Welcome to the February issue of our COAST magazine packed full of news stories. To jump straight to our year group news click Y7, Y8, Y10 or Y11. For subject news click Maths, RS, Food, Computer Science, Science, Geography, History, French and Spanish. For our SEND update click here.
Rotary Club Young Chef Competition
Three of our lovely Year 10’s Food Preparation and Nutrition, Phoebe Patrick, Millie Bennett and Julia Fairclough, visited Southampton City College for the annual Rotary Club Young Chef competition. All three students produced and executed a three-course meal of an exceptional standard in a two-hour time window. The competition was fierce, but all the team received great feedback from the judges about their work. Phoebe and Millie placed 2nd and 3rd respectively with the judges saying the top three was very close.
Millie and Phoebe have now been invited to partake in the District competition on Saturday 11th March at South Downs College, where they will compete against other winners. Well done all!
Rotary Club Young Writer Competition
Amira Rahman's entry to this year's Rotary Young Writer Competition was highly commended, with the judge commenting on the originality and interest Amira expressed in her writing. Great work! Her story is below:
High Prior Attainers
Our High Prior Attaining students continue to rise to the challenges we set before them. Year 9 and 10 have commenced their journey on The Scholars Programme which launched at the end of last month with a visit to Southampton University. In their weekly seminars with Dr Yusuf Salayman, they are exploring complex ideas around judgement, justice, bias and objectivity. Meanwhile, our amazing talented Year 7 students are enjoying being part of PROVOKE, a weekly club for those who are enthused by news and enjoy discussing key events from a media perspective. All years continue to enjoy their weekly BOAST sessions (Brilliant Oasis Academy Sholing Talks) which have recently included a session from Miss McNamee exploring dystopian literature and a visit from ex -Sholingite William Neal now a certified Independent Financial Advisor who was more than happy to share some important financial advice with us. February also saw several of our year 8 and 9 students achieve The Ambition Award after an extended programme requiring them to show leadership qualities; Congratulations to the fantastic Taylan, Tim, Alex, Laila, Chloe, Liv, Emily, Neeya, Shiya and Ellie- Mai, inspirational!
Careers
This half-term some our great Year 10s have had the opportunity to get some new hands-on learning in entrepreneurialism, construction, carpentry and more by taking part in a series of skills workshops at Itchen College. This week was construction and our students rose to the challenge with some brilliant teamwork and determination.
Reminder: Year 10 should now be seeking placements for their exciting work experience which will commence in the near future. Half-term is a great time to approach potential employers in person, by email or by phone to inquire as to their availability. Contact Mrs Jesson or Mrs Elliot if you have any queries.
Macbeth
This term, our Year 10 students were enthralled when they watched a production of Macbeth. For many it was their first time at the theatre and they really enjoyed seeing how characters interacted with one another and listening out for their key quotations!
Year 9 Art Exhibition
During the Autumn term, Year 9 have been working on a portrait project. We started with observational drawing of facial features in pencil building their confidence with shape and tone. They then completed artist research on either Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo or Jenny Saville and finally responded with a portrait of themselves, a friend or family member.
This is the first term Year 9 have used acrylic paint, learning colour mixing and painting techniques, they definitely rose to the challenge and should be proud of their efforts!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be arriving soon, with hundreds of new books for your child to browse and buy.
Come and join us!
WHEN: Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 February 2023
WHERE: School Library
There are over 200 titles for you and your child to choose from, and with prices starting from only £2.99, there’s sure to be a book for everyone.
Parents can either purchase Gift Vouchers here in advance or their child can bring home their Wishlist and payment can be made online between 22 and 26 February. Students can also pay with cash on the day.
Don’t forget that every book you buy can help to get FREE BOOKS for our school library!
Oasis Community Pantry
We would like to say a huge thank you to Tesco Bursledon for their ongoing support of our Community Pantry. Their donations help us support over 100 families. We welcome any donations as Tesco say ‘every little helps’. So if you are able to support us in anyway we would be incredibly grateful.
Year 7
Year 7 have now experienced their first mid-year assessments and I have been really impressed with their maturity and the serious way in which members of the year group have approached these assessments. Students were focused during the revision and preparation lessons and showed a positive determination to learn during the actual assessment lessons. This positive attitude to learning has been reflected in their Year 7 reports which should be making their way home to you soon.
