MMER 2017 | SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2017 | SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER
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Music Room The Phoenix Collegiate is delighted to invite you to visit our new school during our Open Evening on Tuesday 19th September 2017 4.00pm to 7.30pm Important Dates for Autumn Term 2017 IN THIS EDITION Monday 4th September 2017 School closed to students for moving into newly refurbished block (Believe block) Hubs news...... pages 3-11 Tuesday 5th September 2017 School closed to students for inset day Key Stages news incl Duke of Edinburgh...... pages 11-14 Wednesday 6th September 2017 Students return to school Monday 18th to Friday 22nd September 2017 Year 6 open week Pastoral news...... page 14
Tuesday 19th September 2017 Year 6 open evening (4.00-7.30pm) Miscellaneous...... page 15 Tuesday 3rd October 2017 School closed to students for inset day Sports update...... pages 16 Thursday 5th October 2017 Year 11 motivational evening (6.00-8.00pm) Monday 16th October 2017 Years 7, 10 & 12 settling in meetings (5.00-7.00pm) Monday 23rd October 2017 Half term holiday to Friday 27th October 2017 Tuesday 14th November 2017 Key Stage 5 open evening (6.00-8.00pm) Friday 24th November 2017 School closed to students for inset day Monday 4th December 2017 Year 11 parents’ evening (4.00-7.00pm) Summer 2017 Thursday 21st December 2017 Christmas holiday to Monday 1st January 2018 Results Days
Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd January 2018 School closed to students for inset days Thursday 17th August GCE Results: Thursday 4th January 2018 Students return to school Year 12 and 13 from 9.00am to 12.00 pm Thursday 24th August GCSE Results: Year 11 and Year 12 re-sits from 9.00am to 12.00pm Return dates for 6th Form Enrolment: September 2017 Thursday 24th August 9am-2pm, Friday 25th August – 10am-2pm and Friday 1st September Students return to Phoenix on – 10am-2pm in the school hall Wednesday 6th September Collection of Results 2017 Whilst most students collect their results, we Year 7 and 12 students to arrive at 8.30am and appreciate that this is not always possible. report to their tutor Results can be posted or collected on their behalf by prior written arrangement only. Year 8, 9, 10, 11 & 13 students to arrive at 8.45am and report to their tutor Posted results will require a stamped addressed envelope of A5 size with the candidate number written in the top left hand corner.
Governor Don Ideally we would like to use the email address as most people got together in the playground before Robertson a way of collecting comments and ideas from you the start of the school day. to be discussed at our governors meetings. Parent Governor It is harder in a larger school as children get more Being a Parent Governor gives me a fascinating independent and their parents/carers have less As a Governing insight into school life and all its different direct contact with the school. Hopefully, I will be body we want to be workings. able to attend some Parent evenings and be able able to reach out to to speak to some of you. our whole school I have also been lucky enough to tour our new community as school, both as an empty concrete shell and more It continues to amaze me that the school has much as possible. recently when near enough complete. Although managed to function as normal despite the there is still some building work and landscaping enormous building work around the site so I would After students, the taking place, the school is up and running. like to thank the students and staff for working as most important stakeholders are parents/ carers hard as ever despite the disruption. and we are looking for new parent governors from I am grateful to my employer who helps me The new academic year is going to provide September so if you are interested in becoming a volunteer my time at Phoenix. governor, please contact the school on the email different challenges I’m sure, but as long as address given below for further information. As part of my governor’s duties, I would like to we all remain positive our school can continue be able to represent as many parents/ carers as to improve and be a truly inspiring place for [email protected] possible. This was easier at Primary school where everyone.
2 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com agreed Ariel was the character which stood out the most we were also English and how versatile Gavin Swift was in this role. The energy treated to several given off by the actors on stage really brought the whole magical illusions, singing, dancing play to life right in front of our eyes. and a ventriloquist Year 12 Stafford performance by James Hornsby as Castle trip Trinculo. It was one of the On the 23rd June, the Year 12 English Language best 6th form trips and we would highly and Literature group went on a trip to Stafford recommend seeing this to anyone who is either a Castle to see a staged performance of ‘The fan of Shakespeare or is just looking for a great play Tempest’. to see. The night consisted of getting there at 6.15pm As well as the actors giving an amazing performance, Anjana Madahar and Natalia Cyman and having an outdoor picnic (until it started raining and we all scrambled for shelter) and the performance itself. The play lasted almost 3 the ‘Birthplace Trust’ proved extremely successful in hours but we can honestly say it was the best 3 A LEVEL STRATFORD TRIP keeping us well informed about the many different hours we have spent watching a play. During our day out to Stratford, we experienced several aspects of Shakespeare’s popular writings, as well as Stephen Beckett gave a masterful performance invaluable workshops and activities that have added to keeping us cool from the humid weather outside! our knowledge of Othello which we are studying within as Prospero, however, everyone who went The day was brought to an end with the company our English A-Level. granting us the opportunity to tour the birthplace of To begin the day, we met in school by the minibus, Shakespeare, which, for many of us was seen as the our method of transport for the day, and were given highlight of the trip due to it giving us a real insight Intervention tutor groups maps (which we would later accidently discard due into the life of one of the greatest writers the world has During the summer term, the English to poor time management and our fascination of seen. Observing the different aspects of Shakespeare’s department has been running intervention tutor group pictures by the river). On arrival, we began our house enabled us to put into perspective the economic groups in Years 9 first activity of the day: a workshop with the Royal hardships which were faced in the 16th century, as and 10. Shakespeare Company. This allowed us to explore well as the wide variety of factors which may have the rehearsal spaces of the actors, learn more about inspired his world famous plays. These groups were the play script and also how each play is presented providing students On the journey home, we were able to reflect upon our in reference to stagecraft and important scenes for with stretch exciting day which was enjoyed by all and has visibly different characters. and challenge improved our understanding activities to We proceeded to have lunch at a local McDonald’s. of Othello and support them Shakespearian The afternoon of our trip to Stratford consisted of a in aiming for the top grades in their English context. visit to the ‘Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’, which was Language and English Literature GCSEs. enjoyed thoroughly as it provided us with an effective, Isabelle Pearce detailed and entertaining talk regarding our set text and Anjana of ‘Othello’. Formed in 1847 and being the primary Madahar YEAR 8 STUDENT carer of one of the world’s largest heritage sites, ENRICHMENT DAY some lie in between. By using logical thinking, you Half of Year 8 spent Enrichment Day engrossed can make choices that give you a better chance of in ‘Litter Campaigns’ within the English Maths winning. department. They also were able to use this day towards their Phoenix Edge qualification. Here’s a link to a simple game we did, called Yukky MATHS INSPIRATION Choccy. Take turns to snap off the Yummy Chocolate but don’t take event - ‘Games the Yukky square! for real’ The first photo shows Paige and Jirah playing a two-player game On 23rd June, 10 of the best Year 9 mathematicians called “Avoid the Neighbours”. You went to Northampton to see the Maths Inspiration can play it too: event of ‘Games for Real’. Set-up: draw a line of 13 dots Students worked in groups to compile a creative campaign designed and planned independently To win: cross out the last by them. dot possible The grand finale showcased performances To play: Take turns The students took part in competitions to win up to crossing out a dot. including raps, dance, game shows, £100, they saw some of the tricks that are used by presentations and much more. A thoroughly casinos and they learned several simple but clever You can ONLY enjoyable and games. You can see Marco planning his business in cross out dots successful Monte Carlo in the second attached photo. where NEITHER day had by of its neighbours all. One of the aims of the day was to realise that some have been games depend on chance, others on strategy, and Well done! crossed out.
