Headlines

May 2005

What we do well.....

It is always very pleasant when we get positive feedback from visitors to this school, especially when those visitors have experience of a wide range of schools. Most recently, we have received praise from County Council staff relating to the way we keep the buildings, the calm and pleasant behaviour of the students, in class and around the school, and the friendliness of both staff and students. These comments have also been made by a number of candidates on interview for various jobs and representatives of companies selling a wide range of products. All the comments have been unsolicited!
We also have the report on the parent questionnaire from Kirkland Rowell marketing.
The first sentence of the Executive Summary reads: "the school has reason to be happy with most of its activities". More detail after half term.

Sorry and Thanks

Many apologies to the parents of Year 7 students for the typing error on the front page of the report.
Many thanks to the small group of parents who have asked questions about the details of the vertical tutor groups in response to our letter last month. If anyone else would like to discuss the placing of their son/daughter/foster child, they are still welcome to contact Tony Kloska or Simone Windley.

Raising Aspirations

On 27 and 28 April a selection of boys from Years 10 - 12 took part in a fascinating two-day trip to Cambridge. They were introduced to students and staff at Downing College, one of the many colleges that form part of Cambridge University. The trip encompassed a range of activities designed to prepare students for University. Year 10 and 11 students were guided around the historic town of Cambridge and shown various lecture sites, whilst the Year 12 students were talked through the application process for university entry and given mock interviews. In the evening we ate in the student dining hall and visited the student union. There were opportunities to mix with students from the university and find out what university was like. On day two students were taken to the see the Classics department and experience a mini lecture. Students returned from the trip, excited about the prospects that have been presented to them.        Contact Rachael Bate

Transitions

The last four weeks have been very busy for Year 9 students; the SATs in English, Maths and Science, followed by the intensive programme of writing skills, led by our staff and a variety of visiting writers. The programme culminates on the last day of half term with Year 9 transitions super learning day - a day of work in preparation for the change to working at GCSE level.                            Contact Simone Windley

Work Experience

Year 10 students are currently out on work experience in a variety of placements within the local area and far beyond. Contact Sue Gray

Uniform

We are very pleased with the improvement in the smartness of our students this year, with over 97% in full uniform over the last two and a half terms. Members of the School Council have approached the Governing Body with a request for a change in the uniform from Summer 2006. The Governors have asked them to consult staff and parents/carers so you will find a questionnaire with this issue of "Headlines". Please respond so that they can present their findings to the July meeting of governors.  Contact Caroline Bee

VE Day

The 11 May was a very busy and productive day for the Year 13 English students when they attended the local British Legion's monthly meeting. The students were invited to share their experiences and thoughts about the sites they visited on the Somme and Flanders. The students read a selection of First World War poetry written by some of the most famous poets. Their appreciative audience asked many questions about their experience visiting the infamous battle sites and were most interested to know how it had affected them. They then shared their memories of their experiences during the 1939 - 45 war. It was a very poignant time in a room strewn with Union Jacks on a day
that many were thinking about the 60th anniversary of VE Day. After that very eventful session the students then rushed to meet Year 12 students and hurried down to the Hall for Cornwall to watch a RSC performance of 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona'.                       Contact Anne Littlejohns

Year 11 Prom

On Wednesday 29 June students from Year 11 and staff will be celebrating at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay by enjoying a five-course meal and entertainment. The event has been organised by Year 11 students with help from Sarah White of Party People, a local events organiser, and Karen Sully. Tickets are £18 and are available to staff and Year 11 students. Bus tickets are £5 return and both can be purchased from school. We are looking forward to a fantastic evening. Photographs will be in the Cornish Guardian.                         Contact Karen Sully

Jumble Sale

Year 11 are organising a jumble sale, to be held in the school hall, on Saturday 18 June from 10.00am - 1.00pm. There will be refreshments, a raffle and a cake stall. Proceeds will go towards the Year 11 Prom celebrations and towards cystic fibrosis research. If you have any jumble, toys, books, bric-a-brac that you wish to donate, please bring it along to reception.                                                 Contact Karen Sully

French Exchange 2005

The French Exchange 2005 took place in February and May this year. It was run in conjunction with Wadebridge school - a very successful partnership which looks set to continue. All participants had a wonderful experience and several are already planning to take part again in 2006. Information will soon be available for the next exchange from Miss Nadaud.                                                 Contact Julia Nadaud

