The Boston Witham Uniform Academies Federation Please remember that all of the Federation’s official Academy uniforms are available from the Schoolwear Centre in Boston Market Place. Welcome! The Boston Witham Academies Federation is both thrilled and Attendance facts and figures honoured to be given responsibility for the opening of a brand new primary school in Spalding - Wygate Park Academy. Attendance Did you know? A persistent absentee is defined by the Government as someone who has attendance of 85% or Our multi academy trust, as an approved academy sponsor, has well advanced plans for The Boston Witham Academies Federation less. the opening of Wygate Park Academy in September 2014 in a new, purpose built £3m places great importance on the role of children state of the art building on Estate Road, Wygate Park. The Federation was selected as the preferred operator for the new academy by County Council and receiving suitable, effective full time education Did you know? If your child is absent for just one day every approved by the Secretary of State for Education because of its proven track through regular attendance at the Academies. week, they will miss out on two years of education over record of outstanding results and progress of children in the primary sector.

their school life. The Federation’s Education Welfare Services (EWS) are represented In January 2014 we were delighted to announce the s by Miss Amanda Thompson, who recently joined the Federation, and The Academy supports the need for good attendance through appointment of Mrs Annabel O’Connell to the post of Head Miss Chelsea Ironmonger. Amanda has had extensive experience building a good working relationship with students and parents/ of Wygate Park Academy. over the last 10 years working for Lincolnshire County Council as an

carers. Good attendance is rewarded through Vivo Miles, celebration Education Welfare Officer, with some of that time having been spent w assemblies and rewards trips. Mrs O’Connell was appointed due to her wealth covering the Boston area. Chelsea, who joined the Federation in of teaching and leadership experience. She is

September 2011, will be working closely with Amanda supporting currently part of the Senior Leadership Team The EWS team has contact with various outside agencies to e students’ regular attendance at the Academy. Through assemblies support parents/carers and is often able to signpost students to the at . Mrs O’Connell said “I and parents’ evenings, Amanda and Chelsea continue to raise the appropriate support to further resolve any issues that impedes good am incredibly excited to be in the position of profile of good attendance and meeting all the stakeholders.

attendance. creating a brand new school for the Spalding Community”. Her first priority will be to N Irregular attendance at school seriously affects the academic progress

Parents and carers should be aware that the Government has engage with local providers, nurseries, and social development of students, therefore the Federation has introduced strict new regulations to ensure that pupils and students parents and stake holders to help shape a robust system of measures in place to ensure your child attends do not take holidays during term time. Holidays can now only be this school of the future. regularly and punctually. These measures involve first day absence authorised in exceptional circumstances and our Board of Directors g telephone calls, text messages (in different languages), home visits, a and Governors have been given a range of sanctions and fines to Executive Headteacher Adrian Reed range of attendance letters, late gate, attendance panels and referral consider imposing on those parents and carers who take students said, “Mrs O’Connell’s appointment to Lincolnshire County Council’s legal panel for persistent absences has been of vital importance. As an and pupils on holiday during term time. Consequently we ask, in n and persistent lateness. order for parents and carers not to fall foul of these new regulations, outstanding practitioner and Key Stage i that holidays are not taken during term time. Here are the term dates 1 and Foundation specialist. I know for the remainder of the current academic year, during which pupils that children joining the new school r and students are no longer allowed to take holiday leave unless the in September will thrive under her circumstances are exceptional (for example recuperation or medical leadership on a daily basis”. treatment abroad). “From Reception through to Year 6, p pupils will become part of a supportive community which starts their journey of S a lifetime. Every child will be provided Calender 2013/14 with outstanding provision and care, 2014 we encourage children to believe that 22nd April Start of Term 5 anything and everything is possible”. 23rd May End of Term 5 2nd June Start of Term 6 23rd July End of Term 6

The Boston Witham Academies Federation

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Y K Carlton Road Haven High W Wygate Park ACADEMY SIXTH FORM ACADEMY Issue 3 Executive Headteacher: Adrian Reed Administration Centre: Marian Campus, Haven High Academy, Marian Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 9HB Spring 2014 T: 01205 311979 F: 01205 362850 E: [email protected] W: www.bwaf.net

