Newsletter Nov 2007

KINGS NORTON

HIGH TIMES November/December 07 issue

IN THIS ISSUE

Shoeboxes go off to

Romania

What’s happening in

the library?

A future Poet Laureate?

Out and about with

Humanities

In early September this year, we received a letter from the local authority congratulating us on the tiny number of permanent exclusions which we had to carry out over the past school year. We were asked to share with other schools the secret of our success. Just a few weeks later, we received anotheranotheranotheranother letter congratulating us on the rise in student attendance from 86% to 90%. Again, a rise like that in such a short time is outstanding. Then in November, we received yet yet yet yet another another another another letter from the director of a project in which we are taking part, called Raising Achievement/Transforming Learning, congratulating us on having ‘significantly exceeded … FFT Type ‘significantly exceeded … FFT Type ‘significantly exceeded … FFT Type ‘significantly exceeded … FFT Type D estimates for 5 A* D estimates for 5 A* D estimates for 5 A* D estimates for 5 A* ---- C GCSE performance which is the C GCSE performance which is the C GCSE performance which is the C GCSE performance which is the

prediction for the top 25% of schools prediction for the top 25% of schools prediction for the top 25% of schools prediction for the top 25% of schools nationally’. nationally’. nationally’. nationally’. This was because the govern-ment, based on what our students had achieved at key stages two and three, had predicted we should achieve 27% when in reality we achieved 53%!! These pictures show the school receiving our achievement certificate at a celebration dinner in London’s Café Royal.

Well done KNHS!! Denise Burns Headteacher

CONGRATULATIONS KINGS NORTON HIGH! Exclusions and Attendance

Look out for pictures, articles and reviews in Look out for pictures, articles and reviews in Look out for pictures, articles and reviews in Look out for pictures, articles and reviews in our next newsletter!our next newsletter!our next newsletter!our next newsletter!

Rehearsals for the pantomime are well underway and by the Rehearsals for the pantomime are well underway and by the Rehearsals for the pantomime are well underway and by the Rehearsals for the pantomime are well underway and by the time you read this newsletter, hopefully you will have time you read this newsletter, hopefully you will have time you read this newsletter, hopefully you will have time you read this newsletter, hopefully you will have

watched one of the performanceswatched one of the performanceswatched one of the performanceswatched one of the performances.

Our visit to the Good Food Show

on 29th November 2007

As part of our NCFE certificate in Food Safety & Catering, we went to the Good Food Show to further learn about and taste the many varieties of food available and to watch a masterclass presented by a professional chef. We watched a number of chefs from different restau-rants cook against each other to produce the same

dish in the same length of time—this was very exciting. Mrs McFarlane had given us a questionnaire to complete and we had to carefully observe the chefs to see if they followed the rules we had learnt at school such as washing their hands and using different chopping boards for different food types

. We were able to tasted many varieties of food - curries, sauces and ice-cream and ate so much we were full up!! We all tried a Mexican chilli sauce which was very spicy. Chefs were book-signing and we all managed to see Jamie Oliver. We weren’t able to get his autograph though as we didn’t buy his book!

Watching Rick Stein’s masterclass was so exciting and it was very inspirational to see him cook one of his legendary fish dishes. We continued to fill in our questionnaires whilst at the show and the information we gathered will help us achieve better grades in our certificate. We left the show very tired but having all enjoyed ourselves. Some of the students came away determined to take up a career as a chef. Nicola ButlerNicola ButlerNicola ButlerNicola Butler

Christina is Greek but grew up in Belgium, a French speaking country. She plans to teach French in Greece, although she’ll be with us for a good while yet!

How long have you been living in How long have you been living in How long have you been living in How long have you been living in Birmingham?Birmingham?Birmingham?Birmingham?

“I’ve been here for over 4 years, firstly as a student at Aston University and other opportunities opened up to me.

What do you do here at KNHS?What do you do here at KNHS?What do you do here at KNHS?What do you do here at KNHS?

My works has a lot to do with making students at ease with languages. I support classroom activities, lead classroom speaking sessions and help with conversational fluency and grammar points as well as providing classroom resources .

What were your first impressions of What were your first impressions of What were your first impressions of What were your first impressions of KNHS?KNHS?KNHS?KNHS?

