NEWSLETTERHead Teacher News

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SUMMER TERMJUNE 2012

Settling in I am pleased to be able to inform you that we have now settled well into the newly refurbished premises. Staff and students are pleased with the new facilities and the whole school has been uplifted. Morale and motivation are high and the response from the students and their behaviour has been impressive. This has impacted positively on all aspects of school life. You have probably noticed the demolition works are now finished, leaving the final landscaping to be completed. School Grand Opening July 13th The school opening committee meet on a weekly basis and they are in the process of formulating a guest list. The

refurbished school will be officially opened by The Rt Honourable Liam Byrne MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Coordinator of Labour’s policy review.

There are very limited places but if you would like to attend please contact the school with your details. Alternatively there will be guided tours of the school on the afternoons of Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th July.

Changes to School Uniform As you are aware we have introduced a new school logo which reflects the progress we have made and acknowledges the beginning of another chapter of our school‘s history. The Student Council have been consulted about changing the main uniform and they recommended that it should remain the same but we should change the blazer badge and school tie. Designs are with the suppliers and we aim to introduce these ready for September.

International visitors At the beginning of May we had teachers from Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Hungary and Germany visit our school as part of the Comenius Project. This is a European Social

Fund funded project that supports links between schools in different EU countries. During their time in this country they were kept busy with a visit to the Council House, Museum and Art Gallery, Cadbury World and the Black Country Museum where they ate fish and chips from the Victorian shop on Main Street. On the Saturday they went to see the sights of Stratford upon Avon and then left on Sunday morning to spend time in London. Our visitors thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Birmingham and were very impressed with our students and our new facilities. A big thank you to Mr Marshall for his hard work in making the visit a great success!

Primary Liaison We are offering a range of curriculum activities to our local primary schools to help support the work they are doing. Where possible our new drama, music and sports facilities are being made available to enhance the learning experience. New Prospectus We have a new school prospectus which has been well received in our local primary schools . If you would like a copy please contact the school.

Year 9 Options There was a buzz about the place when we hosted the first large event in the newly refurbished school. There was a 71% turn out for the year 9 Options Evening.

Mark GarsideHead Teacher

During Form Time this half term, Year 7 pupils have been working on a PSHE module entitled “This is Us!” This module is designed to encourage our students to recognise and value themselves and their friendships.

Daily activities included: engaging discussions and creative activities on the importance of healthy friendships; teamwork activities to initiate and organise a fashion show; and a fun, T-shirt design competition to display how our young people want to be viewed by the outside world. Selina Malikh, of the winning Form Group 7LPA explained: “First of all we individually designed our T-shirt and thought about how we wanted to be represented. Then we worked in small groups to design a group T-shirt. As a Form we then took our best designs and made our ultimate T-shirt. It took a lot of hard work, I saw people being pricked by vicious needles! We completed the design during lunch-times and break times to create a patchwork image of two owls. The owls represent wisdom and friendship and the words on the back say how we want to be seen by others. We wanted to make the T-shirts to show the local community our true selves and show them we are not horrible and terrifying little gremlins. Deep down we are caring people and want to en-courage and inspire other young people.”

Year 7 News

Year 10 NewsMs Stedmon would like to thank all Year 10 students involved with the School Council and the opening of the new school. An extra big thanks to Rondene Vassell, Babar Jamil, Mohammed Junaid, Nasim Wahid, Shahena Abdin and Chimwemwe Sakala for the extra time and support in and around school.

To the whole of my Year Group - keep up the good work! I’m proud of you all. Ms Stedmon

Lee Vann (7LPA) also added: “As a class we had to decide which member of the class would model our work, so we chose Bruno Bagi. During assembly one student from each form, took part in the catwalk. Bruno was funny, spinning his blazer and walking and showing he was having fun. Every-one chose Bruno for the winner and we were happy.”

Head of Student Progress Year 7Ms Fenlon, Pastoral Assistant Year 7 Mr George, PSHE Co- Ordinator Ms Burton and Assistant Head Teacher Mrs Heath formed the judging panel and were very impressed at the amount of hard work that had gone into the T-shirts from all Form Groups. They judged 7LPA the overall winners taking into account teamwork, design, accompanying speech and catwalk performance.

Congratulations 7LPA!

ENGLISH NEWSKey Stage 3

Our fantastic Year 7 pupils have taken on the challenge of developing a computer game in order to become ‘The Apprentice‘ of the English department.

With London’s 2012 just around the corner, Year 8 have investigated the Olympics and produced some wonderful work.

Year 9 have been getting to grips with the demands of GCSE study by investigating a range of poetry from other cultures.

