Newsletter 2016Holly Lodge

December 2016

Dear Parents/CarersWe have approached the end of a very busy and eventful term at Holly Lodge. Students have been preparing for and taking examinations during the penultimate week of term. Although this is part of the operational aspect of any school, I would like to convey my thanks to all members of the school community especially the staff who have worked extremely hard to ensure that the education of the students remains a priority at Holly Lodge.

We have also celebrated the success of last year’s Year 11 students with a fantastic presentation evening attended by Mr J Taylor who had been Assistant Headteacher and taught for over 40 years at Holly Lodge.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr Pritam Mander, who after 20 years as a Governor and 14 years as Chair of Governors has retired from the post after serving the school and our local community selflessly for such a period of time. In his time he has helped guide the school through 5 Ofsted inspections, chaired the governing body through the £23 million BSF project, appointment of staff, most notably head and deputy headteachers and been central to the formation of the Foundation Trust. He is also known for supporting and running local youth football team Smethwick Raiders Youth FC. His experience and loyalty to Holly Lodge will be missed.

As you are already aware, school will close at 12.15pm on Friday 16th December 2016 for the Christmas holidays. Students who are entitled to Free School Meals will be able to purchase a packed lunch from the dining room at break time only.

Please also note that the school re-opens on Tuesday 3rd January 2017 with a prompt start. As is always the case, students acquire clothing items over the holiday period and are eager to wear them to school. This often causes unnecessary issues. Can I ask that you check your child’s uniform as they leave for school and ensure that they are not wearing fashion accessories that may have been acquired during the holiday period. Your support in these matters will ensure that we have a positive start to the new term.

Sixth form students will be involved in examinations upon their return in the New Year. I hope they make the most of the opportunity to prepare for these examinations during the holiday period.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

P Shone

Headteacher

2 - Christmas 2016

Holly Lodge 2016 - 3

On Tuesday 13th December 2016 staff and students welcomed guests from the local elderly community into school for a delightful afternoon of music and festive hospitality. Each guest was presented with a hamper of food donated by Holly Lodge Students and their families to take home. We are also extremely grateful to local benefactors and suppliers for their kind donations.

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Duke of Edinburgh AwardIn July 2016, 18 students completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. They have all completed the 4 elements of the award which are: Learn a new skill, do some voluntary work, complete a physical activity and finally complete a 2 day expedition. This year the expedition was in Shropshire at Long Mynd. The students had to journey for 6 hours per day, 3 of which were walking. They had to camp overnight and cook their own meals. The students all did fantastically and many have now enrolled on to the Silver Award. The students are Simrandeep Birring, Harleen Dhaliwal, Atiya Iqbal, Ria Rattu, Anisa-Parul Siddhu, Priyanka Mehra, Aleeza Rai, Baljodh Singh, Gautam Singh, Sahir Shah, Jatinderpal Singh, Satvir Bhamra, Sabriya Hussain, Rameetha Hussain, Ekam Sandhu, Rahma Etel, Anna Sangarappilai.

This year we have 30 students enrolled on the Bronze Award and 12 on the Silver Award.

If you would like to know more about the DofE Award, please contact Mr Wyllie.

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With the Christmas holidays approaching fast, Holly Lodge now has completed the building of its Student Council for 2016-2017.

After a thorough application process, assemblies by Sixth Form Cabinet members and early meetings, the council were then trained in the role of a representative by Councillor Preet Gill, Cabinet member for ‘Public Health and Protection’ for St. Paul’s Ward- the ward which covers our school. Over a fascinating hour meeting, the Councillor answered questions on the life of a public figure, the stresses and demands of her work, her proudest achievements and what she believed that our council could learn from her. She was even asked questions on Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in America! We hope she will be back in future for further training, and to work on some initiatives in the local area!

The council is now working hard on a number of issues to improve our school in working groups. These groups include trying to create ‘Growth Mindsets’ in our students, tackling ‘Behaviour’, creating a ‘Holly Lodge Adventure’, increasing our ‘Independent Learning’ skills and improving issues related to ‘Bullying’- we’ll feedback on what these groups have achieved in the next letter!

