Winter 2012 Newsletter Booklet - Smithdon High School ...
Winter 2012 Newsletter Booklet - Smithdon High School ...
Winter 2012 Newsletter Booklet - Smithdon High School ...
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SMITHDON HIGH<br />
SCHOOL<br />
NEWSLETTER<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2012</strong> ISSUE
SMITHDON HIGH SCHOOL<br />
Message from the Headteacher:<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
I am once again delighted to be able to<br />
make Mr a J small M Goodchild, contribution Headteacher to our news<br />
‘booklet’. There is no doubt that staff,<br />
students and parents value the way in<br />
which this colourful medium celebrates<br />
the work we do at our school. A very big<br />
thank you to Mrs Pike for her efforts.<br />
I hope everyone has a very Happy<br />
Christmas and an enjoyable New Year<br />
and that all our students return to school<br />
refreshed and ready to learn.<br />
Mr J Goodchild<br />
Christmas Lunch<br />
Wednesday 19 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Roast Turkey and Stuffing<br />
Pigs in Blankets<br />
Roast Potatoes<br />
Carrots, Peas or Sprouts<br />
Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy<br />
or<br />
Vegetarian Option<br />
Vegetable Cheese Crumble<br />
Roast Potatoes<br />
Carrots, Peas or Sprouts<br />
Yorkshire Pudding<br />
and<br />
Mince Pie or Christmas Biscuit<br />
Christmas Cracker<br />
£3.00<br />
Chase the January blues away at the library<br />
Library staff will be trying to entice more people in Norfolk<br />
to become a library member in the new year when they<br />
launch their annual Join Up January campaign.<br />
More than 5,000 people joined the library in Norfolk in<br />
January this year, double the number which joined in<br />
December 2011. It’s free to become a library member and<br />
quick and easy to do so. A library card really is a passport<br />
to lots of opportunities for all ages. Just some of the great<br />
reasons to be a library member in Norfolk are listed<br />
below.<br />
During January, a voucher sheet with offers on DVD hire<br />
and book reservations among others will be available to<br />
members when they borrow an item from the library. A<br />
set amount will be available so make it one of your new<br />
year’s resolutions to visit your local library soon to avoid<br />
missing out.<br />
Look out for more information in your library and on the<br />
libraries pages of the County Council website<br />
(www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries) for more Join Up January<br />
news.<br />
In the event of severe weather any<br />
decision to close the school will be posted<br />
on the County Council’s website:<br />
(www.schoolclosures.norfolk.gov.uk). A<br />
message will also be placed on the school<br />
website as soon as this is possible<br />
(www.smithdonhighschool.org.uk)<br />
Information is also broadcast by local<br />
radio stations once it has been posted on<br />
the Norfolk closures site.
Term Times:<br />
Friday 21 December – <strong>School</strong> closes for<br />
holidays.<br />
Tuesday 8 January – Return to school.<br />
Friday 15 February – <strong>School</strong> closes for<br />
half term.<br />
Monday 25 February – Return to<br />
school.<br />
Wednesday 27 March – <strong>School</strong> closes<br />
for Easter.<br />
Thursday 28 March – Inset day<br />
Monday 15 April – Return to school.<br />
Events:<br />
Thursday 13 December – Carol Service.<br />
Thursday 17 January – Year 11 Parents<br />
Evening.<br />
Dates of forthcoming exams...<br />
9 January – 30 January – Year 11 GCSE exams<br />
& Year 12/13 GCE Exams.<br />
Year 11 Amber Catering Exam 5 & 6 March<br />
Year 11 Red Catering Exam 7 & 8 March<br />
Make sure you come prepared for each exam – with<br />
pens, pencils, calculator etc.<br />
Arrive in plenty of time.<br />
Make sure you know your seat number and your<br />
candidate number.<br />
Carol Service<br />
Thursday 13 December<br />
At 7pm<br />
Old Hunstanton Church<br />
Thursday 7 February – 14+ Evening.<br />
Thursday 28 February – Year 9 Parents<br />
Evening.<br />
Thursday 14 March – Year 7 Parents<br />
Evening.<br />
Letters will also be sent home with<br />
information and dates for future<br />
Parent-Partnership meetings.<br />
Thank you to all those who collected the Morrisons Lets Grow<br />
vouchers.<br />
This year we collected 1001 vouchers and ordered lots of<br />
'goodies' for the CLS garden - including a fork, polly tunnels<br />
and propagators.
