ashwood chronicle · to "stay at home, protect the nhs, save lives" has been amended to...
TRANSCRIPT
What a time it has been! I am so proud of each and every one of you for engaging in the provision provided to you over the last few months. I know it was a time of uncertainty, but we were certain you would do your best during such a challenging time. I am hoping you have used this break to reflect on your school life (if you haven’t- there is no time like the present). Perhaps you have thought about what you could do better when you return back on site? Perhaps you have finally made it to year 11 and need to start setting some goals for yourself. My wish is for you all to have a spectacular Sum-mer holiday and I can only encourage you to please keep safe. There is no doubt staff will agree with me when I say it has been VERY QUIET without you all onsite. We are looking forward to when things go back to ‘normal’ and can’t wait to see you all very soon. What a time it is going to be! Siany (Headteacher)
ASHWOOD CHRONICLE BASINGSTOKE THE ASHWOOD ACADEMY 2020
Colour blind Quickly — say aloud what colour you see in every word, NOT the word you read. Go from left to right, from top to bottom. Ready. Set. Go!
Boredom BREAKERS
Make a door sign for your bedroom.
Use your science knowledge to see if you can float a paperclip. Trust me, the impossible is possible!
Help out at home with a spot of light housework.
Create a family tree or draw a tree of links and put all your friends and family on it!
Set up a virtual movie night! Then review the films - which is the best film you have watched?
The longstanding official guidance to "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives" has been amended to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives". What we must now do is:
Stay at home as much as possible. Work at home if you can. Limit contact with other people. Keep your distance if you go out; remember the
social distancing rules. Wash your hands regularly. If you, or anyone in your household, has Covid-
19 symptoms, you all need to self-isolate.
“I ’m not one to gossip ”
“I’m not one to gossip, but… rumour has it Ashwood staff have been busy planning some seriously exciting events to keep us entertained once that eagerly awaited day and schools reopen.”
Cooking with ray
FRENCH
TOAST.
Ingredients 3 large egg 2 1/2 cup milk 8 slice bread 1 cooking spray Serve with some fruit and honey or maple syrup. Instructions Whisk the eggs and milk together in a
wide, shallow container. (If you want savoury toast, season the batter with salt and pepper.)
Slice the bread. Heat a large frying pan (skillet) or griddle
and spray with cooking spray. Quickly dip the bread slices in the batter,
making sure they’re not in too long and getting over-soaked.
Cook on both sides until golden brown and crisp.
Serve with fresh fruit and drizzle with whatever takes your fancy.
R F E I D N H S P I
Think of a crossword clue for the word;
Complete checkmate in one move is board.
Just like every school in the UK, Ashwood is preparing for a gradual reopening. Changes to what the ‘new normal’ school day will look like for you are still a little unclear. Talking through any questions or uncertainties you have with family and friends will help in managing a smooth tran-sition back to school.
When talking through the challenges ahead for when returning to school, try to place those barriers nagging at you in to one of these boxes:
no problem, small problem, big problem or not sure.
Once sorted, you will find it easier to focus on solving those that are genuinely getting in the way.
SCHOOL RELATED ROUTINES Getting up for school in the morning. A week before school starts, begin adjusting both your bedtime and the time you wake up. Remember, you’re still on holiday so it’s not a big deal if you fall back to sleep. Staff have been working hard planning everyone’s return; I’m sure you will be excited about what we have planned.
Worried about the work I have missed. This is good you’re worried. Having a determined attitude in wanting to get back up to speed quickly is all we need from you. As your teachers, the rest is up to us. Together we can overcome this challenge.
Travelling to school. Safe travel is everyone’s responsibility. Stay alert, follow the rules and share with school any specific difficulties.
Seeing others at school. That first meeting after such a long time away can appear a little scary. This pandemic has taught us the importance of friendships. Calmly saying
hello or a simple nod of your head will help ease those butterflies.
It’s not the virus that troubles me. Throughout the lockdown, Ashwood has been supporting its young people with welfare calls, video sessions and offering support whenever possible. Those familiar, supportive teachers are still here ready to listen and support you.
COVID-19 RELATED CONCERNS Touching surfaces such as desks, doors... You will have your own resources. Ashwood has become well versed in keeping the school virus free. Washing hands and using hand-gel are part of
the new normal and are all readily available.