In January Year 7 participated in their first Inter-House Competition at Oasis Academy Sholing. It was lovely to see the competitive nature of the year group as the girls took on the basketball challenge and the boys took on the football challenge. Each of the four Houses were determined to win, with members being awarded points for participation and for supporting their teams during the events. Year 7 certainly entered into the spirit of the competition and the overall results for the basketball and the football were very close!
We are now half-way through the academic year and Year 7 continue to remain top of the school for the number of positive reward points earned per student and Year 7 have also remained top of the school for having the best attendance.
Our top thirty Year 7 students with the most reward points in the year group are listed below.
As a celebration event, we have booked for Year 7 to visit Paultons Park on Tuesday 11th July 2023. Once I have received the expression of interest reply slips, I will send out the additional information to let you know how to pay and how to complete and return the required medical forms so that the trip can go ahead.
Well done Year 7. Keep up the good work!
Mrs Rolls, Head of Year 7
Year 8
I hope all our families managed to have a restful and enjoyable festive season full of cheer! It seems we have already come to the end of this half term, with many achievements picked up along the way. Year 8 have continued to shine and are showing themselves to be a great set of role models for our younger years to strive for. I am particularly proud, this half term, of how well Year 8 performed through their exam period. Although GCSE’s are a way off, they are showing that they have the focus and discipline to achieve their goals and ambitions.
We kicked off this term with a wonderful careers event. Our year group were put to the test to produce a business plan for an environmentally friendly airline. The students were taken out their comfort zones for the day and worked alongside peers they perhaps might not normally do, forging new alliances to build their proposals. We had some smashing outcomes and very professional presentations by close of day. There are definitely some budding entrepreneurs in our midst.
Year 8 have been challenged in the forensic field in Science club this half term. They have been trying to grow bacteria colonies from swab samples – but let me reassure you, we are in good hands, they have been perfect biologists and treated their samples expertly! Alongside their biology work, they have produced some stunning chemical gardens, creating a mini world to explore.
As we move into February, we are also celebrating LGBT History Month across the school. The LGBTQIA+ group have been busy preparing resources for assembly to raise awareness. Their focus this year has been on inclusion and representation of minority groups in the media and sports, trying to break down stereotypes and make sure all students fell supported and welcome in our Oasis Academy Sholing community. Their research and passion made for a great assembly, really showing the Oasis 9 Habits and working to break down barriers that once divided us.
Despite the chilly weather this half term, the whole school participated in our inter-house competition for Basketball and Football. The games were very energetic with great participation by all involved! Those not on the court or the pitch did a marvellous job of cheering on their fellow students, bringing a great atmosphere to an otherwise shivery lunch time. The house results were as follows:
Girls Basketball: 1st place - Terra, 2nd place - Ventus
Boys Football: 1st place - Aqua, 2nd place - Ignis, 3rd place - Terra, 4th place - Ventus
We have a special mention for those students keeping up their 100% attendance, helping to support their progress and achievement through the year:
To sign off, I shall leave you with our top 30 reward point achievers so far this year, demonstrating their commitment to embody excellence. As a year group, we have amassed over 43200 reward points, with our top achiever on over 400 reward points!
I look forward to our next COAST edition so I can share with you more stories of our inspiring Year 8 students.
Mr MacDonald
Year 10
Year 10 are continuing with their GCSE courses and have just undertaken their first set of internal exams using GCSE papers and materials. It is normal, at this stage for students to be achieving grades below what they would be hoping for at GCSE in some subjects as they still have a way to go with their learning before the final exams. The important thing is that students come out of these exams knowing where they are and what they need to do to improve to achieve their target grades.
You should have received a letter about work experience, which we are pleased will be happening from 10 – 14 July. All students will be working with an employer for the week to get a feel what life is like at work, hopefully in a career area that they are interested in. We encourage students to find their own placements, though we are able to assist with finding placements if needed. The letter explains the process and if you have any queries please get in touch with Mrs Elliott at school. The letter is on our website if you have not received your copy. In the past students have really enjoyed their week on work experience and made productive links with employers who have in some cases offered employment later on.
