Tuesday 2nd May: We will only be opening for Year 11, 13, and vulnerable students. We also have year 12 examinations that will take place. Please contact the academy if you believe your child is in this final category. Please follow this link for further information.
Senior Leadership Team Update
One of the highlights of the week was the DRET Spring Cup on Tuesday and we are delighted to share some of the good news about our teams. Our U13 Hockey Team won the Plate with Freya and Grace from Year 7 being particularly recognised for their standout performances. We finished as runners up in the Rugby 7s Competition with Ethan from Year 9 being recognised for outstanding leadership as a captain who modelled our KEVI values. Whilst we didn’t win the overall competition we did finish as runners up in the Progress Award which recognises the schools who have improved the most since last year. This is an exciting time for KEVI and we are always pleased to see our progress being recognised. Well done to every single student who represented us and to the families who make such a commitment to supporting their children with sport.
Our Sixth Form students have spent time thinking about their next steps this week. Thank you to Mrs Prince who organised superb sessions on university student finance, career ready skills and career opportunities in the public services. Sixth Form is such an exciting time as students make important decisions about their futures. Please do contact us if you would like any advice, support or guidance with these decisions. Despite Tuesday being another day of national strike action we have public examinations for Year 12 and Year 13 students taking place. Students in Year 11 who have applied for a place in the Sixth Form can expect to receive a letter soon with details of our Sixth Form Induction Day which will be held on Friday 7th July.
We hope you enjoy a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.
Mrs S Jones - Executive Principal & Mr M Wilkinson - Acting Head of School
Values
Values: Ambition & Aspiration
In House Assemblies this week students have reflected on two of our core values: Ambition & Aspiration. Part of the assembly looked at the inspirational story of Arnold Schwarzenegger whose own story is rich in these two values.
Schwarzenegger first gained fame as a bodybuilder, using that as a launching point to become a huge Hollywood star and, later, the governor of California. At KEVI we always try to draw inspiration from successful people and Schwarzenegger’s story is rich in success.
In a speech he gave the following advice:
- Start early
- Don’t be afraid of failure
- Learn from your mistakes
- Be a leader
- Support others around you
- Be organised and plan your time
- Stay hungry for success
- Show humility
- Expect hardship and don’t let it defeat you
- Stop a negative mindset holding you back
If we all follow those ten points we will certainly have a greater chance of achieving our ambitions and aspirations for the future.
Why we do what we do -Academy Rationale
Teaching and Learning
Principle 7 in our Why we teach the way we do series.
Obtain a high success rate
Research suggests that teachers who utilised effective teaching strategies were more likely to have students with higher academic success rates as evidenced by the work produced. Rosenshine suggests that the optimal success rate teachers should strive for is 80% (coincidentally, a similar rate of optimal success when using multiple-choice tests). These success rates show that although challenged, students still understood and learnt new material.
We jumped ahead last week to Principle 8, and missed out 7, apologies for this, next week will be Principle 9!
Year 11 Update
Saturday School, this week is Geography and French running from 9am – 11am. Please confirm your child’s attendance for 29th April by completing this form
Year 11 Science Exam Preparation
There are just nine school days left before the first science exam for Year 11. A really useful revision task for science is to practice past exam questions. There are only so many different questions that can be asked by examiners and so by practising as many as possible before the exam is a great use of preparation time. After attempting questions, it is important to use the mark schemes to check what examiners were looking for and make any corrections in purple pen.
This is why we are providing our Year 11 students with a pack of exam questions every week. Some of these are compulsory as part of homework. However, each pack has a large number of additional questions to give students further practice at different topics. For the reasons outlined above, we strongly recommend students complete these questions in addition to the compulsory ones. Please take the time to discuss this with your child and encourage them to complete these extra questions to really maximise their marks in the upcoming exams.
Mr P Riley - Head of Science
Calling all musicians
We have a band at KEVI on a Tuesday after school. 3.15pm till 4.15pm. All instrumentalists welcome. Come and develop your creative talents and brainpower at band. Music is fun and music is good for you; it is good for your brain and your body. Deep breathing reduces stress and is good for the body and the skills used for reading music develop particular parts of our brain.
If you want to learn a brass instrument go to the Spine at 11.10am on a Tuesday morning and ask for Miss Smith. We have some spaces left for students to engage with this exciting opportunity.
On the 15th May we will be starting up the KEVI Choir again. This will take place at 3.15pm in the Spine every Monday for an hour.
Band is on Tuesday at 3.15pm also in the Spine.
House News
This week we are focusing on preparing our PowerPoint presentations ready to present each forms chosen charity to the house in assembly. A few people from each form will present during assemblies week commencing 8th of May.
Next week we have House Pursuit. Each house has a team of 4 students who will compete on a Nintendo Switch in the hall. Spectators are welcome and might be needed to help at times.
