Welcome
Welcome to the second edition of the Rowntree Reporter in which we showcase some of the fantastic activities students have been involved in this term. It has been lovely to see so many of our students involved in the wider life of the school and making a positive contribution to our school community.
In Performing Arts it has been wonderful to see so many students involved in our first whole school production in over two years as well as in different music opportunities.
Students from across different year groups have produced some great work in English and have enjoyed success in Maths and Science competitions, whilst Year 10 students have had really positive experiences with the Royal Navy and University of York.
- Mr Hewitt, Head Teacher
Vaudeville returns with a bang bang!
Work Together Collaboratively
It has been amazing to see Vaudeville shows return to our Theatre this term! Over 100 students and staff were involved in the production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr, on 21-23rd March.
Our cast and technical crew worked so hard to put on the production and it was a fantastic success! Infamous numbers such as 'Toot Sweets' and 'Me Ol' Bamboo' were brought to the stage in a riot of colour, music and dance, not forgetting our flying car, who performed without fault for the full week!
It was amazing to welcome back over 200 primary school students from years 5 and 6 from New Earswick Primary, Wigginton and Ralph Butterfield school on the Tuesday afternoon. They watched a full performance of the show and for many this was their first visit to Joseph Rowntree School and first visit to a theatre. What an impression the cast gave! Wow!
Archie and Cara, 2 of our cast members joined the BBC Radio York Breakfast Show at the start of the week to talk about the show and we also appeared in the York Press.
Theatre performance is such an integral part of our Performing Arts Departments Provision and it was wonderful to see performances showcasing students from across the school, from year 7 right up to year 13, working together with staff to stage such an epic event. There is already much talk and speculation about Vaudeville's next offering....we shall just have to wait and see!
Celebrating our 80th Anniversary
Respect all members of our community
2022 is a very special year for The Joseph Rowntree School, as it celebrates 80 years since its official opening. The school opened its doors on 12 January 1942 and we will be celebrating the anniversary with a series of events in the summer term, all leading to an open afternoon and official celebration on Thursday 7th July, 80 years to the day since the official opening by politician Rab Butler in 1942.
The afternoon will include a tree planting ceremony, music performances, a fun run organised by the student leadership team and the opportunity to visit areas of the school, see past documents and artifacts on display, whilst also enjoying an afternoon tea in our street and hub area. The event is open to all of the community to attend.
As part of this we are putting together an online alumni book of photos and memories from past students and staff. If you, or any family or friends attended or worked at The Joseph Rowntree School, we want to hear from you! Please contact the school on its email address, contact@josephrowntree.york.sch.uk sending us any comments, memories, old photos etc, and our Media team will be collating all of this to be displayed on the open afternoon, as well as on our website!
A spotlight on English homework
Recognise Excellence
At the end of last half-term - following our unit of work on Shakespeare's famous play Merchant of Venice - Year 7 were given the exciting challenge of recreating Shakespeare's world-renowned Globe Theatre. As expected they did not disappoint!
We had lots of wonderful entries made out of all sorts of creative materials: lampshades, Lego, cardboard, and my personal favourite - cake! (yes we did get to eat it all afterwards). A huge well done to Year 7 for your amazing efforts with this homework! - Miss Shirley
Roots to Success
Teach and learn through inspiration
In March a number of Year 10 students took part in 2 days of face to face activities at the University of York as part of the Roots to Success programme. Roots to success is an aspiration raising project for pupils at local primary and secondary schools in York, working in collaboration with the University of York, York St John University, York College and Askham Bryan College.
The scheme has been in place since 1998 and its aim is to engage with pupils over an extended period of time to support young people in York to make informed decisions about their future. Students in year 10 enjoyed a series of lectures and presentations at various locations on the University of York campus. They also heard from current undergraduate and post graduate students about what life at University is like.
For the previous 2 years, all events have been online for students enrolled in Roots to Success, so it was fantastic to once again be back on campus! Thank you to Ms Murray our Careers Co-ordinator, for organising this annual event. Further information about the programme can be accessed here https://www.york.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/pre-16/roots-to-success/
Student Postcard Competition
Encourage Wellbeing
This year we launched an exciting House competition where students were asked to design a Rewards Postcard for a subject, or subjects, of their choice. The winning designs would then be turned into a postcard that could be posted home for students achieving highly in that subject area.
We received over 100 entries representing all four Houses and every Year Group in school. When deadline day was hit, it was then over to Departmental staff to gather together and select their favourites. The debates were heated and long but when the dust settled, the winning designs were shared across school and were consequently sent off to the printers.
On arrival back into school, competition organiser Mr. Hatch, ensured the first postcard gathered from every new subject pack was sent home to the winners themselves, a full list of those is given below.
