Shavington Academy Rope Lane, Shavington CW2 5DH A Cooperative Trust School A Specialist College for Science and Mathematics ‘Together we enjoy, aspire, create & achieve’ Newsletter: Issue 66; January 2016 Tel: 01270 685111 Website: www.shavington.academy Dear Parents, Pupils, Members of the Community, Enclosed is our first newsletter of 2016, and we have begun with a focus on Year 9 and 10. Many thanks to Year 9 Parents who attended our Parents’ Evening on Thursday 14th January, I hope that it was useful in supporting pupils to choose their option subjects. As always, the feedback you leave on our questionnaires is informative and followed up in school, as we work together to secure an education of which we can all be proud. Year 9 Option forms should have been with Mr Hepherd-Hall by 22nd January 2016. If yours is still outstanding, please see him as soon as possible. Year 10 have taken their examinations in earnest, and are rising to the challenge of GCSE papers. It is nerve wracking, but they are developing their resilience and showing their ability in test conditions. Mock examinations ended on 22nd January, and we will be discussing attainment in these exams at the Parents’ Evening on Thursday 28th January, 2016. Parents of Year 8 will be aware that we consulted on a proposal to begin GCSE courses at the start of Year 9. This is largely to give more time to ‘new’ subjects, such as Engineering, Media, etc, that have not been studied at lower school, with a view to giving pupils an extra year to build their skill set, as well as prioritising the areas that they enjoy studying. The vast majority of parents were in favour of this move, although some parents suggested that a robust preparation was necessary. Taster sessions will be beginning in the next week or so, so that pupils can sample subjects not attended before. In addition, the traditional range of subjects offered as options will explain their core content, so that pupils have an informed choice. There is an options information evening on Monday 1st February 3.30-4.45 prior to the Year 8 Parents' Evening on Thursday 4th February. All year 8 Parents and pupils are invited to attend The Parents’ Evening on Thursday 4th February will be an ideal opportunity for Parents to discuss their child’s interests and aptitude for subjects, on a one-to-one basis with the class teachers. On-line booking is open to parents who should have been sent a link to the booking website. Can I also remind parents that our consultation on introducing a designated school skirt is still open. Many thanks to parents who have already responded. Governors will be considering each and every response at their meeting on Tuesday 2nd February, after which time I will write to parents with their considerations and response. Reviews of achievement and progress are due for all Year 10 and 11 on Wednesday 10th February. Please don’t hesitate to contact us either before the Half Term or after, about the information given. With Best Wishes, Mrs C White Headteacher Music Department MUSICAL PUPILS HIT FESTIVE NOTES DURING HOSPITAL VISIT Shavington Academy musicians brought festive cheer to staff and patients in a live performance at Leighton Hospital’s Macmillan Centre in the run up to Christmas. A talented quartet of pupils from different year groups, headed by Music Curriculum Leader Mr Clark, played a series of Christmas carols which they have been busy rehearsing in the classroom. The pupils included Euan Aitchinson on the cornet, Kris Brittain on the trumpet, Isobel Jones on the violin and Amy Welsh on the flute while teacher Mr Clark played the trombone. The group performed a series of tunes to get people in the Christmas spirit in an extremely busy area of the hospital. Mr Clark said: “I was extremely impressed with the excellent music which our pupils provided. I’d like to say a big thank-you to all the group and to staff at the Macmillan Centre who made this event possible in the run-up to Christmas” John added: “Our pupils were very grateful for the opportunity to showcase their talent in the wider community and they are looking forward to supporting more events with their music in the future.” Music Department PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT: AMY WELSH “Friday the 13th was the day of my grade 4 flute exam. I had been practicing for weeks on end and was finally ready to perform the three pieces. I also needed to play a long