Parents e-news Issue: 8 6 Jan 2017

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1 Ralph Allen School Parents e-news Issue: 8 6 Jan 2017 SCHOOL NEWS Happy New Year! In the spirit of New Year, we welcomed students and staff back to school this week with assemblies about habits; what habits do we have? (Both good and not so good) and how long does it takes to form new ones? A 2006 paper published by a Duke University researcher found that over 40% of our everyday actions were not conscious, but habits. Students were asked to consider what they like about themselves, what they would like to change and to think about some positive habits they would like to work on this year. Some examples were: I always get my work done by the deadline I walk the dog most days I ask good questions in class I go to Maths club I go swimming once a week Philippa Lally s study concluded that on average, it takes more than two months before a new behaviour becomes automatic 66 days to be exact, so perseverance is key! Mr Tim Withers, Executive Principal The Christmas Lectures This year marked the 80th anniversary since the BBC first broadcast the Christmas Lectures on TV. To celebrate, chemist Professor Saiful Islam from the University of Bath explored a subject that the lectures founder Michael Faraday addressed in the very first Christmas Lectures energy. In his first lecture, Professor Islam investigated one of the most important challenges facing humankind how to generate energy without destroying the planet in the process. As part of the celebrations, former Christmas Lecturers were invited to join Professor Islam on stage, where he repeated some of the most exciting (and dangerous) experiments and demonstrations from the past. Professor Islam began his lecture by being plunged into darkness. Armed initially with nothing but a single candle, his challenge was to go back to first In this issue. School News Happy New Year! The Christmas Lectures Gardening Logo Winter Concert Dof E volunteers KS4 Curriculum Evening School Notices Dates for your diary Ralph Allen RalphAllenBath Date for the diary Thurs 12 Jan Year 9 KS4 Curriculum Evening 6-8pm parents, carers and students welcome

2 SCHOOL NEWS principles and bring back the power in the energy-hungry lecture theatre. Along the way he explained what energy is, how we can transform it from one form to another, and how we harness it to power the modern world. A fascinating and stimulating celebration of the stuff that quite literally makes the universe tick - the weird and wonderful world of energy. Pictured here with Professor Islam are Ralph Allen School students Yasmin and Zak Sunthankar (his children), with their friends Rhian Mackintosh, Arrietti Dickinson and Vallen Oliver who were lucky enough to attend the final lecture. The 2016 CHRISTMAS LECTURES were broadcast on BBC Four in December You can now catch up on all three Lectures on the BBC iplayer. Mr John Chantry, Head of School Gardening logo design There were some fantastic entries before Christmas for the Gardening logo competition thank you to all students who submitted designs. Congratulations to Beth Hollin in Year 7 who was the overall winner (pictured here). Congratulations also to Anna Wilmott whose design was selected as runner-up in the competition (design pictured below). Beth will work on the design with the DT department and with a local designer to make the logo print ready and the Garden will be using it very soon. The were really impressed with the standard of entries and absolutely love the winning design. Thanks to all those students who entered the competition; such a diverse and interesting mix. Beth's winning logo is very original and the careful observation and thoughtful approach to designing a logo encapsulates the essence of the garden group. Thank you Beth. We look forward to seeing the design around the school very soon. Mr Ed-Hume Smith, Deputy Curriculum Team Leader, Art & Photography and Niki Jewett, Gardening Winter Concert Respect, teamwork and personal best were all in evidence at the end of term, when a wide range of beautiful music was performed in the school hall as students took to the stage for the annual Winter Concert. There were several newly formed ensembles - an a cappella group, as well as guitar and jazz groups, and we enjoyed performances by the orchestra and Bach to Broadway and Una Voce choirs. The concert programme included: Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Brahms arr. Tony Mason, performed by the Orchestra Medley from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi arr. Tony Mason, performed by the Orchestra Piano Solo by Tom Wyeth Wings by Birdy, performed by Una Voce Green Onions, performed by the Jazz Jewish Song from Jewish Life, No.3 by Ernest Bloch, performed by Jessica Clarke The Four Chord Song, A Cappella Violin Solo by Tom Nankivell Mad World by Roland Orzabal, performed by Una Voce Piano Solo by Lydia Malloy Tell Me It s Not True from Blood Brothers, performed by Bach to Broadway Theme from The Avengers Assemble, performed by the Orchestra Instant Concert By Harold L.

