GHS News July 2011

Charity Week Page 3

Year 11 Leavers Page 4 - 5

Goodbye Year 13s

Page 6

Year 7 Induction Page 7

Awards Evening 2011 Page 8

Year 10 Aspirations Week Page 9

Vocational Studies

Page 10

Art Exhibition Page 10

Ready Steady Cook Page 11

Gardening Club Page 12

Year 10 Work Experi-ence

Page 13

Jazz Banc & Glenthorne Live Page 14

GHS NEWS

GLENTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL:

S P E C I A L I S T A R T S C O L L E G E

July 2011 Inside this issue:

Monday 11th July was the start of our much anticipated Challenge Week and once again the whole-school participated in a huge variety of trips and activi-ties, designed to promote team-work, problem-solving, creative-thinking, resili-ence, reciprocity, resourcefulness and reflection. Inspired by the excellent set of university places offered to our current Year 13 students, Year 12 focused on raising their aspirations this week with activities designed to help them think, research and plan their future after 6th form. A range of guest speakers came into school from top universities to offer them advice and guidance, and students also had the opportunity to visit a variety of universities including Cambridge, Roehampton and Brighton. Many have now got a head start on the competition, having already completed the first draft of their UCAS personal statements and are eager to return in September with clear goals and ideas about what they need to achieve next year. As ever, our Year 10 students turned out to be superb representatives for the school during their Work Experience placements, which provided their own set of unique challenges as students gained an insight in to the real world of work for the week. Tutors and employers were extremely impressed by their maturity and professionalism and the way in which our students approached this fantas-tic opportunity. For KS3 pupils there were the usual exciting trips away to France and Wey-mouth and this year saw our first ever Dance Tour to Spain which proved to be a huge success, with students taking part in professional dance workshops, a trip to Barcelona and practising their Spanish language skills whenever they had the opportunity. The students performed an outstanding showcase of their week‟s work in our brand new Dance studio for parents and staff on Friday lunchtime which really demonstrated how hard they‟d worked during the trip. There were also shorter adventure expeditions to Ashdown Forest and, for once, the weather was kind to our intrepid campers! Year 8 and 9 had a fantas-tic time completing outdoor challenges and team-building activities.

In school pupils took part in a range of demanding challenges throughout the week:

Researching, designing and catering for a fashion show based on sustainable resources with inspiration from a trip to the design museum in London.

Creating and performing original pieces of theatre and music, inspired by the theme of fairy tales.

Working as a team to design new and original „apps‟ in the Junior Apprentice Challenge.

Learning & performing circus and magic skills. A week-long Sports Challenge including lessons at a local rowing club, handball training from

professional coaches, learning how to be a cricket umpire, podcasting and a trip to Chelsea FC Stadium.

Creating original, Gaudí-esque mosaics inspired by Pablo Picasso‟s 1937 masterpiece, Guernica. Learning how to create brilliant animations with drawings, props, clay-modelling, human beings

etc… using state of the art equipment. The ever-popular wheelchair basketball and puzzle challenges. A presentation and code-breaking workshop presented by a doctor from Cambridge University,

including a demonstration of one of the last few remaining enigma machines used at Bletchley in World War II.

Climbing the Sutton Life Centre‟s 6 metre climbing wall! A week-long travel training course. 2 different week-long Art & Photography challenges.

There were of course dozens more day trips including museums, a river cruise along the Thames to learn about London‟s architecture and history, drama workshops at the V&A and a guided tour around the BBC studios. All in all the week turned out to be a great success. Students were a credit to themselves and the school during every challenge, demonstrating a positive, enthusiastic attitude to trying new things and working outside their comfort zones. Many thanks to all the staff who were involved in the planning, organisation and delivery of the activi-ties and trips which ensured that our students experienced a varied, challenging and enjoyable week.

