Woodlands Newsletter 29/01/16

@Woodlands_CC

Upcoming Diary Dates

At Woodlands we aim to become an outstanding school by INSPIRING and CHALLENGING

our pupils so that they ACHIEVE well and are able to enjoy successful and happy futures

Woodlands has social networking accounts on

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February

11th Year 9 Parents’ Evening (Options)

5.00pm to 7.30pm

Inspiring

Challenging

Achieving

February

4th Oxford Debating Competition

February

15th Half Term Feb 15th to Feb 19th

“The Key Stage 3 Parental

Learning Evening has

moved to Thursday, 25th

February.”

ISSUE 18

A Message from our Head Teacher…

Dear Parents/Carers,

Last week, as I mentioned in the newsletter, we had two experienced school leaders in school looking at the progress we are making in relation to our GREATER aspirations. They looked at lessons, scrutinised books, spoke with staff and met with students. Pleasingly they said that our pastoral care of students was excellent. The systems we have to ensure our students well-being are very strong and opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development were abundant. They noted that students behaved well and were generally polite and courteous to each other and to staff. They also said that generally books are well marked and give students useful feedback on how to improve. Areas we need to still work on as a community are ensuring students have good behaviour for learning. By this, they mean completing homework, actively taking part in lessons and looking for opportunities to improve their work. They also commented on the need to ensure our attendance is improved as student progress is still being held back because of poor attendance by some.

As a staff we will be focussed over the coming months on ensuring further improvements are made. Real improvement can only be made if we work in partnership with you. Please do help support your child's progress by ensuring they are in school every day and that they are completing homework regularly. I know that together we can ensure Woodlands is even GREATER.

Best wishes,

Toni Sambrook

February

3rd Solent University Trip

Year 10

Foreign Language Spelling Bee 2016

The Foreign Language Spelling Bee is a competition for students in Year 7 to practise and improve their vocabulary, spelling and memory skills in a foreign language.

Massive congratulations to the following Year 7s

for winning the class round for the Spelling Bee. They are now working hard for the second stage of the contest.

Stephen Cox, Molly Keeble, Megan Kightly, Ruby Kill, Connor Knight, Faisal Malakyar, Kally Reed, Mia Rudd, Amy Shearing, Liam Taylor, Ellie Thompson and Elenna Zichtl Cocken.

Year 9 Creative Curriculum Day

Year 9 students worked with the DT and Computing departments to design and create a portable edible product. Pictured are three of the four winning teams from each tutor.

February

12th Break up for half term

At 2.40pm

Oxford University: Classics Visit

On Tuesday, 19th January, a group of Year 9 and Year 10 students ventured to Oxford to take part in a day of Classics study at Oxford University.

All students have already demonstrated a proclivity of excellence in the Humanities subjects and this excellence was further highlighted on the day. The students were very fortunate that the University had organised a fantastic day of academia, which featured some of the top Historians at this world renowned University. After lectures by Professor Tim Rood and Dr Luke Pitcher we strolled through this picturesque city of Oxford for a tour and lunch at Somerville College.

Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University. Founded in 1879 as Somerville Hall, it was one of the first women's colleges in Oxford and ground breaking in providing women with an education comparable to that of their male counterparts.

After lunch we returned to the Faculty of Classics, for a further talk by PHD student Mai Musie. To round off this perfect day, we had a personal tour from Dr Thomas Mannack around the Ashmolean Museum.

As ever the Woodlands students shone on a day of intellectual rigour with all Oxford members of staff praising their fantastic attitude.

Step into Sport Trip

Last week Miss Lawrence took 8 pupils to a ‘Step into Sport’ Conference at The Mountbatten Centre. The conference looked at leadership qualities and the importance of involving everyone in sport. The pupils were a real credit to our school and are currently planning a sports event to run around Easter time at St. Francis School in Fareham, which is a school for pupils with severe learning difficulties, to continue the leadership roles with their pupils. Imogen Sanpanid, the Assistant Headteacher, from St. Francis School said, “I just wanted to pass on my praise and thanks to your pupils as I thought they worked with great respect and sensitivity towards the individual needs of our pupils. They were a credit to your school and I hope you will pass my comments on to the pupils concerned.”

