Newsletter 2

Appleton Academy Autumn newsletter 2

Featuring: o Our school library team o Trips and school visitors so far this term o Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition o Enrichment at Appleton o Positive choices day Y9

o Parent/carer support group o Alumnae appeal

Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.

Welcome Welcome to our second newsletter produced by the secondary team. Appleton has been its usual busy self with a wide array of trips, visits and activities taking place and students have been taking full advantage of our wider curriculum offer. In each newsletter we will share a flavour of what is happening in the academy, including insights into the fabulous work taking place in classrooms. We will introduce you to key members of the team and signpost you to services that can support you or your child.

In this issue, we will introduce you to our fabulous library staff who ensure that reading is at the heart of everything we do. You will read a little about our writer in residence, Nik Perring and our artist in residence, Chris Mould who are spending the year with us and inspiring our young people to get their creative juices flowing.

If you have things you would like to see feature in the newsletter, please let us know.

Mrs Garlick Head of Secondary

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Welcome to our Library!

My name is Mrs Parr and I’m the Library Manager. I’ve been in post for almost eleven years and during this time my role has evolved from responsibility for the day to day running of the library to leading on arts and creative projects to promote literacy across the Academy. I have worked in libraries for over twenty years and have developed strong relationships with a variety of authors and illustrators.

Mrs Parr- School library manager

During the last twelve months I have led on a new art project to develop a library mural reflecting our students’ reading journey throughout school. This work was undertaken with illustrator, Chris Mould who has agreed to become our Artist in Residence for this academic year. I look forward to working with Chris and our writer in residence, Nik Perring to develop art and writing across the curriculum.

This year has also seen a change to my working pattern in school. I am now in school three days per week and am assisted by Miss Berrow who works five days per week. Miss Berrow was formerly a lunchtime supervisor who was successful in her application to become Library Assistant following the completion of her Level 1 Teaching Assistant course in school.

Miss Berrow- School library assistant

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Introducing our writer in residence, Nik Perring Nik is an award winning author and screenwriter. He lectures creative writing to adults and young people and will be working across school this year. His residency will include facilitating cross curricular writing workshops , running our creative writing after school club and working in partnership with our artist in residence to create an exhibition of creativity at the end of the school year.

During half term one Nik helped Year 6 write responses to George Layton's The Fib, write some Beowulf inspired prose with Year 5 and create poems for National Poetry Day.

Chris Mould- our artist in residence Chris Mould is our artist in residence for this academic year. Chris is an artist, illustrator and writer. His studio is based at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax. Chris will also work with both primary and secondary students to explore creative development and apply its use to other subjects within the school curriculum. Chris will also facilitate a half termly Sketchbook Club where students and staff can take tips from Chris via a series of doodleish prompts.

Chris has created 1950s time capsules with Year 6, delivered lectures for our Year 11 Art and Product Design students and facilitated two very popular Sketchbook Clubs.

If you have any questions about our writer and artist residencies, please contact Mrs Parr.

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OPEN EVENING

Appleton opened its doors to the parents of Y6 students on 12th October for an evening showcasing the school, subjects and staff ahead of making their secondary school choices..

By Mr Halston

The atmosphere was buzzing around the academy, with all departments running activities to welcome our future students, while providing useful information to them and their families about life in secondary. This was in conjunction with a main address by the Executive Head and Head of Secondary in the auditorium.

The visitors were very complimentary of how welcome we made them all feel and how their children now felt confident and excited to join our secondary next year.

Product design paper aeroplane challenge

Our staff were aided by over 150 secondary students, who gave up their time to represent their school and did so marvellously!

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Duke of Edinburgh ‘Duke of Edinburgh is a life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.’

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and university and job applications.

During the October half term 21 Year 10 students took part in Silver Duke of Edinburgh training expedition.

Day 1 - they walked from Barden Bridge in the Yorkshire Dales to cam at Ghyll House farm just under Addingham Moor.

Day 2 - they walked up Addingham Moor and over Ilkley Moor and across and down Burley Moor to camp at Sconce Lane Campsite.

Day 3 - after a short walk on Baildon Moor they packed up and came home.

By Mrs Wilbor.

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Enrichment opportunities at Appleton

Our enrichment timetable is well underway. Each half term offer a wide variety of activities that students can take part in after school. Clubs are varied and can be clubs that promote physical activity or ones that inspire our young people to become artists, chefs, actors, musicians or singers. These clubs have been well attended so far but we always welcome new faces!

Any queries regarding extra-curricular activities please speak to Mrs Wilbor.

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Last term the Academy played host to the Wise Owl Birds of Prey Rescue Team.

The visit enhanced learning for Early Years and their Owl Babies topic. All primary children had the chance to see the birds. Year 7 students with good attendance and behaviour were also nominated to see the birds and watch them fly over their heads.

