D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6

CONYERS SCHOOL

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

This has been a busy term and it seems a long time since we welcomed students in their smart new uniforms in September. We have managed to achieve a huge amount both within and beyond the classroom and are looking forward to our Christmas break. This break is well earned for Year 11 who have completed their trial exams and await results in January.

The highlight of the term for many was Conyers Company’s performance of ‘Seussical’ at Billingham Forum on 17-18 November. It was a magical show with the cast, musicians and crew rising to the challenge of ‘filling’ the bigger venue. There were four performances over the two days of a truly professional standard as befitting the location. Next year’s show will be announced in the New Year and will be eagerly anticipated.

Within school, one of our priorities is to ensure that students in Sixth Form facing examinations in January are fully prepared. Our preparations are progressing well but we still need to ensure that students find sufficient time to

study over the Christmas period. Students should be engaging in a sensible programme of preparation to allow them to relax and enjoy Christmas as well as ensuring they are ready for the challenges of trial examinations at AS and A2. Planning a revision programme in advance is helpful and tutors in school will be able to assist before the end of term.

Two Conyers’ traditions have again provided a festive ending to the term; the Carol Service was a magical evening in the beautiful setting of the parish church and the Christmas dinner gave members of the Executive Team the opportunity to wear our festive aprons and Santa hats and serve lunch to students. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a restful holiday. We look forward to welcoming students back on Wednesday 4 January 2017, at 8.55 a.m.

Conyers Students Become Active Citizens this Christmas

Conyers students have become active citizens this Christmas by collecting and packing presents for some of the most vulnerable children in our area, on behalf of TFM’s Mission Christmas, and also by participating in our festive non-uniform day on Wednesday 14 December, with all proceeds going to TFM’s Cash for Kids. Well done to some of our student leaders who helped to sort and deliver the presents; Sam Brown, Oliver Bosomworth, Maisy Best, Zeenat Anwar, Lucy Bell, Mea Walton, Yekta Heidari and Emily Brown.

Name:

Sixth Form Open Evening

Tuesday 10 January 2017

7.00 - 9.00 p.m.

Celebrating Achievement Headteacher’s Commendations

Were awarded to:

Ben Boyd 10CG for outstanding support for a vulnerable student during a fieldwork visit. You are a credit to Conyers School.

Alice Montgomery, Violet Wilson 7C, Bradley Downing, Calum Thorpe, Elise Watson 7N, Olivia Evans, Robyn Harper 7O, Leah Armstrong, Nathan Magnone, Alexander Reed-Kirby, Rhianna Plummer, James Richardson 7R, Mark Bergman, Olivia Craggs, Noni Muhuhu 7S, Reubyna Glanville 7Y, Hollie Evans, James Whaley 8C, Izabella Scott 8E, Laura Bainbridge 8R, Daisy Stuart, Nina Turner, Charlotte Verrill 8S, Niamh Prior 8T, Harrison George, Luke Roberts 9AH, Olivia Cleasby, Holly Emmerson, Madeline Evans, Chloe Hyde, Katie Parkes 9DP, Rosie Best, Katerina Jordan, Angie Lee, Kelsi Plummer, Grace Smith 9ER, Rachel Davies, Patrick Fawcett, Mia Finegan, Harriet Goldsbrough, Huma Hussain 9JK, Millie Bullock, Nathan Campling, Chloe Martin, Lily Robinson, Jennifer Toombs 9KG, Jack Spooner, Niamh Thomas 9JK, Thandekile Tshuma 10CG, Lauren Branton, Hannah Hesketh, Evie Steel 10EM, Alick Brownlee, Keiahna Jackson, Sophie Mcdonald, James Barker 10JM, Tilley Blanchard, Megan Payne 10KD, Finn Allen, Rosie Richardson-Catron 10LM, Kate Owen, Lewis Wormald 10PS, Delight Mushore, Libby Robinson 10SC, Courtney Fleming, Erin Jones, Sophie Leadbitter, Kari Roberts, Rebecca York 11AB, Josephine Clemenson 11BA, Diana Couso Naranjo, Maiya Grieff, Ellie-May Haggas, Sibabalwe Tekile 11CB, Daniel Magnone, Rory Thorpe 11JH, Olivia Callaghan 11LD, Charlotte Barber, Lauren Micklewright, Leah Robinson, Georgia Smith 11RC, Samantha Readman, Erin Thorpe 6AR, Brittany Brown, Faye Edemenson 6CC, Megan Clark, Scott Marshall 6GL, Jack Minto, Sophie Robinson 6HC, Lucy Adams, Samuel McCullagh 6HS, Isaac Black, Rebecca Hudson, Caitlin Palmer, Sean Prior 6JT, Francis Liburd 6JW, Sophie Blenkinsopp, Stuart Whyte 6NH, Scott Campbell, Ellie May Robinson, Lucy Thomas 6RA, Benjamin Oloman, Emily Swan 6RB, Daniel Clemenson, Sophie Huggins 6SL for your contribution to ‘Seussical’. It is one of the highlights of the Conyers’ year and a truly magical evening.