812 • CANSFIELD• The Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News “Working in partnership to raise achievement for all”.CANSFIELD • 5 Carlton Road ZooLab ACADEMY In January ZooLab came to visit the Reception classes and brought in some creatures to show the pupils. Visit They met Brian the African Land Snail, Colin the Corn Snake, Pickle the Pygmy Hedgehog, Rosie the Tarantula and Princess Katie the Rat. Earlier this term the children in Year 5 had a visit from ASDA’s Stephen Bromby. The children found out some wonderful facts: • An African Land Snail has more than 10,000 teeth. The purpose of the visit was to talk about and make healthy packed lunches. This • A snake has more than 400 bones in its body and thousands of muscles. is part of the Academy’s Healthy School project for 2014 which aims to improve • Spiders cannot see very well - 98 % are blind and they use their hairy legs the nutritional value of packed lunches within the Academy. to feel for their prey. • Some spiders have eight eyes. Stephen brought in a variety of different breads, wraps and sandwich fillings. • Tarantulas eat approximately once a month - some spiders can go without He also brought yogurts and fresh fruit. Parents were invited to come into the food for three years. Academy at lunchtime and share the lunches the children had made. • Tarantulas live in the ground and do not spin webs.

All the children really enjoyed the experience. Science Club In Science Club in January the children were set the challenge of working out how they could keep an egg from Chinese Culture breaking when dropped from a 1 metre height. As part of the Creative Curriculum in Year 1, children have been They were provided with straws, paper towels, plain paper, masking tape, string learning about Chinese culture and traditions and how they and anything else they could find in the classroom! The children worked in pairs celebrate their New Year. to plan and make their design. Eight eggs were dropped and only two eggs were scrambled and cracked! To help with their learning the children visited a local Chinese restaurant, Oriental Palace, to have a buffet-style lunch so they could sample a variety of different foods. The children had a wonderful time sampling foods they had never tried before. The theme of the poster competition was ‘RESPECT’, and children could interpret this however they liked with words, drawings and slogans. Respect There was an overall winner and second and third places for each age group. Lincolnshire Police worked with local businesses to prepare the Year 4 pupils entered a poster competition organised by Lincolnshire prizes, which included being the first to visit Santa at Pescod Square, a Police as part of their ‘Key Values’ Community Engagement project. family cinema ticket, book tokens and sweet baskets. Reception Pupils Learn About Animals The idea of the project is to encourage Community Engagement at an early age in local schools that are culturally diverse, whilst helping The winners, who got to see their posters put up around the town, In January the Reception classes learned all about youngsters develop self-esteem and nurturing a respect of the town were: Justyna, Greta, Hugo and Tobis from the Leopards class and Emily, Sophie, Diana and Annija from the Tigers. lots of different animals. We also had a visit from they live in and the other people that inhabit it. Zoolabs and we met some different pets in Show and Tell, including a Shar Pei puppy, an Assistance Dog, a bird, a rabbit and a chinchilla. The Investigators In the last week of January, the Giraffes, Zebras and Monkeys went to Pets at Home. We walked all the way there and were sensible. When we got there we sat down and the man showed The Investigators’ class assembly took place earlier us a hamster, a guinea pig and a rabbit. He let us stroke them and this term. we talked about what they eat and how to look after them. Then he showed us some reptiles. We saw a baby bearded dragon and They performed a play about The Prodigal Son, a story originally told by a baby snake. Then we saw a python snake and a gecko. The man Jesus form the Bible. The children performed the story with the father made the gecko jump onto some of us. We had to be quiet and and his two sons, where one son decided to ask for his inheritance and kind to the animals so that we didn’t scare them. We looked at all then wasted all of his money on expensive things. the things that Pets at Home sell like pet food and fish tanks. We looked at the prices and discussed which things cost more and He finally decided to go home to his father and ask for his forgiveness which cost less. We had a really lovely day and were all very well and to be a servant not his son anymore. However, the other son was behaved. When we got back we wrote all about the animals we jealous. Finally both sons were happy and celebrated the return of had seen. one son. Jesus explained that even though people make mistakes they are to be forgiven.

