Dates for your diary
- Wednesday 25/01/2023 - Open Mic (Lunchtime)
- Tuesday 31/01/2023 - Yr 10 Stay Safe Day
- Tuesday 07/02/2023 - Y 7 Parents' Evening (Booking will be open for the whole year group on Monday 23/01/2023)
- Tuesday 07/02/2023 - Yrs 9/10 Careers Fair Trip
- Thursday 09/02/2023 - Yrs 10/11 Macbeth performance (Postponed to 02/03/2023)
- Tuesday 07/03/2023 - Yr 9 Options Evening* (Incorrect date sent out in last week's Newsletter)
More calendar dates can be found on the school website here
Senior Leadership Team Update
Last week it was a pleasure to hold our first family coffee morning. It is our intention to invite all families to a coffee morning in order to have a tour of the school, have discussions around supporting with homework, gather feedback on communication to and from school and to allow families to meet some of the staff who support their children. This is in an informal atmosphere, giving families an opportunity to see what lessons look like and how disruption free learning works here at KEVI. It is obviously not possible to invite all families at the same time, but a group were randomly selected and invited to our first one. This was a great success with staff and families sharing a coffee and stories about the school. It also allowed a very open conversation about any misconceptions and any issues that can be resolved easily. We hope we speak for all families who did attend, that they found it informative, enlightening and an enjoyable experience. We will be holding another later this term so please look out for the invites.
We are delighted that 30 Year 11 students are attending an English GCSE poetry revision morning this Saturday. It is wonderful to see the commitment to achieving the best results possible this summer. We know that sitting important exams can be a stressful experience but thorough preparation can help alleviate that stress. Year 11 and 13 students should all be completing two hours of revision every day now. Year 11 students have been creating revision timetables this week. Please remember that we have a programme of after school ‘Period 6’ lessons throughout the week. As a reminder, this is the timetable:
Mrs S Jones - Executive Principal
Mr M Wilkinson - Acting Head of School
Values
Courage
In House assemblies this week we explored one of our core values: Courage. Students looked at this quote from Nelson Mandela which teaches us that even people who appear to be fearlessly successful have to show courage to conquer fear.
Mr Wilkinson often talks in assembly about how courage can be argued to be our most important value because so many of our other values rely on courage. Having ambition and aspiration relies on courage because when we aspire to university or being a DRET All-Star we are making ourselves vulnerable by exposing ourselves to potential disappointment or feelings of failure. Being honest with yourself and admitting change is needed also relies on courage. Being resilient and not giving up, especially when things are tough also requires courage. Of course, our values have equal important but courage can be seen to be a prerequisite for our other values.
Why we do what we do -Academy Rationale
In the morning we have a bell that alerts students to get into their tutor line, in register order, with their homework books out ready for checking, and this is done in silence. We give a key message and then ask students to walk into the building, in silence, mentally preparing themselves for learning that day.
House News
House Table Tennis
A great start to term 3 with House Table Tennis! The staff tournament gave Mercury a huge advantage by not losing any of their games. A huge well done to Mr Read and Mr Carrington and thank you to all the staff who participated. A special well done to those who had never played before but gave it their all, showing our students what courage truly looks like.
We have seen some really exciting games this week and a close competition! The results will be revealed on Monday in assembly.
Hockey
Next week we start our House Hockey. We are excited to see our students use their skills from lessons in a tournament where all is to play for! The scores are close so every win matters but remember that fielding a full team also ensures you win points for your house.
Current Scores: The current scores have changed dramatically from the end of term 2:
4th place Minerva on 1375 points.
3rd place Apollo on 1405 points.
2nd place Mercury on 1530 points.
1st place Arete on 1545 points.
Miss C Eyre - Games Master
6th Form Update
Years 12 and 13 Exams
Well done to Year 12 and 13 as they completed the January series of exams. The majority are feeling confident and are waiting for the UCAS deadline to close so that final places will be offered to them by their chosen universities in year 13. It is a very exciting time of year!
The Oppidan Trust Peer Mentoring Programme
The Oppidan Foundation are a peer-mentoring charity working in partnership with us here at King Edward VI Academy and in all DRET Academies. They offer six weeks of peer to mentor training by professional mentors to up to 20 of our Year 12 students. When fully trained the new Year 12 mentors are paired with two Year 7 students each for a further six weeks.
Our Year 12 students have to formally apply for a place on the programme and submit written reasons for why they would like to be a mentor and what they think they can give to the programme.
The Year 12 students benefit from the responsibility to direct and support students entering secondary school. This support provides valuable work experience and is excellent for CVs and university applications as well as gaining them a qualification in peer mentoring.
The Year 7 students entering secondary school benefit from the direction and support given by an aspirational sixth-form student. This support helps the students with the transition from primary to secondary school and reduces the risk of exclusion for struggling students.
The aim of these sessions for all students is to develop self-confidence and character and provide an extra layer of pastoral support as they work towards achieving their academic and extracurricular goals.
The programme starts with an assembly next week introducing The Oppidan Trust to Year 12 and giving them the information they need to apply for a place. We are really excited to get started and are looking forward to the mentor training day at Skegness Grammar School.
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 93.4% which is a good improvement on the same week last year (2022) as attendance was only 90.5%.
Keep up the good work and remember ‘improving attendance is everyone’s business’. It takes a coordinated effort between school, families and of course the student to maintain an excellent attendance record.
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
In assembly this week we celebrated Martin Luther King Day, and students were taught about the struggles he stood up for and how he did so without retaliation. During house assemblies students were discussing courage as one of our KEVI values. Below is a quote from Martin Luther King that embodies courage.
“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles. Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.”
