Aspire, Achieve, Expect to Succeed

Easter 2018 Newsletter

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Despite the best efforts of this year’s winter, spring may finally be on its way. School has been a busy place with a number of different events such as visits, activity days, and concerts to name a few. Year 10 have just returned from a fortnight’s work experience with overwhelming reports of good feedback and references from their different employers. Students really value the experiences gained from this programme and our thanks goes out to all of the local (and some not so local), businesses and organisations which support us.

Our year 11, 12 and 13 students are busy finalising preparation for their exams which begin in May. The turnout for after-school and weekend study support sessions is pleasing and student feedback about these sessions is extremely positive. There is always scope for a little more in terms of revision and there are a number of links on the school website on how to help students study smarter. These last few weeks are essential for students to address any remaining areas of uncertainty with their subjects and practice every past paper possible. There is an extensive programme of support sessions taking place over the Easter holiday. Details of these are included in this newsletter. Please encourage pupils to ask for help and guidance with every point or question of which they’re unsure.

At the end of this term we say farewell to Mr Jukes, who has taught maths for a short time here at Norton. He is taking up a post closer to his home and we wish him all the very best for the future.

The pupils, staff and governors hope you have a pleasant and peaceful Easter. We re-open on Monday 16th April at normal time. This will be week A on the timetable. Many of our pupils will in the final throes of exam preparation at that point. Please contact your child’s director of progress or subject teachers if there are any concerns or issues that you need to discuss.

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School dates 2017/18:

Term ends: Thursday 29h MarchHoliday: Friday 30th March- Friday 13th April

Summer Term 2018:Term starts: Monday 16th AprilMay Day: Monday 7th MayHalf Term: Monday 28th May - Friday 1st JuneTerm ends: Friday 20th July

Vision Statement Our uniquely small school lies at the heart of the community and enables all pupils to be valued as individuals and fulfil their highest personal aspirations.We will provide a happy, safe and creative learning environment that challenges and supports pupils through high quality teaching, collaboration and enrichment.

Aims and Values ‘Aspire, Achieve, Expect to Succeed’

We aim to:Create a culture of high aspirations and expectations

Be proud of our achievements and celebrate those of others

Recognise and fulfil the potential of all individuals

Develop the skills and personal qualities for everyone to be successful for life

Value and care for everyone in a healthy, happy and safe learning environment

Be a welcoming community that works in a spirit of collaboration

Respect everyone as an individual with tolerance, respect, honesty and integrity

External Examinations

If your child is in Year 11 12 or 13 then they will be taking external examinations in the summer.

I am busy preparing for these examinations, setting out the desks, putting signs up and generally

making sure the conditions will be the very best so your child can be successful in their

examinations.

Examinations take place in the Sports hall which is a quiet and peaceful room helping the candidates

to concentrate. There are invigilators in the room to ensure there is no cheating but also to make sure

the candidates are not at a disadvantage. If your child has a problem in the examination i.e. a wobbly

chair then the invigilators are there to help and sort out that problem. They should ask if they have a

problem of any sort. It can be sorted out at the time but not when the examination is finished.

Mobile phones, iwatches and other digital devices are banned from the examination room because

they can be easily used to cheat. If they are seen or heard in the examination room the candidate will

automatically receive zero marks for the paper being taken. Please stress to your child that they must

not take phones or iwatches into the examination room.

For the examination season to be successful I and other staff spend a lot of time preparing for the

examinations. I hope your child is also preparing thoroughly for the examinations so they will be

successful and achieve the grades they need for their future.

I look forward to seeing your child celebrate their success when I give out the results on Thursday

16th August for the ASA/A levels and Thursday 23rd August for the GSCE examinations.

Good luck from all the staff at Norton Canes High School.

Mr I. Garfield

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Subject Dates ( To be arranged)Art April/May 2018

BTEC/ICT Assessment throughout the yearFrench April/May 2018Music May 2018

Date Examination Time Duration

Monday 14th MayReligious Studies: 8063

Christ/Sikhism13.30 1hr45m

Tuesday 15th MayFrench: Reading/Listening 8658 F/H 09.00 35/45m &

45/60mBiology: 1SCO 1B F/H 13.30 1hr10m

Wednesday 16th May Religious Studies 8063 13.30 1hr45mThursday 17th May Chemistry: 1SCO 1C F/H 09.00 1hr10m

Friday 18th May French: Writing 8658 F/H 09.00 60m/75mMonday 21st May - - -

Tuesday 22nd MayEnglish Lit: 1ETO 01 Shakespeare 09.00 1hr45m

Geography: The Physical Environment 1GA0/01

13.30 1hr30m

Wednesday 23rd MayPsychology: Unit 141801 09.00 1hr30m

Physics: 1SCO 1P F/H 13.30 1hr10mThursday 24th May Mathematics: 1MA1 1F/H 09.00 1hr30m

