INA Secondary Newsletter
15 April 2016
Notice of Fundraising Events The Events Team are co-ordinating the following events to help raise money for the school production. Please help support the production!
Penalty Shoot Out Competition! Challenge the PE Teachers to a Penalty Shoot Out! 50p for 3 shots. Prizes for a hat trick! Date: Friday 6th May When: 4.30-5.30pm Where: MUGA Tickets on sale soon….
Cake Sale All cakes 50p Date: Tuesday 10th May When: Break time Where: Dining Hall
Non Uniform Day Theme to be decided – watch this space! £1 per student Date: Friday 1st July
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Dear Parents and Carers elcome back after the Easter break. I hope that you all enjoyed the holiday.
We have welcomed back Ms Davies, Head of MFL, this week. She took a sabbatical to teach in an International School in Kuala Lumpur for two terms; it is great to have her return to INA! We also welcomed Mr Ayerh, Pastoral Leader for Year 9, who joins us from Seven Kings High School. He is settling in very quickly and getting to know his year group. There is a lot to read in the first newsletter of the term. Do make a note of the key dates for the term as we’d love to see you are the events that we are planning for… With best wishes,
RP
achel Macfarlane, rincipal
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National Theatre Trip Suicide, a modern-day comedy directed by Suhayla El-Bushra. The play follows the life of a down- andout young man named Sam who loses his job and is convinced to take his own life. From corrupt local politicians to social media-savvy kids, everyone wanted a piece of Sam’s demise! We made the trip to the National Theatre by coach and arrived to a beautiful sunset on the South Bank where Ms Rayner was nearly mauled by some malevolent pigeons. We collected our tickets and made our way into the auditorium. There was a sense of excitement as nobody really knew what to expect! The play was fantastic and incredibly enlightening for the students who all watched with critical eyes. It was a great opportunity for the GCSE cohort to see what can be done with a versatile stage, creative use of technology and a big budget. The students will reflect on what they saw in coming lessons and their experience will no doubt aid their understanding and application of GCSE Drama. “Miss, that was so sick” Donté Da Costa
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his week, students at INA began rehearsals for our whole school production ‘Zero To Hero’ which will be performed on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th July 2016. Our show will be an Isaac Newton Academy re-telling of the story of Greek hero, Hercules. On Monday, the show band met for the first time and started to learn some of the music to accompany the songs. Mr Fowler has been busy over the holidays, writing and arranging music for the band to learn. This enrichment activity gives students a chance to experience what it might be like to work as part of a professional band accompanying theatrical or televised performances. The singers, dancers and actors also met together on Monday where the story of the play was explained to the students, and almost all of the speaking parts were given out. Ms Brett and Ms Gallagher will be working with the dance team every Wednesday, with some of our students taking the lead in choreographing the dance numbers. The singers and actors will be meeting every Monday and Wednesday with Ms Morten, Ms Hope, Ms Field and Ms Rayner to rehearse the music and all of the scenes. The Set Design team will be meeting with Ms Carragher, Mr Vaghela, Ms Curley and Ms Jalil on Mondays, to design and build our stage set and props. The Events Team are also meeting with Ms Webb and Ms Davies on Mondays in order to plan fundraising activities, organise publicity and design the programme for the show. On Wednesdays, Ms Hinds and Ms Chamberlain will be meeting with our costume design team to design and make costumes all every single one of our very large cast which presents a very exciting challenge. As usual, we want as many people as possible to be involved in the production in some way, so if you are not already involved, please make sure you come down to watch the final performances in July!
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Saturday Stretch: Biology
n Saturday 19th of March, students from O Years 8 and 10 met together to participate in this month’s Saturday Stretch class. The sessions
focus was Biology and was led by Joe Mattocks, a Biology undergraduate from Southampton University. Helpfully, Joe has written a few words outlining his educational journey thus far and also given us a few words of wisdom: “I decided to study biology as I am very interested in how science can be applied to help solve the world’s problems. After taking my GCSEs I stayed on at school into sixth form and studied the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, a qualification equivalent to A-levels. My subjects included: English, Music, Biology, History, French and Maths.' When choosing a subject, I wanted one that I enjoyed and which had the potential to lead on to a wide range of job opportunities. When choosing a particular University, I think it is important to attend an open day to see if you can imagine yourself studying and living there. Finally, it can be quite difficult to choose options in school and college. If you are not sure what you want to do after leaving school, it could be a good idea to take facilitating subjects that keep your options open.” The first activity was a helpful one; we were given some ‘university jargon’ and had to match the vocabulary with the correct definition. This really aided the student’s understanding of some of the specialist language associated with going to university.