Page 2

Page 3

C harity Week proved to be a great success again this year. Once again, the Head Stu-dents and the School Council took the lead with the organisation and running of the

fundraising activities and came up with a full and entertaining programme for the week: dodge ball, sponge the teacher, a slave auction, beat the goalie, cake sales, a summer sal-ads bar…

Unfortunately, the bad weather forced the postponement of a few of the big events such as the Year 8 500-mile challenge, but even the weather couldn‟t dampen the good spirits of the pupils and staff and the week culminated in the traditional mufti day on the Friday of Charity Week.

It was all great fun and raised lots of money which we will be donating to re-

Page 4

School days… Our Year 11s gathered for one last time on 28th June 2011 for old times‟ sake in readiness for their leaver‟s celebration; lining up alphabetically in the al fresco area must have brought back many memories.

It all started here 5 years ago on Year 7 Induction Day, July 2006, when still in Primary School, the boys in short trousers and the girls in gingham dresses and plaits. How things have changed! This time they gathered as smart, sophisticated and mature young adults dressed in their finery to celebrate the end of their compulsory schooling and look forward to the next stage of their lives.

It was an emotional farewell, a morning of hilarious and entertaining speeches, perfor-mances and presentations. Each tutor group selected a representative to speak for them, to share their happy memories and experiences and say their thank yous. There were great musical performances culminating in „Miss me tonight‟, a song composed and per-formed for the occasion by Hollie Foster. It was all over by lunch time and everyone collected their year books and started to make their way home to get ready for the next stage in the celebration, the Prom.

GHS NEWS Page 5

Something of a fairy-tale, the culmination of Year 11 ended with a Prom that could not have gone better. After months of hard work and dedication to their studies, the night they had been waiting for was here. The glamour of the evening was equally matched by the demeanour of the students. The Year 11 team could not have been more proud. The students certainly arrived in style: a vintage car with the top down, a horse drawn car-riage, a couple of bright red Ferraris and limos. Parents and staff lined the entrance to the Holiday Inn, snapping photos paparazzi style. The Prom could easily have been mistaken for a celebrity style premier in Central London. This event was to be something rather special. The extravagance of the arrival was quite something in itself, but as the passengers stepped from their transportation, oohs and aahs filled the air and the fervent clicks of the cameras increased. There is only one word to describe the calibre of the dresses on show: stunning. Huge ball gowns and cocktail dresses in a rainbow of colours filled the foyer of the venue. The Disney Princesses had arrived. And let‟s not forget our Prince Charmings. The usual schoolboy look and manner had dis-appeared. Well groomed and in their smart suits and tuxedos, we were faced with a selec-tion of gentlemen who gave Prince William a run for his money. The fizzy atmosphere only increased as the students ascended the red carpet into the ven-ue itself. And then the party began. The beat of the music pounded in the air as the stu-dents danced the night away, had professional photos taken and socialised as a Year group for the last time: an exhilarating time for the students; a poignant occasion for the year team chaperones. As the evening drew to a close, there were hugs and goodbyes all round, thank yous to

staff and beaming smiles on their faces as they left – “I had a really great time, Miss.”

Miss Dear - Assistant Head of Year11

Page 5 Page 6

Saying goodbye to our Year 13s…… After 14 years at school and seven at Glenthorne, nearly half their lives, our Year 13s fi-nally reached their last day. The atmosphere at their Leavers‟ Ceremony on 1st July, was one of nostalgic celebration and students enjoyed recollecting shared experiences and memories and celebrating their substantial achievements.

The Year 13s have been a really popular year group at the school and will be remem-bered with great fondness. They have made a significant contribution to the school, to the arts, to sport and to the student voice. Of course, the U18 boys‟ football team was the first ever GHS football team to win the London Cup: a legacy that will be an inspira-tion to others. The Year 13s have received a range of excellent offers for Universities including Oxford, Warwick, Durham, Nottingham, Leeds and Southampton.

The Leavers‟ Ceremony culminated in the „Glennies‟ – very special awards for Year 13 students - and a celebratory glass of champagne. Then it was off to the Prom at Bourne Hall in Ewell. There was a fantastic turn-out with well over 100 students and staff. The evening started with photographs and a balloon release and concluded with students dancing the night away.