We continue to encourage good attendance to school. There is a clear link between good attendance and attainment in GCSE exams, with students on 90% attendance achieving on average a grade lower in each subject than those in 100% attendance. A big well done to the following students who have maintained 100% attendance this term: Evan Baker, Miles Baker, Jack Baldwin, Lydia Court, Ben Davidson, Rodrigo Goncalves Saboia, Samuel Jackson, Eddie Lin, Maya Moffatt, Jakub Neter, Mitchell Robinson, Leo Shacklock, Luke Slade, Miley Sutherland and Mia Trudgeon.
Year 11
As we approach the half term, I would like to say again how wonderful Year 11 have been since returning after Christmas. They have come back with a renewed energy and a determination parallel to none. Mocks are fast approaching, and the majority of Year 11 have been diligently attending revision sessions after school, they have been so engaged in their learning that they have not even looked up when I have entered the room as they have been so focused on their work!
The Prom Passport was launched on the 16th of January, all the students are extremely excited and are rushing to get their Passports signed off. It is truly fantastic to see such enthusiasm from them all. Please continue with your support which has been invaluable.
We had an exciting opportunity to take the Year 11 Religious studies students to the local Vedic Hindu Temple. It was a great opportunity for the students to observe an Arti ceremony followed by a Q&A session with a Hindu. They asked great questions which will greatly help with their upcoming mocks. All students were respectful, engaged, and wonderful representatives for the school.
Our Food Tech Students had their final GCSE exams this term and have been hard at work. I dropped in to see their culinary creations and was obviously blown away by the level of expertise shown! I even asked one student for a recipe. These will be continuing for the rest of this term also so good luck to everyone.
A massive congratulations goes to Daniel King who is trying out for Portsmouth FC on an eight-week trial as a goalkeeper, watch this space! Well done, Daniel.
Have a lovely half term.
Miss H Sydenham
SEND
This section is written in the OpenDyslexic font to aid accessibility.
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
If you have a child who finds it difficult to go to school, would like to understand what makes it so hard for them, and would like to know more about ways that you can help, we are offering free workshops for parents/carers in conjunction with the Southampton Psychology Service and Oasis Academy Mayfield.
Dates
Evening training session: Wednesday 8th February from 5:30 – 7:00pm @ Oasis Mayfield
Morning training session: Thursday 23rd February from 10:00 – 11:30 @ Oasis Sholing
Follow up discussion evening: Wednesday 26th April from 5:30 – 7:00 @ Oasis Mayfield
Follow up discussion morning: Thursday 4th May from 10:00 – 11:30 @ Oasis Sholing
To book, please email SHO-SENDCO@oasissholing.org to book your place for one of the training and one of the discussion sessions.
World Hearing Day is held on 3rd March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. At our school, many students have hearing impairments and we work closely with carers, and specialist advisers, to ensure that staff make adjustments for young people at school. If your child has developed hearing loss, or has an existing condition, please get in touch with us if you have any concerns you wish to discuss at: SHO-SENDCO@oasissholing.org
Southampton SENDIASS
We always strive to support our community, and parents/carers of young people with SEND sometimes need more than the help of school to navigate the processes that exist, especially if considering an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or appealing a Local Authority decision about an existing application. The Special Educational Needs & Disability Information Advice & Support Service (SENDIASS) in Southampton are there to help as advocates for you and your child, and to give support and advice.
More information can be found on their website.
Maths
Year 7
This half term Year 7 have been building on their understanding of shapes and transformations. They have been looking at angles in parallel lines and moving onto symmetry. Students have been looking further at finding rotational symmetry and seeing how this changes when different areas of shapes are shaded.
Year 7 Stars
Year 8
Year 8 have used their straight line knowledge to draw real life graphs, both speed, distance, time and conversion graphs. They have been finding the gradient of graphs and seeing how this relates to rates of change. They have been able to tell the story behind a distance/time graph and volume time graphs.
They have also been looking at ratio, how to split things into a given ratio and how to show this on a linear graph.
Year 8 Stars
Year 9
We have been looking at constructions and loci this term. Students have had to learn how to use their compasses to construct triangles accurately, find perpendicular bisectors and angle bisectors. They have then used this knowledge to find loci and solve real life design problems.
