Dates for your diary
- Monday 13/03/2023 - Yr7 Lincoln University visit
- Friday 17/03/2023 - Yr10 Stamford College visit
- Thursday 23/03/2023 - Yr9 Geography trip to Boston
- Thursday 30/03/2023 - Easter Showcase
- Saturday 22/04/2023 - SUMO - free course for parents, grandparents, carers and any adult supporting or working with children (see section below)
More calendar dates can be found on the school website here
Senior Leadership Team Update
A hightlight of the week at KEVI was, without doubt, the performances from our students who attended the DRET Secondary Music Festival which was held at the Albert Hall in Nottingham on Thursday. In total over 500 students from our 11 secondary academies attended. Every single one of our students should be extremely proud of their ambition and courage which were both needed to perform on such a stage. It is also worth remembering that behind a successful performance are years of practice which takes such resilience. We are proud of all the students who represented us but we’d like to particularly highlight:
- Brooke, who performed a composition that was chosen as one of the ten winners from over one hundred entries in the Berkley Composing Competition that was open to GCSE and A Level students.
- Alfie, who was praised by staff from other schools for being kind, helpful and supportive to everyone.
Year 11 and Year 13 students have now finished their final mocks and we’d like to recognise their excellent effort during this period. There will be no slowing down and we enter the crucial final weeks before the real examinations.
An important part of our week at KEVI was our PSHCE sessions. Students spent an extra 50 minutes with form tutors looking at important topics such as self harm and sexual harassment.
Finally, we’d just like to say thank you to our Year 9 families who attended the Options Evening on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see so many of you and hope you are now fully prepared to support your children through the decision-making ahead. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Head of House if you require any further support.
Mrs S Jones - Executive Principal
Mr M Wilkinson - Acting Head of School
Stop, Understand and Move On (SUMO) – A course for adults to help support children
We are excited to announce that, after Easter, we will be hosting a free adult course at KEVI aimed at providing the necessary tools to help children develop resilience and embrace their wellbeing. The course will be delivered by two experts in their field, Ed and Sarah Scrase-Hollamby. They have a wealth of experience in working with families and their course follows the principles of bestselling author Paul McGee in his book SUMO.
Children do not always have the knowledge and experience to deal with challenges in life that involve emotions, self-worth, resilience and confidence. This course is open to parents, carers, grandparents, and any other adults who support or work with children in some way. It will explore and share new ways to help children (and adults) navigate through life.
The course will take place at KEVI on Saturday 22 April from 10:00am to 4:00pm. It is funded by Lincolnshire County Council which means that it is completely free to attend, and there is no limit to the number of people who can come along. All we ask is that you let us know in advance that you wish to attend. You can do this by emailing Mr Riley (priley@kingedwardacademy.co.uk) with the subject “SUMO” and include in the body of the email how many places you would like to book.
Here is a summary of the four sessions that will be covered during the day and the intended outcomes of each:
Me, you and the big world out there.
In this session we will explore the meaning of wellbeing. For us and our family what does this look like? How can we be in control of this and how can we help our children be in control of this for themselves too? We will look at the importance of learning to press ‘pause’ to self-regulate, think and make good choices.
Shall we think about that?
We think a lot. We spend almost all of our time thinking, however, is all of that thinking healthy and helpful or can it sometimes be unhealthy and unhelpful? In this session we will be learning how to tell the difference between the two. We will understand how our thinking is strongly linked to our emotions and actions. We will explore how our brain works for us but can also work against us.
Let’s Flip it and it is ok not to be ok
Following on from all the thinking we have done in the last session, this session is full of simple and practical tips and tools to help use when “faulty thinking” creeps in to help us to have healthy and helpful thinking patterns rather than unhelpful and unhealthy. We will also be discussing what we need to do when it all gets too much and how this time can provide us with the valuable opportunity to make choices about how we best move on.