Megan Donovan 9AH for achieving 100% in both of your Geography assessments. Very well done.

Ben Thomason 9DP for: achieving 100% in both of your Geography assessment on ‘Plate Tectonics’. Very well done.

Khadeeja Hussain 6HS for: displaying incredible empathy and care during your visit to Ayresome Court Nursing Home. Many thanks.

Holly Alderton, Michael Walters 6AR, Jonathan Glew, Lloyd Thomas, Lauren Tyerman 6CC, Will Kilburn, Charles Taylor 6GL, Aimee Foxton, Emma Langley, Ayla Oatway 6GS, Chris Carling, Hannah Thompson 6HC, Fiona Easter, John Eglinton, Khadeeja Hussain, Ben Kiddell, Amir Said, Olivia Sells 6HS, Beth Dennis, Nathan Georgiou, Elliot Johnson, Sean Jones, Jim Lowry, Joe McLean, Abi Puckey, Joel Serafin-Johnson 6JT, Harry Clennett, Jess Hugill, Anisa Nawaz 6JW, Tom Dalton, Niamh McDonagh, Erin McDowall 6NH, Lucy Thomas 6RA, Rebecca Best, Lewis Heap, Tom Levitt, Jake Robinson 6RB, Joe Begley, Beth Cooper, Olivia Jackson, Alicia Rose, Serena Sani, Katie Williams, Louis White 6RH, Iqrah Ali, Sophie Spoor, Charlotte Teasdale 6SL for your contribution to the ‘Care Home’ Focus Day. You were a wonderful ambassador and embodied the Conyers’ values. Thank you. Dylan Smith 7R for working really hard in Maths intervention. I am so pleased that you were rewarded with super test results.

Ruby Dodsworth, George Gowland 7N, and Lovpreet Kaur 7Y for outstanding Science homework. You were really creative in your approach and your effort was exceptional.

Toni Sullivan 11AB, Ryan Dalton, Tegan Downes, Myles Murray 11BA, Olivia Dann, Katie Gill, Maiya Grieff, Mea Walton 11CB, Amelia Busby, Lucy Chesney, Ted Jemison, Oliver Bosomworth 11GS, Lucy Bell 11JH, Fazaan Hussain, Millie Cooper and Caitlin Gray 11JT, for delivering a wonderful e-safety session at Ingleby Mill Primary School. Many Thanks.

Erin Yule 8T, Maisy Best, Erin Jones 11AB, Tippi Shannon, Lucy Smyth 11BA, Maiya Grieff 11CB, Hannah Begley 11JH, Zeenat Anwar, Millie Cooper 11JT, Abbie Williamson, Lauren Micklewright 11RC, Anna Covell 6CC, Scott Marshall 6GL, Zara Stanton, Emma Langley 6GS, Amy Laroche 6JT, Chloe Walker 6NH, Saffiyah Ammash, Romana Asghar, Matthew Covell and Katie Williams 6RH for your contribution to the ‘Rights Respecting School’ steering group which was a huge success at the Christmas Market.

Sophie Valentine 8C, Lucy Brown 8N, Joseph Aldus 80, Jake Smith, Beth Stanton 8S, Joshua Bailey, Ellen Campbell, Michael Evans, Honor Ezard, Matt Iceton 9AH, Chloe Hyde 9DP, Archie Polson 9KG, Emily Rose 9JK, Matthew Drake, Queen Uzomah 9SP, Isabel Beauchamp10CG, Fenella Coleman 10EM, Erin Bowkett 10KD, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Ellen Robson 10LM, Nathan Wood-Gordon 10SC, for your contribution to the Year 3 and 4 Athletics Festival. Primary Staff said that it was the best festival ever.

Ryan Graham, Corey Walker 10KD, Felix Clarke 10LM, and Alisha Suleman 10PS for running a fantastic arts and craft stall at the Christmas Market.

Maisy Best, Lottie Johnson 11AB, Jacob Billing, Tegan Downes 11BA, Annabel Jupp 11CB, Daniel Magnone 11JH, Isabelle Allen-Scarth and Sree Shankarganesh 11RC for your participation in the ‘English Learning Coaches Programme.’ You have shown great commitment and skill.

