Phone 01823 274073

email: office@castle.somerset.sch.uk

11 February 2015

The Castle School Welcome to

Achieve Belong Participate

The Castle School Wellington Road Taunton TA1 5AU The Castle School Wellington Road Taunton TA1 5AU

THE EDEN PROJECT

80 Fine Artists, Photographers and Textiles students in Year 10 visited The Eden Project to help them build on their Art & Design GCSE coursework. We were very proud of how well our students worked and be-haved throughout the day; and the rain even held off for us, until we were on our way back to the coaches. It is always good to listen to the students’ thoughts to help us make the trips even better. Here are a few thoughts on the day from our students:

"It was cool! I thought it was good to see all the patterns and plants. You see school every day so it was good to have different things to photograph. It would have been even nicer if it was in the summer." Matt Bowen - GCSE Photographer.

"It is good to be out of the classroom surrounded by what you are actually drawing." Alex Pope GCSE Fine Artist.

"I had a good day. We benefitted too by seeing things in real life. There was a large range of plants and wild-life which really linked to our Roots and Routes project." Huw Lloyd, Year 10 Fine Artist.

"I thought the day went really well. I liked looking at the exotic plants and trees and taking photos of them." Jamie Edwards, GCSE Photographer.

"We wanted more time there. Next time maybe we could leave earlier in the morning and stay a bit longer" Alex Coward, GCSE Fine Artist.

"The four tasks were good. There were lots of opportunities to find patterns and texture there. It was good to have the freedom to experiment." Alice Clarke, GCSE Photographer.

For more photos please turn to pages 2 & 3

EDEN PROJECT

Assortment of photos taken by Year 10 Art, Photography and Textile students.

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EDEN PROJECT

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ROTARY SPEAKS COMPETITION

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Congratulations to Sophia, Libby and Eve, who won the senior heat of the Rotary Speaks Competition.

Also participating in the competition were Alex, Nina and Alexandra.

Sophia, Libby and Eve

Alex, Nina and Alexandra

ELLIE EXCELS IN THE ROTARY YOUNG CHEF COMPETITION

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Ellie recently took part in the Rotary Young Chef competition, representing The Castle School. The contestants were asked to prepare a three course meal in two hours and were judged by professional chefs. The competition was of a very high standard and the judges commented on the contestants’ pro-fessionalism. Some of the comments from the judges about Ellie were: "How come, we can never find apprentices this good?" "Ellie's baked pears were just perfect, not too hard and not too soft."

Well done to Ellie for coming third and being the youngest chef competing. We all hope she enters

again next year, alongside other Castle School students.

MUSIC

An incredibly successful week in The Castle School Music department, with over 100 students taking part in the

Taunton Music Festival. Soloists, duets, quintets and bands competing for 1st place with many of our talented

students gaining commendations, distinctions and even outstanding! Well done and thank you to all students and

staff that have contributed to this fantastic celebration of music.

Comments about each band:

The Castle School Steel Senior Band - Distinction.

You play with “high and sheer enthusiasm, clear and well balanced, great sound and rhythm that needed no con-

ductor.”

The Castle School Junior Steel Band - Distinction.

“Lots of life and enthusiasm, plus a good sense of ensemble.”

The Castle School SATB Choir - Distinction.

“A lovely opening – perfectly blended, an energetic piece which you clearly enjoyed……a thoroughly enjoyable

programme, well done.”

The Castle School Senior Clarinet Quintet - Outstanding.

“Excellent phrasing, every member of this group is very competent indeed!....playing of a very high standard.”

ENSEMBLES: Congratulations to the Senior Clarinet Quintet who got ‘Outstanding’ against Blundells and Suzuki Trio: Conor Osborne, Jemimah Allwright, George O’Rourke, Joe Thomson and Charlotte Smith. Year 7 duets got medals, Jazz Band got Commended, Percussion group and both The Castle School Steel and The Castle School Steel Band got Distinction with the school steel band winning the cup. The SATB Choir gained a Distinction and came 2nd.

SOLOS: Andrew Samphier won brass 12 and under, Charlotte Smith won woodwind 16 years and under, Evie King won woodwind 14 years and under. Indigo Sanders gained Distinction for electric guitar 16 and under, Charley Dun-ford gained Distinction for acoustic guitar 14 and under, Ross Curry gained Distinction for vocal solo 14 and un-der, and Jessica Crudge and Ella Silsby were both medal winners at the music festival. Students from Taunton Youth Brass Band played excellently in solo brass classes: Sam Holmes, Tomas Fish, Matthew Bowen and Thomas Bowen, Ella Shopland, Iver Edwards, Ben Peeler, Joel Griffiths, Connor Milliken.