Once students were able to draw shapes they were finding the difference between similar and congruence shapes and describing these mathematically.
Year 9 Stars
Maths Homework Club
Need help with your homework? Maths Homework club is on every Wednesday after school in the Library.
Year 10
This half term Year 10 have revisited and developed their knowledge of algebra, factorising and expanding brackets for both linear and quadratic terms. They have been moving on to solving these as equations and representing the equations on a graph. Moving on, students have been forming their own expressions and equations, ensuring that they are able to find perimeters and areas of shapes given specific information.
When looking at graphs students have looked at the different shapes of different graphs, whether they are straight, or curved.
Year 11
Year 11 foundation have now finished the course and are now looking at skills checks and using mock feedback from pinpoint to identify areas for re- teaching. They have been given time to complete exam practice in lesson time.
Year 11 higher students are working through the final topics of the syllabus and have been drawing and sketching graphs, linear, quadratic, cubic and exponential. They have been learning some algebra to help them sketch graphs easily.
After the current set of Mocks all Year 11 students will be given a full break down of their strengths and weaknesses.
Sparx Homework
Most students are engaging well with their Sparx homework. If your child is struggling Sparx has videos that directly link to each questions to support students. If they continue to find it difficult they can speak to their class teacher or pop to Maths homework club on Wednesdays.
Maths Puzzles
Using the numbers from 1-4, complete the grid
The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares must combine, in any order, to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematic operation indicated (+,-,x,÷)
Use each number only once per row and once per column.
Cages with just one square should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.
A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.
Religious Studies
Year 8 have been exploring the concept of the natural world. We have been looking at some of the oldest tribes on earth. For example, the Aborigines in Australia and the Yanomami from the Amazon rainforest. We are considering their creation stories and how that affect’s the way they treat the natural environment. We have been comparing how we look after the natural world and have been exploring the importance of trying to live in a more sustainable way.
Our RS stars for Spring term 1, who have an amazing attitude to learning and produce exceptional work are:
Year 11: Ella–Lea Durham and Arshpreet Potiwal
Year 10: Iza Kurowska and Jada Hickman
Year 9: Louisa Adams and Emily Knight
Year 8: Willow Spencer and Gurpreet Singh
Year 7: Poppy Woodhouse and Lillie Wilson
Food
Year 7
To fit with Veganuary, our year 7’s have this term been learning about dietary requirements, focusing on vegetarian and vegan diets. They have learnt why people might become vegetarians or vegans, what foods they would avoid eating and what foods can be substituted for meat to provide plant-based protein.
Our students have produced a range of foods such as Quorn Bolognese, falafel and vegan brownies to sample a range of foods that would be suitable for people on a plant-based diet.
This terms Foodie Heroes are: Hugo Dziaba and Jade Morgan
Year 8
Protein is the focus for our Year 8’s this term. Students have learnt about the importance of protein in our diet, where we get protein from, and which groups of people need more protein in their diet to promote growth.
We have used protein in a variety of different forms this term both animal and plant-based to produce some excellent dishes, our year 8’s have produced vegetable stir fry, spaghetti Bolognese, bean chilli con carne and a curry using a Quorn chicken alternative.
This terms Foodie Heroes are: Petra Thompson and Layton Wardle
Year 9
Our Year 9’s have been developing a range of new skills this term. A challenge of maintaining hygiene and food safety standards whilst handling and shaping raw meats to produce several food items over the term.
We began with vegetarian bean burgers before moving onto products like beef kofta, meatballs and tomato sauce before finishing with sweet and sour chicken.
This terms Foodie Heroes are: Ella Rowe and Zach Harris
Year 10
Food safety was the focus for our Year 10 GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition students. They have revisited the basic food safety principles whilst learning new information about the causes and symptoms of various food poisoning bacteria.
Alongside this exciting learning they have produced some great dishes to help show their understanding. They have produced marinated chicken skewers, fish goujons and even made their own yoghurt using a starter culture.
This terms Foodie Heroes are: Lewis Toihoun and Quinn Crowshaw
Year 11
This term our focus in Year 11 has been the practical exams that have taken place at the end of January. Our Year 11 students showed some excellent skills and did themselves proud during these exams which challenged them to produce three dishes in three hours.