Other people accidently touching me. Stay alert, make use of the floor markings and such things. Remember, most people have followed the rules and have kept them-selves virus free.
Not sure if I have to wear a mask. There are some activities where you are expected to wear a mask (shopping, public transport etc.) but at the moment for school it is optional. Some staff and students will choose to wear one and oth-ers not. This may change and become part of every day life for us all. I have seen some very fashiona-ble face masks.
Queueing for lunch. Current thinking is that not all students will be on site at the same time. This will allow plenty of opportunity to be safe at school, even during break-times and between lessons.
Being able to sit in my normal place. Even for Ashwood, class numbers will be smaller and room layouts will have changed to accommodate social distancing. With reduced numbers you will soon find your new space.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Can I collect my results? Covid-19 restrictions will mean Ashwood teachers will be busy on the day posting out your results. Although we are
August 20th is results day GCSE results day always comes around faster than you might think – and the grades that you get will, at least in the short term, shape what you can and can’t do. It is important that you know what you’re doing on results day, as you don’t want the excitement to take over.
keen to be there to celebrate with you, regrettably at this time, we are unable to open up the school to Ashwood students to collect their results. Don’t worry though, we are planning a celebration day as soon as we can. Unless otherwise arranged, all GCSE exams will be emailed individually to each student's Ashwood Academy email account. This will take place on 20th August between 8am and 12pm. A paper copy will also be posted later the same day. What do the new grades mean? Unfortunately, it’s no longer as simple as having A*-U grades. The new, numerical system instead uses numbers from 9-1 (highest to lowest, with a U grade for marks that were too low to be classified), and it is vital to know where the old grades would fit. As a rule of thumb, an A* is in the middle of new grades 8 and 9, a 7 is an A, and a 4 is a grade C. What do I do if my results are not as I expected? It can be incredibly frustrating to open your envelope and find that you haven’t got what you were hoping for – particularly if you studied hard. However, this doesn’t mean that all is lost. Although you will have been given a list of requirements needed to make the next stage of your education, there is always some leeway. If lots of people didn’t make their grades, or if some people decided not to take their place, then your grades may still be good enough to allow you entry. It is always worth getting in touch with the college where you have applied to and asking whether you could still study there, as you may be pleasantly surprised. If you don’t ask, you don’t get! Try to stay open minded and see what’s available for you. Talk to your teachers, career advisor, friends and family for advice before taking your next steps, and remember that there is a path for everyone! Remarking. As there will be no “review of marking” that can be requested by the students this year, we will make ourselves available on results day should you require further advice or guidance regarding your options going forward. We will send the contact details out with the letter attached to your results. Retakes. The Autumn Examination Series will be offered to all students should they wish to sit these examinations; however, we will not be administering any entries for these examinations until the beginning of the Autumn term. For any students who achieve a 3 or below in their Maths and English, you will be able to sit these examinations at your Further Education Establishment. For any students who achieve above a 4 and would like the opportunity to sit the exam, we can offer this at The Ashwood Academy. Finally. If you get the results you were aiming for, well done! If you didn’t, try not to panic. It’s not the end of the world, and there are options open to you. It may not have been the path you’d planned to go down, but down every new path there are doors to open – and you might even find that you have a skill that you didn’t even know about. Your Ashwood teachers are here to help, celebrate and support you.
GCSE RESULTS DAY
Can you find the four mistakes in this timetable
Spot the mistakes
Get ready to impress. Employers use an interview to get to know you. Equally, you can use it as an opportunity to see if the employer feels like the right fit for you. Take a look at our top tips to help make a good impression.
Be early: Prepare your route to the interview in advance. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before the set in-terview time and make sure you’ve built in time for any potential traffic problems. When you arrive, greet the receptionist with a smile to show that you are open and friendly. Double check what you are asked to bring: Remember to bring any important documents that the em-ployer has requested, such as ID, certificates or a portfolio. If you haven’t got a document they have re-quested, let them know in advance— you may be able to arrange to bring an alternative. Go over the application and prepare some notes: Take a copy of your application with you so that you can remind yourself of what you may be asked. Also, remember to take any key facts / notes from your research to help to impress the interviewer. Check the dress code: Dress smartly to show that you are taking the interview seriously. Most people will wear a smart pair of trou-sers or a skirt with a shirt or blouse. If you are not sure, check with the person that has invited you to the interview. Prepare some examples: The interviewer is likely to ask you about your previous experience and also what you feel your strengths are. Have some relevant examples prepared from times that you have been part of a team, used your initiative and met deadlines. Be passionate and enthusiastic: Start with a firm handshake at the beginning of the interview and speak clearly. Show genuine interest in the company by sitting up straight, smiling and making good eye contact. Remember to thank them at the end and shake their hand again. Prepare some questions: A question to the interviewer such as, ‘What have your favourite moments working here been?’ would be a great choice. Or, perhaps a question that shows research, for example, ‘I noticed from your website …, can you tell me a bit more about it?’.
even later mornings. Here are some activities you can do to help synchronise your body clock and have some fun along the way.
