NEWSLETTER 28th November 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Page

2 - 3 School News

4 General Information

5 Christmas Party 2019

6 Diary Dates

Mock Results Event - Thursday

28th November On the morning of Thursday 28th November,

we held a mock results event for our Year

11 students, following their recent series

of mock examinations. Students nervously

gathered in the hall to collect their

mock GCSE results, provided to them in

envelopes in exactly the same way as

they will receive them on Thursday 20th

August 2020. We even set out the main

hall as we do in August so that students

get a realistic experience. We ran the

event because, from experience, we

know that it really makes students think

about their performance in the mock

exams and the implications of getting or

not getting the grades that they need. In

running the event with over a term left

until the real exams it gives all students a

chance to improve their revision and plug

gaps in their knowledge and understanding

before it is too late.

Mr A Wilkinson

Deputy Head

LETTERS HOME

You should have received, or your child should have brought home the following letter this week:

Year 11 Progress Evening

If you require a paper copy, please contact school.

‘Prom Passport’ Launch This week the prom passport will be

launched with Year 11 students, who will

have a series of targets to meet to secure

their invitation to the 2020 Prom. These will

be based on attendance, punctuality and

hard work in school. The aim is that all pupils

will be able to attend if they meet our basic

expectations from the 1st December 2019.

The aim is to ensure that they have a clear

focus on working towards their final exams,

with the prom being the reward at the end of

their most important school year to date.

Mr C Smart

Assistant Head

Important Notice School Closure - Friday 29th November Please could we remind parents, carers and students that our school will be closed on Friday 29th November due to staff training.

We will be open as usual on Monday 2nd December. Thank you.

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School News

Northallerton School Goes to the Polls!

Older people are more likely to vote than younger people. At the 2017 general election, 59% of 20-24 year olds voted, compared with 77% of 60-69 year olds. That is why we believe that it is important for schools to teach students about our parliamentary process and our voting system and to encourage them to vote when they are eligible to do so.

On Thursday 12th December, whilst the rest of the country goes to the polls, students at Northallerton School will be taking part in their own mock general election. We will have our own polling station in the school which will be running from 9.00am until lunchtime and all students in the school will be encouraged to vote. The polling station will be run by a group of sixth form polling station ‘staff’ and will give students an authentic experience of what most of them will likely be doing when the next general election comes around in five years time (or perhaps sooner!). The ballot papers will be counted in the afternoon and the results of the election will be communicated to students during the last lesson of the day, broken down by Years 7-11, Sixth form and Staff. We hope that students will come home on election night full of questions for you about the general election - if they don’t, please ask them about what they did during the day and perhaps who they voted for!

Mr A Wilkinson Deputy Head

Year 7 SAIL Celebrations

The Year 7 celebrations of our first theme ‘Who Are We?’ are taking place this week. Each year 7 student has a 10 - 15 minute meeting with their parents (and sometimes brothers and sisters) and base coach. The student leads the meeting in which they explain their Ultimate Goal – what they plan to do when they leave school. Having a plan is very motivating as it helps children to appreciate the value of their education.

This is some of the feedback we have had so far:

“It was an absolutely beautiful evening, to see parents and carers again and to see the independent work that had been done by my Base Group. Almost all, bar two, came, which made it seem very worthwhile as I got to know my Base Group even better – their dreams, wishes and indeed their hopes for the future. I found out the extra-curricular things they do outside of school, and things they hope to do. Presenting in front of myself and parents was a really fantastic idea as parents and myself then felt like a team, there to support and help our children in any way,” Miss Robson, base coach for 7LRO.

“My parents really enjoyed it, they said they felt very proud of me,” Pranav Abilash, 7LRO.

“I think this is an excellent idea - getting children used to researching and talking in front of an audience. I was really impressed,” Mrs Parker, mum of Alice, 7BOD.

“Great preparation for my daughter’s future,” Mrs Porter, mum of Sadie, 7BOD.

Miss A Cox Senior Teacher

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Johnson Group News Jono Rayfield, a director of the biggest recruitment company in the world, was in school on Wednesday 27th November to speak to Year 13 students about what they can do to present 'their best selves' at university interviews. It was an informal session, Jono started by asking the students (who are all expecting to have interviews), what they are worried about. He then went on to give advice about how to prepare for interviews and how to conduct yourself in interviews, as well as addressing specific concerns.

Ryan Farnaby, our head boy, said “The talk this morning regarding useful information when preparing for a university interview was extremely informative and helpful. It allowed us to consolidate our previous knowledge about what such experiences may consist of and open up new avenues into what one may be asked. In particular, the information referencing the concept of Competency Questions and how we compare to other candidates was particularly useful. We would like to extend our thanks to Mr Rayfield for taking the time to come and speak to us today about such an important topic to many in Year 13.”

