Spring 2018 Edition Check out . World Book Day - p7 . Student Successes - p12 . Keeping Madeley Safer - p17 Thursday 29th March Friday 18th May School Closes for Easter break Year 10 Reports Issued Monday 16th April Monday 28th May - Friday 1st June Additional Inset Day - School Closed Half Term Holiday Tuesday 17th April Thursday 14th June School re-opens for the Sports Celebration Summer Term Friday 22nd June w/b 30th April Year 7 Reports Issued Year 8 Examinations w/b 25th June Tuesday 1st May Year 7 Examinations SWAN Celebration Event, 5pm Year 9 Examinations Monday 7th May Thursday 28th June May Day - School Closed Year 8 Parents’ Evening Monday 14th May Friday 29th June GCSE exams commence Year 11 Ball, Tern Hill Hall, 7pm 2 As we approach the end of another term I am once again delighted to introduce the latest edition of our newsletter. It is loaded with stories, updates and the achievements of our wonderful students and is testimony to their talents and the dedication and hard work of all Madeley School staff. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all staff, students, parents and carers for their support and patience during the spells of inclement weather that came courtesy of ‘the beast from the east!’. Let’s hope for some more favourable weather during the summer term. It has been a relatively short half-term but we have managed to cram in a huge amount of extra-curricular and enriching experiences that are ‘Inspiring Excellence’ on a daily basis. One particular highlight for me has been celebrating student achievement in our core values. All staff are encouraged to nominate success and demonstration of these values. I then have the privileged task of selecting a student from each category and awarding a place on our core value ‘wall of fame’ which is situated outside the main hall. They are displayed proudly for two weeks and are invited to a breakfast with the Principal as a token of our appreciation and to celebrate their achievement. The theme of celebration is evident throughout this newsletter and it is an area of school life that I am keen to promote even further. We have celebrated the success of past students who have returned to act as positive role models; individual students have been recognised for success in music, drama, acting, sport, reading, Duke of Edinburgh and work in raising money for good causes. We can celebrate these successes as a result of student hard work, commitment and a desire to make the most of every opportunity, both in and out of school. By establishing a culture of success built around rewarding effort, achievement and personal development we will continue to ensure that all students continue to flourish. Our Year 11 students will return for their final full half term here at Madeley after the Easter break. I know that they have been working really hard in preparation for their GCSE exams and should take the opportunity over Easter to not only continue with their revision, but equally take time to recharge, relax and re-energise. A road safety awareness campaign in the final week of term highlighted the importance of staying safe and I would like to wish you all a happy and safe end of term break, and look forward to welcoming you back for the challenges, opportunities and celebrations in the summer term. 3 The Peer Mentors at Madeley School are continuing to support the new Year 7 students in their second term here at Madeley. A select few of our Peer Mentors do weekly reading sessions with designated students on Mondays and Fridays to improve their reading skills and to strengthen the bonds between Peer Mentors and students. Lunchtime clubs are also available to the students where they can go and chat with a friendly face about any problems they may have. Peer Mentors are also situated around social areas and are always there to assist students during social times. All the Peer Mentors here at Madeley are really impressed with how the Year 7 students are settling in and taking part in regular extra-curricular activities. I was particularly impressed with their attitudes towards fundraising during Sports Relief week. As Peer Mentors we endeavour to continue our work to the best of our abilities and continue to make Year 7s feel welcome into the Madeley School community. Written by Zoe Bailey (Year 10 Peer Mentor) We regularly send information emails to parents and carers, if you do not currently receive these or if you need to update any of your contact details, please email us at [email protected] to update your details. 4 Madeley welcomed Nathan Smith back to school for a special National Schools Football week assembly with Y7 and Y8. The Port Vale footballer was joined by Port Vale Chief Executive Colin Garlic and Director of Football John Rudge. The 21 year old knows all about football at his old school Madeley because, not only was he a regular in their team, he was also a member of their side that won the Sentinel Schools’ Shield in 2012. Nathan has started 92 consecutive matches for the Valiants since making his first-team debut away to Bradford City in League One on the opening day of last season. Mr Goodwin said “Nathan is a perfect role model. He was outstanding when he was here, not only in football but academically.” Joan Walley who was Member of Parliament for Stoke on Trent North presented the school with a signed Nathan Smith football shirt. Mr Goodwin presented the assembly and talked about our core values and Mr Ostrowski talked about Nathan's sheer determination when he was at school. Madeley used National Schools Football week to promote the benefits of football, and sport, across the curriculum. Pupils used their design skills to create football shirts, looked at the financial side of the game in maths lessons and also promoted the physical and mental benefits of taking part in sport and a healthy lifestyle. 5 Despite the ‘Beast from the East’ almost sabotaging Madeley School’s World Book Day, pupils refused to give in and made a tremendous effort to keep their literary spirits high! Madeley saw a myriad of literary characters enjoy the day, including hobbits, Mad Hatters, Willy Wonka and appearances from a host of characters from Harry Potter (a favourite for the day). During the day, pupils participated in a range of competitions: a hunt for characters, a World Book Day quiz, battleship with books, guess the staff ‘Shelfie’, creature creations and a 500 word short story. In addition, a number of pupils sub- mitted some creative cake designs; the skill and thought that went into the designs was outstanding and a treat to judge! Individual year groups also competed with Miss Jones’ Year 7 form winning first prize for their fantastically detailed door decor depicting Alice in Wonderland! Well done to everyone who supported, sponsored and raised money for Readathon this year. We have raised £101.44 for this amazing cause: providing books, mobile libraries and story tellers for children in hospital. Excellent work. Overall, Madeley School refused to let the weather dampen literary spirits and World Book Day was a great success. Well done to all who took part. 6 Hazelton 7 This term the Music department ran a research trip for Year 10s to The Beatles Museum as part of their Sgt. Pepper’s set works. Year 11s have also been extremely busy recording their final solo and ensemble performance pieces. The choir, orchestra and samba band continue to rehearse weekly during lunch time towards the summer concert. Also, a huge congratulations goes out to the following pupils who have passed instrumental grades this term: Year 7 Nathan Hawkins-Farrow: Grade 4 Piano Year 8 Ruby-Mae O’Reilly: Grade 2 Clarinet Esmae Camm: Grade 3 Guitar Year 9 Savannah Brown: Grade 1 Flute Thomas Amigoni: Grade 6 Piano Congratulations to Zoe Bailey on her Performing Arts LAMDA Grade 6 Achievement The LAMDA Level 3 (Grade 6) Certificate in Performance: Acting is designed to enable learners to develop a wide range of acting skills. Learners will perform their chosen scenes from memory, integrating their knowledge and skills to demonstrate a mature understanding of the material. Acting has been part of my life ever since I was a little girl. LAMDA examinations allow me to achieve, grow and excel in performance and give ground for interesting and extremely controversial characters to flourish. LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) is a well-known Drama School in London which offers syllabus examinations in Musical Theatre, Speaking Verse and Prose, Acting and Shakespeare. For my Level 3 Grade 6 examination in Acting I was required to perform two monologues from memory. My first monologue had to be from either the Ancient Greek, Roman, Elizabethan, Jacobean, Restoration or Post-Restoration time periods. I was thrilled when I found out my chosen piece was from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. The scene I had to perform required me to think and reason with the beliefs of the time period and understand the contextual details that shaped my chosen character as well as being confident in using Shakespearian language. My second monologue had to be a contemporary monologue written and set within the modern era. My chosen monologue was a radio play called “Bargaining” by Kellie Powell. LAMDA allows young students to see the contrasts between two different time periods and allows students to play a wide range of characters from different eras.