Weekly Message 129 – 3 December 2021
3rd December 2021
Credit Averages for This Week
Year 7 7.13
Year 8 8.52
Year 9 6.44
Year 10 4.00
Year 11 3.72
It has been a fun-packed week here at Cams Hill. There has been so much going on both in lessons and additionally as part of our co- and extra-curricular and programme; the ‘Big Ideas’ event organised by the Science Department for pupils in Year 7 and 8, a Drama workshop for pupils in Year 9, a visiting theatre company performing ‘A Christmas Carol’ for Year 10 and a Year 11 Art and Photography Trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter.
Staff value the opportunity to be able to offer enrichment activities and the feedback from pupils is incredibly positive too. We encourage pupils to keep a look out for things that they can get involved in beyond their lesson time. You can find information about our extra-curricular provision on our website https://www.camshill.com/school-life/enrich-extend-enjoy/extra-curricular-clubs-and-activities/
Letter from the Headteacher
Mrs Harrison-Jones (Headteacher) wrote to all parents/carers on Monday 29 November 2021 following the release of the Government Guidance for schools, outlining the measures we have in place owing to the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
We thank parents and carers and pupils for their response to the requirement for masks to be worn in communal areas and for ensuring that pupils are coming to school prepared with their COVID kits as defined in the letter.
Once again, we find ourselves in an ever-evolving climate and will keep parents/carers informed of any further developments over the remaining two weeks of term.
Year 11 Parents’ Subject Evening – NOW ONLINE
A reminder to parents and carers that the Year 11 Parents’ Subject evening will be taking place online (and not face to face as previously calendared). A letter has already been sent to parents and carers with the specific details.
Christmas lunch – change of date
Please be advised that the Christmas lunch has been moved from 15 December 2021 to 9 December 2021.
Year 9 Drama Workshops – Paper Birds
Year 9 pupils had the opportunity to work with Paper Birds, a highly acclaimed theatre company, on Thursday and Friday this week.
They have been studying practitioners and stimulus in their Drama lessons, so this was an extension of their learning and the chance to work with a professional theatre company. They explored ways to devise drama without spending too much time discussing and planning. They explored stereotypical heightened characters with regards to the theme of fame and celebrities. As part of the workshop, they created characters developing their use of gestures, choral speech, and dialogue.
Pupils developed their confidence through these well delivered workshops and left feeling more comfortable with devising their own work; as well as having a little bit of fun and lots of laughs along the way!
‘Big Ideas’
This week 120 pupils from across Year 7 and 8 participated in the “Big Ideas” day. This day revolved around the sustainability issues facing our planet and tasked pupils with creating a “Big Idea” for solving their chosen issue. We had some fantastic ideas from a solar powered plastic filtering robot to a scheme to collect food waste from schools and compost it to make ink.
The pupils will now develop their ideas over the coming months and submit them to a panel of judges ahead of their presentations at regional finals. If pupils are successful in the regional finals, then they will move up to national finals held, traditionally, at the Houses of Parliament in June.
Acts of Kindness (AOK) and Mission Christmas
Our biggest house challenge of the year has started!
AOK are seeking wrapped* presents suitable for the elderly at QA hospital with no families to buy for them. We are desperately trying to organise 100 presents for patients across three wards.
Gift Ideas: Slippers, soft sweets, face cream, puzzles, cards anything suitable for the elderly.
*Please note gifts must be wrapped with a note on the gift tag about whether it is for a male/female.
Deadline: 16 December 2021
Mission Christmas are seeking unwrapped gifts (suitable for 12–18-year-olds). For every gift donated, 10 house points will be added to your house point total! If you would like to donate but cannot gift a present for Mission Christmas, then a £1 donation will also get you 10 house points.
Gift Ideas: Make-up, colouring kits, socks, toiletries, games, cards etc.
Deadline: 17 December 2021
Drop off points can be found in Main Reception. Please spread the message so that members of the public who would like to get involved also know where they can drop off presents.
Thank you so much for getting involved and spreading some much-needed happiness.
Age-Inappropriate Content (Advice for Parents/Carers)
Below is a link to an update from Online Safety on age-inappropriate content (advice for parents/carers