Some excellent food was produced which attracted several hungry visitors throughout the week hoping to be able to taste some of the food for themselves. With the practical elements of the course out of the way the final hurdle is finishing their portfolios and preparing for their exam in June.
This terms Foodie Heroes are: Nisha Rathore and Hayden Williams
Extra-Curricular Food
Extra-Curricular has expanded very quickly this term in the Food department. Our KS3 cookery club have been producing a range of healthy fun food products using a range of ingredients. Anyone who would like to join please see Mrs Hobbs the Food technician on a Thursday or Friday to enquire.
Our KS4 cookery club has now expanded to Year 9 and we have been producing a number of exciting dishes such as naan bread, Thai green curry and bagels. Any Year 9 or 10 students wishing to join this club should speak to Mr Ranger or Mrs Rolls soon as the spaces are filling quickly.
I am also pleased to announce that our three stars Julia, Millie and Phoebe took part in the local heat for the Rotary Club ‘Young Chef’ cookery competition with Phoebe and Millie progressing to the district heat at South Downs College. All three students surpassed my expectations and produced some excellent dishes, well done!
Computer Science
Year 7
Recently Year 7s have been building their knowledge of networks and how they work. Furthermore, they have started to develop their understanding of the internet, its power and some of the dangers associated with it.
Year 8
Year 8 started this half-term by developing their understanding and ability to use computational thinking. This has resulted in them now applying computational thinking to a murder mystery to solve it logically and algorithmically!
Year 9
Year 9 have been further developing their programming skills since January. This has included being introduced to a second programming language called python.
Year 10
In Year 10 students have built on their understanding of programming pre-Christmas. Subsequently learning to design and understand complex programs using structure diagrams and trace tables.
Year 11
Year 11 have moved into focused preparation for their GCSE exams now. This has involved both recapping key concepts and tricky topics. Lessons have placed major focus on key exam skills including lots of exam question practice.
Extra Curricular
In Computing & Robotics Club, students have continued to develop their scratch games. Other students have spent this half-term making 3D models on a piece of software called TinkerCAD. Students have then started to print them with our 3D printer, one example is shown in the photo. As you can see from the photo of our 3D printer the process takes a very long time…!
Our Pi programming competition entry continues to develop. Raul’s project on a sun following solar panel is now working, the video shows the panel moving in response to light intensity.
Any student wishing to join these clubs should speak to their Computer Science teacher for further information.
Science
Year 7
Students started the new year moving on from the fundamental concepts of the particle model, to studying the building blocks of life itself, cells, and their types, differences, and functions. Currently, students are focusing their studies on the genetic information contained within the nucleus of almost every cell, its role in controlling our characteristics and functions, and inheritance.
Year 8
Students began the term digging deeper into the particle model by looking at the structure of an atom and have used this model to explore and explain a wide variety of chemical reactions and phenomena; these concepts are fundamental for chemists to understand the world around us and for a wide range of applications.
Year 9
The new year began with a return to studying the fundamental concept of energy, and how it is master of anything that happens. From studying and performing calculations of some critical energy stores, students are progressing to evaluate efficiency of transfer and the generation of electricity, including the social, ethical, practical, and economic issues surrounding how we choose to do so specifically the difference between using renewable and non-renewable sources. Students finish this half term studying the wave model and how it transfers energy.
Year 10
This term students have developed their understanding of what matter is and how information and energy spread. Students started the term by looking at how energy is transferred through electromagnetic waves and look further at their practical everyday uses such as in a microwave to reheat their favourite snack, or in their phone so they can WhatsApp their friends! Next students learnt about the concept of radioactive decay. Students had conversations around what radioactive substances are used for and learnt about the Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986. If you want to learn more this short video gives an interesting overview of the disaster -
Year 11
Students have really impressed us in science this term, we have learnt more about what living things are made up of and what is magnetism. Students have also been actively engaging in their weekly intervention sessions and homework, putting them in the best position possible to do their best in the mock exams. We are also working towards building their confidence around how to answer exam questions and tips for keeping exam revision productive not overwhelming.
