H2U Incorporating the Governors’ Report to Parents ...bringing Highcliffe to you... Highcliffe School, Parkside, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 4QD [email protected] Da Vinci Centre Opens Da Vinci Comes to Highcliffe small clip (title: ‘Time-delayed ing’. The remarkable Leo- (as of 3rd November 2004) building’). nardo Da Vinci seemed to be a natural choice. I am sure that Today has been a very We are sure that both staff and students will be finding out special day at more about him Highcliffe and and his inspira- in the life of tional work. any school Most impor- community. tantly, we hope We were able students are in- to welcome spired by this environment to back all our students and students will do their very best launch our new Art, De- to ensure that we offer the INSIDE THIS ISSUE sign and Technology Cen- broadest range of opportunities In the community tre. Thank you for your to maximise potential. patience and co- Page 3 operation. General Notices Most appropriately, through its Pages 4-7 It has not been an easy chal- very design and build quality it lenge – one that began some is in itself meant to be a teach- Editor’s Note four years ago, with ing/learning Page 4 a leaking ROSLA stimulus for this roof. Given every- curriculum area. Faculty News one’s support, inge- Pages 8-12 nuity, sheer hard Why Da Vinci? work and belief, we In looking for a The International have now got up suitable name to Dimension and running the encapsulate what Page s 13-18 most amazing we have been teaching and learn- aiming to Governors’ Report to ing centre. achieve, we Parents Between Pages 11 and 12 came up with We hope you enjoy ‘Da Vinci’. We Activities Week 2004 the photographs and want to empha- perhaps if you want to know Page 19 sise the importance of more visit our website www. ‘creativity’ in the curriculum highcliffe.dorset.sch.uk to see a ...high, higher, and need to be ‘future think- Highcliffe... Pages 20-21 Reporters :, Adam Grose (11.2), Gemma Lane (10.3), Lucy Brosnan (10.3), Editorial Harry Sherwood (10.6), Rachael Pickup (10.7), Brianna Kruger (10.8), Chantelle Albin (10.2) Editor Mr Coughlan Team...... Vol. 4 Issue 1– November 2004 H2U, Vol 4 Issue 1 - November 2004 Page 1 from our annual budget team as we work towards allocation for running the ‘suiting’ our curriculum teams school. In recent and curriculum provision. months, a number of pro- jects have been accom- The Disability Discrimina- plished, and some are tion Act (DDA) is intended to still to come. Examples: promote a more inclusive cul- ture and opportunities for all. • Phase II major re- In recent weeks, work has been wiring of the old Gram- carried out on all staircases to mar School building in- improve access. Walls, stairs produce their own remarkable cluding new ceilings and floor levels have been work and enjoy sharing their • Three re-furbished science marked to assist those who are ideas and work with others. laboratories which means all visually impaired. This com- our science laboratories are plements the additional toilet Over the last four years, High- of a high standard and speci- facilities for the disabled. The cliffe has been most fortunate fication school has a stair lift and initial in that as a school built in the • A new ICT room in the work is in progress for a full early 1960s, it is time for a re- lift. In the Da Vinci Centre a fit. A number of number of the people have asked specialist areas how this has all have facilities come about, so I specifically de- thought there signed to pro- might be others mote access to who are ponder- the curriculum. ing this question. This is all part Part of the na- of a programme tional educational to improve the agenda has been environment to dedicate con- and opportuni- siderable funds to ties for our addressing the community. state of repair and Please look af- suitability of our school build- main building ter them and make the most of ing stock. This has required • Currently, we are refurbish- them to produce the best work the dedication of considerable ing an old workshop to you can. capital funds to invest in the make a new music technol- modernisation of buildings and ogy facility. This also helps schools for the future. Virtu- to address an Ofsted pointer Judith Potts ally all the work that has been • The rooms vacated by tech- Headteacher and will be carried out at High- nology in the Shepherd cliffe has been funded through Building will those earmarked grants. We soon be re- have made this work a priority opened as a and along with Dorset LEA Sixth