Dear parents and carers,
I hope everyone has had a good weekend. A reminder to families that you should have received a copy of our Ofsted Report on Friday. If this is not the case please let us know. Many thanks for all the positive comments and emails we have already received about the content of the report, it really is much appreciated.
We now look forward to ensuring that the remainder of a busy Autumn term continues to be successful. This includes preparing and supporting students for mock examinations, continuing to provide as many extra curricular and enrichment opportunities (both in school and through visits) as possible and in the lead up to Christmas ensuring that our focus on festive celebrations is as successful as last year. I’m delighted to say that this year this will include a return to York Minster (Wednesday 8th December), albeit on a limited basis, for our Christmas Service and I will write to parents with further details over the coming days. Like last year we will also be providing students with a whole school reward…
Whole School Reward – Roller Disco
Following the success last year of the Ice Rink as an inclusive whole school reward we will be doing something similar this year, swapping the ice rink for a roller disco. Further details will be shared in due course but the process of giving permission for your child is the same as last year with parents needing to give consent for participation using this link – https://forms.gle/UBZDRTcZspFAVezf8
Wellbeing
Please find attached as usual the latest copy of the Wellbeing Newsletter
Head of Year Awards
Please find attached the latest Head of Year Awards:
Head of year Updates
Year 7 – Miss Kincell, Miss Powell and Miss Cooper
We have finally come to the end of our three weeks of residentials and we can honestly say we have never been prouder of our year group. Both those at Bewerley Park and those in school have shown our school values, working at teams and making new friends.
A few key reminders:
Friday 26 November is a training day, students are not in school.
Thursday 16 December Period 5 is our Christmas Party, this is dependent on students completing their homework. Any student who doesn’t hand in 5 or more homeworks will not be able to attend the party. If you would not like your child to attend the party please do get in touch.
Teachers for Tea: Students must complete their return their forms as soon as possible.
Monday 29 November: St Aelred’s, Obaldwick, Stockton on the Forest, Hempland, Badger Hill, Stamford Bridge and Heworth
Tuesday 30 November: Warthill, Lord Deramore’s, Clifton Green, St.Lawrences
Wednesday 1 December: Tang Hall
Student of the week
ANn: Liam Woodward – For being a kind, supportive and reliable buddy to a new student. Thank you Liam!
ASu: Kaiyrah Holdsworth – for always being a polite, smiley member of the form
Bl: Kevin Zhongwen – arriving early in the morning and handing out well being booklets.
Cy: Bethel Ogbemudia for generous contributions to the Christmas Fayre
Gr: Bryanna Martyn – showing great indepence – well done!
Hf: Valerie Chan – always positive and polite in form time.
Hv: Brooke Cooper -A super, well organised planner
MLn: Tej Bell – for great team spirit at Bewerley Park!
MPe: Amelia Yeoman – for being the first to jump in the plunge pool at Bewerley Park!!
Mr: Isla Hanlon – for being a fantastic role model
SMf: Scarlett Hawkins – Excellent maturity, resilience and humour on a daily basis! Great start to Year 7!
Well done to our Head of Year Awards
Isabel Weyman – Incredible team spirit and support of her peers. Well Done!
Charlie Taylor 7MLN – outstanding group leader showing courage and resilience
The Library Newsletter
Anti-Bullying Week
We took part in the school anti-bullying week by thinking about how best to deal with a bully. We decided that most people bully because they are unhappy, or they have decided not to like someone before getting to know them. So, perhaps the best way to deal with it is show everyone a little kindness. We all know that I love ‘random acts of kindness’ so we concentrated on ways to be kind, and let those who have been kind to us know how much they mean to us. A great example of making friends rather than enemies is the book My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith (Quiz 226125. Level 4.7. Purple) Peter knows that he should dislike the German pilot who he comes across in the woods, but because they get to know each other a friendship forms rather than a hatred. Summer, 1941. For Peter in rural Britain, the war is a long way away, being fought by a faceless enemy. Until the night a German plane is shot down over woods that his missing dad looked after before he went off to fight. Peter rushes to the crash site to see if there’s something he can keep, but what he finds instead is an injured young German airman. The enemy. Here. And helping him seems like the right thing to do… You can read the start of the book by clicking on the link below. https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/My_Friend_the_Enemy/-9BGBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Full Moon
There is a full moon this weekend. It has many names, some call it the Beaver Moon, others refer to it as a Frost Moon. In the theme of making friends, the writer of the short poem below seeks comfort in the beauty of the full moon and finds it a comfort, a bit like enjoying the company of an old friend.