It was then time to brush up on the presentation skills as each group were invited to exhibit and explain the adaptations they had given their own plant. This was a very enlightening experience as each group had created something wholly different from the last. The designs created were dynamic and imaginative and really showed that the students had put in both time and effort. Joe then talked to us about university life and gave us an insight into what a typical day at university might look like. The students asked some probing questions about the process of application to a university and Joe kindly detailed the different routes you can take to get to university. The model below really helped the students visualise the process. After a useful discussion about conditional and unconditional offers from universities, Joe shared some of the career paths you could pursue after studying Biology, to include:
• Teacher • Government advisor • Consultant • Agriculture • Research • Medicine • Conservation and the environment The students then got an opportunity to apply their • Industry understanding and were challenged to design the • Journalism ‘perfect plant’. They reasoned within their teams to • Pharmacy find and create adaptations that would protect the plant from both natural and man-made threats. All in all it was an enjoyable and enlightening It was great to hear the students challenging session that taught the students a lot about both each other’s ideas and working so collaboratively Biology and university life. towards their projects. We then talked about different plants and how they adapt to suit their environment. The students came up with some insightful examples of adaptation and were shown some rather extreme models on the interactive whiteboard.
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Les Trois Mousquetaires
On Wednesday 13th April, Freshwater Theatre Productions visited INA to put on a version of Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers). The show covered the introductory chapter of Alexander Dumas’ famous novel and introduced every student at INA to 17th century Paris and D’Artagnan’s quest to become the fourth Musketeer. Students played the roles of the King Louis XIII, The Cardinal, D’Artagnan’s father, his trusty horse, Monsieur Détreville (the head of the Musketeers), the cardinal’s guards and the three musketeers themselves – Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Audience participation was essential in making the performance a success and our INA students did an excellent job of providing the sound effects, rapping, singing and being excellent Parisians supporting D’Artagnan on his quest -‐ every student speaking French throughout the performance.
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Summer term all through menu 2016
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Music Notice for all year 9 parents An important letter for the return of year 9 big band instruments is going out on Thursday (14th April). Save the date: Tuesday 26th April - all year 9 students (except for drummers) need to bring in their big band instruments to be checked and returned at the following times: • • • •
IS 1:50 - 2:50 (during lessons) CA 2:50 - 3:30 (9C & 9A students will have to stay behind at the end of school) EN 3:30 - 4:00 (9E & 9N students will have to come back to school with their instruments) WT 4:00 - 4:30 (9W & 9T students will have to come back to school with their instruments)
Save the date: Tuesday 3rd May - all year 9 drummers need to have brought in their drum kits by this date • On 3rd May all Year 9 drummers will come to KS3 hall. • GC, WM, SF & GHo (led by WM) will supervise students as they assemble and disassemble their drum kits from 2:50 - 4:30 Details on how to purchase your child's big band instrument are included in the letter. Thank you for your support with this. Mr. G Coughlin Head of Music Isaac Newton Academy INA Newsletter 11
PE AT ISAAC NEWTON ACAD News & Results Girls Can!
Cricket Trials Cricket fixtures are fast approaching this term. The P.E department will be holding cricket trials at some point over the next two weeks in preparation for the fixtures.
This will run every Tuesday at the start of lunch and we will have special guest teachers from around the school each week to help raise awareness also acting as positive role models. We will focus on a different sport each week. The
Please listen out for notices in registers that will notify you when each year group’s trials are.
Fixtures coming up….. Wednesday 20th May- Year 7 & 9
initiative is aimed at having fun and
Lyca mobile 6 aside tournament @ Seven
increasing numbers of girls in sport.
Kings
Come and try something different with your friends.
Thursday 21st May- Year 10 Handball Vs Mayfield (Away
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DEMY After school DAY CLUB
TEACHER VENUE
Mon
Handball
DB
Sports Hall
Girls Can
EH
Astro
Boxing
Activity Studio Sports Hall
Lunch time Day
1st Lunch 2nd Lunch (Year 10) (year 7,8 &9)
Mon
Badminton Badminton Boys and (Year 7, 8 & Girls 9) Boys and Girls Girls Can! (Year 7,8 & 9 Girls) Basketball Basketball club Boys (Year 8 & and Girls 9) Boys & Girls Handball (Year 7, 8 & 9) Boys and Girls Basketball (Year 7) Girls and Boys
Tues
Judo Club
External provider External
Wed
Yr 8 S+C
BH
Sports Hall
Yr 10 Football Table Tennis
AT
Astro
GA
Tues
Resistance Sliding Yr 10 Football Table Tennis
External provider CD
Activity Studio Ks3 Hall Activity Studio Astro
Wed
Yr 8 Basketball Badminton club Bike Club
External KS3 Hall provider External Sports Hall provider EC, DH, BB MUGA
Thur
Fri
LAJ
Girls running RM club
Thur
South Park
Fri
Improve your skills! Try something new! Keep fit! Make new friends! Unleash your energy! Increase your chances of getting into a team! INA Newsletter 13
Well done to the following students who are this week’s Mathematicians of the Moment. Please collect a merit from Mr Dukes
This week’s Mathematicians of the Moment Haider Hussain (7N)
Cameron Salhotra (7N)
Shakurra Wellington (8E)
Zaynab Mahiya (9A)
Annan Ibne-‐Anis (8E)
Ikran Shire (9T)
Here are the scores so far
7I
190
8I
7S
100
8S
90
9S
7A
130
8A
500
9A
7C
30
8C
30
9C
7N
430
8N
100
9N
1330
7E
90
8E
290
9E
320
7W
370
8W
9W
540
8T
9T
1900
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The Mathematics department would like to encourage all students to enter next week’s Mathematician of the Moment competition. Look out for the new problem next term.