I can’t, I won’t, I don’t
Have you ever felt like you were speaking a different language to other people? Have you ever felt frustrated that you are not heard or really listened to? This session investigates the idea of perspectives and how these can affect how we respond and react to one another. This final session is also about looking ahead, exploring why we put things off and how we can find ways to overcome those barriers especially when we believe in the power of yet!
Values
Ambition
“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings”
This quotation is one which is displayed on the main corridor at KEVI. This week we have given much attention to the Year 9 options process and it is, therefore, a pertinent time to highlight this quotation and what it means to us.
At KEVI we do not believe that intelligence is fixed. We believe that through repeated practice everybody has the ability and potential to improve their knowledge and skill at anything. For that reason we focus so much attention on self-quizzing and retrieval practice. The evidence shows us that these things will help everyone to grow a wider body of knowledge and, therefore, be more intelligent. This aspiration for everyone is evidence of our ambition for all. We aim to leave no student behind in this mission.
However, increasing intelligence is not our only goal. We are also on a mission to ensure every single one of our students leaves us able to make a meaningful choice about their future. We want choice, not chance, to guide everyone’s destiny.
For everyone to have genuine choice about their future it means everyone must be aware of all the options available to them and have the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be able to access whatever it is they want to do in life. We are excitedly planning university visits and continuing to improve our careers provision so that every student can see all of the options available on the horizon.
Why we do what we do -Academy Rationale
Teaching and Learning
At KEVI we use a lot of evidence-based research to inform our planning and the way we deliver lessons. An educationalist called Barak Rosenshine has ten principles he recommends for effective teaching. We use his work to guide our delivery in lessons.
Throughout the rest of the year, we will explain the rationale behind each of the principles and how we use them in our lessons.
Principle 4 - Provide Models
Providing a way for students to make connections and links within their learning not only enhances their memory recall, but also allows them to understand new information quickly. We do this by providing worked examples, demonstrating how to solve a problem, and thinking aloud. This are all modelling strategies that our teachers and TAs use to aid student learning. This allows students to focus on the specific task at hand, reducing the overall demand on their cognitive load.
House News
Bullseye Quiz
This week KEVI hosted its first Bullseye Quiz, it's first House quiz. Each House had a team of five students who competed in some knockout rounds. There was an amazing performance from Minerva and Apollo, and they battled it out right until the last question. Apollo pulled it out of the bag after Minerva got the incorrect answer.
Well done to all the students who took part. Apollo students were on fire and managed to win tickets for their House and a bonus card for each forms' Housopoly board.
Upcoming events
The photography competition is still underway. You must capture spring and email the picture to your house champions before the 25th March. We really encourage parent, governor and staff entries.
House Rugby is coming up soon (20th March). If you would like to take part please tell your form captain.
Miss C Eyre - Games Master
Year 9 Update
As you know by the end of the month Year 9 students will have chosen their options. We have included a list of the important dates in this process:
- 03/03/2023 - Key Stage 4 options book sent out.
- 07/03/2023 - Options evening in school, 6.00-8.00pm
- 09/03/2023 - Five minute meetings with each Year 9 student and a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Heads of House or House Champions
- 21/03/2023 and 22/03/2023 - Online survey issued via MCAS to select option choices at home.
- 23/03/2023 - Students not making a choice at home will complete the form during tutor time.
Year 11 Update
Each student should have a revision timetable and should be completing two hours' independent revision per day. Please remember we have a programme of Period 6 after school lessons to support Year 11 students to prepare for their final examinations.
Saturday School
Here is the link for this week's Saturday School if you haven’t managed to sign up yet. English Language is the topic this week.
The schedule for the rest of this term is below:
- 18/03/2023 - Religious Studies, French DT and Maths
- 25/03/2023 - English Language and Maths
- 01/04/2023 - History, Religious Studies and DT
Easter School
We are delighted to be offering additional sessions during the Easter break as noted in the schedule below:
Look out for a letter coming home next week with further details including transport arrangements.
Contacting School
We encourage parental engagement with school and welcome your feedback and constructive comments. As you will appreciate staff are very busy with students and lessons and in order for them to gather any necessary background information to deal with your enquiry effectively we operate a 48-hour Parental Response policy.
