of rest‟ on Sunday more needed! When the National Teaching Award judges visited our school they said, at the end of their time with us, that what had impressed them most was the consistency with which students, staff and parents spoke about the strength of saltash.net school. They all said that what it does best is provide „opportunities‟ both academically and with regard to extra curricular provision. My vision for our school has always been one which looks to supporting the development of the „whole‟ child, providing enrichment opportunities which help to raise aspirations and broaden horizons, whilst at the same time ensuring potential is truly fulfilled so that career progression and a re- warding future are assured. As the holidays approach, it is essential that all students facing examinations during May and June make the most of the opportunities being provided for them in the run up to this summer‟s exam season. Can I please ask all parents of Years 11, 12 and 13 students to discuss revision plans for the fortnight break and for the next half term. Please do contact the school if you would like any more support or guidance. Wishing everyone a Happy Easter - let‟s hope for some Spring like weather soon. With all good wishes, Yours faithfully, Mrs I Bryce Headteacher Theme The best yet @ saltash.net Day The Spring Term Theme Day at saltash.net was another great success, with many staff and students declaring it was the best one to date, such was the range of activities on offer and the opportunities provided for all students across years 7-13. Four year groups were given the chance to en- hance their learning and life experiences by participating in a range of visits across the UK: Year 7 travelled to the Eden Project as part of their Integrated Learning curriculum: Year 9 went to the Science Museum @Bristol as well as to the slave museum: Year 11 ventured further afield to London, enjoying an amazing day which saw all 230 staff and students on the London Eye at one stage with snow falling all around, before they moved on to the Lyceum Theatre to see the West End production of ‗The Lion King‘; and Year 12 were taken to Westpoint Exeter as well as the University itself for a Higher Education confer- ence. In addition to the year group visits, 80 lucky students, who had been selected as a result of excellence and effort in English over the past year, were given the chance to go to Harry Pot- ter World at Elstree, North London, for a day of wizardry and magic! Not to be outdone, the year 9 groups remaining back at base had an equally engaging and mo- tivational time. Year 10 spent the day working with The Royal Marines focusing on teamwork and survival, Year 13 took part in a carousel of activities designed to ensure they have all the skills necessary to cope with the demands of life at University or in the world of employment; and Year 8 were engaged in many different activities including an International Day focusing on Brazil and featuring Samba drumming work- shops, preparing for Geography fieldwork on Dartmoor and a cross phase ‗School Report‘ project with Year 6 children from St Stephens Pri- mary school. In addition, a group of Year 9 students spent the day finishing the practical work for their Design and Technology GCSE which they are being given the chance to take two years early. Director of Creativity, Jim Romain, and Assistant Director of Creativity, Amy Lewis, who were re- sponsible for coordinating the whole day were delighted that the day had gone so well. ‗With 1400 students all involved in extra-curricular enrichment opportunities, it takes a lot of organisation and planning but it is certainly worth it after receiving such great feedback from students, staff and parents.‖ Year 5 Saturday School Community This half term, Year 5 students from across our partner primaries have been attending the saltash.net Saturday School. Led by Roger Reynolds and staffed by James Edwards (ICT) and Jen Dunkey (English), the morning sessions have aimed to help improve the transition process between primary and secondary school. Every week, students have been following a linked ICT and English project based around 'Robots'. After team building exercises in the gym, focussing on building communication and rapport between the students, the Year 5 students have been building their own working robots and have also completed written tasks around the same theme. Team challenges such as furthest distance, tug of war and strongest motor power have been set and students have worked enthusiastically together to ensure that their team comes out on top! This year there has also been a considerable focus on building individual literacy skills and all students have enjoyed writing creatively about their robots, utilising reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that will be a crucial part of the curriculum when the students join saltash.net in Year 7. It is hoped that not only will the Saturday School sessions build confidence, communication and creative skills, but that the students will also be able to get a real feel of what their learning will be like once they become full time saltash.net students. Some student comments: "I was nervous at first because I didn't really know the other children but now I know I will have lots of friends when I come up to secondary school." "Building robots has been really fun, especially the tug-of-war when we beat Miss Dunkey's robot!" "I really enjoy the games in the gym because they're really fun and we have to all work together." Jen Dunkey Year 5 Information Evenings Community As part of transition arrangements for our partner primary schools in the Saltash area, we arrange, annually, a series of information evenings for Year 5 children and their parents. Held in the home schools, the evenings are designed to give more detail about the primary to secondary transfer process, as well as providing those present with information specifically about saltash.net community school so that an informed choice can be made with regard to the next stage of schooling. Our Year 5 evenings this year have been extremely well attended and we have been hugely impressed with the questions that the Year 5s have asked, as well as with the quality of response from the Year 7 representatives who accompany us on each visit. So far this year we have been to St Stephens, Bishop Cornish, Burraton and Landulph. Well done and thank you to: St Stephens visit: Tom Cox Kaley Gibbs Landulph visit: Rebecca Jones Alex Thain George Seymour Chloe Penaluna Brad Sweet Burraton visit: Ethan Cox James Manuel Lucia Shapland Bishop Cornish Sophie Watson visit: Emily Lambert Molly Banks George Lambert-Gorwyn Jack Wickham Max Frost Maths with a Heart Maths This Valentine‘s day, while most people across the country were giving gifts and presents to loved ones and family, students in the Maths department at saltash.net community school were doing something a little different. Instead of giving gifts to those close to them, they were giving to strangers they had never met in support of LASCO, the Latin American Street Children Organisation. The organisation was set up to raise funds to support medical and educational projects in Latin America which respond to the needs of street children. Each year the registered charity runs a Maths Challenge aimed at children all across the UK to engage in real life maths situations, which affect the day to day living of some of the very children the organisation supports.

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