downlands school newsletter of the audience with charlie parker's 'yardbird suite'...

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Dear Parents, Carers & Friends of Downlands, As the end of a busy term and Christmas is fast approaching we would like to update you in this newsletter of all the exciting events, successes and projects that have been undertaken by our pupils and staff. The School Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 16th December was enjoyed by 600+ hungry pupils and staff. It was as always a super feast, in a wonderful atmosphere with Christmas tunes serenading us. I must thank all the Caterlink staff who work tirelessly in the preparation of this feast and for the actual cooking and serving on the day which is real hard, hot work. I must also thank the army of our own staff who also supported by cleaning, tidying and ensuring the venue was ready for the next hungry diners. The pupils were superb and very appreciative I am sure many came home with full tummies. Thank you to all the parents who have actively supported our very important campaign – ‘Worth Less?’ It is crucial that we gain an interim funding payment from the government before the new funding formula is agreed and implemented potentially after 2017. This will ensure that our children’s education is not disadvantaged when compared to other pupils in England. West Sussex County Council is fully backing our campaign and we are gaining much media coverage. I would impress upon you all to write to your local MP and join us on Facebook and Twitter. From Friday 4 December, the Facebook page has an outline letter that you are welcome to use or adapt when contacting your MP. We are very grateful for the support received from the local politicians but it is crucial that we lobby for quick and effective change. On a more positive note I would like to inform all parents that Downlands has finally had approval from West Sussex for a five and a half million pound basic need build to ensure we have sufficient and appropriate accommodation as we move to an 8 form entry in September 2016. In addition to more general teaching rooms we will be resolving the circulation problem of our very narrow ground floor corridor built for 450 and now carrying over 1000 pupils. Building will hopefully start next summer and take approximately 10 months. The short term pain during this build period will be well worth it to ensure pupils and staff no longer have to travel cheek by jowl between lessons. Another very exciting era for Downlands! We will update you of the building plans as and when they are finalised.

Thinking ahead I would like to take this opportunity to remind all parents that should any adverse weather affect us this term or next a prompt and regular update will be posted on the front page of the website. We will also contact local radio which now tends to post all school closures on their own websites. In addition an email will be sent to all parents who have email contact. Texts will only be used to inform parents if the closure has to occur during the school day. Please refer to the ‘Emergency Closure’ section on the website for our procedures.

Let’s hope the winter weather will be kind to us! May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Warmest regards

Rose Hetherton

Headteacher

Downlands Community School Newsletter

December 2015

Downlands Community School Newsletter December 2015

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Super Stars at Downlands

We always knew that our students are fantastic at school and work extremely hard. There are so many things to

celebrate about Downlands and the amazing students we are lucky to have; we have successful Downlands

football, rugby, cricket, basketball, netball, stool ball, equestrian, badminton, chess teams as well as a very talented

school orchestra and as you know a wonderful group of artists and actors. Our language students are incredibly

talented and for the last two years we have done extremely well in the international Vocab Express competition.

But it was only recently that we truly appreciated how much they pack into their activities after school and how

successful they are at all they undertake. From Army cadets to Girl Guides, from singing in the Gyndebourne Youth

Opera to being in rock bands, they are super busy when they leave the gates. The new Achievement Board at

school celebrates the feats of daring do that we are told about and in just one term our ‘Achievement Board’ in the

main corridor is crammed full of stars.

There are talented musicians, winning regional music competitions (Joe Anderson) or attending the Junior

Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London (Harvey Hush), superstars of sport (Charlotte Bates – plays cricket

for Cuckfield U15 Girls - winners of the County Championship, Jemima Edwards and Tom Wright – Sussex Cross

Country runners, Ed Turns – Brighton & Hove Albion Academy and Sam Wright – Charlton Athletic FC Advanced

Development Squad football players, Toby & Josh Hawkins – Sussex athletes, Adam Lindo & Daniel McCourt –

Sussex athletics champions, Jamie Slade – Sussex tennis player, Daisy Drake-Lee – Sussex netball player, Jordan

Lake – Sussex hockey player, Oliver Lainchbury- Black Belt in Karate representing Great Britain in the International

Karate Tournament in Taiwan August 2015, Eden Saatchi – one of Stereoshok Street Dance Crew - 2nd in the World

U14 Advanced Street Dance Championships in Glasgow 2015, George Fenton – Mid Sussex Marlins swimmer, Josh

Hickingbotham, Angus & Archie Hill – Sussex basketball players, Harrison Stocker – cricketer for Sussex Sabres,

Tom Brennan - · British Champion 250cc Speedway 2015, Georgia Langston – baton twirler part of the team that

won the world title 2015, Peter Bullivant - · Proficient skier representing Downlands at the Inter-Schools Skiing

Challenge, Billy Twigge-Molecey · chess player (came 2nd in the U16 British Chess Championships), Freddie

Coleman – Sussex Chess Champion, Luke Abell - South East Shooting Colt Champion 2014, Olivia Lonsdale,

gymnast competing nationally and internationally, Josh Dummer, Thomas & Nicole Wood, Adam Davies, Ben

Lynch – Sussex badminton players), talented singers (Tara & Bryony Catton – singers, individually coming second

in the national singing competition “Raise Your Voice”) and lovely Phoebe Green who won the Bright FM Child of

Sussex Award for Best Sister 2015.