School Magazine

'Randomly Organised', the school magazine is well on its way to a second edition print but, like all great and wonderful things, it does need funding and/or specific talent. Calling all ... any graphic designers, we could do with your talents if we are to continue. If you think you could give us some time then please contact the editor of the magazine and we will gladly give you all the details of how we can put your experience to good use.                                                        Contact Anne Littlejohns

Head lice

It has been brought to our attention that there are children in the school with head lice. It would be advisable for parents/guardians to check regularly for this, and to seek further advice from your local pharmacist if you are concerned.                                   Contact Chris Cook

GCSE / GCE Artwork

We hope you will take the opportunity to walk by Lambray's Auction House, The Arcade, Wadebridge, between 4 and 31 July, where students from Years 11, 12 and 13 will be displaying their GCSE and GCE artwork.                                                              Contact Liz Isaacs

School Sports Co-ordinator (SSCo) Partnership 2004/2005

Eighteen Year 10 students have regularly attended JSLA (Junior Sports Leader Award) lessons after school on Thursday. To work towards this award they have regularly visited Camelford CP School, running various lunchtime activities with Years 4 and 5. They have organised after school tag rugby taster sessions at five primary schools. The JSLA students have also helped to organise, officiate and run the following events for the feeder primary schools: Hi 5 Netball Festival, Hi 5 Netball Tournament, KS1 Festival, Tag Rugby Tournament, Basketball Tournament, Football Tournament. A number of our students have attended leadership, umpiring and coaching courses. The SSCo Partnership is largely funding the cost of re-marking the tennis and netball courts.                 Contact Nick Eacott

More PE news…….

A Surf Academy is now established at school, working with Saltwater Training and Harlyn Surf School. The Academy is split into two ability groups each of which has eight students. Ten Year 11 students have been undertaking the National Aquatic Rescue Standard Pool Lifeguarding course. The course will go on for twelve weeks, after which the students will take the qualification exam that will enable them to work as a lifeguard in any pool in the UK. Mara Luke worked with individual classes delivering 'Funky Dance' and ran an after-school club for half a term. Fourteen Year 9 girls went to Wadebridge to a 'Looking Good, Feeling Good' festival. A group of 25 Year 7 students have been invited to be part of the Surfing World Championship Tour event being held in Perranporth on 26 May. The students have been asked to design a T-shirt with an environmental theme, which will be displayed at the event, and they will also be having surf lessons from The Roxy European Surf Team. Our students' T-shirts are now 'on line' at www.roxyjam.com Go to 'photos' and then 'Sir James Smith's'.                        Contact Sarah Bentley

Barnabas Award 2005

Congratulations to all the students who were interviewed by judges for the Barnabas Religious Education Awards! Sir James Smith's entered this countywide competition for the first time this year. In Year 9, judges looked at work entitled 'Where did everything come from?' and essays on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. In Years 10 and 11 judges spoke to students about work they did on places of worship. The judges were very impressed by the enthusiasm and knowledge of the students and Sir Jim's students achieved joint first place amongst the County's secondary schools, earning a Distinction and £100! The money will go towards new software for interactive whiteboards. Well done to all the students that represented the school so well!                           Contact Dan Moulin

Report to Parents - Evaluation of the success of the School Special Educational Needs Policy

The SEN policy is updated annually and was last updated in October 2004.
In section 13 of the policy 'Evaluating success', certain criteria upon which to judge the policy were agreed.
The main indicator of success being the achievement of previously agreed targets on the pupils' IEP, progress review and/or annual review. Both at the annual reviews and at the six monthly IEP reviews we are able to comment on the progress made. Targets are being achieved and parents have been pleased the improvements to academic achievement, self-confidence and self-esteem. Two pupils have had their statements discontinued due to progress made and them no longer meeting the criteria for the statement. In the one or two cases where we have not been able to celebrate success the parents have been very positive about the efforts of the school. We have been able to involve more external agencies and investigate further the reasons for lack of progress.
The policy states that in addition to the above the school will measure success under the following headings:
* Academic progress of pupils with special needs
* Improved behaviour of the children, where this is appropriate
* Number of pupils moving between stages
* Pupils' awareness of their targets and achievements
As the SEN policy states all pupils on the Record of Need are screened twice a year to monitor progress in reading and spelling. Each time there is movement from School Action Plus to School Action and pupils are regularly moved off of the school record of need, as they no longer meet criteria.
At the November 2004 screening the following movements took place:
* 15 pupils were removed from the Record, as they no longer met criteria
* 6 pupils were moved from School Action Plus to School Action
* 2 pupils were moved from School Action to School Action Plus, this was to enable access to external agencies for advice on further support, as we were not happy with the rate of progress.
Pupils have their target grades and IEP targets in their planners. They are actively involved in setting these and they often suggest the targets themselves. Pupil success is regularly celebrated via reward stickers and reviews. Progress is regularly discussed with members of the support staff as part of the daily routine.
In terms of behaviour SEN pupils do not stand out from the general school population. There are now two statements for behaviour in the school and the support staff work very hard to look at creative strategies for managing and helping pupils to improve their behaviour and strong partnerships have been forged between staff and parents.
Feed back from parents of pupils with Special Needs is usually very positive and outside agencies and professionals from other schools have been very complimentary about the support on offer to pupils at with SEN at Sir James Smith's School.