Students have studied the endocrine system and looked at the different hormones released when our body tries to maintain a stable internal environment. This has included understanding about how diabetes impacts people and how hormones control the menstrual cycle. This will allow us to explain how different methods of contraception work after half-term. Secondly students looked at magnetics and magnetic fields and how this knowledge was used to formulate the DC motor. You probably use DC motors everyday without even realising it and there might even be one currently working very hard at the back of your fridge and freezer! That’s the low humming noise you hear.
Science Capital
Lots of information has started to be sent out regarding science related trips that are occurring over the coming months. Please look out for exciting opportunities for all students to explore science outside of the science classroom. Trips include Marwell Zoo and Winchester Science centre!
A group of year 9 and 10 students have been exploring the science behind volcanoes and what it is like to learn at different universities. The students have been using chemistry to build up a picture of the inside of volcanoes. To help them achieve this they have been using analogue models of volcanoes (jelly and ketchup) to explore different volcanic landforms and erupting coke-mentos volcanoes to determine how pressure causes volcanoes to erupt and how unpredictable volcanoes are.
This term for Science club, students have tried their hand at Chemistry and Biology. After a return from Christmas, students were invited to swab the inside of their cheeks to extract their own DNA. Placed in a specific solution, students were then able to observe their cells directly under the microscope. The past few weeks have seen students exploring the school in search for the dirtiest regions, during a club session of mould culturing. You heard it from us first, CLEAN YOUR IPAD SCREENS! They are filthy! In our latest session students have taken to growing their own crystal gardens from a mixture of sodium silicate and variety of different metal salts.
Geography
Our vision is to explore a sense of place, embed skills, spark curiosity and encourage empathy.
This half term Year 7 geographers have been learning about volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Students have looked at real life examples and strategies to reduce destruction by tectonic hazards. After half term they will study weather and climate.
Year 7 Geography Shout Outs: Jamie Lane & Harriet Fairclough
Year 8 geographers have studied globalisation and superpowers this half term: in particular the USA and China. They have learnt about Trans National Corporations and the causes of globalisation. Next half term the focus of study is climate change.
Year 8 Geography Shout Outs: Layton Wardle & Petra Thompson
In Year 9 students have investigated the question ‘why are rainforests important?’. They have looked at the physical characteristics of a tropical rainforest and also the human causes of deforestation. Look out for the Year 9 BBC Earth experience visit letter.
Year 9 Geography Shout Outs: Christopher Mcnulty & Timothy Hole
In GCSE geography Year 10 students have focused this term on UK physical geography including Rivers. Students have learnt about processes, landforms and examples of UK rivers. A date for your diary is the Year 10 GCSE fieldtrips to Lyndhurst and Highcliffe which are taking place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th May.
Year 10 Geography Shout Outs: Lydia Court & Alfie Gateshill
Year 11 have completed their GCSE content and are now revising for their mock examinations. To support Year 11 students there is intervention every Friday night 2.40 – 3.40pm in HE1 and HE2. In addition there is half term revision on Wednesday 15th February 10 – 12.
Year 11 Geography Shout Outs: Jessica Drummond & Ben Cole
In addition the BTEC Travel and Tourism students are having a busy term. Year 10 have just started their first assignment and have a trip to Paultons Park soon. This includes having a talk on customer service and then a chance to experience the theme park. Year 11 students sat their real examination at the start of February.
History
The theme for this years Holocaust Memorial Day which took place on the 27th January was ‘Ordinary People’. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide. The aim to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
This half term students in Year 7, 8 and 9 have also come across some very extraordinary ‘ordinary people’. In 1095, Pope Urban II called to arms a Christian army to recapture Jerusalem. By 1097 they had reached Constantinople and by 1099 had managed to travel to Jerusalem and after a hard fought battle was successful in recapturing the city. Students learnt about the Crusaders religious devotion, the leadership of Bohemond of Taranto and Godfrey of Bouillon. Just when students thought that religion was central in the lives of those living in Latin Christendom they were surprised to learn how the Venetians raided and sacked the great city of Constantinople in 1204 and transported the famous bronze horses back home which are now situated in the Palace of St Marks.
My favourite story in Year 8 included the story of Jenny Geddes, a Scottish market-trader in Edinburgh who is alleged to have thrown a stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first public use of the Church of Scotland's 1637 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. By 1638, the Scottish nation was up in arms, ready for a religious war. Charles I had a problem and it wouldn’t be long until he had to recall parliament to help him sort out the crisis. It didn’t end well for the King.