Our Key Stage 3 English stars this term are Muna Hussain, Hamed Omer, Yousef Omer, Corteney Faizey, Iqra Muqtar, Shane Herbert and Conor Glynn - well done!

Key Stage 4

Year 10 pupils have been completing their GCSE controlled assessments, and some fantastic grades have been achieved – keep up the good work!

Finally, the English Department would like to congratulate all of Year 11 for the hard work and determination they have put into their GCSE controlled assessments and revision. We are sure all of your hard work will pay off.

Our Key Stage 4 English stars this term are Alyssia Card, Rutendo Muhwati, Bushra Bibi, Deanna Edwards, Mikey Ashby-Newbold and Alice Olenga - well done!

Sixth FormNewsAs part of Sixth Formers enrichment programme, Year 12 students have been supporting a Year 7 Maths group this half term. | Ms Stanley

Music in the Community One of our talented music students Kierren Horne performed singing live on Big City Radio on Saturday 28th April, receiving a fabulous response from the radio presenters and listeners! A recording of this has been uploaded to the school‘s website.

Alongside the work in the Local Community, students have put on some amazing performances to visitors from the Community in events at our school. The drumming group performed their piece’ Call of Duty‘ and our singers and musicians from the Music Department also took part in the concert held for our International guests. Massive congratulations and well done to all those who performed.

Primary School Link NewsYr 11 BTEC Dance group have been sharing their skills with our local Primary schools and teaching a large group of Year 4 students at Shirestone Primary School.

They have taught in pairs small sections of a dance which has been choreographed into a whole class dance which is to be performed on 22nd May.

They have all become confident leaders and should be very proud of their achievement of Level 1 Dance Leadership.

Thank you to the girls: Shanice Jarvis • Shaqeera Sinclair • Skye RoundPatricia Malobo • Jayde Daniels • Chloe Rowland Emma Hart • Rebekah Bryant

MFL NEWSYear 7 have built on their great start to learning French by completing a module on school, including talking about school subjects, uniform, and even discussing The International School canteen in French! Students have had some interesting discussions comparing the advantages and disadvantages of French and English schools, with a unanimous conclusion that English schools are better! Year 8 students have been enjoying discussing TV and cinema in French, producing their own film posters, film reviews and ideal TV schedules. They have now started to study the topic of ‘Healthy Living‘, which links with their current PSHE work.

Year 9 students have recently had their first taster of learning Spanish, in preparation for their GCSE options choices. As well as learning the basic language skills they would need to get by in Spain, students have started to get a taste of Spanish culture. This has included Flamenco dancing, bullfighting and

‘La Tomatina’ (a Valencian festival where tomatoes are thrown around the streets!). We‘re really pleased with the amount of students who have chosen to take Spanish for GCSE, and we‘re sure they‘ll enjoy getting to grips with this new subject over the coming weeks.

Year 10 French and Spanish groups, and the Year 11 French group, have been working very hard towards their exams.

We encourage all Key Stage 4 students to come to Language After School Clubs all year round to improve their language skills, but particularly around the time of controlled assessments and exams.

We wish all Language students the best of luck in their coming exams. | Ms Simons

Art and DT NewsOur Year 12 and 13 A Level Art students worked hard to produce an impressive number of pieces under exam pressure and rose to the challenge. They listened well to advice and despite their nerves all students exceeded our expectations.

Key Stage 3 have been making some exciting and healthy food options including low fat real chocolate cookies and fresh fruit salad.

We are busy planning some interesting activities for our Year 5 Primary Day based upon the Queen’s Jubilee.

PERFORMING ARTS NEWSMusic | Drama | DancePerformance for the International Visitors Friday 4th May

In the afternoon on Friday 4th May the Performing Arts Department created an hour long performance for the Comenius International visitors.

Students from all years participated. Year 7 girls participated in a lively dance of Greased Lightning. Karine Harber delighted the audience with the dance that she created for her GCSE exam. A group of Year 11 BTEC Dance students produced a very energetic and carefully choreographed dance.

Kierren Horne, Mikey Ashby-Newbold, Aanat Huthman and siblings Christian and Geonne Parantar sang a range of beautiful and lyrical ballads which both haunted and soothed the audience. The African drummers energised everyone with their impressive synchronisation and precision.

The drama section was represented by the Year 11 BTEC group who entertained the audience with a piece of observational comedy set at a bus stop and focussed on how everyone came into contact with a handkerchief.

Botan Hussain and Cauley Pullen created a piece of Italian mime which left some members of the audience in stitches.

A group of Year 8 boys created a comedy performance about a banana peel ruining an Olympic Event, as well as a film that was premiered at the end of the show.

The International visitors were impressed by the show which was the first one to be held in the newly refurbished hall which is easily turned into the perfect performance theatre space. We are looking forward to creating the next performance at the end of June.