ICT<br />
Help<br />
Wednesday 3.00-4.30 Rm 34<br />
Please see Mrs Bye for more<br />
information.<br />
After school most days.<br />
English<br />
Help<br />
There will also be sessions running during school<br />
holidays.<br />
For more information please see Mr Somers.<br />
Want Help with Maths?<br />
The Maths Department provide help and<br />
revision sessions every Wednesday after<br />
school in B58 (computer room). If you would<br />
like more information please ask your Maths<br />
teacher.<br />
Year 7 & 8<br />
Monday<br />
Week 1<br />
13.30-14.00<br />
Room 12
Zoo Lab<br />
On Thursday 22 November we had a wonderful visit from Zoo Lab when Chris brought in seven rain forest animals.<br />
These included a snail, cockroach, frog, tarantula, snake, rat and scorpion. The snail was a Giant African Land Snail<br />
with a brown shell for camouflage and protection. We found out that they can live for up to thirty years and they<br />
are both male and female.<br />
He also brought in a Cockroach and we found out that it can live up to two weeks with no head because it also has a<br />
brain in its back so it will only die of starvation. Next up was a frog but it was not just any old frog it was a tree frog.<br />
It was small and green and can stick to all vertical surfaces using the tiny suction plungers on its feet. Then there<br />
was the tarantula. The tarantula was blind although it has eight eyes so it did not know where it was. We could not<br />
touch it just in case we scared it. We did get a close look at it when Chris walked round with her in his hand. My<br />
favourite was the snake, it was a corn snake and we were allowed to hold it because it was safe and not poisonous.<br />
The rat was called Princess Katy and she was white and brown and very cute. Chris had taught her a trick where she<br />
ran along both his arms and back into her box. The scorpion was good too and Chris taught us that if a scorpion has<br />
small pincers it will have a very powerful sting.<br />
Another thing which Chris taught us that made me think was that Madagascar only has 5% rainforest left and that<br />
people have destroyed 95% of the rainforest in only one hundred years.<br />
Thank you Zoo Lab!<br />
Winning report by Aoife Waters
DT Day<br />
On Friday 16 November Year 6 pupils from various local primary schools took part in a DT day with a Pudsey<br />
Bear theme. There were various activities for them including making a bag, cooking shortbread biscuits,<br />
making a Pudsey badge, or designing a Frisbee.<br />
You could see on all the pupil’s faces that they were having a good time. They were all laughing and talking to<br />
new people. At lunch time the atmosphere was loud and cheerful. There were two meals to choose from<br />
plus an apple and a drink. As the pupils finished their last activity they had to line up for their buses. As they<br />
climbed on to their buses the school turned silent again.<br />
Comments from the students were:<br />
“Enjoyed the food!”<br />
“Cooking was the best”<br />
“Enjoyed making the bags the most”<br />
“Making the bags was fun”<br />
“Brilliant day!”<br />
Thanks go to the <strong>Smithdon</strong> students who helped out and reported on the day.