Miss A Cox Senior Teacher

Year 7 Football There had been great enthusiasm from all the boys attending Year 7 Football Club. Twenty seven boys have attended on a regular basis and we faced some difficult decisions in selecting a squad for the first Area Cup fixture against Risedale School.

Mrs Rahn wished all the boys well as we left, the boys responded very positively; representing the school with distinction both on and off the pitch.

A really good first fixture played under floodlights at Northallerton Leisure Centre. Everyone played their part in an exciting first fixture. Well done to all the boys involved. The result was never in doubt!

Squad: Ben Gilby, Jake Phipps, Alfie Harland,

Joe Flintoff, William Sanderson, Olé Smith, Will Coxon, Robert Coulson, Reece Stearman, Josh Proud, Jayden Murray, Danny Appleton,

Charlie Nelson, Edward Barnbrook

Mr Macrae and Mr Bunn

Match report from team captain Will Coxon:

A good performance by all the boys today in our first game of the year, winning 8 - 7. Leading all the way through the game, the boys showed determination to hold off a late surge by the opposition. Goals scored by Joe Flintoff, Olé Smith, Edward Barnbrook, Josh Proud, Robert Coulson and Will Coxon (3).

We look forward to our next fixture.

School News

The Woman in Black Theatre Trip Last Wednesday evening, 41 students from Years 9 - 13 accompanied Expressive Arts staff to Darlington Hippodrome to watch ‘The Woman In Black’. The students were treated to a fantastically atmospheric production, that created the haunting story in a highly effective way. The performance was followed by a post-show discussion with the cast, where the students were able to ask questions and find out more about the production process.

All our students were impeccably behaved, despite being suitably scared by the production, with theatre staff and members of the public commenting on the conduct of the school whilst in the theatre.

Suffice to say, we were very proud of all our students.

Mr N Stimson Head of Drama

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General Information

ChromeBooks

Thank you to the parents of Year 7 and Year 8 students who signed up to a ChromeBook recently. These are currently being set up by the supplier (which takes a little while) but should all arrive in school before we break up for Christmas. If there are any other parents of students in Year 7 or Year 8 who would still like to sign up to a ChromeBook, please do email us on

enquiries@northallertonschool.org.uk

so we can arrange for a new window to be opened up soon.

Mrs A Wilson School Business Manager

Message from Food Technology

Although we realise they were not on the original equipment list which was supplied, it would be really helpful if students could bring an apron to food technology lessons. Thank you for your help with this.

Mrs Wilson Head of Year 7

University Challenge Semi-final

Wednesday 4th December, 12.45pm in A7. Who will make it through to the final?

CATERING NEWS

Treat Fridays Here are our treats for December:

6th December - pain au chocolat (served at break)

13th December - Snowman ice-cream log (dessert at lunch)

20th December - Christmas ice-creams (served at break)

December We will be selling delicious mince pies and Christmas cake at break and lunch, week commencing 9th December.

Our Christmas lunches will be served on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th December. Please look out for our menu.

Mrs A Harris Catering Manager

Message for Year 11 GCSE PE Students

A reminder that all external video footage for practical skills and game assessment needs to be uploaded and given to the rele-vant teacher by Friday 29th November, 2019. Any questions about this, please see your teachers. Thank you.

PE Department

SAIL Update Last Thursday, the 21st November, we had our kick-off for the second theme in Year 8, ‘Inspiration’. Hannah Chapman, editor of the Northern Echo, came in to speak to us. Lottie Robinson, 8JBa said:

“Hannah was really inspiring and made me think who my inspirations are. I like having the opportunity to listen to people who do interesting things, telling us what they do. SAIL gives us these opportunities.”

Miss A Cox Senior Teacher

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Christmas Party 2019

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DIARY DATES

Address: Grammar School Lane, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 1DD. Phone: 01609 773340 Fax: 01609 770265

Head of School: Mrs V Rahn

Website: www.northallertonschool.org.uk Email: enquiries@northallertonschool.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @nsandsfc Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/nsandsfc

November Friday 29th Staff Training Day. School Closed to Students

December Monday 2nd PRP1 Years 7 - 13 Issued to Parents Wednesday 4th Awards Evening, 7.00pm - 8.30pm Thursday 5th Year 11 Progress Evening, 3.45pm - 6.45pm Thursday 12th Music Concert, 6.30pm - 8.30pm Friday 13th Christmas Jumper Day Thursday 19th Year 9 Progress Evening, 3.45pm - 6.45pm Friday 20th Term Ends - School re-opens Monday 6th January, 2020

January Wednesday 8th Cambridge Nationals Wed 8th - Thurs 16th Cambridge Technicals Wed 15th - Fri 24th Year 13 Mock Exams Monday 27th Year 11 Trial Exams commence (end Friday 7th February) Parents’ Forum, 5.30pm - 6.30pm Wednesday 29th PRP2 Years 12 - 13 Published to Parents Thursday 30th Year 8 Progress Evening, 3.45pm - 6.45pm