Anti-Bullying Competition Winner Well done to Ewan Brown 9JK for entering the anti-bullying poster competition and demonstrating excellent student leadership qualities. His poster on anti-bullying aimed to highlight cyber-bullying, verbal bullying as well as physical bullying. The poster provided contacts that a student could approach in order to resolve bullying issues such as speaking to a teacher, teaching assistants, site staff, year managers, friends and family. As Ewan explains the rationale behind the poster was to ‘give the person being a bully and the person being bullied advise on how to stop it. Also the effects it can have on people.’

Though the competition was held during Anti-Bullying Week in November, the message is something that Conyers continues to reinforce. For his outstanding contribution Ewan won a downloadable code for FIFA 2017 for the XBOX One, which is a thoroughly well-deserved prize for such a conscientious and thoughtful student.

Ewan’s poster bears the following inspiring message: ‘Stay beautiful and strong, because things will get better. It might be stormy now but it can’t rain forever.’

Random Act of Kindness Competition At the end of this term Conyers will have its first recipient of the Random Act of Kindness prize which is a Middlesbrough football top and a set of collectors pins. To enter the students were instructed to provide evidence of having demonstrated outstanding student leadership by positively contributing to the local and/or school community. Thus far we have received lots of applications ranging from charity events; assisting a distressed Year 7 student and teaching local people vital English skills.

This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and encourage students to get actively involved in their school and local community.

Conyers Governing Body

As we approach the festive season and a time for celebration, I am reminded there is much to celebrate about Conyers.

We began the term with news of some outstanding achievements by students at both GCSE and A level and I was pleased to present awards to some of these students at the Celebration of Achievement Evening.

I also attended the Voyagers production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the annual Conyers Company production Seussical the Musical. Midsummer Night’s Dream was well presented by all performers and the main story was captured in an amusing, yet informative manner. Seussical was outstanding, with performances worthy of professional status, both on stage and in the music pit. These events are examples of the ways in which Conyers supports and enables its students to reach their full potential and are reminders of the Governors role in working alongside to continue to make this happen.

I'm pleased to announce that Conyers became a Multi Academy Trust on 1 November 2016, placing the school in a position to develop formal alliances with other strong schools working towards the same goals. I will keep you informed of the progress with this through coming newsletters.

There have been recent changes to the Conyers governing body. I would like to thank Shelagh Leonard, John O'Boyle and Janet Scott, retiring members, for all their contributions and commitment. I would also like to welcome our new parent governors Mrs Shazana Arshad-Ali, Mr John Ollier, Mr Michael Rowntree, and Mr Christopher Evans

I hope all students, staff and their families have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Frances Johnson, Chair of Governors.

Learning Support We have had a very busy term in Learning Support, our Year 10 students have successfully planned and ran a craft stall at the Christmas fair and also a fantastic Christmas party for a group of Year 4 pupils from Layfield School.

The party was outstanding and the primary children enjoyed Christmas party games, such as pin the nose on Rudolf, that had been designed and made by our students, followed by party food, a dance and of course a visit from Santa!!

We have also put life back into the flower beds behind Block 4, planting bulbs and seeds. A group of our students have been working hard, cultivating the area, clearing weeds, preparing the soil for sowing and then hopefully they will reap the rewards in a couple of months’ time.

We hope that you have all enjoyed this term as much as we have and we wish you all the best for 2017.

Learning Support Team

Creative Arts

It has been a fantastic term for Creative Arts, with Drama, Art and Music students attending many out of school activities and events.

Year 11 students went on a visit to Harry Potter Studios and London’s West End, taking in performances of Les Miserables and Matilda. Students had an amazing time soaking up the atmosphere of the shows, Covent Garden and the National Portrait Gallery.

Our school production this term was “Seussical” at The Forum Theatre, Billingham. We had four shows over two days, which included performances to the local primary schools and our Year 7 and 8 students. This was another superb performance by our students who never fail to impress with their commitment and endless talents and they richly deserved the standing ovation they received. Comments we received included “This was the best show yet - amazing” and “I would just like to say a very big thank you, to yourself and everyone involved in the Seussical production - it was fantastic!’

We are already planning our next show at The Forum Theatre, which we hope to announce shortly.

Our Christmas festivities this year included our music department band joining in with the Christmas tree light ceremony at Yarm Primary School and our annual Carol Service which took place at Yarm Parish Church. The service was a special evening and celebrated Christmas with readings, carols and student performances. The atmosphere created was a wonderful start to the festive season.

A very special thank you to the students who practised and performed through the autumn term, and to the dedicated staff who made these events such memorable occasions.

Storage Racks Outside Big Cook

Please could you remind your child that the storage racks are only for daytime use by students and not for students to leave bags overnight or for longer periods.

Students have been requested to remove their property (coats, PE kit, miscellaneous bags etc.) at the end of each day. These are becoming a hazard, an eyesore and there is a risk of items going astray. All unclaimed items at the end of the day will be removed by the Facilities Team. Thank you for your help with this matter.