3 SCHOOL NEWS & NOTICES Walters, performed by The Orchestra Deck the Hall With Sounds of Joy by Catherine Delanoy, performed by Una Voce O Little Town of Bethlehem, performed by the Wednesday Window Hand Bell Ringers Jingle Bells, performed by the Wednesday Window Hand Bell Ringers Goodnight Ladies, performed by the A Cappella We Wish You a Merry Christmas, performed by the Jazz It s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, performed by Bach to Broadway Fairytale of New York, performed by the A level Music Hodie Christus Natus Est by Cristi Cary Miller, performed by Una Voce Piano Solo, performed by Theo Putler Instant Christmas Concert arranged by Eric Osterling, performed by The Orchestra Students taking part included: Orchestra Violin Tom Nankivell Cello Erica Heath, Theo Putler, Jessica Clarke Flute Jenna Doyle, Ella Stewart Oboe Hermione Scattergood, Edward Clarke Cor Anglais Jim Nankivell Clarinet Joe Mason, Florian Madigan, Inigo Sweetingham Saxophone Maiya Kimberley Trumpet Ralf Phelps, Benedict Cave Trombone Charis Bailey, Mr Godwin Percussion Ruben Angress Sparn, Katerina Petmezas Piano Ruben Angress Sparn A cappella Esme Jones, Jessica Clarke, Ashton Hill, Edward Clarke, Joe Mason, Louis Campbell, Arthur Foulstone Bach to Broadway Jessica Clarke, Hermione Scattergood, Nora Downing, Charis Bailey, Cleo Jefferies, Kat Petmezas, Joe Mason and Mr Parker, Teacher of Music, for all their hard work and dedication. More pictures can be found on the website. Mr John Chantry, Head of School Year 10 DofE Volunteers For the past several months, seven DofE students have been busy volunteering in South Stoke. Under the guidance of their teacher, Ms Jane Fox, they started by helping with clearing the 'jungle' that was The Packhorse garden, working with volunteers from the village, until the space resembled a garden once again. They have worked on producing information boards about the History of the Packhorse, the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and the Window Tax. They then moved on to the churchyard, where they have carefully removed ivy from tombstones, and carried out more useful tidying. Their final Wednesday afternoon was spent decorating the Christmas Tree in the church. We owe Jack M, Danny, Jack C, Jasmine, Sam, Arrietti and James - lively and willing student volunteers from Ralph Allen - our grateful thanks. This is what 'community' is all about! Jenny John, Southstoke Parish Council. Jazz Horns Sky Jones, Ralf Phelps, Benedict Cave Vocal Gaia Ashwood Drum Kit Fintan Hardy Thank you to all the students, and to Mrs Randall, Head of Music,

4 OTHER NOTICES Year 9 KS4 curriculum evening Parents and carers of Year 9 students are invited to attend the forthcoming Key Stage 4 Curriculum Evening 6-8pm on Thursday 12 January The aim of this evening is: to give an overview of the whole curriculum for Years 10 and 11 to explain about the changes to GCSEs that have been introduced nationally to outline what choices the students will be making about the courses that they will study to explain how students will be given information, advice and guidance to help them make their decisions for parents and students to find out more about the courses they are considering by talking to the staff who teach them. The evening is divided into two parts. To start with there will be a presentation in the school hall for parents and students to cover the first four aims outlined above. Following this, parents and students are invited to visit the curriculum areas of the subjects that they are interested in choosing, so that they can find out more about the courses on offer and discuss whether these would be suitable choices for the students. Students will be given the Key Stage 4 Curriculum booklet on Wednesday 11 January; this outlines all the courses on offer. It would be really helpful if you had a look through this before the evening, so that you can come along with any questions that you may have. Also available on the evening will be Mr Forrester, Head of Pulteney House (who has the overview of transition for students from Year 9 to Year 10), Mrs Todd, Head of Learning Support and Ms Alison Pike, our Careers Advisor. Please note that students should also come to this event, so they can join in the discussions. It will also be useful for them to be able to guide you around the building! As soon as you have visited the departments for the courses your daughter/son is considering, you are free to leave, although staff will be available in the hall to answer any queries that you may have. This is an exciting time for students as they make decisions about the subjects they will take for key stage 4, and I look forward to welcoming you to this event. Mr John Chantry, Head of School Second-hand uniform sale RASA and Parent Circle volunteers will be running a secondhand uniform sale 5-7pm on Thursday 19 January in the Community Meeting Room, to coincide with the Year 9 Parents' Evening. Refreshments will be available too. All donations of uniform are welcome. Please deliver to Reception. Mrs Caroline Holden, School Manager Dates for Your Diary Thurs 12 Jan Year 9 KS4 Curriculum Evening 6-8pm Thurs 19 Jan Year 9 Parents Evening pm & secondhand uniform sale 5-7pm Wed 25 Jan Year 7 Parent Forum pm Thurs 2 Feb Parent Circle meeting pm

5 OTHER NOTICES