NEWSLETTER Summer 2018 Welcome to the summer edition of the Shaftesbury 2018 SKI TRIP School newsletter.. It is my pleasure to send it to The 2018 ski trip to Austria took place this past February half term with 56 children you and I hope you enjoy reading from year 9 to year 13 spending a week in the Austrian Alps. We left the school on Friday about the broad range of activities morning and made our way quickly to Dover before boarding the short ferry crossing that have taken place this term. to France. We then travelled through From trips to Chesil beach and the night crossing through France, Poland to exhibitions to concerts Belgium, Luxembourg Germany and to sporting success, I’m not sure then finally Austria. We arrived in the how we have crammed it all in. early hours exhausted but excited at the snow covered landscape. It remains an absolute honour to be the head here and having We spent 6 days on the slopes with been here just over a year, I have all the students split into groups had the chance to get to know so depending on their ability. Two hours many more of the students and in the morning and two hours in the indeed yourselves. I am reminded afternoon with a hearty lunch on the daily of how great our students mountain sandwiched in-between are, from their warm smiles and made sure that everyone spent as much time on the slopes as possible. In the evenings greeting in the morning to their we went to a local swimming pool and a local traditional Austrian bowling alley. We also focus and commitment in lessons. had a pizza night and what we called “après ski afternoon” where we had a hot chocolate They remain an absolute credit to at the mountain hut at the end of you and us. one the days. We wish the year 11s and 13s the We finished the week off with the very best of luck in the summer customary final night disco which and we hope they get outstanding allowed everyone to throw some results. shapes, including the staff, and I wish you a very happy summer enjoy the Euro techno music and look forward to meeting played by the DJ. many more of you over the next academic year. Everyone had such a wonderful week where everyone learned Tim Farrer something new and was able to really push themselves out of their comfort zone. Lots Principal of fun, laughter and snow and now we look forward to the next trip in 2020. MEET THE SENIOR STUDENT TEAM HEAD BOY & HEAD GIRL shaftesbury SIXTH FORM 2018-2019 HEAD BOY HEAD GIRL HEAD GIRL YOUSEF AL ALICE GEORGIE HILALI BLYTHE GREEN It is with great pride that we are now able to introduce the involved. They all bring different strengths and personalities and Sixth Form Senior Student Team for 2018-2019. These students every student had ideas that they want to introduce and lead on. comprise of our Head Boy and Head Girls, ably supported by However, at the heart of all their roles is a commitment towards our team of House Captains. They form an essential support achieving positive change to the school and its students. mechanism within the school and are in place to foster and They will be initially deployed to individual tutor groups, bridge the gap between all year groups, while acting as a voice supporting Key Stage 3 and 4 students. They will be visible during for students. They represent the student body at our public assemblies, break and lunch times and provide help and support events and act as role models and ambassadors for Shaftesbury at parent’s evenings and other school community events. School. We would like to pass our congratulations to them all and look forward to working with them both in the summer term and The quality of candidates we interviewed was exceptionally from September. Please ask your child to keep an eye out for high and deciding on the roles was a very tough decision for all their tutor group House Captain! YEAR 12 EXAMS/ASSESSMENT It has been a busy time for 6th Form students with Year 13 In the absence of AS subjects, many Year 12 students might not exams taking place, alongside students sitting their BTEC have an exam until next year. To gauge progress and to address exams in several subjects. We wish all students sitting exams exam technique, all A Level Year 12 students will be sitting an this summer the very best of luck in achieving their deserved exam in their subject in June. Results of these will be collated outcomes. and distributed to parents, with appropriate progression conversations taking place. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress then please contact their tutor in the first instance. PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES The Summer term sees Sixth Form students presented with a range of progression information and opportunities. In July all Year 12 students will get to visit Bath Spa University and try their hand at experiencing university lectures. They will then receive a day of preparation for their next step, with workshops on personal statements, job and apprenticeship applications and UCAS applications. We are also holding our annual careers fair with over 45 employers in attendance. Year 12s will be able to network and discover the exciting opportunities that are available to them once they finish their studies. LUCY GETS THE GOLD! A massive congratulation to Lucy who has recently achieved The Sixth Form is very proud of her achievement and wish to her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. To achieve this prestigious recognise how difficult it would have been to fit this in while award Lucy had to complete 12 months of volunteering, while also studying for her A Levels. also investing time in physical skills activities. She completed Lucy was presented with her badge during an assembly by the a four day and three-night expedition in ‘wild country’ and County Duke of Edinburgh coordinator, but the best was yet to completed a residential activity for 5 days. come as Lucy has since been invited to Buckingham Palace to be presented with her commemorative brooch. Well done Lucy! YEAR 11 TRANSITION Following the intense pressure of their GCSE exams, we hope Please also remember the ‘getting started’ section on the Sixth Year 11 students are enjoying their deserved summer break. Form area of the school website. This contains a selection of However, we would like to remind those that have applied Summer activities that we wish students to complete to best for Sixth Form in September 2018 to speak to us on results prepare them for the Autumn term. day to confirm their place. If things have not gone to plan, Mr Finally, if a student changes their mind and would now like to Motteram and Mr Almond will be available in reception to help come to Sixth Form we still have places available for September guide students through the correct programme of study for 2018. We believe we can develop an appropriate programme them. We have an extensive Level 2 pathway and can certainly of study for nearly all learners, so please get in contact with find the right pathway for every student. the Sixth Form Office and we would be happy to discuss your options to continue studying at Shaftesbury School. ANTI BULLYING AMBASSADORS Last month saw another 14 students being trained as ‘Anti Bullying Ambassadors’ by the Diana Trust. These students now become part of a focus group of 29 students, across KS3 who will be raising awareness of the impacts of bullying. They will be introducing themselves to the rest of the school in assemblies talking about their roles and will then be working with groups of students during tutor time. The training that the students attended strives to provide young people with the confidence and ideas to lead the schools anti-bullying work enabling them to create emotionally healthy relationships founded on concern for others and empathy for other people’s feelings. NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY March saw Mimi Thebo visit us, enthralling staff, students and public and private schools and the award ceremony will be held visitors alike with her stories and experience. at Bryanston early next year. The end of spring term Accelerated Reader reward party was The library staff has been held in the LRC with 52 students receiving their certificates and making use of books enjoying an afternoon of book quizzes and biscuit decoration! removed from the catalogue for displays; watch this space for more of these! Thanks to a very generous donation by a local lady, Mrs Kay we have been able to expand our art section and we’re currently rearranging this area of the Library to give these books the room they deserve. The LRC now also has a display cabinet in main Reception; this will be used to highlight our wonderful space and resources to visitors. 4 students achieved over 300% of their AR targets for the term and their names are on the roll of honour board outside the LRC, well done to them. AR is going well this term with many students already well over their 100% target and several on course to be on the roll of honour, keep going everyone. A dedicated group of students and staff have been shadowing the Carnegie/ Greenaway 2018 shortlist, this has been a great experience and all of us involved have read books Summer sees us celebrating the world cup with new football that perhaps we wouldn’t books for both girls and boys on their way.