Newsletter

@OasisCoulsdon

February 2019

A fairly short term however nevertheless eventful as always .

We started with a whole school assembly with a great performance from Mi-chael Noku year 8 with a piano piece he composed himself, most impressive and something that’s does not happen with concerted effort and much practice , impressive from a largely self-taught student. The message from me was clear to be world class we need to make marginal gains. Encouraging students to look at 1% gains adjustments and changes in various aspects of Academy life . This will continue to be an ongoing feature.

Weather plays a significant part of life in the United Kingdom and it certainly disrupted things for us as an Academy. I hope the communication was clear con-cerning the snow weather plan and should we be effected by this or similar ad-verse weather we will again communicate which plan we are using via social media and the website. Please make sure we have your most current contact details.

The long awaited Aladdin production was a highlight of the term. It showcased talent in many areas. There were excellent performances in acting ,singing and dancing. I love these whole Academy occasions as we come together to cele-brate the talents of so many, which in education is something to be reminded of. The stage set crafted by Mr Jarvie helped set the atmosphere and then the year 9 Textile students design of costumes enhancing the movements and ges-tures and setting of Persia so well . A truly memorable occasion and I am thank-ful to have both Miss Killen and Mrs Richardson as part of this family.

We are approaching another milestone this year with Year 11 preparing for the last set of mock exams prior to their public exams. I would like to record my thanks to the many staff who give up hundreds of hours to assist students in their revision preparations with intervention sessions during lunchtimes, after school , weekends and holidays included. We are poised for great things come August 2019 .

Well being and wholeness is not something new however, in the age in which we live there are different pressures we have not experienced before, either on the scale or effects that make this such a priority for us all. Over the coming half term break I would encourage you all to make sure that some time is taken with family & friends to unwind and spend some time doing whatever it is that re-vives your spirt soul and body. Enjoy your break and I look forward to sharing with you the second half of the Spring term …roll on summer !

Name: Harrison Townsend

Year group: 9 House: Keller

As long as I remember I have had a fascination with planes. I used to stand on the side of the airfield at Gatwick and watch the aircraft take off and land…even on Christmas Eve and in all weathers so I was delighted to hear about a careers talk about the aviation industry going on with a past student, Nick Launn.

I learned about the Apprentice Scheme that encourages the take up of more female pilots through The Amy Johnson scheme (who was the first female pilot to fly from Britain to Aus-tralia) and all the different professional pathways that were available such as aviation, engi-neering and customer services.

Nick gave a fantastic talk about his job on a day to day basis and this only confirmed that this is what I wanted to do when I am older, we were able to ask lots of questions about his job and the airline industry. He was so enthusiastic.

I then saw photos of brand new A319,320 and A321 straight out of the factory. It was a great day!

Well the Christmas holidays seem like a distant memory as we have battled with the ever changing weather to get into the Academy this half term! Year 9 students were rewarded with a film and popcorn for their excellent attendance, punctuality and conduct for the Autumn term, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. This term students are working towards the goal of a trip to Thorpe Park. A reminder that students need to achieve no more than 6 behaviour points (1 x C4 or 2 x C3 detentions) and attendance of 97% from January to the Easter holidays in order to be invited on this trip. This is always a popular reward trip and although we under-stand that this is the season for illnesses, I would urge students to attend the Academy, unless they have sickness and diarrhoea, especially as they have started their GCSEs; a day missed means 6 lessons of learning missed too.

In PSHE students have been learning about alcohol, British values, finance and bank accounts. We have a ‘My Future’ session being delivered by MyBnk coming up soon. Our student council have been meeting to discuss fundraising ideas for a Bugzi wheelchair after our assembly from the Queen Elizabeth’s foundation for disabled people. This charity loans parents a small indoor wheelchair for young children to explore and learn about their environment. Year 9 students will be raising money to donate to this worthy cause, look out for the posters after half term!

https://qef.org.uk/our-services/qef-mobility-services/bugzi-loan-scheme

Two members of our student council have also agreed to run a debate club, this will be every Tuesday lunchtime in G11. I look forward to hearing the debates on topical issues and thank the student council for running this club for KS3 students.

Students – Well done for all your hard work this half term, it has been wonderful to see exam-ples of fantastic GCSE answers already. Have a great half term, relax with family, rest and get some well-earned sleep. I look forward to seeing you all refreshed after your break!

Miss Kavanagh—Year 9 Family Leader

Duke of Edinburgh Note to all year 10 students that are taking part in Duke of Edinburgh Award, please use the February half term to ensure all your accounts have been activated and uploaded with your 3 sections. I will be checking them over half term so if you have any issues please email me on

lisa.roberts@oasiscoulsdon.org. Training will start on our return.

