STRATTON SIREN

‘NEWS TO SHOUT ABOUT’! June 2020 Summer

Term—Issue 6

Dear Parents, Carers and Pupils,

What an incredible 6 months it has been for the school since I last wrote back in December and I can honestly say that the Long Stratton community has been absolutely fantastic in sup-porting each other through the Covid 19 pandemic. Now that we have re-opened the doors to our year 10 students, it is even more visible the important role parents and schools have in working together to ensure our students have the best chances and opportunities made avail-able to them. It is clear that parents across the community have worked hard to support their children with their home learning, overcoming the challenges this posed and how together we have continued to deliver learning to our students. Our staff have worked hard to continue to keep in contact with their students and parents and we have continuously reviewed our ap-proach based on the feedback that you have provided. We have sent out over 250 reward cer-tificates to acknowledge the hard work our students have been putting in at home in addition to some of the other helpful tasks that students have been undertaking around the home. We have also particularly enjoyed those of you who have shared pictures of your time learning at home on our Twitter, memories that will never be forgotten. However, what we are really look-ing forward to is having everyone back safely from September, including our new year 7 and we are keenly waiting to see what the government guidance will be for a potential return after the summer break. The new academic year will also see the return of Dr Harris to the school and I can honestly say that my time as Interim Headteacher has been one that I will never for-get! The parents, staff, students and governors certainly embrace the true meaning of team-work and I know despite the pandemic, the school will continue to go from strength to strength.

Mrs Chanel Oswick

Headteacher

Page 2

Pupils’ Achievements

Year 9 English/Careers Day

On 3rd

March all of Year 9 had an English/Careers day where we had different people come

in with careers all directly connected to English. Year 9 were separated into three groups with

3 different workshops to visit to discuss different career paths. To start the day, we had an

assembly with Matt Windle who is a poet.

One of the stations we visited was Michael Bailey who is a sporting journalist. He spoke to us

about what celebrities he had met and what questions he had asked. We then had to come

up with 3 questions we would ask a footballer if we got the chance.

We then had a lesson with Matt Windle who spoke to us about poetry careers. He asked us

to write a poem, but we had to include a rhyming couplet but both words had to be linked to

careers. At the end of the day some of the poems were performed to the rest of the year.

The other person we spoke to was David Whitely who is a presenter and broadcaster for the

BBC. We spoke to him about what makes a good news story and what being a presenter or

broadcaster involves.

Caitlin Renaut

World Book Week/Careers Week

Pupils’ Achievements Page 3

World Book Day

KS3 students took part in a Readathon Sponsored Read for the week of 2nd - 6th March and on Thursday 5th March we held a day long 'read in' in the school library and this tied in well with World Book Day. Some incredible DIY home made costumes again this year from our brilliant students. Readathon is the U.K's national sponsored reading event for schools. Readathon motivates reluctant readers to give reading a go, and keen readers to read more widely. The money raised helps the charity Readathon to regularly give brand new books and storyteller visits to children in hospital across the U.K. The 'read in' was great fun and Long Stratton High School library was heaving with students who took part and read a tremendous amount of books. The atmosphere in the library was just wonderful, it was fantastic to see how absorbed our students were in their books and their passion for reading.

Page 4

RAF STEM Day

Pupils’ Achievements

On the 6th March 50 female Year 7 and 8 students took part in the RAF STEM Challenge

with Camouflage Learning.

Well done to the finalists, Hannah Bright, Leyla Erbas, Lilly Le May, Emily Martin and

Theodora Petrova and to the runners up, Jessica Mattock, Imogen Ryan and Jasmine

Spalding.

Page 5 Pupils’ Achievements

Long Stratton High School Takeover Show

Myself and five other students were due to go to Park Radio in Diss week beginning 4th

April, but due to the lock down this has been postponed until further notice. This will be a

once in a lifetime opportunity to run a local radio show for eight weeks. Two weeks before

the new date, we will be going down to the studio in Diss for training with the equipment. It is

a takeover show, as it will be our show where we can talk about topics we are interested in

and can play our favourite music.

We will be looking to select students and teachers to interview or to even come on the show!