Friday 25th MayEnglish Lit: 1ETO 02 19th Century

Novel09.00 2hrs15m

D & T: Electronics A515 13.30 1hr30mSpring Bank Holiday

Monday 4th June History: Medicine in Britain 1H10 11 09.00 1hr15m

Psychology: Unit 2 41802 13.30 1hr30mTuesday 5th June English Language: 20th Cent Lit

C700U10-109.00 1hr45m

Geography: The Human Environment 1GA0 02

13.30 1hr

Wednesday 6th June Music: Listening and appraising 13.30 1hr30mThursday 7th June Mathematics: 1MA1 2F/H 09.00 1hr30m

Friday 8th June English Language: Nonfiction C700U10-1

09.00 2hrs

History: The American West 1HI0 24 13.30 1hr45m

Monday 11th JuneBiology: 1SCO 2B F/H 09.00 1hr10m

Geography: Investigations 1GA0 03 13.30 1hr30m

Tuesday 12th JuneMathematics: 1MA1 3F/H 09.00 1hr30m

History: Weimar & Nazi Germany 1HI0 31

13.30 1hr20m

Wednesday 13th JuneChemistry: 1SCO 2C F/H 09.00 1hr10m

Health & Social Care: 48201 13.30 1hr15m

Thursday 14th JuneFood Prep. & Nutrition: C56OUAO

D & T: Resistant Materials A56513.3013.30

1hr45m1hr30m

Friday 15th June Physics: 1SCO 2P F/H 09.00 1hr10m

GCSE Examinations Summer 2018

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Date Examination TimeDurati

on

Tuesday 8th May

Applied Law: Unit 1 Dispute Solving in Civil Law Year 12

BTEC Sport: Fitness Training & Programming for Health 31525H

09.0009.00

1hr30m2hrs30m

Monday 14th May D & T: D & T in Practice 6GR02 01 13.30 1hr30mTuesday 15th May - - -

Wednesday 16th May

Health & Social Care: Unit 2 HSC02BTEC Health & Social Care: Human Lifespan

Development Yr12Mathematics: Core Mathematics C1 6663

09.0009.0009.00

1hr30m1hr30m1hr30m

IT Cambridge Technicals: Global information Unit 2

13.30 1hr30m

Thursday 17th May - - -

Friday 18th MayBusiness Studies: The Business Environment

Unit 1 583501 Yr1209.00 2hrs

Monday 21st MayBTEC Sport: Anatomy & Physiology Unit 1

Yr1209.00 1hr30m

Tuesday 22nd May - - -Wednesday 23rd May Mathematics: Core Mathematics C2 6664 09.00 1hr30m

Thursday 24th MayGCSE Mathematics: Non Calculator 1MA1

F/H09.00 1hr30m

Friday 25th May - - -

SPRING BANK HOLIDAYMonday 4th June Physics: Advanced Physics 1 9PH0 01

Psychology: Paper 1 7182/113.3013.30

1hr45m2hrs

Tuesday 5th June Religious Studies: Paper 1 7062/1 09.00 3hrsSociology: Paper 1 7192/1 13.30 2hrs

Wednesday 6th JuneEnglish Lang & Lit: Voices-Speech & Writing

9EL0 01Mathematics: Mechanics M1 6677

09.0009.00

2hrs30m1hr30m

History: Britain Transformed 9HI0 1H 13.30 2hrs15mThursday 7th June Biology: Biological Processes H420/01

GCSE Mathematics: Calculator 1MA1 2 F/H09.0009.00

2hrs15m1hr30m

Friday 8th JuneD & T: Designing for the Future 6GR03 01

Physics: Advanced Physics 11 9PH0 02Psychology: Paper 2 7182/2

09.0009.0009.00

2hrs1hr45m

2hrsEnglish Lang & Lit: Varieties in Lang & Lit

9EL0 0213.30 2hrs30m

GCE EXAM TIMETABLE

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Mon

2/4/18

Tue

3/4/18

Wednesday

4/4/18

Thursday

5/4/18

Friday

6/4/18

Morning

Clo

sed

Clo

sed

9:30- 11:30

Science

WR

9:30- 11:30

Psychology

(year 13) CU

9:0

0-

13

:00

Art EV

9:0

0-

14

:00

Mu

sic (year 13

) GW

9:30-

11:30

Histor

y

SP

9:30-

11:30

Physics

(year 13)

