King Henry VIII School€¦ · and the music and orchestral score composed and arranged by Mr Hunt the school finally had a show! Using the characters of Elphaba and Glinda from the

‘Respecting tradition, embracing the future’ ‘Parchu traddodiad, camu’n hyderus I’r

King Henry VIII School Ysgol Brenin Harri’r VIII

Outstanding Pupils, Outstanding Opportunities!

“The Sound of Musicals”

Following a string of disappointments when trying to obtain a

license, the KHS production team were forced to write their

own musical! With the script written by Mrs Phillips-Nepean

and the music and orchestral score composed and arranged

by Mr Hunt the school finally had a show! Using the

characters of Elphaba and Glinda from the show “Wicked” as

the lead narrators we followed their story through musical

theatre in a theatrical spin off. The sixty-five strong cast sang

and staged numbers from some of the best loved musicals

including Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar,

Chicago and many more.

This year we also included twenty-four primary school pupils

from five of our feeder schools. The twenty-four pupils

starred in the Matilda scenes and ten of the pupils were also

munchkins! One primary school pupil, Gracie Gething played

the role of Gretl in all of our ‘Sound of Music’ scenes. She

really shone on stage and stole the hearts of the audiences.

Every night the theatre was sold out and the cast received a

standing ovation for all three performances. They performed

a WICKED show!! Thank you to Paul Assinder Photography for the

wonderful photos.

King Henry VIII students and staff enjoyed a wonderfully successful expedition to Mexico in July. They completed a week in the semi-deciduous tropical rainforest gathering data on flora and fauna using

mist-netting and other techniques, and one week undertaking a PADI dive qualification and studying marine ecology in Akumal bay. The students had the experience of a lifetime and would like to thank the school and wider community for their support.

Operation Wallacea - Dominica 2019

We are currently planning an expedition to Dominica in July 2019 where we are taking twenty students out to this almost

pristine island in the Caribbean, lovingly referred to as “The Nature Island”. This will provide the students with a unique

opportunity to gather data on the flora and fauna for conservation work and also the opportunity to help in research about the

impacts of hurricanes on Caribbean environments following Hurricane Irma.

Operation Wallacea - Mexico 2017

Message from the Headteacher, Mrs E Lewis

It gives me great pleasure to present our Autumn Newsletter. This gives an overview of the range of

activities that took place at the end of the summer term and this term. It has certainly been busy!

One of our key themes at KHS is that we strive to deliver high quality learning in lessons but also provide

our students with many opportunities out of lessons to develop

their wider skills and competencies.

Over the past six months many of our pupils have engaged in curriculum enrichment

activities such as visiting the Hay Literary Festival, going on residential visits such as

Glanllyn, undertaken field work or engaged in community projects such as The

Phoenix Project with Abergavenny Fire Service.

Furthermore, many of our students engage in weekly clubs run by staff at lunchtime

and after school. All these activities allow our students to see more of the wider

world and start to develop their own ambitions for future learning and the world of

work. We have also been lucky to engage employers such as Renishaw who have worked with our learners developing not only

technical knowledge but also their problem solving skills. This year we have enrolled in the Education Engineering Scheme

Wales.

Through events such as charity work including Children in Need and our Remembrance

Service our students are challenged to think about their own contribution towards our local

and global society. For those students that engaged in Operation Wallacea they were able to

see first-hand the impact of man’s actions on the environment.

Sports, drama and music have always been strong at KHS. Last summer we were treated to an

excellent sports day that was then followed up by the outstanding ‘Sound of Musicals’.

Engagement in such activities instils confidence in our young students. Across the school, we

are promoting the ‘Ut Prosim’ award that rewards pupils for engaging in the extra dimension

we offer at KHS. I ask you to encourage your son or daughter to get Involved so they can

develop into well rounded resilient learners.

This term we have continued to forge links with other schools and educational providers. This

has allowed us to share our best practice but also observe alternative ideas that we have

brought back to KHS to embed into our own

learning. We are also a provider for Initial Teacher Training and for Newly

Qualified Practitioners (pictured left). This allows a significant number of staff

to be involved in development opportunities again further enhancing their

own practice.