Form undertaken an audit of the Study Centre school to then produce a plan of action which then has been As well as new approved and allocated major mobile class- funding in terms of capital and rooms, to help major repairs/maintenance bring together part money. This is totally separate of our Humanities H2U, Vol 4 Issue 1 - November 2004 Page 2 In the Community Healthy Schools Four students from the D. the opportunity to attend the entire year of work as I.G (Drugs Information presentations given by other part of the D.I.G team. Group) at the school have schools. The team has asked me to recently been very busy say that they hope the promoting the work that Following on from this they next D.I.G group gains as the group does in school. were invited to give the much from their time on Holly Davies, Laura Butter- presentation at the Public the team as this years worth, Alice Gardiner and Health Annual Conference group has and will build on Michelle Jupp were chosen that took place in Wimborne the work that has been to attend the ‘Dorset at the beginning of Novem- done so far. Health Works’ Conference ber. At this conference they Report by Mr Johansen in Dorchester during July. presented twice to groups Healthy Schools Initiative There the team gave a involved in the Healthy presentation to the confer- Schools Scheme. The four ence on the D.I.G work girls agreed that the experi- that has been taking place ence has been invaluable, Mutual support within the school; its con- greatly increasing their with DEED tent, its purpose, its bene- knowledge of the dangers of fits for the students in- drugs and alcohol. Not only volved and the wider stu- invaluable but also im- The school was pleased re- dent body. There was also mensely enjoyable, as was cently to receive a visit from Louise Boston- Mammah of DEED (Development Education in Hengistbury Head Dorset). The purpose of the visit was for Louise to meet with a number of We read with some dismay two years – despite never members of staff who work a recent story in the Times having had a compensation in areas that have a par- Educational Supplement claim made against it. The ticular interest in Develop- (TES) concerning the diffi- article was illustrated with a ment Education: Mr Camp- culties faced by outdoor photo from Hengistbury bell (Head of Language activity centres that ser- Head that featured Year 11 College), Mrs Stone vice schools. The main student Jonathan Evans sail- (Citizenship Co-ordinator), point ing. We Ms Kennedy (Head of Fac- made by reproduce ulty – Humanities), Mr the article that Newitt (Geography Co- was the photo ordinator) and Mr Cough- rise in in- here. The lan (Intenational Links Co- surance school ordinator). In a wide premiums would like ranging and productive that these to take discussion the group ex- centres this op- changed ideas about ave- must pay. portunity nues of fruitful partnership One ex- to publicly that could be developed to ample express the benefit of both parties given was our sup- and the wider community. the Hengistbury Head Cen- port for the centre, with We look forward to bring- tre which has seen its in- which we hope to continue ing you news of successful surance premiums more our links long into the fu- ventures resulting from than double over the last ture. this in the future. H2U, Vol 4 Issue 1 - November 2004 Page 3 General Notices and Forthcoming Events Term Dates Highcliffe School Christmas Puddings are back!! In order to help you plan holidays appropriately be- Large £8 low are the provisional Small £4 term dates fro the aca- demic year 2005-2006. We stress that these dates are provisional, should any changes oc- cur we will notify you immediately. Hurry whilst stocks last Autumn Term Begins—1st September Available from Ends—20th December Student Support Half-term 24th-28th October Spring Term Lost Property Begins—4th January Ends—31st March There is a considerable amount of lost property being kept Half-term at school at present. This includes coats, trainers, shoes 13th-17th February and other uniform. None of this is named so we have not been able to return it. If parents are aware of any Summer Term particular item missing, we would be happy to arrange a Begins—18th April time to look through all that we have. Lost property still Ends—21st July remaining after Christmas (that has been collected up to Half-term the end of November) will be given to charity shops. If 29th May-2nd June you would like to come in to school, please telephone Mrs Thompson on 01425 273381 to arrange a mutually con- venient time.