Weekly Message 246 – 29 November 2024
29th November 2024
There are three weeks remaining of this Autumn Term with lots happening between now and the Christmas break. Please do keep an eye on the calendar which can be found on our website and here
As well as staff training activities, teachers spent time on the INSET Day this week moderating exam marking to ensure consistency and to determine the feedback to be provided to pupils so that they can learn from this experience.
Parents and carers of Year 11 pupils are invited into school to meet with their child’s teachers on Tuesday 10 December 2024 with the booking system opening at 1800 on Friday 29 November 2024. This will be an opportunity to hear how their child is progressing and importantly what they can do in school and independently at home between now and the final exams.
Last Call for Class of 2024 – Certificate Collection
We invite our Class of 2024 into school on Tuesday 3 December 2024* to collect GCSE/Key Stage 4 certificates which will be available in Reception from 1530 to 1730. Coursework produced in Art, Photography and Graphics will also be available for collection at this time.
If ex pupils have a sibling at the school and would like them, or their parent/carer, to collect their certificates/coursework on their behalf, they should complete the slip that accompanied the letter sent on 12 November 2024. As well as the slip, parents/carers will need to bring photo identification.
* Please note that collection of either work and/or certificates after 3 December 2024 can only be arranged by prior appointment with the school. Certificates are retained by the school for 12 months; thereafter they may be disposed of by the school.
We do hope as many of you as possible can join us on 3 December; it will be lovely to catch up with you and hear how you are settling at college or what you have gone on to do since leaving Cams Hill School.
Portchester Christmas Lights Switch On – 1745 Friday 29 November
Some of our Key Stage 3 pupils are preparing amazing Christmassy performances for the Portchester Christmas Lights switch on this evening. They are performing at 17.45 and will have a 10-minute slot. The performances will take place outside the Red Lion pub in Portchester Precinct if anyone would like to pop along and support!
Christmas Lunch – Wednesday 11 December 2024
A reminder that the last date for booking for Christmas Lunch is Wednesday 4 December 2024. Bookings should be made via Scopay. Pupils eligible for free school meals will be provided with a Christmas Lunch with no need to pre-book.
Please note that no other food will be available at lunchtime and pupils not having Christmas Lunch will need to bring their own lunch on this day.
Christmas Concert Tickets
Year 11 PETA Assembly
On Friday a representative from PETA, a local apprenticeship provider, delivered an assembly to Year 11 pupils. Pupils were given an overview of the pathways into an apprenticeship and the qualifications they could achieve. They were also given information about the diverse range of job roles available as an apprentice and where they could search for such opportunities.
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
On Monday after a busy INSET Day of staff training and exam moderation activities, the Art Department hosted our annual Christmas wreath making workshop. We had 10 wonderful members of staff from across the school using a variety of foraged foliage to create their masterpieces which are now beautifully adorning their front doors. We are so lucky to have so much greenery around the school site and we were able to collect yew, holly, ivy and fir tree materials for our wreaths.
Maths Countdown
12 Attendance Days of Christmas
Attendance and Punctuality Matters
With some pupils arriving late to school we would like to remind everyone of the morning routine:
- Gate Timings
- The pupil gate opens at 0820 for all pupils.
- Years 7, 8, and 9 gather on the blue courts (south side), Year 10 on the north courts, and Year 11 go directly into the building.
- The gate closes promptly at 0830.
- Lateness Policy:
- Pupils arriving after 0830 are issued with a 20-minute breaktime detention, recorded on ClassCharts. Snacks can be brought to the detention.
- Missing breaktime detention escalates to a 40-minute after-school detention, with further escalation for non-attendance.
- Arrival after 0900 is marked as an unauthorised absence.
- Entry Rules:
- Pupils must not use Reception unless they have been issued with a pass.
- Persistent Lateness:
- Repeated lateness will prompt contact from the Year Team.
All pupils are held to the same standards, regardless of distance from school. Traffic issues or cold weather (eg de-icing cars) are not accepted as reasons for lateness.
Attendance Reminders: Your Support is Appreciated
- Please inform the school in advance of any medical appointments that may cause late arrival. Whenever possible, book appointments outside school hours. If an appointment during school hours is unavoidable, evidence such as an appointment card is required.
- When reporting your child’s absence, provide specific details. General terms like “illness” are insufficient, and we may need to request more information. If we don’t receive adequate information, the school may unauthorise the absence.
- According to NHS guidance (link), children can attend school with minor ailments like colds, headaches, sore throats, or coughs. Please encourage attendance to build resilience during the winter months.
A27 Cams Hill Improvement Scheme
As the A27 Cams Hill scheme is completing, night works to carry out the final section of the yellow box hatching along the A27 at the junction of Cams Hall Estate will be required on Friday 6 December 2024. During this time, access along the A27 will be restricted to one lane. The diversion plan is on the link below. Works will be undertaken between 9pm and 6am.
Lane Closure 6 Dec- PTCF A27
Sports Results
Year 7 boys’ basketball lost to Crofton 17-0
Year 8/9 girls’ football lost to Noadswood 2-0
Menu w/c 2 December 2024
Chefs Pod votes have been counted and the winning dishes are….
Number 1- Wednesday Loaded Fries
Number 2- Thursday New York Chicken Burger
Friday – Rice Krispy Cakes and Aero Choc Milkshake
Your say is important to us, so if you have any suggestions, please let us know via office@camshill.com.
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.
Attendance Matters – 26/11/24 1348
Christmas Concert – 19/11/24 1004
Christmas Lunch, 11 December – 8/11/24 1801
Odd Socks Day, 12 November – 8/11/24 1700
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
We are Recruiting
Curriculum Assistant Technician – Science
https://mynewterm.com/jobs/137538/EDV-2024-CHS-36754
Teacher of DT
https://mynewterm.com/jobs/137538/EDV-2024-CHS-97223
Teacher of Science
https://mynewterm.com/jobs/137538/EDV-2024-CHS-48908
Learning Coach
https://mynewterm.com/jobs/137538/EDV-2024-CHS-93068
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Snapchat
Below is a link to information from The National College on what parents and educators need to know about Snapchat.
Statistics
House Points Averages per Pupil for This Week
Year 7 6.78 points
Year 8 5.40 points
Year 9 4.93 points
Year 10 4.20 points
Year 11 3.29 points
Attendance
This week – 92.3%
Same week last year – 92.0%
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 11.2 questions
Year 8 13.2 questions
Year 9 10.8 questions
Year 10 14.6 questions
Year 11 12.4 questions
Highest Number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 133 questions
Year 8 75 questions
Year 9 61 questions
Year 10 87 questions
Year 11 56 questions
Over 50% in Maths Homework
Year 7 82%
Year 8 68%
Year 9 73%
Year 10 66%
Year 11 57%
Over 75% in Maths Homework
Year 7 70%
Year 8 50%
Year 9 53%
Year 10 41%
Year 11 29%
100% in Maths Homework
Year 7 50%
Year 8 23%
Year 9 24%
Year 10 12%
Year 11 9%
*For example, this figure means 42% of Year 7 got 100% in their homework tasks.
Figures in green indicate maintaining or an increase from last week.
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 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.
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 42 questions
Year 8 34 questions
Year 9 53 questions
Year 10 74 questions
Year 11 77 questions
Highest number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 246 questions
Year 8 422 questions
Year 9 205 questions
Year 10 488 questions
Year 11 557 questions