Dorset December Newsle er Autumn 2021 - Year 7 students have been combining Forest School and Arts knowledge and understanding to explore the ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Dorset
Year 7 students have been combining
Forest School and Arts knowledge and
understanding to explore the colours and
textures of our autumnal environment Studio School
December
Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
p Message from the Principal their first friendly fixture last week. I would therefore like to take
They fought valiantly but lost this opportunity to wish you all a
As Christmas fast approaches, narrowly in a game against a long- relaxing holiday and a prosperous
it gives me great pleasure to established Dorchester Middle new year.
record the details of another very School team. Thank you to the PE
successful term in school. department for organising what Yours sincerely
I would like to start by will hopefully be the first of many
congratula�ng our year 11 fixtures, and really well-done girls. P A Green - Principal
students who have recently
concluded their mock Also, in the last few days, Mr p Message from the
examina�ons. It has been such a James and Miss Yard escorted Execu�ve Principal
benefit having an ‘examina�on some of our upper school students
hall’ and the students responded to the Thomas Hardye School in I am very pleased to let you
admirably. They prepared well and order that they could complete a know that we currently have
worked hard throughout. Really Mathema�cs session which would enough accommoda�on for all
well done! introduce ‘A’ Level Maths. The our classes, due to the extra
students were genuinely inspired classrooms and complete
In other news it has been great so it was fantas�c to see another refurbishment of the Poundbury
to see the extra-curricular life element of the provision for our campus. Although we are split
of the school burgeoning once most able. over two sites, the age group
more. Just a few short weeks divide is proving really popular
ago, approximately thirty of our More recently, Mrs Harris, Year with the students as they have
youngest students represented 7 and a range of lower school more room for breaks, sports and
the school at the replacement students presented an in- learning.
for the ‘Dorset County Show’ in school Christmas Carol concert
Dorchester. Our students were – originally planned for an external We have just completed
involved in selling their own arts audience. Students completed our KS4 mocks and internal
and cra�s, ‘showing’ ca�le in the readings, played instruments and assessments and having a large
arena (for which they won several sang modern versions of Christmas hall, specifically, for exams
pres�gious awards) and informing classics. The whole event proved during this �me was extremely
visitors about the school. With to be a wonderfully posi�ve successful. Being able to prepare
most of the students being from distrac�on. and get used to working under
the lower school, the staff were exam condi�ons in the area that
expec�ng to have to provide quite You will have recently received an the real exams will be taken, is a
some support. Not a bit of it! email detailing the school plans definite benefit for the students.
From the minute they arrived, the rela�ng to the staggered start at
staff were relegated to the role of the beginning of next term in order We also have our own canteen,
bystander whilst the students just to accommodate the requirement which is providing healthy op�ons
got on with it! We could not have for Lateral Flow Tes�ng. Like you, for both sites and we are able to
been prouder of them. we all look forward to a �me when have more lunch �me ac�vi�es
provisions and adapta�ons such as as our sports provision has
Our Year 8 girls football team had these are not required. increased.
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
p English Elizabeth I, Mar�n Luther King Jr,
I am mee�ng with the DfE on Greta Thunberg and Malala. This
the 20th of December for the Throughout this term Year 7 unit has allowed the students
handover of the hygiene facility and 8 have been studying the to demonstrate their skills in
for our land and animal-based Michael Morpurgo novel Private speech wri�ng, culmina�ng in
learning, which has now been Peaceful. This has allowed them an impassioned speech about an
completed. This has taken to explore such themes as family, issue they feel strongly about.
longer than expected but it friendship and war. The text To provide addi�onal stretch
is vital accommoda�on that focusses on two brothers who and challenge for this task we
provides changing facili�es and volunteer to join the Bri�sh Army welcomed The UK Speechwriters
break out spaces for the smaller figh�ng in the First World War. Guild on 9th December for a
groups that operate across our The students have developed workshop with 9N students where
specialism. This is an important their skills of analysis, finding and they were able to develop and
addi�on for our Forest School, using quotes and crea�ve wri�ng. refine their understanding under
Land Based and Animal Care The rapid improvement in their the tutelage of professionals in this
team, as staffing increases in understanding of such terms as field.
