Prudhoe Community

High School

Newsletter

Spring Term 2019

Issue 1

Contents

• Sailing & Whitewater Success for Cameron (Y11)

• Music

• War Poem by John Haddow (Y9)

• Air Cadet Awards

• Half Term, Digital Discovery Day

• Spare Snowdrops

• Science Club

• Child Language Acquisition in Speech and Writing Course

• Superbugs, National Competition

• Art and Textiles Winter/Christmas Competition

• Curtain Up - “Play in a Day”

• India 2020

• Genetic Medicine

• Train to Teach

• Employment Laws for Children & Young People

CONGRATULATIONS! Cameron, aged 15, a year 11 Prudhoe Community High School student from Wylam, was celebrating a double achievement for his water-based activities. Sailing success On Saturday, Cameron, a cadet member of Solway Yacht Club, was awarded the 2018 Cadet Trophy for Boat Handling Skills at the Club's annual prizegiving. Cameron took part in the Club's cadet week last summer, where he also achieved the RYA Level 3 award in dinghy sailing. The boat handling trophy is awarded to one cadet each year, and is judged by the club's cadet officer. Cameron was praised for his dedication, perseverance and tenacity in recovering from multiple capsizes, and for showing huge progress in his boat handling skills through the week. White water success And then on Sunday, Cameron took part in the annual Bobby Timperley Memorial White Water Race on the Tyne at Hexham. Hexham Canoe Club member, Cameron demonstrated huge improvement from last year, to clinch the trophy.

A Hexham Canoe Club coach who was watching the race closely, reported that Cameron managed exceedingly well in windy, rough conditions. Cameron showed great boat control and handled the conditions well despite only having been in a white water race once prior to Sunday. Cameron chose a good line through the white water and demonstrated an effective paddling technique which enabled him to produce an outstanding time.

A Hexham Canoe Club coach who works with Cameron regularly in his chosen discipline of canoe slalom, said, "Cameron has made fantastic progress this year on and off the water. Cameron has demonstrated great maturity with his approach to paddling and has never given up; he will also dedicate his time to helping others. Cameron has achieved so much this year, and he should be extremely proud of himself. Cameron also recently gained his white water 3-star kayak award which required a great deal of dedication and commitment."

MUSIC A big thanks to all the students who took part in the Winter Concert which took place at the end of last half term. Mr Tate is already planning a summer one, so keep your eyes open for dates!

SAYING GOOD BYE FOR THE LAST TIME FOR EVER Saying good bye for the last time, for ever, I told you not to go, but you didn’t listen. I told you it was dangerous, but you said, “It’s not.” I told you, you would be killed, but you said you wouldn’t. I told you would be lonely - you said you wouldn’t be. I said it would be the last you saw me - you said it wouldn’t be. But here I am, saying good-bye to you for last time, for war took you and you are going to heaven a lonely man. WAR POEM BY JOHN HADDOW, YEAR 9

AIR CADET AWARDS

Congratulations to Harry Boyles 11TVM, Mathew Erving 11DP, Elle Lee 12KPU, Billy Shrimpton 11DP, Molly Storey 10DRW, Abigail Turner 11KB and Rebecca Watson 11DP for their fantastic achievements at 1248 Prudhoe RAF Air Cadets Annual Awards evening held at school. Badges and certificates were presented by Squadron Leader R Tickell and Sergeant P Cheshire for a wide range of activities including Heart Start and First Aid, Pre-DofE plus DofE Bronze and Silver awards, First Class and Leading Cadet, Radio Communications and Swimming. Our students also were presented with trophies for Best Drill, Best Attendance, Most Improved, Best Uniform and Best Cadet. Our thanks to the school and site team for supporting the event, and special thanks to Mrs L Sloan for the amazing RAF logo biscuits! 1248 Prudhoe Squadron have vacancies for cadets aged 13-18 and parade every Tuesday and Thursday at 18:45 - 21:30hrs and the monthly membership fee is subsidised. For more information and to come and see what exciting activities and qualifications are on offer please email oc.1248@aircadets.org to arrange an informal visit.

SCIENCE CLUB

Y9 students have been enjoying Science Club where they have been able to grow their own copper sulphate crystals, set off exciting methane rockets, and watch jelly babies scream whilst being oxidised by potassium chlorate. Science Club takes place on Wednesday lunch times in Mr Hindle’s room 134, come and get involved.

DO YOU HAVE TOO MANY SNOWDROPS?!

COULD YOU SPARE SOME FOR THE WELL-BEING GARDEN AT PCHS?

The Proud Hill project team would love any donations of snowdrops to plant out in the school’s new well-being garden over the next few weeks.

Dig up the entire plant, with the leaves still attached to the bulbs. Wrap them in damp newspaper and drop them into school. Hopefully our garden will be full of sparkling white flowers during Spring next year.

Thank you for helping transform our school grounds!

CHILD LANGUAGE ACQUISITION IN SPEECH AND WRITING UP TO THE AGE OF 8 YEARS

It’s always nice to be able to bring a topic to life, so on Monday 11 February 2019, 22 Year 12 and 13 English Language ‘A’ Level students who study this course were out and about visiting first and primary schools in our partnership. This was doubly interesting for our Year 13 students, who have the language of classroom management as the topic of their Investigation exam. The students were able to observe a range of learning activities from Nursery through to Year 3, studying how teachers adapted their talk and how the pupils used language when they were interacting with a member of staff or with each other. They were also able to see first how both reading and writing are taught. Sophie Knaggs and Abbi Potter from Year 12 were certainly excited to go back to their old school, and were especially instructed to dress warmly and bring their wellies so that they could accompany the children as they had a lesson outside in the school garden! Our students were made very welcome and reported having had rewarding and enjoyable learning experiences. We would therefore like to thank, on behalf of the students, our colleagues at Adderlane Academy, St. Matthew’s Catholic Primary, and Ovingham, Mickley, Broomley and Castle First schools for their hospitality and support.

Snowdrops are best planted ‘in the green’, which means just as they are starting to die back after flowering, so now is an ideal time to dig them up.

SUPERBUGS NATIONAL COMPETITION

Katy O’Sullivan Guy and Archie Murray, both Y9, have been selected as the winners in the Superbugs: Join the fight competition! The panel of judges were really impressed with their creativity in spreading the word about Superbugs and antimicrobial resistance.

Katy and Archie, along with some of their class members will be travelling to the London Science Museum to gain access to the Wonderlab, and take part in a prize giving event in the Museum!

ART AND TEXTILES WINTER/ CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

A big well done to our Year 9 winners. There were some fantastic entries from Christmas felt bunting, to string art and art installations. The winners were-Daisy Macaulay 9JL, Emma Armstrong 9JL, Dylan Curry 9LET, Emmy Nesbitt 9RW, Alina McLaren 9TLA and Amber Collins 9RW

Polar Bear by Amber Collins 9RW

CURTAIN UP - “Play in a Day”

"Operation Elvis" by CP Taylor, is a play set in Morpeth, and which explores issues such as disability and relationships. On 11th February, twenty Year 9 students took up the challenge of rehearsing and performing the play in just one school day. For most of the students, this was their first performance ever to an audience, and parents and friends came along to watch the play that same evening. Many discovered a confidence and skill as performers which was great to see. The main character of Malcolm was shared by several students, signified by a guitar prop. Malcolm is sure he

is a reincarnation of Elvis Presley, but when he gets to know Michael his ideas change as they work out how to help Michael achieve his dream of getting his wheelchair onto a boat. Mrs Clark and Mr Boyd would like to praise the students for their wonderful attitude and effort - their performance was really excellent considering that they only had a few hours rehearsal, from scratch. They showed real spirit and supported each other - and staff - with good humour and hard graft. Pizza lunch, buns and biscuits helped keep everybody going, and it was a really fun day. The acting ensemble were: Jojo Winters, Ben Potts, Shea Sullivan, Harvey Glen, Mark Gate, Jonty Cope, Lucy Robinson, Anna Cruddis, Kai Brown, Rebecca Robson, Jennie Oliver, Alina McLaren, Myla Caudle, Katy O'Sullivan-Guy, Nicholas Marshall, Daniel Robson, Vienna Tennant Hodgson, Taylor Leech, Rachel Ostle, Hannah Day.

Congratulations to all!

INDIA 2020 This half term students from Years 10, 11 and 12 have had assemblies celebrating the success of the 2018 India trip, and expressing our intention to run the trip again in Summer 2020. Students have been given a letter with preliminary details, and have been asked to return the letter asap to express an interest in being

considered for this opportunity. For further information, or to collect a letter, please speak to Ms Wills in the Humanities department.

GENETIC MEDICINE

The Science Department would like to bring to your attention the following two events taking place in Newcastle which might be of interest to your child.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS

THE LAW SAYS

THAT IF I WORK, THE FOLLOWING RULES APPLY UNTIL I REACH SCHOOL LEAVING AGE, AN APPLICATION FORM SIGNED BY MY PARENTS AND EMPLOYER SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND SENT TO THE ADDRESS BELOW BEFORE I START WORKING.

WHEN I AM

13/14

I CAN WORK ON DURING THE FOLLOWING HOURS: -

SCHOOLDAYS

Not more than a total of two hours in one day during the following periods:

a) In the mornings between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. b) In the evening between close of school and 7 p.m.

SATURDAYS 5 hours a day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SUNDAYS Only 2 hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

5 hours a day on any weekday (except Sundays) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. But total hours worked MUST NOT EXCEED 25 HOURS

WHEN I AM

15/16

SCHOOLDAYS

Not more than a total of two hours in one day during the following periods:

a) In the mornings between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. b) In the evening between close of school and 7 p.m.

SATURDAYS 8 hours a day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SUNDAYS Only 2 hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

8 hours a day on any weekday (except Sundays) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. - But total hours worked MUST NOT EXCEED 35 HOURS

COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE FOR ALL CHILDREN IS THE LAST FRIDAY IN JUNE IN THEIR

FINAL YEAR

APPLICATION FORMS AND THE BYE-LAWS PROHIBITING CERTAIN EMPLOYMENTS AND SPECIFYING OTHER CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM:

Education Welfare

Virtual Schools Education and Wellbeing Service

Brunel Building Blyth

NE24 1LT Wellbeing and Community Health Service

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE

Prudhoe Community High School

Moor Road

Prudhoe

Northumberland

NE42 5LJ

Tel: 01661 832486

Email: enquiries@pchs.org.uk

Website: www.pchs.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/PrudhoeHigh

Twitter: @pchsnews