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 3 Year 10 students go Science to university! On July 7th, 3 of our Year 10 Phoenix students went Biology Masterclass along with Mr Moghul to Aston University where they graduated from the University Aspiration Project they at Wolverhampton had been working on all year. Mr Moghul, Paramveer Singh, Helen Mohammed and The students were required to attend several after Bipana Thapa stood alongside the Senior Principals University school University style seminars where they of Aston University. The University staff at Wolverhampton gave our Y12 learned about basic business skills and had to biologists a warm welcome when they took part in a produce a formal business plan outlining their molecular biology masterclass in June. ideas and the costs associated with it. After producing a 1000-word project, they all successfully passed and were awarded their scroll certificates alongside 130 other students from the West Midlands at a formal graduation ceremony at Aston University in Birmingham City Centre.
They all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt The traditional ceremony of throwing going to University is something they can all achieve, the hats into the air after graduating! as well as anybody else reading this article right now! Students used apparatus not found in schools, to carry out practicals involving cutting up DNA and transferring the DNA pieces Creating their BIOLOGY into bacteria. own games It was a very enjoyable and rewarding session. Students in Year 7 made their own games and ran a carnival during Student Enrichment Day CHALLENGE on 27th June. They had to create a game from Last term, Year 10 biologists sat two test papers basic materials and make the most profit by for this year’s Biology Challenge from the Royal Year 12 designing a game that was challenging, easy to Society of Biology. play and (most of all) FUN! They were quizzed on Biology topics they had biology The range of games was amazing - we had learnt about in school as well as other topics throwing games, race games, card games, from around the world and in the news. lucky dip, games of strength and games of fieldwork cunning. The Year 7 students were brilliant as The challenge was done by over 40,000 Our annual June Year 12 biology field trip at Sandwell they worked together in their teams to produce students from around the UK and our students Valley was blessed with good weather. did astoundingly well as 12 of them managed to the most brilliant stall. You can see some of During the morning session, students familiarised achieve a certificate! Bardia Dodangeh achieved the wonderful ideas, including one game being themselves with the fieldwork techniques that they the highest award possible, a gold certificate modelled by Mr Van Limbeek. See if you can had learnt in the lab. In the afternoon, students only awarded to the top 5% of students which spot which one! collected data for their ‘Required Practical’. meant that he was also invited to a ceremony in London. Paramveer Singh and Lorenz Masangkay both achieved a silver certificate only awarded to the top 15% of students. Highly commended certificates were also awarded to Sunny Patel, Aman Chopra, Kiya Spray and Harmanpreet Jabbal, with Mohammed Yousaf Ali, Bradley Shinton, Luke Firkin, Kellan Parchment and Alex Stevens. A huge well done to everyone involved! Miss H Moore – Leader of KS4 Biology
This involved laying a transect (string!) along the meadow and every 1m students counted buttercups or red clover in a quadrat (square white frame). The data collected was then number crunched back Paramveer Singh, Bardia Dodangeh & Lorenz at school the following day. Masangkay
4 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com All the students had to complete a series of Science SED – experiments to conclude which of our four suspects Congratulations! committed the crime. Experiments included; Abigail Hodgkinson Forensic science fingerprints, footprints, handwriting, ink analysis and gained the highest so much more. score from Phoenix The science department recently completed a Well done to the Year 7 cohort for successfully in the annual forensic science day with the Year 7 students. concluding from the evidence and presenting the Intermediate Students had to solve a fake crime which was caught facts to the rest of the class. The experiments took Biology Olympiad on CCTV footage. place in our brand new facilities. competition. Abi was highly commended for her efforts. Well done Abi!
Art & Technology Hub Photography trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens Year 10 photography students visited the The visit enabled students to take quality and Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Wednesday skillful photographs of natural forms in the style 7th June as part of the requirements for GCSE of photographer Imogen Cunningham and painter Photography. Georgia O’Keeffe. Students excelled in taking quality photographs by experimenting with creative angles, rules of thirds and many other compositions. This visit made a significant impact in raising marks, in particular for assessment objective 3 of the course. Students enjoyed the visit and commented on how their photography has improved by taking photos of a range of interesting, inspiring subjects. The group also demonstrated excellent behaviour and positive attitude. Well done!!!
InternationalThe Engineering department celebrated Women International The in girls Engineeringfrom Years 9 and 10 took part in aDay series of The girls were inspired by robotics, state of the art Women in Engineering Day in the best way possible. challenges and activities learning about the different equipment and many examples of different careers aspects of engineering and listened to inspirational they could get into including design and research A group of 10 girls were taken to the University speakers from the Mercedes Benz race team. areas. Their favourite piece of equipment was a 3D of Wolverhampton for a special free event run in printer which prints in titanium and costs £600k. partnership with Dare2BeDifferent and Mercedes They were split into two teams of 5 and came first Benz. and second in the Pit Stop challenge, beating many This trip proved very successful with many of the 6th form colleges as well as other local schools, students vowing to follow engineering as a career This event was organised to promote more women to although the simulation experience wasn’t as path. become involved in the Engineering Sector, which is successful! still a male-dominated environment. The girls will be able to fulfil their new dream at Phoenix by taking triple science as an option, working hard in maths and can link this with either Engineering at GCSE or pick it up at sixth form and university.