If I have missed your star out please let me know on [email protected].

Mrs Burston


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Wonderland comes to Downlands

The Drama Department at Downlands have been gearing up

over this half term for our next exciting school performance due

to grace our school stage in February 2016.

A cast of over 50 pupils, plus backstage crew are busy

rehearsing for the production, which this year is a version of

Alice in Wonderland – ‘Alice’ by Laura Wade. This contemporary

version of the Lewis Carol classic, introduces us to a traumatised

Alice in the midst of a horrific family bereavement. Wade’s main

character takes a refreshing break from the Alice of the past and

instead delivers us a tenacious, street smart 12 year old who

battles through her grief and emerges from Wonderland a

different child.

As the story unfolds we meet a host of unusual characters – a

motorcycling rabbit in leather biking gear, talking caterpillars

and of course a Hatter, a Hare and a certain highly strung Queen

with a love of croquet and beheading her subjects.

The performance will run from Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th

February 2016. Tickets will be available in January priced at £5

per child, £7 per adult and £20 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2

children). More information will be released soon on how to

purchase.

Last year’s show saw all three performances selling out. Please

ensure you book early to avoid disappointment.

Sir Christopher Hum Visits Downlands Headteacher, Mrs Hetherton was delighted to welcome Sir Christopher Hum to Downlands as part of the “Speakers for Schools” initiative.

Sir Christopher Hum, former ambassador to Peoples Republic of China, spoke to students about his work as a diplomat in Hong Kong, Beijing, Brussels, Paris, Warsaw and New York as well as

his love of languages and his studies at Cambridge University.

He entertained the students with tales of extraordinary events in Beijing and how the embassy supported UK nationals as well as promoting UK business interest in China.

The students were able to quiz Sir Christopher

about his experiences and get a true insight

into his very interesting career.


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News from the Music Department

Well done to the School Orchestra, Vox and the Ukes and thank

you for all your hard work at the recent performances for Light

up Hassocks, the Christmas Market, Age Concern and the British

Legion, you were superb as always. Keep up the practicing and

let’s look forward to keeping music live with future

performances.

The Year 7's having their own Ukulele in class has been a huge

success and has allowed all to make rapid progress and have

ownership of their music making. We would like to thank all the

parents for your support with the Ukuleles, it is very much

appreciated. The Ukulele will continue to be our instruments of

choice in the new term so if you haven’t yet got a Uke don’t

forget Christmas is coming.

Finally a plea to all the students who have instrumental lessons

in school, please take your instruments home with you at the

end of the day on which you have that lesson. There isn't

enough room in the department for your instrument to be

housed from one day to the next especially when new group of

instrumentalists bring in their instruments for lessons each day.

Your instrument should be going home with you each night, if

it’s in school what are you practicing on?

Merry Christmas from the Music department!

Congratulations to the following members of the

Year 10 GCSE class who continued the Music

Department's tradition of achievement in the

Associated Board Royal Schools of Music

Theory Exam, you should be proud of what you

accomplished:

Anneka Kelly-Noakes passed Grade 1 with merit

Rory Rayland passed Grade 1 with merit

Rory Blamire passed Grade 2

Jemima Callagan passed Grade 2 with merit

Lucy Corum-Haines passed Grade 2

Morgan Phillips passed Grade 2

Tom Proctor passed Grade 2 with merit

Adam Scott passed Grade 2 with distinction

Cameron Yell passed Grade 2 with distinction

William Godwin passed Grade 3

Cara Knowles passed Grade 3

Well done to Hayley Hilson of Year 11 for

passing Grade 5.

Louis wows crowd at Brighton Jazz Jam

Downlands pupil, Year 8 Louis Anderson made his debut on the Brighton

jazz scene on Tuesday 8th at The Brunswick Jazz Jam. Pictured here

playing saxophone with guitarist Paul Richards, and Downlands Music

Technician, Mr Dechaine on the double bass, Louis captured the

imagination of the audience with Charlie Parker's 'Yardbird Suite' and

'Billies Bounce'.

Louis' astounding performance was met with huge positivity and

culminated in an eruption of applause from the Jazz Club audience. The

Music Department are very proud of Louis and would like to

congratulate him on his debut.


