HEADLINES AUTUMN 2012 - Sir James Smith's School · • Year 11 Parents Evening – Tuesday 19 th March 2013 • Year 7 Parents Evening – Tuesday 14 th May 2013 • Year 11 Graduation/Record

SIR JAMES SMITH’S

COMMUNITY

SCHOOL

HEADLINES

AUTUMN 2012

Sir James Smith’s Community School

Camelford

Cornwall PL32 9UJ

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sirjamessmiths.cornwall.sch.uk

Telephone: 01840 213274

Fax: 01840 212189

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Important dates for your diary:

• Start of Spring Term for students: Monday 7th January 2013

• INSET - training days for staff – school closed to students on

25th April and 22nd and 23rd July 2013

• Parents/carers of Year 10 students only: Academic Review Day – Tuesday

23rd April 2013.

• Year 9 Options Evening – Tuesday 12th February 2013

• Year 9 Parents Evening – Tuesday 15th January 2013

• Year 8 Parents Evening – Tuesday 5th March 2013

• Year 11 Parents Evening – Tuesday 19th March 2013

• Year 7 Parents Evening – Tuesday 14th May 2013

• Year 11 Graduation/Record of Achievement Day – Thu 16th May 2013

• GCSEs start Monday 13th May 2013 and end Tuesday 25th June 2013 –

Dates to be confirmed.

And some other dates:

• Late buses: Spring Term Wed 23rd January to Thu 21st March 2013

Summer Term Wed 1st May to Thu 23rd May 2013

• Deep Learning Day (DLD): Tuesday 12th March 2013 - this is where the

normal timetable is suspended for the day.

• Activities Week: Monday 8th July to Friday 12th July 2013

• Year 10 Work Experience Week: Monday 8th July to Friday 12th July 2013

• Year 10 Preparation for Employment Days: Monday 15th July and Tuesday

16th July 2013

Further information about events is available by calling the school on 01840

213274.

School closure in Emergencies: Snow and Ice

Just a reminder that should bad weather hit the Camelford area

there is a well established procedure.

1. During the day - If the school is forced to close early during the

school day a text alert will be sent out to parents/carers. BBC Radio

Cornwall will be informed. Students will be dismissed according to the

preferences indicated by parents/carers i.e. either a) allowed to walk home;

b) allowed to walk to an agreed alternative home; c) allowed to bus home; d)

kept in school to be collected. Students will be kept in school overnight if

necessary in the event of atrocious weather.

HEADTEACHER - JON LAWRENCE


2. Before the school day - If the school is forced to close due to bad weather

overnight, the decision will be taken by 6.30am. The Council then informs the

local radio stations automatically. Parents/carers should listen to BBC Radio

Cornwall or Pirate FM for updates from 7.00am onwards. If the name of the

school is NOT read out the school remains open.

It would also be a great help if on these occasions you do not try to phone the

school to find out what is going on. Ringing the school blocks telephone lines and

stops incoming messages from staff and bus drivers.

School Opening

I would like to remind parents/carers that school is open to students

from 8.15am. Prior to this there is no staff supervision so we cannot

take responsibility for your child.

Food Bank

In the run up to Christmas, and after, we are trying to collect

donations for the local food bank. If you are able to help we are on

the look out for foodstuffs that have a very long life such as rice,

pasta, cereals, beans, tinned foods like tuna. Also long life milk,

orange squash and Smash. Any donations will be very welcome. Items can be

dropped off at the school reception. Thank you for any support you are able to

give.

Contact details

It is important that we have correct contact details – mobile and/or

land line – to ensure we can contact you. If you have changed numbers

recently, please let us know and we will update our records. Mobile

phone numbers are especially useful because we can add you to the

text alert service that so many of our parents/carers find valuable.

Uniform

Most students are attending school in full uniform, thanks to all those

parents/carers supporting the school in our constant endeavour to

smarten up. There are a small number of students who struggle with

uniform. Can I remind the parents/carers of those students that:

• Ties are to be worn.

• Trainers are not suitable for school.

• Skinnies and jean-like trousers are not suitable for school.

