Weekly Message 243 – 8 November 2024
8th November 2024
Key Stage 3 Remembrance Day display
A huge well done to all Year 11 pupils for their effort with the Mock Examinations this week with a few more to go next week too. They have been phenomenal and really paying attention to the staff around them who are helping them to conduct themselves in line with the Joint Council for Qualifications regulations. Teachers are busy marking and moderating ready to feed back to pupils later this term. Don’t forget it is the Year 11 Parents’ Subject Evening on 10 December 2024.
A reminder that on Tuesday 12 November we will be holding online tutor evenings for Year 8 and Year 9 from 1500 to 1800. Booking forms were sent to parents/carers on 4 November.
On Friday 15 November, the school will be raising money for BBC Children in Need. Pupils are invited to come into school in non-school uniform and to donate to the charity via ScoPay using the Charity Dress Down button between now and Friday 15 November 2024. If your child has a timetabled PE lesson on this day, please ensure they are wearing appropriate sportswear.
Please note that non-uniform day is optional, and we are happy for pupils to wear school uniform if they feel it is not something they wish to participate in.
We also remind parents and carers that the school is closed to pupils on Monday 25 November 2025 as it is an INSET Day. Please do refer to the school calendar for all activities and events taking place across the year.
PETA Information Assembly
On Thursday a representative from PETA, a local apprenticeship provider, delivered an assembly to Year 10 pupils. Pupils were given an insight into the broad range of qualifications and starting salaries available to school leavers. They also highlighted the importance of using leisure time to engage in meaningful activities to make them a ‘standout applicant’.
Remembrance Day Art Work
This term we tasked Key Stage 3 pupils with creating a piece of homework with the theme of Remembrance. Year 7 pupils had a free rein of what they could produce, Year 8 pupils were asked to create a silhouette reflection having looked at the local street artist My Dog Sighs and to link to their current portrait project with Year 9 pupils considering the role of animals in the war, to link with their current bird project.
We have had an incredible response from pupils across all three, year groups and we have begun a magnificent display of their work along the main corridor. The variety of materials, ideas and stories embedded in their artwork is phenomenal and it has been a joy listening to pupils explain how they came up with their ideas.
Miss Hutchings also created stunning batik art works with Key Stage 3 Art Club this Wednesday and the pupils enjoyed learning a new technique whilst creating their image of a poppy. The club was packed with over 30 pupils eager to get involved.
Please do look on our CamsCreative Instagram page for more images.
Yarn Club
In Yarn Club last half term, we learned how to make different friendship bracelets. This half term we’re learning crochet. Yarn Club meets on Thursdays after school from 1515 to 1600 in Sc1. Pupils from all year groups are welcome; no need to pre-book, just turn up on the day – it’s a good stress reliever during exam periods!
Educake Competition
Educake is hosting a contest where five lucky pupils will receive a £50 One4all gift card. All they must do is log in each week between now and the end of term and complete a quiz using the Revision Wizard.
https://www.educake.co.uk/student-revision-contest-revise-and-win-a-prize/
Cams Hill Community Cookbook
“Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.” – Auguste Escoffier
Whether it’s trying new foods or cooking together, food brings people closer through shared experiences. Studies also show that eating ‘good food’ can boost levels of endorphins and dopamine. So, with childhood obesity and the consumption of Ultra Processed Foods (UPF) on the rise, it’s more important than ever to encourage our children to eat – and cook – healthily from scratch.
With this in mind, we are planning to create a ‘Cams Hill Community Cookbook’ that will comprise of a selection of our favourite recipes and the stories behind them. By sharing our favourite dishes, we hope that this will inspire our community to try new recipes, flavours and share the joy that cooking and eating together can bring.
So, what’s your favourite? Granny’s fish pie or Dad’s apple strudel? The recipe can be either a starter, main course, side dish or dessert and you can upload your favourite via the form or QR code below. Deadline for submission 1700 on 15 November. We look forward to receiving your delicious recipes!
If you have any queries, contact Miss Allen via office@camshill.com.
https://forms.office.com/e/Xg4V0mxVSb
Year 10 Work Experience – can you help?
This week saw the launch of work experience with our Year 10 cohort. Pupils are being encouraged to seek placement opportunities to provide them with an experience of the workplace which will begin to equip them with vital skills for the future. This invaluable experience will take place between 31 March and 4 April 2025. Year 10 parents and carers will be in receipt of the pupil placement form and pupil FAQ sheet which we hope should address any questions arising at this stage. The deadline for forms to be submitted is 31 January 2025; however, we strongly urge finding a placement as soon as possible.
