Newsletter - Ravens Wood School
Transcription
Newsletter - Ravens Wood School
This is the margin line, do not put anything important in this area RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 01689 856050 | [email protected] | www.ravenswood.bromley.sch.uk Issue No. 18 Our New Headteacher Ravens Wood welcomes our new headteacher... Sally Spence grew up in Bromley and was educated at Hayes School where she studied Biology, English and Geography at A Level, and became Head Girl in Year 13. She then studied Geography at Queen Mary, University of London, completing her PGCE at Southampton University. Ms Spence has been Deputy Head Teacher at Bullers Wood School for over seven years, seeing it through two Outstanding Ofsted Inspections. She has also achieved an MA in Educational Leadership and Management and is passionate about lifelong learning and self-development. She has had the opportunity to work as an associate, advising and supporting Key Stage 5 colleagues at Glyn School for Boys in Epsom and St Saviours and St Olaves School in South East London. Her educational ethos is quite simple – that each student is given every opportunity to realise their full potential. To deliver this, the appropriate strategic and practical measures need to be put in place with a whole school culture and shared vision for continual growth and improvement. She is very much looking forward to joining the highly talented staff and students at Ravens Wood and is excited for the future of the school and her role within it. A Rewarding Result The school recently recieved an Ofstead report, and the school has been judged to be good with outstanding features. This was a great leap from the schools last report, and the school now intends to push further to an outstanding report next academic year. The report was met with delight from staff and students, and the article right was featured in the News Shopper regarding our success. Edited by Max Bloom 1 RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 PERFORMING ARTS On Wednesday 25th February, students in Year 9, 10 and 11 were lucky enough to participate in workshops with two members of the cast of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’. This play is currently running at the Duchess Theatre in London’s West End and this smash hit comedy has been described as ‘Fawlty Towers meets Noises Off.’ Nancy Wallinger and Dave Hearn led four workshops teaching students skills in stage combat and comedy. The cast were so impressed with the efforts of Ravens Wood students that they sent the Drama Department this tweet. Well done! West-End Visit The fabulous ‘Elite choir’, made up of singers from Year 7, were spectacular when they performed with the BYMT Symphony Orchestra & Chorus at The Fairfield Halls in Croydon. The boys were the children’s choir in the infamous work by Carl Orff, Carmina Burana. Thanks to all the singers, the supportive and proud parents and to Ms Akhurst for preparing the boys for this event- well done all! RWS Music Success ‘Lord of the Flies’ was written in 1954 by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding. The story about a group of British boys stuck on an uninhabited island was adapted for the stage by playwright Nigel Williams. On the 7th, 8th and 9th of July, RAPA Youth and RAPA Senior students performed ‘Lord of the Flies’ at Ravens Wood School. The show was directed by Miss Courtis and Mr Hughes and the choreography led by Miss Ward and Miss Barnes. School Production: Lord of the Flies The rehearsal process involved a lot of commitment from the cast members; with the students in the ensemble attending Thursday rehearsals and the main characters rehearsing every lunch and twice a week after school! Students involved were extremely hardworking and professional. Students in technical theatre club worked tirelessly with Mr Haskell, Mr Curry and Mr Grant to ensure the staging was built, lights set (118 cues!), and props created to perfection. The show was watched by all students in year 7 and year 8 during matinee performances and to an excellent audience on Thursday’s evening performance. The cast of twenty three talented students was led by Matthew Simms (Ralph), Archie Holland (Jack) and Tobie Dunnett (Piggy) and the final show was outstanding. Well done to each student involved in the production – your talent, determination and dedication made the show a success. So many members of staff and students were part of making such a great show possible and the Performing Arts team would like to thank everyone who helped. 