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MUSIC

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SPRING FIXTURE LIST

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Date

Year Group Sport Fixture Venue Time

Thursday 12 February Year 10 Football Taunton Academy Away

Thursday 12 February Year11 Football Taunton Academy Home

Thursday 12 February Under 18s Badminton Somerset College Away

HALF TERM HALF TERM HALF TERM

Tuesday 24 February Under 14s Football Kings College Home

Wednesday 25 February Year 7 Football (CVL) Castle/Heathfield TBC

Thursday 26 February Year 11 Football King College Away 4.15pm

Thursday 26 February Year 10 Football Kings College Away 4.15pm

Tuesday 3 March Under 15s Badminton Court Fields Away

Wednesday 4 March Year 7 Football Danesfield Home

Thursday 5 March Year 9 Football Court Fields Home

Wednesday 11 March Year 7 Football Finals Heathfield Away

Wednesday 11 March Year 8 Football Minehead Middle Away

Wednesday 11 March Under 18s Badminton Court Fields Away

Monday 16 March Under 15s Badminton Court Fields Away

Tuesday 17 March Year 9 Football Kingsmead Away

Tuesday 17 March Year 11 Football Kingsmead Home

Wednesday 18 March Year 8 Football Kingsmead Away

Wednesday 18 March Year 10 Football Kingsmead Home

Thursday 26 March Under 18s Badminton Somerset College Away

END OF TERM END OF TERM

Date Year Group Sport Fixture Venue Time

Thursday 12 February Year 10/11 Netball Taunton Academy Home

HALF TERM HALF TERM HALF TERM

Monday 2 March Under 13s Netball Queens College Away 4.15pm

Tuesday 3 March Year 7 A/B Netball TPS Home

Wednesday 4 March Year 8 B Netball Court Fields Away

Wednesday 4 March Year 10 Netball Court Fields Home

Thursday 5 March Under 15s A/B Badminton Court Fields Away

Tuesday 10 March Year 9-11 Netball WSC Home

Wednesday 11 March Year 7 Netball Kingsmead Away

Thursday 12 March Year 8 Netball Bishop Fox’s Away

Tuesday 17 March Year 11 Netball Heathfield Away

Wednesday 18 March Year 7/8 FUTSAL Bishop Fox’s Away

Thursday 19 March Year 10/11 Netball Kingsmead Away

Thursday 19 March Year 8 Netball Kingsmead Away

Monday 23 March Under 18s B Badminton Queens College Away

Tuesday 24 March Year 9-11 FUTSAL Bishop Fox’s Away

Wednesday 25 March Year7 Netball B Fox’s/Court Fields TBC

END OF TERM END OF TERM

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GENERAL NEWS

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Applied Learning Week: 19-23 January

This year’s Applied Learning Week was held during the week 19-23 January. The aim was to encourage students to start thinking about future careers and particularly for students in Year 9 who are deciding on their GCSE option choices.

Various professionals were invited during afternoon registrations to discuss their careers and career oppor-tunities within their industry with students in Years 9, 10 and 11. These included careers in engineering, fire service, animal and land-based studies (Bicton College), armed forces, dentistry, medicine, nursing, ac-countancy and finance, childcare, automotive industry and veterinary medicine.

CC4G News

Congratulations to Jess 7O and Sophie 9R1 who have become the latest members of CC4G to become Girls Computing Ambassadors. Members of the club are currently working hard on their first competition pieces and have been using the techfuturegirls website.

CONGRATULATIONS

CAREERS

CAREERS

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CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS

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Week comm

09 February 2015

Resistant Materials and Graphic Products GCSE CAT Business Studies Controlled Assessment Year 11 History Controlled Assessment GCSE French/German /Spanish Writing CA

Food – Core Subject revision/learning

Week comm

23 February 2015

Resistant Materials and Graphic Products GCSE CAT Business Studies Controlled Assessment GCSE French/German /Spanish Writing CA Retakes

Food – Core Subject revision/learning

YEAR 11 Controlled Assessments Coursework

Week comm

09 February 2015

Research Task – Child Development Business Studies Controlled Assessment GCSE French/German /Spanish Writing CA

Thursday 12 Feb Deadline for Music Ensemble Perfor-mances (one-year course) Routes and Roots coursework Deadline and exhibition. Fine Art / Textiles

Week comm

23 February 2015

Research Task – Child Development Resistant Materials and Graphic Products GCSE CAT Business Studies Controlled Assessment GCSE French/German /Spanish Writing CA Retakes

Routes and Roots Ex-hibition. Fine Art / Textiles Trip to Launch Identi-ty Project – Project runs February till July. Photography trip to

make work for Layers

Project

YEAR 10 Controlled Assessments Coursework

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR STUDENTS

IN SCHOOL BEFORE

8am AND AFTER 5pm

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The library is open from 8.00 am for study and is supervised by a member of staff. Please be aware that if students arrive before this time there is no formal supervi-sion provided even though some members of staff may be in school. After school finishes at 3.30 pm, the library is open and supervised until 5.00 pm. Again, students will not be formally su-pervised after this time unless they are on site, participating in an after school club, event or fixture.