In September we were selected by Estyn to be part of a best practice review

around ‘Teaching and Learning’ and

‘Leadership’. We look forward to

the final report.

We were delighted with the news that the Welsh Government decided to fund the

development of a significant new build for the Abergavenny Cluster. We await the

details of what this means in reality and as soon as we have more detailed

information, we shall share this with yourselves.

Lastly can I thank all parents and guardians for your engagement this term, your

attendance at information events, progress days and parent evenings has been

excellent and your feedback has always been welcomed. I trust you enjoy reading about the success of all our students in this

newsletter and look forward to working with you all in the New Year.



English and Maths

The Scholastic fair was once again a resounding success with

over £800 worth of books purchased. All the money spent will be

converted into rewards which will be used to buy more new

books for the library. Thank you to all those who supported the

book fair and to the wonderful ‘Book Fair Helpers’ from Year 8

and Year 9:- Jamelia Turley, Molly Smith, Cariad Reece, Ella

Jones, Alice Chambers, Catrin Jones, Charlie James, Angharad

Worsley, Bronwyn Morris, Eleanor Smith, Kian Jones, Christine

Taylor, Gethin Jones, Sam Williams and Lloyd Mann.

Scholastic Book Fair

Saturday School!

We had a fantastic session on Saturday, November 11, when the

entire maths department came in to run a revision session with

Year 11 in preparation for the GCSE examination on the following

Monday. The attendance was fantastic, with over three quarters

of the year group coming in to work. Huge thanks to them, huge

thanks to the maths teachers and huge thanks to the canteen

staff for coming in and providing breakfast for everyone!

We look forward to seeing the results in January!

Film Club Experience Following on from Year 8 pupil Cara Anderson’s successful

film review of “Twilight” in the summer, Into Film visited

KHS in September to run a Film club workshop during

which our film clubbers used ipads to made their own mini

films. Regular film clubber Lara Emberson Year 9

commented “It was an eye opener to the world of film

making”. Thanks must go to Hywel Roberts from Into Film

for giving up his time to visit us. Film Club runs every

Tuesday after school in the Library-for more information

please ask Mrs Robinson

Creative Writing Club

A new creative writing club has started up for KS3 budding word-smiths! The club is

presently open to Year 9 pupils, on a Wednesday lunch-time in Room 301, within the

English suite. Mrs Clausen, who has recently joined the department, is only too happy

to share her own love of the written word and help to develop the confidence and a

‘give it a go’ attitude with anyone interested in working with their written creativity

while exploring new ‘ways-in’ to picking up the pen (or pencil!) Fun is the order of the

day, with a relaxed and trusting atmosphere where participants can journal ideas,

working with a range of techniques and approaches to creative writing. As Year 9

pupil Luke D’Souza Smith commented “Its really pushed my writing forward. I can plan stories much more

effectively and generate more convincing characters.” There will be opportunities for Year 7 and Year 8 to take part for a block

of sessions in the new year. Please contact Mrs Clausen (Mondays and Wednesdays) for more information!

Winner-Cara Anderson with Scarlet-

Mae Morgan-Jenkins both Year 8



Science, Languages and Humanities

MFL and Welsh Activities

The MFL and Welsh department put on a variety of activities for Year 10 as

part of the collapsed timetable at the end of the summer term. These

included a French quiz, Welsh folk dancing, a Spanish song, recipe writing in

German, a Welsh treasure hunt and some Latin American dancing such as

the salsa, rumba, paso doble and flamenco. A big DANKERSHÖN/ MERCI/

DIOLCH/ GRACIAS to the pupils, the MFL and Welsh staff and Leah-Marie

from Fitsteps who gave up her time to keep everyone dancing to the

rhythms! For more info about Fitsteps visit Leah-Marie on Facebook at:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/fitstepswithleahmarie/

Criw Cymraeg

As part of our Siarter Iaith: Language

Charter to develop bilingualism across the

school, a Criw Cymraeg has been elected

from Year 7 to lead the language charter and further develop

the Welsh ethos of the school. Pupils have already been

involved in the launch event on the 5th of December with

visiting performers Danielle Lewis and Mr Phormiwla. Pupils

will help create bilingual displays, contribute to newsletters

and develop the use of incidental Welsh around the school.