• Hoodies are not appropriate for school use and are not a suitable

replacement for the school jumper.


• There is no need to come to school bedecked in lots of make-up or nail

varnish. This should be removed before coming to school on Monday

morning.

Think safety on the way to school

I have had a couple of calls from motorists concerned about students

walking to school or waiting beside the road for their bus. Many

students seem not to be aware that on dark mornings, without

reflective strips or light-coloured coats, they may not be visible to

drivers. Greater care needs to taken.

Safeguarding

1. I would like to remind parents/carers that Sir Jim’s is

committed to safeguarding students and works closely with

other agencies to ensure our children receive the best

possible support. All staff have had the required child

protection training and follow strict procedures in the event

of a disclosure by a student. Three staff, including the Headteacher, are

fully trained in child protection with Sandie Rundle being the school’s

Designated Child Protection Officer. Any parent/carer or student with

child protection or other safeguarding concerns are welcome to contact

Sandie or the Headteacher via the school website.

2. The school’s Behaviour Policy in which school expectations are set down in

detail can be found on the website – www.sirjamessmiths.cornwall.sch.uk

Just a reminder about the procedure to follow if your child is

absent:-

Parents/carers should phone the Attendance Officer on the

first morning of absence – 01840 214150. Alternatively they

may email:

[email protected]

On the student’s return, parents/carers must inform school by letter of the

reasons for their child’s absence.

ATTENDANCE


The desirable attendance rate is 95% or higher. Home and school need to work

together to ensure attendance is as high as possible because there is a strong

link between good attendance and success in exams.

The Class of 2012 returned to a specially decorated hall at school on Thursday

15th November – to their ‘Awards and Celebration Evening’.

The students were celebrating an excellent set of results for their

GCSE examinations, taken this July, and were congratulated by

staff and governors who wished them ‘all the best for their future happiness’.

They also stressed they would be looking forward to hearing of the young

people’s successes in the future.

The presentation of certificates and prizes was made by School Governor and

local Rotary Club member, Max Roberts, after a welcome from the Chair of

Governors, Jonathan Holt, and Headteacher, Jon Lawrence.

GCSE certificates were given out to all those former students attending. Among

those receiving awards were twins, Joe and Scott Draffan, who shared the

Practical Learning Award. Both had taken an Animal Care/Agriculture course at

Duchy College Stoke Climsland and had worked exceptionally hard at their work

experience placements. (See Vocational Learning).

AWARD CELEBRATION EVENING


The Award for Year 11 Overall Academic Achievement went to Katie Lloyd.

Other prizes and awards presented were as follows: Award for Artistic

Excellence (Hannah Wildgoose); Barbara Eversley Memorial Award for Drama

(Richard Flower); Geographer of the Year award (Sam Champion); Jenny Rowe

Award for History (Billy Jackson); Award for Outstanding Achievement in ICT

(Karl Stone); Keen Cooks Award (Jenna Shepherd); Mathematics Award (Katie

Lloyd); Mike Williams Modern Foreign Languages Award

(Charlotte H Hicks); Morality and Ethics Award (Kelsey McCall);

Musical Excellence Award (Chloe Bright); Award for Exceptional

Contribution to PE (George Bolam); Sprayson Award for Science

(Claire Mason); Tamarisk Award for Product Design (Joe

Stefanotti); Award for Outstanding Contribution as a Prefect

(David Evans); Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award (Eliza Burnard).

Teachers have been using a process called Big Brother for reviewing

Key Stage 4 students. The KS4 students are graded in this system on

their Behaviour for Learning and how Up To Date they are with their

workload. Students who are successful in the Big Brother reviews are

recognised as 'High Fliers'; they are rewarded with a series of letters and

postcards home, entry into a Big Brother Reward Draw and other rewards.

Where the Big Brother system identifies concerns about the progress KS4

students are making, identifying them as 'Low Rollers', there is an alternative

system of letters and sanctions. We also link the information from Big Brother

to our other progress review systems. We would like to take this opportunity to

congratulate all the students in Year 10 & Year 11 who have been identified as

High Fliers.