Focus Day

Year 9 students received talks from local employers about the skills and qualities they're looking for in their employees and that it is more than just their GCSE options and the grades they achieve.

Youth Direction held workshops throughout the day with Year 9 students helping them to identify which GCSE options are best for them and what makes a good decision. Students were encouraged to think of all the influences on their GCSE option choices and how to make decisions that are best for them and their future career. That it does not matter if they do not know what you want to do when they are older, and that it is important that the options your pick at GCSE will help you no matter what career you choose.

Year 12 students visited Leeds University during the last Focus Day, whilst Year 13 students organised and ran Pensioners’ Parties. Where they sang Christmas carols, carried out Christmas quizzes and even painted nails! It was a very successful day.

Conyers Food Bank Appeal Staff at Conyers have also been thinking about those less fortunate this Christmas and have been donating items for the local Food Bank.

Maths Were you a Maths Star last half term? Star certificates are on display outside Room 105 or inside Room 103. Have you done something impressive to be on the star wall next term?

Congratulations to 8y3 who won the recent Stockton Sumdog Competition. Especially well done to Jake Loxley, Kymani Bradley and Evie Adamson who were on the top 10 leaderboard. The next Sumdog competition starts on 9 December - all Year 7 and 8 students have been entered. Take part and receive a festive balloon for your Sumdog house.

Poster Competition Here’s your chance to win an Android tablet. People do not always realise that maths is everywhere you look and needed every day by everyone! Can you create a poster aimed at showing teenagers how maths is needed every day? It needs to be A4 size, you can draw it by hand; use a computer or a mixture of both. Ask your maths teacher for more details. Closing date is 12 January 2017 and needs to be submitted to www.mathscareers.org.uk

ICT and E-safety Leaders Conyers ICT and E-safety Leaders have been working hard this half term to deliver important e-safety messages to young people. We welcomed the opportunity to work with Ingleby Mill and 90 of their Year 6 pupils. The afternoons consisted of Student Leaders delivering key messages about online gaming and the associated dangers. It then moved to the Year 6 pupils competing against each other in teams to create their own E-Safety videos, posters and slogans. Toni Sullivan, Lucy Bell, Ryan Dalton and Fezaan Hussain led victorious teams with all pupils performing fantastically. Ingleby Mill commented that using students from Conyers has allowed their pupils to gain clearer understanding of the dangers associated online, as online gaming is often not considered. All students were awarded Headteacher’s Commendations for their outstanding efforts.

Inaugural Student Council Meeting

The new and revamped Student Council was launched this year and was led by Head Girl Emma Langley and Head Boy Scott Marshall. Both Scott and Emma are keen to leave their mark on Conyers and this came across in the first meeting with the newly formed representatives of the Student Council. The students are: Aminah Marshall, Worthee Ikah, Lottie Watson, Hollie Evans, Queen Uzomah, Connor Guillfoyle, Harry Harland, Emma Page, Leah Robinson and Amritpal Singh. These student were selected by the Head Boy and Head Girl based on the strength of their application and positive contributions they have already made. In addition to these, the members of the student Learn to Lead Team which include Jamaal Glanville, Daisy Mellis, Emily Powell, Tanisha Roy and Simon Littlefair Dryden also joined the Student Council.

The first meeting was a huge success and it led to a focus on anti-bullying within schools for the next two terms. This will involve members of the Student Council going into their respective year forms and delivering a presentation on bullying hotspots in school, resolutions strategies, cyberbullying and promoting respect for one another.

Both Emma Langley, Scott Marshall and the rest of the Student Council have made an excellent start to the year and no doubt will continue to demonstrate outstanding student leadership and inspire others to follow.

Student Leaders Volunteer for Conyers at the Christmas Market

A huge thank you to our wonderful student leaders who helped to raise money for Conyers School at the Christmas Market. A special thank you to Erin Yule, Amy Laroche, Romana Asghar, Deputy Head Girl Katie Williams, Anna Covell, Matthew Covell and Zara Stanton for helping set up and promote the Rights Respecting School Awards with a very popular stall in which attendees could donate money and put a wish on a tree. Head Girl Emma Langley, Head Boy Scott Marshall, Erin Jones, Maisy Best, Chloe Walker, Saffiyah Ammash all helped to spread the festive cheer in the kitchen.

Additionally the following student leaders helped raise funds and reinforced the Christmas spirit by taking part in face painting and

nail polishing stalls as well as assisting stall holders and acting as guides to visitors: Hannah Begley, Tippi Shannon, Lucy Smyth, Millie Cooper, Abbie Williamson, Lauren Micklewright. Honor Ezard, Lily Husband both helped with the sweet stall as well as Jamaal and Reubyna Glanville for reindeer stall. A huge thank you also to both Maiya Grieff, Zeenat Anwa for being both the helpful Christmas angel and elf for Conyers’ own Father Christmas.