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 5 , Year 7. Their artwork Outdoor seating SANDWELL S will be shown at different sites including for the new site BLOOMIN LOVELY Wednesbury Museum A group of talented students was selected to work ART TRAIL and Art Gallery, Oak in the technology department during Student House Museum, Enrichment Day to design and make a range of Students were invited to get involved in a Sandwell Arts Café at outdoor seating for the new school site. Sandwell summer arts exhibition trail to Sandwell College’s showcase how bloomin’ lovely wildlife, flowers Central Sixth campus and nature in the borough are. and Haden Hill House from 26th July to 10th September. Mahin Mollah and Bipana Thapa entered paintings inspired by natural form created as part of the GCSE Art, Craft and Design course. Congratulations to the following students: Karonlina Raszkiewicz (in the photograph) helped to They had the challenge of using a variety of high Mahin Mollah and mount the work ready for exhibiting at the gallery as quality timber which has been rescued from the old Bipana Thapa in part of her work experience. buildings. The students split into a series of groups Year 10 and Khushi Khushi Banger, Jaspreet Bhaker, Daniel Carter, and researched some ideas. Banger, Jaspreet Bethany Dyke, Ellie Grice, William Holder-Wood Bhaker, Daniel Carter, They then worked really hard to use the workshop and Tawanna James created a collaborative poppy Bethany Dyke, resources to put their ideas into reality. Most of the collage to mark the centenary of the outbreak of war. furniture was constructed using high quality Piranha Ellie Grice, William Pine salvaged from old furniture and using a range Holder-Wood and Members of the public will be urged to vote for their of colours linked to the new house system being Tawanna James in favourite piece of art work. introduced in September. These unique items of furniture will be placed around the new completed site in September for the Designing scale models of container homes students to have a more comfortable space at breaks and lunches. This year, technology students were given the brief constructed 3D perspective sketches for the inside to “design and make a small scale model of a and outside of the homes. container home”.
Students also enjoyed working in teams, creating GCSE The task enabled students to explore the idea of card models and furniture nets for their interior converting shipping containers into studio homes design ideas. Art for the homeless. To finish the project off, students were introduced All the students worked Year 9 students applied their mathematical to the Google SketchUp program as an alternative extremely hard in their knowledge of ratios, measurements and scale by tool for concept modelling. Good news for parents art exam and created producing detailed floor plans for the layout. They – this is FREE to download so can be used at some ambitious pieces then extended their technical drawing skills and home by all the family. of work. The theme set by the exam board was beginning and/or the end. Students responded A Level art exhibition with many different ideas On Monday 3rd July, we held an A level art – including war, birth, exhibition. The work on display was wonderful Year 7 monsters and aliens travel, as always and a testament to how hard the journeys Year 7 students were given the task of designing students have worked and and creating soft toys suitable for young this year. Very well done decay. children. to all the students and many thanks to the art They looked at department for making existing monsters/ such a show possible. aliens for inspiration but added their own twist to their designs. They all created colourful creatures which were safe and Myles Johnson suitable for toddlers. Elizabeth Walker Jack Perks
6 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com Year 8 crispy cushions Year 9 fabric Year 9 Birmingham The Year 8 students’ brief was to produce cushions Thinktank Science using various techniques to create their own unique containers products. The Year 9 students completed a Museum visit inspiration for the project on making useful textile designs came from a containers out of fabrics. The simple crisp packet design brief was to create front. The students a colourful and/or original then used mirroring container which could have Phoenix Year 9 students went on a mind blowing and rotation (using multiple uses. The students their maths skills) to visit to the Birmingham Thinktank Museum as could add electronic threads and lights to create part of their computing curriculum. They had create interesting a safe nightlight for a young child. Other uses designs. the option to take part in a number of amazing could be to hold pencils and crayons. activities and events. Some of the highlights of the day included; Business, ICT & Languages Hub
Santander supports Barcelona trip KS5 financial Just before our Easter education break, Miss O’Brien, Mr Gibbs, Miss Hernandez and In line with the school’s ‘Centre of Excellence Award’ Miss Dell accompanied 36 Viewing Tim for developing and delivering financial education of our Year 8 and Year 9 Peake’s photographs in space to students; professionals from Santander were students on a 4 day 3 night To celebrate Tim Peake’s mission to the invited into school to help deliver financial capability, stay to Barcelona/Costa International Space teaching sessions to our Year 13 students. Brava. Students had the Station (ISS), students opportunity to soak up some had a chance to Spanish sun, visit the Olympic explore an exhibition Port, the beach, Camp Nou of Tim’s own photos Stadium, La Sagrada Familia and spend a whole taken whilst aboard day in Port Aventura theme park. It was an the ISS. The images intense but fun filled 4 days! showed remarkable landscapes on Earth taken from space and life on board the space station. Rebecca Jenkins-Crutchley (Santander Branch Learning about the Thinktank planetarium Director, West Bromwich) and two of her colleagues Students had a chance to view wide range of delivered a ‘money workshop’ that provided shows about astronomy and space, including an opportunity for students to gain a greater tours around the night sky, adventures around understanding of financial decisions. İQué bien lo pasamos! (We really enjoyed ourselves) the solar system and journeying to the edge of The practical workshop involved students working the universe. in teams and then investigating financial scenarios Here is what a few students had to say about Exploring the science garden in context to their own individual circumstances/ the trip: The science garden was an outdoor discovery life choices. Students were presented with an ‘At Easter we went to Barcelona and while we space packed with over 30 hands-on themes of opportunity to learn about relevant financial were there we went to lots of beautiful places engineering, mechanics and transportation to considerations applicable to their futures at Post 18 such as La Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou (football life through exhibits. years old. stadium) and lots more. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip because we got to see and do lots of Discovering the past interesting things with friends.’ Students looked at the fascinating industrial heritage of Birmingham and the Industrial Abigail Lowe Year 8 Revolution. They viewed some of the remarkable vehicles that kept people moving in Birmingham Phoenix Collegiate would like to thank Rebecca and and beyond. her colleagues for the extremely valuable information All staff and students had a thoroughly enjoyable that was presented to students on the day. Our day. Feedback from the Thinktank museum has partnership with Santander will continue during next been very positive with staff saying how well academic year 2017-18. behaved and polite Phoenix students were. ‘The weather in Spain was really hot. We went to the beach for a walk in the evening and we spent a whole day in Port Aventura theme park in Salou. We also went to see the football stadium in Barcelona.’ Paulina Krupska Year 8
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 7 Financial education in Year 8 Department for Work Students at Phoenix receive elements of financial (GSM); a local charity whose & Pensions, a session education that are delivered through enrichment days main aim is to assist homeless on job application skills to each year group. One area of financial education people in the West Midlands recently delivered to Year 8 centred around a theme providing practical assistance It’s vital that students understand these of ‘Living in a wider Financial World’ and as such in the form of food, clothing, bedding and toiletries skills and how they can show that they have students were provided with an opportunity to: for those in need. developed them in order to write a successful job application. • Understand what charities are and why they exist Each Year 8 tutor group was provided with an empty Some of the skills covered during the sessions • Understand what it means to be charitable cardboard box and students spent a number of weeks working together to kindly donate items from included: • Gain an understanding that donating to charity home to be placed in the box and then presented to can take place in non-monetary forms. • Effective leadership and management a homeless person/needy family in the area. • Good communication To help support this process the school worked with Judith Mccrae came into a Year 8 assembly to • Planning and research skills Judith Mccrae from the Good Shepherd Ministry collect the boxes of donated items (12 in total) and • Resilience was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness • Self-management demonstrated by our students. • Teamwork and interpersonal skills • Relevant work experience. The school is very grateful to all of our Year 8 students who supported the work of the GSM. Support for schools’ team Particular thanks is made to Mrs Conway (Head of Year 8) and Judith Mccrae for making the activity so successful. Well done to all!
