december 2015 - aylesbury vale academy - home...wilfred owen’s famous poem ‘dulce et decorum...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Parent/Carer
We find ourselves at the end of the very long Autumn
term and all ready for a well-earned break, looking
forward to our Christmas celebrations. As you can see
from this newsletter, it’s been a very exciting half term!
I am very sad to be leaving now after 11 years in total
at Quarrendon School/AVA. I have absolutely enjoyed
my time here and working with all the staff and students
over the years has provided me with so many positive
experiences and very happy memories.
I am very proud of all that we have achieved over the
past few years and I wish all students and staff every
possible happiness and success in the future.
We also say goodbye this term to:- Ms Beagent (D&T),
Mr Cook (Art), Miss Dixon (MFL/AD Yr 8), Miss Higgins
(Art), Mrs Neil (Maths – 13 years) and Mrs Hallam
(Media/Director of Post-16 – 12 years). We thank
them for their positive contributions to the Academy and
wish them all the best for the future.
We welcome Miss Herrera (MFL), Mr Keating (Art), Miss
Walsh (Art), Mrs Stephen (Maths and AD Yr 8) and Miss
Adetoye (D&T).
I thank you all for your support for all the staff at AVA
and we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Happy
New Year.
Mrs F Froment
Dates for the Diary
Monday 4th January 2016 Inset Day
Week commencing Monday 4th January 2016:
Students return to the Academy
Year 12 and 13 mock exams
Week commencing Monday 11th January 2016:
Year 9 Options Evening
Show Racism the Red Card
Week commencing Monday 18th
January 2016:
Year 9 Internal Exams
Week commencing Monday 25th January 2016:
Year 11 Parents Evening
Week commencing Monday 1st February 2016:
Year 10 RS visit to the Holocaust Memorial
Service
Week commencing Monday 8th February 2016:
Safer Internet Day
Year 8 Parents Evening
Half Term at 3pm on Thursday 11th February 2016.
Friday 12th February 2016 Inset Day.
Week commencing Monday 22nd
February 2016:
Students return to the Academy
Week commencing Monday 29th February 2016:
Year 11 English and Maths Mock exam
Year 12 and 13 Parents Evening
Newsletter of The Aylesbury Vale Academy
Paradise Orchard Berryfields Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0WS
t 01296 428 551 [email protected] www.theacademy.me
December 2015
Remembrance Day
On November 11th most students came to school thinking it’s
just another school day, but for the cadets it was something
more. On this day it would be a day to remember the brothers
and sisters who have lost their lives in wars past and present. At
10:55 the cadets formed up to honour the fallen brethren. As
the clock struck 11:00 the last post rang out not just in our
school but all over the country from Buckingham Palace to
Edinburgh Castle. As all remembered the fallen who gave their
today for our tomorrow.
Special thanks to Mrs Froment and all of SLT for organising this
event as well as the Reverend Lane for saying the prayers.
Finally another thank you to all cadets that took part in the
events on the 11th November.
Casey Nicklin, Year 11
War Poems by Year 8
These poems were written during English lessons after looking at
Wilfred Owen’s famous poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’. We
thought about the differing viewpoints of those involved in World
War 1: the soldiers themselves; those who were left at home and
also those who were responsible for commanding the soldiers.
Mrs J Harlow, Teacher of English
Looking Around by Caitlyn Fabrello
Looking around,
The battle was harsh,
Bodies lay scattered on the ground,
With the horrible scent of blood
surrounding me.
I can hardly see,
Smoke blinds my eyes like fog on a
horrible day,
As I look around,
My heart sinks and fills with sadness
I want this battle to end.
Noises of gunshots are like poison to my
ears,
This image of this terrifying place scarred
me for life.
This is a place of death and I try to keep
hope in my heart.
Waiting by Macie Illing
Waiting, waiting, waiting
For my little boy to come home.
Not knowing is he has survived and all
alone.
I just want him to come home,
Come home safe and sound
And make your country proud.
Be brave and don’t go to the grave
Do your best and end the war,
Win a medal
I don’t care
Just come home in one piece.
You just have to hope and hope.
Go and make me proud
And blend in with the crowd.
Bring our country peace,
And we’ll be able to sleep
Knowing that we
Can live a normal life.