A rendition of ‘The Last Post’ on the bugle has earned a Year 11

student great recognition.

Ainsley Martin, a member of the Cornwall Army Cadet Force,

gained himself an auspicious trophy when he entered a bugle

competition at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter on Saturday 10th November. Playing

against buglers from cadet forces across the South West, he managed to

achieve top spot in the contest.

BIG BROTHER

BUGLE PLAYER


On the following day, Sunday 11th November, he was the bugler at a

Remembrance Day service at Egloshayle Church, Wadebridge.

Both events follow on, for Ainsley,

from a visit to Malta with the

Cadet Force where he was invited

to take part in the Maltese

Military Tattoo.

Ainsley, who aims to go into the

Army and is currently taking part

in the vocational work experience

and college pathway at school, can

also play cornet and tenor horn.

Skills Cornwall

Virtually the whole of Year 10 visited ‘SkillsCornwall’ – a large interactive

Careers Fair held at a Cornish Leisure Centre – earlier this month.

While at the Fair, based in Carn Brea Leisure Centre at Redruth,

the students were able to talk to college and further education

representatives, discover more about job prospects in the future,

and participate in a wide range of activities.

They joined with Students from other schools in the county to

investigate opportunities such as making kebabs and decorating

cupcakes with Academy Nathan Outlaw at Cornwall College, or

taking an additives in food ‘hazard test’ with the Cornwall Agri-food

Council.

Chances were also available to see modern day weaponry up close at the Army

stand, take part in health screenings and body fat and blood pressure tests with

Duchy College and the Falmouth Marine School, and learn how to

make electronic music using CDs and ipads with dBS Music. Some

students designed a t-shirt for a major surfboard brand, while

others took to face painting or wall-building.

The year group, plus staff, travelled to Redruth in two coaches, and returned to

school in time for lunch and the last lesson.

CAREERS


Breast Cancer & Macmillan

Pink was very much in

evidence at school on the

last day of half-term -

especially when it came to

an eye-catching trio of

staff members. Office and

administration staff Heliena

McCarten, Sally Mason and

Karen Goodman stylishly

donned pink to raise money

for breast cancer, as part

of a national campaign.

On the same day students wore non-uniform to gather funds for another cancer

charity, Macmillan. Student council members selected Macmillan as their charity

of choice, and took assemblies throughout the week to highlight its work. Care & Relief for the Young (CRY)

It has been my pleasure over the last five years to come each

term and share with the students challenging truths about the

work and the needs of C.R.Y. We are currently supporting

children, young people and families in 16 countries around the

world. See 'cry.org.uk'

With this in mind, Sir Jim's has agreed to have a C.R.Y. stamp box in order to

collect used British and foreign stamps. These are sold by a C.R.Y. supporter

and this year he has raised a considerable sum of money for our work.

Christmas is coming, cards drop through the door, could you please cut around

the stamps and bring them into school. The box will be situated in

main reception. Thank you.

Hope you all have a truly peaceful and enjoyable time this Christmas.

Rev. Ray Avent, Voluntary Co-ordinator, C.R.Y. South West. Tel no: 01208-816821 or '[email protected]'

CHARITIES


Children in Need

Cycling and Children in Need combined at school on Friday 16th

November, when Mathematics teacher Emma Cox chose an athletic

manner of raising money for the charity. Emma took her exercise bike

into her maths room and then spent the day cycling – and challenging

students to work out how

many miles she would have

covered if it hadn’t been a

stationary bike. In that way

they were set a task, which

they had to work out in

their classes based on miles

per hour etc, and she raised

money and kept fit! At the

end of the day Emma had

cycled 127 km and raised

£112.00! Well done Emma.

Prostrate Cancer

Humanities teacher, Paul Boden, has been growing an eye-catching

moustache for Movember. With the help of a team of Year 11

students, who are selling raffle tickets for the cause as well, he is

raising money for charities dealing with prostrate cancer and other male

cancers.

The students, Kathryn Teague,

Annabel Storr, Cicely Baron, Emily

Rush, and Ameisha Clark, set up

their raffle stall during break times

outside the school’s Learning

Resource Centre.