World language Our new language assistant Mike Smith, Associate Head teacher with lessons Carolyn Atkinson, Maxine Sandland, Manjit You may have seen and read about Angel our Cheema and Penny Davies from Department of After school Panjabi, Latin, Italian and French assistant from Barcelona in our Spring newsletter Work & Pensions lessons have now come to an end for the this year. Angel has now left us here at Phoenix to go summer but we look forward to starting these up Congratulations to Adriana on to do his teacher training but next year we are to again come September! Balazova who took part in welcome Ricardo from Mexico! these sessions and was successful in gaining an apprenticeship with BT, countries! This session hopefully introduced them thanks to the input from Humanities Hub to another aspect of Geography - people and places Department of Work & around the world, thereby presenting to the students’ Pensions team! ways of life in other countries. Adriana Balazova, The students’ task was to work in teams of 4 and Apprentice with BT 5 to create a water-proof house for a slum in a Geography developing country.
Students were given cardboard, sellotape and other - drenching them in water and judging which transition day equipment, and were asked to use their imagination team had constructed the most water resilient On Wednesday 5th July, the Geography Department to create a water-proof building, whilst making sure house! hosted a group of 29 Year 6 transition students from it was aesthetically pleasing. They were also to be different primary schools. assessed on their team working skills. There was an overall winner – Group 3! This was part of the whole school ongoing transition Students were actively engaged in the task, team With this taster session, the students had an programme for students joining the Phoenix leaders delegating tasks and designers putting their amazing experience of one aspect of Geography. Collegiate in September 2017. design skills to work! It was fascinating to observe As a department, we eagerly look forward to excellent negotiation skills, equivalent to board The aim of the Geography session was to give the receiving all Year 7 in September and contribute meeting style at work within some of the groups! to their amazing experience in secondary school! yet-to be Year 7s a taster of what Geography is like. Overall excellent work was produced. During initial discussions, some of the students mentioned that Geography is about maps and At the end of the session, the houses were put to test
Year 9 Jewish wedding To learn about rites of passage from different the Rabbi for the cultures, Year 9 students enacted a Jewish wedding. ceremony. Everyone participated and The students planned the wedding, the Ketubah all the boys wore contract, made the decorations for the Chuppah and their yarmulkes with for the chairs. pride. Aron and Nevayah volunteered to be the bride and Thank you Year 9, we groom, they chose the students to be the parents, enjoyed the day! bridesmaid and best man and Mr Purewal was
8 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com Departmental A level Geography political changes • Resource security: studying the key resources Student at Phoenix necessary for society to continue forward and our Enrichment Day Teachers in the geography department are very impacts on them. Students were excited by the fact that we will be starting A level In order to start our students off early, we took them given the Geography from September 2017. on a fieldtrip to Cardingmill Valley to carry out a river opportunity to We have some great students who will be study and understand how fieldwork techniques are engage with looking at human and physical topics. These essential to becoming an A* geographer (see other the art of will be; article for further details). ‘up-cycling’ • Water and carbon cycles, looking at the This is an exciting time in the geography department otherwise and we would recommend any students who have known as importance of both on human survival on our planet an interest in the subject to come along for the ‘creative adventure. reuse’. • Changing places which looks at the During this session, students turned interactions between people and the everyday unwanted and waste items into better environment in our local area products of a more superior quality at a low cost and of a better environmental value. • Natural hazards: studying global events regarding volcanoes, earthquakes, storm For example, a simple wooden chair was transformed events and fires into a shabby-chic wonder using the decoupage method- it is a simple, cost effective method • Glacial systems and landscapes: looking at producing fantastic, aesthetically pleasing results - the features of and distribution of Glaciers anyone can do it! globally • Global systems and global governance: looking at globalisation, economic and Year 10 fieldwork experience On the 26th and 30th of June, the Geography Sports & The Arts Hub Department took a large number of Year 10 students to Long Mynd Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire. They were there to undertake some vital fieldwork by investigating the river. Bouncers Year 12 recently performed their version of the play ‘Bouncers’ by John Godber for their final BTEC Unit 2 exam piece. The performance is centred around a local nightclub where the actors play three groups of characters; the girls night out for Rosie’s 21st Birthday, the lads night out for Kev’s stag do and finally, the bouncers who guard the club. Playing all three characters is not easy and Year 12 After a short introduction and demonstration, worked hard to make the differences between students were put into groups, given a variety of them clear – and highly amusing! different pieces of equipment, and off they went, like Isabelle Pearce, Shania Shaffi, Joe Upton, Emma-Lee budding Geographers! Their audience really enjoyed the performance Johnson and Jardell Miller and were laughing the whole way through – well Each group investigated 2 or 3 sites along the river done to the Year 12 Drama group! in order to learn how the river changes as it moves downstream – the use of a rubber duck to measure velocity being a particular highlight. in room A03. Speak to Miss Dash or Miss Village- Mansi Famuti and Samela Buayian summed up the DRAMA CLUB Free for more information. day: The final half term saw the drama club returning “Even though we were tired by the end of the day, it to Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes - with a was a really resourceful experience. We were thrown comedy Cinderella performed at this year’s into a totally different environment, surrounded by awards evening. nature; it was much better than a classroom!” The show included multi-roling, narration, mime and panto’ style dames (“Oh, yes it did!”) This past term has seen our numbers grow with a most welcome influx of Year 7 and Year 8 students joining our ranks. We look forward to welcoming the new Year 7 students next academic year and any of our older students who would like to come along. Joshua Ross, Alexandra Langford, Jake Dugmore, Students were absolutely faultless on both days and Charlie Arnold, Bianca Pisu, Freddie Foy, Lauren Drama club runs every Thursday from 3 – 4pm staff had a wonderful time in the great outdoors! Payne and Bethany Dyke
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 9 National Sports week Music Update Since moving into the new 26th – 29th June 2017 build we have been able to Phoenix always takes part in this national scheme. take full advantage of our two extensive classrooms and It was an opportunity for students to engage in practice rooms to enrich the activities that may be new to them or for them to curriculum we study in Music. develop their skills to a higher level. The new spaces have enabled us to do schemes of work we hadn’t been able to do in the past. For example, our key stage 3 students thoroughly enjoyed working in small ensembles to create their own cover versions of chart songs and musicals. Some of the arrangements were really imaginative and well planned! Our key stage 4 students also planned a talent show that was held in the school hall on 18th July. As part They took part in a variety of activities including: of their BTEC course students had to plan, develop wheelchair basketball, basketball, dance (led by and promote the concert. They were busy auditioning 2 of our own Year 11 girls India Chand and Leah students, designing posters and tickets. We were all Blundell), archery, boxing and Brazilian football with a There was also a trip to Wolf Mountain to do very much looking forward to seeing their ideas come guest appearance of Dion Burton. Rock-climbing with the Year 10 GCSE students. together at the event.