Senior Students<br />
Head Girl: Laura Thomas<br />
13LBa<br />
Studying: Biology, Chemistry<br />
and Maths<br />
Post Sixth-Form plans:<br />
applying for Zoology courses<br />
Deputy Head Girl: Lilly<br />
Ruddock 13LBa<br />
Studying: Biology,<br />
Geography and French<br />
Post Sixth-Form plans:<br />
applying for Geography<br />
courses<br />
Head Boy: Richard Nye 13SHa<br />
Studying: ICT, English and Sociology<br />
Post Sixth-Form plans: applying for<br />
courses in Business and Computer<br />
Information systems<br />
Deputy Head Boy: Alistair Kissock<br />
13LBa<br />
Lead Ambassadors<br />
Studying: Business, Physics and<br />
Maths<br />
Post Sixth-Form plans: applying<br />
for Motor Sport Engineering<br />
courses<br />
Megan Ashton 11Chi<br />
Studying GCSE’s in: English, Maths,<br />
Biology, Chemistry, Physics,<br />
Geography, History, French, ICT, and<br />
RE<br />
Post Year 11 Plans:<br />
To stay on at Sixth Form and Study<br />
English, French, Sociology and<br />
Biology<br />
Zoe Yeung 11DKe<br />
Studying GCSE’s in: English,<br />
Maths, Biology, Chemistry,<br />
Physics, Business, Drama, Music,<br />
ICT and Re<br />
Post Year 11 Plans: Applying to<br />
Springwood to study Music,<br />
Music Tech, Maths and<br />
Chemistry<br />
Ryan Chilvers 11LMn<br />
Studying GCSE’s in : English,<br />
Maths, Biology, Chemistry,<br />
Physics, Business, Drama, Music,<br />
ICT and RE<br />
Post Year 11 Plans:<br />
To stay on at Sixth Form and<br />
study Physics, Photography,<br />
Psychology and English.<br />
Ashley Neesham 11LMn<br />
Studying GCSE’s in : English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics,<br />
French, Resistant Materials, ICT and RE<br />
Post Year 11 Plans: Applying to College to study Electro Technics
‘<br />
MUSIC EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.<br />
Interested in any of the following?<br />
Singing Group<br />
Wind Band<br />
Drum Club<br />
Keyboard Club<br />
Arts Club<br />
GCSE coursework catch up<br />
Grade 5 Theory<br />
Times and days for these groups are to be confirmed,<br />
Please see Mr Sexton if you are interested<br />
in any of the above clubs to find out days and times.<br />
Thank you.
Year 11 Rotarian Interviews<br />
On 26 September, 17 October and 14 November over one hundred and twenty Year 11 students donned their<br />
finest formal outfits to participate in the annual practice interviews.<br />
Held at the Town Hall in Hunstanton, students were invited to take on a real life experience and challenge<br />
themselves to participate in a formal interview conducted by the Hunstanton Rotarians.<br />
Each student was interviewed by two Rotarians, with the sessions lasting approximately twenty minutes. Questions<br />
ranged from identifying their own strengths and weaknesses, where students completed their work experience, to<br />
where they would like to be in five years’ time.<br />
After the formal discussion, the Rotarians took a short time to evaluate and grade the students on areas such as<br />
greeting, clarity of speech and persona, along with areas for improvement, before feeding back to the interviewee.<br />
Each student who completed their interview was exemplary. They could easily have been mistaken for young<br />
executives and conducted themselves in a mature and professional manner. The Rotarians were exceptionally<br />
complementary about all of the students they interviewed.<br />
We hope that the experience leaves these students prepared for the interviews they will participate in throughout<br />
their future, and perhaps with some key areas they’ve improved and with fewer nerves!