SURVIVE by Kaie Hulme
Stolen lives from loved ones
Under attack all the time
Rightful places in heaven
Very dangerous at night
In the darkness alone
Very hard to keep going
Evacuating children to nowhere
Post 16
Well done to the Year 13 student, Shanade Hopcroft, who
achieved a Scholarship to America, starting from next year.
Shanade is a fantastic student, a determined young woman who
gives her studies her all. She is enthusiastic and willing to go the
extra mile, her attitude to her studies is positive, she enjoys her
learning and this is reflected in the high standard that she
produces across the board.
Shanade is a very friendly person who is very approachable.
Her calm and respectful manner has made her very popular with
her fellow students and staff alike. She is a very good team
player who is always willing to take on responsibilities.
Ms Lutchi (Director of Post 16) and Ms Freshwater ( Pastoral
Support of Post 16) would like to congratulate her once again
and wish her all the best in the near future.
WELL DONE Shanade!!! ACHIEVE TODAY, AMAZE
TOMORROW!
Post 16 Options Evening
Our Sixth Form Options Evening took place on Thursday 26th,
November 2015, showcasing our Post 16 options choices.
The event gave
parents, carers
and students a
chance to get
details of the
subjects available,
talk to subject
teachers and some
of the students
who are currently
following courses at AS/A2 Level. Staff were also on hand to
answer any questions that they had about particular subjects.
Our Career Adviser was also available and members of the
School’s Leadership Team were present to answer any questions
about the options process.
It was a very successful evening with valuable feedback from
parents and carers and many students showed an interest
towards the subjects we hope to offer, such as: English
Literature, Maths, Biology, History, Geography, Art and Design,
Media, Communication and Culture, Physical Education, BTEC
Art, BTEC ICT, BTEC Business, BTEC Sport, BTEC Performing
Arts and BTEC Arts.
If you did not have a chance to visit us, please book an
appointment with Ms Lutchi, Director of Post 16.
Year 11 Students attend Crime Conference
Year 11 Law students
had an amazing day at a
y ou th c r i me a nd
punishment conference
in London on the 21st
October. The theme was
Nature or Nurture: are
offenders born or made?
And examining whether
punishment has an
impact.
The conference was
chaired by Professor
David Wilson, Professor of Criminology at Birmingham
University and presenter of ITV’s back to Borstal. The guest
speakers were ex-offenders who gave an insight in to life inside
as well as talking about their childhood upbringing.
Students were fascinated by Noel ‘Razor’ Smith an ex prisoner
who has now topped the Times Best Seller List as an author. We
are hoping he will visit the Academy to give a talk early next
year.
Year 11 Brandon Cook retains his title
On October 25th at The Forum,
Hatfield, Brandon Cook won in style
when he fought challenger Eddy
Hibbitt for his Southern Area Title.
The fight was a five round full contact
fight and Brandon took all 5 rounds
with ease.
Brandon says, ‘he was the top
contender to fight me as he has been
beating lots of people and was on a
winning streak’. Congratulations and
well done Brandon and good luck for
your next fight
Parents Contact Details
Please could we ask parents to update their contact details, if
they think they have changed, especially mobile numbers.
Please could a second emergency contact number be supplied if
we currently do not have one.
Year 11 visit the Waterside Theatre
On the 19th November the English literature students of year 11
had the opportunity to attend a viewing of the Broadway
production of 'Of Mice and Men'. When I first read the novella
in year 10, I admit that I was not exactly taken by it. I found
Steinbeck's writing dry and repetitive and felt that the main
characters of George and Lennie deserved better than to have
fallen victims to such a predictable plot and little to no character
development.
However, within the first few minutes of the play I knew that this
would be the beginning in a change of my own attitudes. James
Franco and Chris O'Dowd excelled in the somewhat unlikely
roles of the ambitious George Milton and his unintelligent, but
loveable companion, Lennie Small. The play is set against the
backdrop of 1930s California during the height of the
Depression, and features the exploits of two friends as they aim
to earn enough money to escape the vicious cycle of their dull
and meaningless lives. Lennie and George want nothing more
than to own their own farm and tend to it in peace. Steinbeck,
however, has other plans for his leading characters.
'Of Mice and Men' is perhaps best enjoyed after having read it
twice. You are left feeling utterly powerless as you observe
George and Lennie's fixed fate unravel before you and it
becomes the sort of thing you watch or read while wondering
and hoping that somehow the ending will turn out differently this
time around.
