October 2012

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Message from the Principal

We have had a fantastic start to the new academic year in celebrating the brilliant success of Year 11 and Year 13 students. By working together, you as their loving family, the school with its dedicated staff and our students, have achieved the best set of results we have ever had, broke all our targets and are significantly above the national average performance rates. Our National Ambassadors in rugby played their national final on Thursday 23 August at the Bradford Bulls stadium. For the third time our team was unlucky in the final stages of the game. I am proud of each and every one of the players and the members of staff who give their time so willing to the team and I recognise that they must be the most consistently high achieving school team in the country. We had a great rewards day at Lightwater Valley on Wednesday 12 September in which students are able to see the direct connection between working consistently hard throughout the year and our support to them as a school. After the review of our Sport Day arrangements we used a different mustering point for the students and buses on the Temple Newsam estate and this proved to be very effective. Our Upper School Awards Evening was a wonderful night of celebrating the success of so many of students with their families. We were privileged to have outstanding performances from our musicians and our dancers and our guest speaker, Paul Brennan, Leeds City Council’s Deputy Director of Children’s Services captured the mood of the evening brilliantly. Our very first separate 6th Form Awards Evening on Thursday 13 September was also a great success with feedback of the highest praise from parents, families, students and members of staff. Our guest speaker, Dr Jonathan Barber from Leeds University, was both entertaining and inspirational. Our Year 9 students who represented us at the York Railway Museum in a Maths, Science and Engineering workshop were once again outstanding ambassadors for Temple Moor. Feedback from teachers, the workshop organisers and the general public all complemented the work and attitude of our students. Our Year 7s battled against the elements to have a week of induction activities that helped become a team who help each other for the next 7 years and gained points for their form and their house. I was so pleased to join their Rewards Assembly and see so many high achieving students gaining the rewards for all their hard work and effort. All our students and staff have made the beginning of this year so enjoyable and the school so vibrant and successful. I thank you all for your continued support and look forward to sharing with you our future successes in the very near future.

Year 7 Induction Week

The emphasis of the Year 7 Induction week is group work and promoting a positive ‘team’ ethos within each Year 7 Form Group. What extremes! Last year we were trying to find shade and applying plenty of sun cream, this year we had monsoon conditions on the first two days, but this didn’t dampen the spirits of our intrepid Year 7s as they completed all the challenges set them with dogged determination and enthusiasm. What a great Year Group; I am proud to be their Head of Year and I can’t wait to see what they achieve in their time at Temple Moor. If they apply the same ‘grit and determination’, and use the skills they identified during the week, they will achieve great things.

Mrs D Darnbrough, Head of Year 7

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October 2012

National Railway Museum Temple Moor was invited along to the anniversary of the North East Railway Engineers Forum for the eighth year in a row. We were asked to bring along 30 of the best mathematicians in Year 8 to have a fun packed day of learning at the National Railway Museum in York.

Throughout the day students took part in two main activities, one of which was an interactive lecture with Richard Gibbon (of Scrapheap Challenge fame), so that everyone could gain a firm understanding of the practical applications of Mathematics in Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering. When we arrived we were shown around the museum and learnt about locomotives and their history. After lunch, there was a bridge-building challenge where everyone worked in groups to create a sturdy bridge made out of paper; this was then tested with weights to see which group had the best bridge. Amazingly, a group of six boys not only created the winning bridge, but the bridge could hold more weight than the bridge created by the engineers.

In addition to providing a wonderful day for everyone, the museum kindly offered to help pay towards the transport to and from the museum and this meant the trip was free, fun and educational. Everyone behaved really well in representing Temple Moor and their attitude towards the learning was great. Everyone was rewarded. Staff who came along discussed which students had performed outstandingly and awarded Head Boy to Jack Thompson-Giles and Head Girl to Amy Cohen. It was an amazing trip and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Rachel Wood, Year 8 Student

Year 7 Football

Temple Moor boys under 12s football team drew their first game against Corpus Christi 3-3, after being 3-0 up, which was a bit of a tough one to swallow. However, they picked themselves up and dusted themselves down ready for their next game. Playing away to the Co-Operative Academy was a little different, as we managed to 'scrape' a 10-2 victory! A hat-trick a piece for Callum and Tawana! Great effort lads!

