Snowfields Academy Newsletter October 2021
Dear families,
We have been delighted to welcome our new year 7s this term. They are a delightful group of young people who have all settled exceptionally well. Given the disruption to their last years of primary education due to Covid, they are a credit to you, their families, and their primary schools. We have also welcomed a steady trickle of new Year 9 and 10 students as well, and again, our new students have settled really well and are making friends and also making the most of their learning and other opportunities at Snowfields Academy.
Our new staff have also settled really well since they have joined our Snowfields family. It is wonderful to see how they all share the same values and ethos of our founding staff, and I have taken pride in the successful growth of our Academy.
Disappointingly this term we have had a short delay to opening our café. The café looks exceptional, and I know it will be a great success when we have overcome a few operational hurdles and can open. Emilie, our café manager, is incredibly eager to get going, as are our students. Once we have the go ahead I will share the date with you along with booking details and I hope to see as many of you, along with your families and friends, at Infinity Café in the near future. We did however have a very successful opening event for invited guests; 4 of our talented Y10 catering students hosted and did an exceptional job.
Meanwhile our horticulture area is going from strength to strength. Helen, our exceptionally green-fingered gardener is making the most of every inch of space and I can't wait to see the produce grown by our students for sale in our café when the time comes.
Willow has earned her value already; it has been so good for the well being of our students and staff to have her with us. Please read her thoughts in Willow's News.
I know this term has been incredibly long and everyone is ready for a break. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. I hope you have an enjoyable half term and the sun shines at some point for us all. I'm sure it will be a busy holiday for families with both Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night.
Best wishes,
Dee
Congratulations to James Doddington and his fiancé Katie who have had a beautiful baby girl, Edith Peggy. Everyone is doing well.
Communication:
It’s been lovely to hear all of the stories about summer holidays and meet so many new students. Our Communication lessons have been well received by the new Year 7s. We have focused on their transition to Secondary school by looking at friendship skills and learning about expected and unexpected behaviours for different environments and situations. Year 8s and 9s have reviewed what makes up a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition and the various supports that are in place at Snowfields to encourage their learning and success. We finished off the term by looking into advocacy and employment. It’s been a great start to the academic year!
English:
Year 7 This term students have used their writing skills to get to know their new form members; they have imagined that they are on a coach journey together and have to get to know their fellow passengers through travel writing. Students also wrote letters to their teachers, introducing themselves and offering interesting facts about themselves. Next term students will be focusing on narrative writing focusing on Winter Stories.
Year 8 This term year 8 have started the term by refreshing their creative writing skills and producing their own Sunflower poetry. Next term year 8 will be studying a Shakespeare play.
Year 9 Year 9 have been focusing on non-fiction writing; predominantly travel writing. They are utilising skills that will be needed as they move into GCSE and further Functional Skills. Next term they will be delving into the History of English Literature - looking at extracts from famous authors across the years.
GCSE - Year 10 The GCSE students have begun to study their first text; 'A Christmas Carol'. They are learning to format answers to GCSE questions and expand their answers using PEEL paragraphs.
Functional Skills - Year 10 Functional Skills students have begun the year by refreshing their knowledge of English Language looking at punctuation, grammar and spelling. Students have created presentations and led their peers in mini lessons on using a feature of punctuation correctly
Horticulture:
We started school in September with a blank canvas and it may be Autumn but the horticultural department has been very busy. We are digging for gold! There are five awards to apply for through The Royal Horticultural Society School Gardens Awards scheme and we will receive a certificate and prize for each one, so watch this space.
Year 10 are working towards their Ascentis Award and Certificate in Garden Horticulture. They have worked hard preparing the raised beds for the winter. We have sown leeks, carrots, purple sprouting and spinach to name but a few. It is lovely to see the produce being put to good use as the spinach we grew featured in the vegetarian curry on the school menu this week.
Notcutts Garden centre have kindly agreed to help us and have so far donated a large amount of potting compost which we are hugely grateful for.
The polytunnels are now up and running and preparations are being made to welcome all years to the horticultural area in February as they start their horticultural rotation.
Lastly, we hope to start the lunchtime garden club after half term to work on projects including building our bug hotel, scarecrows for spring and of course planting and sowing.