INFORMATION

You will now be able to get details for all homework. This can be accessed through ‘Show My Homework’, an online web-based school homework calendar and resource area for stu-dents and families. Simply follow the link on the school website to view all homework that has been set, filters can then be applied for an individual student. Alternatively, log in details have now been issued to all students and parents, by using these you can go straight into view the homework that has been set for you as an individual.

This is a new initiative that we feel confident will help to support our students in becoming independent learners. As always we would appreciate any suggestions for improvements, your feedback after the first term and initial trial period would be welcome.

Mrs F Gormley

Deputy Headteacher

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SHOW MY HOMEWORK

If you need to call the student absence line please ensure that you leave your child's full

name, tutor group and the reason your child is absent. As these details are recorded on your

child’s records they have to be accurate.

CALLING STUDENT ABSENCE LINE

PAYMENTS

Please don’t forget you can now make payments via the online payment system on the school website, using your link code.

DROPPING STUDENTS AT SCHOOL

Somerset College and The Castle School would ask parents dropping off students in the morning not to park in the disabled bays which are reserved for staff and visiting mem-bers of the public with disabled badges only. Thank you

GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME

Just a reminder to parents that all students should be in school by 8.40am and in tutor rooms by 8.45am. Frequent lates will be picked up by the Attendance Officer.

INFORMATION

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Friday 13 March 2015

Friday 26 June 2015

Monday 20 July 2015

INSET DAYS FOR 2014/2015

NAMING SCHOOL UNIFORM

Every term we have an enormous amount of lost property that is never claimed. It ranges

from pencil cases to very expensive coats and everything in between. Despite holding lost

property clearance days every 6 weeks we are always left with huge amounts that eventually

get donated to charity. Memory sticks are always being misplaced, some with GCSE pro-

jects on them and they never make it back to the owners as there is no way of telling who

they belong to.

The items that are named always get back to the students either by sending for them to

collect their property or by taking it to them.

Please would you ensure that all items that come into school with your child are marked

with their name so that we can return them.

STUDENT ILLNESS

Please inform Mrs Horsley, our Welfare Officer, of any medical problems your child may

be suffering from. This is crucial information because if she is aware of this she can ad-

minister the correct medical care immediately.

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The Castle School Wellington Road Taunton TA1 5AU

DATES FOR YOUR

DIARY

Phone: 01823 274073

Fax: 01823 274080

E-mail:

office@castle.somerset.sch.uk

We’re on the web

www.castleschool.co.uk

Follow us @

Twitter.com/thecastleschool

THE CASTLE

SCHOOL

Headteacher

Mrs S Watson

Deputy Headteachers

Mrs L Clark MA

Mrs F Gormley B Ed

Assistant Headteachers

Mr J Lamb

Mr P Morton

Friday 13 February…………………………….…...BREAK UP FOR HALF TERM

Monday 23 February…………………...……….………..…...SCHOOL RETURNS

Wednesday 25 February……………… Year 11 History Trip to ‘The Doctors Show’

Wednesday 25 February…………………………………….....Parent Forum 6.00pm

Thursday 26 February………………………………………...Year 10 Reports Home

Monday 2 March…………………………..…..Year 10 Fine Art Exhibition all Week

Monday 2 March……………………………………..Year 11 Mock GCSEs all Week

Tuesday 10 March……………………………………………...Year 11 Mock Results

Wednesday 11 March……………...Somerset College Open Evening (5.30-8.00pm)

Thursday 12 March…………………...Bridgwater College Open Evening (6.30pm)

Friday 13 March………………………………………………..…..Non-Student Day

Monday 16 March …………………………....Year 9 Core Subject Exam this Week

Thursday 19 March……………………………………....GCSE Photography Exam

Friday 20 March………………………………...………..GCSE Photography Exam

Saturday 21 March………....Somerset College Taster Open Day (10.00am-1.00pm)

Tuesday 24 March………………………………………………...Lost Property Day

Wednesday 25 March……………………………………...Year 10 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 26 March…………………………………………....Year 8 Reports Home

Thursday 26 March…………………………………………...…….Year 9 IAs Home

Friday 27 March………………………………………………...…..Ski Trip Departs

Friday 27 March………………….....BREAK UP FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAY

Saturday 28 March………………….... Year 10/11 Geography Trip to Italy Departs

SPRING TERM 2015