WR

9:0

0-

13

:00

Art EV

8:00- 9:30

Art

EV

9:30-12:30

Maths and

English

PI MA WA

Afternoon 12:00- 14:00

Psychology

CU

12:30- 13:00

Art EV

Monday

9/4/18

Tuesday

10/4/18

Wednesday

11/4/18

Thursday

12/4/18Friday

13/4/18

Morning

9:30-

11:30

Re

ME

9:30-11:30

Psych

CU

9:3

0-1

4:0

0 Fo

od

tech SF

9:30- 11:30

Science

WR

9:3

0-

14

:00

Mu

sic GW

9:30-

11:30

History

SP

9:30

-

11:3

0

Phys

ics

(yea

r 13)

WR

9:30-11:30

Geography

FD

Afternoon 12:00- 14:00

Psych (year

13)

CU

12:00- 14:00

Music

GW

The holidays are approaching but the Summer exams won’t be far behind! We have put on an extensive revision timetable during the Easter break for Year 11 and 13 Students. Check the timetable below and try an get to as many of the sessions as possible.

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They managed this feat last weekend, defeating the biggest mountain in Wales in aid of Ronald MacDonald House, a charity that provides free accommodation for families who have very poorly children whilst they are in hospital.

Luis also used the climb to gain a challenge badge in his scouts and worked hard to get fit by doing over 50 miles of training before the big day!

Luis must be a natural as he said “the climb wasn’t too hard, well apart from the time I nearly fell off!!At the time of writing Luis and the team have raised over £9000 with the number continuing to rise.

I’m sure everyone at the school are immensely proud of Luis and the team for not just completing the challenge but also doing it for a great cause. Well done to all of you!

Climbing any mountain isn’t easy, but one of the biggest in the UK is definitely is a tough nut to crack but that’s the challenge which a team that includes our Y7 pupil Luis

Fiddler, set themselves back in January.

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We welcomed students from surrounding primary schools this term to take part in various exciting activities. Year 5 classes from local primary schools took part in workshops that ranged from experiments in the Chemistry Lab, making keyrings in Technology and even learning to play the dhol in the music department. All students and teachers left our school with a big smile on their faces and we hope to welcome them back in the future as we look to strengthen our partnerships with the local Primary schools.

On Wednesday 21st March The NC Voices plus soloists Bethan Crosby and Nicole Harry took to the stage at the Prince of Wales Theatre for an evening of entertainment to celebrate musical talent in the local area. Norton Canes High School students were joined by Kingsmead School, Hazelslade Primary and St Luke's Primary School in the concert organised by Cannock Lions Club. This is our fourth year of being involved in Schools in Harmony and will certainly be something we get involved with again next year.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS VISIT NORTON

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Year 7 history students were tasked with, finding at least one colour, animal and heraldic symbol to represent who they are on a Coat of Arms template. The winners not only produced a beautiful design, but justified their choices well too. Congratulations to the winners whose Coat Of Arms are opposite, Charlotte Sault, Aleekah Mills, Courtney Tedd and Evan Youd

Psychology and Law students visit the big city

Sixth formers studying Psychology and Law had an action packed few days when they visited London this March. Activities included participating in a mock trial at the Royal Courts of Justice, attending an hypnosis workshop and visiting the house of Sigmund Freud which is now a museum. They also managed to fit in a trip to the west end to see The Lion King and of course do a spot of shopping on Oxford Street.

Everyone had a great time and were a credit to the school.

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Wednesday 18th April 2018 (1.30pm – 3.00pm).

You are invited to Norton Canes High School for Coffee and

cake.

You will have the opportunity for an informal discussion with

Miss Birchall and Mrs Tuli about your child’s introduction to

high school and how things are progressing.

We look forward to seeing you!

YEAR 7 CELEBRATION

Year 7 have had a wonderful term filled with many achievements and successes. To celebrate this Year 7 pupils have all collated

their ideas and voted for an end of year celebration. The majority voted for Hide and Seek and late night stay at school. Pupils will

be given further information about dates and timings for this event after Easter. Well done Year 7!

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On Friday 9th March 2018, our Year 11 Geographers travelled

to Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire for their River Field-

Work Investigation as part of their GCSE Exam.

Students were tasked with investigating the flow, speed,

depth, meanders and wider environment of the river and had

an experience very different to classroom-based learning.

A River-ting Adventure.

Mrs Fiddler, Geography teacher said

“All the students worked exceptionally

hard as a team and represented the

school very well. It was an opportunity

to apply classroom learning to real life

situations and will most definitely help

them with their paper.” A huge well

done to all those in Year 11 that

attended and good luck for your final

exam.

