Ysgol Stanwell School Christmas 2XL Nadolig 2011 Newsletter 2011 Sporting Excellence Clubs & Activities School Productions Contents Greetings from the School School Announcements School Calendar School Holiday Dates Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Eco-Schools Department News Year Group News Pupils with 100% attendance Greetings from the School At the end of this busy and successful term, it gives me great pleasure to reflect upon the nu- merous achievements of our pupils. This newsletter contains an astonishing array of extra- curricular activities, school trips and visits and is an excellent example of the enriching and rounded educational experience that we aim to provide for all Stanwell students. The highlight of the Christmas term here at Stanwell was the groundbreaking production of ‘Phantom of the Opera’, which provided so much entertainment for the pupils, parents, staff and friends of the school in the wider community. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the students involved in the cast, orchestra and crew for their dedication. Grateful thanks must also go to the staff members involved in the production, who have worked tirelessly and to a tight schedule. Finally, I wish all members of the school community a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Mr Derek Jones Headteacher Ar ddiwedd y tymor Prysur hwn, rydw i’n falch i gael myfyrio ar lwyddiannau niferus ein myfyr- wyr. Mae’r cylchlythyr yn cynnwys swm rhyfeddol o weithgareddau allgyrsiol, tripiau ysgol ac ymweliadau, ac mae’n enghraifft ardderchog o’r addysg gyfoethog a chwmpasog rydyn ni’n ceisio darparu ar gyfer holl fyfyrwyr Stanwell. Uchafbwynt tymor y Nadolig yma yn Stanwell oedd cynhyrchiad Phantom of the Opera sy wedi darparu adloniant arbennig o dda i ddisgyblion, staff a ffrindiau’r ysgol yn y gymuned ehangach. Hoffwn i gymryd y cyfle yma i ddiolch i’r holl fyfyrwyr a oedd yn rhan o’r cast, y cerddorfa a’r criw am eu hymroddiad. Rhaid hefyd ddiolch i aelodau’r staff am eu rhan yn y cynhyrchiad, sydd wedi gweithio yn ddi-baid i amserlen tyn. I orffen, dymunaf Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn iachus dda i holl aelodau cymuned yr ysgol. Mr Derek Jones Pennaeth School Announcements PTA quiz Friday 20th January 2012 at 7:30. Please come along to our PTA quiz—a great night out which also raises funds for Stanwell! Maximum of 6 people per team. Entry fee is £6 per person which includes a buffet. Tickets available from main reception or by telephoning the school. Election of Parent Governors The Governing Body works to provide the best possible education for Stanwell pupils. The work of the governors is done on a voluntary basis and takes con- siderable time and effort on the part of the members of the Board. Inspectors and Auditors regularly praise the role of the Governors and the work the Gov- erning Body carries out for the school is greatly valued. The Board of the Gov- ernors consists of twenty three governors , two of whom are elected teachers, two are staff governors, two are appointed by the Local Authority, two are As- sociate Pupil Governors and the remaining fifteen are currently parents of past and present pupils of the school. The term of office of three of the parent gov- ernors expired in December 2011 and one of these is not eligible to stand for re-election . Parents with at least one child currently attending Stanwell can be nominated to stand for election as a parent governor. If there are more than two parents who wish to be considered, the Headteacher will organise an election. Inter- ested parents will need to be proposed and seconded by the parents of two different Stanwell pupils and submit a brief description (approx. 50 words) which can be sent to all parents with the voting slips. Interested parties should contact Mr A Lewis by Friday 6th January 2012. Moodle Virtual Learning Environment From January, parents will be issued with log-in details to access the school’s VLE system. The aim of this is to help parents to support their children’s learn- ing. Stanwell School Calendar 2012 Date Event 3rd January 2012 Inset Day 4th January 2012 First Day of Term for Pupils Week beginning Years 7, 9, 10 & 11 9th January 2012 Reports to be distributed 13 th January 2012 Year 12 IT Trip to London 17 th January 2012 Year 11 Parents’ Evening 20 th January 2012 PTA Quiz Night 31st January 2012 Year 9 Parents’ Evening 4th February 2012 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Walk 7th February 2012 Biology Department – Genetics Conference 8th February 2012 Year 8 Reports distributed 10 th February 2012 Year s 11, 12 & 13 Art Trip to Paris 10th February 2012 Year s 10, 11, 12 & 13 Ski Trip (During Half Term) 21 st February 2012 Year 11 Options Evening 24 th February 2012 Eco-Schools Workshop 25 th February 2012 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Walk 28 th February 2012 Years 9 & 10 RE Trip to London 28 th February 2012 Years 8 TEAMX Parents’ Evening 6th March 2012 Year 8 WORKL Parents’ Evening 8th March 2012 Year 8 French and Welsh Trip to Paris 13 th March 2012 Years 12 Parents’ Evening 16 th March 2012 Years 12 & 13 Psychology Trip – Exploring Crime 20 th March 2012 Year 10 Reports distributed 22 nd March 2012 Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh Walk 27 th March 2012 Year 8 Options Evening 28 th March 2012 Year 11 English Trip – An Inspector Calls 30 th March 2012 Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh Walk 30 th March 2012 Year 12 History Trip to London 3rd April 2012 Year 10 Parents’ Evening 4th April 2012 ‘A’ Level Certificate Presentation 5th April 2012 6th Form S ailing Trip to France 5th April 2012 Last Day of Term – Easter Holidays 6th April 2012 Year s 7, 8 & 9 Ski Trip (During Half Term) 23 rd April 2012 Inset Day 24 th April 2012 First Day of Term for Pupils 8th May 2012 Year 7 TEAMX Parents’ Evening 15 th May 2012 Year 7 WORKL Parents’ Evening 11 th June 2012 Year 12 Work Experience 21 st June 2012 Primary Feeder Schools - Year 5 - Enterprise Day 22 nd June 2012 Year 9 Proto-Toy Day 25 th June 2012 Year 10 Work Experience Preparation Day 26 th June 2012 Award Ceremony (Provisional) 3rd July 2012 New Year 7 Parents’ Evening 9th July 2012 Year 10 Work Experience 20 th July 2012 Last Day of Term for Pupils (Provisional) We do not expect the dates to change but reserve the right to do so. SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES 2011-2012 Term Begin Half Term End Begin End Autumn *Tuesday Monday Friday Friday 2011 6 September 24 October 28 October 16 December 2011 2011 2011 2011 Spring Wednesday Monday Friday Thursday 2012 4 January 13 February 17 February 5 April 2012 2012 2012 2012 Summer Tuesday Monday Friday Friday 2012 24 April 4 June 8 June 20 July 2012 2012 2012 2012 (TBC) * First day of term for pupils. Monday 5th September 2011, Tuesday 3rd January 2012 and Monday 23rd April 2012 are INSET days. 2012 – 2013 Term Begin Half Term End Begin End Autumn *Tuesday Monday Friday Friday 2012 4 September 29 October 2 November 21 December 2012 2012 2012 2012 Spring Monday Monday Friday Friday 2013 7 January 11 February 15 February 22 March 2013 2013 2013 2013 Summer Monday Monday Friday Monday 2013 8 April 27 May 31 May 22 July 2013 2013 2013 2013 * First day of term for pupils. Monday 3rd September is an INSET day. The above dates are in line with other Vale of Glamorgan schools. We do not expect the dates to change but reserve the right to do so. Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Miss H Jenkins The Duke of Edinburgh Award continues session on Saturday 12th November as to be a popular extra curricular choice for part of the requirements of their expedition the pupils. The maximum number of 120 training. This was a huge success with pupils have been accepted at Bronze pupils receiving certification for their train- level from Year 10. There are 60 pupils ing. Many thanks to the staff at FAST and enrolled on Silver and 22 Gold partici- those in school who helped make the day pants enrolled on the Gold Award such a success. Those who were unable through the Adult Education Centre and to attend will receive in house training be- 12 more on the Open Gold Award in fore the expeditions. school. The expedition dates are as follows: The participants need to complete the Saturday 4th February following sections as part of the Award Year 10 – Cowbridge Walk Scheme: Saturday 25th February Year 10 – Cowbridge Walk Volunteer- Thursday 22nd March (1pm) – Sat 24th ing March (1pm) Skills Year 11 Silver practice Llantony Priory Physical Thursday 29th March (1pm) – Sat 31st Expedition March Year 11 Silver assessed Thursday 21st June – Friday 22nd June The Gold participants need to complete Bronze practice camp (Year 10) (half the a further Residential Section for 5 days. group) Tuesday 26th June – Wed 27th June Each section needs to be completed for Bronze practice camp (Year 10) (half the varying amounts of time depending on group) which level of the Award they are cur- Tuesday 3rd July – Wednesday 4th July rently working on and if they have suc- Bronze assessed – The Gower cessfully completed the previous level of the Award (if applicable). Many partici- pants have successfully completed their Many thanks to all the staff, parents Bronze and Silver Award and received and those at the Vale for their contin- their certificates.