We must have the most helpful students ever! Have a merry Christmas.

Notifiable Illnesses

If your child is diagnosed with chickenpox, shingles or measles please could you inform the school as soon as possible.

Year 12 London Politics Conference

Twenty Year 12 Politics students travelled to London to take part in an A-level Politics Conference where they would hear from esteemed members of the British political scene and have the opportunity to ask questions. The students were delighted to hear John Bercow explain the important work that the speaker has in moderating debates in the House of Commons; Douglas Carswell, the first elected MP for UKIP, spoke about the new rebranding for UKIP post-Brexit and we had everyone's favourite Tory, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who amused the audience with his guidance on how to deal with 'socialist yahoos'.

Conyers very own Year 12 politics student Elliot Smitheringale posed a question to Chuka Amunna, the charismatic Labour MP for Lambeth, about the prospect of the world shifting towards an increasingly Orwellian society. I am afraid for the answer you will have to speak to Elliot!

Following the conference the students had their own tour of the outside of Parliament and walked along the South Bank. It was a thoroughly pleasant experience and Conyers students conducted themselves in the most upright and professional of manners.

Car Parking and Access to the School – Enforcement Action

A reminder to all parents. The Green Lane entrance to the school is extremely busy and subject to congestion around 8.30 - 9.00 a.m. and 3.30 - 4.00 p.m.

We have had a series of complaints from parents and local residents about inconsiderate or dangerous parking in and around the entrance to the school. As a result Stockton Council parking enforcement team have informed us they will be carrying out a series of spot checks and will issue fines to cars illegally parked.

Can we remind all parents and sixth formers

• the bus bay is closed to all cars between 8.30 - 9.00 a.m. and 3.20 - 4.00 p.m., to allow the buses taking students to and from the school safe access

• no vehicle is allowed onto the school site for collecting or dropping off students, without prior agreement

• the disabled parking bays at the school are strictly reserved for the use of families with disabled students or with injuries, again with prior agreement

• parking in the vicinity of the school should be done with due consideration for other users of the pavements and road and local residents.

The bus bays are empty after 4.00 p.m. and Green Lane is considerably quieter. Parents may wish to consider arranging to collect their children from this time and so avoid the traffic and parking problems.

These restrictions on parking and access are there to protect the students, parents, visitors and staff. Can we please count on your cooperation with this to help ensure the safety of all concerned.

Student and Parent Helpline

There is an option on the main telephone line and an email address helpline@conyers.org.uk for you to

contact our Student and Parent helpline if you have any concerns.

In the event of a winter emergency ….

Conyers School As we are now well and truly into winter, with the increased chance of snow or flooding, it is worth a reminder on how the school will deal with any extreme weather incidents. We appreciate the disruption caused to parents by school closures and therefore our starting point will be that Conyers will not close in the event of extreme weather. Many of our students and sufficient staff live within walking distance of the school and so we expect to be able to stay open. The school has only closed once, for a day, in the past ten years.

In the unlikely event of the school being forced to close, such as by the loss of power, we would trigger our business continuity plan. Information is then shared with Stockton Council, who alert the local radio stations e.g. Radio Tees and put information on the Council website.

Conyers School will use its ‘Schoolcomms’ system to send out a message to all parents and staff stating we are closed and put updates on the school website (http://www.conyers.org.uk) and twitter (https://twitter.com/@conyersschool). Reopening would be handled the same way.

How you can help

Sign up to our Schoolcomms system if you have not already. If you wish to be sent Schoolcomms messages, please ensure that we have your correct email and mobile telephone details. Also, please add the email address, SC8084023a@schoolcomms.com to your ‘safe senders’ list.

Please could parents save the Schoolcomms telephone number (01642 688114) to their phones, so when future messages are received from the school they know that the school has sent them.

When the weather is bad, put on Radio Tees, check the school website and look out for any messages from the school. No news, is good news.

Schoolcomms There may be times throughout the school year when we need to contact parents via Schoolcomms text messages. The Schoolcomms mobile text service only allows us to use 160 characters per text message, therefore some abbreviations such as ufn (until further notice) will be used. Please could parents save the school’s Schoolcomms telephone number to their phones, so when future messages are received from the school they know that the school has sent them. The Schoolcomms telephone number is 01642 688114.

If you wish to be sent messages, please ensure that we have your correct email and mobile telephone details.

Also, please add the Schoolcomms email address, SC8084023a@schoolcomms.com to your ‘safe senders’ list.

Smartphone App for Parents

Want to spend less on text messages?