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As seen above our Y10 and Y12 pupils have just completed very successful work experience placements in a wide variety of companies as part of our commitment to raising aspirations. We are currently looking to extend our database of local companies that can offer work experience to our pupils. Do you work somewhere that could offer placements to our students or do you know of someone who could? If so, please contact Mrs Diggory in school.

Congratulations to our Year 10 and 12 students who have successfully completed work experience placements over the last few weeks. Students have been to a wide variety of placements and learned lots about the world of work which has allowed them to reflect on their future careers. We have received many positive comments from the employers which is very pleasing. Some students have even been offered apprenticeships or Saturday jobs because of their excellent attitudes. They have been great ambassadors and to use a comment from one employer “a credit to the school”. Well done to all!

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We have accumulated quite a haul of lost property this term and hope we can reunite the majority of it with their rightful owners. If you think you may have misplaced something then pupils can have a look through lost property located in reprographics.

Throughout the spring term year 8 have explored volcanoes as part of their geography topic work. They learned all about the structure of the earth and how volcanoes are formed. Students investigated areas that have a lot of volcanoes and studied Mount St Helens along with an independent study of another volcano of their choice so that they could compare their findings. They were tasked with working in groups or pairs to create a personalised learning resource to demonstrate their volcanic knowledge. Work produced was high quality and ranged from presentations and quizzes, to explosive volcanoes.

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We, like always, have had a very busy term both in and outside of school taking part in a wide host of activities.

KS3 have put their running shoes on for charity. All students took part in the Sport Relief Mile. We are still collecting all the donations but congratulations to all that took part.

The Year 7 Netball team came 6th

out of 12 teams in the Cannock and District netball tournament on 22nd March. Fantastic performance by all of the girls on a very cold day!

We have been taking part in some House Competitions all term, here our a few of the winners from the most recent events.

EVENT WINNERS

Badminton Bucket Challenge Nightingale

Beat The Keeper Redgrave

Crossbar Challenge Churchill/Redgrave

Luke Kellas in Year 7 qualified to represent the school at the Cannock and District County Schools Cross Country. He came 3rd in his age group, which is a fantastic achievement. Well done Luke!

Their has been a local initiative to

encourage more girls into sport. We have run a girls only glow in the dark dodgeball club after school on a Tuesday, which has been well attended by all of the girls who have attended.

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I had an amazing time working at Shorade it has taught me a lot. I have another week of work experience lined up at Laches Wood Outdoor Education Centre, working as an outdoor educator with primary school children. At the end of the whole process I will start to think about my next steps, my career possibilities, college, courses, apprenticeships etc. There is a lot to consider but my work experience has given me a fantastic window on the world of work and plenty to think about.

With Year 10 and 12 having just completed their work experience placements, we thought we’d hear first hand how one Year 10, Brad Chapmans first week had gone.

I first visited Shorade way back in November. I needed to see if working there was going to be a good fit, for both me and them. I was so surprised to see the amount of amazing cars there and the amount of damage that needed to be repaired on them. My first morning I got dressed in my new overalls and my steel toe capped boots. I was a little nervous about going but remembered how kind everyone had been and my excitement to be around all of the amazing cars, soon outweighed the nerves.

My first job was working with the compressed air unit and taking tyres off cars. Then I moved on to strip down a door from a Bentley. Every day there was something new to learn. I enjoyed the practical hands on work. Totally different to being in school.

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Reminders

Car Park SafetyPlease do not bring your car on to the school site to drop off or pick up your child.This is becoming increasingly dangerous and especially so with an increase in pupil numbers.If there is a specific need a ‘Norton Car park permit’ will be issued by the school.

Mobile PhonesAlthough these are allowed currently on school site in designated areas please would parents not telephone their child during the school day .In the case of an emergency please contact the school reception.

Bikes/ Scooters and mopedsA permit must be obtained from the school reception for pupils wishing to use bikes etc. to school.

School Emergency ClosureIn the event of bad weather or any unforeseen circumstance a message will be posted on our website by 6.30 AM and will also appear on the school closure list www.staffordshire.gov.uk/school We will also send a text to all parents, place a message on the school gate and on the answerphone. Pupils who travel by taxi and school minibus will be contacted separately.

It is always a last resort to close school especially part way through a day. Please ensure that you have a contingency plan for your child if they should be unexpectedly sent home. We would always check with pupils that they can get home safely and have a key to get in. A text message would be sent out to all parents. If there is any doubt whatsoever pupils must remain in school with staff until they are collected.

Please ensure that we have your most up to date mobile phone number and email contact on our school system. Email these to office@nortoncanes-high.staffs.sch.uk

. Aspire, Achieve, Expect to Succeed