sky SPORTS Project work activities. The second visit was on Tuesday 11th July with talks about the Sky Sports values and Athlete mentor to our Year 10 GCSE students completing practical throughout. is Nathan Douglas. 18 students were rewarded based on their efforts in GCSE PE. Nathan Douglas is an English athlete who specialises in the triple jump. He won the silver medal at the 2006 European On 12th July, Jirah Lumanlan, Miquelia Fearon, Paige Hayfield, Manveer Shergill and Zachery Brown Athletics Championships in Gothenburg with a jump entertained us with their musical talents at the awards of 17.21 metres. He visited Phoenix twice: the first Nathan will hopefully be a role model and inspiration evening. session was a getting to know you and some team for students in order to succeed in life. We also saw the return of Ben Stanaway, who is an ex-student currently studying music technology tremendous support and guidance during the at university. Ben has been working in the Music programme. department for the past year; we are very grateful for Vocational Hub all the help and support he has provided both staff and students in that time. A time to celebrate Every performance was a success. Well done all! On Wednesday 28th June 2017, Year 12 health and social care students received recognition at West Bromwich Town Hall for their outstanding Our favourite Drama topics! participation and partnership with Sandwell’s Here are some quotes from the students who attended:- Student Nurse Ambassador Programme (SNAP). This year we have been “It was an amazing experience and I was happy to get exploring a range of involved in the programme” interesting topics in - Demi Hemming (Year 12) Key Stage 3. Year 7 experimented with a wide “A great opportunity that was inspiring” range of genres, some of - Ellen Turton (Year 12) our favourite performances “It was nice to see what other school had done to were the Westerns and the promote health issues” - Tom Belcher (Year 12) hilarious interpretations of Our students had the opportunity to showcase “It was enjoyable and refreshing to see the community Commedia Dell’ Arte – some to a diverse audience including key dignitaries coming together” of the masks students made from the Mayor Councillor Ahmadhul Haque MBE, - Shania Shaffi (Year 12) for homework were amazing! Head of Children’s and Young People Services, Year 8 focused on developing a number of schools nurses within the Sandwell “I’ve gained greater awareness of current health issues Commedia mask their use of emotions this year. Health Trust as well as other schools within the that are faced by different schools in Sandwell” - This was particularly moving in the Evacuation unit, borough who participated in this programme. They Eleanor Homer (Year 12) some classes made the staff cry during the train delivered their presentation on their chosen health scene. Year 8 also worked on some horror themed promotion initiatives (safeguarding and child sexual performances which were extremely scary – eek! exploitation) with poise and professionalism. The Year 9 students shone during their comedy Our Phoenix students ambassadors also praised scheme of work, particularly in their own versions of and showed gratitude to our school nurses a famous Mr Bean scene. Make sure you tell your Joanne Toovey and Natalie Moore, who provided Drama teacher what your favourite topic was!
10 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com Key Stages Student Enrichment Day - Friday 30th June 2017 The Student Enrichment programme is a framework that is designed to fulfil the statutory Update Combined Cadet Force at requirements of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) as well guiding Phoenix – 2017 students in aspects of career choices, citizenship The Duke of Edinburgh What a start it has been to the newly and the Phoenix Edge. On Friday 30th June, Award formed CCF Royal Navy Contingent students were involved in learning activities here at Phoenix! based on the SED programme. This year has seen a good uptake in students wishing to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, with many completing their Bronze awards within the first 6-8 months. The expedition season has drawn to a close and participants have passed this section with flying colours. The expeditions took place over and around The Long Myndd and Church Stretton Year 7 students were engaged in activities based areas in July, using two popular campsite areas on ‘Acts of Kindness’. A day dedicated to making of Hamperley and Small Batch. Participants students reflect on actions and what it means to also completed activities such as leadership be kind. A special assembly by Brook Advisory activities, volunteering in the locality and at school, was presented to the girls on body change and environmental activities and a host of sporting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). If students and activities which all contributed towards achieving There are currently 60 Cadets signed up and taking parents wish to access further information based the prestigious qualification. part in activities on a weekly basis and with the new on this topic please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/ cadets starting in September, it has quickly become Conditions/female-genital-mutilation/ The apparent how popular this extra ordinary opportunity British Red Cross also supported this day by really is. delivering workshops based on emergency first aid. “Student who attended the British Red Cross workshops thoroughly enjoyed it!” - Staff Year 8 students worked on activities based on Money Management. A special feature for Year 8 The new intake for students was the involvement from our 6th Form DofE will be launching students. 6th Formers led interview sessions early in the Autumn in classrooms based on career aspirations term of 2017. If you and the career options available to students. are interested in They demonstrated leadership and effective applying, please see Miss Hancocks and the DofE communication skills when speaking to a younger team in September. audience! “The Sixth Formers were excellent and confident speakers!” - Staff Early years The NHS nurses presented workshops on On SED 5, students in Year 8 had the opportunity Sexually Transmitted Infections and healthy to experience some Cadet based activities and relationships to Year 9 students. The day theme foundation stage got stuck in from the word go! Activities included: was based on ‘Respect’ and what is means to team building skills, rope and knot activities, an respect diversity, online platforms and respecting course obstacle course to test physical fitness and some oneself. Resources were engaging as there were Sixth formers, as part of their qualification, have communication developing activities. real case studies, music videos and scenarios to develop some practical skills to demonstrate that students could relate to and make them what they learnt by designing display boards reflect on their actions. “Using up-to-date music that are linked to the early years foundation videos got students hooked on the activities, stage. students were engaged!” - Staff Year 10 students worked on activities based on health & wellbeing. External providers such as Brook and DECCA supported the day by providing interactive workshops on matters relating to advice and guidance in sexual health, the legal highs and risks associated with cannabis. This enrichment day was the last one for this Cadets have sessions every Thursday academic year. We look forward to equipping our Well done to Sian evening 3:30 – 5:00 during term time students in matters relating to life and enabling Harrison, Samantha and the opportunities to attend camps them to be successful in making the right choices Osborn, Megan and courses during holidays are vast by arranging more Harmison and Natasha and varied. enrichment Sunder for succeeding If you would like more information on days in in this element of joining the Cadets, please see Miss Hancocks. the next their course! academic year.