University Success<br />
Fifteen Year 13 students worked hard to complete their UCAS applications before the October half term holiday.<br />
Students have applied to institutions as far North as Dundee and as far South as Portsmouth. Applications for<br />
courses include Mathematics, Geography, Accountancy and Finance, Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Criminology,<br />
Sport, Motor Sport Engineering, Sports Technology, Zoology and Psychology. Offers have been coming in, with<br />
students taking the opportunity to attend interviews and open days. Students will finalise their choice of university<br />
in the New Year. Congratulations to all students and thank you to Sixth Tutors for all their work on university<br />
references this term.<br />
Mr Chapman<br />
Mathematics trip to Paris, 24-27 October <strong>2012</strong><br />
A group of forty four students (including seven from Year 12) made the journey to Paris with with no delays. We<br />
were able to catch a slightly early ferry to Calais so that we arrived in the centre of Paris by 5pm. The Eiffel Tower<br />
was a special experience for the students and they met the challenge bravely with nearly all of the students<br />
successfully reaching the summit. As a result of our early arrival, we were also able to visit the Arc de Triomphe on<br />
the first evening and were able to ascend the very large number of stairs to the top. The students appreciated the<br />
added bonus of this excursion.<br />
We successfully completed all our activities in Paris on the second day and the students were able to achieve a<br />
large amount of work in a good atmosphere. We visited the maths exhibition at La Villette during the morning and<br />
the Louvre Palais Royale and Les Invalides after lunch. The evening boat trip on the Seine was a pleasure with an<br />
exciting atmosphere on board. The students were excellent in appreciating the different sites along the river<br />
including the Notre Dame Cathedral.<br />
The visit to the Hard Rock Café was a hit with the students who really enjoyed the atmosphere. The service we<br />
received was excellent.<br />
Our visit to Disneyland went very well. As with last year, we were very fortunate to catch the Park on a day where<br />
there were very few queues for the bigger rides and the students were able to enjoy unhindered access to those<br />
rides.
House Activity Day<br />
Following the success of last year’s Olympic day, <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> decided to hold a House Activity<br />
Day. This will be the first of many fun filled days to come. Each day will include fun activities like sports,<br />
intellectual challenges and home cooking etc. All teams are competing in these activities to score points<br />
in order to win the house cup. The four teams competing for the cup are; Team Coe, Redgrave, Gunnel<br />
and Holmes, all named after Olympic heroes. These activity days will continue throughout the year and<br />
all points are totalled up at the end of the year. The team with the most points will win the house cup<br />
and victory for the honour of the Olympian inspired house. However the teams will also need to show<br />
Respect, Excellence, Friendship, Equality, Inspiration, Courage and Determination, the seven Olympic<br />
Values.
Water Polo<br />
Becky Page, age 14, who is representing Team Coe in Water Polo, said “I’m very excited as my team<br />
is winning – I’ve already scored 4 goals”. All teams were playing extremely well. Laura Benstead, who<br />
played for Redgrave, said “The best thing was spending time with my team mates, who have made<br />
this day extra special”. All teams couldn’t wait to dive in. Oliver was also interviewed; he had stood<br />
in for team Gunnel and said “Today has been great because we have tried something different”. It’s<br />
so great to see the year groups socialising and working together. Danielle, who represented Team<br />
Holmes, said “It has been an interesting day; I would definitely do it again”. Overall the teams<br />
enjoyed the experience and today will definitely be a day to remember.
Maths Challenge – By Carly Carman and Bethany English<br />
We took a trip to the Maths Challenge in B59 hosted by Mr Skipper and Mr Freeman. They were doing<br />
‘Shape Display Challenge’ and had to do the following; 3x20cm² rectangles, 3x20cm² triangles, 3x20cm²<br />
paralellogram , 3x20cm² compound shapes , 3x20cm² trapeziums and 1x20cm² circle.<br />
The students had to draw and cut out these shapes and display them on large coloured piece of paper<br />
according to their team. They won different amounts of points for different shapes. They also gained<br />
bonus points by completing Sudoku’s and Word Problems or Crosswords.<br />
“I thought this Maths Challenge would be an interesting thing, the first challenge was a crossword and I<br />
found out some answers to some maths equations. I think what I’m learning will come in handy for<br />
other Maths lessons” – Laura Markham 9AMo – Team Coe<br />
Team Holmes said that listening to a calculation helped them to work out the equations. Anais Hubbard<br />
says that she enjoyed the adding.
