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S T U D E N T S ’ A C H I E V E M E N T S /I N F O R M A T I O N

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Key Term Dates: 15 April: Students Return 24 April: Year 8 Vaccinations 25 April: Bollywood Dancing 1 May: Year 7 Parents’ Evening 3 May: Non Uniform Day 3 May: Last day of term

Term 4, issue 19, 2013

S T U D E N T /P A R E N T S ’ I N F O R M A T I O N

S T U D E N T S ’ A C H I E V E M E N T S /I N F O R M A T I O N

The Abbey NewsThe Abbey News The Abbey School A Business and Enterprise Academy

Headteacher’s Message Once again, I am delighted to be able to report some positive news:

Our admission numbers for Year 7 for September currently stand at 170. This is despite a falling roll in year 6 numbers in the local community.

Our 6th form also continues to prosper. We are expecting 123 to join us in September in Y12 with a further 73 staying on into Year 13 to continue their A level courses. Our Football Academy will now have two teams which means a total of 40 students can join our successful academy, which as you know is affiliated with Dover Athletic FC.

We have also been successful in an academies bid and have received sufficient funding to allow for a total of five toilet blocks to be refurbished which is excellent news for our students.

I would like to thank the PTFA for all their hard work and I know that they would welcome any new members to support with fund raising for our projects to support and enhance the environment for our students.

I would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Easter break.

Mrs C Woodend

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Red Nose Day Chloe Wood (Year 7 Voyager House) is a member of the School Council and offered to organise a "Onesie Run" at lunch time - she has raised over £100 for Red Nose Day because she thought this would be a fun and silly thing to do! Year 11s dressed up as characters from Alice In Wonderland to raise a smile for Red Nose Day! Sponsored silence is going on by a group of Year 7 and 8 students - they are hoping to raise a lot of money! The School Council and Fair Trade group sold fair trade goodies at break and lunch to raise more money - this went down very well! Thanks to Mr Easter who supervised the group. Shannon Christian and Emma Gilbert sold over 3 boxes of red noses and boxes of "Dinoroar" characters raising over £50. They also organised a staff room hair raising challenge - where staff were asked to guess how Jessie J

will have her hair done on the big day! The winner was Mrs Woodend who kindly donated her winnings to Comic

Relief. Red Nose Day continues to be a successful and enjoyable day for all the staff as we raise money with non uniform across the school. The total stands at over £800 today but we are expecting this to grow when all the sponsor money is handed in.

The Abbey School v The John Wallis Academy

Students from The Abbey School took part in two mock trials against The John Wallis Academy which was held at the University of Kent. For the past couple of weeks the students have been preparing their case - dangerous driving, along with students from The John Wallis Academy, ambassadors from the University of Kent, PHD Law students and practising attorneys. The trial, which took place on Monday 11th March 2013, involved the

defendant, Jackie Jones (Lena Mariot), who was accused of dangerously driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988 as she supposedly knocked a cyclist off of her bike. Jackie’s defence lawyers, Mr Patrick Langley and Miss Agata Minkowska, had the task of persuading the jury of her innocence. In a second trial, with the same facts, Mr Joshua Rose and Mr Thomas Moore for the prosecution had the hard task of proving that Jackie was guilty of the offence. They called their witness, Lesley Wogan (Martyna Wisniewska), to the stand where she claimed that Jackie had knocked an innocent young girl off of her bicycle on her birthday. Martyna was later awarded a prize for the best witness and all of the students did incredibly well, proving that there’s a lawyer within them all!

A colourful cast of characters assembled at The Abbey School for World Book Day on Thursday 7 March 2013. Teachers dressed up as characters from treasured stories with James Bond, Dennis the Menace and Little Miss Bump, rubbing shoulders with Werewolf from Twilight. History teacher Mr Cloke was dressed as Herbert A Werner, a German U-boat commander and author of Iron Coffins, while science teacher Mrs Barrett

appeared as Julia in George Orwell's 1984. An office was mocked up as the Mystery Machine for the cast of Scooby Doo to take their seats, with teachers Mrs Lucas, Mr Stucken and Mrs Parsons, playing Daphne, Fred and Scooby Doo respectively. The day was part of The Abbey School’s inaugural Literacy Week which saw pupils participate in a poetry slam, where they created a rap from a rhyme, enjoy a book quiz and bring books in for a swap shop. The school ran a cake stall, with proceeds going to the purchase of new titles, while pupils even baked letter-shaped biscuits Teachers from across the curriculum spent 20 minutes reading an extract from their favourite books to pupils. Literacy coordinator Mr Manuel said that more than 35 members of staff had dressed up for the day

and added: “Pupils at The Abbey School have enjoyed seeing their teachers dressing up as a favourite character or inspirational figure from a book. Reading enables us to experience other worlds, putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and our teachers certainly brought their book characters to life.” World Book Week is designated by UNESCO as an international celebration of books and reading, and the event is marked in over 100 countries all over the world. This year is the 16th World Book Day and pupils are also sent National Book Tokens, which they can exchange for selected titles, or claim a £1 discount on any book purchase.