Prior to the fund-raising Mr Boden

explained to students, in a series of

assemblies, the rationale behind his

growth in facial hair during the month of November.


Five former students of Sir James Smith’s – four of whom were

among the first students who attended the school when it was first

opened in 1962 – returned to the classroom recently.

The school has been marking the 50th anniversary of its opening, and as a result

Margaret Mules (nee Burnard); Colin Chegwyn, Gillian Sanders (nee Mayson), Kay

Colwell (nee Morris); Graham Adams and Derek Trewin were invited into the

classroom to talk to current students about life behind a school desk in 1962.

Margaret had attended

the school between 1962-

66; Colin left in 1967;

Graham stayed on into the

sixth form and so was on

roll between 1962-69 and

Gillian finished in 1965;

Kay left in 1965 while

Derek had been a student

at the forerunner of Sir

Jim’s, the Old Grammar

School.

Prior to the visit, Year 7

had researched the year 1962 and produced a project to show and impress our

guests; they also prepared questions. Among many interesting and poignant

questions, the theme that our students were most fascinated by was ‘What was

the punishment like in your day?’ The ‘Class of 62’ were happy to recall and

share their tales of how they had been able to or how they tried to avoid

punishment. One ex student remembers hiding in a cupboard to avoid the

Headmaster, as she was worried that her behaviour would have been reported to

her parents who would have been extremely disappointed in her conduct.

Another favourite question was: ‘What was your favourite subject?’ while a

surprise question was: ’What sweets did you used to eat?’

Graham, who became a Headteacher at a primary school in Surrey and retired

two years ago, explained: ‘The trouble with the question about the sweets was

that they were unable to understand how much they had cost.’

He brought his school badge along with him as well as his school report, signed

by the then Headteacher, Mr Sprayson, and his form teacher Mrs Corby. He

CLASS OF 62


was described as a ‘good, responsible form captain – very interested in the

library’.

The oral testimony of ‘The Class of 62’ engaged our Year 7’s and brought living

history into the classroom. Many thanks to ‘The Class of 62’ and to Year 7

students whose participation was outstanding.

Year 9, 10 & 11 Preparation for Exams

A wide selection of revision guides are on sale daily at the school

shop; please remember to buy yours now. Also available through the

school shop are various items of stationery. We would particularly

recommend the stationery set - a clear pencil case that is ideal to

take in to the examination room which includes a 30cm ruler, 3 pens,

pencil, glue stick, rubber, sharpener, compass, protractor, highlighter, post-it

notes and is priced at only £2.50.

Sickness

Just a reminder that if your child is suffering from sickness or

diarrhoea, please could they be kept at home for 48 hours after the last

episode, to ensure the bug is out of their system and is not passed on to

other students.

If students are feeling ill, they must report to Reception and a First Aider will

be called. Students must not contact home before being seen and assessed by a

First Aider.

Managing Medicines

Our Managing Medicines Policy now states that all parents/carers

wishing their child to keep medication in school, must send in a letter

of authority together with a box which contains the medication

required. Any medication from the GP must come in the original

container with the correct dosage labelled as dispensed. Could I also remind you

that under no circumstances should students carry their own pain killers with

them.

If changes occur with your child’s health, please could you let us know in writing

so that we can keep our records up to date.

FINANCE

FIRST AID


There were farewells galore, and leaving cards and presents

aplenty, in evidence at school

recently. The recipient of the

goodwill was receptionist

Diane Luck, who was leaving

her post to take up a new position as Events

and Functions Co-ordinator at the Metropole

Hotel, Padstow. Staff and students alike

extended their good wishes to Diane, who

had worked at Sir Jim's since 2002.

The garden is now being sown with garlic, onions and broad beans for

over wintering and an early start in the spring.

These are hardy vegetables that can tolerate frost and snow. Garlic

in fact needs to be frosted to produce many cloves from just one. What is not

so well know is that garlic can be eaten in its green state before drying as an

ordinary vegetable and only gains the flavour we know after drying.