What People Thought of Today<br />
The media team were going round the school to interview the students and teachers to ask<br />
what they thought of the day. We also took photos of the activities and the students taking<br />
part. We ran into Mr Edmonds who said “It is going really well. It’s good to see so many<br />
students getting involved and participating in non-sporting and sporting events.”<br />
Then we saw Miss Alonso and asked her “How do you think the afternoon of house events is<br />
going? She replied with, “I think its brilliant fun, Team Gunnel are trying their best and<br />
everyone seems to be in good spirits.”<br />
Miss Moat said “The day is going interestingly and it’s very different to normal lessons. I like<br />
the idea of everyone working together.”<br />
Last but not least Miss Howell said “I like the idea that everyone is having a fun time.”<br />
By Rebecca Harvey and Poppy Coldman.
RE Conference<br />
At the RE Conference on Tuesday 13 November Holocaust survivor Zigi Shipper gave his survivor testimony. This<br />
remarkable gentleman is pictured below with some of the sixth formers who listened to his story.<br />
WEST NORFOLK SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY<br />
Year 7 Anachronism Competition<br />
Congratulations to the following pupils who<br />
qualified for the Norfolk <strong>School</strong> Cross Country<br />
Championships to be held at Sloughbottom Park, in<br />
Norwich on the 23rd January. We wish them the<br />
best of luck!<br />
Scott Kimber (Year 7)<br />
Isobel Brown (Year 8)<br />
Peter Fox (Year 9)<br />
Billy Smith (Year 10)<br />
William Pennington (year 12)<br />
1 st Place Annabel Park 7MSe<br />
2 nd Place Matthew Jennings 7HRa<br />
Joint 3 rd Place Eleanor Baird 7HRa<br />
Joint 3 rd Place Makayla Rule 7KFi
Science Projects<br />
In the first half term of the school year all students in Year 9 at <strong>Smithdon</strong> completed Science Projects. The<br />
projects this year were sponsored by Lawtronic Ltd, Kings Lynn, who supplied a cup and prizes for the best<br />
project and runner up. The students came up with the ideas for the projects themselves which ranged from<br />
investigating the Effect of Acid Rain on Building Materials to How to Investigate a Crime Scene. We had a<br />
model solar system; volcano, and human body and one group even made their own telescope.<br />
Mark Gaskin from Lawtronic who attended the project display evening on the 23 October to judge the<br />
award was hugely impressed by the range of work on display. Mr Gaskin found choosing a winner a real<br />
challenge as all the projects demonstrated the keen minds of the students and the amount of work carried<br />
out was very apparent. The group who won the Lawtronic Science Project cup were Ella Humphryes,<br />
Hannah Reeve and Phoebe Watts who investigated the Rates of Chemical Reactions. Mr Gaskin said their<br />
project showed clear and methodical experimental technique and an excellent demonstration of knowledge<br />
and understanding in the research. The runners up were Carly Carman, Evan Andrews, Nicola Burrows and<br />
Ellie Coldman for their CSI project demonstrating different methods of forensic analysis. There was also a<br />
<strong>Smithdon</strong> Science Department prize that went to Molly Todd, Lauren Williams and Cerys Burridge for their<br />
project on Rusting.<br />
This was a really successful event for all the students involved and we would like to thank the parents for<br />
their support in attending the projects evening with their children to see the fruits of their hard work. All of<br />
the work produced was of an excellent standard and we can’t wait to see what our current year 8 produce<br />
when it’s their turn next autumn.