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News from Food Technology and Child Development

Another very busy term in the department and the arrival of our new Food Technology room (FT2) has been

the icing on the cake! Many of our students are now working in the modern, green and pleasant surroundings

of FT2 which was show-cased on the Prospective Parents Evening in October. Many thanks go to the PTA for

their hard work with fund raising ventures which helped with the cost of refurbishments.

The Department are looking forward to working with KS3 Parents and students during our annual festive

crafts evening which was massively over-subscribed. Many thanks to those of you who applied but did not

secure a place at this popular event – we may have to extend the number of evenings next year to cope with

demand!

In the meantime, here are some of the fantastic events that have taken place this term……

Year 7, 8 and 9 Textile students exhibited their work at a recent Textile exhibition. The work shown here is based on the

themes of “Idols and Icons” and Mexican Day of the Dead

Year 7 cake club have been busily making their

magnificent Christmas cakes with Mrs Skelton. Many

thanks to Nicky Wilson, a local Celebration Cakes Creator,

who came in to show the students how to create perfect

edible decorations for their cakes…


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The Year 11 Food and Child Development students have been working hard to complete coursework tasks – a

good job, as coursework accounts for 60% of their final GCSE grade. Food students are working on their long

task which involves several assessed practical sessions. Child Development students have also been working

with food to create a suitable 2 course meal for a 4 year old child.

Here are Emily’s and Chloe’s wonderful efforts:

And Finally……….

Once again, Downlands students rose to the challenge to impress the judges of the Rotary Club Young Chef of

the Year competition. Nine students ranging from Year 7 to Year 11 took part and were all highly

commended by the judges. Alas, there can only be one winner and Jordan Lake in Year 11 will now go

through to the next round to compete against other students in the county. Well done to all those who took

part and good luck to Jordan.


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News from the Creative Arts Department

Achievements in the Art

Each half term, the Creative Arts department (art, drama and music) select a ‘pupil of the half term’ to celebrate

achievement in The Arts. The Art department has chosen one boy and one girl from each year group. The pupils below all

receive a certificate and 10 achievement points for their excellent effort in art. Well done!

Autumn first half term Autumn second half term

Meg Miller Y7 Hana Bowers Y7

George Bayly Y7 Finlay Cooper Y7

Sarah Bucksey Y8 Morgan Thomas Y8

Alfie Moor Y8 Jesse Kibble Y8

Miriam Hoefnagels Y9 Josie Mitchell Y9

Kai Makey Y9 Aaron Goff Y9

Jemima Callaghan Y10 Aimee Porter Y10

James Hall Y10 William Worthington Y10

Emeline Rose Y11 Masie Banks Y11

Robert Mayne Y11 Andrew Budgen Y11

Light up Hassocks

For the fourth year running the art department has

created beautiful festive lanterns for the Light up

Hassocks parade. Pupils created giant snowflake

sculptures and decorated them with lights. Year 7

pupils and Ms Bates took part in carrying the

lanterns on the night. A big thank you to everyone

involved!


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Photography workshops

There are many talented photographers in the school. The art department has been working with two local freelance

photographers, Ian Pack and Paul Noble.

There have been workshops after school where pupils were introduced to the working world of photography and learnt

some new techniques.

Please see Ms Moss if you would like to attend future workshops.

Creative Arts students stun local

magazine with photography project

During the first half of this term, some of our

Creative Arts students were lucky enough to

work with local photographer Paul Noble, in

association with Sussex Living Magazine. The

brief to students was to produce a photograph

suitable for a cover image for the magazine.

The local publisher was very taken with the

work our students produced and the magazine

featured a selection of the covers in the

November issue.

Downlands School Association – Christmas Market

The Christmas Market was a lovely and very successful day. The PTA have raised £2,700 + on the day and the school

was full of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, joyful sounds of music and singing and many pupils selling their

wares. A very big thank you to you all for sending in all the donations and those parents who volunteered and

gave up time before and on the day. It truly was a collective community effort, including all the staff who gave up their

time to support raising money for our pupils.

Our popular Christmas raffle forms an integral part of our Christmas fundraising. The total raised by this was an

amazing £1200! Thank you to all those who bought tickets. The tickets have now been drawn and the winners are as

follows:

1st prize Family Ramsay (i7 Asus Laptop) Ticket no 05053 2nd prize Family Tucker (£100) Ticket no 03881

3rd prize Family Tom - Luxury Hamper Ticket no 11589 4th prize Steve - Hamper Ticket no 03561

5th prize Lesley Hook - Mini Toiletries Hamper Ticket no 08841 6th prize Family Njie Voucher for Muscle Balance Massage Ticket no 04451

7th prize Family Angel - Voucher for lunch at Hassocks Hotel Ticket no 00312

We look forward to more fantastic fundraising events in the New Year.