Just a reminder that if you contact the Academy asking for a member of staff to make contact with you, please note we ask staff to make that contact within a 48-hour window.
Sixth Form Update
Applying for University Funding
This week our Year 13 students have been receiving emails and links that enable them to apply for the funding for their university courses next year.
There are two loans they can apply for as new full-time students from Student Finance England:
- Tuition Fee Loans to cover the full cost of the fees charged by their university or college; and
- Maintenance Loans to help with living costs, such as rent and bills
Tuition Fee Loan
Each university or college sets tuition fees, and the loan is paid directly to them so students never see this money. Loans for a full-time student can be up to £9,250 and if they are studying an accelerated degree course, they could get up to £11,100.
Maintenance Loan for living costs
To apply for this loan students, have to give details of their household income and their course start date to apply for the full maintenance loan. They will need to provide their household income for tax year 2021 to 2022 if they are applying for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Maintenance loans are awarded on a sliding scale.
If a student is under 25 and financially depend on at least one parent your household income includes:
- Parents’ income, if a student lives with them or depends on them financially.
- The combined income of one of the parents and their partner, if they live with them or depend on them financially.
- Loans are paid directly into the student's bank account at the start of each term. Students living with parents can claim up to £8 400 per year and if they live away from their parents, they can claim up to £9 978.
Other financial support available:
Student Grants – these are available for special circumstances from the government for specific reasons, such as child care, disabilities or if you are training to be a teacher.
Scholarships and Bursaries – are offered by the universities, companies, charities and professional associations for a wide range of reasons.
Mrs P Prince - Head of Sixth Form
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 Years 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 this 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 for last week was 93.1% which is a huge improvement on the previous week!
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House Attendance
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 756704 or tkwee@kingedwardacademy.co.uk to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.
Mrs T Kwee Attendance Manager
Table Talk
We have recently had a rise in concerns around the use of vapes by students both in and out of school. We have also been contacted by the Police with a concern they also share. The Police have had at least three reported incidents we know of now where children in a Lincolnshire town centre have been given a vape, smoked it, and then fallen unwell and collapsed. All of those children have, fortunately, made a subsequent recovery.
Hospital treatment has however been required in some cases, with medical professionals stating the symptoms displayed suggest the possible inhalation of a substance such as cannabis. There is no suggestion that those children involved have voluntarily inhaled a cannabis-based substance which leaves the police making assumptions as to how these incidents have occurred. One such conclusion they are forced to consider is the potential of these incidents being the result of a very dangerous and misguided “prank”.
We have entered an age where our children now are far more likely to vape than smoke. Some may argue this is healthier, but it comes with significant negative impacts. Vapes afford children the opportunity to ingest nicotine much more secretly than they can with a lit cigarette with a more limited risk of being detected. The frequency and volume of nicotine they can take in, especially with some vapes and liquids being of very high nicotine content, can lead to significant nicotine addiction and dependence much more swiftly.Children under 18 should not be able to purchase them, but the volume we as a school and the Police are finding among young teenagers, especially cheap disposable vapes, is high.
Given the incidents of children collapsing I am sure I do not need to tell you of the dangers if your children accept, borrow or purchase vapes from other pupils, friends or associates. I must ask you please to have frank conversations with your children about both the dangers of vaping and nicotine addiction, but also to press home the message that trusting someone willing to give or sell you a vape on the street is unwise and fraught with risk. We are aware of the incorrect use of vapes to vape cannabis oils, THC and synthetic highs such as spice. One highly concentrated lung full from a vape for those unused to such substances can render them very unwell indeed, very quickly.
So far these have been isolated incidents and not in Spilsby or Skegness and my hope is that by having conversations with our children and being alert, we can ensure no instances of this put our children in danger. I would ask if out of those conversations your child discloses any information that they have been available locally, to please get in touch with us and pass this on so we may seek to take action.
