Academy Life - Issue 20 by Colchester Academy

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Life.

Issue 20 | December 2021

Newsletter

Resilience - Excellence - Respect

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Issue 12 | October 2019 W e l c o m e m e s s a g e f r o m

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B e t t s

Latest Artwork Colchester Academy As a welcome back project, Ms Coburn invited all of our students to fold a paper crane with a wish or hope for the future contained within it. This comes from an old Japanese tradition where people fold 1,000 cranes to make their wishes and hopes come true. We didn’t quite make 1,000 but they do make such a positive splash of colour in our windows. Any student who made one will see their crane hanging up and hopefully remember the Newsletter positive wish for the future contained within it. Ms Coburn Team Leader Art & Technology

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Dear Parents and Carers It seems this term has gone so quickly with many things to celebrate and be thankful for across the Academy. Year 7 have settled in brilliantly, the transition to secondary education has gone so smoothly for them and it is lovely to see so many of them fully involved in lessons and extra-curricular activities. Year 11 have, again, outdone themselves with their attitude to their mock exams, focus on applying for post-16 places and a real determination to succeed. Many of them are telling us that they don’t want to leave when the time comes, but that is several months away and by then they will be more than ready to take their next exciting steps into their futures. Please enjoy the articles within this issue, showcasing a small example of the excellent opportunities available to our students. Please have a restful and safe break over the Christmas period and thank you again for the support, kind messages and thank you’s you regularly send to staff – it really does make a difference. Have a safe and restful Christmas break – see you all in 2022. Kind regards

More News

Artwork by Rose Bennett Year 8 Student

J B etts Mrs J Betts Principal

Artwork by Yara Hussain Year 9 Student

Culture - Character - Currency - Commitment

Meet the Staff

In this age of unrelenting information, 24-hour news, social media, and COVID-based restrictions on our lives, it’s no surprise that many of us have recently, at times, felt overwhelmed. I can only imagine how it must feel as a young person, trying to forge a path in the world. As a 30+ year old trainee Design Technology teacher I am forging a new path for myself, having worked in a completely different field for over 10 years. However, I’ve been welcomed by Colchester Academy’s students with open arms, and I’m excited to be taking our journeys together. By now, my students realise that I’ll do my utmost to help them navigate the landscape and ensure they can be the best they can be. And by “best”, I’m not referring exclusively to exam results. I chose to work with Colchester Academy because they understand that success isn’t measured solely on this; they value kindness, compassion, and empathy. I’m not prepared to accept that any student can’t “make it”. I’m enjoying helping students identify their strengths, to unlock their potential. In teaching Design Technology, I have been afforded the opportunity to teach students skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. My educational background is in Art & Design, but with Design Technology encompassing cooking, nutrition, catering, metals, plastics, woods, papers, and boards, I have almost as much to learn as my students! There is lots to take in, but as Albert Einstein once remarked: “You never fail until you stop trying.” In between teaching and looking after my very demanding 5 year old daughter, you’ll often find me plotting my family tree, knitting, painting and creating in the kitchen, with varying levels of success! Miss Taylor Design Technology Teacher

Student Speaking Competition On Thursday 12 November, 3 students from Colchester Academy represented our school in an ESU Speaking competition, where they were arguing for longer paternity leave. They were arguing against Ipswich School. These students were Aistis and Veronica from Year 9 and Louie from Year 10. They were absolutely brilliant, despite a few difficulties. They spoke for over 10 minutes regarding their argument and made some excellent points to support themselves. If they win their side of the debate, they will progress to Round 2 where they will compete again, but I will keep you all informed on the results! Please congratulate these students for being excellent and the other 18 students who were involved in the preparation of the speech. Miss Moore English Teacher

This term Year 7 students have had ‘The Bookbuzz Experience’. Bookbuzz is part of the BookTrust – a charity which aims to encourage students to read by providing them with their own books to keep. Here’s what some of our students had to say. Jasmine 7O2 Switch-Up To start our Bookbuzz journey we watched a video containing a review of each of the books.I chose the book SwitchUp about two girls who board the same flight to London. It’s the beginning of the craziest plan ever. Damiola 7H1 Animals Up Close Bookbuzz is a book company dedicated to getting books to Year 7 students for free. I think Bookbuzz is a fabulous charity as I was not a fan of reading. In class we watched a 24 minute film about the books and the Colchester Academy students have benefitted enormously from this organisation and the wonderful events they have to offer, explained the stories. and weauthors will continue to support our students through offering everything Make it Happen has to provide, to ensure our students have bright futures. Below are links and information areas for you to explore. Please sign up for any events you wish to, they Tristan Bad Man are all there to7L2 helpLittle support our community, particularly through what is a very challenging time. Bookbuzz has helped me a greatthese deal. events, Insteadplease of me do having pay fortoa contact us via general@colchesteracademy.org.uk. If you need any support in accessing not to hesitate book (reading is now one of my favourites) Bookbuzz put it in my hands for I could notstep thank We are free. with you every ofBookbuzz the way. enough for putting such a brilliant book in my collection. Mrs Ross Marleigh-Rose 7L2 City of Ghosts Assistant Principal and Raising Standards Lead I’ve always enjoyed mystery books so when I saw City of Ghosts I knew I