response to the development of foreshadowing and inference has
our exci�ng specialist curriculum. been excellent. p Humani�es
The students finished the unit
We con�nue to have a wai�ng exploring one of the great war It has been an extremely busy �me
list for places and regularly poets Wilfred Owen, through his for the Humani�es Department
welcome new students to the work “Dulce et Decorum Est” with students from years 10 and
school. This makes the need and Year 7 are looking forward 11 focusing on mock exams.
for more accommoda�on, as to visi�ng the Bovington Tank Year 11 students sat three GCSE
we move forward, even more Museum to experience the Geography mock examina�on
important. Children are a�ending trenches for themselves! papers...one for each module
from all across the county to of study. We would like to say
experience our unique provision. Year 9 this year have studied a huge ‘Well done’ to all year
Consequently, the work to find Animal Farm by George Orwell, 11 students for all of their hard
a permanent solu�on to the focusing on developing an work; in lessons, at home and in
temporary split site situa�on, is understanding of dystopic wri�ng. their actual mock exams. I’m sure
well underway. Animal Farm is an excellent text to that all of this hard work will pay
start to analyse different socie�es dividends in the coming year.
I look forward to upda�ng you and gets the students to be cri�cal
next term as this exci�ng project of totalitarian leadership and In addi�on, I would also like to
con�nues. explore socialism. This is excellent thank our Year 10 students who
prepara�on for their future studies have been working �relessly on
Yours sincerely of J B Priestly’s An Inspector Calls. their exam prepara�on for Travel
Following this they have moved & Tourism. They sat their mock
Dr. A C Minard onto studying the Art of Rhetoric, exam for Travel & Tourism on
encountering speeches from Monday 6th December and will
Execu�ve Principal Alexander the Great, Aristotle, face their first formal exam on
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
14th January 2022. We trust that lunch�mes, and designing and p PE / Well-being
they will prepare well over the crea�ng their own vehicles.
Christmas Holiday and we wish ‘Me in PE’ - Head / Heart / Hands
them every success in the New Prac�cal ac�vi�es like this are
Year. great for students to see the All students will have no�ced
links between Maths, Science, a difference with how PE is
We have also been excep�onally Technology & Engineering, and delivered this year. They will be
pleased with our lower school developing their awareness of studying three (previously two)
students who have been learning real-life Maths applica�ons. sports per term, changing sport
about the Norman Conquest approximately every 4 weeks. We
in Year 7, The Living World in Towards the end of term, firmly believe there is a sport out
Year 8 and Hitler and the Rise students had a compe��on to there for everyone and this offers
of the Nazis in Year 9. We also see who could build a vehicle our students the opportunity
look forward to April when our which could carry school to experience a wider variety
Year 7 and 8 Oak Tree Project equipment the furthest. There of sports. We are assessing our
compe��on will be judged. was a �me limit given, and students based on three key
We look forward to seeing the so the students designed and areas – Head (cogni�ve/thinking/
progress of those germinated created their vehicles using crea�ve me), Heart (affec�ve/
acorn seeds. the kit available to them in 45 social/healthy me) and Hands
minutes. Plenty of learning (physical me) with the focus
Looking forward, we hope to points were iden�fied in both the being on personal development
be taking our Year 8 students construc�on and tes�ng of ideas, throughout the year, knowing
out of school next term to and the old adage that “there is what level they are working at and
Dorchester’s Shire Hall Museum no failure, only feedback” was what they need to do to improve.
where students will be studying borne out for some of the more
the Tolpuddle Martyrs and their experimental vehicles. Years 10-11 studied Table Tennis
legacy on the workers of rural throughout Autumn Term 1 at
Dorset. In the end the winning vehicle the new Poundbury site. This
(ably assisted by a modified Lego was the first �me we have been
p Maths - STEM enrichment pullback system that made use of able to offer this exci�ng sport in
an adjusted gear ra�o) travelled school and it was a real success
Maths students in Key Stage 3 over 5 metres before coming to with many returning at lunch�mes
have been busy experimen�ng a stop. and even a�er school to play
with Lego kits during their recrea�onally. This was also the
case with Badminton during the
second half of the term.
