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E-NEWSLETTER  •  ISSUE 165

A Message from Principal, Mr Martin

This half-term has gone by quickly, as we approach the midway point of the Spring Term.

I would like to thank our parents and guardians for all their support during the day of industrial action by the NEU. Moving the school online for a day went very smoothly. I’m pleased to say that every student was set work to complete for the entire day and our students engaged well. The next day of action is due to take place on 1st March and we will contact you nearer the date with the plan for the day, if the strike goes ahead. Once again, we will endeavor to share details the Friday before the strike, so families have time to make suitable arrangements.

The Year 11 PRE took place this week online to provide feedback to parents/carers on the recent mock examinations and agree next steps as they approach their upcoming exams. Attendance was high and overall our students are preparing well for the next set of mock examinations after half-term. We wish them the best of luck.

This year’s production will be Les Misérables and following the auditions last week rehearsals are now up and running. This week we also had the Sixth Form performances for an external audience as part of their preparation for their exams. The performances included group performances, monologues and dialogues on a whole range of challenging topics.

In sport, the U15 boys rugby team travelled to Newcastle this week for a position in the semi-final having beaten Aylesbury Grammar school 17-5. It took eight hours to travel to the school and students had to travel north the night before. Despite a determined effort they were beaten 12-5 in the final minutes. Although they were bitterly disappointed, reaching the last 8 in the country is an amazing achievement and I’d like to sincerely congratulate them.

All eyes are now on the rugby 1st XV who have their semi final on the 5th March; the U15A netball who are in SIS national shield semi final; the U19A netball in the last 16 SIS national plate; the U16A and U15B boys football team in the quarter final today, and the U16B boys football, who won their national cup quarter final 1-0, who will play in the semi final after half-term.

Finally, we have had some complaints from members of the community that students are riding on the pavements. Please can you remind your child, if they cycle, to be considerate and respectful of the community.

Messages From Heads of Year 

  

Year 12, Mrs S Hoad

 

This half-term has felt really long, despite being one of the shortest in the school year! The days are getting lighter, and we are officially over half-way through the academic year. 

We've started to think about next steps post Sixth Form and are looking forward to our UCAS university and apprenticeships visit to Excel Arena on the 28th March. The letter and ParentMail payment details have already been sent to parents and carers. If you're having any issues with payments or consent forms for this trip then please contact Miss Collins. 

Mr Tonking has recently introduced a new coaching initiative (similar to the peer mentoring programme) and students have been asked to sign up if interested.

Students who are planning to apply for Oxbridge and/or Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary courses have met with and been given their tutorial guides in preparation for their applications. 

Work experience week (in July) might seem like a long way off, but students do need to be securing placements – if they need ideas or contacts please do email Miss Freeman for help. 

We are always conscious that all this discussion of next steps can cause worries for some students and we would encourage them to take advantage of our independent career adviser who can meet with them in school, appointments can be made by emailing Miss Freeman. 

The next half-term brings their next predict report and our PRE which will be virtual video appointments with subject staff (30th March).

Year 13, Mr C Tonking

 

Our Year 13s have received their final predicted report before the summer exams. We're really pleased with the predicted picture overall, and now have the final weeks in sight. It is important that students now use this as an opportunity to address any areas for development in their courses. We encourage students to approach their teachers to ask for extra advice and support. If any feel unable to, please encourage them to ask their tutor or the Sixth Form team to help.

We had initially planned to have an RRR day for Year 13s on Monday 20th February, however we have decided to cancel this due to the disrupted learning from the strike action. The reflective work will still happen during registration.

We are underway with plans for the prom, hoodies and yearbooks. Students have been asked to indicate their intentions for all three of these, and this will able us to get specific elements booked. Please note Friday 7th July as the date for the prom. Further correspondence will come out regarding payments after half-term.

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SWA ECO NEWS

Please click on the image below to read February edition.