Oh moon, the friend of mine. In my dark mood you shine.
In my lone place you are present to accompany me.
I feel your comfort. Thank you moon.
Thank you
This week have a think about someone who has been kind or comforting to you, and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Book Review
If you are not sure about what to read it can be a good idea to choose something from a series. That way, if the writer manages to hook you in you’ll have several more books to enjoy. If you find something you really like, or even don’t like, please let me know.
Riley Brooksbank can highly recommend the Beast Quest, a whole series of books by Adam Blade. He wrote,” There is a different monster in every book and the pictures in them, and on the cover keep getting better and better.” You can read an excerpt from Beast Quest by clicking on the following link. https://orchardseriesbooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Ferno-Extract-compressed.pdf
I have kept hold of two earlier reviews on the series Demon Headmaster as they have very different views on the books. Emily Brown thought the books adventurous but didn’t enjoy them, whereas Amira Benchouir was hooked in right from the first paragraph and thought it a brilliant read. If anyone else has a view on the Demon Headmaster series, please let us hear it! You can listen to a short extract by clicking on the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgeJ_z_7Bcs
AHS Christmas Fayre
A huge thank you to all of those who have helped out by getting items ready for the Christmas Fayre. Lots of you have helped to parcel up the selection box book combo’s and suggested a retail price. Some of you helped to bag up all manor of tasty treats for the sweet stall, and wrapped up small items for the gift stall. We all love doing this but it is very time consuming so I am so grateful to all those who helped. Don’t forget there is still time to donate any second-hand books, unwanted gifts, sweets and chocolate. Just bring your items to the Y7 library. If anyone has caught the bake-off bug, we will gladly accept any baked goods on Thursday 2nd November either to sell on the cake stall, or put in the pop-up-café. I hope you all have the date in the diary for the Christmas Fayre, it is Friday 3rd December in the main school hall. Doors open at 5pm and we close at 8pm. Free entry. You can have a sneak peek at the poster by clicking on the link. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=c5e2d2b943&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1716665649082978431&th=17d2d25003b4d07f&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=f_kw3aua1e0 Please let me know if you are able to display a poster for us.
Usual Reminders – Please Return Your Library Books
Again, we have over 400 books outstanding. Please have a good root around your bedroom, school bag, classroom or anywhere you think an overdue book might be lurking. You will not be in trouble for a late return.
Lunchtime of Calm
We are continuing to have a Lunchtime of Calm on a Thursday. We have more fairy lights than ever that twinkle away, lighting up the library. Don’t forget, if you can’t hear the soothing music, you are being too loud, Shhhh!
Year 8 – Mrs Avey, Mrs Mennell and Mr Handley
I am pleased to start by saying Year 8 are continuing very well and have had another positive week. Their attendance has been the best in the school this week which is also really pleasing and shows the commitment of those in the year group. In addition to this, now that the school’s Ofsted report is now public, it is worth saying again how proud we were of our Year 8 students during these two days. They were excellent ambassadors for the school and did an excellent job of living our school values, as they always do.
Our big focus in school this week was anti-bullying week. On Monday students were asked to wear odd socks to show they are united against bullying and we were really happy to see many of our year 8 students taking part in this. Our weekly year group act of collective worship was centered around anti-bullying with the theme being ‘One Kind Word’. In addition to this, students also spent time in their form time act of collective worship to put together a joint display about kindness to show how they are united against bullying as a form. We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind students and parents that they can report any issues or bullying through the schools ‘Report-it’ form, a link to this can be found in all classrooms and on the Student Hub on their school Google accounts. They can also report anything to their form tutors and to the HOY, AHOY or PSW.