Please take the time to read through the quote with your children and discuss its meaning, perhaps discuss a time when may have had to make a decision that was based it being the right thing to do, not necessarily popular or safe. Maybe ask children has there been a time where they have found it difficult to make a decision because their conscience said one thing and fear, expediency and vanity said another.
Mr A Carrington - Vice Principal
Homework
This week we have begun checking the prep homework during roll call to enable tutors to maximise the time in form periods. Pupils have responded well to this, and good routines have been established. There are some pupils who are still not completing the homework correctly either due to not enough being written in each box, or there are no purple pen corrections. It is an important part of the retrieval process that corrections are made to ensure that the correct knowledge is retained.
There is a video on the process on the homework section of the website (King Edward VI Academy - Homework (kingedwardacademy.co.uk)), but the completed page should look like this:
If you have any concerns or questions, please do get in touch – kmilligan@kingedwardacademy.co.uk.
Mrs K Milligan - Assistant Principal
Gino's Update
Price List – January 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
Prime drink, known as Prime Hydration, is a range of sports drinks, drink mixes and energy drinks created and marketed by Prime Hydration, LLC. It was developed by American media personality Logan Paul in collaboration with YouTube rapper and boxer KSI. The drinks first went on sale in the US back in early 2022 and the UK didn't receive its first batch of the drinks until December but they sold out almost as soon as they arrived. It was exclusively sold in ASDA but other outlets, such as corner shops, have started selling them.
Prime Energy drinks are NOT recommended for children under the age of 18, women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are sensitive to caffeine. Energy drinks are not recommended for children and teens because of the amount of caffeine, sugars and other ingredients such as herbs and amino acids.
They are selling for as much as £3000 in one Yorkshire store, and in some areas children are purchasing the bottles, that retail for £1.99p (if you can find them) and selling sips to other children for a hugely increased price. Eg £5 or £10 a sip.
Please do not part with hard earned money for a sip of a drink that is not recommended for you and contains over 200mg of caffeine.
Word of the Week
Solicitude
Solicitude: noun – the state of being concerned; attentive care and protectiveness towards another person.
Word origin: solicitudinem (Latin): anxiety.
The crying child who had grazed his knee drew feelings of solicitude from the surrounding parents. She felt solicitude towards him because he was suffering.
Solicitous: adjective – to behave in a caring way.
When he found out his brother had been struggling with homework, he helped him in a solicitous way. Seeing him struggle, her natural solicitous feelings rose up.
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 23rd January 2023 - we will be chanting our 8 times table.
Mrs H Johnson - Head of Maths
Accelerated Reader
KEVI 20 WC 23rd January: Period 2
We know that reading for twenty minutes a day has powerful benefits for all of our students and so we take twenty minutes' curriculum time every day at school to invest in every Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 student.
By reading for twenty minutes a day, students are exposed to a staggering 1.8 million words in a year! This in turn leads to increased general knowledge and improved communication and analytical skills, obviously also substantially enriching students' vocabulary which means that in life beyond school, our students will be able to express themselves clearly in professional and demanding situations.
In twenty minutes, studies show that reading can relieve stress by 68%! Being a teenager can be a stressful time and modern life is demanding. It's good to know that twenty minutes' reading will help teenagers to unwind and put issues to one side which is a habit they can take into later life, helping to avoid health issues when life really becomes demanding. Particularly, by reading before settling down for the night, insomnia is relieved and sleep is deepened.
Further health benefits of reading for twenty minutes a day happen in the brain. Mental health is boosted by reading as our minds escape the world in which we live and travel fictional plot lines. From a scientific point of view, the circuits and signals reading stimulates in our nervous system are a sign of intense brain activity which, in time, strengthens our brains for life making our minds stronger as we grow older. In fact, twenty minutes' reading is as good for supporting mental health for life as a cardio workout!
While we give our students twenty minutes' reading every day in our KEVI 20 time, as well as further reading in KEVI Reads and in lessons, reading daily for twenty minutes at home will continue to build these benefits and accelerate the progress your child is making in reaching an adult reading age.
Ms K Davis - Head of English Department
Sports News!
This week has seen some new opportunities come to the pupils of KEVI. Boys and girls in Year 8 and 9 have taken part in a dodgeball officiating course which they will use to support local primary school competitions. The Year 8 boys' 5-a-side team took on BWA on Monday night and came away 3-1 winners in a cold fixture.
We have seen a really positive reaction of pupils to lunch timetable tennis club, with sessions often having 30 plus pupils attending. This is fantastic and will allow for more table tennis clubs next term. Boccia club is also in full swing, led by Miss Villiers who is preparing pupils for Summer Cup.
Work with us
Exam Invigilator
We are looking to increase our team of exam invigilators. If you are interested in part time, casual and flexible work to support our exam seasons in February/March and May/June then please apply! Full details are here: Invigilator (dretjobs.co.uk)
Pastoral Manager Support - Support and admin
We also have a vacancy in our pastoral support team. If you have the ability to work as part of a team, supporting students and ensure all admin records are kept up to date then we would love to hear from you. Full details are here: Pastoral Manager Behaviour – Support and admin (dretjobs.co.uk)
Credits:
Created with images by mnirat - "Closeup Colorful drawing pins on Calendar page with date." • Blue Planet Studio - "(Multiple Values)" • arrowsmith2 - "African man writing and reading exam answer sheets exercises in classroom of school with stress." • Stillkost - "Pilot of ultralight aircraft in flight" • blanke1973 - "Young boy doing homework for school" • Pixel-Shot - "Assortment of Chinese food on wooden table" • Africa Studio - "Old and young holding hands on light background, closeup" • tawatchai1990 - "Abstract matrix numbers background." • Africa Studio - "Cute boy reading book at home" • onephoto - "Business team hands at work with financial reports and a laptop,"