82 •• CANSFIELDThe Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News The Boston Witham Academies FederationCANSFIELD - Spring News • 5 • 3 Trees Headstart

Staniland Academy were invited to help Eight Year 6 children have completed their Heartstart training. Boston Borough Council staff plant trees Staniland Academy has been training pupils since 2009 when the scheme was first launched to commemorate World War One. into schools. The children are taught how to spot signs of a heart attack and what to do in an emergency, including CPR and putting a casualty into the recovery position. They also learn Six Year 5 pupils helped dig holes, move the earth, how to deal with serious bleeding and choking. plant and secure the trees and put bark around the base. The Heartstart campaign also promotes the importance of children understanding, at an early age, how to contact the emergency services and give valuable information to the operator. Councillor Yvonne Gunter made a visit to the site and thanked the pupils for helping to plant the trees. Well done to Briana, Natalie, Regan, Megan, Callum, Jack, Ellie and Aaliyah.

Well done to Aston, Gabiya, Weronika, Lacey, Ryan and Lukas. Your hard work was commended by the staff. Phase Two Phase 2 of the building programme began in the early Cycle Helmets part of 2014. In February, Staniland held a special assembly to speak with pupils The additional facilities will include a new Studio Hall, six about the importance of wearing a cycle helmet. We had two special classrooms, rooms for small group work and a kitchen visitors (Debbie and Danny) from the Ryan Smith Foundation. extension.

Ryan is a teenage boy who suffered severe brain injuries following an accident in July 2013 The photographs show the contractor’s compound being set up and work has when he was struck by a car on a Lincolnshire road. Ryan was not wearing a cycle helmet already started on removing the pond. and it is believed that his injuries would not have been quite so extensive had he been wearing one.

Debbie and Danny demonstrated the importance of always wearing a helmet by firstly, dropping an egg onto the floor showing how it smashed and then secondly, by dropping another egg which was encased in a small helmet shaped container. The second egg did not break because of its protection. Tennis Prior to this visit the Key Stage 2 pupils had been asked to design their own helmets and the entries were absolutely wonderful! It was very difficult to choose winners. Two winners Our Year 1 classes (Otters and Penguins) enjoyed an from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 were finally chosen and they received a £5 WH Smith gift voucher afternoon of Mini Tennis coaching by staff from the Boston as their prize. Tennis Club. This has become an annual event which is Well done Daniels, Fausta, Ugne, Markuss, Gabija, Tautvydas, Destiney and Maise. enjoyed by all.

Nursery Cycles Girls Football

The Year 6 children (Owls and Eagles) gave a helping hand to Our Girls’ Football Team were recent winners of an inter-school 5 a side tournament which was held at the Nursery classes (Starfish) with their cycles. Middlecott School in Kirton. The older children drew a roadway on the playground and showed the younger ones how to cycle safely. They talked about what they might see on their cycle ride and drew Staniland beat Carlton Road 1-0 in the semi-finals and then Tower pictures to show them. Road 1-0 in the final.

Despite being a cold day all the children really enjoyed this adventure. Well done girls!

84 •• CANSFIELDThe Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News The Boston Witham Academies FederationCANSFIELD - Spring News • 5 • 5 Review.. Haven High Academy’s growing reputation for professional, slick and highly enjoyable musical productions was further enhanced with the staging of the classic tale of Annie.