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Christmas news from the Downlands Library

Borrow a book for Christmas Christmas is coming and the nights are drawing in, why not curl up with a good book. We have an amazing selection of new fiction, get your youngsters to pop in and check a book out for the holidays. Piers Torday – The Last Wild Trilogy Annabel Pitcher- Ketchup Clouds, My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece & Silkscreen John Green- Paper Towns, Will Grayson, Will Grayson Terry Pratchett- Truckers Deborah Ellis – The Prison Runner & Mud City Delphine de Vigan- No and Me Jacqueline Wilson – Katy and many more titles Harper Lee – To Kill A Mockingbird (it’s bound to be on TV over the festive break) James Dashner – The Eye of Minds Cathy MacPhail – Mosi’s War Brian Conaghan – When Mr Dog Bites Sarah Crossan – Apple and Rain Sarah Alderson – Losing Lila Jon Robinson – Somewhere. There are also the old favourites David Walliams, Malorie Blackman, Stephanie Mayer, Darren Shan, graphic novels and many more titles available. Request, if you find any school books that need to be returned please pop them into reception and we will get them back to the right department. Many thanks in anticipation.

Mrs Hudson – School Librarian

STATIONARY SHOP

Available in library

8.30 – 9.10, Break & Lunch

Price List

Felt Tip Pens £1.00

Coloured Pencils 50p

Berol Handwriting Pen 25p

300mm Ruler 25p

150mm Ruler 20p

HB Pencil 10p

Eraser 10p

Pencil Sharpener 10p


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Alumni Are you an ex student of Downlands Community School? Would you be willing to come into school to talk to students about your career pathway? Do you have skills that you can share with our young people? Please sign up to our Alumni via: https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/former-student/downlands Many thanks Mrs Cutress Work Related Learning and Careers Coordinator

Message from Mr Hunnable – Head of Year 9

This year is an important one for making choices. Following on from last year, individual students will have a further opportunity to select some of the subjects that they would like to pursue at Key Stage 4. At this stage of the year, students should be encouraged to begin to consider which subjects motivate and enthuse them, and that they find enjoyable. This is especially important if they have not yet made up their minds on a particular career path because it is the subjects that stimulate their interest that they will find easier to study at a higher level.

Next term is when the decisions will need to be made. To support this process there will be an options evening at the school towards the end of February. As this date draws closer students may also wish to have a meeting with Mrs Cutress, who is the work related coordinator at Downlands, in addition to discussing the nature of the various courses with their teachers. The students will also have a day of activities specifically aimed at helping them to make considered choices.

Earlier this term a group of students had the opportunity to do some charity workshops. The group was guided through the process of identifying a worthy cause and then considering and planning a fundraising campaign. The workshops were given by an organisation called Free the Children (http://www.freethechildren.com/). Now that the link has been made it is hoped that there will be opportunities for follow up work. The students involved have been encouraged to join the community in the new school council structure that has charity work as one of its focuses.

I am excited to be guiding the students towards their GCSE years and very much look forward to supporting them through Year 9. As with last year, there will be a treat event at the end of the term to celebrate the achievements/contributions made by a select number students. It is wonderful for me to spend time with these students and to acknowledge their endeavours and achievements.

Enjoy the rest of the term and have a peaceful and happy festive season.

Mr Hunnable Head of Year 9

https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/former-student/downlands


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IMPORTANT Message from Pupil Services

Please can we remind all parents and carers that a call must be made to the school to report absence due to

illness on each day a pupil will be missing from school. We do need to be informed on each day of absence, at

the beginning of the school day.

We have no doubt that pupils will have lots of lovely new belongings over Christmas that they will be keen to

wear to school in January. Please could all parents ensure that every item brought to school is clearly labelled

with names. This way we can make sure lost property makes it back to right child.

Thank you, Mrs Ridley in Pupil Services

IMPORTANT Message from the Medical Room

Please remember to keep the medical room updated of any changes in your children's medical conditions. Your children's welfare whilst in school depends on this information being up-to-date.

Please ensure that your emergency contact details are current. If you move home, get a new mobile number or your work number changes please remember to let us know; we need to be able to contact you in an emergency or if your child is unwell.

Please do not send your children into school if they have sickness or diarrhoea. You should keep your

child at home for 48 hours after their last episode of sickness or diarrhoea.

Finally, please be aware that should your child feel unwell during the school day, they should attend the

school medical room where one of our medical team will assess the situation and contact parents should

they or their year head think it necessary. Pupils should not be contacting parents directly please.

Many thanks, Mrs Pryor in the Medical Room

Important Dates Next Half Term

4 January INSET day

8 January Year 10 Reports to Parents

14 January Year 10 Parent Consultation

Evening

20 January Downlands Forum

28 January Year 11 Learning

Performance Event

4 February Year 7 Meet Your English,

Maths & Science Teachers

9-11 February Drama Production “Alice”

15-19 February Half Term

downlands school newsletter of the audience with charlie parker's 'yardbird suite'...

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