Overall, this production offers a fresher and far more emotive
version of the novel, and creates a far more immersive world
than the book provides. I would highly recommend it to anyone
who has read 'Of Mice and Men', no matter what your original
opinion of Steinbeck is.
Lauren Smith, Year 11
Children In Need
A y l e s b u r y V a l e
Academy students
raised £638.05 for
Children in Need on
Friday 13th November
by donating to the charity in order to wear their own clothes for
the day. Children in Need provide grants for projects in the UK
which focus on children and young people who are
disadvantaged. This year the charity raised a colossal
£37,100,687 and your contributions will make a huge
difference to the lives of hundreds of children.
Poppy Sales at AVA
AVA Library News
Book Fair
I would like to thank all of the students and parents who
supported the Book Fair the Academy ran In October. This is the
first time the school has hosted such an event and the level of
interest was amazing. The majority of our Year 7 students paid
the library a visit to see what books were on offer and many
made a purchase. I was also my great pleasure to meet a
number of parents during the Settling In evening.
Thanks to everybody’s generosity we raised over £300 in sales
and gained a set of 30 new books for the school library. These
include titles by popular authors such as David Walliams and
Michael Morpurgo as well as a number of classics such as Pride
and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, The Hound of the Baskervilles and
Frankenstein and also some non-fiction books on subjects
ranging from IT to History and PSHE.
With the success of this first event the school will be throwing
another Book Fair later in the academic year. This will be just a
part of a week of literacy activities we will be running to coincide
with World Book Day in March. Further details as we get closer
to the event.
My most sincere thanks go to Mrs Harlow for all of her hard
work organising and running the Book Fair and I look forward
to our students enjoying the new additions to the library.
Book Trust and School Library Service
In what turned out to be a perfect storm at the same time as we
ran the Book Fair the library also received its annual delivery of
new titles from the Book Trust. They are a charitable
organisation who support child literacy, particularly reading for
pleasure, by sending free sets of books to schools. These cater
to a range of age groups, abilities and tastes with a mixture of
fiction books including novels, short story and poem collections,
graphic novels and titles aimed at reluctant readers. This year
we received Future Classics by highly regarded authors such as
Phil Earle and Benjamin Zephaniah, Short story collections
containing work by David Almond, Neil Gaiman and Malorie
Blackman and Reluctant Reader titles by Meg Rosoff amongst
others. We have also added nearly 100 new books to the library
through our subscription to the School Library Service which is a
Bucks County Council department. Again the books we received
were across a wide range of genres and subjects and cater to
students throughout the school. Many of them relate to the Read
to Succeed scheme the Academy will be rolling out in the new
year which encourages students to improve their reading skills
by selecting more varied and challenging reading material.
For KS3 students the scheme will be supported by the
introduction of a Reading Award which will encourage them to
read more often and more broadly by setting a number of fun
tasks to be completed through the rest of the school year. These
include designing alternative book covers, setting quizzes and
writing letters to favourite authors.
It just remains for me to thank colleagues, parents and carers
and most importantly the students for their continued support of
the AVA Library this year and to wish you a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Mr A Cluett, Librarian
Stitch Club
The Aylesbury Vale Academy Stitch Club has been getting into
the festive spirit with two of the year 8 attendees, JieHui and
JieYing Sexton, creating these delightful Christmas trees by
hand.
Students are able to set their imaginations free at Stitch Club
and, as demonstrated by two of our year 8 girls, craft some
wonderful creations with a needle and thread.
The clubs runs on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-4pm in
B-01-09.
Year 8 Updates
It has been a very busy term for a Year 8 students. They have
already sat some formal examinations and should now have
received their marks and levels from class teachers. I would like
to congratulate the vast majority of our Year 8s, who
approached the assessments with exemplary levels of
concentration and determination and have received the levels
they deserve. Well done!
Our year group council have been elected and have already
met to discuss suitable rewards for their year group. All Year 8
council representatives will soon receive a badge identifying
their role. I hope they will wear it with pride! Callum Hatcher
and Zeba Kiani were chosen to represent the Academy Council,
which they are already doing with great enthusiasm. Well done
to them.
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that I will be
moving on to pastures new at the end of this term. The Year 8s
will have a new Achievement Director in January. I would like to
wish the whole year group the best of luck for the coming
months in Year 8, and of course the rest of their time at the
Academy.