We are really looking forward to seeing the Welsh language

become more prevalent in our day to day lives. Pob Lwc

Blwyddyn 7!

Welsh Baccalaureate

In the last weeks of the Summer term, Year 9

got to grips with the Skills Challenge

Certificate, a vital component of the Welsh

Baccalaureate. In a fun filled day, including

problem-solving, creativity, innovation and

communication, students had to create towers

with spaghetti and marshmallows and create

their own chocolate bar, including pricing ,

designing and marketing. Now in Year 10,

students are working on Global Citizenship.

Religious Education

This term year 10 have started a brand new GCSE syllabus, looking at the religions of

Christianity and Hinduism. Currently there is no examination board text book to

support these options and so a bespoke King Henry VIII School text book has been

written and printed. We are all very pleased with the results and are looking forward

to using it with our students. We will keep you posted with the progress of our Unit 2

book, which will be written to support students when they are in Year 11.

Who killed Dr

Jameson?

This month has seen the

grand finale of the ever

popular Science topic

“Murder Most Foul “. All

of Year 7 will meet the suspects (played by

Year 12 and 13 drama students) in the hall and

interrogate them to find out who killed Dr

Jameson.



https://en-gb.facebook.com/fitstepswithleahmarie/

Languages and Humanities

Glanllyn

Geography Field Trip Homeless Collection

An overwhelming number of items were donated to the Welsh

department in aid of the “Christmas Homeless Appeal” run by the

Huggard Group, a charity in Cardiff which supports those on the

margins of society. Head of Department, Mrs R Dickenson

expressed her gratitude saying: - “It took the whole of my Year 10

class to carry it to my car and my car was filled to the brim with

items of all kinds.” Thank you to all for your kind donations!

Year 11 fieldwork took place

earlier this term. They

visited the Brecon Beacons

to undertake a river

investigation into how flow

changes downstream. They

also spent the day in

Newport city centre to

investigate differences in

shopping environments.

In December Year 12 and

Year 13 are visiting a field study centre for three days .

Year 12 will be in Snowdonia investigating evidence of

glacial change while Year 13 will be conducting their

individual investigations in Telford Town Park.

Ypres In July the History and

Welsh departments took a

group of Year 9 and Year

10 pupils to Ypres. During

the trip the pupils were

moved by the sight of the

war memorials and

monuments and were

astounded by the sheer

scale of loss. It was a

wonderfully memorable

experience for all.

What a blast! Another fantastic trip to Glanllyn residential centre in North Wales for Year 8 pupils this October. Pupils

enjoyed a huge range of activities including kayaking, raft building, high ropes course, falconry and much much more!



Technology and IT

Ready Steady Cook

The oven gloves were on as Year 8 battled

it out; Red Team against Green Team at

the KHS Ready Steady Cook competition.

Both teams produced amazing dishes. It was a very close

competition with the red team the eventual winners-well

done to both teams!

Kahoot!

Year 10 pupils have been busy learning how to use Kahoot!, a

game based classroom response system, as a technology tool

to create quizzes, discussions and surveys. Multiple-choice

questions are projected on the screen and pupils are able to

answer the questions with their smartphone, tablet or

computer. They put questions in that would help them revise

for their ICT exam.

In October, twelve Year 9 More Able and Talented (MAT)

students visited Cardiff University as part of ‘The Scholars

Programme’. The students were shown around the various

academic buildings and received a talk on careers and

progression into university. They will work alongside a PhD

student from Cardiff University completing a STEM project

throughout the year.

Abergavenny Food Festival

Year 10 pupils Hermione Holder and Sean Baldock competed head to

head at the Abergavenny Food Festival to win a place at the next

round of the Rotary Young Chef competition. In front of a packed

audience on the stage at the Market Hall, each prepared a three

course meal to an exceptionally high standard. While both were

commended by the judges, Hermione was pronounced overall winner

and will go on to represent KHS at Crickhowell in January. Hermione was thrilled to be introduced

to celebrity chef Tom Kerridge (pictured right) who congratulated her on her Food Festival win

and asked her about her menu.

Brilliant Club



Post 16 and School Council

Head Girl and Head Boy

Pictured left to right our new Head girl and Head boy with

deputies.

