Student Guide 2020

STUDENT GUIDE 2020 The Joseph Rowntree School

MESSAGE FROM MRS CLARKE Dear Student, I would like to take this chance to welcome you to The Joseph Rowntree School.

This is a special and exciting time for you; it’s the beginning of your secondary education, when each of you will make new friends and become part of the caring, hardworking, happy community of The Joseph Rowntree School.

I am sure you still have lots of questions and maybe some worries too. I hope that this booklet will tell you everything that you need to know to help you make the best start in September.

Some of the information is very important and you should share it with your parents. Please feel free to ask your tutor and teachers anything that may still be worrying you.

We look forward to encouraging you to believe in yourself and working together to achieve success. which house e will you b in?....

See you in September!

Mrs Clarke Assistant Headteacher responsible for Key Stage 3

Your Tutor

- There will be eight Tutor Groups and the letters after the ‘7’ will stand for

your Tutor’s initials. You will register with your Tutor in the morning at 8.45am in your Tutor Room unless you have assembly then you will register in The Vaudeville Theatre.

Your Teachers

- The school has over 80 teachers and you will quickly learn the

names of those who teach you. You will also get to know the following:-

Mr Hewitt Headteacher Hewitt Mr Haigh & Ms Mann Deputy Headteachers Mrs Clarke Assistant Headteacher responsible for KS3

Your First Day at School

- For you, term starts on Wednesday 9th

September 2020. That morning, only Year 7 and the Sixth Form will be in school at the start of the day.

Please meet outside RECEPTION AT 8.40am where there will be teachers to meet you, please don’t be late!

The School Day Students in school by 8.40 am Registration / Assembly 8.45 am -9.05 am Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lessons Break last 1 hour Lesson 3 it is a good idea to Lesson 4 bring a snack or buy some food at break time

Lunch Lesson 5 End of school 3.10 pm

Timetable At The Joseph Rowntree School, students work on a two week timetable. This will be given to you on your first day in September.

As you will see from the table above, lunch is quite late therefore a good breakfast is essential! Food can also be bought from the canteen before registration and at morning break.

Student Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is in the agreement you sign before your first day but will be shown to you on your first day too. You will need to read it carefully.

You must respect the Code of Conduct. If you do, your time at The Joseph Rowntree School will be happy and successful.

Equipment

You will need to have the following equipment with you for every lesson: •

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Your planner.

A good school bag that is big enough to hold an A4 folder.

A reading book for tutor time, the Library has lots of these that you can borrow.

A pencil case with: A blue or black pen, Pencil, Rubber, Ruler, Pencil Sharpener, A set of colouring pencils.

You may also need dictionaries for English and French but they are not compulsory.

Student Planner

You will be given a student planner on your first day.

It is important to look after this and use it correctly.

You must always keep it neat. Your tutor will explain how the planner is used. You will be expected to write down ALL homework tasks, how long you need to spend on them and when they need to be submitted.

You will show this to your parents/carers every week and ask them to sign it. This is your chance to talk about your work and get extra support from home. Tutors will check that your planner is neat, you have recorded all your homework and it is signed. If it isn’t signed you will get a red comment from your Form Tutor. Your Tutor/Mentor/Head of House will also sign your planner every week to make sure it is being used correctly.

Your planner is an important part of your school equipment and you must always have it with you.

If you lose your planner it will cost you £2.50 for a new one and you get this from your Head of House.

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Positives & Negatives

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A negative is a red comment and 4 in a week means you will have an after school detention. All teachers have a stamp and they will use this to reward good work and behaviour. These are collected each week by your Tutor and kept throughout the year.

Positive stamps mean prizes which are given out during assemblies throughout the year. Previous prizes have included: bikes, cameras, tablets and access to cinema trips.

Homework

By ‘Homework’ the school means work done in your own time. You will be expected to do regular homework once you are at The Joseph Rowntree School.

Why do we set Homework?

• • • •

To get used to studying in your own home.

To encourage you to do your own research, in preparation for the lessons you have at school.

To prepare for coursework. Your homework can help prepare you for this later in school life.