Student Council

Peer Mentors Year 10 Reading Scheme with Year 7This term we have again started the peer mentor reading scheme with year 7 pupils. This is held every Wednesday during registration in the library. This has been very successful and has helped build positive relationships with all involved. Having support with reading has encouraged pupils to feel confident about their literacy.

Thank you Year 10 Peer Mentors

The Peer Mentors as well as supporting year 7 pupils in registration, this term have been given opportunity to help out at the recent Progress Evenings for Key Stage 3. Those that have volunteered worked very hard at these events by greeting parents, handing out reports and also serving refreshments. The Peer Mentors are an asset to the school and a good role model for Year 7.

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Students whose school attendance is below 90%

will be end the year on the persistent absence list

– that is just 17 days absence.

AND….whilst 90% in a test is excellent the same

does not apply to attendance:

90% attendance over 1 school year is a total of 4

weeks missed!!!

90% attendance over 5 school years is a total of 20

weeks missed!!!

Students on the persistent absence list are

recorded by the Department for Education as

missing too much education.

Please help your child to get to school regularly

to avoid them being on this list at the end of the

year – and to help them achieve their full potential

at school.

Late news... Students who arrive late to school should expect a 10 minute detention with their form tutor on that day. If a student has 5 form detentions in one half term then they will be issued with a Thursday after-school late detention of 40 minutes with the Attendance Manager. More lates result in more serious sanctions……so get into school on time!

“Congratulations”to more than 250 students

who have achieved 100% attendance

so far this year and to the 702 students who

are onGold level (97+%)

Persistant Absence

Holly Lodge 2016 - 7

Wise up to good AttendanceAll parents and carers will be receiving letters about their child’s level of attendance. These letters are sent out at the end of every term to keep Parents – and students – up to date. All students should be aiming for GOLD

Gold

Your attendance is above 97% - absent for fewer than 6 days in the year.

We say you are WISED UP on attendance. As well as being an excellent attender, you will almost certainly achieve the best grades for your ability and have a real opportunity in further education or the world of work.

Silver

Your attendance is between 95% plus - absent for fewer than 10 days in the year.

We say you are WISE regarding attendance, and are likely to achieve grades that will give real opportunities to continue in your studies or in the world of work.

Bronze

Your attendance is between 90-95% - Missing up to 20 days school each year. A full month lost!

We think you SHOULD BE WISER! These absences will make it dif-ficult for you to achieve your best.

Red

Your attendance is between 80-92% - Missing up to 40 days each year! Eight Weeks!!

You NEED TO WISE UP! Missing so much time from school makes it difficult for you to keep in touch with lessons or work.

Wise Up

Your attendance is below 80%! You need to WISE UP NOW! Missing so much time from school means that it will be almost impossible for you to keep in touch with lessons or work.

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SID’SDAY Holly Lodge will again be working with the Smethwick Food Bank and helping local families

in need. The school’s Year 12 Representatives (Mariam Adam, Raheem Akhtar, Vibhuty Arya, Aman Bains, Nadima Begum, Jasmeen Kaur, Kamalpreet Kaur & Aminah Khan) will be collecting food and dignity items and fund raising for the Food Bank, located at Holy Trinity Church in the New Year. Watch this space for further developments.

Magistrate Court Mock Trial CompetitionHolly Lodge will again be represented at the Black Country Magistrate Court Mock Trial Competition in March. The event, held at Wolverhampton Crown Court, will allow a team of our Year 9 students to compete against other local schools, defending and prosecuting a criminal case. It will give pupils the opportunity of taking on the roles of Magistrate, Legal Adviser, Defendant, Usher, Witness, Lawyer and Court Artist in a real-life court setting. This year’s team is comprised of Nuzeha Hasnath, Omar Hamza, Himmat Sanghera, Aaliyah Fiyaz, Dounia Allaiouti, Arundeep Dosanjh, Aliyah Begum, Anoushka Antoine, Ria Saini, Shakirah Ghaffar, Ronan Jakhu, Adina Omed, Harleen Saini, Navjot Kaur and Safina Lalh. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of the Legal Eagles.