Miss K Dixon, Year 8 Achievement Director
Year 7 students Daisy Frankland and Oscar Demain check out the
books at the Book Fair.
On Thursday 19th November Year 7 students went to Kidzania London as an opportunity for them to try jobs and see
what they may like to be when they ‘grow up’. Kidzania is its own mini city on top of Westfield shopping centre. Once
they had checked in through airport security they were each given a security bracelet and 50 kidzos as a start
they were then free to wonder around the city and chose to buy things or experiences as well as earn more by working
(students quickly clocked onto this). With over 60 jobs to choose from there was something for everyone. It was brilliant
seeing students analysing and discussing with others about what things they wanted to, how much they could earn, was it
worth the time needed to complete the activity? etc, some even had the difficult task of moving away from their usual
friendship groups as they discovered they wanted to try alternative jobs. After a short stop for lunch it became clear that
the students had a new goal….. to open a bank account! They wanted the power of the plastic card, some worked extra
hard and saved enough to go and open their account, others clubbed together and shared the privilege.
Throughout the day the students looked to be having fun, becoming richer in kidzos and knowledge from their
experiences and for the first time ever as a member of staff we actually had to stop them and drag them away at the end
of the day!
Georgia Bell: ‘The first thing that I did
was make Cadbury chocolate. We
learnt about where the coc beans are
from and where all the different
ingredients are from. We also learnt
about all of the machinery to create the
lovely chocolate we know and love. At
the end of the day we had to go and
collect the chocolate that we made.’
‘I experienced many jobs such as:
shopkeeper, surgeon, courier, chef
(gourmet burger kitchen), baker (eat
natural) and midwife. My two favourite
jobs were midwife and surgeon and I
could seriously picture myself as one of
them when I am older.’
Amy Sear: ‘While we were there I got to be a
midwife, a designer, a vault, an air hostess and
lots more other exciting jobs. We got paid in
Kidzos and spoke there special language, Hello
was Hi was ki! While I was there I found it
amazing to be in this fake city that felt so real. I
really enjoyed my experience in Kidzania because
it was incredible and was really grown up. I felt
like it showed people that I was so amazing and
could do any job they wanted me to do!’
Sahara: ‘I had a magician’s job
which was really easy. After we
practised the trick we took to the
stage and performed!’
Student comments:
Ilija Kolev: ‘When I went to kidzania I tried
out many different jobs such as being a
super-market employee, learning about
recycling and learning about some parts of a
car. We were also lucky enough to unscrew
the bolts in one wheel on a car and screw
the wheel back on again. I enjoyed doing
this and it was very useful for if you want to
work for a F1 team like Mercedes. I still want
to be a footballer but if I don’t make it I
would want to become an engineer.’
Imogen Ecob: ‘There was an H&M
photo shoot where you went into a
room that looked like a shop and
dressed up in H & M clothes and
had a photo shoot with your friends
or on your own’
Suman Ijaz: ‘what I enjoyed most was
going around with my friends and
being a police officer and a delivery
girl because I have never ever done
jobs like this before.’
November Year 7 students went to Kidzania London as an opportunity for them to try jobs and see
what they may like to be when they ‘grow up’. Kidzania is its own mini city on top of Westfield shopping centre. Once
they had checked in through airport security they were each given a security bracelet and 50 kidzos as a start-up fund,
they were then free to wonder around the city and chose to buy things or experiences as well as earn more by working
(students quickly clocked onto this). With over 60 jobs to choose from there was something for everyone. It was brilliant
seeing students analysing and discussing with others about what things they wanted to, how much they could earn, was it
worth the time needed to complete the activity? etc, some even had the difficult task of moving away from their usual
friendship groups as they discovered they wanted to try alternative jobs. After a short stop for lunch it became clear that
the students had a new goal….. to open a bank account! They wanted the power of the plastic card, some worked extra
hard and saved enough to go and open their account, others clubbed together and shared the privilege.
Throughout the day the students looked to be having fun, becoming richer in kidzos and knowledge from their
experiences and for the first time ever as a member of staff we actually had to stop them and drag them away at the end
Amy Sear: ‘While we were there I got to be a
midwife, a designer, a vault, an air hostess and
lots more other exciting jobs. We got paid in
Kidzos and spoke there special language, Hello
was Hi was ki! While I was there I found it
amazing to be in this fake city that felt so real. I
really enjoyed my experience in Kidzania because
it was incredible and was really grown up. I felt
like it showed people that I was so amazing and
could do any job they wanted me to do!’