This week also included photo day on Monday and students were able to get together as a form collectively for a form photo for the first time at AHS. The student’s behavior and conduct during this was excellent. During this period, whilst students were not getting their photos taken they were able to spend extra time in their forms with their form tutors. Form tutors were able to spend this time doing various activities including wellbeing activities, DEAR time and a couple of forms had debates on important issues like what we should do about climate change.
On Tuesday this week Year 8 took part in their second form time PHSCE session. These are important opportunities for students to learn about many different aspects of growing up, their health and relationships. This week was about getting older and puberty. Students engaged very well and demonstrated a mature attitude towards this lesson.
We are also pleased to add that all Year 8 forms have now selected their school council representatives. There was plenty of competition for these places and in many forms, students gave a speech to their forms on why they would be a good asset to the school council and how they would represent their forms. This again shows the continuing maturity of our Year 8 students.
Finally, we would like to remind parents again about donations for our annual Christmas Fayre. There are boxes in each Year 8 form for donations for this. The Christmas Fayre takes place in the school hall each year and all the proceeds go towards the schools Unity Fund. Suggested items are things like sweets, chocolate, second-hand books and unwanted gifts.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 8, please do contact school reception to get in touch with Mrs Avey (Head of Year 8), Mr Handley (Assistant Head of Year 8) or Mrs Mennell (Year 8 Pastoral Support Worker).
Year 9 – Mr Arthur, Mr Deamer and Mrs Deacon
I hope that students and families in Year 9 have had a lovely relaxing weekend and spent some time reflecting after a busy week, I have certainly been reflecting this weekend following our recent Ofsted result and as a school we are incredibly proud. This highlights the hard work of both students and staff. Year 9 represented our community exceptionally well during this time and as a team we are very proud of how they live the values into being every day and this was clear during the visit. This is as much their achievement as it is ours and we extend this to our families also.
Furthermore, it is Year 9 parents evening on Wednesday (24th November) both in school and virtually and as a team we are looking forward to engaging with families to discuss students progress they are making as well as how best we can support them moving forward. Year 9s journey focus is about understanding themselves and others and parents evening is a crucial part of that in particular with Year 9 being an important foundation year for students to build on for their GCSEs. For help making appointments or if you have any queries about parents evening please contact the Year 9 team.
Additionally, in the week that has just been across the nation it has been Anti-bullying week, and in our school assembly focussed on how Year 9 can be anti-bullying ambassadors. As a school we treat any form of bullying of members of our school community very seriously. We teach students to stand up to bullying and discrimination in all forms by either challenging it or reporting it to adults so it can be dealt with, which can be done with any member of staff or via the Report It posters in school.
As previously mentioned in the parental bulletin by Mr Daly that unfortunately over the last week we have seen some examples of very poor use of social media directed at members of our school community by a small number of our students. As such we are asking for your support in checking your child’s use of social media. It would be helpful if you could do this as soon as possible and then on a regular basis to ensure they are not posting anything that is unkind or inappropriate. If you have any concerns please do get in touch with the Year 9 team.
Please find a link to our school bullying policy here: https://archbishopholgates.academy/anti-bullying-and-discrimination-2/
A reminder that the first rotation of Year 9s cultural trips will take place on Thursday 2nd December and all students in Year 9 will be out of school for the day. This is a mandatory visit as part of the student’s Silver Arts Award Qualification. The visits are therefore paid for by the school, and students will need to wear their school uniform. However, students can wear their own comfortable shoes, and if students are going to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, they must wear boots/footwear that they do not mind getting muddy as they will be walking in fields! Letters should have gone home with your child regarding these visits and this letter contains all the information regarding the specific trip your child will be going on, and a consent/medical form which must be returned to reception ASAP. Please do let us know if you have not received your letter.
A further reminder to parents it is teacher training day on Friday 26th November so students are not in school on that day.
Thank you for taking the time to read this parent bulletin. If you have any concerns regarding your child in Year 9, then please do get in touch by emailing aarthur@ahs.pmat.academy (Head of Year), mdeacon@ahs.pmat.academy (Assistant Head of Year) and/or rdeamer@ahs.pmat.academy (Pastoral Support Worker); or alternatively, you can call Main School Reception and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you – Miss Deacon.