1 Jack and Daniel Lakin were both once again selected to represent the South East of England in the regional championships of Underwater Hock-ey held at The Newport International Sports Village on Saturday 26th Janu-ary 2019.

Their team, U14s came 3rd and won the Bronze medal with Jack scoring the winning and only goal of the match!

This is the first time the U14s South East team have won a medal and now they are through to the National champion-ships held in Sheffield in April!

We couldn't be prouder, well done!

2 David Dein Assembly

On Monday 4th February our Year 10 and 11 GCSE PE

Students were lucky enough to hear a speech given by the Former Arsenal FC aand FA chairman, David Dein.

He is a high profile figure in the world of sport and we were very privileged to host a visit from him.

3

We were lucky enough to once again host a group of 40 Students and their Teachers for a period of two weeks. Ms

John, and a team of Student buddys spent the time showing the students more about English culture and our

schooling system. Language is no barrier for the students and these visits are such an amazing opportunity for the

children to learn more about another culture and how they live. A parent of ours, Ms Drolet also had the opportunity

to teach a dance class to them and this is what she had to say about the experience, ‘Huge thanks for the most love-

ly experience delivering dance to the Taiwanese students. They were so receptive and joyous, their Cha Cha was

fun, their Waltz was beautiful! After teaching in Asia for many years, including Taiwan, I didn’t know how today’s

teenagers would be! There were no worries there. Zach enjoyed partnering one of them, as did some of the other

lovely Oasis Students. Ms John you are a credit in so many ways! Your hosting of the students made it look like they

couldn’t have been more happy! Their memories together with all the events will be etched with them for ever ‘

Lorraine Drolet

After School Clubs Timetable for Spring Term

Monday – Year 10/11 GCSE PE practical moderation practice

Tuesday – Table Tennis Club All Years

Wednesday – Basketball Club All Years

Thursday – Badminton Club All Years

Friday – Fitness Friday Years 7-9

In addition to the clubs after school the weights and fitness area will be available for students in years 10 & 11.

Taiwanese Student visit

Year 8 have been learning about atoms and the periodic table. Atoms are of course what make up everything and the students

have been learning about the structure of atoms and what makes one atom different to another. The students will be applying

what they have learnt to build models of an atom.

Year 7 have been learning about cells – the building blocks of all living things. They have been learning about different types of

cell and the different parts and their functions. Students will be making model cells in lesson after half term. I look forward to

seeing these and the atoms that year 8 will be making.

Science club has been continuing this term with Mr Seneviratne. Year 7 and 9 students have had great fun taking part in a

range of extracurricular science activities and experiments – making slime, toothpaste and ice cream to name a few. Science

club is every Thursday after school and is open to all year groups.

Well done to year 10 and 11 who have been working hard – Year 10 have just had their end of block 2 assessments and there

were some very encouraging results!

The first of a New Year can often be tough, particularly with the weather and the shorter days. In that re-gard I have been very proud, as Year 8s have shown a lot of resilience through this half term in ensuring that they are getting into the Academy. Overall Year 8 have made a great effort in ensuring that they are getting into the Academy and focussing on their learning, even in a week where snowfall caused plenty of disruption.

This half term Year 8s have had a shift of focus towards their option choices. On March 14th, we will be hav-ing an Options Evening, to give students and parents some information regarding their option choices. Students will also be able to circulate through staff members from the different subjects in order to find out information regard-ing the different subjects at GCSE. This is a great opportunity for students to be as fully informed as possible, before making one of the most important decisions in their time in the Academy. During this time, the Year 8 mentors will be there to support students in their choices, and give advice where needed.

In order to help students to prepare for this choice, they have been given some talks over the last couple of weeks of the half term by parents in the Academy, regarding their different careers. There have been a variety of careers for students to hear about, and plenty of questions answered! This will hopefully give them more of an idea of what they want to do in the future, and how to use their option choices the get them there!

The half-term break is upon us, and the week off will be a great opportunity to recharge ahead of the sec-ond spring half-term. I would ask students to spend a little bit of time over the half term to make sure they are

prepared to return to the Academy in a week (there will be equipment and uniform checks on the

first day back!) We will see you again on 25th February, have a restful break!

Mr Falvey—Year 8 Family Leader

Year 7 have been working hard this block in their lessons and have recently taken their end of block assessments. It is wonder-ful to see so many of the year group taking their assessments seriously and revising well. This goes to show that we have a group of very conscientious students.

Recently we had the rewards event where year 7 got to watch a film with popcorn during period 5 and 6. I was very proud to have so many year 7’s part of the event. Students are now working towards the next rewards event which will take place around Easter time.