Science:
Year 7
This term, the Year 7 students have been completing our introductory “Working Scientifically” module - where we learn how to observe phenomena in the world and use the scientific method to explore possible explanations. The students have learned about safe working practices in the laboratory and the core skills of planning, execution and interpretation of scientific experiments. In the following school terms we will be further building-up the students’ scientific skills and expertise based on these firm foundations.
Year 8
This term, the Year 8 students have been completing a deep-dive into the theory and practice of electricity and electric circuits. The students have gained a firm understanding of the key underlying principles, which will stand them in good stead in later school years. They have demonstrated the skills they have developed in both drawing and interpreting simple electric circuits on paper. They have also built electric circuits both physically with lab equipment and virtually using simulation software. This module of work combined theory, applied mathematics and practical applications - I’m pleased with the high level of engagement we have seen from all the students throughout the term, and am confident that they have gained a good understanding of this core topic that will support future learning.
Year 9:
This term, year 9 have been completing a project on forensic science and looking at the important connection between solving crimes and how science can be used to do this. They have been looking at topics such as purity, chromatography, analysing hair and fingerprints, acceleration, speed and speed distance time graphs. I have been really impressed with how engaged the students have been with this and the deeper thinking and questions that have developed, due to this.
Year 10:
This term the year 10s have started their GCSEs in Science, they have been working hard learning about the building blocks of life covering topics such as States of matter, Atomic structure and Cells in animals and plants. The students have particularly enjoyed exploring how and why different substances change state and analysing the cooling of stearic acid.
Food Tech:
Year 7 have been trying their hand at making different varieties of muffin - both sweet and savoury! - as well as learning about food safety and why it is important.
Year 8 have been making biscuits this term, and have made classics like shortbread and ginger biscuits before challenging themselves with garibaldis and some sea salt water biscuits.
Year 9 have made different varieties of soup this term, including staple recipes of a vegetable soup and a chicken noodle soup. They have also developed some new skills with using the blenders in the Food Tech room!
Year 10 Home Cooking Skills group have made traditional British dinners this term, trying their hands at making dishes such as toad-in-the-hole, cottage pie and a chicken, leek and mushroom pie with homemade pastry!
Maths:
The start of the new academic year has been a busy one in the Maths department.
Years 7 and 8 have been extending their knowledge of number - all four operations, factors, multiples, decimals and different types of number including triangles, squares and prime numbers. Some students have learned how to calculate the lowest common multiple and highest common factor of a pair of numbers.
Year 9 have been working hard on percentages, ratio and proportion and have solved problems involving the application of this to real life situations. They have also started to look at patterns in number and number sequences.
Year 10 have made a sound start to their Key Stage 4 studies. They have worked on mastering the key numerical concepts required for the remainder of their mathematical studies as well as metric and imperial conversions relevant to length, mass and capacity. The majority of Year 10 think that the UK should now exclusively be using metric measures.
Christina Harris (Lead Teacher of Mathematics)
Rights Respecting School!
We wrote to you at the beginning of the school term to announce our intentions to work with UNICEF to become a Rights Respecting School.
We are proud to say that we have already achieved our Bronze Award and are now a Rights Committed school.
We have appointed a steering group from within the student body and we will now be working towards achieving our Silver Award by the end of the school year.
Snowfields Squad!
Our Student Council, Snowfields Squad, is back up and running and they have had a productive start to the year. In the first meeting students were given their badges from Dee and they elected charities and fundraising days that they wish to support. This year Snowfields Squad will be using the 'Smart School Councils' initiative to guide their meetings and projects. As part of this the council members hold a big debate with their form classes every Wednesday afternoon around popular topics in the news or that they feel are important in making Snowfields a safe and happy environment for learning.
Willow’s News
Hi everyone,
I have loved my first term at Snowfields Academy. I have spent time with all of the staff and lovely students. Everyone has been so gentle and given me lots of cuddles. I have enjoyed greeting all of the students in the morning as they come into school, they are always happy to see me. When students have been feeling sad or worried, I have been able to give them cuddles to help them feel better. Next term, I will be a little bit older which means I will spend some more time in classrooms and with students, I am really looking forward to it.
I hope everyone has a lovely half term, thank you for being so wonderful to me this term.
From Willow
Willow is a very good, calming influence to some students so having her around students who are kind of stressed could calm their nerves a bit. Today I was feeling very stressed over something and I came into Courtney's room and it made me a bit happier and calmer knowing there was someone calm in the background. I am extremely glad that Willow is here.
From Danny, Year 8
The Big Draw!!
Year 7 and 8 students were invited to take part in The Big Draw, the world's largest drawing festival, in conjunction with Invicta Court Care Home.
Students drew images inspired by nature, and the changing seasons. Residents of the care home will be creating similar imagery. These drawings will then be combined into a large scale intergenerational mural at Invicta Court. We're very excited to see how the artwork of our Snowfields Students will be included in this large scale work!
Charity Diary Dates
The Snowfield Squad have voted on the organisations they would like to support for this academic year. The dates are as follows, more details will be given for the dates later in the year.
Children in Need Day - 19th November - Own clothes for £1 donation
Christmas Jumper Day - 16th December - Own clothes for £1 and bring an item for local Food Banks
Wear Blue for WaterAid (Buy a toilet) - TBC February
Cancer Research - TBC April
The Snowfield Squad would like to thank everyone for their donations to last year's charities, particularly the amazing donations given towards the Shoebox Appeal.
This year the Squad would like to support more local charities at Christmas and so are hoping to collect donations for food hampers to give to our community Food Bank.
Library Competition - Spoon Characters
Over the half term, the Library would like to invite students to decorate a spoon as a literary character.
Best spoon will be judged by the Snowfield Squad and will win a prize.
Entries to be returned by Wednesday 10th November.
Spoons can be 3D or flat painted/coloured, spoons should be based on a character from a book.
Students can see Emily for a spoon should they need one.
GOOD LUCK!
Uniform
As most of you are aware we do take a personalised approach to uniform at Snowfields Academy as some of our students have very specific sensory needs which make it difficult for them to tolerate aspects of the uniform. We have a Snowfields white polo shirt for those who are unable to wear a buttoned shirt, and a jumper for those who can’t wear a blazer. A very few students need a hoodie, and you can purchase a black Snowfields hoodie in these cases. We also understand that some students are only comfortable in trainers, and in these cases we ask that these are solid black in colour please so they still look smart.
I have noticed that some of our students are choosing not to wear school uniform, and I am asking for your support please in ensuring they come to school wearing our uniform each day or the closest approximation to it that their sensory needs will allow for. If your son or daughter has a very specific need that isn’t covered in the personalised offers I have detailed above, please do communicate with their form tutor about this. I intend to take a more formalised approach to uniform following the half term in cases where students are wearing clothes to school which are not appropriate to ensure all of our students are smart and ready for learning.
Thank you for your support with this.
Dee
A six-session online course for parents
Bounce Forward will deliver Raise Resilience, an online course for parents, starting 4th November 2021.
Join us for six 1-hour sessions to build personal resilience, learn how to look after yourself, and explore the link between what we think, how we feel, and how we behave.
You will learn skills and strategies to develop a growth mindset, reframe unhelpful choices, and effective communication.
This programme is for parents of school aged children who want to learn about emotional resilience to enable them and their children to be the best version of themselves in the small everyday moments.
Alongside the live sessions, we will provide parents with learning materials that can be used at home to help your children develop the mental muscle, gain perspective and thrive.
The Aim Group - Free Online Courses for Staff & Parents
Due to Government Funding in the Adult Education Budget, we have several Free online Level 2 Accredited Courses available to Staff & Parents to help better understand some key issues around young people's mental health and wellbeing. Here's some of our most popular subjects available:
Children and Young Peoples Mental Health (Understand factors which may affect Young Peoples mental health, the impact that they have and how to support them with these issues)
Understanding Autism (learn how individuals process sensory information, understand characteristics, conditions, and how speech, language and communication differ in people with Autism)
Understanding Behaviour That Challenges (supporting positive behaviour, effective communication & how to manage challenging behaviour)
Adverse Childhood Experiences (Exploring childhood and family structure, developing strategies to improve outcomes for children affected by adverse childhood experiences)
These are just the popular qualifications, but we have over 30 available so please click on the link below which will show you a whole range!
No Exams or end point assessments are involved, the courses are purely Q&A based (including comprehensive answers) and are available to you 24/7. You can do as many as you like, however you can just do one at a time.
The only criteria the learner must meet to be eligible, is the following; Must be aged 19 or over on or before 31st August 2020, have lived in the UK/EU for 3+ years & not already on a Government funded course (Apprenticeship for example)