Mr A Carrington - Vice Principal
Seafood Chef of the Year Junior Competition
The Grimsby Institute is calling for all budding chefs in Years 9 or 10 to show their skills by producing a short video of them preparing a seafood-based meal for two which costs less than £7.50 per person.
The closing date is 28th April 2023 with the finals taking place on 19th May 2023.
Gino's Update
Price List – March 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
The use of vapes and e cigarettes is growing across the uk with teenagers. This is the same at KEVI. There are many risks attached to vaping that you may not be aware of:
- Most e-cigarettes (vapes) contain nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products.
- A CDC study found that 99% of the e-cigarettes sold in assessed venues in the United States contained nicotine
- Some vape product labels do not disclose that they contain nicotine, and some vape liquids marketed as containing 0% nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.
- Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25.
- Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control
- Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.
- Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs
What Are the Other Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults?
Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes. Some of the ingredients in e-cigarette aerosol could also be harmful to the lungs in the long-term. For example, some e-cigarette flavorings may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the gut can process more substances than the lungs.
Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused some fires and explosions, a few of which have resulted in serious injuries.
Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes. Nationally, approximately 50% of calls to poison control centers for e-cigarettes are for kids 5 years of age or younger.
What is in E-cigarette Aerosol?
E-cigarette aerosol is NOT harmless “water vapor.”
The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:
- Nicotine
- Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
- Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
- Volatile organic compounds
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
The aerosol that users inhale and exhale from e-cigarettes can expose both themselves and bystanders to harmful substances.
It is difficult for consumers to know what e-cigarette products contain. For example, some e-cigarettes marketed as containing zero percent nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.
Word of the Week
Euphoria
Euphoria: abstract noun – a feeling of intense excitement or happiness.
Word origin: eu (Greek) well + pherein (Greek) to bear or to carry.
The captain felt euphoria when the team won. A sense of euphoria filled her when she met up with her best friend. The audience had a feeling of euphoria when the concert reached its peak.
Euphoric – adjective: feeling euphoria.
He felt euphoric when he found out his brilliant test results. The effect of the play’s success on the actors was euphoric.
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 13th March 2023 - we will be chanting our 5 times table.
Mrs H Johnson - Head of Maths
Accelerated Reader
Many more students are stepping up to meet our ambitious target for every student in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 to have taken a reading quiz on a book they have read by the end of term. Please encourage your child to meet their reading target each week and to keep reading at home as well as in school.
The opening hours of the Library are now back to normal apart from Monday 13th March when it will be closed all day. Usual opening times are 8:30am every morning, breaktime and lunchtime.
A particular well done to all students scoring 100% on their Accelerated Book quizzes this week. Congratulations to: Shanel and Olly in Year 7, Ryland, Brooke, Kaiden and Oliver in Year 8 and Saxon in Year 9 for perfect 100% scores this week. If your child has not yet taken a quiz on a book they have read recently, please encourage them to do so. Book quizzes are completed during tutor time.
KEVI library books are part of the 180,000 books which have Accelerated Reader quizzes linked to them. 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.
KEVI 20 WC 13th March: Period 3
Ms K Davis - Head of English Department
Credits:
Created with images by Jamrooferpix - "Kalender closeup" • Graphicroyalty - "Woman hugging her depressed friend at home, closeup. Young girl supporting her crying girlfriend. Friendship consoling and care, copy space" • dragonstock - "Concept of decision making" • zinkevych - "Smiling teacher meticulously writing on the whiteboard" • Ezume Images - "Businessmen Path To Success" • olly - "Technological mind" • olegkruglyak3 - "Vintage orange phone" • Claudio Divizia - "1 pound coin, United Kingdom isolated over white" • ponsulak - "Film Slate, close up image of film production crew holding Film Slate on set" • LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - "top view of food composition with fall harvest with empty plate in middle isolated on white" • Prostock-studio - "Super excited afro couple leaping at studio" • Emre Akkoyun - "Rummikub tiles on yellow background. Colorful wallpaper. A board game widespread in Turkey." • david_franklin - "Small row line of books library college school bookshelf isolated on white background photo"