The Abbey staff dress up for World Book

Description: Recycle poster winners Olivia Kent 8DHM - Voyager Ethie Scott 7MVH - Voyager

Grace McGrath 10LW - Pioneer

Description: Creative Writing Charles Francis 7JW—Endeavour Molly Stemp 7JW—Endevaour

Hannah Edward 7JW—Endeavour

Foundation Property Services have very kindly donated another £100 to our school, which we plan to use for our school hardship fund. They will donate a further £100 on completion for any properties they sell if the owner specifically requests that The Abbey School receive the funds. Please pass this information on to any friends or relatives who can also nominate the school, so that we can maximise this opportunity.

Foundation Property Services

An interesting day was spent at Canterbury College for students who were looking for courses, with opportunities to speak to staff members of departments and lecturers who were able to give first hand knowledge of the work and expectations of courses on offer. It raised questions for some of the students as to whether they were choosing the right course and the right college? It certainly made them consider options they would not have had access to in school. Finding their way around the college was a task in itself, and to find past pupils in the corridor gave the students reassurance and confidence.

Swale Youth Forum Ben Parkes, Lauren Partis, Freya Webb, Shannon Christian and Adam Coppins attended the meeting. They discussed:

Kent Youth Service Transformation

Community safety

Presentation skills training

Sittingbourne Skate Park

Kent Youth county council campaigns They are going to chair the next meeting at the Council Chamber in Sittingbourne on Wed 12 June 2013.

House winners!

College or not?

Business Links

The Abbey School is awarded Bronze for its healthy food

Year 11 Business students were given an interesting and informative talk by local financial advisor David Evans. The Year 11 students are currently studying Managing Personal Finances as part of their BTEC Business course. Mr Evans visited the school for a morning session and was able to advise them person-ally as well as provide them with material for their coursework. Mr Evans has vast knowledge from a career which spans working in a fraud office at HSBC in London to his current financial consultancy business based in Faversham.

The Abbey School has been awarded the Food for Life Partnership Bronze award for its healthy and climate-friendly food culture. The school is working with the Food for Life Partnership to transform the school’s food culture and that of its local community by connecting the children with climate-friendly and healthy food. As part of the Bronze award scheme, The Abbey School has started to serve seasonal school meals, 75% of which are freshly prepared by experienced school cook, Paul Brown of Chartwells. The school also gives every pupil the opportunity to visit a farm, cook and participate in food growing activities during his or her time at school, and pupils and parents are involved in making improvements to the school’s menu and dining experience. Evaluation of the Food for Life Partnership by the University of the West of England and Cardiff University released in May, has found that schools taking part in the programme were rated more highly by Ofsted inspectors. It also shows that pupils’ interest in healthy and sustainable foods was having a “nudge effect” on their eating habits and their parents’ shopping habits.

Ski Trip 2013

Fascinating facts you may want to know!

Butterflies smell with their feet

The electric chair was invented by a dentist

A starfish can turn its stomach inside out

Laughter is a proven way to lose weight

Your foot is the same length as your forearm

To see a rainbow you have to have your back to the sun

The word ‘The’ is the most commonly used word in the English Language

Extra Curricular Clubs

This year’s Ski trip took place during February half term at La Molina in Spain. Students were amazing, the skiing was spectacular, the resort was beautiful and the staff were exceptional at the resort. It involved 5 days of skiing with extra activities of 10 pen bowling, tubing and a disco. Students were accompanied by Mrs Skelcher, Miss Muckian, Miss Mayes, Mr Johnson and Mr Nuttall. All students and staff thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the hotel management commented on the excellent behaviour and manners of all students. It was an amazing and successful trip. If your child would like to attend the 2014 Ski trip, Mrs Skelcher will be advertising the trip after Easter.

MONDAYS: Rugby Fixtures: Boys, Sports Hall, 3.20pm Technology: Year 11 invite only, C6, 3.20PM Basketball Fixtures: Boys, Sports Hall, 3.20pm TUESDAYS: All stars book club: All Years, LRC, 3.30-4.15pm Code Academy: All years, B15, 3.30-4.30PM Art Club: All Years, S1, 3.30-4.30pm Girls Netball, All Years, Sports Hall, 3.20PM Glee Club: All years, Dance Studio, 1.00-1.30pm WEDNESDAYS: Lazerlight: All students, B1, Lunchtime Dance Club: All Years, Girls, A18, 3.20-4.30pm Street Dance Club: Boys, All Years, Girls’ Gym/Main Hall, 3.20-4.30pm Football: Girls, Sports Hall, 3.20pm Table Games, All Years, LRC, 3.30-4.15pm Boys Football Club: All Years, Sports Hall, 3.30-4.30pm Gardening Club: All Years (Term 4), Greenhouses, 3.30-4.30pm Boys Dance Club: All Years, Hall, 3.20-4.30pm THURSDAYS: Two Thirty Clubs: at 2.30pm every Thursday in the LRC, sign up with Mrs. George in the School Office Boys Basketball Club: All Years, Sports Hall, 2.30-3.20pm

Competition time!

KS3 Numeracy Puzzle

All correct solutions will go into a draw to win prizes and house points.Cut out your solution and hand in to Mr. Youard (B10) for a chance to win.