Falesha Lewis - Deputy

Maddie Robertson - Head Girl

Morgan Emberson - Head Boy

Megan Taylor - Deputy

King Henry’s Sixth Form Social!

Join us on the 14th of December to celebrate Christmas with our Sixth

Form’s first ever social! The night will start at 7:00 and

finishes at 12:00, taking place at the Hogs Head - NP7 8TA.

It promises to be an enjoyable evening with a DJ, Chip Stand and Bar! Bring

along a friend if you wish and join in with the festive fun, we hope to see you there! Tickets are £8 each.

Year 12 Engineering Education Scheme Wales

Eight Year 12 students are embarking upon an Engineering Challenge this

year. They are taking part in the prestigious Engineering Education Scheme Wales

(EESW), which is a STEM based initiative backed by the Welsh Assembly

Government and other Professional Organisations. The students will be working

alongside an experienced Engineer from Associated British Ports Group, which is the UK's leading ports

group, it owns and operates twenty-one ports in England, Scotland, and Wales, and handles approximately

a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade. They have been given a ‘real life’ engineering problem to solve and will be attending

workshops in December at Cardiff University to access specialist support and guidance. It is an exciting opportunity for

them to be a part of the scheme and one which they will find very rewarding.

School Council Elections 2017

School Council elections took place this term with pupils being

invited to submit an application for consideration before each

year group were given the opportunity to vote either in

assemblies or during registration period. With some innovative

ideas being put forward to encourage voters and some closely

contested places, the following candidates were elected:-

Year 11 Cosmo Bawler and Elizabeth Morgan

Year 10 Charlie Aldous and Megan Griffiths

Year 9 Angharad Worsley and Zane Davies

Year 8 Amelia Jones and Rowan Harris

Year 7 Abigail-Jaye Harrington and Thomas Davies



Team Sport and Individual Success

Individual Sporting

Success

As always KHS pupils have been

enjoying some excellent

individual sporting successes this

term. Year 7 pupils Ffion

Williams and Will Spiers have

been selected to represent the county in cross-country. Year 8 pupil

Dylan Ruck won the World Championship Kick Boxing title for the third time. Record breaker Eliza Atkins

Year 11 who is in the Welsh Football squad became the youngest ever player to represent Abergavenny

Women Football Club. Year 11 pupils Alex Francis, and Chris Taylor continue to train in the Welsh Hockey

squad as does Nell Butler who has already played for Wales.

Rugby

This term KHS rugby boys have played several fixtures against St Julian’s, Ebbw Fawr, Crickhowell and

Brecon. We have won seven out of eleven games. A special mention has to be made to all the boys who

played in the away fixture at Brecon. It was the worst weather we have ever come across with gale force

winds and horizontal rain. IT WAS FREEEZING!!! The boys didn’t moan or complain and just got on with it.

The boys’ attitude and determination was outstanding. It has been a great start to the season with much

more rugby to come after the Christmas break!!

Congratulations to Year 10 pupils Morgan King, Jack Powell, Joe Cooper and James Watkins on being chosen to play in the first

two district rugby matches winning both games. Good luck to Dan Lebbon, Tom Welford, Jack Robinson, Kai Lowther and Sam

Richards, who are also in the district squad this year.

Basketball Club

Are you in Year 7, 8 or 9? Do you fancy playing basketball? Come

along to a basketball club run by Katie a sports development officer.

Open to all year groups (trainers only needed for lunchtime but PE

kit needed for after school). It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played

before or you think you are Lebron James come and give it a go! We

are located in the gym every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime and

after school.

Year 7 Football Club

Another popular club this term for Year 7

boys and girls is the Football club which

takes place every lunchtime on the MUGA. Run by

Mr Hollingworth and Sixth Form volunteers it is a

friendly club suitable for any ability. It starts at

1.20pm. All are welcome and gates are open for

players to join throughout lunch time.

KHS Dance

A dynamic Dance class with KS3 and KS4 students runs

every Tuesday after school. Students have been

having lots of fun

working on developing

a dance motif using a

combination of moves

from a variety of dance

styles. Come join us

every Tuesday.