The free School Gateway Smartphone App for parents is unique to Schoolcomms

Parents Receive instant notification of messages Receive messages using Wi-Fi even when there is no mobile signal No charge for sending replies back to the school Easy to download, use and send messages to school Secure and reliable Store and receive messages all in one place, even if children are at different schools (providing the

schools are using Schoolcomms) The App uses your mobile phone number and email address that we have on file for verification. Please email sims@conyers.org.uk if you have recently changed either of these, so that we can update our records.

Search for “School Gateway” in the Apple App Store/Google Play or on your phone go to www.schoolgateway.com/apple (Apple) or www.schoolgateway.com/android (Android).

Install the App and if you are asked then say “yes” to “Allow Push Notifications”.

Friends of Conyers

Friends of Conyers would like to say a huge thank you to all staff, students, and stall holders who contributed in making the Christmas Market held on November 25 2016 such a great success.

We made £1061.00 on the night.

We would also like to say thank you to all the companies who donated so generously to this event:-

Kiwi Boutique, Yarm

Sainsburys, High Street, Yarm

Sainsburys, Thorntree Road, Thornaby

Hutchinson Hobbs, Yarm

James Wharton MP

Carl Banks, Yarm

Cena, Yarm

The Arc, Stockton

Aldi, Yarm

Co-op, Yarm

The Ship, Worsall

The Crown, Kirklevington

The Six Medals, Middlesbrough

Leven Park News, Yarm

Sayers, Yarm

Whitworth Pharmacy, Yarm

Cuckoo, Yarm

Boyes, Yarm

Truly Scrumptious, Thornaby

Starters, Middlesbrough

Presto Pizza, Yarm

Strickland and Holt, Yarm

Tate Hair, Yarm

Sundaes, Yarm

Bocelli's, Yarm

Hairtek, Yarm

Mockingbird's, Yarm

Nosh, Middlesbrough

Holga, Middlesbrough

Drake’s Books, Stockton

Shambles Cafe, Stockton

Lily Nail Spa, Stockton

Total Phone Solutions, Stockton

Expressions Reborn Babies

N M Taylor, Stockton

Poppy Rose, Stockton

W.W. Peeled Potatoes, Newton Aycliffe

Paul Morgan’s Bakery, Middlesbrough

Bidvest Foodservice, Gateshead

Winners of Raffle

1st prize - Christmas Fayre for 4 - The Six Medals - J Wren

2nd prize - £30.00 Voucher - Starters Middlesbrough - M Covell

3rd prize - Afternoon Tea for 2 - Strickland and Holt, Yarm - Mr Evans

4th prize - Voucher - Mockingbird, Yarm - A Baker

5th prize - Voucher - Cena, Yarm - V Swansbury

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nicola Husband Friends of Conyers

Go Music continues to grow and expand with over 220 students now having peripatetic lessons in Conyers School and local primaries. In addition, Go Music staff continue to deliver classroom Music lessons in Bader, Barleyfields, Kirklevington, Layfield and St Therese primary schools.

Recent performance featuring Go Music Students: Seussical Friends of Conyers Christmas Market Judges Christmas Fayre Yarm Primary Christmas tree lighting ceremony Carol Service at Yarm Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene

If you have any enquiries please email gomusic@conyers.org.uk.

Friends of Conyers 100 Club Winners

November 2016

1st prize (£25) - No. 35 - J Austin

2nd prize (£15) - No. 1 - B Whittingham

3rd prize (£10) - No. 27 - S Clayton

December 2016

1st prize (£25) - No. 36 - Kathryn Elms

2nd prize (£15) - No. 46 - Stuart Ingledew

3rd prize (£10) - No. 10 - Marianna Williams

Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance

Calendar Dates

Friday 16 December, 2.30 p.m. School closes for Christmas holidays, buses early

2017

Wednesday 4 January, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Tuesday 10 January, 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Sixth Form Open Evening

Wednesday 18 January Focus Day 3

Tuesday 24 January, 4.30 - 7.30 p.m. Year 11 subject consultations

Thursday 26 - Friday 27 January Year 12 and 13 trial exams

Tuesday 31 January, 4.30 - 7.30 p.m. Year 9 subject consultations

Friday 10 February, 3.40 p.m. School closes for half term holidays

Monday 20 February, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Friday 7 April, 3.40 p.m. School closes for Easter holidays

Monday 24 April, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Monday 1 May Bank Holiday - school closed

Friday 26 May, 3.40 p.m. School closes for half term holidays

Monday 5 June, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Thursday 20 July, 2.30 p.m. School closes for summer holidays, buses early

Tuesday 5 September, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Wednesday 18 October, 3.40 p.m. School closes for half term holiday

Thursday 19 and Friday 20 October Staff Development Days

Monday 30 October, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Friday 22 December, 2.30 p.m. School closes for Christmas holidays, buses early

2018

Monday 8 January, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Friday 9 February, 3.40 p.m. School closes for half term holiday

Monday 19 February, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Thursday 29 March, 3.40 p.m. School closes for Easter holidays

Monday 16 April, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Monday 7 May Bank holiday - school closed

Friday 25 May, 3.40 p.m. School closes for half term holidays

Monday 4 June, 8.55 a.m. Students return after the holidays

Friday 20 July, 2.30 p.m. School closes for summer holidays, buses early

School Payments

When you are making payments for school lunches, school visits, revision guide books etc please could you use our online payment system www.parentpay.com and if possible, use your debit card rather than a credit card as the charges for school are less if debit cards are used.