Congratulations to all those who entered (collecting House Points for their troubles) and of course, to the winners themselves - our potential artists, designers and marketing executives of the future! - Mr Hatch
Winners by subject
Winners by subject
Art - Molly Hare
Business Studies - Honey Cole
Citizenship - Lexi Copley
Design Technology - Jack Atkin-Stone
Drama - Emily Usher
English - Hayley Symington
Food - Bethan Parker
Geography - Emily Milnes
Graphics - Maddy Musgrave
Health & Social Care - Ellie Parsons
History - Jasper Powell-Wainwright
Information Technology - Josh Maskell
Maths - Jessie Nguyen
Media Studies - Hannah Appleton
MFL - Rebeka Nemeth
Music - Sylvie Morgan
P.E. - Harvey Horsley
Psychology - Amy Harrison
R.S. - Jessie Nguyen
Science - Emily Usher
Sociology - Molly Playford
Textiles - Erin Ashton
Year 10 War Poetry
Recognise Excellence
10j/EN2 were asked as part of their study of the Power and Conflict Anthology to create their own poem or short story based on the key themes featured in one of the anthology poems. The standard of work by this class blew me away as they produced incredibly thought-provoking, poignant and compassionate pieces of poetry and narrative. The narrative by Lydia Smith explores the heartbreaking consequences of being an observer in a war zone through the eyes of a war photographer and highlights how the painful scenes of what was observed are lived with even after the photographer has left the war zone. The poem by Alfie O’Neill was inspired by war poetry by Owens, Hughes and Tennyson and highlights the helplessness and heartbreak felt by soldiers during the war. This poem effectively and sensitively describes the horror that would have overwhelmed a soldier in his final moments yet Alfie has also touched on the feelings of love and longing in such raw and sensitive detail. - Miss Holdstock
The Final Hour by Alfie O'Neill
I was stood there in the trench, confused, conflicted, afraid. How did I get to this point? How did it all come to this? 6 months ago I had hope, 6 months ago I had a future, yet here I am now in flanders awaiting my fate, I can hear the guns, I can hear the cries of pain and anguish of men's souls almost deafen me. My hands are shaking, is it the cold still air or is it fear that makes them so. They told me it would be over by now, we laughed as we conscripted, we aren't laughing now. Ruthie, my Ruthie, said she would wait for me, said I was the man for her, but what kind of man am I now. I no longer know myself, I have no mirror to see, no friends to remind me of who I am or who I was. Am I afraid? Certainty falls upon me for indeed afraid I am, afraid of who I have become, afraid of what will be and afraid I will never know life again as I once did. Soon it will be time, the time the whistle will blow, the time to go over the top, 3……… thoughts of Ruthie come into my head 2……….. My mothers face smiles upon me in the darkest of hours 1……….I hear the shout of “READY” and then death calls me and all is silent.
War Photographer by Lydia Smith
The soft red light glowed in the dark room. FLASH. The bright white light flashed in the back of my brain. Over and over again. Repeated daily. Not one person understands the seriousness of my job. They do not care. The memories haunt me but they don't suffer. They do not care. The spools of suffering that lay out in front of me are almost unable to be identified. Nobody gets it. Nobody gets the dangers of war.
My head was spinning, I couldn't take it. I can't take it. I walked over the green fields careful where I was stepping. Careful of my feet touching bullets or weapons. Hearing faint screams in the distance and hearing the trauma repeating and replaying over and over. Then I remember I am safe. The fields exploding overseas with no children, no happiness in sight but here it's peace. Here it's peaceful with children and families playing and laughing with no care. No worry of war, no care for those who are fighting for them.
I smile to be brave but inside I am exploding. I tremble constantly hoping I don't get another call out to a new place. The blood stained foreign dust has marked me because I've seen the agonies and the suffering. No one cares. No tears in rural England. They think they are safe from it all and protected. I carry on my day the best I can but going home knowing laid out on my table are the spools of suffering.
UK Mathematics Trust - Maths Challenge
Recognise Excellence
In March, 12 students volunteered to take part in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. This is a nation-wide competition for students in years 9, 10 and 11 where students are challenged to think about the maths that they know in interesting or unusual ways.
Our 12 competitors comprised of students from all year groups who all did themselves proud. Students can achieve a bronze award for being in the top 50% of entrants, a silver award for being in the top 25% or a gold for being in the top 8% of entrants nationally.
Our students achieved one bronze, five silvers and one gold award.