Careers Update Students in Years 9, 10 and we 11 had attending a careers fair, here in school, where 30 employers further education providers At the start of the term heldthe a privilege Careers of Festival, with a number of employers attending from aand range of industries, exhibited onthe Thursday 7th NHS, October, 2021.Teaching, The event Banking, was designed to allow students to seek information from the various employers and including Colleges, Police, Hairdressing, Armed Forces, Law to name just a few. All of KS4 colleges regarding organisations, the jobs they seek employ, the qualifications needed and the job satisfaction mightour be on represented theirtheir school wonderfully. Student andtoparent feedback was really positive forlevel an of event that reallythat showed offer, should they choose to peruse that pathway. students the bright futures they can have. We then went onto supporting them with their College applications in tutor time, with more employers coming into school conducting mock interviews; again, we had wonderful support from our local and It fantastic to be able to open our doors and create face to face careers event in school. The benefit of face to face conversations and national employers, whoa huge werebenefit all very students and their preparation for to the event. Students information gathering was to impressed our students.with Theour interactions and questioning they were able engage with, was priceless. understandably were were nervous before the interviews, butboth they walked out beaming with pride and confidence. Students and exhibitors very positive about the event and gained much from those interactions. All the employers whopreparation attended stated thenext students at and Colchester Academy were wonderful; they said they asked some very intuitive To support all this forthat their steps near future questions, were not afraid to ask challenging questions and sort as much information as they could, to help them make informed decisions challenges, we invited an organisation called PositivelyYou to teach about their futures. Students represented the school brilliantly and made us all very proud. our students some valuable study skills. The aim of the sessions was to stimulate a positive to studying to empower It was a privilege to create attitude and host such an event,and nextrevision, year we hope to make it even bigger! It was a proud moment to see the high level of students with effective study techniques and to raise and engagement in the activities. Well done to all our students, weself-belief hope the information you gathered will inspire you to aim high and seek to be the best that you can be. was aspirations. What amazing was the amount of facts they recalled about Muhammad Ali following the session, proving the mind Mrs Ross mapping technique really does work. Student feedback was really Assistant Principal positive and it is definitely a session we will do again. Mr Beezy, a well-known motivational speaker, then paid us a virtual visit about staying focused on goals and aspirations and working hard. Students responded well to the virtual sessions and gained some useful techniques to support them in the coming months and years. One full and busy term and throughout our students continued to work hard, attend period 6 sessions and show great resilience and motivation towards their school life and their goals. Well done to all our students here at Colchester Academy! Mrs Ross Assistant Principal

Realise your Potential with Make Happen

Bake Sale The Year 10 students in CoPE have been focusing on working with others this half term. The students have done lots of tasks and had lots of discussions about working as a team and what good team work looks like. One of the challenges asked of the students was to ‘work with others to help raise money for a good cause’. The students spent the last 6 weeks planning, organising and researching how they were going to run the event and which charity to raise money for. Sarah, Hannah and Alfie did this with minimal input from the teacher and they came up with all the ideas themselves. The Bake Sale was a huge success and we must also say thank you to some Year 7 and Year 11 students who baked some treats for the Bake Sale. The 3 students raised over £114 for BBC Children in Need. Well done. Miss Fosker Teacher of COPE

