Paralympic Celebration Day

2

Children in Need 2

Parent Forum

Young Writers

2

3

Religious Studies Trip 3

Senior Citizens Christmas Party

3

YHS Gets Set for London 2012

4

Marie Curie Fundraiser Year 9 Update

5

5

Holocaust Memorial Trip 6

Afterschool Clubs & Activi-ties

7

Dates for your Diary 8

YHS achieves Youth Sport Trust Gold Partner Award

Year 7 Update

6

6

Issue 13

December 2011

www.yorkhighschool.co.uk

Our final newsletter of 2011 comes at the end of another fantastic year for York High School and this last half term has been little dif-ferent. Two particular moments stand out for me. firstly, the Presen-tation Evening to the Year 11 pupils from last year. It was great to be able to celebrate with them their success and we were really pleased that Dr Alison Birkinshaw the Principal at York College was able to come and present the certificates. The second highlight was the Paralympic Celebration Day that we held with the whole of Years 7 and 9. There are more details elsewhere in the newsletter but the day was one of those occasions when our pupils really showed what fantastic young people they are. It was wonderful to see them participating but also reflecting on the important message of the day which was quite simply that everyone is important and valued whatever their needs.

The last few weeks of term have been very busy, full of events and activities, including a Senior Citizens Christmas Party organised by Year 11 who also raised the funds to pay for it, our Christmas Con-cert took place on 14th December and a number of other events re-lated to the rewards that pupils have earned during the term.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone associated with our school a very Happy Christmas and the very best for 2012. It promises to be another exciting year for the school with the Olympics and the op-portunities that provides, but also it is likely to be the year in which we have our next Ofsted inspection which will be a chance for us to show how much our school and young people have achieved in the last few years.

A message from the Headteacher:

Page: In this Issues :

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YHS News Autumn Term

On November 25th YHS pupils par-ticipated in a non uniform day to raise funds for Children in Need 2011. A total of £913 was raised and donated on behalf of YHS pupils and staff.

Paralympic Celebration Day

On Wednesday 23rd November Year 7 and Year 9 pupils par-ticipated in a Paralympic Celebration Day. The focus of the day was ‘equality’, which forms part of our school mission statement. During the day pupils had the opportunity to meet and hear from New Zealand Paralympian Tim Prendergast. Tim began to lose his sight at the age of eight and is now reg-istered blind with only 5% of his vision remaining. In spite of this Tim won Gold in the 800m at the Paralympics in Athens in 2004, the World Blind Games 5000m in 2007, he was captain of the New Zealand Paralympic team in Beijing and he hopes to win the 1500m in London next year.

In addition, pupils participated in Paralympic sports such as Goalball and Wheelchair Basketball as well as taking part in activities that consider, more broadly, the issues and chal-lenges that surround people with disabilities.

The Paralympic Celebration Day forms part of the work we are doing at York High to ensure that London 2012 has real meaning to our pupils. As a school we strongly believe that we can use the Games in London not only to inspire young people to take part in sport but also to put into practice the values of respect, courage, personal excellence and determination and most importantly that they understand that everyone is valued whatever their learning or physical needs.

Parent Forum

We would like to hear parental views and thoughts on issues around Access and Inclusion at York High. There will be an opportunity to come in and speak to staff on these issues during January.

Further information will be distributed to families in the New Year. Information will also be published on our school website www.yorkhighschool.co.uk

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Autumn Term YHS News

Religious Studies Pupils Learn about Buddhism

On a sunny Thursday December morn-ing, 60 Year 7 pupils ventured to Pocklington to spend time at the Madhyamaka Centre to learn more about Buddhism.

We first went into the dining room so that Chochin, an ordained Buddhist Monk, could tell us about what we would be doing. Then, we went into one of the beautiful meditation rooms.

Here, we learned more about the Bud-dhist way of life and the importance of the robes from an ordained Buddhist Nun. We were given the opportunity to try some meditation – you could have heard a pin drop!

One Year 7 pupil said, ‘I found the day interesting because we learnt about another lifestyle and beliefs and went into the beautiful forest and walled garden. I would definitely recommend the trip to other pupils, the pictures show that we had fun!’ – Georgie Mountain.

On the 8th of December, Year 11 pupils hosted a Christmas party for senior citizens of our local com-munity. The challenge to raise funds for the event was put to Year 11 pupils in September by Mr Moran. Representatives were appointed from each form and fundraising activities were very successful in raising over £700. Fundraising activities included, eight pupils rowing the equivalent distance of the English Channel, a pupil had his long cultivated hair cut short, a brave member of staff volunteered to have his legs waxed, pupils sold cakes, organised a Halloween disco and many other fundraising activi-ties took place.

The raised funds were used to transform the school hall into a Christmas Party venue, purchase prizes for the bingo games and raffle, and provide a plenti-ful Christmas buffet and punch for the attendees.