To finish work you have begun in lessons and to practise and develop the knowledge you

have gained in the classroom.

How much Homework will there be?

The amount will vary not only from subject to subject but also from week to week. You will be given guidance about homework but on average we would expect you to do about an hour each day in Year 7. This will increase as you progress through the school. Always write your homework and the date it is due in your planner.

Problems with homework?

If you don’t understand work that has been set you should talk to your teachers. If there is a special reason why you have not been able to do the work bring a note from home to explain.

Planning your homework

It is important to make sure you know exactly what homework has been set and when it is due in. You can use the school library at lunchtime and after school until 4pm to help you keep up to date with your work.

Types of homework

There are various different tasks that you can be set for homework. Here is a list of some examples: • Reading • Written work such as essays, completing worksheets, writing up notes or experiments etc.

• Doing investigations and project work.

• Learning and spelling • Exam or test revision.

Not doing your homework

Not doing your homework will result in red comments and repeatedly forgetting your homework could results in you having to spend time in Homework Club after school.

School Uniform All students need to be in the correct uniform at all times when you are in school, a list is in the starter pack.

IMPORTANT •Trainers/Plimsolls including all canvas shoes are NOT suitable school shoes and may only be worn in PE lessons.

•School shoes and socks must be plain black. No boots.

•Top buttons must be fastened at all times.

•Blazers must be worn at all times unless agreed by a member of staff.

•You must wear smart black trousers, or the school skirt or trousers with logo.

•Your house tie must show the logo below the knot.

Please make sure all uniform is labelled with your name.

If you arrive at school in any inappropriate uniform you will spend the day in Inclusion.

Jewellery

It is best if no jewellery is worn at school. However you are allowed to wear: One stud in each ear and one plain ring.

Under NO circumstance should students be wearing:

Nose, lip, tongue or eyebrow piercings or any other face piercing, visible necklaces, bracelets, spikes or stretchers.

Hair & Make Up

You are not allowed any extreme hairstyles, only natural coloured hair is allowed.

Makeup should be kept to a minimum.

PE

You need your PE kit for every PE lesson. Exactly what you should bring for each lesson will be explained at your first lesson. As different sports need different equipment you should bring all your kit to your first PE lesson.

Biometrics & printing

We have a new cashless catering system in school to pay for food. It is a fingerprint system and your parent/carer will need to complete the consent form and return it with your student data collection booklet. When you start school in September we will set you up on this system. Information on the Parent Pay System is included in your parent/carers’ starter pack. You can load money onto the catering system using the machines located in the hub, at home on the internet or using your local PayPoint.

Your fingerprint will also be used to log in to the printers around school so please make sure you get your forms filled in and returned.

Lunchtime

Meals are served in the Hub and there is always a large choice. Once you have your food, you pay for it at one of the tills using your fingerprint or pin code. If you have a free school meal, this credit will be added to your account automatically just before lunchtime. You can eat your school meal or pack up anywhere in the Hub, Street or outside and only on the ground floor. You cannot eat in the clusters.

Arriving at school on a morning

When you arrive at school on a morning you must always come into school through the main front doors next to reception. You must be in your correct uniform and coats must be removed as soon as you come inside. School is open from 8.15am. You are not allowed in your cluster before 8.30am and you need to be in form by 8.40am

Lateness

If you arrive at school after 8.45am you are late and you will need to sign in at reception.

You will then be issued a red comment. If you receive four red comments in a week you will be given an after school detention.

illness at school

If you feel ill or hurt yourself at school, it is important that you report it to a teacher or a member of staff straight away. They will write you a note to take to reception. Hand the note in and they will make arrangements for you to be seen by a first aider or telephone home.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE UP TO DATE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN CASE OF SERIOUS ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT.

Absence from school

At The Joseph Rowntree School we have an Attendance Officer who is responsible for monitoring attendance on a daily basis. If you are ill, your parent/carer should call the school before 9am or as soon as possible on 01904 552103.

Parents/carers should leave a message to explain your absence along with your name and tutor group. If your parents/carers don’t ring in they will receive a text to say that you aren’t in school and to please call us.