IF YOUR CHILD IS<br />
ABSENT<br />
• You must contact the<br />
office to inform school<br />
that your child is absent<br />
on the first day of illness<br />
• If your child is likely to be<br />
absent for a number of<br />
days please let school<br />
know this as soon as<br />
possible and again on the<br />
third day of absence<br />
Continued<br />
Attendance Issues<br />
If there are continued<br />
attendance issues and<br />
things don’t improve,<br />
the school may use the<br />
Fast Track procedure to<br />
take further action<br />
which could result in<br />
legal proceedings.<br />
The cluster consists of the<br />
following schools:<br />
<strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>,<br />
Brancaster Church of England<br />
Primary <strong>School</strong><br />
Dersingham Infant and Nursery<br />
<strong>School</strong><br />
Docking Primary <strong>School</strong> and<br />
Foundation Unit<br />
Heacham Infant and Nursery<br />
<strong>School</strong><br />
Heacham Junior <strong>School</strong><br />
Hunstanton Infant <strong>School</strong><br />
Ingoldisthorpe C. of E. Primary<br />
<strong>School</strong><br />
King George VI Primary <strong>School</strong><br />
Redgate Junior <strong>School</strong><br />
Sedgeford Primary Primary<br />
Snettisham Primary <strong>School</strong><br />
St. George’s Junior <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> attendance and<br />
absence: the law<br />
By law, all children of compulsory<br />
school age (5 to 16) must<br />
receive a suitable full-time education. For most<br />
parents, this means registering their child at a<br />
school - though some choose to make other<br />
arrangements to provide a suitable, full-time<br />
education.<br />
Once your child is registered at a school, you<br />
are legally responsible for making sure they<br />
attend regularly. If your child fails to do so,<br />
you risk getting a penalty notice or being<br />
prosecuted.<br />
Support on school attendance<br />
There are many different issues which can affect<br />
school attendance. Examples include problems with:<br />
Bullying<br />
Housing or care arrangements<br />
Transport to and from school<br />
Work and money<br />
Talking to your child and their teachers could help<br />
to solve any difficulties you have in getting your<br />
child to go to school. There are other forms of<br />
support available if you still have problems.<br />
Support from the school<br />
Your child’s school is the first place to go to discuss<br />
any attendance problems. We will try to agree a<br />
plan with you to improve your child’s attendance.<br />
Support from your local authority<br />
Your local authority can also help if you are struggling to<br />
ensure that your child goes to school. Potential forms of<br />
support include:<br />
<br />
<br />
home tuition for children with long term and<br />
recurring illnesses, so they do not fall too far<br />
behind<br />
support to help reduce the burden on children<br />
where families are in difficulty (for example, if a<br />
child is spending a lot of time caring for<br />
someone)working with families and schools to<br />
overcome bullying and other serious problems
Children In Need Day<br />
Gifted and Talented Mathematicians<br />
In November <strong>Smithdon</strong> sent a team of four of its<br />
strongest mathematicians to the Centre for Mathematical<br />
Sciences at the University of Cambridge to take part in the<br />
UKMT Senior Team Challenge. The students were a credit<br />
to the school and continued the trend of improving<br />
<strong>Smithdon</strong>'s performance year after year.<br />
Photographic Competition<br />
A photographic competition was run by the Hunstanton<br />
and District Festival of arts. The theme was 'Seascapes<br />
and Sunsets.' The competition was open to any<br />
photographer in the community and there were over 18’s<br />
and under 18’s categories. Over 40 entries were received<br />
in the under 18’s and two students from <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong><br />
won places. Laura King-1st Place and Abbie Willetts-2nd<br />
place. The prize presentation evening was 27th October<br />
where the girls received their awards from the Mayoress<br />
of Hunstanton.