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY NEWSAttendance – Going for Gold in Olympic Year 2012

• Congratulations to students who were awarded their Bronze medal for over 92% during January 2012. • Students were awarded their Silver Medals for over 94% in May 2012. • Students who achieve over 96% will receive their Gold Medals in July 2012.

Students can still achieve their Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals by attending every day until July 2012.

School Attendance September—May 2012 = 93.65%

Congratulations to all parents and students who have helped us to reach this figure, but – 96% is our target for this school year. Students who wish to go on the Drayton Manor trip must attend everyday as a condition of getting a place! Attendance: Year 7 - 94.58% | Year 8 - 94.02% | Year 9 - 93.73% | Year 10 - 93.05% | Year 11 - 93.44% | Sixth Form - 96.02%

Learning Resource Centre NewsSchool Library opening times: 7.30am – 4.30pm daily.

Early morning revision, break and lunch time clubs, maths revision, chess club…..and much more.

Students visit to Peter‘s b

ookstore

to meet their favourite Au

thor

Rachel Caine and get their

books personally signed.

Our school was one of only a few schools who were invited by the EAZ and The International Airport press office to attend the unveiling of the new air control tower and Olympic Rings on Monday 23rd April. A selection of students and staff attended the evening event, with the students involved being selected for their hard work and commitment to planning the opening of our new school.

The students not only had an enjoyable time taking part in a Bangra workshop, mingling with the guests and being part of the switching on of the lights, but like true business people they used the evening to research how an event of this scale is planned and learn from this to organise our own opening event.

During the night our students showed some very impressive networking with the CEO of the Airport and various VIPS

Out and About in the Community

Up and Coming Events

The week of 28th May, Year 5 students will be welcomed into the school to share in and take

part in the Queens Jubilee celebrations. We will be running competitions for designing Jubilee coins, they will be taking part in Art, Graphics and Food Technology sessions and to put the icing on the cake they will be having a Jubilee party lunch to show off all their designs and hard work.

Sports NewsOn Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th May 200 primary school pupils from our feeder Primary schools were welcomed to the school to take part in the annual Multi Skills Festival and all students were very successful during the day.

They then took part in a quick cricket competition to end the afternoon. All pupils were a credit to their school. Well done to all the Year 8, 11 and Post 16 Sports Leaders who did a fantastic job planning and leading the event. You are a credit to yourself and our school. | Miss Collett

Year 7 - An improving side is starting to see results go their way. After some hard work on the training ground and the incredible team spirit of the year 7 boys, they were ready for the next challenge of Golden Hillock. A good hard working performance saw an emphatic 5 – 1 victory with a hat trick from Zorran Nasim and a goal from Bruno Bagi. Lee Van played well in defence. The game ended with a couple of fine saves from goal keeper Jordan Kendal. Star man – Zorran Nasim, goal machine!!

Super sub ‘Ash’ rescues point for International The year 7 final game was a tough away trip to Waverley. The boys started brightly with Botan Hussien and Bruno Bagi dominating in the midfield. Waverley gradually came back into the game and at the break were leading 2 – 0. Goals from captain Bruno Bagi and super sub Jordan Ash rescued a point for the away side. Star man - Jordan Ash - an excellent finish to save a point for his side.

Year 8 - In an enthralling away game the year 8 boys took on Moseley Secondary School in the quarter finals of the cup. The home team took an early 2-0 lead but were soon pegged back by goals from Bruno Bagi (Year 7) and a 30 yards strike from Kane Horton. We went in 3-2 up at halftime. After the restart both teams conceded goals and with 5 minutes to go they were drawing 4 each when The International were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Kane Horton stepped up to drill in his second goal of the game. The game finished 4 - 5. Year 8 go onto the semi finals against local rivals King Edwards Sheldon Heath. Man of the match went to debutant Tom Daniels (Year 7).

Year 9 - New additions to the squad have transformed the team into title contenders. They have had an unbeaten finish to the season, with wins against KESH 12 – 1, Golden Hillock 4 – 2 and then ended the season with a 3 – 0 win at Waverley. | Mr Holland

Football News

Schools Grand Opening: Year 4 students will be taking an active role in our school opening with all of our local feeder Primary schools being invited in to take part in various activities on the days leading up to the Grand Opening on 13th July. We look forward to meeting the Year 4‘s and hope they will enjoy sharing in our celebrations for the new school.

Over the remaining weeks of the Summer term a number of events will be run with our feeder Primary schools.

Basketball NewsThe Under 13 Basketball Team reached their first final against the only team to have beaten them this season in Queensbridge. Despite playing against three regional basketball players, the team, managed by Nicholas Mbewe and assisted by Harry Clarke, year 11 pupil, found they were equally matched in the first two quarters being only two baskets down at the half.