The story of the 11-year-old New York orphan who finally escapes the Alongside girlfriend Lily (Michaela Marshall) the tyrant trio’s rendition strict regimes of the non-maternal Miss Hannigan (Demi Ward) and of ‘Easy Street’ is certainly one of the highlights of Act 1. into the arms of business tycoon Oliver Warbucks (Tom Bedford) was played out to packed audiences who showed their appreciation of the Warbucks’ faithful assistant Grace Farrell, played alternately by Beth students’ top class performances with concurrent standing ovations. Ibbotson and Jasmyn Swain but to no lesser effect, is the calming link Indeed, the run of shows were completely sold out even prior to the between her boss and the US President (James Wilkins) who, like the first night’s performance. audience each night, is melted by the sweetness and clarity of Annie’s voice. Eventually the Hannigans’ plan to ‘steal’ Annie and Warbucks’ It was a change of musical stance for the Academy’s Production Team $50,000 is revealed, they are arrested and Annie gets her wish of following on from last year’s success of Miss Saigon but while different staying with ‘Daddy’ Warbucks. in nature this production did nothing more than to once again highlight the vast array of musical, acting and dancing talent these The final performance of the song ‘Tomorrow’ local, blossoming young people possess. during the finale is breath-taking once the Backed by a wonderfully created set amidst the backdrop of mood Warbucks mansion is filled with the Warbucks enhancing lighting, Annie - expertly played by Year 7 student Shayla Motley - immediately creates a heart-warming bond with Warbucks. staff; the New York City slickers; the Hooverville It is said that in any production of Annie the believing nature of this beggars; Bert Healy’s radio crew and more than 50 relationship can be key to the whole show’s success and once the two embark on a visit of the sights of New York, in a replica of 1930s Rolls of Hannigan’s orphans. Royce, it is evident that Annie’s life will eventually change forever and the show as a whole will add to the Academy’s ever growing portfolio Complete with the re-entrance of the show’s real-life dog (Bella of ‘West End’ rated performances. Taylor) to greet Annie with a festive lick of the cheek and a Christmas Day snowfall ending this feel-good, musical extravaganza leaves you Annie and Warbucks are in no small part, wonderfully contrasted smiling inside and out and wondering what it will be followed by next by the emerging talent of Demi Ward as Hannigan and Sixth Form year? student Keane Brangman as her brother - the larger than life Rooster. Liam Adams Haven High Academy student Liam Adams will begin his journey towards becoming a professional footballer in July.

The 15-year-old winger has been awarded a two year schoolboy scholarship at former European Champions Nottingham Forest. He has been on the Championship side’s radar since joining them three seasons ago but his impressive displays during the last 12 months secured his offer.

Liam, who will train and study five days a week before preparing for a match on Saturdays, said: “I am delighted and excited to get going. I really enjoy playing for Forest and can’t wait to start working hard and see where it takes me.”

To help him realise his dream the Academy has given him a financial boost of £300 towards kit, travel and other expenses.

Executive Headteacher of the Boston Witham Academies Federation Mr Reed said, “We are delighted to be able to support Liam in his sporting career. Our Talent Pathways Programme provides financial support for those students who are gifted in sport, music and the arts to ensure they can receive the very best training and tuition in support of their unique talents.”