Well done to Josh Dacre, Holly Flynn, Phil Gilbert, Sophie Lacey, Molly Pinnick, Jamie Sharples, Ellie Taulbut and Marnie Troke. (pictured below right)

Accelerated Reading

This week our quiz results have again gone from strength to strength with all Houses and all Year Groups well above the target pass rate of 85%. That means students understand the books they have chosen and as long as they also challenge themselves to read at their recommended book level or above, read often and record new vocabulary as they encounter it, they should benefit in their work across all subject areas.

**Our Reading Star of the Week** is Connor Knight.

Connor (pictured right) has quizzed on 4 full length novels this term and exceeded all his targets with an unbeatable 100% pass record even though each book has been above his target level.

The secret to his success? Connor says, “Find a book that you like that is part of a series because once you're into one book you are into the series", and his top tip "read at home as well as at school".

Connor has enjoyed The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan and he is not alone as it has sold three million copies in 16 countries around the world. Based on a collection of short stories originally written to encourage the author’s son to enjoy reading, the series is alive with action with battles, boar hunts, inhuman enemies and loyal friends. It’s exciting and fast moving. Humorous at times, spine chilling at others. It always involves the reader, and best of all, the characters ring true and quickly establish themselves in the reader’s imagination.

The advantage of a series is that the style of writing, the setting and the characters may already be familiar, therefore the transition from one book to the next is easier and the experience can be thoroughly consuming and captivating.

Our Book of the Week this week was chosen by Alan Neary:

‘Frozen in Time’ by Ali Sparkes.

As the title suggests the story deals with the idea of cryonic suspension. In 1956 Freddy and Polly are used to helping their father with his experiments so they don't mind having their hearts frozen until their father wakes them up again; they know it will only be for an hour or two but in 2010 Rachel and her brother Ben

make an extraordinary discovery.

Described by critics as, "brilliantly inventive", this, her first stand-alone novel published in 2009, was voted book of the year and won the Blue Peter Book Award. Ali Sparkes, lives in Southampton and will be

remembered by many students from her visits to Woodlands Community College.

No Limits

No Limits are offering free educational presentations around drug and alcohol

misuse, as well as information, advice and support for concerned parents of children and young people who have issues with substance misuse. These presentations are aimed at any parent looking for more information about drugs and alcohol and what signs and symptoms to look out for. If you want to know more about substances, their effects and the risks please come along to our parent presentation on Friday, 12th February, 2016 from 2.45pm to 3.45pm at Woodlands Community College. For more information or to register your interest in attending this presentation please contact Mrs Vadher at the school on priti.vadher@woodlands.southampton.sch.uk

Exam Invigilators

We are looking to appoint a team of Examination Invigilators to work at Woodlands on a casual basis during term time.

You will be required to invigilate both internal and external examinations under the direction of the school’s Examinations Officer.

Experience is not necessary as full training will be provided.

Salary will be £8.54 per hour.

Applications to be made using the online application form found on our website. Please email your application to:- info@woodlands.southampton.sch.uk

Eco Zone

Artwork of the Week

Numeracy Across the Curriculum

Two weeks ago pupils were shown how beauty could be explained mathematically and introduced to the Golden Ratio. Pupils were challenged to find a building constructed using the Golden Ratio. The winning entry was submitted by Joe Whitmore.

This Friday, pupils spent 20 minutes looking at ancient languages including Arabic, Sanskrit and Icelandic. They were taught how to count from one to ten using these languages.

Four British languages are at risk of extinction, unless drastic measures are taken to preserve them. Jersey French, Guernsey French, Manx and Cornish are all under threat, with numbers of people who speak them seriously dwindling.

The challenge this week is to find out how the numbers one to ten are written in these endangered languages. Answers should be sent to Mr Caplen by Thursday, 4th February.

Student: Chaya Brown Year: 10

Media: Oil pastels

DT Dept. - Fascinating Facts

Science

News

Iceland Trip Deadline for deposits for the Iceland trip is Friday, 29th January. If you have any questions please talk to Mr Weston.

STEM Club STEM Club is running after school on Wednesdays and Fridays. This week students met with STEM ambassadors. They are now making progress on business plan development and marketing ideas on their project for ‘The Internet of Everything’. Please tell your child to see Mr Vetterlein if they would like to come and join in.