After a lengthy team talk from their coach and some hard defence from the opposition, they were down by three baskets in the third quarter and despite the valiant effort in the third, the team lost 22-15. A very worthwhile experience with the hope that the students involved will continue with their progress next year. Most Valuable Player went to Bruno Bagi (Year 7).

Trampolining NewsOn Wednesday 9th May we hosted a trampoline competition for Years 7 and 8 pupils. Three teams competed against a strong field from Archbishop Ilsley School. Each competitor performed their routines twice. The International School participants were very nervous but all performed to the best of their ability.

Girls, Amy Griffiths (Year 7) won an individual silver medal, Taneisha Savage (Year 8) gained a bronze medal. Year 7 boys, Jamie Williams won gold and Alex Fulford silver. Other competitors were Ravneet Deol, Jaszmin Hazel, Lauren Naven and Grace Amos. All were a credit to the school and came away smiling even when sometimes their routines did not go to plan.

PHSE NewsYear 7 were thrilled to take part in a ‘Natural High’ event with performer David Graham which left them laughing and singing as well as understanding why they don‘t need to get involved in drugs to feel good.

Year 9 also had an interesting day when the theatre group ‘Loudmouth’ came into school to perform their play ‘Safe and

Sound’.

Safe and Sound helps young people to think about the quality of the relationships they develop, raises their awareness of the misuse of power and control and helps them safeguard themselves against abusive relationships. This was a challenging experience for some of our students but we were impressed by how well they joined in and the level of maturity shown in the responses and advice they gave.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Season 2012/13Glebe Farm Colts are based in the Stechford area of Birmingham and have their own club house. We are looking to build an under 13s team for next season (season 2012/13). If you are currently in school year 7 and enjoy playing football, then give us a try. If you have any queries or require further information please email the club in the first instance at glebefarmcolts@virginmedia.com. NB: All coaches are CRB checked.

Glebe Farm Colts F.CUnder 13s Football Team

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Thank you for your continued support.

The second half of the Summer Term will be packed with exciting events once the important A level and GCSE exams are completed. This year, in addition to our regular events (Work Experience for Year 10, the Prom for Year 11, rewards trips for Key Stage 3 and Sports Day), we have introduced a three day Health Awareness Programme for Key Stage 3 and a Visual and Expressive Arts Festival that will take place over the last four weeks of term. We will also be welcoming many younger students from our feeder primaries to experience the enhanced facilities in our new buildings. Finally, there will be an Official Opening Ceremony on July 13th when Liam Byrne, MP for Hodge Hill, will formally declare the new buildings open.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Wed 20th June Year 10 experience practice interviews in school in preparation for the world of work Week of 25th June Arts Festival: Art Exhibition and Drama Performances in Kenrick Hall 26th - 27th June Geography field studies visit to Dovedale for Year 10 students Friday 29th June End of Year Assembly for all Year 11 students Week of 2nd July Arts Festival: Music and Dance performances in Kenrick Hall and the Crescent Theatre Wed 4th July Induction Day for our new entrants (Year 6 primary students) Friday 6th July Year 11 Prom at Lea Marston Hotel Monday 9th July Science Faculty visit to Twycross Zoo for Year 8 students 9th – 20th July Year 10 students will be attending their work experience placements Tuesday 10th July Sports Day House Competition at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull 11th -12th July Primary School students visiting the school Friday 13th July Official Opening Ceremony for the new buildings 16th – 18th July Health Awareness Immersion Days (Years 7, 8 and 9) Week of 16th July Year 7, 8 &10 student reports and Year 9 Key Stage 3 Teacher Assessments posted to parents Wed 18th July Performing Arts Gala Evening in Kenrick Hall – all families welcome Thursday 19th July Reward Trip to Drayton Manor Theme Park for selected students from Years 7, 8 and 9 Friday 20th July Last day of term. Students leave at 12.30 pm Thurs 16th August GCE Advanced Level results may be collected from school (10.00am-12.30pm) Thurs 23rd August GCSE results may be collected from school (10.30am-12.30pm) Tues 4th Sept Autumn Term begins for the new Year 7 and Year 12 students Wed 5th Sept Autumn Term begins for the new Year 8, 9, 10 and 13 students

SUMMER TERM Monday 16th April 2012—Friday 20th July 2012 HALF TERM Monday 4th June 2012—Friday 8th June 2012 AUTUMN TERM Monday 3rd September 2012—Friday 19th October 2012 HALF TERM Monday 22nd October 2012—Friday 26th October 2012 AUTUMN TERM Monday 29th October 2012—Friday 21st December 2012

The International School Gressel Lane, Tile Cross

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