Appointments There may be times when you arrive at school late or you have to leave early.

You should always bring a note from your parents/carers for your Form Tutor to explain why this is necessary e.g. a medical or dental appointment. It is very important when you arrive late and before you leave, that you report to reception to sign in or out.

Please try to avoid making appointments during school time.

School Nurse

We have a school nurse who does drop in sessions in school. If you have any worries about your health or problems that are making you anxious, she is the person to see. Please let your Head of House know if you would like a confidential appointment or ask at Reception.

Peer Mentors

Students in Year 10 have been trained as mentors to help you and other Year 7 students. Your tutor group will have a group of mentors who will meet with you in registration one morning a week. Mentors can be very good at resolving problems like fall outs with friends, bullying and homework issues.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are your responsibility and must be in your locker during lesson time. You can use your phone at break and lunchtime but outside only. If you are seen on your phone anywhere inside the school building your phone will be confiscated and taken to reception for safe keeping. If it is confiscated once we will give it back to you at 3.10pm when school finishes. The second time your House Team will be told and the third time your parent/carer will have to collect the phone and at this point you are no longer allowed to bring a phone into school. It is your responsibility to make sure your phone stays safe in school.

Parents’ Evening for Year 7

In the autumn term there will be an information evening for your parents/carers. Then, later in the year there will be a Parents Evening with appointments to see your teachers to discuss how you are settling in and talk about your progress. The date will be arranged soon after you start Year 7.

Bikes

If you choose to come to school on your bike we have two bike sheds on site to lock them up in. We strongly advise that you bring your lock and lock them up as they remain unlocked all day. Your bike is left at your own risk.

Car Park

This gets very congested especially at 3.10pm. If you need to be picked up please arrange to be collected after 3.30pm. There are lots of clubs and activities to keep you busy in school whilst you wait.

Houses The decision to name one of our Houses ‘Rowling’ was inspired by the influence she has had on literacy for young children, as well as the vast amount of charity work she has been involved in.

Joanne Kathleen Rowling is a British novelist, screenwriter and film producer best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The Harry Potter books have become the best-selling book series in history. Rowling has lived a “rags to riches” life story, in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years. In October 2010, Rowling was named the “Most Influential Woman in Britain” for her contribution to writing and her charitable donations and activism.

The decision to name one of our Houses ‘Attenborough’ was in honour of Sir David Attenborough, an English veteran broadcaster and naturalist. He is best known for writing and presenting the nine Life series where he studies animal and plant life on the planet. He is currently the only person to have won BAFTA awards for programmes shown in black and white, colour, HD, and 3D. Attenborough is widely considered a ‘national treasure’ in Britain. In 2002 he was named among the 100 Greatest Britons following a UK-wide poll for the BBC.

The decision to name one of our houses ‘Malala’ was inspired by her dedication to fighting the cause for education being a universal right for any child. Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education. On the afternoon of 9 October 2012, she was injured after a Taliban gunman attempted to murder her. The murder attempt sparked a national and international outpouring of support for Malala. Since recovering, she has become a prominent education activist. In 2014, she was announced as the recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. Aged 17 at the time, she became the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate.

The decision to name one of our Houses ‘Muhammad Ali’ was inspired by the influence he has had in the sporting world. Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. Ali is considered to be one of the leading heavyweight boxers of all time. He remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion, having won the title in 1964, 1974, and 1978. He was ranked as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. He also set an example of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the Civil Rights Movement and, after retiring from the world of boxing, he dedicated the rest of his life to charitable work.

If you have any questions you can ask your Form Tutor on the Induction Days on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July 2020 or on your first day on Wednesday 9th September 2020. For both the induction days and your first day, you need to meet at the front of school by 8.40am. If you have any problems throughout the year, please tell your parents/carers to contact your tutor or Head of House at school.

Everyone wants you to enjoy your time at The Joseph Rowntree School and make a great start.

Good luck!

Mrs Clarke Assistant Headteacher responsible for Key Stage 3