“I was a bit nervous at first, the idea of teaching abroad was a bit daunting, but then I realised the students are ever so sweet and are constantly making efforts to try their best. I’m pleased to see their daily improvements”.

How do you find it so far?How do you find it so far?How do you find it so far?How do you find it so far?

“I think lots of students lack confidence in learning a new language and should be more positive about their abilities. It’s a great feeling to see students empowered by their own learning, taking initiative, and showing more independence with work. I’m delighted to see that many are keen on learning, eager to ask questions and willing to improve.”

Meet Christina

Fotiou, our Foreign

Language

‘Booked up’ ‘Booked up’ is a new national programme which en-courages year 7 students to read for pleasure and Kings Norton High’s librarian, Mrs Trombley, signed up with the independent reading charity so our students could take part in the initiative. All year 7 students have been given a free book, picked themselves, from a list of twelve specially selected titles!

Check out dates for next term in your Check out dates for next term in your Check out dates for next term in your Check out dates for next term in your parents’ calendar sent to you earlier in the parents’ calendar sent to you earlier in the parents’ calendar sent to you earlier in the parents’ calendar sent to you earlier in the year. If you need another copy, call us on year. If you need another copy, call us on year. If you need another copy, call us on year. If you need another copy, call us on

0121 459 4451.0121 459 4451.0121 459 4451.0121 459 4451.

Tuesdays Tuesdays Tuesdays Tuesdays (Mrs McShane) BTEC catch-up - IT-4 Wednesdays Wednesdays Wednesdays Wednesdays (Mr Hornsved) BTEC catch-up and KS3 homework club - IT 2-7 Thursdays Thursdays Thursdays Thursdays (Mrs Busby) BTEC catch-up and CLAIT revision sessions - IT-LT

ICT @ KNHS

After School Activities

& Catch-up Sessions

Interested in Science?? Then see Mr Taylor for your pass to the most scientific club at school! Recent activities include making a solar-system model, inventing a recipe for life and working with flashing Christmas trees! Places are limited in our minibus

that travels to Swanshurst on a weekly basis so hurry!

We have managed to fill 37 shoes boxes this year, all of which will be sent to Romania in time for Christmas and given to children who are not as fortunate as ourselves,. What an achievement!

Special thanks go to staff and pupils who supported the appeal and to all the ladies in Melrose Close who knitted gloves, hats, scarves, socks and jumpers, for the shoe boxes. The ladies also knitted a number of blankets, which unfortunately, due to costs cannot be sent to Romania, but will go to ’Birmingham Open Christmas’ a charity that helps homeless people.

SHOE BOX APPEAL

A big thank you to Patricia Buckley who co-ordinates many of the charity appeals and who gives up her time endlessly to help others.

Support the Blue Peter Disk Drive appeal

Kings Norton High School is supporting this year's Blue Peter appeal. In January, a box will be placed in reception for everyone to donate genuine, un-

wanted discs—CDs, DVDs and com-puter games—so Barnardo's can raise money and support young carers across the UK.

Recycle your old Mobile Phones

If you get a new phone for Christmas what will you do with your old one?

Have you thought about recycling it?

Well we have and by giving them to reception staff at Kings Norton High School, not only will you be helping the environment but the Body Shop will donate £4 for every mobile they receive to ‘Women’s Aid’ , a charity supporting women of all ages suffering from abuse and will recycle them without damaging the environment!

Year 8 have been exploring poetry….Year 8 have been exploring poetry….Year 8 have been exploring poetry….Year 8 have been exploring poetry….

A Haiku must ‘paint’ a mental image in the reader’s mind

Waterfall plunges

Deep down, a terrific sight

Whilst the sun smiles

(Jordan Easwood)

The grass is very niceThe grass is very nice

You can play on it all dayYou can play on it all day

It is lush greenIt is lush green

(Matthew Izon(Matthew Izon))

Trees stand up brightly

Dropping leaves like tears

A lake of loss

(Liam Foley)

As the snow falls down

It gets colder and colder

The ground turns to

white

(Ayesha Kohli)

The sun shines brightlyThe sun shines brightlyThe sun shines brightlyThe sun shines brightly

Shining on the ground bright yellowShining on the ground bright yellowShining on the ground bright yellowShining on the ground bright yellow

Boiling hot and cozyBoiling hot and cozyBoiling hot and cozyBoiling hot and cozy

(Lovinia Gordon(Lovinia Gordon(Lovinia Gordon(Lovinia Gordon)

