HIGHLIGHTS

I was in a science lesson this week which was focussed on balancing equations, it was good to see the students working together and supporting each other with some challenging work. By the end of the lesson, they were working independently using different resources to support their learning.

It was lovely to see everyone back in school this week after the two-week break.  For Year 11 they have been straight into their first round of Pre-Public Exams that prepare them for their GCSEs in May and June next year.  This week they have been sitting papers in English, Maths and Science and in a few weeks they will sit papers in their option subjects.  We take this approach to help the students begin to understand the pressures that they may feel in the summer, and we start to build this gradually as it is something they have to learn to deal with.  A strange highlight one might think, but it is an important part of the Year 11 journey to success. 

Although we have only just returned from the half term break, our thoughts are moving forward to Christmas and the annual Draw which raises funds for our school.

If you own a local business and would like to donate an item for our Draw, or are a family who would like to sponsor a prize, please contact our Marketing Manager.

We are looking for sponsors of the following prizes:

Mercedes-Benz World Off-Road 1 hour 4x4 for non-licence holders - £105
With a qualified Driving Instructor by your side in a dual controlled car, you’ll spend 60 adventurous minutes performing controlled driving exercises over a variety of terrains. You’ll master steep inclines, water crossings and axle twisting obstacles!

Windsor Crown Jewels Heist Escape Room for 2 - £60
It’s your moment to shine in the Crown Jewels Heist! But this is no smash and grab robbery…
Your mission has been meticulously planned for months and now is the perfect window of time to execute it. The plotted route will take you on a path through the Medieval Castle before reaching the Royal Family’s prize possessions, the Crown Jewels. Steal the treasure and make your escape, before you are discovered by the Royal Knights guarding the castle!

Champagne Celebration Festive Voucher at The Ivy Collection- £100
Elevate the festivities this season with a Champagne Celebration Festive Voucher. From afternoon tea or weekend brunch with friends to an intimate dinner for two, you will also receive complimentary bottle of The Ivy Champagne! 

UPCOMING CAREERS OPPORTUNITIES

All students have Personal Development lessons, part of which includes careers advice. Please click the image above to take you to the Upcoming Opportunities page which is updated regularly with information and advice. 

NEWS ROUND-UP

Take a look through our social media using the buttons above and check out this week's news stories below.

Read our news stories this week by clicking the links below:

National Language Competition

A Level Geography Trip to Iceland

NOTICES

COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS - DAILY DISPATCH

CHANGES FROM MONDAY 13 NOVEMBER

As a response to both the Staff and Student Councils, and to help our students build their independence, a Student Daily Dispatch email will be sent to students each afternoon containing information that might be needed for the following day, or in the case of the one sent on Friday, information for Monday. 

All students in Years 7 - 11 will be sent the email around 3pm, so your child should received the first Student Daily Dispatch today for you to have a look at.

It is important that students look at their Student Daily Dispatch email each evening in preparation for the next day as crucial information such as break and room changes and club cancellation will be included.

The Sixth Form Daily Notice will continue to provide notices to the Sixth Form in its current format.

ODD SOCKS ON MONDAY

To show support and awareness of anti-bullying week, students can wear odds socks on Monday 13 November.  There will be no monetary donations but there will be a House competition to see which House has the most odd sock wearers! Students who have PE on Monday are also allowed to bring odd PE socks if they wish!

CALL FOR DONORS

We have a student in school who is going through a very tough treatment regime as a result of his medical condition.  His illness has highlighted the need to increase awareness of the Anthony Nolan Trust - their work and how you could help is detailed below and in the link here. If you are able to help then please make contact with Anthony Nolan Trust.

In the meantime I am sure you will all join me in wishing the young person all the very best as they continue to go through their treatment and build towards a transplant.

HOW TO HELP: The Anthony Nolan charity has been helping patients for almost 50 years.  It has the UK's biggest stem cell register, but desperately needs more people to sign up, particularly donors between the age of 16-25 years old. 

Donors under the age of 30 lead to better survival rates for patients but fewer and fewer are coming forward.

It's really simple to sign up to the register.

You receive a swab in the post and you just need to swap your cheeks and send them back to Antony Nolan. We test those for your unique genetic type and then you sit on the register ready to be a match for a patient in need.

The swab test is simple and similar the covid swab test.

For someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder, an amazing stranger donating their stem cells could be their best chance of survival.  If you sign up to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register and one day come up as a genetic match, you could be that amazing stranger. Without you, there is no cure. Any hotels, travel expenses, and loss of earnings incurred as being a donor will be paid for you and a companion.

Are you ready to help save a life?

Register now: https://www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/join-stem-cell-register

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

Our whole school Remembrance Day Service will take place on Monday 13 November. Poppies can be purchased from Student Services, Reception, Sixth Form Common Room There is no set price but donations of £2 or more are recommended for the basic plastic-free paper poppy.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all those who have quoted code 4071 when purchasing Stikins labels. You've helped to raise £108.18 since July which is incredible!

The funds will be added to our Fund The Future initiative which in the past has helped replace our minibuses & provided picnic benches for students to use during their breaks.

You can buy Stikins to help keep track of your child's school uniform by using the link below, and please remember to use the code (4071) so that we receive a commission:

https://www.stikins.co.uk/name-labels/

LET'S TALK ABOUT MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH

For students, parents/guardians and teachers/counselors

Want to find out how you can make a difference in mental health awareness? Join Movember, the global community for men's health issues and expert TEDx Speaker, The Men's Coach, who will open up the conversation about men's mental health. You'll find out why there's a movement for men's mental health, why men tend to find it more difficult to speak about their mental health, and where to seek support so you can help yourself and others who might be experiencing poor mental health.

When : Monday 20 November 2023
Time : 17.00
Duration: 45 mins

Link to register: https://www.unifrog.org/teacher/webinars/upcoming/862-lets-talk-about-mens-mental-health

DETACHED CAR PARK

We would like to remind all parents that the detached car park (opposite side of the road to school) is for staff and Sixth Form students only and that there are no drop off/pick up facilities designated in this area.

We have had repeated reports that cars are parking and waiting in the car park at the end of school, blocking students in, parking in such a way that it is difficult to manoeuvre and exit. There have also been concerns about the way our students are being spoken to when they ask parents to move to let them out.

As I am sure you can appreciate our Year 13 students are new and inexperienced drivers and as such need to feel confident and safe as they leave the school grounds.

Please can we ask that parents do not use this car park and that instead perhaps park in a street near to school and get their child to walk a little of the way or organise to pick up slightly later to help alleviate the congestion.

Your support here is appreciated to ensure that all students are safe as they leave school.

AUTISM IN GIRLS TALK 

7pm Tuesday 21 November at Furze Platt Senior School’s Theatre

Cathy Wassell, who runs the charity, Autism in Girls Network, will talk about how girls are often diagnosed much later than boys due to misconceptions about how it presents itself. Cathy is the mother of a child with autism, who was only diagnosed aged 13 after a mental health crisis. 

She can talk both personally and professionally about the challenges of getting a diagnosis and gives practical tips and techniques for those who care for children and teenagers.

Ticket prices are £5 to cover the cost of hosting Cathy at our theatre. Book here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/furzeplatttheatre

NETWORK RAIL SAFETY VIDEOS

Network Rail in partnership with Learn Live are working to help raise awareness by educating your students about the dangers of the train tracks through interactive digital delivery. They want to get three simple messages across:

1. Being on the railway tracks is extremely dangerous
2. Trains can run at any time of day or night, even when not shown in the timetable, or on station information displays, or online.
3. On the Wessex and South Western Railway network trains are powered by a ‘third rail’ which carries 750v of electricity.  This is always live, even when there are no trains running.

The session is less than 15 minutes and explains why it is important to stay safe near the tracks. Please click on the link below to view the safety video:

https://learnliveuk.com/wessex-network-rail-safety-presentation-secondary/

Over 19 million students, parents and teachers from across the UK have already watched these videos which has led to a significant decrease in the number of incidents in their area through watching the safety videos.

Remember 15 minutes can help save lives and provide important safety information to young people.

To make things easier to watch the free safety videos just entering the email railsafety@learnliveuk.com into the "I am registered field" when you first watch the videos.

Please note these are the recommended age ranges, we would always advise you to view the clips first to gauge suitability.

USEFUL LINKS

PLEASE CLICK ICON TO VISIT RELEVANT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE

 

PARENT CURRICULUM/SUPPORT INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK ICON TO VISIT RELEVANT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE

  

 

 

 Disclaimer: Any websites or apps mentioned in the Weekly Newsletter are not endorsed by the School and are used at your own discretion.  Any views or opinions expressed within the website or app are not necessarily those of Charters School.