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Term 1 - 20 September 2024
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Dear Parent/Carer
I hope your child has settled in well at the start of this academic year. We have been really impressed with how students have transitioned into their next year group and how older students have supported their younger peers.
This September revised government statutory guidance has come into force in all schools, in an attempt to improve national school attendance rates. Guidance now states that schools should not authorise attendance for recreational purposes such as a holiday in almost all circumstances. Furthermore, any child of school age is deemed to be ‘persistently absent’ if they miss ten sessions or more in a rolling period of ten school weeks. A session is a morning or afternoon in school.
An unauthorised holiday in term time of the duration of 5 days or more is therefore likely to be subject to a fixed penalty fine payable by each parent of £80 if paid within 21 days and £160 if paid within 28 days. We will be keen to offer support to all families when a student’s attendance drops below 90% for any reason.
Attendance at KSHS by all students places us in the top 10% of schools nationally and I am grateful for the continued support of all parents, but please do think carefully before you book any recreational time away in term time.
Mrs J Smith
Headteacher
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Library and Literacy News
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Freshers’ Fair
Our annual Freshers’ Fair has taken place once more. This is one of our most popular traditions and it marks the launch of a brand-new season of fantastic extra-curricular clubs and activities. With the help of student volunteers and subject prefects, students spend time browsing the various stalls and are encouraged to sign up and try something new. We are very proud to offer such a wide and varied selection of clubs that provide opportunities for all our students to participate and enhance their overall school experiences; by learning new skills, boosting confidence, widening social interactions, and providing the chance to represent their school. Extra-curricular activities play a vital role in shaping young people and can greatly enhance their overall school experiences.
There will be a mini re-launch of clubs at the beginning of terms 3 and 5, giving further opportunities for students to sign up and try something different.
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Library resources and borrowing
Our Library collection forms an important part of a varied range of resources available throughout the school to support students with their learning and development. An extensive nonfiction section provides the opportunity for students to read around their subjects as well as circulating textbooks required for lessons. The fiction collection is wide ranging, from the very latest titles, a dyslexia friendly section and a collection of classics – all available to browse and borrow.
All students have a library account and are encouraged to use the library for both study and independent reading for pleasure purposes. Books are loaned out for a 2-week period, with the option to renew. (Textbooks are usually loaned out for the academic year- or length of course). Managing a library account and book borrowing successfully is an important life skill, and for many who will eventually move on to university- a good habit to establish. Year 7 students are introduced to the principals of using a library during their library lesson and although all our students are very good at returning their library books and textbooks on time, inevitably some books do get forgotten and this directly impacts on our collections. The school library does not operate a fine system for overdue items as this can act as a barrier to successful and confident borrowing within an educational setting. However, for books that are lost, damaged beyond repair, or long overdue (60 days or more without reasonable explanation) a replacement charge will be added to Parentpay accounts- If the item is subsequently returned the charge will be removed. Alternatively, parents may wish to replace the lost, overdue or damaged item with a like for like copy rather than pay the replacement charge. Students will receive regular email and verbal reminders for overdue books and are encouraged to visit the library in person if they are unsure about any aspects of their library borrowing.
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What’s on in the library
- Students have recently signed up for a range of clubs offered this term in the library. Alongside our established clubs including after school homework club and library captains, new for this term are Jigsaw Club and Scrabble Club.
- New guidelines for breaks and lunchtime have been introduced this term. The library is an inclusive and welcoming space that is available for various purposes, and with that in mind Classic and Modern modes are an easy way for students to decide which day of the week suits their needs most.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
Classic Mode- appropriate noise level for silent working or reading
Tuesday, Thursday:
Modern Mode- appropriate noise level for discussion, shared activities and group work
- The library underpins many of the topics covered in the Personal Development curriculum and provides opportunities for students to further develop their curiosity around these topics. Already this term students have been learning about democracy and on display are a range of resources that students may borrow to explore the themes talked about in assembly and PD lessons.
- Throughout the year the library displays are curated to reflect what we as a school community are learning, celebrating or remembering together nationally or globally. Books remain a reliable way to source information and from independent reading of both fiction and non-fiction grows a lifelong good habit that benefits both learning and pastoral outcomes.
Mrs C Gibson
Learning Resource Centre Manager
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Library opening hours
Monday-Thursday 8.30-4.30
Friday 8.30-4.00
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The Year 11 Geographers have had a busy start to the academic year visiting Hunstanton in North Norfolk to collect primary data for their GCSE enquiries.