Year 10 – Mr Avery, Miss Johstone and Miss Montagu
Another very successful week for Year 10, which is becoming a very pleasing trend. The dark mornings and evenings don’t seem to have dampened spirits too much, and the students continue to work hard in their lessons. I have been really pleased that despite a few nasty colds, the students are still attending school. We are tracking attendance at around 92%, which is an improvement from earlier in the year. I’d like to remind parents that attendance in year 10 is vital to success at GCSE in Year 11, therefore it’s really important that students continue to make the effort in coming to school.
I’m sure by now you have received the good news that the school has been declared as ‘outstanding’ following the recent Ofsted inspection. The students of year 10 were exceptional throughout the process of the inspection, with many chatting to inspectors both on a formal and informal basis. They certainly presented their usual high standards during the inspection of lessons, and one inspector commented to me how impressed he had been at the confidence and articulate nature of our students. I am delighted that the inspectors got to see something I am used to seeing from our students on a regular basis. A huge well done to all of them for their part in this achievement.
The students search for work experience seems to be going well, with many placement forms already beginning to return. Please remember our careers advisor Sarah Robinson is on hand to assist any student who might be worried or concerned in making the first phone call to an employer or for assistance with the NYBEP website.
As this week was national anti – bullying week, this was the main focus of our Act of Collective Worship. At the age of fourteen and fifteen, the students are beginning to finalise their friendship groups, and I wanted to remind them of the responsibility that goes along with this. We discussed the concept of power imbalances and what constitutes bullying, and the different roles that people play in bullying others. I encouraged the students to never be ‘assistants’ or ‘bystanders’ to those being bullied, but to become ‘defenders’ either by challenging the bullying they witness or by reporting it to a member of staff. Unfortunately bullying exists in all walks of life, whether at school, the workplace or in the community, but we must challenge this together in order to overcome it. The students have a variety of options if they feel they want to report bullying, either through speaking to a responsible adult, or anonymously through the ‘report it’ form students will find on posters around school. This is very easy to use, they simply scan the QR code and fill in a short questionnaire. Should you have any concerns around this, please feel free to contact any member of the Y10 pastoral team.
Thank you for all the hard work you are doing at home to continue to support your child, this is having a very significant impact toward their success at school. The Year 10 pastoral team are always available to help with any questions or queries you may have.
Year 11 – Miss Turvey, Miss Reeder and Miss Chambers
Year 11 have now completed their first dedicated week of mock revision in each of their subjects this week and it has been great to see so many of our students attending Period 6 sessions. We would also like to give a shout out to Year 11 Drama students who attended Monday’s after school theatre trip to see Wuthering Heights: everyone was immaculately behaved and it was lovely to see everyone engaging with this 19th century classic at York’s Theatre Royal – a fabulous experience for all.
It has been very reassuring to see how well our Year 11s have engaged with Anti-Bullying week this week, beginning with wearing odd socks in solidarity on Monday, followed by activities in form times and assembly. The theme for Anti-Bullying week this year has been ‘One Kind Word’ and it has been pleasing to see forms taking time out from revision to discuss how kind words and acts can make a difference. As a visual reminder for this, many forms have created displays around kind acts they have experienced. Often one of the most powerful tools against bullying is being educated about it, which formed the backbone of this week’s Assembly in which we discussed different types of bullying and the roles perpetrators might take. Our students know that being a ‘Reinforcer’, someone who is not directly involved but may passively watch, laugh, or encourage an act of bullying from the side-lines can be incredibly harmful. Linking to our ‘Next Steps’, we also focused on what bullying might look like in adult relationships beyond school. For parents, we would ask that you continue to encourage your child to make kind choices, particularly when it comes to creating content or making comments on social media.
Year 11 mock exams will begin on Monday 29th November – Friday 10th December. A reminder of the exam timetable is attached below so you can see where your child’s ‘busy days’ will fall. Subject leaders have selected the papers to provide an authentic experience of end of year exams to help students to feel prepared for these, and students will experience a mini ‘results day’ in January after departments have marked and moderated the papers. These Autumn mocks are particularly important as these tend to provide the most accurate indicator of student outcomes at the end of year to date. The mocks will thus be followed by targeted support for those who need it.