Aquaduce broad bean is the best variety for over wintering, only dying in the

most severe of winters and is one of those vegetables that you

either love or hate. It goes a long way back into our gardening

history and was a staple of the poor for hundreds of years.

The onion I have planted is a Japanese variety, Senshyu Yellow,

available from Trago, (and other stores) and is planted early for a

long growing season; it is supposed to be very frost resistant.

There are now two chickens living in the garden - Golden Line, big egg layers - in

the cages outside of the poly-tunnels; they are pullets - young

birds - please feel free to have a look. They need to be named

and I would like the students to think of a suitable name for

each. Winners will receive the first half dozen eggs as a prize.

FOND FAREWELL

GARDEN PROJECT


The wild life around the school continues to increase with the new policy of non-

mowing of certain areas and this morning the science prep-garden area was

visited by a Thrush, (Turdus Philomelos), the first one I have seen in this area.

If anyone spots anything unusual, animal or insect, could they please let me know.

Many thanks to Billy Nankivel and Jack Coleman for their great

efforts in the garden and to Ann Stephens for the continuous

supply of fertilizer.

Governor Vacancies

There are currently two vacancies on the Governing Body for Parent

Governors. As ever, there are a large number of changes to how

education will develop in the near future. With the development of

the Trust, there are some exciting opportunities to improve how all

of our young people are educated and their school experience over the next few

years, as well as the challenge of making the most of the money we receive from

Government. The future of our communities depends on how the young people

develop into the next generation of adults. As a Governor, your input can really

make a difference.

If you are interested please contact the Clerk to Governors, Judith Knock –

[email protected] - at the school.

A rather large piece of history has

recently been re-attached to the

walls of school. Honours boards,

which were once part of the fabric

of the Old Grammar School in town,

have been put on the wall by the

English corridor as a reminder of the

links with the forerunner of the

current comprehensive school. The

boards had been in storage, but it

was felt more appropriate for them

GOVERNORS

HONOURS BOARD


to be on display, especially during a year which marks the 50th anniversary of the

present Sir Jim’s.

The original foundation of the Old Grammar School was endowed in 1679 by Sir

James Smith, MP for the town, whilst the current school was opened in 1962 and

dedicated to the past MP as he was the first to support education in the town.

The school site team, Rob Harrison (site manager), Mick Baker and Alan Prout,

put up the five honours boards during the recent half-term holidays. They

highlight the names of former students who gained recognition in five differing

categories: Higher Examinations; Sir James Smith’s Exhibition; Cambridge

School Certificate (Honours); the Lord Marks Prize; and Matriculation from

1934. The first name recorded, which is on the Cambridge School Certificate

board, is G S Whitaker from 1917.

Live Lounge

This term has been quite eventful in the Learning Resource Centre

as we have had several ‘Live lounge’ experiences for our students.

They have heard from PC Thomson about the effects of drugs and

drug related crime. Bob Stacey has returned once again to enthral

our students on life in prison – with one person adamantly

expressing ‘I am never going to go to prison!’ We have had a full

week of music and moral issues from the rock band LED and we

have had Brook speaking to our Year 11 students about

relationships.

One of our most new and exciting Lounges was a Skype conference linked to

London, where our Year 7 students heard from the Anti-Slavery

charity about the history of slavery and the trade triangle

but also gave them a small insight on how slavery still

continues currently.

Survival

Our theme in the Learning Resource Centre this term was survival,

which linked with an English Year 7 scheme of work. Debbie and

Tanya decided to step into the shoes of Ray Mears or Bear Grylls

and set up our own survival camp…just in case… although I am not

sure we would go as far as eating anything in its raw state like

these 2 intrepid survival experts! What are we going to next term???

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE


“Adopt a Student” Visit to MFL

On Friday 28th September Year 7, 8 and 9 students

welcomed Alice Gleeson, a student of German from

Bristol University, into their language lessons.

Alice met and answered questions from over 200

students about what it is like to study a foreign

language at university and to spend a year in a

foreign country.

Alice had recently returned from her year abroad,

as part of her German degree, in Berlin and our

students were keen to know all about her travels.