The party kicked off with a warm welcome from Year 11 pupils and Mr Ellis. The afternoon proceeded with bingo games, a Christmas buffet, entertainment by pupils from all year groups including performances

…...Continued on page 4 

24 Year 8 pupils have been successful in the Young Writers ‘Express yourself’ poetry writing competition. They wrote sonnets, limericks and Haiku poems express-ing feelings. There were plenty of ‘Love’ sonnets in the style of Shake-speare!

They have won book-marks and entry into a prize draw, and their po-ems will be published in the ‘Express Yourself Yorkshire’ book of po-ems, due to be released in March. Well done Year 8 writers!

Young Writers

Senior Citizens Christmas Party

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YHS News

YHS gets set for London 2012 with a grant to plan Games

YHS has been awarded a grant of £8,800 to support and work in part-nership with other schools in our area, making the most of opportu-nities available through the official London 2012 education pro-gramme ‘Get Set’.

The funding will support two projects, ‘On your Marks…’ and ‘Let it row, Let it row’. The ‘On your Marks’ project is a series of ten curricular themed activities that are based around iconic Olympic events, achievements or history. Each of these activities, devised by an artist in residence working with faculties, will engage whole year groups. Each activity will produce cultural artefacts which will be displayed or performed at the North York-

shire School Games in July 2012 as part of a cultural Olympiad where each will be judged. Each artefact will also contribute to the development of an ‘Olympic Trail’ around the school building which incorporates images, stories and sound and creates a sense of wonder about human achievement. The second project ‘Let it row, Let it row’ will use an associate schools’ close ties with rowing to encourage Key Stage 4 boys and girls into rowing (for health and) competitively. Participants will train and compete in live races against Olympic recordings. Pupils will race against partner schools, and the Olympians, simultaneously and all via the now more reliable inter-net streaming facilities. This will start as ‘search for a star – looking for a 2020 Olympian’. This project is about unlocking potential in people that might never be discovered if the opportunity doesn’t arise.

YHS is a member of the Get Set network and is one of 125 schools who have been awarded a grant, selected from over 600 schools who applied. ‘Plan your 2012’ offers schools that join the London 2012 ‘Get Set network’ reward and recognition scheme the chance to share their passion for the Games, inspiring and engaging other schools, young people and building partnerships across their community.

Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme for schools and colleges across the UK. More than 20,500 schools have already registered with the programme. It provides pupils and teachers with access to free resources including films, activity and fact sheets to support young people to explore the Olympic and Paralympic Values and play their part in the London 2012 Games.

Issue 13

Continued from page 3…... 

from the Glee Choir, cho-reographed dances by the Btec Dance Group, a Christ-mas Sing-along with Ms Cartwright, a raffle and many other performances.

The event was a great suc-cess and many of the resi-dents of our community spoke of how they had en-joyed themselves, how won-derfully welcoming, friendly and helpful the pupils were and how they had seen for

themselves that the majority of young people care a great deal about the world and communities around them. Mr Moran was very proud of the pupils involved as they showed they were ambassadors for their gen-eration and the kindness, respect and empathy they showed made a massive impression on the people they entertained and gave their time to so selflessly.

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YHS News

As part of the Personal Development Curriculum, Mrs McNalty’s Year 10’s have been raising money for charity. The challenge set to all tutor groups was to collect and donate as many 1p and 2p coins as possible. In just four weeks an amazing £465.06 has been collected.

Well done to 8BN, the winning tutor group, who collected a total of £69.74, closely followed by 8LD with £55.70 and 9FX with £34.02!Special thanks and well done must also go to Lauren Richardson, Chloe Richardson, Taya Reeve, Tonicha Cook and Dawn Maddison who gave up many of their breaks and lunch times to count these pennies!

Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves!

- Pupils raise £465 for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Autumn Term

Star Reward Scheme

The new Star Reward Scheme is having a really positive impact on the year group. The scheme un-derpins our mission statement of PRIDE (Personal excellence, Re-spect and friendship, Inspiration, Determination and courage, and Equality).

It is based on an inter-form com-petition. Stars can be awarded for a variety of reasons such as ex-ceeding expectations, making a positive contribution in lessons, communicating effectively with others or improvement over a 2-3 week period. A star is worth 20 points. Additional points can be awarded for extra curricular activi-ties such as getting involved in class assemblies, representing

the school, making positive contri-butions around school or within the local community. All staff can nominate a pupil to become ‘Student of the Week’ all nomi-nees receive 20 bonus points. During our weekly Year 9 assem-blies 5 stars will be drawn. The Star of the Week receives 50 bo-nus points for their form, a £5 HMV voucher, a priority lunch pass plus a guest for a week. The next 4 Stars receive 20 bonus points, a lunch pass plus 1 and a star key ring. A further draw is made for the ‘Student of the week’ the first drawn is awarded a trophy and bonus points of 50 for their form. The form with the most points that week receives a trophy. The form with the most points at the end of each half term have 5th period off timetable to watch a DVD and have refresh-ments. All winners are displayed on the Year 9 notice board.