Draw a balanced ‘plate’ to see how much time you devote to sleep, physi-
cal activities, being online, helping out, playing and time in.
Missing karaoke night with your friends? You can still do it from
home. Apps like AirConsole let you turn your smartphone into a mic, and
sing your favourite hits with the usual gang and practice new songs to sing
at school once lockdown is lifted.
Create a sport. Bottle flip is so last year. Invent your own sport with ping
pong balls and saucepans or an egg and spoon
obstacle course. Use your imagination.
Upcycle old clothes or accessories Got a wardrobe full of clothes and old
trainers that you hardly ever wear? Or lots of basic staples that lack
personality? You can update, reuse, or upcycle everything from old t-shirts to
shoes and garden pots. Just figure out what you’d like to use and find a project
on ‘Upcycle That’ to get started.
NEW NORMAL WHAT LIFE MIGHT
LOOK LIKE Who would have thought we would panic buy toilet rolls. This pandemic has forced everyone to evaluate their priorities as we all know someone who has been touched by it. Most likely with a new respect for things we easily took for granted, we will get back what we consider normal. The UK Government has drawn up a roadmap for easing the lockdown in England - but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stressed, "it is not going to be a case of flicking a switch" to lift restrictions all at once and so we will see several ‘new normal’. ‘New normal’ is a phrase used to describe each stage in the government’s plans to relax lockdown restrictions. For a while, shops, business’, schools and even churches were all closed and two meters apart was for those allowed to be out and about. For everyone else, it was stay at home, protect the NHS and saves lives. That became the new normal. Recently, the new normal is for some return to work, shops to reopen and meeting up with friends and family. For a while, face masks, lessons on-line and social distancing might be common place, but, what is certain— schools will reopen and we will get back to normal.
CLEAR YOUR HEAD
CHALLENGE MAKE IT POSH! Think of a well-known classic movie quote. Does it sound better in your poshest voice? VOCABULARY Here are some posh sounding words. Try to use them in your everyday conversation:
SPIFFING - slang; very good, excellent. “I’ve got some spiffing news for you!” BEASTLY - unpleasant. “Don’t be so beastly to me!” “Jack’s beastly games console has broken again!” POPPYCOCK - statements or beliefs that you think are ridiculous or not true. “This posh talk idea is complete poppycock!”
Time on your hands
Although zoos and other fun activities are opening
up, it’s likely you will have time on your hands this
summer. Many of you have enjoyed late nights and
SEXUAL HEALTH ADVICE & SUPPORT
Sexual Health Services are run by Solent NHS Trust and during coronavirus we are still here providing support, information and clinical care to anyone who needs it.
Our services are: • Confidential • Non-judgemental • Free
We understand how difficult it is for everyone during this time, so we have pulled together key information and support via our website. Information for young people: www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/c19ypp • Information for professionals and parents:
www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/c19pp • General FAQs:
www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/c19faq For a telephone appointment, call 0300 300 2016.
Would you like sexual health advice and support?
Cooking with ray
LEMON
DRIZZLE
Ingredients: · 175g caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 175g softened butter 3 eggs Finely grated zest of 1 lemon ¾ level tsp baking powder
For The Lemon Drizzle Topping: 100g granulated sugar Juice of 1 lemon
Special Bakeware / Equipment: Electric whisk A baking or roasting tray, greased and lined.
Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC, gas 4. Beat together
the eggs, flour, caster sugar, butter, baking powder and lemon zest until smooth in a large mixing bowl and turn into the prepared tin.
Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 40 mins, or
until golden brown, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and springy to the touch.
While the cake is still warm, make the lemon
drizzle topping. Mix together the sugar and lemon juice, and pour over the warm cake. Leave to cool a little and loosen the sides of the cake,