Good luck to our Year 13s; we wish you all a happy and successful future!

Page 7

Year 7 Induction: 7th July 2011 It was great to welcome our new Year 7s to the school last week. Their Induction Day was Thursday 7th July and they arrived at Glenthorne High School carrying their memory box-es, looking anxious, excited and concerned to make a good impression. The day was packed full of activities: ice-breaking activities in their tutor groups, tours of the school, taster les-sons, assemblies, all intended to reduce the nerves and give the Year 6s a really good insight into what life at Glenthorne High School is really like and how they can prepare for the new routines and challenges of the High School.

This year, for the first time, they came back to Glenthorne on Saturday morning to do their CATs tests and to enjoy face-painting, a treasure hunt and a huge family barbeque. Fortu-nately, the rain held off and it proved to be an ideal opportunity for pupils and their families to get to know each other. Everyone left relieved, happy and looking forward to starting High School in September!

GHS NEWS Page 8

Awards Evening 2001, proved to be a fitting celebration of the school‟s and our pupils‟ achievements.

This year, there were over 400 award winners and well over 600 parents, teachers, governors and friends of Glenthorne in the audience. After the tragic events of this year, it was a more reflective and introspective occasion than in previous years, but it was still important to cele-brate the year‟s numerous triumphs and successes. Two pupils from each year group gave excellent and confident reviews of the year group‟s achievements and the programme also featured an outstanding musical review of the year including some of the musical highlights of the past year: „Price tag‟ – a big pupil favourite, sung by Chante Gibson, „Under Pressure‟ a favourite from the musical „We Will Rock You‟ sung by Charlie English and Megan Barnes and „Hallelujah‟, the year‟s most moving performance, sung beautifully by the choir. Two of our Head Students, Charlie English and Megan Barnes hosted the evening with great confidence and the awards were presented by the Mayor, Councillor Jerry Jerome. Of the special awards, the Governors‟ Team Award was presented to the Y11 football team for numerous successes including winning the U16 London Cup for the first time in our history. Jake Beckett won the newly founded Roy Brisley Award for the most outstanding contribution to the performing arts. Khrystlyn Wilson won the Josephine Mould trophy for showing deter-mination to succeed despite adversity.

It was an entertaining and uplifting evening. Congratulations to all the award winners; having so many pupils achieving excellence and extraordinary things is a source of great pride for the school.

Awards Evening 2011

Page 9

Year 10 Aspirations week 2011

Aspirations week 2011 started with an enterprise day on Wednesday 6th July. The main activity was the Coco Mango soap challenge where students had the opportunity to design and market their own soap. Students were given a range of oils to try (left) and design options to choose from, could choose the destina-tion of their profits and the price of their product. Each group then presented their mar-keting campaign to decide who would go through to the final on Friday.

Students also participated in the BP challenge, and oil trading game and a financial capability lesson where they practiced their budgeting skills and learnt about using credit and debit cards. Thursday brought the Life Skills company back to Glenthorne to help pupils work on their body lan-guage, handshakes (as demonstrated by Rae Tiernan right), first impressions and interview skills. It was great to see how the students responded and grew in confidence during the session.

Friday saw a successful speed careers event (pictured below) with over 30 vol-unteers coming in to discuss their ca-reers with our year 10 students. Our volunteers included the army, a pilot, solicitors, bankers, engineers, scientists, electricians, a health visitor and many more providing something of interest for every student. Speed careers was followed by 6th form taster lessons, giving students a chance to experience some of the opportunities hat will be open to them in the at Glenthorne after year 11. The week finished with “Oxygen” win-ning the soap challenge, and “Lellow Lemon” coming second. Both of these soaps will be manufactured over the summer and sold at school events next year, with the proceeds going to Motor Neurone research.