HAIKU HAIKU HAIKU HAIKU

(HI(HI(HI(HI----COO)COO)COO)COO)

The sun shines on the ground

The village is out

Playing in the sun

(Katrina Hogg)

Here comes the waterfall

Ploughing onto the water top

Splish splash down it goes

(Casey Dunne)

Leaves fall to the ground

People crunch them all day long

They go crunch, crunch, crunch

(Tio Joy)

The white frozen rainThe white frozen rain

Everyone loves to call it snowEveryone loves to call it snow

It falls like a tearIt falls like a tear

(Joel Rose)(Joel Rose)

A Haiku has three short lines. It does not have to rhyme.

A Haiku is a very short, centuriesHaiku is a very short, centuriesHaiku is a very short, centuriesHaiku is a very short, centuries----old form of Japa-old form of Japa-old form of Japa-old form of Japa-nese poetry. Themes include nature, feelings or nese poetry. Themes include nature, feelings or nese poetry. Themes include nature, feelings or nese poetry. Themes include nature, feelings or experiences.experiences.experiences.experiences.

The snow so white

The more it falls, the more children

Play in the soft snow

(Mark Carpenter))

Kings Norton High School is launching its new Language club on

Tuesday 15Tuesday 15Tuesday 15Tuesday 15thththth January 2008January 2008January 2008January 2008.

It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn a new language

or reinforce existing knowledge of a foreign language. We will start with a couple of sessions on French but very shortly German, Greek and community

languages will also be available.

Fun activities such as role-plays, croissant making or short film production in a foreign language will be put in place to:

• help speak the language

• learn about the country and its culture

• cook and taste typical food and drink - each club session will kick off

with French biscuits “goûter” !

So do make a note in

your diary:

KNHS Language Club

Every Tuesday

3:00 pm— 3:45 pm

KS3 dares ...

…. year 7, 8 and 9 students to vote online in the KS3 Dares Book Award 2007/08.

Voting starts in January 2008 at www.bgfl.org/ks3dares

All of the shortlisted books are available in the library for students to borrow.

On Wednesday 31st October, we went to the Symphony Hall in Birmingham to watch the CBSO. I actually found this trip quite interesting and the music was very good. I found it quite peaceful and relaxing and hopefully we can go again. The funny bits were when the conductor started to get fast and his hair was waving everywhere. But to do all that, conduct and play music like the musicians did must have taken years of practice. It was cool and so was the trip!

Callum Bird, year 9 For many students it was the first time they have seen the instruments of an orchestra live so for them to be able to associate a sound with an image was really positive.

Students were impressed by the musi-cians as they listened to Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 2 and the many fast and loud sections in Tchakovsky’s Symphony No 1. Students were a credit to the school. Members of the audience praised the students on their impeccable behaviour and good manners.

J Lovgren – head of music

The CBSO in concert

Don’t forget you

Don’t forget you

Don’t forget you

Don’t forget you

return to school on

return to school on

return to school on

return to school on

Tuesday 8th January 2008




Unwanted trainers?? Our Unwanted trainers?? Our Unwanted trainers?? Our Unwanted trainers?? Our PE department would be PE department would be PE department would be PE department would be very happy receive any very happy receive any very happy receive any very happy receive any

donations. donations. donations. donations.

Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.

Trip s to Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire and Kenilworth Castle have produced some excellent coursework from year 10 and 11 students this term. At Carding Mill, students were given a talk on the geological history of the area and the pressures of tourism in recent times and then went on a hike along the valley and measured the physical characteristics of the

Humanities trips

“EACH OF YOU; CAN CHANGE

THE WORLD”

These are the words of Ben Okafor, the world class actor, writer and humanitiarian artist, Ben Okafor who visited the school in October. He worked with year 9 students , during black history month, on the theme of shared history and what a difference one person can make.

This year was particularly poignant in black history month as it was the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Students spoke highly and fondly of the time they spent with Ben and he, in turn, praised students for their creativity, compassion and hard work.

Lunchtime clubs for primary schools

To help keep Primrose Hill Primary School stu-dents busy during their lunch breaks, several of our year 10 students have given up their own PE lessons to lead activities for the primary school.

Sessions are proving to be a great success and the primary students have enjoyed basketball, football and dance.

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Newsletter Nov 2007