On the beach, the students considered how the processes of weathering, rockfalls and erosion affect the cliff profiles of the iconic Hunstanton cliffs. They then used trigonometry to calculate the height of the cliffs. Students also spent time measuring the height of sand next to the groynes and measuring pebble length in their investigation into the process of longshore drift.
In the town, the students conducted land use mapping, pedestrian counts and interviewed local people, visitors and shop owners to find out their views on traffic management.
We were so lucky with the sunshine and enjoyed the doughnuts/fish and chips/ice creams at lunchtime! Some students were also impressed with the variety of birds spotted along the Hunstanton coastline.
Mrs S Livingstone
Subject Leader - Geography
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Scottish Highland Dancing on the International Stage for Marith!
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On June 30, I travelled to Vancouver, Canada with a friend from my dance studio to compete in my first ever Scotdance Canada Canadian Championship Series, held in Kamloops, British Columbia! We met up with the Canadian contingent of our dance studio and had 1 week to adjust to the time zones before our week of competing began with a road trip to Penticton Highland Games. With 2 x 2nd, a 3rd and 2 x 4th placings in the Premier 16 years and over group, the prize money was already stacking up for future trips. We also discovered we are REALLY not used to dancing in 40 degree heat! Next up was the Canadian Championship in Kamloops, where we faced increased heat, and more formidable competition in the form of Scottish, Commonwealth, USA and World Champions. My week began with the Open Premiership, consisting of 4 dances, open to any premier dancer in the world. I came away with a 6th placing in the Earl of Errol (one of my favourites!) - a new personal best! Wednesday brought the Broadsword competition, a unique challenge where each dancer has 6 months to learn set steps, then is randomly placed in a team of 4 dancers (who they’ve probably never met) just 2 hours before they compete! 40 minutes to rehearse as a team, then it was showtime! My team came away with a 6th placing - we were just happy to complete the dance without mistakes! Finally, Thursday brought the Championship. An afternoon start meant a mid-morning nap before the biggest championship I have ever competed in. Unbelievably, I came away with a judge’s placing of 4th in the reel from one of the three judges, a new personal best! A second medal from Canadians! Our road trip ended with a quick trip to the USA to compete in Skagit Valley Highland Games. I was in a 16 and under 20 years class and came away with prize money and placings of 1x 2nd, 1 3rd and 3 4ths. I also got to whip out my train driver choreography (which you may remember from last year’s talent show) one last time and came 2nd in an all ages group!
The next week was full of fun trips with my Canadian dance family and then it was back to training for Cowal World Highland Dancing Championships which were held at the end of August in Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland. Again, I went with no expectations but with a personal goal to complete every dance. I competed in a group of roughly 90 16 and 17 year olds. I didn’t place at all but I did get to share the boards with World Champions, and see Highland Dance friends from Canada, Australia, USA and Scotland!
The final studio outing of the summer was Chatsworth Country Fair last Saturday, where I placed overall winner of the Highland and National sections of the under 14-18 age group. This has been a summer to remember, with many personal bests and achievements. Needless to say, plans are already underway to attend Canadian Championships in 2026 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I guess I’d best get training and saving!!
Marith 12A
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European Day of Languages
Thursday 26 September is European Day of Languages and the great MFL Year 7 European Bake Off is back again! We would love Year 7s to bake a European themed cake or cupcakes and bring them in on Thursday 26 September. After judging and finding a winner, all cakes will be sold at lunch time in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support as it is their coffee morning that week too.
Just a few requests…
- Please do not use nuts in your baking as we have several students with allergies
- Please include a list of ingredients used with the cake(s) to help those with allergies
- Bring your cake to the food room in the morning
- Make sure your name and form are clear on your cake / container. We can’t award prizes if we don’t know who made it!
- You must collect your container at the end of the day – if there is any cake left over, you can take it home.
Thank you very much for your support. Below are some great efforts from previous years:
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During the week the Dining Room with be having language themed food:
Monday Crepes
Tuesday Bratwurst
Wednesday Chicken Schnitzel
Thursday Swedish Meatballs
Friday Lebkuchen
Look out for lots more languages-related activities on the day!
