NEWSLETTER

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

Issue 3 Friday 1 December 2017

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ASPIRE AND ACHIEVE

Christmas Holiday Tuesday 19 December students finish.

20 December inset day – staff only

Students return Thursday 4 January Technology and Humanities Ambassadors cross-curricular project

During the lead up to Remembrance Day, the Humanities and Design & Technology Ambassadors worked together on a Remembrance Day/Poppy project. The Humanities ambassadors researched the History behind Remembrance Day and created a PowerPoint that was sent out to all form tutors to be shown during form time. The project included why we take part in a two minute silence, the story of why we use poppies, extracts from soldiers’ letters, war poetry, and video links.

The Design and Technology Ambassadors then started work on creating their own personalised Leasowes Poppy. All Design and Technology Ambassadors created artistic designs, of which different ideas were taken from various drawings to create a finalised Leasowes High School poppy image. Ambassadors then spent lunch times in the design studio transforming these drawings into a ceramic poppy, using CAD and the laser cutter machine.

Miss Houghton would like to congratulate all Humanities, and Design and Technology Ambassadors for their enthusiasm with this project.

Design and Technology Ambassadors: Izak Guy, Elliott Guy,Lily Hawthorne, Maddison Willetts, Amy Barton, Sakinah Khord, Jared Chohan, Joe South, James Moore, Ali Malik

Humanities Ambassadors: Kourtney Purnell, Nomqhele Mahlangu, Hayleigh McKeown, Ashaylla Mcdonald, Ellie Chater, Charlotte Mann, Disalini Rakuseelan, Kelan Westwood, Jessica Baker-Moore, Jessica Griffiths

Attendance matters

I wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of attending

school. During 2016/17, more children were absent from school than the previous year.

There were many reasons for this, and a large increase in ‘Leave of Absence’ requests

accounted for a significant rise in absenteeism.

Any leave of absence request must be made in writing through the schools application

form, and then the authorisation of the leave is at the Headteacher’s discretion. If it is and

unauthorised leave of absence in term time, the school may notify the Education

Investigation Service (EIS) which may result in a penalty fine. Since September 2013,

headteachers have only been allowed to make a discretionary decision to allow term time

absence for holidays in exceptional circumstances. If an event can reasonably be

scheduled outside of term time then it would not be normal to authorise absence –

absence during term time for holidays is therefore not considered an exceptional

circumstance. Exceptional circumstances are not specified in DfE guidance; however there

is advice from the National Association of Headteachers.

At the moment, there is an improvement is attendance and I wanted to congratulate the

following form groups:

7C1 – 97% 9C1 – 96%

7C2 – 98% 9K1 – 95%

7K1 – 98% 9K2 – 96%

7K2 – 96% 10C1 – 96%

7N1 – 97% 10K1 – 98%

7S1 – 96%

8C1 – 96%

8N1 – 96%

8S1 - 98%

8S2 – 96%

If you are not in school you cannot achieve, and every effort must be made to attend.

Mr Mynott

Take-off with the RAF!

The Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 at a time when aviation was in its infancy: it was the world’s first independent air force. Innovation and improvement have been constant themes throughout their history, and the Centenary provides them with the unique opportunity to commemorate those who have gone before us and to look forward to the next century. The 100th year is a time to look ahead, to inspire the next generation of young people, and to encourage students to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. On Wednesday 15 November 2017 Mr Chatterton took twelve year 7 Design & Technology students to RAF Cosford. The students participated in a range of STEM activities:

Rocket Cars

Coding

Rockets

Riveting

Smart Materials

Parachutes / Helicopters

Learning Technologies

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DECEMBER 2017

WINNING the national ‘Legacy 110’ Award

As part of the national commemorations of the First World War, the government offered an opportunity for 2 pupils, and 1 staff member from all schools across the country to visit the WW1 battlefields and memorials of France and Belgium. Grace Lymer and Libbi Gamble took part in this educational visit in February this year, and have been working towards the completion of their ‘Legacy 110’ project since returning. The aim of 'Legacy 110' is for every participating student to create an enduring legacy by impacting upon at least 110 people within their local community. If we achieve this then the total number of people reached by 2019 will equal 888,246, which is equivalent to the number of British and Commonwealth soldiers who fell during the First World War.

Grace and Libbi exceeded all expectations by not only presenting to 110 individuals, but sharing their experiences and continuing their legacy with over 1143 people. Grace and Libbi decided on the idea of sharing their legacy with the past, present, and future generations. Delivered firstly to the ‘present’ generation within the humanities department. The presentation was then adapted to become more educational on WW1 for ‘future’ generations consisting of 260 primary pupils. Thirdly, the presentation was adapted for the ‘past’ generation within an elderly/dementia care home, including an interview of the residents’ experiences of war. A clay model made by pupils is now kept in a display cabinet within the home, and an image of this published on their Facebook page. Grace and Libbi also attended a PHD research focus group at the University of Birmingham with Dr Catriona Pennell, UOE Senior Lecturer, to discuss their project further, as well as several entries within the Leasowes High School newsletter.

Due to the outstanding enthusiasm, creativity and hard work by Grace and Libbi, they were chosen as one of only six schools across the whole country to win a national ‘Legacy 110’ Award. The pupils were awarded with a personalised World War One book and certificates, along with Miss Houghton also collecting an award on behalf of Leasowes High School staff involvement in the project. Both pupils, along with Miss Houghton and Mr Gillespie attended the prestigious awards event at the House of Lords, where Grace and Libbi again presented their remarkable project amongst many important individuals and politicians.

Congratulations Grace Lymer and Libbi Gamble for your amazing achievement!