By Mrs Parr.

On the 16th October 160 Year 9 students were given the opportunity to learn the crucial lifesaving skill of CPR. This was the 10th anniversary of Restart a Heart Day. The CPR session was delivered by members of the NHS who kindly volunteered to come into school, to pass on these key skills which could help save a life. Approximately 80% of out of hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home so by learning CPR, Year 9 gained skills that could save the life of a family member or friend. The Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Adeeba Malik, visited the school to watch the students in action. It was a brilliant day and we are grateful to the NHS for arranging this experience for our school and many others across the country. By Mr Kerrigan.

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By Mr Hirst On Tuesday the 7th November we hosted the positive choices programme for Year 9, which was delivered by the Leeds United foundation. It was a 1-day event that offered one hour interactive, discussion-based workshops, on five different topics that are pertinent to today's young people. The purpose is to enable young people to make better choices about their lives and futures.

Working with key partners such as West Yorkshire Police, our lived experienced Guest Speakers tell their stories of how negative choices have impacted their lives and the consequences that this has brought to themselves, their families, and their communities.

Through lived experience stories, the educational awareness raising sessions focus on key themes through involvement in gangs, knife crime, county lines, violence, negative relationships, and child criminal exploitation, as well as hearing how a young person fell victim to such violence and was murdered as a consequence.

Impact / Outcome The intended outcomes of the day were that; Students will be able to demonstrate more positive behaviours and attitudes having been engaged with the various workshops and discussions with the Guest Speaker.

Students will have greater understanding of the consequences and impact of their choices on themselves, their families, and their communities.

Students contribute to stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities to keep themselves and others safe by making better informed choices.

Students feel inspired and engaged to make better choices during School to support themselves and their peers.

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Form Time Reading As part of our commitment to the importance of reading, all students in Y7 to Y10 read a class novel during form time.

Year 7 When The Sky Falls It's 1941 during the Second World War. While everyone else seems to be evacuated to the countryside, 12-year-old Joseph is sent from rural Yorkshire to stay with his gran's friend, Mrs F, in the city. She's a gruff, unfriendly woman and he's an angry boy who kicks out at everything and feels totally abandoned.

Year 8 Terror Kid Rico is honest, hardworking and very angry. His Roma background marks him out as a suspect and makes it hard not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Acutely socially and politically aware, Rico wants to make a difference, to put right some of the injustices he sees to make someone listen.

Year 9 Long Way Down Fifteen-year-old Will's big brother has been shot and killed. According to the rules that Will has been taught, it is now his job to kill the person responsible. He easily finds his brother's gun and gets on the elevator to head down from his eigth-floor apartment. But it's a long way down to the ground floor.

Year 10 The Hate U Give Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer.

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Year 11 Bradford College Visit

By Mrs Hayward: As part of our careers programme, on Friday 20th October, more than 125 year 11 students visited Bradford College for an immersive subject taster day. Students chose from a wide range of subjects to explore, including construction and engineering, music, fashion, business, sport, hairdressing, uniformed services and many more.

The students took part in enrichment activities to gain a holistic overview of life at college.

Year 11 represented the academy incredibly well, with fantastic feedback from Bradford College about our inquisitive and ambitious young people.

The visit was hugely beneficial and came at the perfect time as year 11 are currently planning their applications for their post-16 destinations of choice.

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Art at Appleton Each newsletter we will feature amazing artwork created by our students. In this issue it’s the turn of our Year 10 students, who have been doing a project around Food.

This term, Year 10 have been focusing on an Art project based on the theme of food.

Here is a selection of their beautiful work.

1. Emma 2. Toby 3. Eliza 4. Emma 5. Molly 6. Araiya 7. Teagan 8. Ava 9. Toby

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Student and parent support In each newsletter we will have a focus on a service or services that can support our students and/or their parents. These services may be something we offer through the school or something that an external provider can deliver. If you have any questions about these services, please contact the school.

The NHS mental health team are offering an online parent support group where parents can talk about worries they may have. The theme is different each month and is aimed at supporting parents to navigate difficult situations involving their children. The next group theme is supporting your child: anger and frustration.

Tootoot is an online tool and an app made specifically for students. It is a safe and private place to talk and share anything that is worrying young people.

It is confidential and their identity is not revealed unless we are concerned for their safety and then only senior staff can reveal their identity.

https://tootoot.co.uk/

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Looking to the future: Alumnae appeal At Appleton Academy we highly value our connections with former students. We like to celebrate their achievements and experiences with students, staff and the local community.

We would love to hear from former students and hope to be able to work with them, in the capacity of volunteer, mentor and/or inspirational speakers. If you are a former student and would like to be contacted about the possibility of working with us, please complete the form on the link below or alternatively contact info@appletonacademy.co.uk and state alumnae in the subject. https://forms.office.com/e/uxFvJNr54E

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