'Best in School' award went to Tom Keast, year 9. Tom and fellow year 9 Sam Brett both qualified for progression onto the follow on round and we wish them both the best of luck! - Mrs Tucker
Year 13 learn to 'Restart a Heart'
Encourage Wellbeing
Year 13 students have been enjoying input from The Yorkshire Ambulance Service in their enrichment this half term, with Jason Carlyon coming into school to work with them on some basic first aid and the fundamentals of CPR. Jason's session has been well received by students, helping to highlight how to keep the heart healthy as well as discussing how to respond appropriately if a person were having a heart attack.
Using the CPR dummies we have in school, students were able to practise their chest compression technique, working together and with Jason to do this effectively. With our students in year 13 only a matter of weeks away from leaving us after their A level exams, it was important that we gave them access to such an important skill to take into their future. If you'd like to find out more about the work Yorkshire Ambulance Service do you can see this at their website - https://restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk/ where you will find practical advice on CPR.
Success at the Chemistry Olympiad
Recognise Excellence
The UK Chemistry Olympiad is designed to challenge and inspire students. To be successful they need critical problem-solving skills and an ability to think more creatively. All of this is tested in new, real-world situations. The 2022 challenge was particularly fiendish. Unfortunately, there was a clash with the year 13 mock exams but year 12 took up the challenge and despite only 1 term of A Level chemistry they achieved 3 bronze awards between them. Congratulations go to Thibaut Mair, Natasha Sumpner and Will Mackle! - Mrs Mason-Monk
The Brass Group is up and running!
Nurture Talent
Over the last few weeks some of our students have been learning how to play trumpets and trombones. Brilliantly coached by Ian Chalk (an incredible musician and brass expert who runs the York Music Forum), the group have been taught the basics and are now stepping up a gear to learn more complex techniques.
There are still places available if you would like to join, for free, and be given your own instrument to take home while you learn. No experience is needed, just fill in this google form and you can get started https://forms.gle/MHZHxXexSzYwcMcPA or, speak to Mr Hill in the Music department for more details.
Sophia makes her mark at the Youth Parliament
Work together collaboratively
Our Deputy Head girl, Sophia Suddaby, continues to represent us at the York Youth Council and this term organised for all of our students to have the opportunity to vote in the Make Your Mark programme, organised by the British Youth Council. UK Youth Parliament's Make Your Mark gives a unique opportunity to reach out to young people who go on to be opinion formers and leaders of the future.
Students vote on a range of current national and international issues, and results will inform what the UK Youth Parliament should campaign on in 2022-24, when Sophia will represent York at Westminster as our Member of Youth Parliament. All students in Y7 to Year 11 had the opportunity to vote and we will know the results next half term. https://www.byc.org.uk/uk/uk-youth-parliament/make-your-mark
BBC STEM outreach program
Teach and learn through inspiration
This year students have been working with the BBC STEM outreach team on a number of different things. Back in October, year 13 scientists had a wonderful opportunity to be part of a science online event with the team behind 'Changing the World with Greta Thunberg' and 'The Universe' with Professor Brian Cox.
In November, some of our Year 12 students completed a day of workshops with the team behind programmes such as BBC Inside out and had a go at drafting their own science communications materials which was a fantastic experience.
Then in February, two of our Year 12 computer scientists completed a software engineering workshop, where they used a variety of different languages to code their own online quiz with the BBC software engineering team. They came joint first out of all the groups that participated. They also learnt about the variety of careers possible and how to get there, showing the different career paths through university and apprenticeships.
Finally, in March, 3 of our year 13 media studies students completed a Making The News workshop with a BBC Broadcast Engineering team. They were ably supported by Miss Thorpe and had a go at mixing their own news broadcast. This involved taking virtual control of a broadcast studio, mixing the sound and video input and ensuring smooth transitions.
Students get shipshape in the kitchen
Teach and learn through inspiration
‘The Royal Navy chefs ran an amazing workshop where we had a 90-minute ready set cook where they were both amazingly helpful to all the groups and all the groups successfully made a lasagne and an apple pie. They also gave a very informative presentation on different jobs and fitness standards at most roles in the Navy they also went into how the Navy is broken up within the different fleets. The presentation was also very well planned and had many videos describing different service men and women's careers. The presentation also went into the benefits and ordinary life while serving your country and protecting other people. They made sure to include everyone in the presentation. Both JJ and Aaron were very polite and even had a bit of a laugh whilst they were here and both had very good advice on how to perform the various tasks in the kitchen. They even talked about qualifications and all sorts that the Navy will pay for whilst you are serving.’ - Toby Gardner 10TMI
‘We started the day off by getting introduced to JJ and Aaron who were 2 Navy Chefs, they talked a little about themselves then we got straight into the cooking. We completed a 90 minute ‘Ready Steady Cook’ where the class split into three teams of 4 then split again to cook a main and dessert. When we all finished cleaning and cooking and the food was in the oven, we walked over to the front of the class to get a presentation of all the roles in the different Navy branches, they told us about the qualifications we need to be accepted in the training. They told us where to go for basic training which was HMS Raleigh down in Cornwall. Your Royal Navy career would begin with 10 weeks basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career. The benefits of being in the Navy is unreal. For example, you could be paying hundreds of pounds for a premiership football ticket but when you are in the Navy you can get a ticket for 3 pounds!. Overall, the experience was very fun and eventful, and I learnt a lot.’ - Miller Wilkinson 10SAL
York School Choral Festival
Encourage Wellbeing
On 5 April members of the Key Stage 3 Show Choir represented the school on day 2 of the York Schools Choral Festival at the University of York Music Department. 10 schools from across York took part in the event which showcased performances from each group in a concert at the end of each day. Throughout the day students took part in workshops and activities within the department and learnt a new joint song for the final performance.