Holly Lodge 2016 - 9

On the 11th November, the cadets also held a small parade within the school grounds to mark Armistice Day. We were visited by a bugler from Rugby School CCF who played the last post for us before we observed 2 minutes silence to remember and honour those who have paid the price for our freedom. The Head teacher also read the exhortation.

On Sunday 13th November, Holly Lodge Combined Cadet Force (CCF) were invited by the Royal British Legion to their first Remembrance Parade in Smethwick. Approximately 35 cadets and 5 Adults attended on the parade, with one of the cadets having the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the CCF. This was also the first official event for our newer recruits who have only just been issued with uniform. It was great to see a lot of the families and friends who turned out to support. I’m sure they were very proud as we are of our cadets.

This week we were privileged to receive a visit from Mr Laurence Whitby James a former teacher at Holly Lodge. Mr Whitby James taught here when D Block was a separate girls’ grammar school, and also taught 6th formers in B Block when it was West Park 6th Form College. He is now aged 92 years and has many interesting stories about his time teaching the children of Smethwick – including one particularly famous one –the actress Julie Walters.

We hope that he will join us again for another visit some time during next year.

Former Holly Lodge Teacher

Combined Cadet Forces

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Sports ReportPE Information for Governors November 2016After a successful summer of results for the PE department within GCSE PE and Btec Sport Level 3 where we achieved 64% A*- C grades at GCSE and 100% pass rate with most pupils achieving the higher distinction and distinction star grades and the development of extra-curricular PE last academic year. The staff and pupils have continued with this success in the new academic year where numbers attending and sporting successes are improving. I have listed some of the activities that we have been running this term.

Football We have had a positive number of pupils represent the school this year in football fixtures against other local Sandwell schools. The year teams have had fixtures against Perryfields, Ormiston Forge, Shirelands and St Michaels. The results have been indifferent with some wins and losses in the fixtures played so far. Fixtures will commence after February half term as well as Sandwell Cup fixtures, fingers crossed results go in our favour. Thanks to Mr Reeves, Mr Hancox, Mr Gill and Mr Moore for taking these sides. We also have girl’s football fixtures starting at Sandwell academy in December and have between 6-10 girls wanting to be involved.

Schools Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10Perryfields Lost 3 -1 Won 4 -2 Lost 6 – 2Ormiston LOST 5 - 2 Won 2 – 1 Won 3 – 1St Micheals Lost 12 – 0 Lost 10 – 0 Lost 4 – 3 Drew 1 - 1Shirelands Drew 3 - 3 Drew 4 - 4 Cancelled Fixture

Holly Lodge Won

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Indoor AthleticsA number of pupils are currently taking part in the Sandwell Indoor Athletics Championship at Tipton Sports Academy; the pupils have 6 separate events over the year and aim to gain points from the different events in an attempt to finish as high as possible. The pupils compete in a Sprint, hurdle, 4 Lap distance race and a relay running race alongside this they also do a Standing long jump, triple jump and shot put field event. Pupils have done really well so far and it has easily been our strongest year to date with number wishing to be involved on the up and results improving. The school and pupils have received recognition for their efforts by the head of athletics at the Sandwell leisure Trust. Results can be seen below.

OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIPS1 George Slater 1177 pts Q3 ACAD 581 pts2 S a n d w e l l

ACAD1108 pts Turves GR

Girls

457 pts

3 Wood Green 968 pts Hands Girls 211 pts4 Oldbury ACAD 910 pts5 Holly Lodge 866 pts6 ST Bathhurst 846 pts7 Forge ACAD 810 pts

NetballThe girls Netball has been so far a great success with increased numbers attending on a regular basis (around 25-30 pupils) which has resulted in us being able to field a number of teams at both U14 and U16 level.

