Toot Hill Contact February 2006 From the Head This is a time of significant change in the world of education. Although the government is experiencing difficulties in getting Party support for its new Education Bill, I am sure that eventually it will become statute. The key thrust of the White Paper is to give successful schools increasing autonomy, and in many ways this will be welcomed. Local Authorities are now very much seen as partners in delivering a quality education service rather than as the dominant ‘mover and shaker’. Our relationship with Nottinghamshire LA has always been a positive one. The relationship is that of ‘critical friend’. Much talk has been made of moving to ‘Foundation Status’ and Toot Hill School’s governing body has considered this option. The crux of the debate is: what difference would it make to the quality of education received by our children? The short answer is: very little. No additional resourcing would be forthcoming. Indeed, it would increase our workload as the school would need to manage its own admissions. The Governors will continue to monitor the situation to see if it is worthwhile moving to Foundation Status at some future date. Currently the school’s Leadership Team and Governors are examining ways in which we can improve the ‘value added’ to the learning of our students. Evidently we have made much progress over the last 4+ years, but we know we can do much more in the future. We want to ensure that every learner achieves to their full potential and that the learning partnership between home and school becomes even stronger. This is a challenging agenda and is core to all that we do in school. In order to ensure that each and every child at Toot ...to ensure that every learner Hill School reaches adulthood with a set of qualifications that will enable them to make their own valid life choices, we will need to achieves to their full potential re-examine all that we do, how we do it and the structure through which it all happens on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis. On the one hand we have to relentlessly pursue high achievement whilst on the other hand preserving our core values and sustaining the right feel to the school. When we have firm proposals we will consult with you and with all other key stakeholders. We look forward to your valued and continued support. John Tomasevic - Headteacher Job Vacancy Examination Possible uses of Geography coursework Invigilator It is not very often that a student makes an appearance in a newspaper because of what they investigated as part of their coursework. However, that Monday to Friday throughout is just what happened to Year 13 student, Sarah Burnham. Some of you may May and June. have seen an article in a recent edition of the Newark Advertiser that focused on Sarah and her Geography coursework. Flexible work, morning and As part of the course in A level Geography, students have to complete a afternoon sessions, personal investigation into a theme of their choice. Sarah chose to look at the £7 per hour. proposed dualling scheme for the A 46 in our local area. She considered its likely environmental, social and economic impacts and asked a sample of Duties include – Invigilating local people for their opinions about it. candidates during exams, She also contacted local authorities such as Newark Town Council who helping staff set up exam were very interested and helpful. Out of courtesy, she sent them a copy of venues and assisting the the finished report, and like the Geography department, they were very exams officer. impressed with what she had achieved. Although she produced an unbiased report, the conclusion suggests that For more information please local people/organisations are in favour of the road scheme going ahead and contact Newark Council have asked to use her report in lobbying to have the scheme Stephen Scott, Exams Officer re-instated. on 01949 875550. Will radio and even TV appearances follow? Well done, Sarah PROFILE OF THE MONTH ... Maths Department 2005-2006 Members of staff and their responsibilities • Mrs D Clarke (Head of Maths) • Dr E O’Connor (Second in Maths Department; KS5 Co-ordinator for Mathematics, NQT mentor) • Mr P Armann (KS3 Co-ordinator for • Mr A Rahman (Assistant Head; Pupil Mathematics; Website Design) Achievement) • Mrs J Brown (Head of PSHE) • Mr C Ritzmann (KS3 Co-ordinator for ICT, • Mr D Burrows (Assistant ITT mentor) ITT Mentor) • Miss R Lewis (KS4 Co-ordinator for Maths) • Miss R Smith (Assistant Head of Year 8) • Mrs L Nagle • Mr A Williams (Head of Year 8) Celebrating _(Pi) 3.14 On March 14 (3/14 in the USA) the Maths department will celebrate the number _ (3.14…………..) with pupils and staff alike. What is Pi and how is it used in Maths? Pi is the ratio found when you divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter. Its presence has been known for a long time. However, its accuracy has troubled mathematicians, because pi is an irrational number and cannot be stated accurately. Your calculator holds the value of pi to as accurate a level as you will need and you are advised to use the calculator value of pi in your calculator papers. However, examiners will accept the rounded off value of pi: 3.14. What is interesting is that pi was mentioned in the Bible (Kings 7, 23; Chronicles 4, 2) as ‘approximately 3’. _ (Pi) is particularly used in the following formulae: • Circumference of a circle= 3.14 x diameter of the circle • Area of the circle = 3.14x radius2 How will we celebrate Pi? We will bring in pies, cakes, biscuits decorated with circles and _ and cards with ‘Happy Pi day!’ We will share some historical pi ‘facts and figures’ with all pupils. Year 7 and 8 will make posters illustrating the formulae for the circumference and area of the circle. They will hang the posters around the school. Year 10 and 11 will practise their construction skills and construct inscribed and circumscribed circles in a triangle. Year 12 and 13 can work on radians, trigonometric functions and prove identities. Unfortunately, we do not teach year 9 on Tuesday 3/14! All pupils will be able to earn a biscuit if they can accurately recite the formulae for circumference and area of the circle. We hope that we will all have fun on Pi day! The Maths Department This month's book reviews Whose Side Are You On? Author – Gibbons Alan Review by Harry Hunter (8.8) "Whose Side Are You On?” is a good book and is easy to read for all ages. The plot is about a boy called Mattie who goes back in time to a slave plantation and he has to free the slaves. The book would best suit a more imaginative reader as it is written in a very Big Is Beautiful! descriptive text. I would give this book a 9/10. This year will see our 4th Scholastic Book Fair & will be our biggest Daily Telegraph Chronicle of Football, fair to-date; we will be offering a wider selection of books than ever Author – Barrett Norman before & are hoping to sell over £1000 worth of books during the Review by Iain Langford (10.5) event. I highly recommend this book to football th The fair will open on Tuesday 28 February & run through to fanatics who are extremely interested in the Thursday 9th March, 2006. past and present game. This book offers a year by year guide. I found the pages on There will be lots of “must-have” books, funky stationary & ex-stars such as Maradona, George Best, amazing posters available to buy at the fair. All year 7 & year 8 John Cruyyf and Pele very interesting. I also students will have a designated time to visit the fair during an scanned through the pages on Nottingham English lesson, all other students will be able to visit the fair during Forest’s European Cup winning teams and morning break or lunch times (during the fair dates!). Manchester United’s horrific plane crash We have chosen to host our book fair this term to coincide with in Munich, 1958. The main pages I have read thoroughly are the pages on stadium World Book Day – this year it is on Thursday 2nd March & this accidents such as Hillsborough.I give this year’s theme is Celebration. More information can be found on the book an exceptional 8-1/2 out of 10. school website. Since September 2005 the LRC & the English department have Cricket been raising student awareness of books & the enjoyment of Author – Smith Andy reading through timetabled LRC lessons. Students have responded Review by Joseph McLaughlin (7.4) positively to this drive for reading & we hope that parents & carers will build on this momentum by supporting this event. If you’re looking for a short snappy picture filled cricket book this is it! Whether it be batting, Please look out for reminders in your child’s planner indicating wicket keeping or spin bowling, this book has it their allotted date & time at the fair. There will be some leaflets all. Don’t know how to play cricket? You will for students to take home to show you the type of books on offer after reading this book. Even if you want to be an as well as a pre order form & a Scholastic competition for an iPod umpire you’ll find everything you need to know.