Mr J Richardson, PE Teacher

Quotes from students:

‘Can we do it again next year?’ ‘This is awesome’ ‘I can’t wait to get muddy’ ‘This has been a great day. Well worth £10’ ‘I’m so tired, but it’s been great’

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MAJESTIC MARSICANS MOVING ON! They got together during a GCSE music composing session in Year 10 and their first ever gig was in school at an end of term achievement assembly. At that stage they didn’t even have a name, and after six months of deliberation, settled on ‘The Scandals.’ Just four years later after beating 56 other hopeful bands in the ‘Futuresound’ competition, James Newbigging (guitar/vocals), Oliver Jameson (guitar/vocals), Joe Harvey (bass/vocals) and Matthew McHale (drums/vocals) now collectively known as ‘Marsicans’, have spent the summer performing to massive crowds up and down the country. They opened on the evening of Friday 24 August at the Reading Festival to over one thousand people. Less than twenty four hours later they were at Leedsfest wowing an even bigger audience including their ecstatic regular fans from school. These two gigs along with their third summer festival appearance at the Bingley Festival have sparked interest from all over the country including the capital. These talented young musicians all went on to study music at A level and are now moving on. James and Oliver are studying at local universities and with Matthew and Joe working locally, the band are well placed to follow in the footsteps of Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys and Pigeon Detectives and hopefully become the next big thing from Yorkshire. Certainly, if press coverage continues to be anything like that on the next page, we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the future! Their swansong in school was a blisteringly energetic and professional set for their peers at last month’s Year 12/13 Awards Evening. With a new EP currently being recorded they’ve certainly come a long way in four years. Well done lads. Thanks for all you’ve done in school and we all wish you the very best for the future.

Mr C Cook, Performance Faculty Leader

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October 2012

Quote below from BBC Music: 'Leeds band Marsicans do upbeat energetic sets with high-buttoned shirts and knitted jumpers. The young indie group are a breath of fresh air with their well-structured, varied set and a mature individual sound that belies their years. With a year that has consisted of support slots with American tipped band Howler and festival appearances at 'Live at Leeds' and 'Bingley Festival', their opening slots on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading & Leeds proved to be another defining moment for these new kids on the block.’

Year 10 Battlefields Trip Temple Moor Pals Battalion set off on 16 July to experience the WWI Battlefields of France and Belgium. The trip included visits to the largest First World War cemetery and The Palace of Versailles. Students were fortunate enough to experience first hand the reconstructed trenches at Vimy Ridge. Temple Moor had the honour of participating at Menin Gate in the ‘Last Post Ceremony’.

The exhortation was read by Paul Swallow in front of an audience of over 2000 people. Ben Vickers and Georgia Haysom laid a special wreath from Temple Moor High School in memory of the fallen soldiers. An educational, emotional and memorable experience was had by students and staff. Mrs C Gomerson, Humanities Teacher and

Battlefields Trip Leader

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Books for Learning Resource Centre

Recently St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds undertook a fundraising Book Sale. After a public appeal for donations of used books they received in excess of 2,500. An impressive 800 books were sold at the event but they still had a huge surplus. Looking for ways to raise additional funds, St Gemma’s contacted local schools and offered books in exchange for donations. Temple Moor was happy to support this worthwhile charity and made a generous donation in return for which we received a large amount of new and nearly new books. These books have now found a home in our Learning Resource Centre. In particular they will go toward creating a Travel Guide and Adult Literacy section specifically aimed at encouraging Sixth Form students and staff to engage in reading. A very successful outcome all round.

Mrs E Cartwright, Learning Manager

Author Visit

Curtis Joblin, creator of the multi-award winning worldwide hit children’s television show Bob the Builder and author/illustrator of numerous children’s books (including the acclaimed Frankenstein’s Cat), is coming to Temple Moor for a morning visit on 29 November. He will be talking about his new collection of books The Wereworld Series which includes Rise of the Wold, Rage of Lions, Shadow of the Hawk and Nest of Serpents. Copies of these books can be borrowed from the library now!! Students can also purchase a signed copy of the book on the day of his visit.

Mrs J Shaw, Reading and Learning Resources

Young Peoples Comic Award

The Leeds Book Award reading group have agreed to take part in the Inaugural Young Peoples Comic Award, part of the British Comic Awards. They will be voting for their favourite comic out of the five nominations pictured below. The reading group will have weekly meetings in the library to discuss the nominated comics and the winner will be declared in November. Check out the website and visit: britishcomicawards.com

Mrs J Shaw, Reading and Learning Resources Centre Coordinator

New Library Books

We have lots of new books to look at in the library for girls, boys and staff, come and take a look at break time and book one out. Sixth former Anne-Marie Mallinson is enjoying looking at the new selection.