She gave them an insight into the doors that learning a language can open and

what living in a foreign country is like.

Alice worked at a publishing company during the

year and spent her free time travelling in

Germany and discovering that Berlin is an

incredible city, where she made lots of new

friends, visited the sights and found cool places

to go such as a swimming pool on a boat in the

middle of a river! Above all, Alice spoke about

how much her German had now improved and that she occasionally even dreams

in German!

Our students made polite and interested hosts

and there was a real buzz around the department

following Alice’s visit, whose enthusiasm for

learning languages really came across to us all.

Alice has now returned to Bristol to complete the

final year of her German degree course and has

promised to keep in touch.

Belgium Trip 2012

42 students and 6 members of staff spent 5 days in Belgium in

July as part of the school’s 2012 Activities Week programme.

We travelled by coach from Camelford to Dover, ferry to Calais

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (MFL)


and then coach to Namur, stopping off in Cassel for a stroll and lunch. The

whole journey took some 17 hours, so we were relieved to finally arrive at our

destination.

We stayed in a youth hostel in the beautiful town of Namur on the river Meuse

in French-speaking Belgium and enjoyed day-trips to Aachen in

Germany, Dreilandeck on the border between Germany, Belgium

and Holland, and to Brussels. In the evenings we enjoyed

riverside walks, bowling and a restaurant visit for waffles,

pancakes and ice creams. On our return journey we had a last-

minute shopping trip to the Cité Europe hypermarket near Calais.

The students were a real credit to their school. They joined in fully with every

aspect of the visit, trying out their languages, trying new food and really

appreciating the architecture and cultural aspects of the trip. The experience

of staying in central Europe, crossing borders several times a day, hearing and

using different languages within one day and spotting different customs, made

for a really rich cultural experience which they will never forget.

The youth hostel owner commented as we left “If all groups were

as good as yours, my life would be a dream.” The accompanying

members of staff were indeed very proud of the students.

Belgium Trip – A student’s Story – Holly Blake – Year 10

The 2012 Belgium Trip started at 11 o’clock at night in the school

coach park, when 42 students and 6 staff all boarded a bus bound for

Dover. We spent the whole night on the bus struggling to get to

sleep - well not all of us … Miss Cembrowicz was out for the count!

When we got to Dover we got on the ferry and crossed the channel to France.

In France we visited a park with many fountains and a huge windmill. After that

we travelled to Namur, Belgium, to our youth hostel. The youth hostel was newly

refurbished and was very nice. The rooms were a good size and the food was

different, but nice.

I think one of the best things everyone would agree on was being able to talk,

listen and learn more of our German or French. Another enjoyable

thing was watching Mrs Cox get hyper on sweets, and seeing Mrs

Ward with star glasses and a funny hat. The quizzes on the bus were

a good way to pass the time when travelling to and from France,

Germany and Belgium.

Some of the best activities included going to the hyper-market, going to the

Grand Place in Brussels, going up a 55 metre tower on the border of Holland,

Belgium and Germany, and just seeing the teachers let their hair down.


I would highly recommend the Belgium Trip to anyone wanting to use their

languages, learn / live in a different culture, and anyone who wants to

have fun and explore.

Basketball

One of the top basketball players in the country slam dunked his

way to school recently to give a Masterclass in the sport to Year

7 students.

Anthony Rowe, captain of the Plymouth Raiders, was invited into

the school by Subject Leader of PE, Matt Dyson, to deliver coaching workshops

during a Deep Learning Day at Sir Jim’s.

Anthony, an England international, also took part in a question and answer

session with students and showed off his skills in a ‘slam dunk contest’ with Mr

Dyson.

Students went on to participate in a ‘shoot the hoops’ workshop and create

basketball themed posters as

part of the day – the finale of

which was a Year 7 Inter-Deme

basketball competition. After

nine competitive matches the

winner of the contest was

Landeme.

Mr Dyson explained: ‘The

students were delighted to be

coached by such an inspirational

player and for many this was

their first opportunity to meet a professional sportsman who is at the top of his

game’. He added that he now hopes to run a trip to watch Anthony in action at

the Plymouth Pavilions in the New Year.