Did you know that……..

…..This beautiful insect is a delicate Beaded

Lacewing. However, they begin life as ferocious tiny

predators lurking in the nests of termites. When they get hungry they stun a termite

with fatal flatulence which is powerful enough to immobilize

six termites in one blow!!

More than 100 billion pieces of junk mail are

delivered in the United States each year. The

production, distribution and disposal of all that junk mail

creates over 51 million metric tons of greenhouses

gases annually, the equivalent emissions of

more than 9.3 million cars.

The word potato comes from the Spanish word patata.

By Emily Cherry Eco Squad

Out of Hours Study and Revision Timetable

for KS4 students

Effective from: Monday, 1st February, 2016

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Year 11 Week A

Science Option X Spanish French Catering (2yr) Resistant Materials ICT Cambridge Nationals

Option W Construction Geography History Art – Year 2

Maths Option Y Art – invite only Photography – invite only PE Catering Textiles Computer Science Travel & Tourism Drama iMedia

Year 11 Week B

Science Option X Spanish French Catering (2yr) Resistant Materials ICT Cambridge Nationals

Option W Construction Geography History Art – Year 2

Maths Option Y Art – invite only Photography – invite only PE Catering Textiles Computer Science Travel & Tourism Drama iMedia

Year 10 Week A

Computer Science ICT Cambridge Nationals

Option Y Art – invite only Photography – invite only PE Catering Textiles Computer Science Travel & Tourism Drama iMedia

Year 10 Week B

Computer Science ICT Cambridge Nationals

Science Option Y Art – invite only Photography – invite only PE Catering Textiles Computer Science Travel & Tourism Drama iMedia

Keyboard Club

Music Room

KS3 Music: Practice Session

Music Room

KS3 Music: Practice Session

Music Room

KS4 Music: Theory

Music Room

KS4 Music: Rehearsal / 1:1

Music Room

Arts Award Gold

Drama Studio

Arts Award Silver

Drama Studio

Arts Captains Drama Studio

Arts Award Silver

Drama Studio

Arts Award Gold

Drama Studio

Rock Challenge

Dance Studio 2.45-4pm

Rock Challenge

Dance Studio 2.45-4pm

KS3 Drama Club Drama Studio

2.40-4pm

More Than Words (Choir) Music Room

2.45-4pm

GCSE Drama Catch-Up Room 215

2.40-4.30pm

Stage Crew Meet in Drama

2.45-4.30pm (starting 12th January)

KS4 Dance Open Studio Dance Studio

2.45-4pm

Streetspeare Drama Studio

2.40-4pm

** Attention Year 11** College Open Evenings - Spring Term

February 2016

Tuesday 2nd PETA - Cosham 4pm to 6pm – Parent’s Information

Evening. Young people are

welcome to accompany their

parents.

http://www.peta.co.uk/66/apprenticeships

Wednesday 3rd Fareham College 5.00pm to 7.00pm www.fareham.ac.uk

Thursday 4th CEMAST 5.00pm to 7.00pm http://www.fareham.ac.uk/cemast/

Wednesday 10th PETA - Cosham 5.30pm to 7.30pm – Parent’s

Information Evening. Young people

are welcome to accompany their

parents.

http://www.peta.co.uk/66/apprenticeships

Thursday 18th PETA - Cosham 2pm to 4pm TBC – Taster Session. http://www.peta.co.uk/66/apprenticeships

Wednesday 24 Kaplan (Accountancy

Apprenticeship Training

Provider)

4pm – 7pm http://kaplanapprenticeships.co.uk/

Thursday 25 SETA Training

(Engineering

Apprenticeship Training

Provider)

4.30pm – 7.30pm http://www.setatraining.co.uk/

Saturday 27th Highbury College – Tudor

Crescent Campus in

Cosham

10.00am to 1.00pm www.highbury.ac.uk

Saturday 27th Sparsholt College 10.00am to 2.00pm https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/

March 2016

Saturday 12th Southampton City

College 10.00am to 12noon https://www.southampton-city.ac.uk/

Tuesday 22nd Eastleigh College 4.30pm to 7.30pm http://www.eastleigh.ac.uk/

Please note the following closing date:

Barton Peveril College – Application Deadline: 12th February 2016