Year 10 Geography field trips – October <strong>2012</strong><br />
On Wednesday 17 October and Thursday 18 October the Year 10 Geography groups took part in a coastal field trip to<br />
collect data for their forthcoming controlled assignment. The theme of this year’s project is coastal management at<br />
different locations<br />
On Wednesday, 22 students from Mr Chapman’s option C group joined Ms Bazeley-Smith, Mr Terrington and Mr<br />
Chapman for a full day of data collection. The early rain soon stopped to leave a fine day ideal for fieldwork. Our<br />
driver for the two days from Eagle’s coaches skilfully negotiated the small rural roads on the way to the coastal<br />
villages.<br />
Our first stop was Mundesley, where students carried out a beach transect, pebble survey, wave count, cliff sketch,<br />
longshore drift survey and sea defence survey. Our second site was Happisburgh, famous for its fast cliff erosion. The<br />
first challenge was to walk down a slippery clay slope to get onto the beach. Everyone was amazed by how cliff<br />
recession is shaping this part of the Norfolk coast.<br />
Lunch was taken in Sheringham; a number of students followed the staff to Mr Chapman’s favourite Sheringham fish<br />
and chip shop: Dave’s fish bar. As always the food was excellent! The final surveys took place on Sheringham beach<br />
to complete a productive and enjoyable day.<br />
On Thursday 39 students from the option A groups took part in the same trip. This time Mr Leys and Sixth Form<br />
Geographers, Alice Dean and Lilly Ruddock joined the trip. Again a fine day ensured another excellent day of data<br />
collection. Once again Dave’s fish and chips proved popular, particularly with Mr Chapman.<br />
One student was heard saying ‘we should do more trips like this’. Mr Chapman and Ms Bazeley-Smith agree as the<br />
students outstanding behaviour made them a pleasure to work with on these two days.<br />
Piano Masterclass<br />
On 13 November Richard Meyrick, a professional<br />
pianist and teacher, visited <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
to present a masterclass involving some of our young<br />
musicians. He performed compositions by Beethoven<br />
and Chopin, and some of our students had the<br />
opportunity to perform and discuss pieces which they had<br />
prepared in their individual piano lessons.<br />
They all found the event an interesting and challenging<br />
experience.<br />
Brancaster Music Festival<br />
A duo of professional musicians, Tom and Jonathan<br />
Scott, visited <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> on 11 October to<br />
give a performance sponsored by Brancaster Summer<br />
Music Festival.<br />
They performed piano duets in a range of styles, some<br />
of which were accompanied by video animations<br />
created by the performers. The audience, which<br />
comprised all of Year 7 plus students in Year 6 from<br />
our feeder primary schools, were all very appreciative<br />
of the performance.<br />
The Scott brothers<br />
also led a<br />
performance<br />
workshop<br />
involving all our<br />
Year 11 GCSE<br />
Music students.
CLS Rewards October <strong>2012</strong><br />
Every half term the Learning Support Assistants nominate<br />
those students in years 7-9 who have impressed them the<br />
most. We then all vote for an overall winner in four<br />
categories. All nominees receive a certificate and the four<br />
winners also receive a £5 gift card.<br />
Congratulations to last half term’s winners!<br />
Most Motivated<br />
Most Improved<br />
Best Reader<br />
Best Withdrawal<br />
Abbie Page<br />
Kieran Wood<br />
Jacey Walden<br />
Martin Allum<br />
Reminder from the Design Technology<br />
Department<br />
All the Year 11 coursework completed for the<br />
summer <strong>2012</strong> examinations will be recycled or<br />
disposed of by 16 January 2013. If you wish to<br />
collect it, you must arrange this with your subject<br />
teacher.<br />
Thank you for all your hard work in completing<br />
your coursework and we wish you all the best for<br />
your future.<br />
Mr Birks<br />
Rugby Trip<br />
On Saturday 10 November, Mr Mann and Mrs Stewart<br />
took a group of students to Twickenham to watch<br />
England V Fiji. All the students thoroughly enjoyed the<br />
game with England beating Fiji 54-12.<br />
Cake Fundraising<br />
Last term a group of Year 8 and 9 girls raised £40.00<br />
from a cake bake for the 18th Birthday of the Benjamin<br />
Foundation. The cheque was presented to Mrs Julie<br />
Bowyer and Mrs Lynn Haycock, who work for the<br />
foundation during a recent assembly.<br />
They sold the cakes during break time and at the<br />
Halloween disco.<br />