Our central theme in Year 9 this half term has been looking at significance. First up, was the Jarrow Crusades in 1936. Lets be honest, who has heard of this event? When considering the significance of an event we encouraged students to consider to what extent the event resulted in change, how well remembered the event was and whether the event resonated with people. Although the 200 men who took part on the 30 day, 300 mile march from Jarrow to London did not achieve its main aim of creating jobs for the local of people it did raise the profile of social injustice in the 1930s and it does still resonate with people today. Students will now be applying these same skills when looking at our local unit on the significance of the Spitfire in our local area.
We would like to thank our hard working Year 10 and 11 students who are making steady progress towards their GCSE. Year 10 students have recently begun their second GCSE topic on Medicine Through Time. They have learnt how knowledge of medicine was basic during the Medieval period, with religion having a detrimental effect on medical discoveries.
We wish our Year 11 students luck in their upcoming mocks. Their History mock exam this time around focussing on both the reign of Elizabeth I and the American West.
History Stars
Year 7: Grace Barrett and Alistair Lac
Year 8: Sofie Priest and Archie Thorne
Year 9: Sam Rowlinson and Olivia Flower
Year 10: Heidi Barrett and Kiaran Shotter
Year 11: Evie Cox and Remi Texeira
Languages
Year 7: In French, this half term Year 7 have been looking at introducing themselves in detail as well as introducing other members of their family.
Our Languages stars this half term are: Amalie Ransley, Tom Stephens, Alleyah Little& Joe Chick
Year 8: This half term Year 8 have been recalling some of their knowledge from Year 7 when they studied colours and applying these to the topic of clothes. We have been very excited in Year 8 discovering how to form outstanding sentences using snazzy structures and expressing ourselves talking about what we would wear for different life events.
Our Languages stars this half term are: Emma Marshall, Gurpreet Singh, Ethan Barrett, Caleb Groom
Year 9:Through our cultural awareness topic linked with our current studies, our Year 9 have discovered what life as a student in French and Spanish speaking countries is like on a day-to-day basis compared to the one in Sholing, school rules and comparing school subjects studied. What a great eye opener on other cultures.
Our Languages stars this half term are: Sophie Lac, David Alabi, Jake Curtis & William Jones
Year 10: Students have studied the topic of social issues. They have discussed issues that affect their own communities as well as communities globally and begin to give more complex opinions on these issues in speaking and writing. Students have been encouraged to build a sense of global responsibility, through discussion of how they could help society themselves. They have also been exposed to societal issues in the French and Spanish speaking world, by reading texts and watching videos to learn about recent protests that have taken place in the world such as protests for women’s rights. Students have been encouraged to approach these complex issues with sensitivity and empathy.
Our French stars this half term are: Leo Shacklock, Layton Gilette, Jack Balwin & Guzal Abdurahmanova
Year 11:Our current Year 11 have been busy since Noël/Navidad with the topic of Global issues. They have been also busy preparing for their second full set of French Mocks (Listening, Reading, Writing and their Speaking).
Although finding it quite a challenge, our Year 11 have always loved SHINING through the use of a wide range of tenses, numerous grammatical points and WOW structures across various topics but have become quite involved in the topic of global issues (especially the geographers!).
Our French stars this half term are: Daniel Sousa & Mariama Barry
Credits:
Created with images by PiyawatNandeenoparit - "Book stack on the table in the library room and blurred space of bookshelf background" • fotoinfot - "soccer ball in goal net " • Nuthawut - "Flat lay or top view of black pen with calculator on vivid yellow background table with blank copy space, math, cost, tax or investment calculation" • franciscojrg - "Graphic representation of aboriginal art from Mexico." • nipaporn - "spaghetti pasta with tomato sauce." • 24Novembers - "internet of things." • tilialucida - "Tools for PCR amplification of DNA" • Belish - "Seismological device sheet - Seismometer" • Markus Mainka - "Good luck success successful test wish wishing note paper" • Fyle - "Lavender Provence" • jon_chica - "ornament tiles at plaza de españa in Seville , Spain"