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 11 Apprentice Level Primary Links / Bescot Y7-10 Awards Ceremony 2017 Achievers - The Key Stage This year is the 7th Phoenix Award Ceremony 3 at Bescot with prize winners selected based on hard work, success, determination and Phoenix Edge Achievements supporting the ethos of the school. We are thrilled to announce the success of our students whom have completed the Year 6 Transition Days Apprentice Level of The Phoenix Edge programme. – 3rd – 7th July 2017 We celebrated the success of For the second year running, students joining us students in a prestigious event in September came into school to have a look in July, the Awards evening, at our new facilities, take part in some taster where students received their sessions to find out what happens in a secondary The audience was treated to the usual high certification awarded by the lesson, meet the Head teacher and join in the standard of music and drama performances as NFCE and online digi-badges now traditional family-working engineering well as being able to join in with the celebration for social platforms. challenge. of the success of our students. The Apprentice Level achievers are Eshath Choudhary (Year 7), Delia Grigore (Year 7), Marco Mehta (Year 9), Jessica Young (Year 12), Anjana Madahar (Year 12) and Chaianne Frizzell (Year 12). Students completed 10 activities to demonstrate skills in the life attributes in leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication. Feedback from Eshath Choudhary stated ‘producing a presentation based on her own choice and being parachutes, wrapping and cardboard springs able to present it to her tutor group, gave her the in a bid to defeat gravity, making this the most confidence to speak effectively and successful year so far! Our congratulations go clearly to a wider audience - to all the parents/carers and students who took something that she does not part - well done all! do enough of in school.” We are already looking forward to Tuesday 19th Students are now planning September 2017, when we will be inviting all the Despite Mr Smith’s pleading (he has to explain new Year 6 students and their parents/carers to activities to undertake for the the mess to the cleaners!), parents/carers Graduate Level which will take come to our open evening running from 4.00pm and our new students elected to test their to 7.30pm. approximately 18 months to contraptions from the second floor balcony. complete. Surprisingly many models were able to save You can contact our transition team via e-mail at Well done to these students and their precious cargo, deploying all manner of [email protected] good luck for the next stage! Eshath Choudhury 7H1 students were well behaved and a credit to the Rotary clubs ‘Kids out’ school whilst enjoying the rides and attractions. day at Drayton Manor We would like How I found Year 7? As part of the Rotary Club’s annual ‘Kids out to thank the “When I started Phoenix back in Day’ event, Key Stage 3 students were given the Rotary club and September, I felt a little bit nervous. I opportunity to visit Drayton Manor Theme Park in Drayton Manor for was worried about finding my way June. The charity gives children the opportunity they organising this around and making new friends. deserve; in having a fun and exciting time out. All event every year. Now I feel a lot more confident with everything and happier in general”. “At the start of Year 7, I felt nervous Corey Bates 7X2 and excited about meeting new RAISE people and making new friends but “To begin with, at the start of Year 7, I didn’t know I started RAISE in September 2016 for my bad what to expect. I thought it would be hard due to older as the year went on, I became more confident and outgoing. I have made behaviour around the school and as a consequence, students. This wasn’t a problem due to having teachers I was placed on alternative provision. I wasn’t really watching you from lesson to lesson. a lot of new friends and have really enjoyed it!” happy about this and it made me feel angry with Another fear of mine was myself because of the choice I had made. Blake Baker 7N1 lessons and how difficult I thought it would be pointless and then Mr they would be – yeah they “Being in Year 7 is so fun. The teachers here are kind Markham/ Ms Clair (the teachers in the centre) are difficult but with amazing and nice. The students at Phoenix are very polite. You made me realise that I had done wrong and now teaching staff who supported get to meet new people and it’s nice. was the chance to make it right. So I took their us through the year, this again Phoenix is a very big school, you may advice on board and started to change the way I wasn’t a problem. I have met a get lost sometimes but later on you behaved and my attitude towards my education. I range of students and became will get used to it. Phoenix is a very was also given the opportunity to complete a work friends with some great people. So Year 7 was great!” good school to go to.” experience programme through a company called Simone Angell Jennifer Balazova Year 7 ‘workNlearn’ with Buv and Babs. This amazing
12 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com We are proud to have had Simon Riley as our guest Key Stage Achievements speaker. Simon is known 4 to some of us as being our police liaison officer The second event of the day was the eagerly awaited for several years prior school Prom. Students arrived early in a variety of to retiring from the force where he worked tirelessly carriages to celebrate their end of Year 11 at the with staff and students in promoting positive Richardson Suite, West Bromwich Albion Football attitudes. However, many will not have known Ground. Dressing in their own unique of his experience as a Falklands War veteran style for the occasion, the effort and about which he has written a book. It was an creativity was clear to see to all!! The honour to have him back and to hear of his life students danced the night away for one experiences. last time with their peers and teachers 2017 has been a challenging year with the to celebrate their time at Phoenix. move into the wonderful new build but as we A wonderful time was had by all and the saw at the event, our students have continued students were a credit to the school! to respond well to high quality lessons in state of the art surroundings resulting in the recognition of their success at Bescot Stadium. Year 11 were part of two celebrations on Well done to all prize winners! Friday 30th June 2017 The first being their final assembly where students were able to reminisce about some of the times they have had both academically and socially throughout Year 10 Work experience their five years at Phoenix. The students were joined I organised my work experience at my local Yearwith their current 11 form Prom tutors, where and they were GP surgery because primary care is such a presented certificates acknowledging the effort and fundamental part of the NHS and I was keen determination they had shown in Year 11 across all to see what healthcare in the community Leavers’subjects. Assembly is like. I did my work placement with no Poems and stories were shared to highlight the previous experience in the medical field or impact that students had had on both staff and receptionist field therefore I didn’t know what their peers and best wishes given to all for their to expect. future, should this be at the school in the 6th I was able to meet the targets that I set for myself. form or elsewhere. It was a fabulous occasion One of them was to identify my own skills and and worthy of their efforts over the last 5 years!! highlight areas I may need work on. I increased my Well done Year 11, it has been a pleasure. We knowledge of work and now understand the skills and look forward to seeing you again on Thursday attributes required. I have also enhanced my social and 24th August for results day! communication skills and gained experience working with others. Gaining work experience in an industry that a student Key Stage Achievements wants to enter has many benefits. Doing a work 5 experience placement shows potential employers that you are passionate and interested in the sector and also Year 11 – 12 Transition gives young people the chance to identify their skills On Friday 7th July 2017 and as part of an induction and highlight the areas they might want to develop. I’ve to Sixth Form at Phoenix, prospective Year 12 really enjoyed work experience and I believe that it is a students were invited to spend the day at either crucial part of a student’s time in school. Wolverhampton or Nottingham Trent University. Weronika Gniatkiewicz 10 P1 At Nottingham Trent, students were invited to work as a team to carry out a mini research project and present their findings to opportunity enabled me to secure an apprenticeship an audience whilst scheme for the coming year 2017/2018 with my work at Wolverhampton, placement. I was taught life and people skills and students were achieved my dream of teaching P.E. with children. This invited to engage experience allowed me to see what I could achieve if I in team building put the hard work and effort in. exercises through I succeeded and made such an impression that I was the use of Sport. offered an apprenticeship and gifted with a reward Both Universities voucher from ‘workNlearn’ which I am so happy about. I provided students The induction day enabled students to broaden their couldn’t have achieved my potential without the support with a tour of each horizons and consider opportunities available to them of RAISE teachers Ms Clair and Mr Markham. individual campus and facilities. beyond KS5 education. Students experienced tailor- Ebado Mohamed – Year 11 made teaching sessions designed to develop their Phoenix Collegiate would like to thank staff awareness of the range of courses available to study at both Nottingham Trent University and the Mr J Markham, Ebado at degree level and how University Education can University of Wolverhampton for accommodating Mohamed and Chitinder provide individuals with knowledge, skill development our students and for helping to effectively ‘kick Tahli from ‘workNlearn’ and life experience. start’ their transition from KS4 to KS5 education.