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Parents often ask us how to support their child when learning a language, particularly when they can’t speak it themselves. A really simple way is to encourage them to use www.languagenut.com . We subscribe to this excellent website and each pupil has their own individual login. On there, they can practise vocabulary, grammar, phonics as well as the four different skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. They have homework assignments on the website most weeks but can spend as much time as they want on there. If access to the internet is difficult at home, they can use the computers in the library at school. There is even AI chat on there now which can help pupils to improve sentences.
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MFL Clubs
We have various clubs available in the languages department, both for fun and to help improve your languages. For KS3, try out the Language Nut & Duolingo Club run by our fantastic 6th Form Languages Prefects where you can learn any language.
For KS4 we have the Revision Clubs for French & German with Mrs Ellison and Mrs Samworth – they make a difference to your confidence and your results! The aim is to boost your grammar and vocabulary in preparation for GCSE exams but if there is anything in particular you want to do, such as practise speaking, just let us know!
Mrs L Samworth
Subject Leader - MFL
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Interact Club
If you want to do something positive for the community, Interact would love you to join us! We are linked to Sleaford Rotary Club and we have a very busy term between now and Christmas.
At the end of last term, Year 8 Interact members held a teachers’ rounders match. This very competitive match on a very warm day raised £60 for Macmillan Cancer Care. Year 9 Interact members then organised a Talent Show for teachers and students which also raised £60, this time for UNICEF.
Our first project this academic year will be to help the Sleaford Food Larder stock up ready for winter. Please do add an extra item or two to your shopping if you can as we will be collecting soon and every little helps! A list of items they need most is below.
We will also have our Shoebox Appeal where we aim to fill shoeboxes with little gifts for those who otherwise might have very little at Christmas and then our famous Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party in collaboration with the Food and Music Clubs.
We are always delighted to welcome new and old members from all year groups, especially those with lots of ideas and enthusiasm!
Mrs L Samworth
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Celebrating Cultural Diversity at KSHS
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The KSHS Personal Development curriculum is always looking to create opportunities for our young people to develop their appreciation of who they are; from our Year 7 Term 1 PSHE lessons, encouraging pupils to evaluate the traditions and values that can contribute to their identities, to our whole-school form time resources acknowledging key international and cultural events. We hope every student feels they can share and celebrate their individual background in school.
Reflecting on this ethos, we are excited to introduce the... KSHS World Fair!
This new event, planned for Term 3, will invite students to host and decorate a table to reflect their cultural identities. We would love to celebrate the cuisines, clothing, languages, and traditions that contribute to our students’ lives beyond the school grounds.
Students will be encouraged to register their interest or bring any questions to M9 during Break 2 on Monday 30 September.
Many thanks in advance to family members who can encourage and support their young person in participating in our first KSHS World Fair!
Ms A Natley
Teacher of English / Personal Development & PSHE Co-Ordinator
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Staff are invited to nominate students who have demonstrated a Growth Mindset in the past few weeks. This might have been in lessons, in clubs, tutor time or simply around school. Please note we already award bi-annual subject badges and merits for good academic work, effort and improvement. These Growth Mindset nominations recognise those who show resilience (academic or otherwise); who aren’t afraid to get things wrong and learn from it; those who have a go, take themselves out of their comfort zone or show that even if a task is tough, they will persevere.
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Do you know a budding photographer......?
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Extra-curricular PE clubs
Please see the PE clubs offered above alongside all the other opportunities.
Come and play at lunchtime! Turn up at 12.40pm and just change into your trainers. Clubs finish at 1.10pm
After school clubs – skill development and an opportunity to develop competition knowledge with a focus on representing the school in inter-school fixtures. Clubs run from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
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Missy 10L – International Rowing
Well done to Missy who competed this summer in the British Junior Rowing Championships. She competed against National and International teams and won her D final.
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Central Lincolnshire Design Code Consultation
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Please see information below regarding a forthcoming consultation from the Central Lincolnshire Local Plans Team. The team are working on developing an authority wide design code. A design code is a set of clear design requirements for new development to follow, to ensure new buildings and spaces are designed to a high standard.
There are two surveys for the first stage of the Design Code consultation. Survey 1 is intended to find out about good design and Survey 2 goes into details about design issues, challenges and opportunities that the Design Code might look to cover.
Parents and students are welcome to participate in survey 1. For QR code and the link details, please refer to the poster.
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21 Sep 2024
We are looking to appoint a Senior Science Technician
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21 Sep 2024
We are looking to appoint an Estates Officer
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12 Sep 2024
We are looking to appoint a Learning Support Assistant
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09 Sep 2024
We are looking to appoint Cover Supervisors
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