86 •• CANSFIELDThe Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News The Boston Witham Academies FederationCANSFIELD - Spring News • 5 • 7 Students launch Academy students visit Philippines appeal. Covent Garden Following the typhoon which devastated a large part of the Forty five Academy students travelled to London last term to attend a magical performance of Philippines, the staff and students of Haven High Academy launched their own mini appeal. Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ danced by the Royal Ballet at the world renowned Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Boyet Albelda, one of the site managers for Boston Witham Academies Federation, who is originally from the Philippines said, “We have some students who are Filipino and there is This is the first time that the Academy has bid for tickets through a special education scheme a large community of Filipinos living in Boston who wanted to do something to help our sponsored by the Taylor Family Trust which aims to give young people, especially those from countrymen in their time of need. I asked if staff would like to help by donating clothes, state schools outside the London area, the opportunity to attend performances of ballets toiletries and small toys for us to pack and send to the Philippines. The response was and operas. amazing.” The performance was simply spellbinding - colourful costumes and scenery, Tchaikovsky’s Charity Club organiser Clare Holden said, “When my students heard about the Disasters famous music performed by a live orchestra and a whole host of special effects including and Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for cash donations, they also wanted to help. snow, explosions and magic tricks not to mention the sheer skill and athleticism of the They organised a small change collection in the dining room at Haven High Academy’s dancers. From the Christmas Angels who appeared to glide effortlessly across the floor as if Marian Road campus and raised over £120.” on roller skates to the sheer energy of the Russian Cossack Dancers, from the elegance and poise of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the exoticism and strength displayed in the Arabian Dance, With thanks to LBC, an international courier firm who offered to transport the boxes to the there was something for everyone to enjoy. Philippine Red Cross in Manila for free, Haven High Academy and other local residents of Boston filled 25 boxes. The day was rounded off for some students by spending time in Covent Garden market watching the street entertainers and soaking up the festive atmosphere. Two Sixth Form Pictured - Boyet Albelda and LBC local representative Nathaniel Guibao with Boston’s students were lucky enough to be treated to a back stage tour of the Opera House where boxes packed onto the truck at 1am Saturday morning. they were able to get a feel for all the different roles required behind the scenes to put on a production of this size and quality. They were amazed by the actual size of the stage and pieces of set, the huge lift in the stage area which is big enough to fit in a whole lorry and the wardrobe and costume rooms where the seamstresses work to make and repair costumes. They also had the chance to go into the orchestra pit and look at the auditorium from a different perspective. The tour finished with a visit to the Opera House library where all the South Lincs Tournament scores for the operas and ballets are stored including some which date from the early part of The Year 9 five-a-side team were in fine form in a recent South the twentieth century and some original manuscripts. Lincs tournament. All in all, a day to remember. Held at Haven High Academy’s Tollfield Campus the boys played some excellent football throughout and narrowly lost the final against .

The team is pictured with the Sports Faculty’s teaching assistant and team manager for the day Mr Ricky Lovelace. Understanding Animal Research Year 11 students at the Tollfield Road Campus and the A Level Biology students have had a visit from the education officer from Understanding Animal Research.

Understanding Animal Research aims to achieve broad understanding and acceptance of the humane use of animals in biomedical research in the UK, to advance science and Science Stars medicine. Last term Year 9 students Joe Reed and Sonnie Weller went to Sheffield The information provided by Understanding Animal Research is based on thorough University’s engineering department to compete in the North and North East research and understanding of the facts, historical and scientific. Science and Technology Challenge Final. Understanding Animal Research supports the humane use of animals in medical science Having already qualified for this in the North Lincolnshire heat they were paired so long as it is essential for the research. The session covered legitimate concerns both with the other Lincolnshire area winners - two girls from Holbeach Academy. ethical and scientific to the use of research animals and the students were encouraged The challenge was to use Java script to programme a lego robot to play to ask questions, listen to objections and to discuss opposing points of view. battleships in an arena - it was quite a challenge. At the end of the session students were encouraged to have a go at using a hypodermic needle to extract blood from a vein in the tail of a prosthetic rat. Out of the six final teams the Lincolnshire team came 2nd. Head of the Science faculty Mrs Andrea Limb said, “In science we are very proud of the boys for The session aimed to help the GCSE and A-level students form balanced arguments for getting to this stage and doing so well - they were an absolute credit to the and against the use of animals in research for the extended literacy questions in their Academy and indeed Lincolnshire.” final exams