Years 7-9 studied Volleyball
whilst basking in the late summer
sunshine we were so lucky to
enjoy throughout the Autumn
Term 1. Since half-term, years
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
7-9 have studied Football and NSEA Compassion and Teamwork.
Tag-Rugby, along with a brief Goalkeeper Daisy McCarthy was
return to remote PE lessons for We have 14 riders in the NSEA forced to make plenty of difficult
some. The PE staff delivered (Na�onal Schools Equestrian saves and only conceding two
fitness workouts to those in Associa�on) and have lots of goals at the half-�me. The girls
school and those who were at exci�ng events coming up in the played a solid second half and
home simultaneously which was New Year. We have a real range despite conceding another two
fun way of keeping the students’ of riders, of which many have goals showed amazing resilience
engaged in sport whilst unable to aspira�on to become professional with Faye Ellison scoring a late goal
a�end in person. riders. just before the final whistle. We
are incredibly proud of all the girls
Lunch�me Clubs Fixtures and are excited that this marks the
return of spor�ng fixtures.
Years 7-9 We are very excited to have had
Tuesdays - Table Tennis our first KS3 Girls Football game PE Ques�onnaire
Wednesdays – Dodgeball against Dorchester Middle School
Thursdays – ‘Ac�ve Minds’ on Friday the 10th of December. The PE Department are keen
Fridays – Dodgeball This is the result of our student’s to understand more about our
enthusiasm for football this year students’ involvement in sport. We
Years 10-11 and a large number of students have created a ques�onnaire for the
Clubs have consisted of Table who are very talented in this students to complete as homework.
Tennis in the first half-term and sport. Captain Megan Folle� We would like to celebrate all the
Badminton since. Clubs have lead the team out against a success that our students have
been made available every day in physically daun�ng opposi�on outside of school also and want to
the sports hall at the Poundbury and excep�onally demonstrated try to address any poten�al barriers
site. our school values of Pride, to raise par�cipa�on par�cularly in
extra-curricular clubs.
Hall of Fame
Fin Abbo� has gained a place on the
10ten Motocross Team.
Alfie Diaper and Millie & Izzy King
have all qualified for Horse of the
Year Show.
Oliver Gillman who has been
compe�ng in Shoo�ng, Swimming
and Running finished second overall
in the SW Wiltshire Pony Club
Triathlon.
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
Tag Rugby
On the run-up to Christmas, KS3
have been studying Tag Rugby,
which successfully coincided
with the Autumn Interna�onals.
We thought it would be a nice
opportunity to share a few ac�on
shots of some of their lessons.
Table Tennis Tournament
Having spent the first half-
term studying Table Tennis,
KS4 ended the term with an
eagerly an�cipated whole-class
Tournament that proved much
excitement due to some very
close games.
The following students were
crowned winners of their class
tournament:
We are delighted to have 18
11A – Kyle Murphy 10B – Henry Sims students enrolled from Year 9
11B – Tom Samways 10C – Lily Gonthier on the Bronze award. The group
11C – Owen Jones opted to learn First Aid for their
10A – Izzy King Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skill Sec�on of the Award this
term and are making steady
progress toward its comple�on.
Many have some fantas�c
programme ideas for their
Volunteering Sec�on and have
already begun their ac�vity.
Le�: learning how to perform a
Primary Survey and put a casualty
into the Recovery Posi�on
Have a great Christmas all!
