Weekly Message 255 – 14 February 2025
14th February 2025
We Will Rock You
As we approach the half-term break, we reflect on our school values Courtesy, Courage, and Commitment which shape our positive and ambitious school culture.
Courtesy has been shown through pupils’ kindness, respect, and charity efforts, including fundraising for Solent Mind and leadership development at City of Portsmouth College. Courage has been evident in pupils stepping out of their comfort zones, with standout moments including Dance Live!, We Will Rock You, and exciting trips like the half-term visit to Iceland. Commitment has led to improved homework completion and consequently stronger assessment results, particularly for Year 11 pupils also attending extra revision sessions.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on high expectations for uniform, behaviour, and hard-work in a disruption-free learning environment. Pupils, staff and parents and carers all play a part in upholding our values. Enjoy the break, and we look forward to an exciting second half of the Spring term!
Timetables after Half Term
There have been a few changes to some pupils’ timetables which will take effect from 24 February. Please can you ask your child to check their timetables on ClassCharts during half term so that they are prepared for the first day back.
Science Live
A group of pupils from Years 10 and 11, travelled to the iconic Brighton Dome, to see Science Live on Monday. They joined another 1500 pupils from schools across the region who watched presentations from some renowned and inspiring scientists.
The guest presenters were Lord Robert Winston (Professor, Medical Doctor, Broadcaster and Politician), Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock (Space Physicist and Broadcaster), Professor Jim Al-Khalili (Theoretical Physicist, Author and Broadcaster), Dr Eleonora D’Elia (Materials Scientist, Senior Teaching Fellow and STEM ambassador) and Professor Dave Cliff (Computer Scientist, Academic and Government advisor).
We heard about how they first became interested in their field of study and what they are currently researching. Each of them had their own unique style of presentation. Everyone had an enjoyable and interesting time.
We Will Rock You
The annual school production brings together so many different departments and pupils, working together to create lifelong memories. This week has been filled with laughter, singing and dancing. We are so proud of everyone involved in ‘We Will Rock You’, and we thank you everyone for their commitment, hard work, and effort. The show might be over for another year but certainly ‘don’t stop us now…’
Pupils Fund Raise for African Schools
This July, 48 Year 10 pupils will embark on a transformative volunteer expedition to Nakuru, Kenya. Their journey will focus on supporting vital community projects in this developing region, making a lasting impact. During their time in Nakuru, pupils will volunteer in three local schools, taking part in teaching, sports coaching, and essential renovation projects such as building classrooms, kitchens, and toilets.
As part of their commitment, pupils have been fundraising to support the cause. Two individuals have gone above and beyond, demonstrating exceptional dedication and initiative. A. Cripps set himself an incredible challenge—running 350km by July. So far, he has completed over 300km and has already raised more than £450 for the African Adventures Foundation Charity through his GoFundMe page. Meanwhile, A. Cansfield has worked closely with her gym, to organise a series of fundraising activities throughout February. She has raised £376, and her design is shown above. Last Sunday, Mrs Newman and Mrs Brooker attended the launch of a fun run she arranged, with all entry fees donated to the charity. Runners had to wear colours of the Kenyan flag. Additionally, she has designed a custom expedition t-shirt, helping to raise over £300.
We are immensely proud of both pupils. They are a credit to the school and their families, proving that initiative, determination, and hard work lead to incredible achievements. Well done to both!
After School Homework Room
Following feedback from pupils, we are opening an ICT suite Monday to Thursday after school for one hour. This will provide a quiet space for pupils to complete homework, rather than access homework support. Pupils can attend whenever they need to and can leave whenever they would like. Homework club will still be available for all pupils every Wednesday in the library when support from staff will be available.
Art Club – Quilling
After a few weeks of props making for the School Production, this week saw a much calmer Art Club with some relaxing Paper Quilling. Perfect for making Valentines Cards, Quilling is the art of creating artwork using coiled strips of paper glued to a surface.
In a stark contrast to last week, it was very much a relaxed atmosphere of 16 attendees. Most pupils chose to create wonderful letters in paper. They picked up the technique very easily and many seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Although, some may have a little less patience than others…
We will be finishing these off the first week after half term, so if anyone else would like to join us, they are always welcome. Art Club is open to all, and you don’t need to sign up, just turn up.
After half term we will be moving onto making table decorations for Jazz Cafe in March, and we will need plenty of hands to help!
Wednesday’s Art Club runs from 1500 to 1545 in Art2.
Maths Countdown
Sports Results
Year 7 Netball were placed 3rd in the Southampton tournament
Year 7 Netball were placed 2nd in the Cams Hill tournament
Year 8/9 Boys’ Basketball lost to Crofton 19-29
Menu w/c 24 February 2025
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.
End of Spring Term 1 – 1316 14/2
Non-School Uniform Day in aid of Solent Mind – 1340 24/1
African Adventures Fundraising Music Event – 1026 17/1/25
We Will Rock You – 0917 14/1/25
Celebrating our OFSTED Success – 1417 10/1/25
Sustrans Bike It Project – 1031 10/1/25
Statistics
House Points Averages per Pupil for This Week
Year 7 8.43 points
Year 8 5.63 points
Year 9 5.20 points
Year 10 5.41 points
Year 11 4.41 points
Attendance
This week – 92.9%
Same week last year – 90.5%
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 16.4 questions
Year 8 22.5 questions
Year 9 7.4 questions
Year 10 3.5 questions
Year 11 10.2 questions
Highest Number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 126 questions
Year 8 70 questions
Year 9 134 questions
Year 10 54 questions
Year 11 119 questions
Over 50% in Maths Homework
Year 7 67%
Year 8 56%
Year 9 47%
Year 10 39%
Year 11 28%
Over 75% in Maths Homework
Year 7 53%
Year 8 37%
Year 9 36%
Year 10 28%
Year 11 7%
100% in Maths Homework
Year 7 27%*
Year 8 11%
Year 9 21%
Year 10 12%
Year 11 1%
*For example, this figure means 27% 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 Spring Term
w/b 25 February – 7 March – Year 11 – 3 full mock papers, one non-calculator
w/b 5 March – Year 10 set 1 – GCSE Statistics mock paper – see letter 29/1
w/b 17 March – Year 10 sets 2 and 3 – two papers, one using a calculator
w/b 24 March – Year 9 – calculator paper
w/b 31 March – Year 8 – calculator paper
w/b 31 March – Year 7 – Non-calculator paper (tbc)
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.
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.
Dates for the diary: Pi Day bake-off (Friday 14 March)
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
Educake – Science
Average number of questions answered per pupil this week
Year 7 29 questions
Year 8 32 questions
Year 9 85 questions
Year 10 77 questions
Year 11 64 questions
Highest number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 660 questions
Year 8 148 questions
Year 9 918 questions
Year 10 372 questions
Year 11 386 questions