2 RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 LANGUAGES On Wednesday 25th March the MFL department welcomed some visitors from our German Exchange School (Teletta Gross Gymnasium). Like us they also have a canteen and some of their staff wanted to see what and how food is served in a British school. First they were given a tour of the school which they were very impressed with due to the positive atmosphere around the school. They were also surprised by the quality of our sports facilities and the number of computers accessible to students in different departments. On Thursday and Friday our visitors helped the canteen staff to prepare for serving at break time and lunch time. They were very impressed that the vast majority of food was freshly prepared on site. They also worked with Ms Hawkins in the food technology department, helping her to prepare for lessons and they were also able to assist pupils during lessons. Our visitors have taken lots of ideas, which they want to implement in Germany to improve the quality of food in their own canteen. A huge thank you to all of the Pabulum catering staff and Ms Hawkins who made our German guests feel extremely welcome. If you would like to find out more about this visit, search ‘londontour2015.’ German Catering Visit Exchange Experience The 2014 German exchange trip consisted of 21 boys from years 7-9 who went to visit their host families for one week in November. Their partners came here to witness London first hand. We went to different places and took part in different activities including a trip to Bremen, visiting a pig farm, and looking around a huge boat yard (Mayer Werft). We also experienced the German school system and spent time with our partners in lessons. Recently our partners travelled to Bromley to stay with us. The German students had a lot of fun visiting London and we did a communal trip to Winston Churchill’s old house in Chartwell. It may seem awkward having someone you don’t know living with you for a week, but we managed to get on very well This was my second Exchange and I have really enjoyed it on both occasions. However there is something you need more than anything on the German exchange…confidence in speaking and understanding the German language and culture. - Joseph Spiteri Year 9 The year 11 students have been Hospitality and Catering completing their final controlled assessment for their GCSE Hospitality and Catering exam. The students had a three hour examination where they had to cook an international two course meal. The students had worked very hard researching into their chosen country and it was good to see their hard work rewarded with such high standard of cuisine. Very well done, boys! 3 Hollybank Hollybank, one of Bromley Healthcare’s specialist services, is in Chislehurst and offers short-term breaks for children and young people with disabilities and complex health care needs. It’s a happy, homely, safe and stimulating environment, so those that go there can achieve their maximum potential. Staff work closely with families and other professionals (schools, health care professionals) to keep children with their family. Leading by Example It’s always a privilege to help our local community, and a group of students from Ravens Wood School had the opportunity to find this out for themselves. Ravens Wood School decided to partner with a local charity, Hollybank, which is a respite centre for disabled children in the Bromley borough. Since their partnership began, Ravens Wood School held a variety of fundraising ventures including a staff Six Nations Sweepstake and a whole-school own clothes day. These activities managed to raise in excess of £2,000. Three students, Phill Cullen, Ollie Elliot and Deryck Bulley-Tagoe, were chosen to present the giant cheque to the staff and children of Hollybank. The cheque was received with beaming smiles from all present. One member of staff commented: ‘At Hollybank, we make a difference to families’ lives and to the parents and children who come here, and [Ravens Wood] in their turn are making a difference to what we can do to help those children.’ It was evident that the visiting students got a lot out of the experience. Oliver who was speaking after the presentation said: ‘It was really good to learn about the children’s disabilities and how we are building a relationship with Hollybank.’ Whilst Hollybank is partly funded by the NHS, it still needs additional funding to provide the excellent facilities it offers. Ravens Wood School has shown that even with the simplest of means, we can make a big difference to these local charities which means so much to so many people. A Day of Smiles It was a great day out for Ravenswood pupils at Hollybank on Wednesday 18th March when they presented staff and children at Hollybank with a cheque. Last year pupils from Ravens Wood School Academy of Media (RAMs) made a film of the wonderful service that Hollybank provides. The pupils chose Hollybank because its local and provides a wonderful facility for children and young people, and their families, who need help and support, which is done in a safe and stimulating environment so those that go there can achieve their maximum potential. The boys met and interviewed staff during filming. This helped them gain some awareness and understanding of the differing needs of children with disabilities as well as developing their media skills. This prompted Ravens Wood School (RWS) to support Hollybank as its local charity. Year 8 pupils Ollie Elliott and Deryck Bulley-Tagoe from Ravens Wood School presented a cheque for £2,026.45 to Hollybank. The money was raised from the school having its own clothes day. Ollie and Deryck were joined by Phillip Cullen, student leader of the RAMs. They were accompanied by teachers Tim Jackson and James Evans. Bromley Healthcare is delighted that RWS has decided to continue supporting Hollybank and not only build on this relationship but to raise further funds to help improve its facilities. Amanda Rees, Hollybank Manager, said, ‘A huge thank you to the school for keeping us in your hearts and minds.’ She was disappointed not to be there on the day of the presentation adding, ‘It’s such a fantastic start to raising funds for Hollybank so we can purchase garden and sensory equipment for the children.’ Students Account On Wednesday after school, me, Deryck, Phil, Mr Jackson and Mr Evans went to Hollybank to film handing over the cheque to members of staff. As soon as we got into the building we went to the kitchen where there was lots of snacks and sandwiches for us to eat. We then went to the front of Hollybank to hand over the massive cheque, I was delighted to hand over the cheque, which shows that Ravens Wood School had raised £2026.45. We also interviewed some the staff to find out their views on the money raised and the partnership with the centre. Deryck interviewed the staff asking the questions. “What will the money do to help the Hollybank Centre?” And “what are thoughts on the relationship between Ravens Wood and Hollybank?” Oliver & Deryck, Yr 7. A letter sent from a child at Hollybank about his experience at the centre. 5 RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 MEDIA ACADEMY On Monday 13th July, the media department hosted its 2nd annual RAM awards at RAM Awards Odeon Cinema in Beckenham. Presented by year 12 pupils James Budd and Jade Mason, the awards showcased the best media work produced by pupils from Years 11, 12 and 13. The awards covered a range of categories including ‘Best Production Design’ which was won by Omar Mohamed, Harry Collins and Josh Dalsan and ‘Best Trailer Remake’ which was given to Dan Strong and Alfie Hills, for their recreation of the upcoming Kray Twins biopic ‘Legend’. Other major successes at the RAMs included Tyler Lewis Kilden who picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Lewis Hill who won the signature prize for Year 11 pupils, the RAM Rising Star. Special praise must also be handed out to Phil Cullen and Will Smith, who helped prepare and organise the RAM awards, creating the graphics and editing the VT packages. The once in a lifetime opportunity to go on a school trip to New York was a tremendous experience, from educational workshops to sightseeing. As soon as we arrived in the city that never sleeps, we were eager to see the bright lights within the big city, so we headed to Times Square. All of us were fascinated by the vibrant atmosphere, which left us in high spirits. RAM Hits the Big Apple Our first whole day consisted of a walking tour of New York, where we were able to eat street pizza in Little Italy. Our 3 hour tour allowed us to gain knowledge about New York including visiting sites such as The New York County Supreme Courthouse where Law and Order was filmed and The New York Stock Exchange where we were able to see the famous Wall Street. Our sightseeing consisted of visiting Ground Zero, where we were able to pay our respects to those who passed away. We thoroughly enjoyed the views from the Empire State building, where we were able to see the whole of the city at night time, whereas when we visited Top of the Rock, we were able to view the city in daylight. After enjoying what the city had to offer, it was time for more learning, so we attended a bus tour which took us to many movie locations, including I am Legend and Friends with Benefits. After all of this, it was time for more fun, so we went to watch The Blue Man show, which was very enjoyable. To end our New York experience, it was time to announce the winner of the Ravens Wood Media Trip Twitter competition, which went to me for sending in this tweet. 6 RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 RWS SPORT In the February half term the school ski party headed to Sauze d’Oulx in Italy, part School Ski Trip of the Milky Way ski resorts. We flew to Lyon and took a coach to the French/Italian border. The picturesque town of Sauze was our home for the week, providing our ski base and also the evening’s entertainment and respite from the ‘interesting’ hotel dining arrangements. We hit the slopes on Sunday morning with the experienced skiers heading off into the mountains from day one and the beginners starting out lower down with their expert instructors. As the days progressed, every member of the party developed their technique and students were able to work their way through the groups enjoying the challenges of the mountain. Henry and I had the opportunity to ski in the top group where the steep slopes brought a rush of adrenaline and we felt pushed to our limits! In fact, it might have proved too much as I bundled into my Deputy-Head of Year and Party Leader, Mr Durman in a complete white-out, and I’m not sure he’s forgiven me yet! After long days of skiing, we relaxed in the hotel or walked into town to enjoy the atmosphere and local shops providing a variety of refreshing food: mainly energy-filled chocolate related snacks. One particular evening Miss Courtis organised a karaoke party, which left us with some unforgettable and hilarious memories. We all headed home in high spirits, although the 14 hour in blizzard conditions took its toll, not just on us but our parents who collected us at 3am from the school gates. The trip was absolutely fantastic and has left us with some brilliant memories but it wouldn’t have been possible without the patience and commitment from our teachers: Mr Durman, Mr Dumper, Mr Izzard, Mr French, Mr Morrissey and Miss Courtis. You were a great team, thank you. We hope everyone involved had a good time and enjoyed the truly incredible experience! If you’ve never tried skiing before it’s definitely worth a go. We’d only been once before in Year 8 and now we think we’re hooked. Henry & Oscar Smith, Year 10 Hayes Sevens Victors Earlier this year Year 7 attended the Hayes Invitational 7’s tourament. 16 school’s attended the event at Beccehamians RFC in West Wickham. The boys began the day with a 21-0 victory against Hayes and continued their unbeaten run throughout the group stages, finishing top of their group. In the Semi-Final the boys again put in a great performance to beat Haberdasher Askes 22-5 in what was a great team performance. The Final was played against Wilmington Grammar School in what was a very closely contested match. The game entered the final minute with Ravens Wood trailing by three points, but the boys showed great resilience with Josh Carroll diving over the line to score his 9th try of the day, and helping Ravenswood to secure a 22-19 victory. Other stand out performances came from Joe Turner who scored 7 try’s, Cameron MacAulay, Joe Brown, Jake Philips and Captain Harvey Tootill. 7 Sp RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2015 RWS SPORT For the first time at the school, Key Stage 3 and Year 10 participated in the school Sports Day on Thursday 9th July this summer. On a sweltering summer’s day, over eight-hundred Ravens Wood students descended on the sports field for a packed day of field events, athletics and sport-related activities. RWS Sports Day 2015 The day began with a number of field events including Discus, Javelin and Shot, with a number of quizzes and activities going on indoors for those who weren’t taking part on the field. After a short break, the year groups rotated and some took part in running events, and others took part in inter-form cricket matches held on the playgrounds. After lunch the day was concluded with the hundred-meter sprint and relay events, including an incredibly popular staff relay, and an even more popular early dismissal. One form from each year was grouped into a house, for which you would compete and gain points. This year, the house names were given to notable ex-students. Solesbury, named after Team GB olympic rower Tom Solesbury, took a fitting first place on the overall house leaderboard. Overall, the day was recieved as a success, with everyone in each form given the oppurtunity to compete in a wide range of disciplines. One Year 9 student said: ‘I really enjoyed it. It allows students to participate in new sports, and it also allows forms to bond in a competetive event.‘ Even for those who were less inclined to participate, the event was entertaining for all present. Having been asked about music technology teacher Mr Grant’s hundred-metre relay performance, Head of Year 10 Mr Chenier commented: ‘Never again! He went so red we thought he would spontaneously combust!‘ The year 9 VII’s team won the inaugural Beth’s 7s tournament earlier this year. The squad who are the most successful 7s squad in the school’s history added to the schools trophy cabinet with a comprehensive victory over The Judd school 28-12 in the final. Year Nine Rugby Success The tournament did not start off how the squad would have liked, however going down 10-0 to The Judd school in their opening group game. However, the team bounced back to secure victories over Maidstone Grammar School and Wilmington Grammar School to progress out of the group stages. Going through as 2nd place meant that the team faced the winners of the opposite pool (who were hot favourites to win the competition) Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School in the semi-final. A mammoth game of rugby was played out between the two rival teams with the final score finishing at 14 apiece. The game went into extra-time with the golden and try rule being the deciding factor. Henry Turner raced clear to score the decisive try to put the team through to the final. Prior to the final the students discussed the fact that they had already been beaten by Judd earlier in the competition and were keen to put in a performance of a team which were yet to loss a 7s tournament. The squad did just that, with slick running and handling from Jacob Buckley and hard running from Daniel Rowley and Henry Turner the team overwhelmed The Judd school 28-12 to lift the trophy. A huge well done to all the boys that were involved and to show the determination to come back from a first game loss to beat that team and win the competition. 8