Mr Burton & Mrs Waring
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
p Arts
Leaf art in the woods
Students have been u�lising their art ideas
crea�vely in all parts of their land based
learning. Here are two students under the
guidance of the ever crea�ve Mrs Brown
comple�ng some leaf art.
Snowmen and reindeer for the
Dorset Winter Show
Students were involved in the assembling
and making of products to sell at the Winter
Agricultural Event in Dorchester on 27th
November. Items included snowmen and
the Christmas tree decora�ons made out of
clay, lovingly created by the studio school
art and land based students.
Pumpkins and Poppies
Students have enjoyed working in clay
crea�ng pumpkin and poppy tealights
to take home. The poppy tealights
were videoed and displayed for the
minutes silence to the whole school on
remembrance day.
All of our artwork is displayed on our
dorsetstudioschoolart Instagram page.
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
p Forest School
Year 7 & 8 Forest School have been balancing their opinions about game shoo�ng. Ini�al worries about
working with the pheasants were allayed when discussions led to the understanding that compared to
supermarket produced chicken the pheasants had led a good wild life before a swi� dispatch.
The preferred way of prepara�on was to fillet the breasts, wash and thinly slice, then dip in egg wash and
bread crumbs before frying over the camp fire. The feathers were revered for their iridescent quali�es and
soon found there way into Christmas crea�ons.
Discussions were fair and balanced as vegetarian students were fairly represented with bean burgers and
halloumi which proved extremely popular. Students conscien�ously organised different equipment for
different food stuffs as all appreciated and respected each other’s opinions and beliefs.
p Land Based Studies
Huge thanks to JV Energen BioGas in Poundbury
for hos�ng a round of visits for our year 9 Land
Based students. Each year learning is extended by
understanding how the circular gas produc�on business
is aiming to carbon neutral by marke�ng its digestate
waste as garden compost and cooling waste carbon
dioxide to its liquid form so it can sell to fizzy drinks
companies.
Land based students have been visi�ng Wessex Water’s
Su�on Poyntz water plant near Weymouth to see the
water cycle in ac�on. They gained understanding of the
poten�al consequences of over use of chemicals from
arable farming on Weymouth’s water supply.
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
p Dorset Winter Show
The first “Dorset Winter Show”
took place on Saturday 27
November 2021 at Dorchester
Market.
The event included livestock
showing and local producers
selling their produce and
Christmas cra�s from their
stalls.
More than 30 DSS volunteer
students and 12 staff supported
the Show by helping out in
the main ring and generally
providing help where needed
to other traders, including
marke�ng the school.
Six year 9 students (Mya Green,
Louise King, Emily Nicol, Robert
Robertson, Tia Groves and Alfie
Pearce) entered the 11-16 year-
old young handlers category
for showing beef ca�le, x3
autumn born Bri�sh Blue X
Friesian/Holstein calves.
For the past 4 weeks they had
pa�ently trained them (“broken
them in!”) to being led quietly
and safely on a halter (a rope
reign). The calves were also
shampooed, blow dried,
clipped and hooves oiled to
enhance their beauty. Most
of the work was completed
as part of the BTEC Animal
Care course unit for “Animal
Handling”.
December Newsle�er
Autumn 2021
All the hard work and effort
paid off as the students
won Second (with special
commenda�on), Third
and Forth (with special
commenda�on).
Dorset Studio School stall also
had an extremely successful
day’s trading. Students
worked �relessly, selling
student produce such as
wooden reindeer, snowmen,
clay decora�ons, apple juice
and themed cushions kindly
donated by a year 8 parent.
Students were rewarded by
a making a very respectable
£553 profit. Proceeds will
be donated to the Royal
Agricultural Benevolent
Ins�tu�on (RABI) which
provides support for local
rural communi�es and used
to fund future DSS curriculum
enterprise projects.
.................................................
Reminder from the school
office - student absence:
Please can parents and carers
inform the office of any
absences before 9am.
Messages can be le� on 01305
215028, or emails sent to
info@dorsetstudioschool.co.ukYou can also read