The current scores are as follows…
Miss C Eyre - Games Master
Thinking Ahead – My Future, My Choice
Attention Year 8 & Year 9!
- What are your future plans & career possibilities?
- What plans to do you have after you have completed your GCSEs?
- Do you plan to go on to further/higher education? If so what courses might you study?
- What career ideas do you have for the future at the moment?
In year 7, 8 and 9 you will be learning new skills and knowledge that will give you the confidence to help you plan your next steps. This process starts with your careers education in school which will encourage you to think about your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. You will also start to make some important decisions that could influence your future career path as you will be choosing your subjects to study for GCSE. This process will begin for all Year 9 students early next year.
Each week we will show you examples of the various careers linked to the subject you are studying. This week’s career idea is ........
KEVI Careers Support
Attendance
Attendance last week was 92.1%. Attendance is everyone’s business so let’s keep working together to improve it!
Well done to Year 7 who are leading the way again!
House Attendance
Well done to Arete with an impressive 94%, closely followed by Apollo at 93% and Mercury and Minerva were tied at 91%.
If you would like to discuss your child’s attendance or need any support with attendance, then please contact Mrs Kwee or Mrs Ziller on 01790 753 260 or tkwee@kingedwardacademy.co.uk to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.
Mrs T Kwee Attendance Manager
Table Talk
One of our House competitions this term is identifying a house charity for next year. Students are expected to research, present on and choose a charity that they will be raising funds for next year. This is obviously a great of kindness on the part of the students and for them to give up time and energy is always well appreciated and accepted by the charities we support.
Please take some time to have a conversation with your children about charitable work, but also link it to the quote above. If we could lead the conversation around to this quote and discuss how small acts of kindness go along way to making the lives of others so much better. Maybe give examples where you have given or received kindness from someone and ask your children for examples. Also discuss how the reverse is true and that even small acts of being unkind can be devastating to individuals.
Mr A Carrington - Vice Principal
Gino's Update
Price List – April 2023
Breakfast
- Bacon roll 95p
- Sausage bap (Wed only) 95p
- Large bacon roll £1.35
- Fruit – piece or small pot 40p
- Toasted teacake 50p
- Yogurt 45p
Break
- Bacon roll 95p
- Sausage bap 95p
- Large bacon roll £1.35
- Pizza slice 95p
- Toasted sandwich £1.35
- Cheese & ham bagel £1.35
- Toasted crumpet 40p
- Toasted teacake 50p
Break & Lunch
- Salad box £1.80
- Baguettes (small) £1.20
- Baguettes (large) £1.70
- Sandwiches £1.35
- Large roll £1.35
- Small roll 95p
- Tortilla wrap £1.60
- Crusty bread roll 30p
- Fruit – piece or small pot 40p
- Yogurt 45p
- Condiment sachet 10p
Lunch
- Main meal with 2 sides £2.10
- Vegetarian main meal with 2 sides £2.10
- Meal deal (meal, cake/dessert or small drink) £2.40
- Pasta pot £1.65
- Stir fry pots £1.65
- Curry, rice & naan bread pot £2.10
- Panini £1.40
- Pizza 95p
- Jacket potato with filling £1.70
- Cake/Cookie 60p
- Hot pudding 65p
Drinks (Breakfast, Break & Lunch)
- Fruit juice carton 65p
- Flavoured milk carton 65p
- Semi skimmed milk carton 65p
- Radnors fizz bottles 70p
- Large bottles water 80p
- Large bottles flavoured water 90p
- Yazoo milkshake £1.00
Angela Clark - Catering Manageress
Teen Support
10% of young people self-harm
This means that it’s likely that at least two young people in every secondary school classroom have self-harmed at some time. If you are self-harming, you are not alone – lots of information and support are available. Remember, self-harm isn’t a suicide attempt or a cry for attention. However, it can be a way for some people to cope with overwhelming and distressing thoughts or feelings. Self-harm should be taken seriously, whatever the reason behind it.
It is possible to live without self-harm. It is important to know that you won’t always feel the way you do now. With the right help and support most people who self-harm can and do fully recover.
The self-harm cycle:
Self-harm usually starts as a way to relieve the build-up of pressure from distressing thoughts and feelings. This might give temporary relief from the emotional pain the person is feeling. It’s important to know that this relief is only temporary because the underlying reasons still remain. Soon after, feelings of guilt and shame might follow, which can continue the cycle.
Because there may be some temporary relief at the start, self-harm can become someone’s normal way of dealing with life’s difficulties. This means that it is important to talk to someone as early as possible to get the right support and help. Learning new coping strategies to deal with these difficulties can make it easier to break the cycle of self-harm in the long term.
Self-harm cycle
Someone’s reason for self-harm can be very different from other people who self-harm. Some of the reasons that young people report as triggers or reasons that lead them to self-harm include:
- difficulties at home
- arguments or problems with friends
- school pressures
- bullying
- depression
- anxiety
- low self-esteem
- transitions and changes, such as changing schools
- alcohol and drug use.
There are lots of myths attached to self-harm. This isn’t surprising – myths and misunderstandings often arise when a problem like self-harm is poorly understood. Negative stereotypes can be powerful. They need to be challenged because they stop people talking about their issues and asking for help. These myths also mean that professionals, family and friends can misunderstand people who self-harm.
MYTH: ‘Self-harm is 'attention-seeking'’
One of the most common stereotypes is that self-harm is about ‘attention seeking’. This is not the case. Many people who self-harm don’t talk to anyone about what they are going through for a long time, and it can be very hard for them to find enough courage to ask for help.
MYTH: ‘Self-harm is a goth thing’
Self-harm has been stereotyped to be seen as part of youth subcultures such as “goth” or “emo”. While some research suggests a link, there is no conclusive evidence of this, with little or no evidence supporting the belief that self-harm is part of any particular young person's subculture.
MYTH: ‘Only girls self-harm’
It is often assumed that girls are more likely than boys to self-harm. However, it isn’t clear if this is true. Boys and girls may engage in different self-harming behaviours or have different reasons for hurting themselves, but this doesn’t make it any less serious.
MYTH: ‘People who self-harm must enjoy it’
Some people believe that people who self-harm take pleasure in the pain or risk associated with the behaviour. There is no evidence that people who self-harm feel pain differently than anyone else. The harmful behaviour often causes people great pain. For some, being depressed has left them numb, and they want to feel anything to remind them they are alive, even if it hurts. Others have described this pain as punishment.
MYTH: ‘People who self-harm are suicidal’
Self-harm is sometimes viewed as a suicide attempt by people who don’t understand it. For many people, self-harm is about coping with difficult feelings and circumstances. Some people have described it as a way of staying alive and surviving these difficulties. However, some people who self-harm can feel suicidal and might attempt to take their own life, which is why it must always be taken seriously.
There are lots of people you can talk to about what you are going through. It is important to tell someone you trust and feel comfortable with, as they will be able to help and support you. Young people told us that they have been able to talk to:
- friends
- family
- someone at school, such as a trusted teacher, school nurse or pastoral care staff
- a youth worker
- their GP or healthcare professionals such as a counsellor or nurse
- charities and helplines (some of which are listed below).
Don’t forget if talking directly is difficult you can always access Kooth at Home - Kooth
Word of the Week
Eschew
Eschew: verb – to deliberately avoid using something; to abstain from something. Origin Old French: eschiver – to avoid; German: scheuen – to shun.
Having decided to dedicate himself to his revision, he eschewed his games console in favour of his books. He was determined to win the race on Sports Day, so eschewed his usual snacks and only ate healthily.
Linked words: the origin of shy – to be scared away from something and therefore avoid it – is from eschew.
Times Tables
Years 7 and 8 will be reciting their times tables to help embed them in their long term memory.
At the end of each lesson, they will stand behind their chairs in silence, preparing for themselves for the next lesson and just before they leave the whole class will chant the timetables assigned for that week.
Week commencing 01/05/2023 - we will be chanting our 11 times table
Miss H Johnson - Head of Maths
Accelerated Reader
KEVI20 WC 01/05/2023 lesson 3
Students are continuing their independent reading with more and more speed. It is wonderful to see on a daily basis that no-one in Years 7-9 is without an independent reading book and that these are regularly being exchanged in the Library. Completed quizzes give useful information about how well students have understood the books they have read. It also adds to a running total of number of words read and book level points earned for each student. Students are keen to quiz on their completed books and are delighted to report scores of 90% and 100%, knowing that they have comprehended the books they have read and growing ever more confident in their reading ability.
Should your child wish to read a book from home, you can check to see if it has an Accelerated Reader quiz linked to it by visiting www.arbookfind.co.uk.
The Library is open at 8:30am, breaktime and lunchtime every day.
Ms K Davis - Head of English Department
Credits:
Created with images by Nelos - "Many People Hands Holding Red Word Attention" • dusanpetkovic1 - "Portrait view of adorable happy attractive hardworking high school student gir standing in the sunny library or classroom and celebrating success on the test and great grades in school." • Africa Studio - "People sitting at table in book club" • vectorfusionart - "Composite image of words exam" • Africa Studio - "Flute on music notes background" • ABCDstock - "Green football field under blue sky background" • MarekPhotoDesign.com - "wake up and be awesome note" • Farknot Architect - "Women holding each other hands for comfort and sympathy" • bit24 - "Collage of assorted indian food on black background.. Indian cuisine." • wollertz - "positive thoughts for self esteem building" • Ralf - "View on pile chaotic scattered alphabet letters forming word chaos" • carballo - "reading at dusk in the hammock with the open book" • Liudmyla - "'Save the date' words on a modern board on a white wooden background, top view. Overhead, from above, flat lay. Close-up."