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 13 Sixth Form Awards Head Boy and Head Girl 2017-18 We would like to take this opportunity to “Being elected Deputy Head Girl has been a Evening and Prom congratulate the new Head Boy and Head Girl team, momentous privilege. My passion for being a strong which have had to go through the long, challenging student voice and speaking up on behalf of my process of gaining student vote, staff vote and fellow students has significantly grown. I’m looking winning over a tough interview with Mr Smith, Mr forward to making changes and working together Purewal and myself. as ‘true leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders’”. We are delighted to announce the winners: Harpreet Heer Head Girl - Adrienne Clover Deputy Head Girl - Harpreet Heer “I’m so happy to be the new deputy Head Boy and cannot wait to begin work with the amazing team Head Boy - Jardell Miller that we have.” Thursday 6th of July Deputy Head Boy - Tom Belcher saw students from Phoenix 6th form receiving Tom Belcher awards for the hard work that they demonstrated and All these students were outstanding and the final dedication to their studies. The awards ceremony deliberations were tough. saw Year 12 and Year 13 students receiving subject We are confident in this team as they all spoke awards based upon their attitude to learning, eloquently about their pride and commitment attainment and general interest in the subject. Each to the school, showing leadership skills and year, subjects nominate 1 person from Year 12 determination, ensuring that they will make classes and 1 person from Year 13 classes as a excellent ambassadors. We are looking forward to reward for their continuing hard work. In addition, working with them and seeing the changes that there is a variety of awards including attendance, they make to the rebirth of Phoenix Collegiate. Head teacher’s awards for service and for attainment and the Head teacher’s “I feel so honoured to have been elected Head Girl Harpreet Heer, Tom Belcher, Jardell Miller and awards for achievement and I can’t wait to work with the rest of the team to Adrienne Clover in the face of adversity. bring change to Phoenix.” We’d like to thank the previous Head Boy and Girl The awards ceremony Adrienne Clover team for all their help and support. They have been phenomenal and will be a tough act to follow! was a great occasion for “I am thankful for everyone who supported me guest speaker Dr Derek during the campaign. I look forward to being Head Thank you to: Head Boy Thomas Rachel, Head Campbell to provide an Boy and a representative for Phoenix as well as Girl Emily Heeley and Deputy Head Girl Kimberley excellent insight into using the experience I have to my advantage, to Archer. his own life and work, give students in school a voice. Opportunities are Miss Barr – Assistant Head teacher (Achievement inspiring students something that I am going to work hard to create to Post 16) with remedies of how hard work, allow students to build on their interpersonal skills.” dedication and a growth mind set can assist them Jardell Miller with their transition into adulthood and life beyond Phoenix.
This was the final awards ceremony for Head of 6th Pastoral their use in school, the use of social media and form, Ms Barr, as she moves onto pastures new to impact on learning. pursue her own interests and career aspirations and was a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication Should they be seen or heard on site during the that she has exhibited over the last 9 years at CHANGE OF THE school day, they will be confiscated. On the first Phoenix. Ms Barr has supported the school in the occasion in the academic year, your child will be able development of one of the highest achieving 6th MOBILE SCHOOL to collect it from the school office at 3.00pm. On the forms in Sandwell borough and her own heartfelt second occasion, parents/carers will be requested speech on what she has both given and gained POLICY to collect it after 3.00pm. On the third occasion, herself from the students at Phoenix across those Mobile phones and other electronic devices are parents/carers will be requested to collect the item after 5 school days. years, offered an excellent backdrop to the Year 13 now a feature of modern society and most of our Prom. students own one. The increasing sophistication Please note that this policy applies to mobile phones Year 13 Prom provided the students with the of mobile phone technology presents a number and other electronic devices such as MP3 players. opportunity to say their goodbyes and thank teachers of issues for schools. The school allows students Thank you for your continued support with this and peers for the support they had gained across to have mobile phones in their school bag as matter. their 7 years at the school. The casino theme for the this provides reassurance for parents/carers and evening contributed massively to the décor of the enables them to make contact with their son/ room throughout the proceeding and was testimony daughter outside of the school day. During the to the hard work of the Head Boy and Head Girl team school day, in cases of emergency, the school Uniform from in raising money throughout the year to ensure that should be the only point of contact. School the end of year celebration was a success. Well staff can then ensure a child is reached quickly September done Year 13 and good and assisted in an appropriate way. • Our new Phoenix logo will be on blazer luck with your futures! Phoenix wants to encourage the responsible pockets and PE kit. Mr Stevens use of mobile phones so that the benefits that • House ties will be introduced to reflect Outgoing Head Boy mobile phones provide can be enjoyed by all the House colour. Thomas Rachel, Head Girl students. • All other uniform items remain unchanged. Emily Heeley and Deputy From September, we will be changing • New Year 7 students will purchase their new Head Girl Kimberley our mobile phone policy with regards to uniform as usual. A list of uniform suppliers Archer delivering speeches confiscation due to concerns raised regarding is available from the school website.
14 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com with diabetes to access all Miscellaneous curriculum and 360 Degree Safe extra curriculum activities safely, Award ‘Good diabetes care in but also had The Phoenix to ask parents Collegiate is proud to school’ award and medical announce that it is professionals the first secondary Phoenix has been awarded the ‘Good diabetes care to provide their own school in Sandwell in school’ award from Diabetes UK, following our personal examples of us doing so. to receive the Online Safety Mark awarded by SWGfL. nomination form the Sandwell NHS diabetes team. The school is proud to have achieved another This accreditation shows the outstanding practice of To achieve the award, the school not only had to award showing its commitment to all students’ the school’s policies and procedures on online safety. show its procedures and policies enable students care and wellbeing. As part of the process, the school demonstrated outstanding practice on reporting, monitoring and filtering based on matters relating to online safety. Inspectors were impressed by the delivery of e-safety Phoenix Houses In loving memory of aspects within teaching and learning and how it is embedded within lessons, assemblies and through From September, we will be working within a House Jenny Clarke student enrichment programme. Inspectors were system. This means that students will no longer have Sadly, Jenny suddenly passed away on 7th particularly impressed by the student online group - an Achievement Co-ordinator but will be led by a June after a short battle with cancer. E-safety ambassadors. Head of House. We would like to thank the entire school Students discussed the quality of online safety All pastoral matters will be supported through the community for the kindness shown practices, particularly focussing on where students House, which will include students from Year 7 to regarding her passing. can go to gain advice and support. Year 13. Students will still be in tutor groups with their own age group. Jenny worked in the canteen for 7 years “We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Phoenix (starting before the Manor-Menzies merger) Collegiate and were impressed with the policies and The House system will support: and loved every day. The teachers, support curriculum that had been developed. We particularly • Smaller tutor groups staff, canteen workmates and students - enjoyed the conversations with staff and students • Seamlessness of transition stages you all made Jenny smile and she would who could speak confidently and with enthusiasm often come home with stories of you all. She • Family ethos of Houses - siblings will be in the about their experiences of e-safety at the school” - gave her best every day to the job - going same House Gavin Hawkins to evening dance shows to support her • Opportunity for more competition & rewards ‘breakfast regulars’, giving students good • Student leadership opportunities luck cards at exam time and chocolates at Christmas/Easter. We would like to thank Earlier this year, students voted for House names and everyone who contributed to the generous the majority choice was for names of British trees. collection of £200.15 which has been See below for each House name, colour and Head added to an overall donation of £400 to the of House: West Midlands Ambulance Service. Also a big thank you to everyone who came to the Alder Mrs Selwood church, crematory and wake or sent flowers Oak Mr Gibbs and cards. Juniper Mrs Foster It has been a big comfort knowing she Willow Mrs Roberts The school’s next steps are to investigate strategies will be missed at on supporting parents and young people on the use Maple Mrs Conway school. Thank you all of online platforms. Rowan Miss Patel so much. We are currently looking at ‘SafeBook’, an online Beech Mr Stevens John Clarke and family media platform, so watch this space!
• The new uniform will be phased in for other year groups: Holidays in term time • Existing students will not be expected to buy new The government has passed legislation regarding Parents who fail to ensure their child’s regular items until normal replacement time (as a result students missing school to go on holiday. The attendance can be fined £60 (per parent, per of growth or wear & tear). regulations mean that from 1st September 2013, child.) If the payment is not made within 21 days, • Students in Years 8-11 will be given their new Head teachers may not grant leave of absence this increases to £120. House tie on the first day back in September – during term time unless there are exceptional If, after serious consideration of this, you still Wednesday 6th September circumstances. propose to take your child away from school • Students will be issued with Exceptional circumstances do not include family during term-time, a Leave of Absence Form must ID cards on lanyards which holidays, visiting relatives or friends, spectating be completed by parent/carer and returned to form an integral part of their at sporting or other events, looking after family the Head teacher at least two weeks before the uniform and must be worn at members who are unwell, babysitting younger proposed absence. The Head teacher will respond all times. family members, birthdays or shopping. to the request within one week. • Sixth form students will wear If you choose to take your child out of school Parents/Carers cannot authorise the absence smart business dress and during term time without leave of absence themselves, which means that permission will have lapel pins to show being granted, then it will be recorded as an should be requested before tickets are their House allegiance. unauthorised absence. booked.
www.aspirebelievesucceed.com 15 Sports Update
FIT to Study Year 8 athletics team, finished 5th when they competed at Tipton Sports Academy – June 2017 pilot project Year 11 team, U18 college basketball tournament – April 2017 Well done to Matey Dudak who came 3rd in the free throw competition! All Year 7 students took part in a FIT to Study pilot project is with Oxford University. All students had to complete a Bleep test- fitness test of their cardiovascular endurance, an online questionnaire about themselves and two online computer tests. Neuroscience evidence suggests that physical exercise can influence brain function and structure, both immediately and in the long-term. The ‘Fit to Study’ project is a randomised controlled trial to test the effects on academic performance (as well Year 8 dodgeballWolverhampton boys and girls University team - Black – June Country 2017 Games at as fitness, wellbeing and cognitive function) of a Year 7 netball team, Sandwell schools’ tournament – March 2017 teacher training intervention designed to optimise the content of PE for brain and cognitive function during secondary school (Year 8) Physical Education (PE) lessons. A programme of activities for PE lessons has been developed by Oxford Brookes University (in collaboration with Oxfordshire Sport and Physical Activity) to try to optimise the benefit of PE for brain function. Staff from Oxford Brookes University will Year 9 Rounders team came 2nd (Black Country Games qualifier) and 3rd train PE teachers to deliver this programme. The (Sandwell league) W/c 12/6/2017 project aims to rigorously test the impact of this Year 7 football team, Sandwell Schools Cup – March 2017 intervention in 100 state-funded secondary schools.
School Games Bronze Award Phoenix has gained a bronze award for the School Games. This shows the school’s commitment to Year 8 Rounders team - tournament at ACE 24/5/2017 competitions and extra- curricular activities by reaching the finals in activities such as volleyball, netball, Key stage 4 basketball team - March 2017 dodgeball and handball.
Under 13’s Handball - Champions of Sandwell Congratulations to our Year 8 team of boys who are Year 10 /9 girls in a Rounders tournament – 10/5/2017 the ‘Champions of Sandwell’ at handball.
They beat strong opposition in Wood Green, Bristnall Congratulations to the Phoenix Rockets (our year 7, Junior NBA Basketball Hall and Oldbury Academy to go through to represent team) who beat Perry’s Grizzlies (Perryfields) in March. Well done! Sandwell in the Black Country games which they also won on 15th June. Well done Sandwell Schools Athletics Championship, Tipton Sports Academy boys! - 2/5/2017. Congratulations to the Phoenix Athletics team who finished an excellent 4thand (out 11 of team 12) overallevent! and 2nd in the Year 10
16 www.aspirebelievesucceed.com Year 11 vs staff basketball match – 22/3/2017 Staff: 4, Year 11: 17. Well done all!