YEAR 7 - PROBLEM OF THE WEEK Monday 18th April to Thursday 28th April
Answers on a postcard to be handed to Mr Dukes (G42) by Thursday 4.10pm latest!
YEAR 8 - PROBLEM OF THE WEEK Monday 18th April to Thursday 28th April
Answers on a postcard to be handed to Mr Dukes (G42) by Thursday 4.10pm latest!
YEAR 9 - PROBLEM OF THE WEEK Monday 18th April to Thursday 28th April
How many ways can this be done ? What is the greatest number of cakes Horace could have bought ? Answers on a postcard to be handed to Mr Dukes (G42) by Thursday 4.10pm latest!
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INA BRIDGES
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Openness
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BRIDGES How we build learning power and develop character at Isaac Newton Academy “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton The secondary BRIDGES programme commences on Monday 14th September. BRIDGES are habits of mind or learning characteristics that develop a student's character and learning power and enable them to grow into well rounded individuals and resilient learners. On a two weekly cycle throughout the year, Year 7 and 8 students are introduced to one or two new habits of mind or learning characteristics that will permeate throughout the curriculum. This will take place through a range of interactive activities. In addition, the students will experience BRIDGES learning objectives in each and every lesson throughout Isaac Newton Academy. Year 9 BRIDGES lessons will focus on strengthening certain BRIDGES learning characteristics through exploration of PHSE topics and themes. Each fortnight you will find top tips in the newsletter of ways of supporting your child to develop the BRIDGES habits of mind and learning characteristics within the home.
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Praise & Recognition Merits
Year 7 C S N T W I A E
60 48 51 208 204 22 21 44
Year 8 E N A C S T I W
319 312 296 295 283 242 209 156
Year 9 T S N C N W A I
259 177 140 132 131 103 105 51
Year 10 N W C I E S T A
155 152 120 116 109 96 84 66
Ahmed Al-Khafaji Award (Peer Commendation Award) Ahmed was well known for being kind, for helping others and for being extremely polite. He was also someone known for his hard work and absorption; the idea, therefore, is that the winner should be someone that encapsulated one of these qualities in that week. Year 7: Sukhdev Rihinsi 7E Year 8: Maliha Awadh 8A Year 9: Sabir Mohammed 9A Year 10: Maria Gulafreed, 10E Good Deed Feed Ms Rayner: Awais in 10T gave up his time to translate for new student Bianca during a Drama rehearsal after school this week (he is not in the same group). Mr Healey: Rajan Virdee- Came in at 7:30am to train the handball team and also came along to their match to help manage the Girls team. Ms Coates: Kaiya and Jodie in Year 8 – really good at sharing ideas and helping each other catch up with any missed work.
Gabriel Ayerh Year 9 Pastoral Leader, i/c Praise and Recognition INA Newsletter 19
Key Dates for the Summer Term 2015: Secondary Summer Term Monday 11th April - Wednesday 20th July Half Term 30th May - 3rd June INSET days: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June, Friday 8th July Monday 18th April Wednesday 20th April Friday 29th April Wednesday 4th May Thursday 5th May Friday 6th May Friday 6th May Wednesday 11th May Tuesday 17th May Wednesday 18th May Thursday 19th May Friday 20th May Monday 23rd May Wednesday 25th May Wednesday 25th May Friday 27th May Friday 27th May
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Shaking Up Shakespeare Secondary Parent Numeracy Workshop Speak out Challenge Final Sept 2016 new Reception Parents’ Information Evening Year 7 to Oxford University Year 10 Maths Challenge Year 7s to Rochester Year 11s & Parents Work Experience Evening Primary Sports Day BRIDGES mentoring. No lessons in the afternoon Year 10 Geography fieldwork at Stratford Year 10 Geography fieldwork at Stratford Year 7s to Rochester Year 10 Science controlled assessments New Year 6 Parents’ Information Evening Music Recital Year 10 Geography Field Trip to Wales