This document was classif ied as: OFFICIAL Darlington 11 -19 Practitioner Newsletter Issue 3 3 , December 2020 © Darlington 11 - 19 Partnership Welcome In This Issue… I have been Principal at Darlington College for 6 • Charity hair raiser – Haughton Academy years, and the vibrancy of educational life in the town as told in our 11-19 newsletter never fails to • Design s for life - QE amaze and inspire. As we approach the end of 2020 • Healthy selfie – Wyvern Academy we reflect on a year like no other in recent times. The impact of Covid on our schools, colleges and wider • Learning & Skills new venue community has been intense and challenging. The tales in here of lockdown activities, support for • Darlington Young Carers young people’s wellbeing, virtual learning, and • Creative writing success - QE charity activities in the community, help to tell the story of an extraordinary year. Despite the • Resilience day – Longfield Academy difficulties, our young people have grown, learnt, • achieved, and gone on to success. This year many Hurworth wellbeing wall people have been keeping up our spirits with • Making the grade – Haughton Academy messages, quotes and poems. This is my favourite, as it sums up the resilience, hope and humour of • Every second counts – Longfield Academy teachers and support staff everywhere, day in and • Virtual European languages day – Wyvern Academy day out, during the pandemic. In the words of the wonderful poet Lemn Sissay: • Virtual marathon – Darlington College ‘How do you do it?’ said night • Teesside University update ‘How do you wake and shine?’ ‘I keep it simple’ said light • Interact Club awards - QE One day at a time.’ • A piece of cake – Haughton Academy To everyone working in our schools, colleges and • EdTech programme – Darlington College learning and skills teams during Covid - you’re doing a fantastic job. Wishing you a happy • Art competition success – Hurworth School Christmas and New Year and please look after yourselves and your loved ones over the holidays. • Road to Amarillo – Haughton Academy Stay Safe. • Illegal tobacco awareness launch – Darlington College Kate Roe • In memory – Wyvern Academy Principal and Chief Executive, Darlington College t·~.a.­ llWii DARLINGTON !B OROUGH COUI\ICIL Darlington 11 . 19 P artnership 1 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL Haughton charity hair raiser I The assistant headteacher at Haughton Academy ended up sporting a mohawk haircut for a week in a bid to raise £500 for a local foodbank. The winning staff team from a virtual ‘Not in a Pub Pub Quiz’ took the opportunity to spin the ‘wheel of misfortune’ containing a range of styles, including the Tin Tin, mullet, complete shave and the mohawk. It landed on the Tin Tin but when it came to the chop deputy headteacher Su Gill gave the hapless volunteer a mohawk instead. “I’d not had a cut since February and it was looking a bit unkempt,” said Mr Palmer. “It feels nice and cool now.” The event was organised by assistant headteacher Catherine Robson when she heard her colleague saying he needed a haircut. She said, “He is such a good sport and always volunteers to help. He said his hair was out of control and it was great to do this for charity.” Darlington foodbank, on Whessoe Road, is operated by King’s Church and is helped every Christmas by Haughton Academy, which collects food hampers. Covid-19 has seen a 40% increase in the use of this vital emergency food resource, which has been supporting approximately 410 young people and families. King’s Church is also currently supporting other foodbanks in the local area to help meet the current needs. Mrs Gill, who has never cut hair before, said, ”His hair was very soft and there was certainly a lot of it. I was quite pleased with the result. I might have a new career in the making!” Mr Palmer said, “ It is really important to do something now for the foodbanks which are really busy because of the pandemic and will be in even greater demand over the school holidays.” Anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/haughtonacademy or visit https://www.kingschurchdarlington.org.foodbank/donations/ t·~.a.­ llWii DARLINGTON !B OROUGH COUI\ICIL Darlington 11 . 19 P artnership 2 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL I Designs for life I IIKfflSH DK:lf DESIGN DESIGN John Former Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College student Kirath nlew1s AWARDS John lewis AWARDS :2()1~ :20l:2 Ghundoo popped up on our Instagram feed this week. Kirath, who studied both Art and Art Foundation at the college, is a successful II I I I surface pattern designer who specialises in bespoke wallpapers and ITISH BRITIS :SIGN DESIG John Lewis AWAR prints for interiors, fashion and lifestyle products. Her clients VAROS :2() 1' 01~ include high profile names such as Harvey Nichols, Hyundai, f I I f Vivienne Westwood, and Susie Bubble. BRITISH OESIGN Alongside the creative elements of her work Kirath is also very ,hnLewis AWARDS John :201:2 passionate about encouraging the BAME community to become involved in the design industry, something she speaks at length I J I 111 [ITISH BRITIS about in the upcoming edition of Elle Decoration magazine. :SIGN DESIG VAROS AWAR 01~ :2() 1· Kirath comments, “It’s a magazine that’s supported my journey throughout my design career ever since I started in 2011. However, this feature is a special one that explores diversity and inclusivity hn Lewis John within design. I’m proud to be featured as an Indian designer and hope my journey 11 I I J encourages people from the BAME community to pursue a career in ITISH BRITIS 'SIGN DESIG design. To my knowledge there is a small minority of BAME ARDS AWARD )12 :WI' designers within my industry I am aware of and want to see MORE standing loud and proud, killing it !!! ��♀. Within my culture a career in the arts or design isn’t the typical job route, luckily I have a very supportive family who’ve understood my creative wackiness since childhood! I was just saying on my stories yesterday how lockdown has encouraged and given me the time to slow down and reconnect with old ways of working. Reviving ideas from my A-Level and Art Foundation days 20 years ago @qesfcdarlington and creating artwork that showcases my handmade side. You could say I’ve been reminiscing!” The last couple of months have been a learning journey where I have grown as a designer in many ways, that’s another Instagram post in itself! Topped off with this fantastic feature as lockdown lifted, let’s champion ‘Diversity in Design’ forever evolving and chasing our dreams #BAME” It is always lovely to find out what our ex-students have been doing since leaving college, especially when it is such a positive story. You can see more of Kirath’s fantastic designs at www.Kirathghundoo.com or follow her in Instagram @kirath_ghundoo. t·~.a.­ llWii DARLINGTON !BOROUGH COUI\ICIL Darlington 11 • 19 Partnership 3 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL I Healthy Selfie! I Over lockdown and our remote learning time, Wyvern Academy staff, pupils and their families were challenged to #HealthySelfie activities with lots of participants contributing to the positive actions of exercising and spending time with their loved ones. This initiative promoted the many benefits of exercise such as improving self-esteem, reducing anxiety, improving attention and confidence, which was all part of the wellbeing drive actioned to help get everyone through the most extraordinary term on record. I Learning & Skills new venue Study Programme learners at Learning & Skills have moved from their previous setting in Tubwell Row to a bigger and better venue on Horsemarket. Learners aged 16 to 18 now enjoy more space, better facilities and a central location in Bennet House. The former Citizen Advice Bureau 4-floor building has been refurbished for the learners who moved in October. Study Programmes are a range of courses for 16 – 18 year olds that develop their personal, social and employability skills, including work experience with an employer to increase their chances of gaining employment or an Apprenticeship in their chosen area. Pictured outside Bennet House are Learning & Skills Tutor Debbie Brown along with Study Programme learner Vickie Stainer. Vickie was a student at Carmel College. She has completed SETPD qualifications with Learning & Skills and is now focusing on Customer Service Level 2, with and aim of securing an Apprenticeship in that area. Vickie is currently working on a reception for her work experience. For more information about Study Programmes at Learning & Skills and how they can help Year 11 school leavers or other 16 - 18 year olds please contact Malcolm Bleasby ([email protected], or 01325 406422). t·~.a.­ llWii DARLINGTON IB OROUGH COUI\ICIL Darlington 11 . 19 Partnership 4 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL I Darlington Young Carers I Darlington Young Carers offers support to young carers and young adult carers from 5 to 25 years, where caring responsibilities for a family member are having a negative impact on emotional well-being, social opportunities, family relationships, education and future aspirations. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have continued to offer support by: • Hosting online support groups (including transitions and sibling carer support) • One to one sessions via Zoom and Teams to ensure emotional well-being is supported • Regular check in messages to families • Posting out well-being packs full of lots of goodies including colouring books, pens, hand creams, headphones, sweets and craft