VOCATIONAL STUDIES We have been very busy in Vocational Studies this year! Health and Social Care students have benefited from vis-iting speakers, including a midwife from St. Helier Hospi-tal, a Special School teacher, a mental health worker, a health visitor, a physiotherapist and a paediatric nurse a radiographer from Royal Marsden Hospital. Our sixth form students have been attending regular work placements in varied settings, such as primary schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Our Early Years students have been busy holding down regular work placements in local nurseries, schools, or with Registered Childminders. Year 11 have enjoyed completing the St. John Ambulance Schools‟ First Aid course this term and eighteen of our Early Years students have successfully qualified as paediatric first aiders with the Borough‟s First Aid trainers. The Public Services students have also been busy. We were lucky to be able to lock our stu-dents (and teachers) into prisoner transport cells and receive a talk from Serco on prisoner transport. We had a very interesting talk from Sutton‟s Safer Partnership Manager on the Partnership‟s role. Several Cadet Services have come into school, including the Army, Sea and Police Cadets, to talk about their work. Three students have become active members of local Cadet Services. All students were fascinated by the London Fire Brigade‟s talk on their preventative work. Twelve of our Public Services students went on a visit to HMP Downview, a local women‟s prison and were privileged to be given an in-depth tour of the prison and ju-venile unit, alongside a talk on the role of a prison officer. By the time we left, two of our students had decided to aim for a career in the Prison Service! During the Summer Term, we have also been involved in adventurous outdoor activities, in-cluding climbing and abseiling and an Army Day at Aldershot. Miss Kenny - Head of Vocational Studies

Art Exhibition 2011 The Art Exhibition proved to be a spectacular success this year, featuring a huge range of diverse, interesting and thought-provoking work. Many of the visitors to the exhibition re-marked on the outstanding quality of the artwork, certainly the best we have ever seen at the school and testament to the hard work and commitment of the students and staff.

Congratulations to all the students whose work was displayed!

Page 11

Page 12

Gardening Club Earlier this year we started planning for our new gardening club. Mr Griffiths and Yr. 11 construction students made 3 raised beds, once we got them filled with soil it was all systems go! We started sowing seeds inside and once it was a bit warmer we started to plant the plants outside. Through careful nurturing, weeding and watering, the crops thrived and about 5 weeks later our very first radish was ready to be eaten. It was lovely! We recently used our produce in salads which were sold to raise money during Charity Week. The inspiration and organisation was provided by Ms. Djemil and her „Lets Get Cooking‟ group. What the gardeners say: „Every Tuesday we see how good the fruit and vegetables are, and we water them‟ - Becky Lavender, 7S

„On Thursday after school, we have been planting various fruit and vegetables like Swiss chard, strawberries, beans and spinach‟ - Lauren Smith, 7C „‟We have made a scarecrow for the garden and plan to make a ladybird house ready for the colder weather‟ - Subhana Safdar, 7S „The club is really fun and you can make new and fun friends‟ - Mica Gale, 7C The club is still in the early stages but there is real enthusiasm and commitment. It has

not been the perfect gardening spring but we have made a really good start and hope to

go from strength to strength. If you are interested in taking part you will be very wel-

come.

Jane Glazier - Science Technician

GHS NEWS Page 13

Year 10 Work Experience Last week saw the whole of Year 10 get a taste of the real world with a week of work ex-perience. Pupils in the year group went to a variety of different places to get their first sample of life in the working world.

Pupils Ashley and George Hook were working in central London at the Department for Busi-ness Innovation and Skills, others pupils had a go at being a mechanic, Harriet Sweet sam-pled life as a vet, while others worked in offices, doctors‟ surgeries, graphic design, hair-dressers and primary schools. The furthest any pupil ventured was Paris for a week where James Masters spent his work experience working in a delicatessen in Paris. The whole of Year 10 enjoyed their week and it has given them the incentive to work hard in the last year at school to realise their ambitions in the world of work.

As you are aware, Glenthorne High School‟s Jazz Band is very successful and a credit to the school. Every two years, we go on tour to different countries in the world and also travel to local prima-ry schools to show-case our repertoire.