Sports Activities

As part of a wide variety of sport

activities offered to all Year 7 pupils

during lunchtime in the gym a group of

Sixth form volunteers have been

teaching pupils how to play Atomic

rugby which mixes elements of touch,

netball, basketball and rugby together

to come up with this exciting, high-

speed, multi-directional game. It has been a resounding success-

popular with both pupils and volunteers!



Remembrance

Service

In November Year 8 pupils, the school orchestra and choir along with Canon Soady, led the

school in a very moving Remembrance service. We had a large number of guests and

members of the Governing Body, they were all very impressed with the pupils. Many thanks

to Assistant Head Teacher Mr M Williams, Mr M Hunt, Miss A Price and Year 8 form tutors

for all their hard work in organising the service.

On Sunday morning the school was represented by Head Girl Maddie Robertson, the Head

Teacher Mrs E Lewis and CoGB S Phillips at the Remembrance service in Abergavenny Town

centre. As usual it was lovely to see so many of our pupils representing other organisations.

10th - 12th July 2018

The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny

Rehearsals are already underway for our summer production of the wonderfully moving Evita based on the life of Eva Peron!!

Music Department Concert

The music department are proud to announce their

choral/orchestral concert, which will take place on Saturday 10th February featuring

the ‘Grieg Piano Concerto, with soloist Mr J Metcalf.

Performances of medleys’ from ‘Miss Saigon’ and ‘Les Miserables’,

accompanied by a professional orchestra. All are welcome to attend this marvellous

event!

Music and Drama

Abergavenny Borough’s Got Talent

Congratulations to talented pianist Alice Lang Year 10

who took first place in the Abergavenny Borough’s Got

Talent Competition with her stunning performance from

“Pirates of the Caribbean”. Year 13 pupil Kerrigan

Heffernan took second place. Well done to all the

talented KHS pupils who took part - you were amazing!

Congratulations to Year 7 pupil

Olivia Fisher celebrating first place

in pianoforte solo and second place

in vocal solo at Cwmdu Eisteddfod

recently. Superb, well done Olivia!

Remembrance Service



School News

Aslan? No it’s ASDAN!

This is the name of the pioneering curriculum development organisation

offering qualifications that explicitly grow skills for learning, skills for work

and skills for life. Here in the ALN Department we offer two courses

’Certificate of Personal Effectiveness’ Levels 1 or 2 (CoPE) and

‘Assessment of Personal Effectiveness’ (AoPE). Both courses are designed

to help pupils to develop their skills of problem solving, communication,

research, working with others, self-management and giving presentations.

It is a course which aims to help young people to achieve the very best

they can whatever their ability.

Pictured are Year 10 pupils Mootasem Zawi, Georgina Humphrey and

Kanisha Richards with their ‘end of module’ certificates.

The Drama department recently visited

Bristol Old Vic to see Kneehigh’s

production of “The Tin Drum”. Staff

and pupils were “blown away” by the

incredible puppetry. It was a breath-

taking performance!

Drama Trips

The department also organised a trip

to take pupils to see “Aladdin” in

London - look out for our posts on

Twitter:-

KHSAbergaveny@Kinghenryschool

Art

Congratulations to Year 13 pupil

Emily Eeles who has been selected

to exhibit her stunning art-work

(pictured right) in three prestigious

exhibitions!

Year 10 pupils have been exploring

a range of media resulting in

beautiful research sheets (pictured

left) on the artist Françoise Nielly.

They are exploring everything from

collage to oil pastels with outstanding results! Meanwhile Year 11 pupils

have been preparing for their mock GCSE exams by researching L. S. Lowry-

we wish them every success!



Children In Need

School News

Gwent N-Gage

A group of KHS pupils joined young people

from across the region to show their

support at the launch of a new Gwent N-

Gage Service offering support to young

people under the age of eighteen affected

by alcohol or substance abuse.

Selected pupils from Year 8 and Year 9 had five days with the South

Wales Fire Service as part of the Phoenix Project. This project is an

approach to engage with communities and seeks to educate and

inform young people about the hazards associated with fire and the

wider issues surrounding community safety. By exploring and

challenging their own personal limitations through the activities they

undertook throughout the week such as team games, climbing the

fire tower and using the hoses, the pupils learned to improve their

social skills, think more independently and also think about others

around them. This process revealed hidden qualities that previously

have never had the opportunity to be brought to the surface. We

uncovered confident leaders, considerate individuals, sharp minds

and articulate thinkers! Well done to all pupils involved.