The girls have improved greatly over the season and we hoping that this will continue with the reminder of the games. The U16 team have worked really hard and have had some really competitive matches with a number of games only losing by a goal or so. Many of the players playing for the U16 team are from year 9/10 which means that this team can continue to develop next season.

The U14 team has been rewarded for their hard work and commitment to training by coming 3rd in the U14 Sandwell tournament and winning their last game against St Michaels 5-2. They have also had some close competitive matches resulting in only losing by a goal or two. Once again in particular the U14 team has shown huge improvement and we have no doubt this with continue for the remainder of this season and on into next season.

The Year 7 league starts in January and we have already had a number of year 7 girls coming to training ready to start their matches.

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KEY STAGE 3

Extra- Curricular PE ClubsPE at Holly Lodge continues to develop and improve as more pupils are engaging in the extra-curricular programme offered by staff at the school. We have seen an uptake in pupils attending clubs at various stages during the day. The staff offer breakfast, lunch and after school clubs and try to offer a diverse range of sports that include football, netball, badminton, hockey, handball and fitness. Thanks to the staff that support and deliver these sessions for the pupils.

Leadership award within PE

Year 8:Huraira HussainHussein CusemanSarai-Asher FrancisSabir Mohammed OddinThahia MomtazNicolas Gizler – KacicaIsmail HussainYear 9:Dounia AllaioutiSian CurtisKamraj DhesiTanesha WarrenJagraj SinghEllie-Louise AmeliaRyan Bains

Miss Knight has created a leadership course targeted at KS3 pupils. Each teaching member of PE staff have nominated a pupil they teach per year group from KS3. The type of skills we are aiming to focus on and develop are things like; personal professionalism and accountability, aspiring to achieve and the mental aspects such as emotional intelligence and managing relationships. Staff took these skills into consideration when putting their students forward.

Each student has to complete a log book, containing half term focuses and lead 1 whole extra-curricular activity in that half term. Alongside this they will have a passport which is where they record their leadership within lessons, this passport has to be completed by the end of every half term.

KEY STAGE 4

Holly Lodge 2016 - 13

Students reaching the criteria expected in the course will receive rewards on a half termly basis, whether this is free time in the sports hall or a trip to the local park.

Each junior sports leader will have a badge, stating their role. The aim is for them to also be used to lead whole school events as well as events within PE with the aim for pupils to look smart representing the school in their PE kit and highlighting their leadership role with their badge which will be ironed onto their PE kit.

At the end of the full term if the log book, passport and they have attended all meeting focuses, they will receive a certificate and hopefully we can develop different stages to this award.

I have applied for several members of our sixth form to take part in a leadership course run by the Black Country, which will hopefully lead to them gaining a genuine coaching qualification, giving a focus of leadership within KS5 and also something that can be used for UCAS applications.

Year 10y band pupils will be involved in our first SID’s day trip as they choose to either take part in Ice Skating in Solihull or Laserquest at the Raceway in Birmingham. We will be taking over 120 pupils out on Tuesday 15th November. Thanks to the parents for supporting this trip and contributing to the activities and transport on the day. Finally I would like to extend my appreciation to the staff for their efforts and for their own enthusiasm in getting involved in the activities on the day.

We took our Btec Sport pupils in years 12 & 13 to Newman University for the day on Tuesday 8th November, The purpose of the day is to listen to and take part in sessions focused around the Btec Level 3 Course in Sport that the pupils are currently studying. It will also gave them a chance to look around a university and potentially use it to support any future applications beyond Holly Lodge Sixth Form and hopefully continuing within sport. Thanks to Mr Reeves for organising and arranging the trip which was support by Mrs Biddlecombe.

Jivara Kareem hooked up and ready to go.

Pupils at Newman University Up and coming activities and events• Year 7 Girls Netball• Year 7, 8 & 9 girl’s Football • Continuation of Indoor Athletics at Tipton Sports Academy

Sixth Form Newman Trip

14 - Christmas 2016

Term Dates and Key Events at Holly Lodge

Summer Term 2017From: Monday 24th April From: Monday 24th July May Day Monday 1st May