Date: 22 July 2016

Inspire Magazine

The summer edition of Woodkirk Academy's exciting celebration magazine, Inspire, is now with all students. We hope you enjoy reading it. If there are achievements which you feel, as a parent, should be recognised, please let Mr Cook know, as the Winter edition will be published in January 2017. NICK COOK Vice Principal: Behaviour & Safety

E-Safety

With the increased use of on-line gaming, it is essential that our students keep safe from the risks online. Mr Currie, Vice Principal, is the e-safety lead; you should report any e-safety concerns to him. Please click on the links to the following website for helpful information on how to protect your children online: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/pokemon-go-parents-guide/ https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.androidcentral.com/parents-guide-pokemon-go%3famp# http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/news/pokemon-go-gaming-gone-mobile

End of Year Newsletter A newsletter from the Principal has been given to students today with information regarding the start of the new term in September. A copy has been placed on the Letters to Parents/Newsletter section of the website. To view the letter please click here.

Peak in Asthma Admissions in September

Help us to keep children healthy over the

summer break We have been asked by the NHS Service Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group to seek your support to help reduce the number of children who get admitted to hospital due to an asthma attack. They have recommended that parents of children with asthma make an appointment to attend their GP practice for an asthma review if they have not had one within the last year. This gives the nurse or doctor the opportunity to review their medication, check their inhaler technique and give them a personal asthma action plan. Your child will then be able to bring a copy of that updated asthma action plan into school in September. This will give school staff the information required to support students with their asthma in school, which could prevent an asthma attack. It is also important to encourage students with asthma to continue to take their asthma treatment as prescribed throughout the holidays, even when feeling well. For further information please see www.leedswestccg.nhs.uk/childrensasthma

POKÉMON GO’ ALERT Further to our e-safety links on the previous page, we have also been contacted by the supervising lead for Safer Schools Officers across Leeds, and they would make parents aware of the ‘POKÉMON GO’ game, which has recently been released in the UK. As a result of this a number of concerns have been raised for the safety of individuals pursuing characters within the game. It is possible that during the summer break, young players may have more time and freedom to roam in pursuit of their quest. As a result, they may not put into practice the messages which we deliver with regard to their personal safety and the safety of others. The app allows people to set up a ‘beacon’ which can then encourage other users to reach a specific venue and we are concerned it could be the latest way online criminals attempt to target victims. There have (allegedly) already been similar incidents in America. Their advice to players would be:

• Be cautious to alerting strangers to where you will be in the future • Be careful where you leave ‘beacons’ • Parents should supervise children when using the app • Always pay attention to your surroundings and especially do not play in areas where

traffic runs through or in dangerous locations such as around water, cliff tops, craggy outcrops and mountainous regions.

• Where possible play with friends and stay in a group and have at least one of your friends as a ‘lookout’

• Play at home - you can use lures to attract Pokémon to you • Keep your device safe and out of sight – your phone will vibrate when a Pokémon is

near The makers of the game have said: “We encourage all people to be aware of their surroundings and to play with friends or family, especially when you are exploring unfamiliar places. Please remember to be safe and alert at all times”.

Ski Trip 2017

There is one available place on the 2017 ski trip to Canada. If you would like your son/daughter to take up the place or would like further details please contact Miss Mills as soon as possible on mill.c@woodkirkacademy.com

Ultimate Reading Challenge 2016-2017

Where is the ultimate place you have ever read a book? Whether it is lying on a beach, on top of a mountain, or standing on your head, we want your photos! Your summer challenge is to take a picture of your child reading, or for your child to take a 'selfie' of them engaged in

ultimate reading and send it in to school.

We are doing this as part of Woodkirk Academy's Year of Reading 2016-17. We will run a competition for the ultimate places reading has taken place, both during the summer

holidays and once we are back at school.

Woodkirk staff will be joining in, so get your thinking caps on! A display will also be made from the photos. To help us with the display please either send a photo or 'selfie' of your

child engaged in ultimate reading when we return in September, or email it to Miss Bowen: bowen.c@woodkirkacademy.com.

Obviously, we encourage you to keep safe (we wouldn’t recommend reading in the jaws of a crocodile!), but we are really looking forward to seeing who in school has such a passion for

reading that they have to do it anywhere and everywhere!

We have been informed about a competition website open to everyone to enter; there is a chance for us to win £5000 towards books for our LRC- perfect for our Year of Reading!

Please feel free to enter this competition as many times as you like – the more entries for our school the more chance we have of winning!

http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools

Summer Events

Please click on the following links for events happening during the Summer holidays.

Breeze Arts Festival

Summer Spectacular at City Varieties

The Uniform Centre, Batley

Please be aware that The Uniform Centre in Batley (which is our approved stockist and is located on Bradford Road, Batley) has a buy 1-get-1-half-price offer on all Woodkirk Academy school jumpers until 20 August. There is also a further 10% discount on the PE kit and general school wear. This offer is only valid when you show this article at the counter when paying.

AS/A2 RESULTS DAY

The AS and A Level results will be available to collect from the Dennis Fisher Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 18 August at the following times.

Year 13 - from 7am Year 12 - 10am to 12 noon

GCSE RESULTS DAY

The GCSE results will be available to collect from the Dennis Fisher Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 25 August at the following times.

Year 11 - 9am to 12 noon Year 10 - 10am to 12 noon

If students know they will not be available to collect their results on the day then a stamped addressed envelope may be left with Reception before 17 August. Alternatively, results may be collected by a parent or another adult or emailed; please complete a Results Collection slip in advance which is available from Reception or from the Exams Office. Proof of ID must be available before results will be issued to anyone other than the student.

Please note that results cannot be communicated over the telephone.

Instrumental Lessons

If any student would like to learn an instrument and start lessons in September, please email Mrs Clarke clarke.k@woodkirkacademy.com. Likewise, if a student no longer wants lessons, please let Mrs Clarke know. Any instruments that have been hired and are no longer needed should be returned to Mrs Clarke and not left in the cupboard.

Music Dance & Drama Examinations

If any student has completed a music, dance or drama exam outside of school, recently or over the last few years, please let Mrs Clarke know so that she can update her records. Email at clarke.k@woodkirkacademy.com

2 Weekly Events

Week commencing 5 September 2016

This week detention will take place on Thursday in the Main Hall at 3.00pm

and PSA Detention on Friday at 2.00pm

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 5

Staff Training Day 1

6

Year 7 arrive 8.30am (start 8.50am) Years 8-11 & 13 start 11.05am Year 12 Interviews start 9.30am (no lessons)

7

Year 12 lessons start

8

3.00pm Detention in the Main Hall

9

2.00pm PSA 1 detention for students in Years 7-10 who have failed to attend a detention session