Our Show Choir performed to an exceptionally high standard and represented the school fantastically! More information about what York Music Hub can offer students across the city can be found here https://www.yorkmusichub.org.uk/
Elton John cover success for Holly
Recognise Excellence
Year 11 Student Holly Marsden will be enjoying a night at Elton's Johns Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour after winning an amazing competition where she played alongside the famous artist to his song 'Cold Heart'.
Holly had to record her own performance accompanied by Sir Elton on the piano. 2 performers were selected from thousands of entries by the man himself and Holly was one of these, Wow! We are so proud of Holly who was awarded our annual David Harry Award for contribution to the arts this year. Enjoy the concert!
Library News
Encourage Wellbeing
Spring Term is always a busy time in the Library, and this year has been no exception! World Book Day on the 4th March saw the launch of our 2022 Great Book Giveaway with five books/series up for grabs. Lucky winners included Rafferty Curran, Logan Ridgway, Gemma Robinson, Megan Stuckey and Milo Bove. Wordle fans were also invited to test their Wordle skills and their book knowledge in our World Book Day Wordle Quiz, with Rebecca Williams taking home a wonderful puzzlers’ prize. Finally, over 50 students entered our main library competition, following clues to identify non-fiction book titles from our amazing new non-fiction stock. Daniel Hutchison’s entry was pulled out of the box and he will take home a non-fiction book of his choice, to a value of £20!
The library continues to be well attended during Y7-9 lunchtimes, with students taking advantage of the comfy seating and quiet, relaxing atmosphere to catch up on some homework or take a few minutes out to read a good book. The Regular Reader Card is a loyalty card for all of our break and lunchtime readers and is a great way to earn extra housepoints and the chance to choose a fiction book prize for the student with the most regular reader stamps. Emma Ferguson (Autumn Term) and Gabriel Heras Terol (Spring Term) have been our winners so far this year and we look forward to welcoming more regular readers in the Summer Term.
Finally, a huge thank you must go to all of our amazing Student Librarians who regularly give up their time to help keep the library running smoothly on a lunchtime. We currently have 26 Student Librarians (Y8-13) who earn stamps/housepoints for each rota shift that they complete, culminating in an award for every 50 stamps earned. This term, Sofia Iemboli and Saskia French have completed their Bronze Student Librarian Award – well done to them!
We are now looking forward to the Summer Term when we will be celebrating 25 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry Potter fans take note!
Sporting Success
Nurturing Talent
Congratulations to James Potter in Year 10, who has been appointed to the Castleford Tigers U16 Scholarship programme. James plays for Heworth and has been selected from 100's of applications to take part in this amazing programme!
Also continuing to go from strength to strength on the Rugby pitch is 6th Form student Toby Warren who plays for York Knights, who has recently signed on loan for Leeds Rhinos. Whilst playing for Leeds Rhinos U18's team on 4 April, he scored twice against the Headingley Side. Congratulations to both! https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/20042649.york-city-knights-forward-scores-twice-leeds-rhinos-u18s/
Supporting World Autisum Acceptance Week
Encourage Wellbeing
Our school were delighted to shine a spotlight on World Autism Acceptance Week, celebrating individuals with a diagnosis of autism in our school. Our school community works relentlessly to foster an inclusive environment, where all young people are accepted for who they are, regardless of their special educational needs. Autism acceptance and awareness is an enormous part of daily school life for staff and students. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our school has a clear understanding and appreciation for how a diagnosis of autism affects people. This has included Mrs Jones (SENCO) leading assemblies across KS3 and 4. Activities to promote Autism Acceptance Week are set to continue throughout next half term.
If you would like to find out more about what autism is and how you can support someone with a diagnosis of autism, please visit https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism