GREENACRE ACADEMY 2017 NEWSLETTER Spring Term This issue: Students participating in Science STEM Message from Activities- See Page 7 Kent School Games Mrs Bridger & Winners! Mr Reese Science STEM Activities There is always an excitement on returning to school in the New Year. Genius Squad Resolutions were still intact on January 3rd and there was much to look forward to. Year 8 have started the year with their Options Evening; Many thanks to the Rowing Team parents who took time to comment kindly on the positive experience they and Going to the Nationals their children had at the Options Evening. ‘Skills for Life’ Manager During this term, Year 11 have had their Sixth form interviews and know exactly what they need to do to secure a place on their chosen course; it has been fantastic to see record numbers applying for our sixth form. Next term will be very busy with our Year 11 preparing for their final GCSE exams and making decisions about their future. Students will need to be more focussed and resilient than ever, showing real determination to achieve their goals. Year 11 parent/carers and students have now been notified of their bespoke daily after school intervention sessions which start next term; it is VITAL that students attend these sessions as it will make a real difference to their GCSE outcomes in August. I would urge all parents and carers of year 11 to fully support this Get live updates on what is happening strategy; after all, we are all working towards the same outcome – a at the Academy follow us on twitter at: brilliant set of results for every one of our Year 11’s which will @GreenacreAcad of course improve Continued on Page 2... GREENACRE ACADEMY NEWSLETTER Spring Term 2017 Message from Maths Mrs Bridger & GCSE Revision books Mr Reese their future life opportunities. The maths department have purchased a supply of GCSE mathematics revision guides which are available for year Year 10 are also thinking of the future and their work 11 students to buy at the cost price of £4.50. Year 11 experience in the final summer term. We held successful students can also buy the same type of calculator that assemblies to students which introduced the process. will be used in the exam, again at cost price of £6.50. All students should be attending school every day and a Both of these will be invaluable when preparing for the drop in attendance can significantly reduce their final summer GCSE mathematics exams. GCSE grades. This is an important Skill for Life to imbed in our future generation of workers; therefore we would very much appreciate the support of our parents in ensuring your son/ward is at school every day and on time. Next term we welcome back Mrs Edge who will be PIXL Maths APP Don’t forget that all students have access to the PIXL returning as our Head of School following her maternity Maths APP which is a fantastic resource where they can leave. Mrs Edge has been into the Academy during this revise maths on a computer or their phone. Students term and has been impressed with the conduct of our can get their login details from their teacher and we students. would like them to use it regularly so that they can become independent learners. Daylight is lengthening as we look forward to all the challenges and opportunities of the spring term at Find the PIXL Mats APP at: http://mathsapp.pixl.org.uk/ Greenacre Academy, achieving excellence for all in an ever changing world. We wish you all an enjoyable and productive half-term holiday. For Years 11, 12 and 13 in particular, this is a crucial period as they begin to prepare in earnest for their summer examinations. We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 20th February in full school uniform with full Corbettmaths equipment. Another excellent resource for revision and practice Mrs Bridger Mr Reece materials is corbettmaths.com where you can find Acting Head of School CEO, Greenacre videos, worksheets and practice papers suitable for year Academy Trust 7 through to sixth form. Page 2 GREENACRE ACADEMY NEWSLETTER Spring Term 2017 Marlowe House Churchill House Well done Marlowe House on yet another successful The end of term 3 already..! Where did that term go? term! Individually it has been a great term for many of you – I was very pleased to see so many of Churchill boys building upon This term has seen several Marlowe students selected successes from earlier this year and it was brilliant to see so for ‘Student of the Term.’ This is a fantastic achievement many more of you invited to either of the Zero point parties as it means those who have been awarded this title have too. I am also proud to see how well many of you are been singled out as being outstanding learners in that performing on a weekly basis – with 7 of the last week’s top 10 Housepoint earners being from Churchill house-enjoy your specific subject! The Marlowe students who have passes lads! Those of you who work hard consistently and obtained this great accolade are: Hashim Farid – has always do the basic are the cornerstone of Churchill house and I been identified as a budding mathematician, George thank each one of you; I hope those of you who could Larman – has shown a real flair for Media Studies, Jake contribute more would try to emulate some of the great role Cooksley has shown an excellent work ethic in Design models that we have amongst us. and Technology, and Ethan Wadmore has made a Sadly we currently sit bottom of the pile in terms of housepoints valuable contribution to the school’s vocal group - well with the same theme reoccurring: once again managing to earn done, boys! a vast amount of housepoints but losing substantially more through receiving detentions and sometimes letting them This term has seen Marlowe forms attempt to improve escalate. If you are one of those who does earn a few their overall attendance, well done to all who have made detentions, you know you will have a detention – it is your job a concerted effort to improve attendance and to find out when and where and get it done at the first punctuality. In addition to this, forms have also been opportunity; don’t let it escalate and cost the house even more focusing on raising their housepoint totals – form CP housepoints than it already has – we are a team and in this have excelled at this and Hashim Farid and Louie together! Devonport have consistently been in the top ten Please remember to do the basics, be organised and plan housepoint earners – well done! ahead. Sort out your uniform, equipment and PE (if you need it) the night before, as this will set you up for a positive day and Please make sure you return to school in term four with take the stress out of your morning routine! What are the all of your basic equipment and wearing correct uniform basics? Wear full school uniform to line-up (including your – let’s start the new term as we mean to go on! shoes and tie) and have your planner and basic equipment ready for the day ahead. Be proud that you are a student of Finally, I’d like to wish all Marlowe students, Mrs Ward, Greenacre Academy; and particularly proud that you are part of Mrs Hill and our hardworking form tutors a restful half the greatest house - Churchill house! term and thank you for all your hard work during term Well done to those of you in the Churchill Championship top 30; three. you are doing yourselves and the house proud! Ms. Wall Have a great half-term!! Mr Roberts, Mrs Cowburn and Mrs Hill. Page 3 GREENACRE ACADEMY NEWSLETTER Spring Term 2017 Dickens House Chaucer House I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Dickens Well done Chaucer House on another successful term! students on an excellent third term! It has been a This term has seen several Chaucer students selected for pleasure to see every one of you continue to display our ‘Student of the Term.’ This is an outstanding Skills for Life principles both in lessons and around the achievement and shows the hard work and dedication of Academy. students in the house. The Chaucer students who have A massive well done to Joshua Martin (Y8) and Robert obtained this great accolade are: Lewis Goold-Davies for Wood (Y8) who have managed to get into the Top 10 Art, Benjamin Harding for Modern Foreign Languages Housepoint earners for the entire school two weeks in a and Cassidy Leishman for PE - well done, boys, this is a row! The two boys along with some other Dickens boys fantastic achievement! received a week long queue jump pass for the canteen, This term has seen Chaucer forms attempt to improve keep it up! their overall attendance, and almost all students are Congratulations to form HW who won the first ever making a conscientious effort to ensure they are in full Form Challenge which was awarded for the fewest school uniform. It is important as a House we continue negative incidents over a week long period. You have to represent ourselves in the best possible light. demonstrated the behaviour expected of Dickens As a house we continue to lead the way with house students on a consistent basis, enjoy the Sports hall! points by 1600 which again shows the high levels of Dickens house was once again strongly represented in commitment displayed by you all.