On the 11th June, the GHS Jazz Band travelled to Aragon primary school to do a live performance for their summer fete. We performed about eight songs and it went well. The Aragon pupils were very enthusiastic and excited about having

a live band playing which really helped us perform well. Hopefully, they en-joyed the different style that was on of-fer to them and will invite us back next year with a new set of songs to show-case for them. Jazz is a unique style of music unlike mod-ern pop or funk. We are very proud to be playing jazz or swing as it provides a new perspective to mod-ern music. The mu-sic department are to thank for all these amazing opportuni-ties that are given to us every year. We

hope the Jazz Band will continue to play all around the coun-try and indeed the world! Finally, we would like to thank all the people outside of school who have made amazing con-tributions to come and watch and sup-port us. Hopefully we will be back on stage soon! Adam Lahlou 8R

had a feeling we might mess up and I didn‟t want that to happen. We were the last act before the interval. Whilst we waited backstage, I heard the two „118‟ hosts introduce us to the audience. It was show time! All of us plugged in and tuned up. After a quick sound-check, we were ready to rock. Which is exact-ly what we did. Peo-

On Thursday 9th June 2011, Glenthorne hosted a music event in PDH – GLENTHORNE LIVE. The theme was „80s‟ Night‟ It began at 6.00pm. There were many performances on the night and I was one of them: „Hazardous‟. We per-formed Guns and Roses „Sweet Child of Mine‟. We were all slightly nervous about it; I

ple watched in astonishment as we worked our way through the song. We ended the song and received the loudest round of ap-plause I‟ve ever heard! This is one of my great memories of year eight.

Ryan Duggan 8R

GHS Jazz Band Summer Fete

Performance at Aragon

Glenthorne LIVE

„we would like to thank all the people outside of school who have made amazing contributions to come and watch and support us‟.

Page 14

GHS NEWS

ADVANCE NOTICE: Could parents please note the dates for the academic year 2011/12. Please avoid book-

ing holidays in term time. All holidays taken in term time will be classed as unauthor-

ised absence.

TERM DATES 2011/2012

AUTUMN TERM : Monday 5th September 2011 to Tuesday 20th December 2011

Half Term : Monday 24th to Friday 28th October 2011

SPRING TERM : Wednesday 4th January 2012 to Friday 30th March 2012

Half Term: Monday 13th to Friday 17th February 2012

SUMMER TERM : Monday 16th April 2012 to Thursday 19th July 2012

Half Term : Monday 4th to Friday 8th June 2012

INSET Days: Academic Review Day:

Monday 5th September 2011 Tuesday 6th September 2011 for Years 8-13

Monday 31st October 2011

Wednesday 4th January 2012

Friday 29th June 2012

TERM DATES 2012/2013

AUTUMN TERM : Tuesday 4th September 2012 to Friday 21st December 2012

Half Term : Monday 29th to Friday 2nd November 2012

SPRING TERM : Monday 7th January 2013 to Thursday 28th March 2013

Half Term: Monday 18th to Friday 22nd February 2013

SUMMER TERM : Monday 15th April 2013 to Wednesday 24th July 2013

Half Term : Monday 27th May to Friday 31st May 2013

KEY DATES!

Thursday 18th August 2011: AS/A2 results released.

Tuesday 25th August 2011: GCSE results released

Tuesday 6th September 2011

9am-3.30pm: ARD for all Y8, Y9, Y10, Y11, Y13 pupils

9am-3.30: Yr12 Induction

10.00am-3.00pm: Year 7s meet tutors

WEDNESDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2011 - A WEEK: normal day for all pupils

Summer Holidays

As we reach the end of another year, may we take this opportunity to wish all our pupils a great Summer Holiday. Relax, enjoy yourselves and stay safe. School breaks up at 1.15pm on Thursday 21st July and we return on Tuesday 6th September for Academic Review Day. All parents should have received a letter to notify them of the time of their appointment.