Sahara: ‘I had a magician’s job
which was really easy. After we
practised the trick we took to the
Year 10 News
Year 10 have made a successful and exciting start to their GCSE
subjects. Students have now received their “working at” grades
for all subjects and are showing signs of making progress
towards their final target grades.
October saw our first awards assembly where form tutors and
subject teachers nominate students who have upheld the values
of the Academy. The following awards were given:
A number of Year 10 students have been helping to mentor
Year 7 students, guiding them through their first term in their
new school, providing a friendly face to offer support and advice
with any questions they have. Thank you for contribution this
term; Hussain Ahmed, Aiden Fabrello, James Anderson, Megan
Stedman and Keeley Ashley.
All year 10 students have the opportunity to go on a work
experience placement in May. 9th May to the 13
th May. Students
will be able to gain an invaluable insight into the inner workings
of a career of their choice. Work experience forms have now
been distributed to all students. If you could not attend the
information evening held in November, or if you have any
further questions on helping your child filling in their form,
please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Benyon or myself. The
deadline for the forms is 15th January. In order for all students to
be placed this must be met.
Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Miss J Gibbs, Achievement Director Year 10
Chaplain’s Corner
“There was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7)
I love Christmas time as we walk around Berryfields Primary and
the AVA we find: Christmas trees, decorations, food, cards and
presents being traded, nativity plays and Carol services being
prepared, for some glad their mock exams are over. But for all
there is that eager anticipation for the school holidays ahead.
At Christmas we are celebrating something special the birth of a
baby 2000 years ago in the Middle East. The Bible recounts the
words of the angels as they gathered in the skies over
Bethlehem, in Israel: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will to all humankind.” That first Christmas
continues to affect the lives of millions of people across the ages
and across the globe.
The sad thing though is that today in the Middle East there isn’t
peace, our television screens and our newspapers show the
plight of refugees fleeing the war, persecution and hardships of
life in Syria and Northern Iraq.
This photo is of a Syrian father and mother carrying their young
son, all of their possessions crammed into two small backpacks.
But this image reminds us that 2000 years ago there was a
family fleeing for their lives. The Bible account after the Birth of
Jesus tells of how Mary, Joseph and Jesus flee to Egypt as
refugees.
I wonder if they came to your home or to seek refuge in your
street, your school, how would you treat them? Would you or I
get to know them, include them? I wonder if we’d have given
them room.
Maybe this Christmas as we’re unpacking our presents, having
food and relaxing, we could remember what took place 2000
years ago; and what is taking place right now. Could we AVA
students and staff be the ones offering goodwill to humankind
around us? I’ll be praying that you all have a restful, peaceful
Christmas break and refreshing New Year.
Revd G Lane, School Chaplain
Aspiration Callum Scally
Creativity Ambrine Kalsoom
Faith Nadeem Khan
Respect Aiden Fabrello
Equality Andrew Carrington
Service Olivia Algar
Achievement Director
Award Amer Jan
A Syrian Refugee Family in Hungary Oct 2015 David Darg
Enrichment
Below is the winning entry from the short story competition,
written by Rebecca Bennett, Year 10.
Carol Concert and Craft Fair
The annual Christmas Carol Concert and the first Christmas
Craft Fair took place on Thursday 10th December. Both were a
huge success with many members of staff demonstrating their
crafting talents, whilst AVA and Berryfields students showed off
their wonderful singing voices as part of the carol concert.
A huge thank you to all of those involved in both events, it
proved to be an extremely enjoyable and festive evening.
Miss E Kitter, Assistant Principal
The clouds are dark and dull,
White specks falling,
Covering the ground,
In a blanket,
On the ground.
The icy crystals,
That they are,
Flittering and twirling.
Across the dull sky.
They lay untouched,
Pure and white,
Laying, laying,
On the cold ground.
And as the night falls,
I sit and wonder,
Wishing on the icy stars,
On the eve of joy and hope.
Christmas and Eid Card Competition
The winner of the Christmas Card competition was Mayumi Bueno Sharples 8 Faraday 2 and the winner of the Eid Card competition
was Shoaib Muhammad 8 Faraday 2.
CHARITY EVENTS