88 •• CANSFIELDThe Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News The Boston Witham Academies FederationCANSFIELD - Spring News • 5 • 9 Haven High Tollfield Campus SIXTH FORM HAMPERS Back in September the Leadership Team were given the challenge of attempting to raise £1000 officially declared open by the end of November, this money would then go Haven High Academy’s Tollfield Campus was officially declared open on the 16th January following the completion of its towards funding hampers for the elderly people in our £1.8 million makeover. A whole host of specially invited guests including the Mayor Paul Kenny and former Haven High surrounding areas, writes Student Ambassador Jade Headteacher Madeleine Fox along with students and members of staff witnessed the unveiling of a commemorative McCarthy. plaque by Debbie Barnes, the Director of Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council. During the opening ceremony, Mrs Barnes spoke of earlier visits to the site and described the transformation in the facilities as being ‘remarkable.’ She In November 2013 the Student Ambassadors then planned and went on to commend the hard work and commitment of the Academy in creating “an outstanding learning facility.” arranged a staff quiz night held in the Academy hall, charging £5 per person. We managed to source raffle prizes from local companies and charged £1 an entry. Altogether from that night we managed No area of the site has been left untouched. Beginning with the new Art and Design Technology areas, the refurbishment has seen the creation to raise a whopping £1200. This meant that we had altogether raised over the amount we needed to. The night was a great success of an updated kitchen area, an internet café and brand new ICT suite. This was followed by further adaptation of the Art department to and we have since been asked to hold more nights like that. include the facilities to offer Photography, the creation of a Music suite with a fully functioning recording studio, Performing Arts studio and university style lecture theatre. More recent projects During the first week of September the Year 11 Leadership Team took a trip to Tesco with Mr Reed to go shopping for the have involved the re-modelling of the sports area to products to go in the hampers. After a successful trip and buying the up half of Tesco we all spent half a day putting the hampers include a fitness suite and more modern changing rooms, the dance studio complete with floor to together, wrapping them and making them look as presentable as possible. ceiling mirrors and ballet bars and finally the Media suite incorporating a TV studio. On Thursday 20th December all of the Leadership Team got into minibuses and hit the roads of Boston to deliver the hampers. We were given the addresses and a minibus driver and off we went. We delivered the hampers and it was truly a great experience. Describing the changes which have taken place The elderly were incredibly grateful for the hampers. It was a shocking realisation to see how something so small meant so much over the last two years Executive Headteacher Mr to someone. We all became very overwhelmed with emotion to see old people well up over something so small. We were offered Reed said: “The Tollfield Campus now provides a money and a group of us were even invited into their homes to have chats about what we’re doing and why we were doing it. They State of the Art, university style setting within a just couldn’t understand why they had been selected to be given a hamper. All in all it was an emotional and really eye-opening school environment, which will enable Sixth Form experience for all of us. It was definitely an experience none of us will be forgetting! students to realise the aspirations and ambitions we have for the young people of Boston.” He went on to describe the very careful planning and preparation which has gone into the project to ensure that it and its students have the very best chances of success. Basketball Champions Haven High Academy’s under-14 basketball squad has Following the opening ceremony, some of our won the prestigious Lincolnshire Winter Games title. students including our Sixth Form Ambassadors treated guests to a full guided tour so that they could Held in Grantham, the current South Lincs League champions sample the ‘Tollfield Experience’ for themselves. won all four of their fixtures against fellow area champions to top the table and take the crown. They beat Carres Grammar School 12-10; Branston 6-2; , Market Rasen 8-6 and the Priory School from Ruskington 8-3 in four 10 minute games.

Davis Greinis was named player of the tournament. The squad are pictured alongside Sixth Form Student Ambassador Gary Wharff Dodgeball.. who attended in a coaching capacity as part of his Level 3 Sports course.

AS part of their BTEC Level 3 course the Sixth Form Sports Students organised and hosted a Dodgeball tournament at the Tollfield campus. For more information on events, homework , courses The open event saw a range of staff and sixth formers take part in what and jobs at any one of our Academies, visit: The Boston Witham was a highly entertaining and energetic evening of throwing and dodging. Academies Federation In the end the team of staff members Mr Lovelace and Miss Matson and students Kartik Kippy, Adam Clark and Sophie Roland-Shrubb were www.bwaf.net crowned overall champions.

In addition to the event satisfying course objectives, it also raised a total ATE PA G R

Y K of £60 which will be put towards the Year 13 Prom at the end of the Carlton Road Haven High W Wygate Park academic year. ACADEMY SIXTH FORM ACADEMY

810 • CANSFIELD• The Boston Witham Academies Federation - Spring News The Boston Witham Academies FederationCANSFIELD - Spring News • 5 • 11