Mrs J Shaw, Reading and Learning Resources

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October 2012

Digital Leaders This academic year Temple Moor has begun to implement the use of RealSmart to promote engaging Home Learning challenges for all students. RealSmart is an online learning platform which includes a suite of tools that will help us learn. RealSmart enables students to build collaborative learning portfolios which help the process of learning through peer, teacher and self assessment. To help us use RealSmart as effectively as possible Temple Moor are currently training up six Digital Leaders. The following students are our Digital Leaders: Clarisse Wright Eden McSwiney Michael Kelly Morgan McGowan Muhammed Saidykhan Niamh McKenna The students are working really hard on their "Smarties" Digital Leader training which involves them creating video tutorials, working with both students and staff and also presenting to the benefits and impact to parents. They all now have their Digital Leader “Red Badge” which they are wearing on their uniform - this gives them the privilege to use any of the student computers during breaks to work on their Passport. If you are in Year 7 or Year 8 and you feel you have the skills and attributes to become a Digital Leader then please see Mr Coles this term.

Mr T Coles, Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning

Community Fun over the Summer Temple Newsam Learning Partnership worked in partnership to provide a variety of activities during the summer holidays for children and young people aged 0 to 16+ years as well as parents, carers and the wider community. Activities were organised in response to previous consultation with children and young people. This year’s activities included:

Summer Transition Projects at Temple Moor and Corpus Christi Primary Schools Young Firefighters Project Commando Joes Military Fitness London 2012 Olympics tickets East Leeds Fun Day Horse Riding for the Disabled Cooking for Gold Trips to Lightwater Valley, Flamingoland, Sundown Adventureland and Cannon Hall Farm A number of places on each of the trips were used as incentives/rewards in order to make improvements in attendance and behaviour. This had a really positive impact and we intend to offer similar incentive opportunities in future holiday periods. Overall 243 bookings were originally made and after registers had been taken at each event it showed that 633 actually attended. Some people who originally booked attended more than one activity and we also had a large number of families who turned up on the day for East Leeds Fun Day due to it being open access provision.

Gemma Sargeant, Cluster and Trust Membership Manager, Temple Newsam Learning Partnership Trust

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Pastoral Reminders

Absence from School Please remember to call the absence line on the first day of your child’s absence and send them with a note on their return to school. Tel: 0113 3368200

Lost Property Please remember to name all items belonging to your child to avoid loss of personal items. Tel: 0113 3368200

Contact Details It is important to inform school of any change in contact details for your child.

Mobile Phones/MP3’s/iPods Students are not permitted to bring mobile phones/MP3’s/iPods into school. As well as being a distraction to the learning environment that we strive to create, they are a target for theft. School does not accept responsibility for them whatsoever. Should a student bring one of these items into school, it will be confiscated and only returned to parent/carer on Friday of that week as stated in the student planner

Contact info Temple Moor High School

Field End Grove, Leeds, LS15 0PT Tel 0113 336 8200

Email info@tmhs.co.uk

Visit www.tmhs.co.uk

Dates For Your Diary

Mon 5 Nov—Start of Autumn Term Thur 15 Nov—Post 16 Options Evening

Fri 16 Nov—Children in Need Fundraising Day Tue 11 Dec—Post 16 Review Day

Mon 17 Dec—Christmas Show Tue 18 Dec—Christmas Show

Fri 21 Dec—End of Autumn Term

A Greener Tempo To promote Eco School further Tempo will be Going Green. As from the next issue in December Tempo will be available to view on the school’s website, www.tmhs.co.uk ,along with past copies.

To receive your digital copy of December’s edition please sign up on our website to our mailing list. We will also have a small supply of the printed version in school. If you would prefer it this way email Lynn Whitfield (whitfil02@leedslearning.net) with your child's name and form and a copy will them be sent home with them. Thank you for your support in Going Greener. Mrs L Whitfield, Administrator

Paralympic Trip The Year 11 Health & Social Care group were a credit to the school in their ability to be responsible and sensible in the Olympic Park early in September. Amazing weather to watch inspirational athletes in wheelchair tennis, basketball, rugby, athletics, goal ball and 7-a-side football with lots of memorable moments from the girls too! A well deserved rewards trip after working with the High Care Partnership with such a high level of enthusiasm, enjoyment and respect in lessons. Well done from Mrs Cuddy & Miss Aspinall :)

Miss R Aspinall, PE Teacher and Mrs K Cuddy, Learning Manager, PE