Football – Primary Shield

The Sir James Smith’s Primary School Football Shield took place recently,

involving eight athletic primary school teams from the surrounding area.

PE DEPARTMENT


Organisers from the PE department at Sir Jim’s said that the

‘standard of football was excellent and showed the strength of

the region’s football development. Although the games were

extremely competitive, they were played in a fantastic and

friendly spirit.’

The competition saw two leagues being completed with young footballers from

Tintagel, St Teath, Delabole and Otterham schools reaching the semi-finals.

Hard fought games saw St Teath emerging as victors against Otterham and

Tintagel beating a strong Delabole side.

The final was described as ‘exceptional’ with both teams playing

outstanding football at times - but Tintagel eventually ran out 2-0

winners on the day and took The Sir James Smith’s Primary

School Shield.

Cross Country

A top two finish was achieved by Sir Jim’s cross country runners in

the Year 9 boys’ race of the recent North Cornwall championships.

Ben Nicholls romped home in first place, with George Hooper in

second, in the race held in Liskeard for students from Years 7-9

of North Cornwall schools.

In the same Year 9 boys’ race, Tom was seventh, Harvey was eighth and George

12th, while Charlie notched up an impressive tenth spot in the corresponding girls’

contest.

Proud PE teacher, Janine Wynen, explained that the race took

place on a ‘lovely sunny day’. She described the course as short

but ‘quite challenging’ with the added hiccup of being scattered

with a few fresh cowpats.

Other top ten finishers from Sir Jim’s were Ella (sixth in the Year 7 girls’ race);

Alex (sixth in the Year 7 boys’ race); Blake (eighth for the Year 8 boys’ team),

Ben (ninth in the Year 8 boys’ contest) and Nicola, who was a plucky third in the

Year 8 girls’ race.

Strong performances were also put in by Isla, Amy, Georgia, Sarah, James,

Brandon, Sam, Callum, Sam and Neisha.

The teams were selected following school cross-country races held at school.


Surfing

There was triumph in the waves

for the members of the Surf Tag

Team from school recently.

The team – comprising Callum

Bosley; Beth Bosley; Eva Jonas;

Finn Layland Stratfield, Ben

Nicholls and Jack Stocker – won

the Tag Team title at the North

Cornwall Beach Festival, held at

Widemouth Bay.

The surfing students are regular

members of the Sir Jim’s Surf Academy, organised by teacher Nick Eacott.

Mr Eacott explained that the school, who were vying for first place

against six other teams from North and East Cornwall, had been

trying to claim the top spot in this event for eight years.

Your local school nursing team have a regular school nurse drop-in

clinic on a Tuesday during 1st and 2nd break and an appointment-

based clinic during the third period (11am). During the drop-in

sessions, students are able to access a range of health information

from the nurse. If you would like to know more about specific issues that the

school nursing team can offer support in, please contact 01288 287722.

Minor ailments and first aid needs will continue to be addressed by the

designated First Aider on site, Mrs Sally Mason.

Young sheepdog handler Matthew Carter, and his dog ‘Blue’, were anything but

blue recently when they produced an excellent ‘run’ at the national

championships.

Matthew, aged 14, was competing in a class in which handlers of up

to 21 years could take part. Most of his opponents were aged 16

SCHOOL NURSE

SHEEPDOG HANDLER


and 17 and stood much taller than him, but he and Blue managed to bag

themselves one of the three ‘runners-up’ slots, with an impressive points score

to boot.

Matthew, a Year 10 student at school, was invited to take part in the National

Sheepdog Championships, held on a farm in Cardiff, by the President of the

Young Handlers section of the International Sheep Dog Society.

The invitation was based on Matthew, and Blue’s, superb ‘runs’ in

other shows and contests.

Matthew, of Delabole, said he was pleased with his performance.

He spent three days in Cardiff, learning handling skills but watching contestants

in more mature classes, before he and Blue were tasked to herd five sheep

around the specially laid out course.