We appreciate that some pupils may find it challenging to source a placement. If anyone in our community can facilitate one of our Year 10 pupils for this experience, please contact careers@camshill.com
Sports Results
Year 7 boys’ football won against Portchester 6 – 3
Year 8 netball drew with Bay House 15 – 15
Year 8 boys’ football lost to Portchester 4 – 1
Year 10-11 netball won against Brookfield 25 – 18
Well done to everyone who took part.
Menu w/c 4 November 2024
NEW menu Week 2 (inset Friday)
We will be featuring the following:
- Apple Crumble and Custard on Thursday, this can be taken as part of the main meal or purchased separately
- Chef’s Pod is ‘Yorkshire Pudding Roast Dinner Wrap’
- After School – warm mini doughnuts will be available for purchase from the kiosk on Monday
Whole School Letters Published This Half Term
Below is a list of letters emailed to all parents/carers this half term together with the date and time they were sent. If you are unable to find any of the communications, please email office@camshill.com and we can send you a further copy.
Non- School Uniform day, 15 November – 8/11/24 0905
Remembrance Day – 5/11/24 1405
Uniform Expectations – 31/10/24 1318
Homework for Learning – 28/10/24 1414
Statistics
House Points Averages per Pupil for This Week – 4-day week
Year 7 7.71 points
Year 8 6.39 points
Year 9 7.40 points
Year 10 5.99 points
Year 11 1.98 points – mock exams this week
Attendance
| Dates | Total attendance |
| This week | 93.5% |
| Same week last year | 93.4% |
MathsWatch and Educake
These are two online resources that we expect pupils to be accessing routinely with homework set by teachers and independently to support their progress in Maths, Science, and other subjects. We ask parents/carers to check in with their child to see whether they are accessing these resources routinely and to encourage the best use of them.
If there are issues with access, please bring this to the school’s attention as soon as possible so that we can help.
MathsWatch
Average number of questions answered per pupil this week
Year 7 1.9 questions
Year 8 4.1 questions
Year 9 3.8 questions
Year 10 4.8 questions
Year 11 19.6 questions
Highest Number of questions answered by one pupil this week
| Year 7 | 188 questions |
| Year 8 | 133 questions |
| Year 9 | 34 questions |
| Year 10 | 126 questions |
| Year 11 | 248 questions |
Over 50% in Maths Homework
| Year 7 | 54% |
| Year 8 | 68% |
| Year 9 | 47% |
| Year 10 | 51% |
| Year 11 | 64% |
Over 75% in Maths Homework
| Year 7 | 45% |
| Year 8 | 46% |
| Year 9 | 35% |
| Year 10 | 28% |
| Year 11 | 35% |
100% in Maths Homework
| Year 7 | 33%* |
| Year 8 | 21% |
| Year 9 | 8% |
| Year 10 | 4% |
| Year 11 | 19% |
*For example, this figure means 33% of Year 7 got 100% in their homework tasks.
Not all Maths homework is set on MathsWatch, which is likely to affect the averages.
Maths Homework Club is open to all Years on Wednesdays in ICT2 until 4pm.
Year 11 Maths Revision on Mondays – see schedule in Maths classrooms for details.
Maths Assessment dates for Autumn term
w/b 11 November – Year 11 – final mock paper – calculator (12 Nov)
w/b 2 December – Year 10 – 2 papers, one using a calculator
w/b 9 December – Year 9 – calculator paper
w/b 16 December Year 8 – calculator paper
w/b 16 December – Year 7 – calculator paper
A revision list will be published a week before the assessment to support with homework preparation for the test.
Assessments will be marked by the class teacher and then feedback will be given in class along with a pupil feedback sheet to support future learning.
Casio fx-83GT scientific calculators can be bought via Scopay and collected from the Finance Office. Prices of these and other items for sale are shown below:
Calculators and other equipment for sale
Casio fx-83GT scientific calculators can be bought via Scopay and collected from the Finance Office. Prices of these and other items for sale are shown below:
Casio fx-83GT scientific calculator- £9.00
Pre-packed pencil case – £2.50
Pair of compasses – 29p
Protractor – 9p
100 blank flashcards – £1.00
A range of GCSE Maths revision materials for KS4 use – See Scopay for details
Please note that pupils in Years 9 and 10, who are currently in middle sets for Maths are covering the Higher tier syllabus. This will be shown as Intermediate on the assessment feedback sheet that gets emailed home.
Educake – Science
Average number of questions answered per pupil this week
Year 7 24.74 questions
Year 8 53.71 questions
Year 9 40.72 questions
Year 10 39.50 questions
Year 11 54.89 questions
Highest number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 708 questions
Year 8 371 questions
Year 9 500 questions
Year 10 363 questions
Year 11 957 questions