BIG AWARD Spotlight Event Colchester Academy can now proudly announce that we have been awarded the prestigious anti-bullying plaque from The BIG AWARD. A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show by at schools, our annual Spotlight competition. The BIG AWARD is given for excellence in bullying intervention. It is recognised services, groups and Local Authorities. students who have been Colchester Academy has worked, tirelessly, to meet the externally agreed criteria to be awarded this honour. Our school had to submit R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to an extensive portfolio of its work and polices for assessment. The Award is earned; evidenced and achieved over a 12-month period. before … w e h a v e b e e n d o i nshow g i t their a l l , atalent t C o land c h e dedication s t e rdepartments in front of a live The BIG AWARD team were particularly impressed Colchester Academy’s new Bullying Intervention Focus Group, audience from Years 7-9. In the past oura“Anti-Bullying performers undergoing rigorous A c with ad em y Day”, which runs fortnightly and is led by Mrs Silver. The programme consists a 10-person group, withbut twothis students from each year haveofsung to the audience, time we were selection process. They group. The group completes the following tasks,Lockdown every twohas weeks: treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, been long and tiring. Sitting in front of a screen, day have a range of duties to dancers, even some onstage magic! in day out, has been a burden on all ofand us, including students, fulfil including lunch 1. Each group will visit their own respective yearparents groups,and during registration. teams their forms that guardians, and anyThe other poorremind souls who has assisted induring Anti-Bullying Day students can report all bullying matters at lunchtime. The teams have their own designated rooms where bullying concerns can be ensuring students at CA have continued to be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a rigorous reported studies. audition process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting 2. Additionally, the groups remind their forms that However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that students can place anti-bullying forms in the five students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. any performances were stage-ready. This culminated in student voice boxes situated in the school. The progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. discreet forms allow the students to raise concerns learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our regarding all issues connected to bullying matters. selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from The group has already had lots of positive feedback ingenuity, dedication and creativity. Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior and clearly demonstrates the commitment shown by group Prefects. performance involves an element of risk, and our Colchester Academy’s staff to stop all acts of bulling in The path to these to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with our school community. The school obviously Further to this, the attendance appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience. understands that whilst the Award is a fantastic and before selected, they academy, have been providing achievement, it doesn’t mean that all the hard work is ‘live’ lessons for all learners. Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending now Colchester Academy will continue to havecompleted. completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in work with students and parents/carers to ensure that winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members. This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating during lockdown in a Mini Book Club – At Home reading Year 11, 79.3% in Year 10 and 79.5% in Year 7. Additionally, we have every student is reassured in the knowledge that (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick. The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the also seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. bullying is not accepted at our Academy. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with more lessons on a daily basis; again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head Students was an extremely difficult one to make. Nominated for a CILIP Carnegie Medal, it won the FCBG Children’s Book Award for Older Readers. excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion which our students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by the Sutton Trust. Mr Halliwell Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and when we finally came back to school we were able to use a large After much the above students were chosen to fill the appointments of Head Students. trying to work out! Assistant Principal We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the classroom for our discussions. Many measures thanks all our performers, We know that whatever have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye academy. Marzell. online, it doesn’t make up for the who quality of face toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special. The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave us some insight into her writing style lea

(lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut! Assistant Principal Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts 1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly District Cross Country: Northern Gateway crashed! Tuesday 9 November saw Oliver Bennett in Year 8 line up We were very proud have been partAhead of theof launch the first-ever National Teen Book Club. against the best of thetodistrict runners. Oliverof was 2500m of cross-country terrain. Mrs Hawkins As the sole representative of Colchester Academy, Oliver is Library Coordinator

Student Success Author Visit

also an avid club runner outside of school. A sterling effort in tricky conditions saw Oliver take a tumble during the race but return to finish in the top 40 students. An excellent effort and a great bench mark for next year. Oliver’s drive has led to an interest from a number of students and the plan is to build a strong athletics training group this summer term, with a view to taking a full team of runners next year. Mr Stronach Assistant Principal

Something else

Spotlight Competition A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on show at our annual Spotlight Competition. This was an opportunity for our young performers to show their talent and dedication in front of a live audience from Years 7-9. In the past our performers have sung to the audience, but this time we were treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, dancers, and even some onstage magic! Our students applied to get onstage through a rigorous audition process, before being shortlisted for the final. Once this list was decided, our students engaged in a frantic round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that any performances were stage-ready. This culminated in a final show in the Theatre on the afternoon of Friday 26 November. Throughout the process, our students showed real ingenuity, dedication and creativity. Any type of performance involves an element of risk, and our performers took those risks and were rewarded with rapturous applause from an excellent audience. Our judges had a very difficult time picking an eventual winner, finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament (both in Year 9) for their magic trick. The illusion itself was impressive enough, but this was coupled with excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in a confounding illusion which our students are still trying to work out! Many thanks all our performers, audience members and staff who made our Spotlight event so special. Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts

Realise your Potential with Make Happen

In October, selected members of staff completed the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) one-day training course. Staff on the Thisnow term Year 7Health students have had ‘The Experience’. Bookbuzz course are Mental Champions andBookbuzz have gained knowledge to become mental health advocates for students. The is part of the BookTrust – a charity which aims to encourage students to training ensures staff have an understanding of common mental health issues and have the ability to spot the signs of read by providing them with their own books to keep. Here’s what some of mental health illness. our students had to say. In October, selected members of staff completed the The training was delivered by Emotional Health Practitioner Jo Morton-Brown. Jo has a You Tube channel aimed at promoting Switch-Up Mental Jasmine Health7O2 First Aid (MHFA) one-day training course. positive mental health in young people. Jo posts videos weekly which offer guidance to young people on a variety of mental Staff on the course are now Mental Health Champions and health topics. Jo’s Flourish, canwatched be accessed here ttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFB1XwKcbymlIJCzyeo6eg To start ourchannel, Bookbuzz journey we a video containing a review of have gained knowledge to become mental health each of the books.I chose the book SwitchUp about two girls who board the advocates students. The ensures have samefor flight to London. It’straining the beginning of thestaff craziest planan ever. understanding of common mental health issues and have Mrs Wager Damiola 7H1 Animals Up Close Assistant Principal the ability to spot the signs of mental health illness.

Mental Health First Aid

Bookbuzz is a book company dedicated to getting books to Year 7 students The training delivered byis Emotional Health for free.was I think Bookbuzz a fabulous charity as I was not a fan of Practitioner Jo In Morton-Brown. has a YouTube channel reading. class we watchedJo a 24 minute film about the books and the authors explained the stories. aimed at promoting positive mental health in young people. Tristan 7L2 Little Bad Man Jo posts videos has weekly which offer guidance to me young Bookbuzz helped me a great deal. Instead of having to pay for a now one of my favourites) Bookbuzz put it in my hands for people book on a(reading varietyisof mental health topics. free. I could not thank Bookbuzz enough for putting such a brilliant book in my collection. Mrs Wager Marleigh-Rose 7L2 City of Ghosts Principal Assistant I’ve always enjoyed mystery books so when I saw City of Ghosts I knew I

Student Spotlight

In each issue, we pick the highlights from our student’s achievements on Twitter and share them here. Here are this term’s highlights.

Dates for your Diary Issue 12 | October 2019

Trips & Visits Colchester Academy

Sun 16 Feb

Year 11 Disneyland, Paris

Fri 17 Dec

Last day of Autumn Term

Wed 26 Feb

Year 9/10 History theatre

(1:30pm finish)

trip

Wed 5 Jan

Year 10 & Year 11 students

Wed 11 Mar

Year 10 Stratford Field Trip

return to school

Thu 19 Mar

Year 10 Walton Field Trip

Thu 6 Jan

Year 7 & Year 8 students

Tue 31 Mar

Year 10 Aspire GCSE STEM

return to school

Thu 6 Jan

Year 9 Virtual Parents’

day, Essex university Aenean eros lorem, pulvinar a magna in, Sat 9 May Ladies FA cup final, suscipit auctor purus. Suspendisse eget lectus finibus, porta est Wembley ac, faucibus risus. Sed vel stadium sem posuere justo euismod sodales. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam at mollis ex, eu gravida nisi. In finibus rhoncus nulla, a lobortis metus tempus sed. Nam a magna nulla. Integer eu euismod est. Praesent justo elit, laoreet luctus tempus at, viverra sed massa. In diam elit, hendrerit a Artwork by laoreet in, volutpat at mauris. Nam at mollis Mollie Beilby ex, eu gravida nisi. In finibus rhoncus nulla, a Year 10 Student lobortis metus tempus sed. Nam a magna.

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Trips & Visits Fri 7 Jan Year 9 students return to

Evening

Year 7 Residential July 2020 - students can collect information school letters from Student Reception. Cost £190 (monthly payments Thu 27 Jan Year 11 Reports issued accepted) Mon 14 Feb February Half Term Year 8/9/10 South of France Trip Summer Mon 21 Feb Non Pupil Day 2020 - £681 (monthly payments accepted) 7 spaces available. Students can collect information letters from student reception

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CultureResilience - Character - Excellence - Currency- Respect - Commitment

Academy Life - Issue 20

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FACULTY NEWS

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

RECENT NEWS

CLUB PROGRAMMES

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY