Embedded Files
Dear families,
It is finally beginning to feel a little like spring with some lighter mornings and evenings and an occasional glimpse of the sun. This is a very busy time for our Year 11 teachers and students, and one which brings its own anxieties. We are very proud of our students for engaging with their learning and revision so well; rest assured we will be supporting them in many different ways to manage what is a challenging time for any Year 11 students. Their hard work and effort, supported so well by our staff will be worth it.
We are delighted the ski trip went so well, and I would like to thank the staff who helped to make this so successful. Other events such as the maths feast, neurodiversity week and the upcoming careers week give our students a wonderful opportunity for engaging in co-curricular learning events and a rich cultural capital offer. Although the building works at Cranbrook prevented us from hosting the Lambing Weekend, we were delighted to host two local schools who came along to see the piglets and lambs. We hope to run a lambing event for families and the community again next year.
Lastly, our Post 16 Pathfinder College is almost complete, and I can’t wait for our lucky 6th form students to re-visit the wonderful, specialist environment we will be offering from September. Look out for some events they will be staging once they are settled in.
I would like to wish you all a lovely Easter break, let’s hope we see some more sunshine when the clocks go forward. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Kind regards
Mrs D Pickerill
SKI TRIP TO ITALY
A Spectacular Ski Adventure: Snowfields Ski Squad Soar in Aprica!
The Snowfields Ski Trip, left in the early hours of Saturday 2nd March and returned the following Saturday, Embarking on an extraordinary journey to Aprica, Italy, our group Snowfields Ski Squad (19 students and 5 staff) experienced an unforgettable ski trip that exceeded all expectations! The pupils were absolute superstars from the early morning meeting at Bearsted Campus all the way through the airport, on the plane and finally arriving at our hotel for the week. From the moment we arrived, Aprica embraced the Ski Squad with open arms, offering not just stunning slopes, but a warm and inclusive atmosphere that made every moment magical.
Aprica's breathtaking scenery served as the backdrop for our exhilarating adventures. The crisp mountain air filled our lungs as we took in the panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and picturesque valleys. Each day brought new excitement and challenges as our pupils fearlessly tackled the slopes, discovering the thrill of skiing and the joy of mastering new skills. Evenings were spent building new friendships, enjoying the thrills of bum boarding, sampling the delights of Italian cuisine and celebrating the progressions and falls of the day.
The instructors at Aprica were absolute stars, patiently guiding our pupils every step of the way. Their expertise and encouragement transformed nervous beginners into confident skiers, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment in each and every one of them. With their unwavering support, our pupils embraced the slopes with enthusiasm, overcoming obstacles and pushing their boundaries in ways they never thought possible.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of our trip was witnessing the bonds that formed amongst our pupils. As they cheered each other on, shared triumphs and setbacks, and celebrated every achievement, it was clear that Aprica had not only brought them closer to nature but also closer to each other. The sense of camaraderie and support that permeated our group was truly inspiring, reminding us all of the power of friendship and shared experiences.
Aprica, with its majestic mountains and welcoming spirit, provided the perfect setting for our pupils to shine. As we bid farewell to this extraordinary destination, we left with hearts full of gratitude and memories that will last a lifetime. Our ski trip to Aprica was more than just a Ski trip —it was a transformative journey that filled us with joy, courage, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Thank you, Aprica, for an adventure we will never forget!
All students began as complete beginners and looked very unsteady on their skis on day one learning the safety foundations to ski, as well as mastering the magic carpet and button lifts!
By day 3 the large majority moved from the vast nursery area to the top of the mountain skiing the 6k panoramic blue run with a few red runs thrown in too, the following day the rest of the students had moved to blue runs and chair lifts too. Students were independent and incredibly well behaved on the slopes, in the hotel, in their rooms, out in the small town and on the evening activities which included - pizza night, bum boarding, quiz night, games night, presentation night, all including ice creams and hot chocolate.
As I often say to our students “ there is nothing you cannot do, just some things you cannot do yet”
Every student tried, learnt and gained individual and team skills in a foreign country. These students will take away lifelong memories from their experience I'm sure.
NATIONAL INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cranbrook we have been fortunate to be involved with the London Youth Rowing Federation. They have allowed us to use three indoor rowers for our students, to experience and use during social times. As part of our agreement, this module we have also had the opportunity to not only attend, but to compete in the National Indoor Rowing Championships at the Copperbox Arena in London.
GLOBE THEATRE TRIP
This module we took twenty-four students from both colleges to the infamous Globe Theatre in London. We were there to watch a production of Romeo and Juliet. This production was a great opportunity for students to experience Shakspeare as it was meant to be seen, on the stage! Even though it was an extremely wet day to visit an open air theatre (we were one of the lucky schools to be undercover), the students loved this modern day version and left The Globe with a new found love of Shakespeare! This was also a great opportunity for students to get a train into London and enjoy a walk along the South Bank and see the sights, as well as practise skills like finding their train platform and using train timetables. This was such a great opportunity for our students and one we really hope to add to our annual schedule of trips.
FOOD FACTORY VISIT
Year 9 students had the fantastic opportunity to visit Rhokett foods in Hawkhurst. Here they shone as outstanding local citizens and engaged well in the world of work!
Students toured the factory getting involved in packing and making the food, they then entered the development kitchen to create their own desserts; before taking part in quality assurance and tasting the food to make sure it was up their high snowfields standards!!
They were, as always, a credit to the school and we were told that our students were “more engaged than many professional chefs and culinary schools they have visit”.
WEMBLEY
On Tuesday 26th March, 26 students from both Bearsted and Cranbrook had the exciting opportunity to attend the England vs Belgium football match at Wembley.
Students showed resilience and patience during the long journey to the stadium, when we reached the stadium they realised it was definitely worth it. The atmosphere around the stadium was incredible.
Students had front row seats behind England's goal for the first half, seeing up close our England team. Students enjoyed the home crowd atmosphere and joined in with the cheers, chants and Mexican waves.
Although England didn’t win, the whole trip was a fantastic experience for all of our students. Throughout the trip the students were an asset to the school, demonstrating our core values, they should all be proud of themselves. Bring on the Euros in the summer!
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Cranbrook
During module 4 our students have had more opportunities to get involved in our co-curricular experiences.
All year groups continue to have the offer of Football coaching every Wednesday with Danny Devine and the year 10s have had some VERY muddy rides up in the woods on the mountain bikes. The last few year 7 students have been enjoying time with the amazing Riding for the Disabled Association, horse riding every week - they are hoping to finish their riding experience with a “hack” where the horses and riders will be led out of the arena and onto the local lanes!
Next module as spring begins, it will be year 7s turn on the mountain bikes and years 8 and 9 will have the opportunity to attend the local swimming pool.
Bearsted
Our pupils this module have been participating in a wide range of co-curricular activities. Our year 7s have had their first experience of forest school and will be going out to Cobtree Manor to further their forest school adventures. Danny has continued with the football coaching and we are now seeing larger numbers than ever participating in this which is great! Badminton club is as popular as ever and continues to be a hit with Key Stage 3 and 4 alike.
In lessons Key Stage 3 have been learning more about Pickleball and how to play this competitively alongside playing Frisbee Golf out on the field. With the weather turning better (fingers crossed!) we will be spending more time out on the field playing Nerf Howler, Lacrosse, Slamball and many more exciting new sports!
World Book Day 2024
Both colleges really enjoyed taking part in World Book Day this year. Students from Cranbrook and Bearsted created their own book tapestry where staff and students shared their favourite books and made recommendations. It was lovely to see so many staff and students sharing their love of literature.
Staff across both sites took some time out of their lessons to share stories that have impacted their life or have a special meaning to them, some staff shared childhood books and some inspirational autobiographies. This was a great way to celebrate just how impactful books are on our lives.
SNOWFIELDS ACADEMY CLUBS
BEARSTED
We have seen a boom in clubs at Bearsted, with staff and students sharing their interests with the college community. Our daily clubs are still firm favourites with students regularly accessing Switch Club, Craft Club, Club Central or the MUGA sports rota.
Additionally, KS3 have at least 2 dedicated clubs each day to attend, this includes Book Club, Badminton Club, Science Club, Board and Strategy Games Club, Origami Club and Horrible Histories Club.
In Key Stage 4, our lunch time clubs allow our students to extend and revise in their core subjects as they approach the end of their time with us. Every day, one of the core subjects (Maths, English and Science) host sessions run by our dedicated subject specialists.
Finally, we are pleased to announce our Drama Club started this module, this is open to all students in the college. Our KS3 and 4 students are working together to explore and rehearse scenes from Matilda, we can’t wait to see their progress.
CRANBROOK
Robot
Students were given the chance to construct their own robots, and their enthusiasm and focus were evident throughout the constructing process. While some students opted for their own designs, others followed step-by-step instructions. Witnessing the joy on their faces as they successfully manoeuvred their completed robots was so lovely to see. After completing their robots, students will have the chance to take them home and proudly share their creations with their families.
Young Farmers Club
The young Farmers were delighted and privileged to watch a lamb being born during their session on the farm. The Young Farmers have been diligently caring for the livestock and the farmyard. Jobs have included removing old fencing (which was hard digging), jet washing, leaf removal and most importantly feeding and providing stimulus for the animals- this has included changing water, collecting eggs, taking chickens for a walk (yes really - to protect them from a local fox) grooming heifers, scratching piglets and small animal care of our guinea pigs and rabbits. The young farmers take on every task with positivity and kindness.
Music Club
With the arrival of our new PA system, students have eagerly ventured upstairs to the music room for most lunchtimes this term.
It is a complete joy to witness their enthusiasm at performing their favourite songs and the students’ vast repertoire is totally inspiring. Rather than always taking a solo turn, the students have clubbed together by singing into the microphones, strumming guitars and providing drum backing beats.
Forest School
Students in Romney and Suffolk have been enjoying their weekly forest school lessons, with a real focus on wellbeing. This has been such an enriching time; building dens, going for walks and exploring. We are so lucky to have the woods right on our doorstep! Perseverance students have become leaders, built on their friendships and always enjoy our mornings in the forest.
Maths Feast
In Module 4 four of our Cranbrook yr10’s took part in the first ever Leigh Academy Trust Maths Feast run by the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme. Every LAT secondary school was represented, 17 schools. Our students did us proud, coming second in one round and scoring well in the others. At the end of the competition we were presented with a special award which recognised the teamwork our students had displayed whilst participating.
Football Club with Danny Devine
Danny has continued his weekly offer of football coaching at both sites, as well as the additional offer of subsidised holiday football clubs too. Danny has a great relationship with the students and they always have a fun learning experience, gaining new skills, playing fun games and of course getting experience interacting and communicating effectively to be successful in team games.
Personal Development
Snowfields Squad
Snowfields Squad is our version of a school council and each campus has a squad formed of student representatives from each year group. Students are given a chance to represent their forms and be their voice, when sharing their ideas and opinions about what is going well as well as offering suggestions for improving the school.
This year we have two enthusiastic groups who have shared exciting ideas, some of which have already been implemented at our colleges.
The group also gets the chance to meet and discuss ideas with other students from all year groups. We often have great debates from each session.
Our last Snowfields Squad meeting was focused around what we can do to promote a positive reading culture at school. Students expressed that they would like more resources in the libraries that reflect their interests outside of school. They also gave us some suggestions for a points system to encourage them to read, but that also reflects each learner’s needs and abilities.
We have listened to Snowfields Squad and a wide variety of brand-new books have started arriving in both the Bearsted and Cranbrook libraries! We have responded to students’ interests by stocking more books about celebrities, TikTok, Manga, graphic novels and accessible reads, plus much more!
Students at both colleges have enjoyed having the opportunity to communicate and collaborate as part of a group, and we look forward to hearing their ideas at our next meeting.
FARM UPDATE
How did we know that Spring had arrived at Snowfields? The sun was shining, the birds singing, daffodils were out and a perfect set of triplet lambs had been born without any problems - a perfect way to start a day! Our students have been heavily involved in the preparations for our annual lambing. They have cleaned and disinfected the lambing yard, set up individual pens and put down deep straw to make a comfortable maternity unit for our 18 ewes. We brought the sheep in two weeks prior to their due date and "opened them out" (clipped some wool) ready for lambing. Students monitored the ewes to see the changes with some even watching births. We had a lambing box ready with all the supplies we might need, each item and its use was explained in detail. Most students found this very interesting. Our mantra is "be prepared", an important life skill and we were.
Although we were unable to host our lambing day this year, we did invite some other schools to visit. Those that came loved it and said how lucky our students are to be able to take part in a real farm experience.
The stars of the show our ewes are being outstanding, running at 200%. They are good mothers with lots of milk and at present, there are four left to lamb, will they keep it up? What next? Summer!
NEWS AND UPDATES
Update on PASS
Students are currently completing their PASS assessments with support from their form TAs. As previously communicated, these assessments allow us to get a better understanding of our students personal, social and emotional progress during their time with us. These allow us to capture how your child feels about themselves and the school, put in place the most relevant interventions and record the progress your child makes over their time with us.
Fundraising for Water Aid
Snowfields Academy supported Water Aid by wearing blue clothes and learning more about what this charity does to help people get clean water. They all worked together to make more people aware of the water scarcity problem around the world. By learning about Water Aid's goals and how they help, they showed they really care about making things better for everyone, not just in their own community, but around the world too.
Fundraising Comic relief
Snowfields Academy wholeheartedly backed Comic Relief and Red Nose Day by dressing in vibrant red attire. This year, the charities focused on providing essential support to children and families affected by poverty, aiming to ensure access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities. Through their spirited participation, Snowfields aimed to contribute to this vital cause. As of now, the money raised stands at an impressive sum, signalling a significant step towards making a positive impact in the lives of those in need.
A total of £108.16 was raised for Red nose day over both sites, Thank you!
Coffee Mornings - Bearsted and Cranbrook
Our coffee mornings are a chance for families to meet up and discuss issues and ideas around a specific topic. It was wonderful to welcome Occupational Therapist, Simon Worthington, at both colleges where he presented to families about Sensory Processing. We had some great conversations and Simon had lots of tips and ideas for families to try. We look forward to more of these events in the future!
Snowfields Post 16 - Pathfinder College
Snowfields Post 16 - Pathfinder College
Work on the Pathfinder Suite has nearly finished. The flooring, painting and vinyls are now up and it is looking more and more like our vision.
The next stage of work is furnishing and we are excited to begin the process of making each room unique. Please have a look at the Pathfinder pages on our school website for more updates and photos. We will be updating regularly as each room takes shape.
We will be hosting an Open Afternoon in Module 6 - watch this space for more details.
Pathfinder students are getting closer to achieving their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Students are developing their resilience and fitness in the gym, learning first aid and supporting the wider school for their volunteering section. This term they are starting preparation for the expedition section, learning how to put up tents and meeting with the DofE coordinator.
Careers
Bearsted
In February Year 10 students met Alvin Shaw, a serving magistrate who spoke to students about the different career opportunities within the justice system as well as giving them some background on the different court systems and how choices can have consequences in society.
Cranbrook
Year 7&8 have been working on unifrog to identify a range of career options and the skills in which they bring to future jobs.
Year 9 were visited by a local law firm who gave a talk on careers as solicitors. They also attended Rhokett’s food factory and got to engage as workers in the factory and development kitchens.
Year 10 students have engaged with the magistrate Alvin Shaw learning about careers in law and making the correct legal decisions.
At the end of term we have careers week, in this students will be taking part in many exciting events at lunch, including Careers bingo and scavenger hunts; as well as hearing from staff about their past careers.
Wellbeing & Therapy
Neurodiversity week
Neurodiversity week is always a highlight at Snowfields as we celebrate our students and all that they contribute to our Snowfields community. Our theme for this year was ‘thinking outside of the box.’ Students reviewed the classroom resource boxes which are available in every classroom around the school. Discussion focused on what the resources are and when they might be helpful. Students also had the opportunity to create fidgets out of polymer clay as we reinforced the importance of regulation. Students reviewed some staff quotes about what they struggled with when they were at school and attempted to guess which member of staff said each quote. We have many members of staff who themselves are neurodiverse and able to discuss different perspectives with the students. Sixth form students did some fundraising at Bearsted by running a cake sale with some treats that they had made. Thanks everyone for a great week!
Otis & Max - intervention updates
Otis loved spending a couple of days at the Bearsted College this module! The pupils were so kind and welcoming towards him, remembering to be calm, gentle and patient with him as a rescue dog.
Snowfields Academy Updates
My Child At School (MCAS)
My Child At School (MCAS)
As you are aware, Snowfields has now implemented a parent platform called My Child At School (MCAS). This is an online platform which is designed to share key information about your child/children's school day and enable effective communication between parents and the school.
This module we have shared attendance and positive behaviour information with families along with School Reports and Provision Plans. With so much information being shared with you via MCAS, it is important that all families take the time to sign up.
You no longer need a link from us, just download the app and use the "sign up" link on the login page.
School Contact Details
Messages from the School will show as 12072@bromcomcloud.com. This is a no reply email address.
Please do not message Teachers directly, if you wish to contact the school you can do so in the following ways:
Call the school office on 01622 250 050
Contact the school using MCAS ✉️ this message is sent directly to info@snowfieldsacademy.org.uk
For Attendance Only - you can send a text message to 07860 054 492. This is a SMS service only it will not accept voice messages.
Confidential emails for Mrs Pickerill can be emailed to principal@snowfieldsacademy.org.uk
Parent Pay / Cucina
Parent Pay / Cucina
Following feedback from Parents, we have been working with Cucina to find ways to help improve communication regarding outstanding balances on Parent Pay. As Cucina are unable to set "caps" on accounts, we believe that sending regular reminders may help Parents keep up to date with their child's account balance.
We have therefore agreed that we will send regular "top up" reminders for anyone below £0 and for anyone below -£5 a reminder to clear any balances by the end of each term.
These reminders are system generated, so if your child doesn't use the Canteen or if you already have this in hand, then please ignore the emails.
If you have any questions about your Parent Pay account, need assistance with how to use the system or wish to discuss your balance, then please do not hesitate to contact the School Office or email info@snowfieldsacademy.org.uk
Student Service Managers
We are delighted to welcome Laura Burton to the team of Student Services Managers at Bearsted and Jessica Clark to the team at Cranbrook.
Each college has a team of Student Service Managers (SSMs). At Bearsted the team includes Abby Savage, Laura Burton and Natalie Giles. At Cranbrook the team is made up of Sandra Davies and Jessica Clark. Many families will be familiar with these members of staff as they regularly make contact with home about student needs, concerns and support. All of our SSMs are Safeguarding trained and work with teachers and the school leadership to support students and families. You can contact the SSMs at your child’s college on the following email addresses:
Bearsted:
ssm_bearsted@snowfieldsacademy.org.uk
Cranbrook:
ssm_cranbrook@snowfieldsacademy.org.uk
Uniform Expectations
At Snowfields Academy, like most schools we have expectations of our pupils’ uniform. As we shared in our transition booklet, Snowfields pupils are expected to wear a white shirt, black blazer, black shoes and black trousers or skirt. Some boys also wear a Snowfields tie. Trainers which are not black, or have distinct coloured branding, do not meet our uniform expectations.
Students may also prefer cotton Snowfields T-shirts, polo shirts or shorts which are also acceptable. To order directly from our uniform supplier, Brigade, click this link.
Where necessary, we can make reasonable adjustments for individual pupils. This does however need to be agreed with either the senior leadership team or your college behaviour lead.
If you feel that your child cannot meet our uniform expectations and will require reasonable adjustments, please contact your college Student Services Manager.
Behaviour as a Curriculum
Our Behaviour as a curriculum sessions are part of our Wellbeing time, and are planned to support students with their behaviours to teach them appropriate strategies to manage the most frequent negative behaviours we see.
During this module, students have continued to expand their knowledge of the Zones of regulation.
They have been able to identify what the zones may look like for them personally and their triggers for certain zones.
Students are currently exploring a variety of activities and the impact they have on their regulation, including alerting,organising and calming strategies.
By the beginning of Module 5, all students will have their own visual toolkit that they can use to remind them of the strategies they know support them in the various zones.
Postcards
There has been a real drive for positive reinforcement at Snowfields this academic year. In addition to our Celebration Assemblies, Shout Out Boards and Reward Stamps, our pupils are recognised by staff with a postcard home for displaying Snowfields’ core values. It has been wonderful to see the pupils stretch themselves above and beyond, to earn a postcard!
Events in 2024
Events in Modules 5
Year 10 Mocks
W/c 29th April
Year 10 Parents Consultations
15th April
Summer Exams Commence
W/c 13th May
Mental Health Awareness Week
W/c 16th May
Events in Modules 6
Year 9 Parent Consultations
5th June & 12th June
Sports Day
27th June Bearsted
28th June Cranbrook
Award Ceremony
11th July Bearsted
12th July Cranbrook
Advertising mental health agencies
A reminder about accessing Kooth if students need support with their Mental Health over the Spring break. Kooth has a range of free online resources and ideas available online and students can also type directly to a counsellor if they need support.
Infographics about various mental health conditions: CAMHS
Schools Team Officers and Safeguarding
Safeguarding Team
The Safeguarding team at Snowfields meet regularly to discuss ways in which we can support our students and families. The team has grown and the school website reflects the current staff members who are involved.
Safeguarding Links
Snowfields Policy - It’s important that all Snowfields students understand Safeguarding and the school policy is available in easy to read language: Child Friendly Safeguarding Policy.
Helpful links - websites that we recommend include:
Student Friendly Safeguarding Policy
Community Links
The Official Snowfields Academy Facebook
Please like the page and see what the students do day to day at Snowfields.
Your support will be much appreciated
Infinity Cafe
Infinity Cafe is open for bookings 9.30-2.30 Monday to Friday Term Times only
Call 01622 250050 or email info@infinitycafe.org.uk or pop in for a take-away if you are passing. Your custom will give our students excellent opportunities to develop transferable skills for employment.
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