If you have misplaced your login details, passwords or have a problem paying by either of these methods, please contact the Finance Office, on finance@conyers.org.uk or ring school on 01642 792418.

Alternatively make cheques payable to Conyers School.

Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance

Year 10 Boys

PE Department

Athletics

Year 7 and 8 boys and girls teams took part in the Stockton Schools Sportshall Athletics competition at Marsh House Campus. Here are the results

Year 7 boys - 1st

Year 7 girls - 2nd

Year 8 boys - 1st

Year 8 girls - 6th

Year 7 and 8 boys and Year 7 girls will go on to represent Conyers and Stockton at the Tees Valley finals at Eston in January. Well done.

Cross-Country

Wellies were needed at the Stockton Schools Cross Country Championships held on a December afternoon at a very muddy Preston Park. The school team consisted of 50 runners who did Conyers proud with a special mention to those who were placed in the top 30. Year 7 finished strongly with a great effort from Jack Williams and Jenson Smith finishing 2nd and 5th for the boys. Year 8/9 girls were very muddy on finishing with an impressive 16th place for Kate Clark. Well done to the junior boys finishing strongly with Dan Payne 1st, Jonathon Krakue 8th, Luke Hutchinson 10th, Josh Bailey 11th and Matt Iceton 13th. The intermediate boys had a fantastic day with Luke Pettit 1st, Cameron Spence 2nd, Alex Quinn 3rd, Joe Micklewright 8th and Max Harvey 9th. The last race of the day saw the intermediate girls completing a very muddy lap. Top finishers were Felicity Kennaugh 17th and Laura Short 18th. Well done to all competitors. An excellent afternoon despite the weather.

Football

After a great start to the season in the first term, Conyers Year 7 team faced a tough run of fixtures. They played Nunthorpe School which was a well fought battle but, to Conyers' misfortune lost 2-0. Next they came up against Sacred Heart who were well organised and hard to break down, Conyers again lost 3-0. Following this, we played in a local derby match against Egglescliffe. The match was played on an 11-a-side pitch with the team managing really well playing on a pitch they were not used to and after falling 3-0 down; the team battled hard, dominated possession and brought the score to 3-2 but narrowly lost as the final whilst blew.

Year 8 boys have quickly bounced back from their National Cup disappointment to win all of their games in all competitions, including an impressive 4-0 win in the County Cup against Egglescliffe. Absences from the team due to injury have meant more chances for squad members to step up; something they have done superbly.

A good first half of the season for Year 9 boys with the team progressing to the 3rd round of the National Cup and the quarter final of the County Cup before suffering defeats against strong opposition. The Stockton League continues to see the team perform well as they enter the Christmas break undefeated.

Year 10 are playing some great football at the moment and have qualified for the last 32 of the English Schools National Cup. We need to keep our team spirit strong as league form has been up and down.

Congratulations to Nathan Wood-Gordon who has been selected to represent England U15 school boys in two games over the Christmas period.

Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance ● Perseverando ● Through Perseverance

Medication

Please note that medication cannot under any circumstances be given to students without written permission from a parent, due to Health and Safety regulations. If you intend to send your child to school with medication, due to the Department for Education’s standard guidelines, all student medication must be in its original packaging bearing the prescribers instructions. This includes antihistamines, paracetamol and all generic painkillers.

Year 11 boys will be starting their league games after the Christmas break. We wish them luck in their final sortie.

The U14 and U16 girls have started their league campaign against Acklam Grange this week. U16s were knocked out of the National Cup third round to an impressive St John Fisher side from Harrogate. The girls put up a great fight but the quality showed in the end and St John ran out deserving winners.

The Sixth Form have continued their impressive season with an 8-1 win over Prior Pursglove. After starting the match with nine men for the first twenty minutes Conyers scored a goal on the break courtesy of Sam Candlin. Back to full numbers Conyers continued to dominate the game and eventually ran out 8-1 winners. Goals from Alex Clark (4) and Joe Pickett (3).

Hockey

U13 girls hockey team suffered their first defeat of the season away to a strong Red House side. The match finished with a 5-1 score line with goal from Kate Murphy. We received a special gift from the opposition in terms of the Team Up England Teddy Bear which is shared between schools when playing a fixture. See where the adventure takes him!!