Hosts for German students in the Autumn term

We are looking for more host families who would be willing to accommodate and look after a boy or girl from Germany in the Autumn term. Every year a number of them come to us and join our Sixth form for ten weeks. Please let Mr Palmer know as soon as possible if you would like more details. Hosting families receive £75 per week.

Calendar

Friday 27 May 1.30pm  Year 11 Record of Achievement Presentation
30 May to 3 June inclusive  Half Term
Unfortunately we shall not be able to start our new timetable this year until 27 June. The timetable is complete but the Cornwall LEA computer software has been "upgraded" and we are unable to produce any individual timetables class lists or registers.
Monday 6 June - Friday 1 July  GCSE / GCE Examinations
Tuesday 21 June Year 8 Parents Evening 5.30pm to 7.30pm (Any parent wishing to discuss Tutor Group placing is also welcome on this evening)
Monday 27 June - Friday 1 July  Year 10 internal examinations
Tuesday 28 June - Friday 1 July  Year 5 students visiting from primary schools
Wednesday 6 July 4.00pm Governors Meeting
6/7/8 July Year 10 field trip to Dorset
Thursday 7 July Primary Schools athletics at SJS
12/13 July Year 6 students' induction days from feeder primary schools
Wednesday13 July 5.30pm - 7.00pm Year 6 parents open evening
Thursday 14 July Year 7 orienteering day
Thursday 21 July Sports Day
18 - 22 July Year 12 students' work experience
Tuesday 26 July at 12.00noon Summer Term ends
Thursday 18 August 9.00am - 1.00pm GCE A / AS Level results
Thursday 25 August 9.00am - 1.00pm GCSE results

(Results may be collected from school between 9.00am and 1.00pm on those days only. Or, if students let Mr Lovegrove have a first class stamped addressed envelope with their candidate number on it, results will be posted on the day they are issued.)

Wednesday 7 September Autumn Term begins

Best wishes

Angela Perlmutter
Headteacher

SIR JAMES SMITH'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL

SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL

Uniform Changes Questionnaire -
Message from the School Council

The Student Council would like to take this opportunity to ask your opinion on some changes to the school uniform. Councillors have been working with school governor, Mrs Man, and Council Organiser, Mrs Bee on the possibility of including black skirts in the school uniform list for girls.

Rose Culver and Jaguar Greaves undertook a school student survey last term. The outcome of this survey was that the vast majority of girls would prefer to wear black skirts not green, and shorter length, no more than 5cm above the knee. Straight skirts were given preference over pleated or long. This survey was then presented to the governors for feedback. Style issues have yet to be agreed, but rules would obviously include, no logos and no denim. We would now like to ask whether you approve or not of our proposal for a new skirt colour.

We feel that students would wear the black skirts and look very smart, during the summer term, allowing for a cooler uniform, in more ways than one!

We hope that you will take the time to fill in our short questionnaire and return it via your son / daughter to Form Tutors. If you would also like to make a comment on this issue please address your correspondence to Mrs Bee, Student Council Co-ordinator. at Sir James Smith's School.

Written by Rose Culver and Ben Tapley
On behalf of the Student Council

TO SIR JAMES SMITH'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL, CAMELFORD
Please return to your child's form tutor

Questionnaire on school skirt colour

Do you approve of the skirt colour changing to BLACK? YES/ NO

Do you strongly disapprove of a change over to black skirts? YES/ NO

Do you have a preference on style of skirt? YES/ NO

If you have a preference please indicate below:


Thank you for taking the time to answer our questionnaire, your opinions will be of great value.