As students enter their second week of focused revision, you can support your child by holding conversations with them about what they need to revise, encouraging and facilitating their attendance at Period 6 sessions, and engaging with the revision timetable they have created in form times (have this stuck up somewhere visible). Research from the EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) has shown that at secondary age, parents do not need to have a direct involvement in completing their child’s work with them as students should do this independently. However, parents who take an interest in their child’s working habits, embed consistent routines at home and are able to provide their child with a quiet working space can have a huge positive impact on academic outcomes for their child. Remember, students can attend homework club in L33 until 4pm each evening, or come and speak to a member of the Y11 pastoral team if they need support in finding a quiet workspace after school.
Equally, as students feel increased pressure to revise and do well at school (in-keeping with a normal examination period), it is equally important that students have protected times and ‘safe spaces’ to unwind at home too. A timetabled night off from schoolwork is important for relaxation and setting sensible hours for revision is also important; students should not be working late into the night or getting up inordinately early to revise. In the Year 11 team we advocate the Pomodoro technique: for every 25 minutes working, students should have a 5 minute break. After doing this four times, a longer 20-30 minute break is needed. Equally important is remembering the 20-20-20 rule: after 20 minutes of screen time, students should spend at least 20 seconds focusing on something that is 20 feet away; this is the time needed to allow your eyes to relax and prevent strained and tired eyes. Please do get in touch if you would like any further advice.
Linking to their ‘Next Steps’, a large number of our students have now met with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to hold discussions around their choices for next year and these will continue through this week. Thank you for all of your efforts in completing applications for Sixth form and college; please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like any further support or guidance during this exciting time for students.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 11, please do contact school reception to get in touch with Miss Turvey (Head of Year 11), Miss Chambers (Assistant Head of Year 11) or Mrs Reeder (Year 11 Pastoral Support Worker).
Post 16 – Mrs De Lashley, Mrs Walton, Miss Balmer and Miss Cox
Y11 1-2-1 Pathway Meetings – Individual post-16 pathway meetings continue this week in the lead up to Year 11 mocks. There have been some excellent conversations about aspirations and goal for the future. We should all feel in safe hands with this next generation coming through to look after us! As ever, if you have any questions about the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch fde.lashley@ahs.pmat.academy.
Y13 Assessments – These are now over for both A Level and BTEC students with the exception of those that missed assessments due to Covid, in which case they will be sitting their exams from next week over a two-week period alongside Year 11. BTEC students will receive feedback from their assessments in class as soon as possible to support their preparation for the January external assessments whereas our A Level students will receive their results on Monday 6th December (slight amendment to last weeks bulletin) and Parents Evening will follow on Wednesday 15th December. .
Y13 UCAS applications – Most applications have been submitted and are awaiting references to be added before we forward them to UCAS. It is an exciting time when offers start coming in and this often happens as soon as applications are sent. Our Competitive Admissions students are also receiving invitations to interview. A huge effort to get to this point for all of our Higher Education applicants. Well done!
Y13 Career Ready – Last Wednesday saw our current Career Ready cohort graduate at a formal event in town where they had some inspirational speeches, mingled with peers from across the city and learnt how to made mocktails. They were proud as can be and we equally share their feelings. They have taken so much from the experience and made some great contacts in industry despite the Covid restrictions that have governed their Career Ready experience
Collective Worship
In the coming weeks our Form Tutor Collective Worship marks the Christian season of Advent which is a time of preparation and countdown for Christmas.
Throughout Advent we will use videos produced by the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust to explore different communities from the Christmas story, see what they can teach us about community and how they can inspire us to make a difference this Christmas. This week the focus is on Joy.
Monday Thought for the Day – “Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.” – Pope Francis
Tuesday Thought for the Day – “It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” – Pope Benedict XVI
Wednesday Thought for the Day – “Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint. The Lord never lets us down.”- Pope Francis
Thursday Thought for the Day – “Advent is meant to do this to us…to refresh us and make us healthy; to be able to receive Christ in whatever form he may come to us.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Friday Thought for the Day – “Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more …” – The Grinch (Dr. Seuss)