‘Blue’, aged eight, has been partnering Matthew for the past four years, but this

is the first time they have entered a national competition.

At the end of last month, Sir Jim’s entered two equestrian teams

into the school show jumping competition at Resparveth,

Grampound Road.

They were able to field two full teams due to one of the horse-

riding students, Neisha Cole, staying all day with a pony in each competition.

The first team jumping were ‘SJS Reds’ riding in the Novice class (2’3”-2’9”).

The team members were Sammi Rowe on ‘Sandy’, Neisha Cole on ‘Cally’, Poppy

Stiles on ‘Tilly’ and Michael Greenaway on ‘Woodrow Romsey’. Overall the team

came a creditable fifth out of ten teams and a great second in the ‘Tack and

Turnout’. In the Dengie individual competition, held over the lunch time, Ella

Slade took top spot with Neisha Cole fifth.

The school’s second team to jump were ‘SJS Blacks’ riding in the Open Class

(2’9”-3’), the team members comprising Olivia Murray on ‘Basil’, Ella Slade on

‘Buster’, Caitlin May on ‘Snowflake’ and Neisha Cole on ‘Butchers Boy’. Overall, in

terrible weather conditions, the team was placed eighth out of 11 competing

teams but came fifth in ‘Tack and Turnout’.

SHOW JUMPING


Afterwards the show

jumpers explained:

‘Considering this was the

first time out as a

school for several years,

both teams did pretty

well’.

There is due to be

another schools’ team

show jumping contest in May 2013, which is normally held outdoors and in better

weather. Contributions from Caitlin May, Year 10

A special presentation has been made to two former students from school.

Twins Joe and Scott

Draffan were unable to

attend the school’s annual

‘Awards and Celebration

Evening’ in November, where

they would have jointly

received the trophy for

Vocational Learning.

Instead they came into

school on Monday 26th

November to be awarded

the Vocational Cup - which is

kept at Sir Jim’s - and a

smaller trophy each to keep,

as well as their certificates.

The presentation was made by Alan Pollard, now a Camelford Town Councillor.

Mr Pollard, who retired in July, was the Work Related Learning Co-ordinator at

school and was responsible for arranging Joe and Scott’s respective work

placements, which they both undertook with great diligence and zeal.

Both also attended Duchy Stoke Climsland on a Land-Based Animal

Care/Agriculture course which they passed with flying colours. Joe and Scott

have now stayed on at Duchy Stoke; Scott pursuing a higher level Animal Care

course and Joe taking a Sports-based course.

VOCATIONAL LEARNING

Give your New Year a kick start

Interested in a career in the beauty therapy industry?

Need to brush up your ICT, English and maths skills?

Want to study locally?

Why not try one of the following courses on offer at your local adult

education centre in Camelford:

ITEC Diploma for Beauty Specialist Part 1 Starting: Wednesday 16th January (attendance is over 2 days per week)

This course is an ideal first step for anyone who is interested in an exiting career in the beauty

therapy industry.

ECDL Essentials (Level 1) and Extra (Level 2) Improve your ICT skills with the latest IT qualifications. Come along to our open learning

session on a Tuesday Evening between 6.30-9.00pm, where you will be taught in a friendly

and supportive environment. Ring today to book your free skills check.

Functional English We can help you improve your English and maths skills. Not sure if this is for you? Why not

take the first step and enrol on our ‘Step into Learning’ course where we will be able to discuss

your options and help you develop an action plan to achieve your goals.

Make it your year to learn, enjoy and succeed

For more information or to enrol

please call 01288 356629

Some learners may

be eligible for a

concession. Please ring 01288 356629 to

find out more.

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If you would like this copy of Headlines in a different format, please contact the school.

Thanks are extended to David Flower for providing some of the photos in this issue of Headlines. You can contact David on 01840 770775 or email:

[email protected].

Documents

HEADLINES AUTUMN 2012 - Sir James Smith's School · • Year 11 Parents Evening – Tuesday 19 th March 2013 • Year 7 Parents Evening – Tuesday 14 th May 2013 • Year 11 Graduation/Record