Term 1 - Autumn Edition
Contents
My First Term - Mr Ferguson
A Successful First Term
Welcome to The Lenham School
Open Evening
Clubs & Sports
Charity
Year 11
Reading
Trips & Visits
My First Term
I can’t quite believe I’m at the end of my first term already. I guess the key question is how has it gone? Well, the only people who can really be the judge of that are all of you! However, there are some key reflections that have really stuck with me as I get ready for half-term:
The Hunger to Learn
When I look back over the last seven weeks, some of my fondest moments have been when I have seen learning really ‘buzz’ in classrooms. It is quite hard to put down in words - instead, it is a sound or a feeling when you walk into a room. It happens when the teacher and the children have really invested in their relationship and learn to really trust each other. It will rarely happen in every lesson and in every corridor, but those bright spots are popping up more and more. As a school, we are going to take risks with our teaching and experiment with new ideas to try and inspire more and more of your children. Please, do keep encouraging them at home to come on this exciting journey with us.
The Co-Curriculum is Alive
There has always been good engagement at The Lenham School with the wider activities available, but I have been blown away by how enthusiastic the children have been. These clubs and societies are more popular than ever! We have a very talented Senior Vocal Harmony Group meeting every Monday, School Band, Samba on a Wednesday, over 40 in the Junior Choir every Friday and a cast of over 60 in ‘Oliver’. At the same time, the football sides are achieving great success and the demand for netball has been simply breathtaking. I believe that exam success is essential for your child’s future, but in today’s world, it is no longer enough. These wider skills that they are developing are going to put them miles ahead of the competition when the time comes. I hope your child is getting involved!
Belonging
I always knew The Lenham School was a special place, but I wasn’t expecting it to get to me as quickly as it has. This really is a small, sweet and kind community with a family feel. The support I have had from the staff, children and parents has been incredibly touching and I won’t forget it. This community feel is something I want to build on further in the future and make sure that all students and their families feel a sense of belonging at The Lenham School. I would like it to become a home away from home.
I hope you and all your families have a restful break. If you read this and are looking for ways to support the school more as we go on our new journey, could I ask for you to follow our Facebook page and keep liking posts. This is going to be the key space that we use to advertise events and celebrate what is happening in school. At the Opening Evening, I spoke about the secret world of The Lenham School… and the secret is starting to get out. Let’s spread the word and make sure everyone knows about what we are looking to achieve together.
Mr Ferguson - Headteacher
A Successful First Term
As we come to the end of a busy first term, it is a great opportunity to reflect on all the wonderful things that our students have already achieved.
.
Welcome to The Lenham School
This year, we not only welcomed our new Year 7 students, but also our new Headteacher, Mr Ferguson. He quickly laid out his vision for the school as he met every student in year group assemblies on the first day of term. Please do visit the Headteacher’s Welcome page on our website to find out more about Mr Ferguson and his ambition for The Lenham School.
Open Evening
It has been an absolute pleasure to show off our school to potential students during our Open Morning and Open Evening Events. Over the last three weeks of term, we have welcomed over 450 families and shown off our amazing school. Our students have been wonderful ambassadors for our school as they met, supported or guided parents around the school.
Clubs and Sports
One of the key priorities for the school this year is to increase the number of clubs and sports opportunities offered. The Music department has led the way, with the creation of several lunchtime and afterschool clubs which students with a keen interest in music can join. This includes the school band practice that occurs every Monday afterschool, the Junior and Senior Choir (who meet on Friday and Monday lunchtimes respectively) as well as the Samba Group that meet every Wednesday lunchtime and performed live on stage during our Open Evening Event.
The cast of Oliver have spent the term busily rehearsing for our yearly drama production in December. Visitors who came to our Open Evening were given an exclusive preview to the show by performing ‘Food, Glorious Food’ at the start of the Headteacher's talk. Details of the show will be shared early next term.
It has also been a very successful start to the year for our sports teams. Both Boys and Girls have enjoyed participating in a range of football and netball fixtures, including some impressive victories in the Kent Messenger Shield. Year 8 students also became sports leaders as they organised and hosted a sports festival for visiting primary schools.
Charity
The whole school community came together to support three different charities this term. Students baked cakes themed for ‘European Day of Languages’ which were sold to raise money for Action Duchenne and Operation Christmas Child. The school then organised a cake sale in conjunction with our school caterer Cucina to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Chef Charlie’s cakes raised £83. There are more charity events planned for next term where we hope to raise even more money for worthy causes.
Year 11
It has been a very demanding term for our Year 11 students who are preparing for their GCSE examinations next summer. In October the school delivered a ‘Year 11 Information Evening’ to students and their parents. The evening was designed to give a clear overview of the year ahead and support available to students during this challenging time. We have been very impressed with the way our students have responded to this and they will be sitting their first wave of Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) in November.
Reading
The school has continued its commitment to reading by appointing student library leaders to help run the school library every lunchtime. This helped us promote the Scholastic Book Fair, where students could come and purchase reading books at discounted prices. Our Reading Partners program continues to impress. This is where Year 8 students are buddied up with an older student who spends time listening and supporting them with their reading.
Trips & Visits
Term 1 has already seen countless trips out and events in school. Some key trips so far have been the Year 11 Geography Field Trip to Herne Bay, Year 9s visit to Nausicaa which was a joint Languages and Art Trip, Year 10s visit to Leeds Castle to take part in a Stone Masonry Workshop and members of the Sixth Form visited the Excel Centre in London as part of a UCAS Roadshow to learn more about opportunities at university. Our Year 12s also enjoyed a STEM Day organised by the National Space Academy and the whole school has taken part in key events such as the European Day of Languages and Black History Month.
.
.
Dates for the Diary
Monday 6th November - Return to School
Friday 10th November - Year 9 Trip to Belgium
10th-20th November - Year 11 Pre-Public Exams (PPEs)
15th-16th November - Year 8 Consultation Evenings
Tuesday 21st November - Flu Vaccinations (Years 7-11)
Friday 24th November - Year 12 & 13 Trip to Pinewood Studios
Monday 27th November - Key Stage 4 Trip to Harry Potter World
Tuesday 28th November - Year 11 Geography Field Trip to Stratford
Tuesday 28th November - Sixth Form Open Evening
Friday 1st December - Year 7 Trip to Rochester Christmas Markets
7th-8th December - School Production of Oliver
Wednesday 13th December - School Christmas Dinner
Friday 15th December - Last Day of Term