A fantastic day was had by all at King Henry VIII School. Pupils engaged in a

range of activities including a talent showcase, football tournament, cake

sale, photography booth and movie hour. The day began with an act of

collective worship led by Mrs J Wilkie, Deputy Headteacher which focused

on their responsibility to help those less fortunate than themselves and how

they could help contribute towards Children in Need. Pupils wore non-

school uniform and raised £738.00. Additional activities during the

afternoon took the figure to an amazing £1346. Well done KHS!!



KS4 Study Skills Club

Mon to Thurs

Sixth Form Resource

Area

3.15pm – 4.15pm

Clubs, Societies and Parent Information

Communication

To help us to improve school communications please ensure we have an accurate email address from every

parent with a pupil in the school.

Follow us on ‘Twitter’:- KHS Abergavenny@Kinghenryschool

Please make every effort to check out our website. This holds key information about our school:-

www.kinghenryviiischool.co.uk School Email:- [email protected]

PTCA

If you are able to help the PTCA either regularly or occasionally

then please contact Sacha Corrado (School Support Officer)

on 01873 735373.

Dates for the Diary

22 December 2017 End of Term (1.30pm) 04-10 January 2018 Ski Trip 08 January 2018 INSET (School Closed) 09 January 2018 Start of new term 11 January 2018 Awards Evening 18 January 2018 Post 16 Open Evening 01 February 2018 Y10 Parents’ Evening 10 February 2018 Music Department Concert 15 February 2018 Careers fayre 19–23 February 2018 Half Term

LUNCHTIME AFTER SCHOOL

MONDAY Orchestra Christian Union Dungeons & Dragons Y7-9 Girls Rugby Y7-9 Sport Activities Y7 Football Y7

Boxing Y7-13 Football Y7 Netball Y7 Netball Y10 Study Skills Y10-13 Business Studies Y10,11 HW Club Y7-9 Rugby Y8 ,9 GCSE Revision Y11

TUESDAY Business Studies Y10,11 Full Choir Warhammer Club Basketball Y7-9 English Club Drama Rehearsal Y11 Maths Challenge club Girls Football Y7-9 Gymnastics Y10,11 Sport Activities Y7

HW Club Y7-9 Study Skills Y10-13 Resistant Materials CAT Club Y11 Film Club Y7-9 Netball Y8 Basketball Y7-9 Dance & Fitness Y7-9 Football Y8,9 Rugby Y7

WEDNESDAY Maths Club Health & Social Care Chess Club Y7-9 Cross Country Football Y7 (Astro) Basketball Y7 Rugby Y10 Creative Writing Y9

HW Club Y7-9 Study Skills Y10-13 STEM Club Y9 Netball Y9 Basketball Y7-9 Hockey Y7-9 Rugby Y10,11 ABRSM Music Theory grade 1-5

THURSDAY Junior Choir Y7-9 Senior Choir Y10-13 Boys Choir Y7 Library Ambassadors Y8,9 Sport Activities Y7 Basketball Y8 Drama Y7,8

HW Club Y7-9 Study Skills Y10-13 Girls Badminton Y7,8 Football Y10,11 Basketball Y7-9

FRIDAY Wind Band Science Catch-up Football Y9 Basketball Y9 Languages Club Y7-9 Sport Activities Y7

Lunchtime and After School Sports. Please ask the

Leisure Centre/PE Department for further details or check out our plasma screens.

Lunchtime and After School Clubs

KS3 Homework Club

Mon, Wed and Thurs

School Library

Tues in Rm 224

3.15pm - 4.15pm



http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjTl4Gmw7XSAhVJtRQKHUtTBTsQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwebarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk%2F20081023083128%2Fnew.wales.gov.uk%2Ftopics%2Fcultureandsport%2Fsportandact

Documents

King Henry VIII School€¦ · and the music and orchestral score composed and arranged by Mr Hunt the school finally had a show! Using the characters of Elphaba and Glinda from the