We had the school production of Aladdin which was fabulous! To see year 7 up on stage with students of older year groups and doing so well was wonderful to see. Rehearsals for the show started last academic year and so it was great to see that some year 7 wanted to get involved and be part of the chorus. Miss Killeen has already told me that there are some budding per-formers in the year group and so I look forward to seeing more of my students on the stage.

This past month has presented us with some very cold weather. Well done and thank you to those students who managed to make it into school despite the snow. Sickness has hit us hard over the past few weeks, well done to year 7 who have been showing resilience and coming to school despite coughs and colds. After half term we should begin to see some brighter weather and I hope our attendance will start to climb.

I hope you all have a pleasant half term.

Mrs Holt—Year 7 Family Leader

Well we come to the end of another busy and important half term. Students have been busy with inter-

vention sessions and for some there have been important exams and controlled assessments taking

place. I have been impressed with the culinary skills of those Year 11 students who have produced three

courses for the practical Food Technology exam. Despite the early nerves everyone managed to produce

some amazing dishes and I hope they managed to save some for parents at home. Maybe we have some

budding chefs amongst the year group!?

Controlled assessments have also started in Resistant Materials and Textiles and I have been impressed

with the work ethic and attention to detail that students have been displaying. Best of luck to those stu-

dents who will be undertaking their rearranged Drama exam and/or beginning their Art coursework.

Could I please ask all parents/carers to support members of staff who are voluntarily holding interven-

tion / revision sessions during half term by ensuring students attend these sessions and arrive promptly

and fully equipped.

As you are aware the second round of mock exams will be commencing straight after half term and it is

vital that attendance and punctuality are excellent during this important time. As the intensity of this im-

portant year ramps up, it is also vital that students are encouraged to get a good nights rest (without the

distraction of electronic devices), follow a balanced and nutritional diet and perhaps find some time for

some light exercise so that they are better prepared to cope with the anxiety and stresses that the next

couple of months may bring.

I hope you will have a productive and purposeful half term break.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacri-

fice and most of all, love of what you are doing!”

Mr J Cheshire– Year 11 Family Leader

Stars of the Week Year 7 Jack Tugwell—Honest

Aisha Mohamed, Diya Patel and Leon

Stanislas—Hopeful

Ellie Pitchley—Hopeful

Cast of Aladdin—Joyful

Year 9

Leah Ipperciel—Self Controlled

Harriet Hocking and Chloe Nye—

Compassionate

Media Studies Students—Patience

Jade Ferreira—Patience

Year 11

Year 11 students that attended Wicked—Joyful

and considerate

Students that attended Parents Evening—Self

Controlled and Hopeful

Kyle Ede—Self Controlled

Cast and Crew for Aladdin—Joyful

Year 8

Michael Noka—Joyful

Year 8 Swiming Team—Joyful

Sophie Hellens—Hopeful

Cast of Aladdin—Joyful

Year 10

All Year 10 Student Councillors—Patient

Emily Taylor—Joyful

Parents evening Volunteers—Considerate

Madison Portwine and Emma Carty—Humble

Sports Star

Year 8 indoor athletics team—Joyful

Year 7/8 Swim Teams—Joyful

Ellie Pace and Sophie Thompson—Joyful

Oli Martin—Self Controlled

Changes to Parking and the Bus Route

As of Monday 25th February 2019 the 466 ‘School Bus’ will be collecting the stu-dents from the Academy site at the end of the day. Staff will continue to do du-ties and line students up alongside the buses on the Plaza.

This means we are no longer allowing parents/carers or non urgent taxis will be asked to collect students from the surrounding area. I would ask that you ensure you do not come into the Academy car park from 2.45pm to collect your son/daughter and that you do abide by local road laws, do not park on the school zig zags or across our neighbours driveways.

If you have any queries regarding this information please contact

Hannah.Suleyman@oasiscoulsdon.org

Year 10 Update

Spring Term 2019

Monday 7th January:

First day of Spring Term 1.

Friday 15th February:

Last day of Spring Term 1.

Monday 18th—Friday 22nd February:

Half Term.

Monday 25th February:

First day of Spring Term 2.

Friday 5th April:

Last day of Spring Term 2.

Monday 8th—Monday 22nd April:

Easter Holidays.

Summer Term 2019

Tuesday 23rd April:

First day of Summer Term1.

Monday 6th May:

Bank Holiday.

Friday 24th May:

Last day of Summer Term 1.

Monday 27th May:

Bank Holiday.

Tuesday 28th—Friday 31st May:

Half Term.

Monday 3rd June:

First day of Summer Term 2.

Friday 19th July:

Last day of Summer Term 2.

TERM

DATES