under the mTerm 3 Newsletter 2011 Issuecroscope Seven 03-07 Primary Phase • 08 Parents’ Page • 10-16 Secondary Phase KSA Achieves Students Leading Healthy Schools Award A drive to help pupils achieve more, lead healthier lives and be included in school life has By Example led to KSA being awarded Healthy Schools status. The Primary and Secondary Phases both met the KSA students have been helping other pupils Principal Martin Campbell said the aim was to criteria to achieve the award, which recognises through peer support programmes aimed at establish a ‘family’ environment at KSA, saying: schools that take steps to ensure children and creating an inclusive environment. “These types of events help to create young people are healthy and achieve both in and outside the classroom. Just some of the activities going on include the a feel of a caring House system where development of the Heroes scheme, which The Academy had to demonstrate good practice students look out for and help each in four areas – a good provision of physical has seen a group of Year 10 students set up other succeed.” and run a dedicated email address for anyone education within lesson time and after school; with concerns about bullying. In addition, students taking part in a Sports a good offering of Personal, Social and Health Some of the Year 11 Heroes have also been Leaders Award will be running activities for Education; achievement of Government leading anti-bullying sessions with Primary younger Primary pupils, while dancers who standards for healthy eating; and sound policies Phase children each week (pictured right) and joined an after-school programme started a on bullying and inclusion, alongside links with have proved to be excellent ambassadors for series of workshops with primary schools in outside agencies such as the school nurse. the Academy. Kettering last month. As part of the award, 20% of students across This ethos will continue with the creation of a Read more on page 15. both phases had to be surveyed about their peer mentoring scheme which will see Sixth experience of KSA and their results fed into Formers supporting Year 11 students through the evidence. their GCSE exams, as well as helping younger Primary Phase teacher Melissa Warman and pupils with their reading (pictured below). James Leigh, the PSHE and Citizenship High achieving Year 11s will also be Co-ordinator in the Secondary Phase, put the teamed up with their peers to application together and Mr Leigh said: offer support. “The achievement of this award represents our strong commitment to our pupils’ all round development.” In Primary, efforts are being stepped up to encourage pupils and families to include healthy options in lunchboxes. Read more on page 3. KSA got off to a flying start to 2011 with another varied and interesting term. From excellent science results to a dedicated Maths Day for gifted and talented students, efforts continue to ensure KSA students are achieving more and aiming high. There’s been lots of student participation too, from House fundraisers to numerous sporting events. We’re already looking forward to another exciting term and having more news to share about what goes on here at KSA. 1 CONTENTS Students Lead The Way 1 LETTERS FROM Healthy Schools 1 THE PRINCIPALS Letters from Anne O’Neill 2 Dear Parents and Families, and Martin Campbell It has now been three terms since the launch of the for the House cup. House system and I am delighted to inform you that we The House points system is up Primary Phase Information 3 are making excellent progress towards the House system and running and students can being an extended family. In this edition of Microscope gain House points for regular you will read about Sixth Formers from one House attendance, punctuality, attending Nursery and 4 academically mentoring students in the same House for enrichment clubs and completing work which meets or Reception News better GCSEs, of the Heroes programme helping mentor exceeds their target grade. These new systems and the students in the Primary Phase, of sports leaders taking House points are creating a culture of competition both responsibility for coaching and co-ordinating events within forms and between Houses. Lower School News 5 and of anti bullying programmes including a dedicated The very impressive attendance of parents and families e-mail address for reporting acts of bullying. As I write at the target-setting meetings in term 2 was followed up the primary and secondary Houses are planning a joint in January with a start of year meeting for all Year 10 and Upper School News 6 assembly where students from Years 7 to 11 ‘show 11 students to discuss academic progress. and tell’ students in Years 1 to 6 what life is like in the An incredible amount has been achieved in just three Secondary Phase. terms and this is testament to the hard work of all staff Other Primary News 7 Leadership positions such as sports captains, PR captains, at the academy but especially the Heads of House. I am charity captains and house captains have also been delighted with the progress being made and the support created and training is scheduled for students running all we have received from parents and I look forward, in the Parents’ Page 8 House councils in how to manage meetings, take minutes next edition, to informing you of the continued progress and organise agendas. Sports captains are also actively of the Academy. involved in organising House sporting events and this Secondary Phase 9 will grow to include dedicated House teams competing Martin Campbell – Principal – Secondary Phase Information House Page The International Primary well received by the children. Pupils tell us they enjoy 10 Curriculum (IPC) continues to the freedom of being able to record work of their enthuse the children and provide choice under a general title; it has certainly helped their News from School of 11 them with opportunities for visits research and writing skills. and new experiences, e.g. I wrote to you recently about the importance of hearing Core Studies Year 1 pupils learned acrobatic and your children read at home. I do hope you have been juggling skills from a visiting circus able to commit some time to this very important issue. troupe and Year 3 pupils will soon visit Kew Gardens in Staff continue to do phonics work, organise guided News from Schools of 12 connection with their Rainforest topic. Year 4 is studying reading sessions and plan unaided writing tasks so they Humanities & Business fashion in art and designing hats. may assess your children’s progress and attainment. Communications We would like you to experience this curriculum too, so Please continue to contact the class teacher if you have you will soon receive an invitation to spend an afternoon any questions or concerns about your children’s literacy in your child’s class. We hope the venture will give you or numeracy work. News from School of 13 greater insight into what and how your children learn. I’m Some of you asked for more notice about specific Creative, Expressive sure you will enjoy it and appreciate just how much the events or visits in school; I am pleased to advise you process of learning has changed in recent years. We plan that all of the term’s dates and events are on the and Physical Studies to organise this during the week of 7th March, so please website and will continue to be updated. We have would you make a note in your diary. Thank you. also ensured that letters are sent home as soon as full We also seek your views on other, more general aspects information is available. Sixth Form 14 of school life – during the same week we will send you Several new pupils have joined the school in recent a questionnaire and invite comments about some of weeks; I hope you are settling in, working hard and our more recent initiatives such as the website and this making friends. We also welcome Mrs Jan Donnerstag Academy News 15-16 magazine. We will collect them from you at the Parents’ who joined us in February as a Teaching Assistant. Consultation Evening on 17th March. Mrs Donnerstag is based primarily in Year 4. As you know, we have reviewed how we ask pupils to Best Wishes complete homework: the Learning Logs, introduced before Christmas across the primary phase, have been Anne O’Neill – Principal – Primary Phase More Opportunities Through the Brooke Weston Partnership Two more inter-academy events are due to take place this Around 135 pupils will compete in archery, dodgeball, unite to stage an evening of dance. week, offering students the chance to work with others from rowing competitions and more. The show, which is being held at The Cube in Corby, will the Brooke Weston Partnership. The event has been organised in conjunction with feature a range of dance styles including jazz, contemporary, Year 7s from KSA, Corby Business Academy and Brooke Thrapston School Sports Development and the Kettering street, break-dancing, pedestrian and lindy hop. Weston Academy will be taking part in a Sports Festival on School Sports Partnership. These activities are the first of many which are being planned Thursday, February 17th. On the same day, students from the three academies will to encourage closer working between the academies. 2 Issue Seven • Under the Microscope PRIMARY INFORMATION Good Fuel For Little Learners Children have been taking an active interest So I set them a challenge of trying to pack in what goes into their lunchboxes as part of a their own lunchboxes (or at least help!) for a drive to encourage healthy eating.