Netball

All teams are competing in the Stockton District Netball league. Years 10 and 11 have finished their netball matches and although we performed well in many matches we lost to All Saints, Ian Ramsey, Egglescliffe and Red House.

Year 7 team has started well winning a few matches before coming up against tough opposition in Red House. Hopefully we can return to winning ways in the New Year.

Years 8 and 9 have also had mixed results with some very close games against Grangefield and Ian Ramsey. Practices and matches will restart after Christmas so here's to looking forward to some more success. Some girls need to consider joining Stockton Netball Club to continue playing out of school.

Sports Leaders

Conyers Sports Leaders have hosted two fantastic events this half term. In November twelve teams from local primaries came to Conyers for a Years 5 and 6 football tournament. After a very competitive afternoon’s football with some top talent on show, Levendale and Yarm both qualified for the Stockton round with Yarm coming out as overall winners. After putting on such a good event Conyers leaders have been asked to run and officiate the Stockton finals in January.

Over one hundred pupils from Years 3 and 4 visited for a Sportshall Athletics competition. They took part in numerous events including obstacle relays, vertical jumps and indoor javelin. Twenty student leaders from Years 8, 9 and 10 helped run this event and received plenty of praise from primary teachers with some claiming it was the "best festival yet!" Well done to all of those involved!

Keep up to date with all of the teams’ fixtures and results via Twitter @ConyersPE.

Go Sport is a trading name of Conyers School, a company limited by guarantee (company no. 08366005) and exempt charity registered in England and Wales at Green Lane, Yarm, TS15 9ET

Telephone: 01642 790296 Mobile: 07779903215 (out of hours) Email: gosport@conyers.org.uk Web Site: gosport.conyers.org.uk

Follow us on twitter: @GoSportConyers

Primary Badminton Coaching

Tuesday Conyers Gymnasium

Y3 & Y4 - 5.45 - 6.30pm

£3 per week

Club Level Coach Sheila Boyes

No equipment needed Shorts and laced trainers

essential

Limited Places Booking essential through

Go Sport Office

Badminton Coaching

Tuesday Conyers Sports Hall

Y5 – Y9 - 7 - 8pm Y10 - Adult - 8 - 9pm

Beginners and Improvers

£3 per session

No equipment needed Shorts and laced trainers

essential

Club Level Coach

Sheila Boyes

Trampoline Coaching

New Structure for the New Year

Friday 4.30 - 5.30pm

Beginners/Novices Y5 - Y9

5.30-6.30pm

Intermediates Ability Dependant

£4.50 per week (paid in advance per half term)

Places MUST be booked for these classes

Simon Carson Sports School Christmas Fun Days

Games & Dance

Fun activities suitable for Boys and Girls

Aged 4-12 years Monday 19 &Tuesday 20 December

9am – 3pm

£10 per day or £15 for both days Save £5 if you pay in full

To book a place contact

Mandy 07531138121

DFcoaching Xmas sports clubs with Go Sport

We will be running our usual football academy & a multi sports camp for two days of the Xmas holidays from Conyers School

Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December

10am-3pm for 4-13 year olds

£15 per day or £25 for both days

Discounts for 2nd and 3rd siblings

For bookings contact Dan Fowler on 07947740136 or at danny@dfcoaching.co.uk

Saturday Dance Class Starting 14 January 2017

9.15 - 10am Age 3-6 years 10 - 11am Age 7-11 years

£4 per session Girls and Boys

Fun, fitness and making friends Pop / Street Dance to popular

chart music

For more information contact Suzanne

07515681663 or the Go Sport Office

Go Sport is a trading name of Conyers School, a company limited by guarantee (company no. 08366005) and exempt charity registered in England and Wales at Green Lane, Yarm, TS15 9ET

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Telephone: 01642 790296 Mobile: 07779903215 (out of hours) Email: gosport@conyers.org.uk Web Site: gosport.conyers.org.uk

Follow us on twitter: @GoSportConyers

Messy Play Days 22 January, 26 February, 26 March 2017

10.30am - 11.30am Conyers School Gym

Sessions are suitable for children aged 6 months (or sitting unaided) to 5 years old.

Lots of activities to explore including painting wall,

compost, gloop, sand, rice tea party, rainbow spaghetti plus lots more

Little ones can squelch, pour, mix and splat,

all you have to do is come along and Mess Around clean up

To book a place complete the booking for at www.messarounduk.com

or contact Emily 07702430108 for more details

Starting once per month Monday 9 January 2017

7.15 - 8.15pm Conyers School Sports Hall

Aged 18 + £1.50 per week

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our customers

From the Go Sport Team