list of arpeggios and scales, aural tests and sight reading. I entered the church and went straight into the practice room. The practice room was extremely echoey and was a big spacious room with a piano. My accompanist joined me five minutes later and we quickly ran through all of the pieces. I needed to play three completely different pieces. An A piece a B piece ad a c piece also known as a study. My A piece was called Sonata in G, the B piece was called Lonely and blue and my study was called Latin flute. For the a and the b pieces I was accompanied with the piano and the c piece I was on my own. I was then taken through to the main part of the church to do the exam. I started off with my pieces with the piano which went as well as possible. I then played my c piece which also went really well. It was then time for some scales, I played about five but most of them went well I then had sight reading and aural tests to do which went well as well as everything else. All of these things were squeezed into ten minutes and I then went back home. Two weeks later I was given the amazing news that I got a distinction! “ Amy Welsh 7HT History IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM On the 26th November, year 9 went to the imperial war museum north in Manchester. We spent most of the day looking round all the interesting and exciting exhibits which were placed on a timeline. The exhibits feature artefacts from WW1 and 2, the cold war, the holocaust and later events such as the 9/11 attacks. However some of the trip was spent going round the compelling shop with a variety of gifts that all have something to do with war. Also during the day we split up into 2 groups and went up the air shard where you could experience the thrilling sights of Manchester City. "The trip was very enjoyable but at the same time I learnt many new things about past conflicts." Says James Lloyd . I enjoyed it also because I learnt lots of new facts as well as having fun at the same time. Adam Brierley 9RL PE Department Lunch 12.40-1 After school 3.20- 4.20 Monday Indoor Football Year 7 and 8. Trampolining Tuesday Badminton yrs7,8&9 Basketball All years Basketball Matches School Gym Gym (All years) Wednesday Basketball School GCSE night Gym Thursday Badminton 10&11 Badminton 10 and 11 School Gym School Gym Friday Battleball Trampolining All years Year 7 Dance PE Department Well done to the Year 7 football team who have won the Sandbach Partnership 6 a side competition before Christmas. They then faced the winner of the Crewe Partnership, Sir Thomas More. The Year 7 won 5-3 and are through to the next round. Good Luck Boys The draw has been made for the Football South Cheshire Cup 1 March 8th March 15th March 22th March 1 vs 2 Winners 1/ 2 vs 3 Finals will be held at Sandbach United Winners of 1/ 2 and 3 football pitches. All year 4 vs 5 vs groups will be played on Winners of 4/ 5 the same night (Tuesday) with a 4.00 6 vs 7 kick off time. The teams will be able to use the Winners of 6 changing rooms before 8 vs Winners 9/ 10 vs 7 vs the event. A Winners of 8/ 9 and 10 presentation of the trophies will be held on the night of the finals to the winning teams. 10 vs 9 1 Malbank 2 St Thomas More 3 Ruskin 4 Kingsgrove 5 Brine Leas 6 SWS 7 Alsager 8 Shavington 9 Holmes Chapel 10 Congleton Basketball South Cheshire Competition Fixtures: - Year 10: - 19th January @Brines Leas Year 9: - 26th January @Brines Leas Year 8: - 2nd February @ Shavington Year 7: - 9th February @Brines Leas PE Department Cross Country: - Winsford Well done to all the runners who ran on a cold Saturday morning to represent South Cheshire, to try and gain a place in the Cheshire Team. Special mention to Liam Prestwich who achieved 3rd and has qualified for the Cheshire Team. Sponsored Events Coming soon to the school gym. Well done, to all the pupils that have raised money for the gym and the British Heart Foundation PE Department Greatest sporting Comebacks One week. That’s how long the Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup crew held matchpoint in San Francisco. An 8-1 advantage in a first-to-nine series. That’s why Oracle Team USA’s comeback is the greatest in sport. It beats the Miracle of Istanbul, the Miracle of Medinah, United in 1999 and Faldo in 1996. By the sheer weight of the numbers, to be seven down and with no leeway, the great escape that happened next to Alcatraz on Wednesday was the greatest of all.