Education or Training

Until the age of 18

Year 9 is the first year group that will have to participate in some

form of education or training until the age of 18. It was therefore encouraging to see so many pu-pils and parents at the York Op-tions & Opportunities evening on Wednesday 19th October at York Racecourse.

The event provided an opportu-nity for young people and their parents to gain an insight into the different courses, qualifications and training programmes avail-able to choose from at the age of 14. The pathways evening in school is planned for the spring term.

Risky Business

The recent Risky Business pro-duction, by The White Rabbit Company generated a great deal of discussion and thought about how teen years are generally a risky time. The production pro-vided an opportunity for the year group to look at different risky situations and gain a better un-derstanding of risk to enable them to stay safe.

Mrs Muress

Year 9 by Mrs Muress

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YHS News

YHS achieves Youth Sport Trust Gold Partner Award

Issue 13

The Youth Sport Trust is an independent charity established in 1994 to build a brighter future for young people through PE and sports. Following an inspection visit from the Youth Sport Trust, York High School received Gold status in recognition of our work as a Specialist Sports College. At the heart of our school is a mission statement based on the Olympic and Paralympic values. The Youth Sport Trust commended the way in which sport features strongly in the development of our school and the way in which it is used as a tool to explicitly develop and support pupils to be the best they can be.

The Sport & Health Faculty this year launched a new curriculum that was designed in consulta-tion with pupils. The curriculum challenges negative stereotypes and misconceptions about PE and contributes to raising whole school standards. In PE pupils’ develop personal, social, creative, thinking and physical skills through taking on a variety of roles such as performer, leader, coach, official and organiser. These learning methods support the development of functional and employability skills. At York High School we strive to provide an inclusive PE programme that supports different needs, interests and aspirations and therefore offer a wide variety of different sports, activities and pathways.

Achievement of the Gold partner school Award, which will only be awarded to 200 schools na-tionally, provides our school with resources, specialist support and exciting opportunities that will allow us to continue to grow and move forward as a specialist sports college and is recog-nition of the great work being done in relation to sport across the school.

The vast majority of Year 7 have had a positive start to their secondary school education. Many have already participated in the various organised trips, visits and activities in school.

Tutor Group 7NM attended a reward trip for the SEAL Day to York Racecourse and all did very good impressions of jockeys with invisible horses running around the track!

All the Year 7 tutor groups worked hard to raise money for Children in Need but a special mention for 7AB who raised a massive £145.00 the most in the whole school! Well done to them. The winner of the Pudsey Bear colouring competition was Alex Ene for her Rudolf the Red Nose Pudsey poster.

The Year 7 Rugby teams, both boys and girls have had a cracking start to the season and we look forward to more suc-cesses after Christmas. Congratulations to 7DR the winners of the inter tutor group football competition, also congratula-tions to the runners up 7NM.

Finally I would like to thank parents for their support this term and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Miss Hustwick

Year 7 by Miss Hustwick

The Religious Studies depart-ment hosted a trip last month to the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Laxton, near Nottingham.

This is the second year the trip has run and pupils who partici-pated came back with a lot more knowledge and understanding of the Second World War and the effects and consequences of the Holocaust. The trip will run again next year.

Holocaust Memorial Trip

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Issue 13 YHS News

After School Clubs & Activities

Dates for your Diary

www.yorkhighschool.co.uk

Page 8

Autumn Term YHS News

Spring Term

Tuesday 3rd January - Start of new term

Monday 13th - Friday 17th February - Half Term Holidays Monday 20th February - 2nd Half of Term starts

Monday 2nd - Friday 13th April - End of Term Holidays

Summer Term

Monday 16th April - Start of new term Monday 7th May - Bank Holiday

Friday 1st - Friday 8th June - Half Term Holidays Monday 11th June - 2nd Half of Term starts

Friday 29th June - Training Day Friday 20th July - Last day of Term

Dates for your diary

Tuesday 24th January - Year 11 Parent’s Evening Monday 1st February - Year 11 Photograph Day Tuesday 7th February - Year 9 Parent’s Evening

Tuesday 6th March - Year 7 Parent’s Evening Tuesday 1st May - Year 10 Parent’s Evening

To receive future copies of YHS News by email and in full

Colour please contact t.fahy@yorkhighschool.co.uk with your

child’s name and tutor group

York High School Cornlands Road York YO24 3WZ

Telephone: 01904 555500 Fax: 01904 788998

reception@yorkhighschool.co.uk