WE NEED YOUR OPINION

We would like to invite parents and guardians to help us review our policies and shape the direction of our academy. If you would like to be involved in a focus group to look at various policies throughout the year, please contact Mr Rowell.

SPRING MUSIC CONCERT

Click on the poster below to purchase your tickets for the Spring Music Concert!

DANCE SHOWCASE

Click on the poster below to purchase your tickets for the Dance Showcase!

SUMMER MUSICAL

Fantastic turn out to the summer musical audition workshop last week. Auditions for the show Les Misérables will be held on Monday 20th February from 4:00 - 6:00pm in room 532. Any questions before then, please email Mrs Meadows.

SOCIETY

Our Sixth Form Society students have had a busy fortnight. Last week, Dr Haynes delivered a lecture on Black Migration to Britain post WW2. The lecture was focused on the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948.  

Later on in the week, Year 12 Society tutorial leaders gathered in the Sixth Form study centre to discuss plans for expanding the tutorial system to students in lower year groups. 

Finally, Year 12 chemistry tutorial leaders, as part of The Society, delivered a fascinating tutorial to Year 10 students. A great way to expand knowledge and skills to a much higher level.

SIXTH FORM ALTERNATIVE STEPS

Last week Year 13 students who are seeking alternative routes post Sixth Form, had the opportunity to learn more about what options they have available to them. This included looking at apprenticeships, gap years and full-time work.

The students found the presentation very useful, and had the opportunity at the end to request talks on other topics.

ART

Across all year groups, students have been working hard in art to improve their skills. There are some of the wonderful pieces produced this half-term. 




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U15 NETBALL

Congratulations to our U15 netball team who are through to the fifth round of the Sister in Sport national competition after a difficult game against St Helens & St Katharine school.

U15 BOYS' RUGBY

The U15 boys' rugby team run in the National Vase competition comes to an end. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and how far they have come as a team. To make it to the quarter-finals is an excellent achievement, and we look forward to seeing how this team develops. We wish the best of luck to Dame Allen’s School going forward in the competition, and thank them for a very competitive game.

BASKETBALL

A group of Year 9 students had the opportunity to train with North Herts Knights national league basketball team this week. The boys were incredible throughout and got stuck into the session. Massive thanks to NHK for having us.

U16B BOYS' FOOTBALL

As of yesterday our U16B boys' football team are through to the semi-finals in the English Schools' Football Association National Cup. The team won 1-0 against a very competitive side. 

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MEDICAL

Non-Prescription Medications in school, request.
Recently there has been an increasing number of students coming down to the medical room for paracetamol / ibuprofen and we're struggling to keep supplies replenished with so many students requesting them.

Students are permitted to carry non-prescribed medications for their own use, we encourage them to carry a small amount on their person, so should they need to take one they can, without having to take time out of their education to visit the medical room. We do have emergency paracetamol and ibuprofen, however if you or your child knows that they may need pain relief during the day (for example, they have a head cold or they have their period), please send them to school with their usual dose. As you can imagine, in an academy this size, it is hard to keep a stock of these, and so we can’t always guarantee that pain relief will be available. Students will only be allowed to collect medication during break and lunchtime.

Medical Conditions
Can we please ask that you go to the medical section on your child’s Edulink and amend / remove anything that is no longer applicable to your child’s health. It is imperative that this is kept up to date.

Vaccine timetable
Below are the latest dates given to me by the immunisation team for up and coming vaccines. Please look out on EduLink for communication coming home regarding consent for your child to receive these. In the communication you will see the date the nurses are coming into school and, more importantly, a date that you need to have completed the consent form by. The team do not except any consent forms past this deadline.

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Samuel Whitbread Academy E-Newsletter
 
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Parent, Carer, Governor or Member of Staff at SWA. 
 
Samuel Whitbread Academy
Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5QS
Tel: 01462 629900  •  Fax: 01462 629901
Email: swa-info@bestacademies.org.uk