I go to street dance in King’s Lynn every Thursday. I am in Kelly’s<br />
Dance Crew and I am in the 8-16 years group. We meet at LA<br />
Fitness Centre, it only costs £3.50 a week.<br />
We wear special clothing to all look the same. I like going to<br />
street dance because I see my friend Kim and I love to dance. I<br />
have been in a show at The Park <strong>School</strong>, and in April I met Twist<br />
and Pulse from Britain’s Got Talent who ran dance sessions for us.<br />
I am in three routines in this years Christmas Show at the King’s<br />
Lynn Arts Centre so I have to go to extra rehearsals every<br />
Sunday as well. New members are welcome and can ring Kelly on<br />
07586535053 By Hannah Deadman 9CNa
International Visitors<br />
During the summer term a group of Chinese<br />
students came to stay with some of our students.<br />
They spent their days enjoying life at <strong>Smithdon</strong> and<br />
going on various trips including a visit to London.<br />
In September a group of Spanish students joined us<br />
for four weeks. The students came with their tutor<br />
from Vigo in Spain. The exchange trip was<br />
organised by the English Experience. Each day they<br />
attended lessons with our students until lunchtime,<br />
then in the afternoon had English lessons with<br />
Kathy, the English tutor from the English Experience.<br />
At weekends trips were organised including a bus<br />
trip round the coast, trip to Norwich and one to<br />
London. It was an emotional last evening when<br />
goodbyes were said.<br />
<strong>School</strong> Council Year Reps<br />
Year 7<br />
Ben Warner<br />
Annabel Park<br />
Charley Melton<br />
Rowan Jordan<br />
Year 8<br />
Jessica Newton<br />
Bradley Durham<br />
Alice Peacher<br />
William Howes<br />
Daniel Thomas<br />
Year 9<br />
Aine Cruise<br />
Kyle Chappell<br />
Phoebe Mott<br />
Laura Benstead<br />
Ellie Scott<br />
Year 10<br />
Lewis Jeavons<br />
Laim Sibbons<br />
Amelia Howard<br />
Tom Holt<br />
Kira Davies<br />
Megan Hughes<br />
Bethany Anthony<br />
Year 11<br />
Imogen Hawkes<br />
Marianna Mulligan<br />
Timmy Pickup<br />
Tia Bailey<br />
Kathleen Short-Howard<br />
Georgia Coote<br />
Chloe Coldman<br />
Sixth Form<br />
Holly Hudson<br />
Ismail Atalay<br />
Wesley Rumens<br />
Holly McAllister<br />
Laura Thomas
The Year 7 boys 5-a-side football team won the West Norfolk <strong>School</strong>s indoor 5- a-side tournament, beating<br />
Springwood in the final. The competition has been running for twenty two years and this was the first time a<br />
team from <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> has won the competition. The team included Lewis Codman, Ryan Bateson,<br />
Connor Joyce, Daniel Arnold, Ryan English, Tom Rayfield and Jonathan Waldron. All the players were fantastic<br />
ambassadors for the school. They have now qualified for the regional championships.<br />
Coming soon new sports page on the school website<br />
to keep parents informed of the extracurricular clubs,<br />
fixtures and opportunities
<strong>Smithdon</strong> Skiers selected for West Norfolk<br />
A group of twenty skiers took part in a ski race<br />
trials evening at the Trowse dry ski slope Norwich<br />
on Tuesday 23 October.<br />
The group spent two hours on the slope<br />
culminating in time trial runs down a slalom<br />
course.<br />
Both Ollie Little and Edward Little from <strong>Smithdon</strong><br />
were among the fastest down the course and<br />
have been selected to represent West Norfolk at<br />
the <strong>School</strong> Games County final event on 1 March<br />
2013. We wish them the best of luck.<br />
<strong>Smithdon</strong> students take FA Referee's course<br />
A group of students from <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> school have recently completed an FA Young Referee's course.<br />
The course was co-ordinated by Tracy Bower (SSCO) and led by Barry Knight from Norfolk FA who spent three<br />
evenings with the group giving them all the skills needed to start refereeing junior football matches.<br />
It is now hoped that this cohort will go on to support <strong>Smithdon</strong> cluster Primary events as well as continue their<br />
support of Heacham Minors U8 and U9 league fixtures on a Saturday.<br />
This is another example of the great community sporting support offered by <strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> students.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the first<br />
<strong>Smithdon</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> PTA<br />
Christmas Fayre on 14 December<br />
I would welcome any comments or thoughts on this newsletter, you can email<br />
me your comments or articles to<br />
cpike79rw@nsix.org.uk<br />
MANY THANKS