We will discuss local sports, such as the Long Stratton FC, Magpies Hockey Club and Nor-

wich City FC. The listeners will also be able to text into the show to request songs. The num-

ber will be revealed as the show goes live on air.

During this time, we will be raising money at school to say thank you for the opportunity, the

money will be used to advertise the station and encourage more listeners. We will be look-

ing forward to letting you know when this will take place and you will be able to listen to our

show at parkradio.com.

Toby Parfitt

Cross Country

Initially we had to run a mile to see who would qualify to go forward and run at Wymondham

College, this would be the top two people (boys and girls). It was myself and Luca and for

the girls it was Mia and Evie. We went to Wymondham College and ran the race. I think it

was about 4km (2.5 miles). Myself and Evie qualified, you had to be in the top 10 boys/girls

to then go onto the Norfolk Schools race at Langley. This race was harder for me, and I did-

n’t qualify, I was quite disappointed. When I was at Wymondham I had a decent race and

came 3rd

for most of the races I was entered in, but lost another two further places in the last

400m or so. However, when I was at Langley the race felt so much longer and you had to

be in the top 12 to qualify and I came 18th. Never mind, there is always next year!

Alfie Mayers

Sports Relief

On Friday 13th March 2020 Long Stratton High School had a non-school uniform day to raise

funds. Students had to pay £1.00 to come to school in sports-wear.

At break time a cake sale had been organised with lots of students bringing in donations of home- made cakes. 50p would buy you a delicious muffin or cupcake.

Lunchtime saw the school coming together for the 1 mile walk/run around the school field. A further £1.00 was contributed by those that took part and there were many, including teach-ers! It was quite a colourful spectacle with a range of bright sporting outfits and football kits.

Many thanks to those that took part.

Tyler Bowman

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Pupils’ Achievements

The New Normal? Uncertainty clogs my brain.

Will I see my friends? Will I go back to school? Will everything go back to normal?

All questions buzzing around in my thoughts.

I just want answers and conclusions, none of which anyone can explain.

But we have to go with the flow.

Creating lists and timetables, keeping me busy throughout the day.

Working hard in online lessons, keeping me on track.

Setting up circuits in the garden, keeping me fit and healthy. Holding video calls and chats,

keeping me in touch with family and friends.

All of which I have never had to do before.

I wash my hands more than I ever have,

Soap, scrub, rinse,

The new habit everyone is undertaking.

We stay two metres apart if we see someone new,

And gloves if we touch something unfamiliar.

Even our groceries have come home differently,

Packets, cans, boxes and cartons all wiped down.

Even the small amount of fresh veg we find is washed.

Many meals are pre-made as ingredients are sparse,

So lasagna and salads are off the lockdown menu.

We have been on walks and bike rides,

Scooter fun and frisbee throwing,

All outside in the fortunately sunny weather.

Nothing with a team or in a sports hall,

Just outside with mum, dad and bro.

Having more time means we see the world,

Blue tits, robins, chaffinches and kites,

Woodpeckers, crows, pheasants and ravens,

All of which we knew were there,

But never stopped and took a moment to look.

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Pupils’ Achievements

The purpose of our home has changed a lot,

From a place to relax into a working school.

Books and revision guides stacked up in a pile,

As well as blankets and cushions to soften the rooms.

We can’t go near our grandparents, so we talk through the window.

We leave shopping and essentials on their doorstep,

And send cards to their letter box.

I miss them, I really do, but we keep our distance for their safety.

No hugs or kisses, but waves and smiles of heartfelt love.

Every organised plan has vanished from our calendar,

Holidays, parties, shows and gatherings, all cancelled.

No events to go to, or places to be,

Just staying home, seeing each other.

All except our weekly eight o’clock thanks.

The whole community comes together,

Pots and pans and whistles and cheers,

Clapping and appreciating the heroes of today,

The almighty key workers and NHS.

I miss talking to my friends,

I miss seeing different people,

I miss the buzz of being at school,

I miss being part of a team,

I miss going to see family,

I miss having a normal conversation face to face.

But I have to remember that we are all in this together,

One day things will go back to how they were,

And we will be grateful for the small things we miss, We have just got to have

hope.

By Ellie Sinclair