Medina Matters21st September 2018

Update from the HeadKaren Begley, Head of School

Dear Parents/Carers

It has been another very positive week at the College. I continue to be impressed by the behaviour and appearance of the vast majority of our students. The changes to the school day are now having a positive impact. Tutor time in the morning is good as it allows for a calm start to the school day with any issues being resolved and uniform checks to happen.

Well done to our top house point achievers for last week: Jack Holroyd in Year 7, Nathaniel Craggs in Year 8, Connor Williams in Year 9, Skye Fryer in Year 10 and Cj Lanzon-Westlake in Year 11.

On the 9th October, we have our Open Evening, which is aimed at Year 6 children and their parents. If you have children in Year 5 you are also most welcome. We are looking for lots of volunteers from the student population to support in department areas and as guides.

On Thursday 27th September, we are looking forward to meeting Year 7 parents at our tutor evening.

Attendance is key to students making progress. National averages are around the 95% mark. Our school attendance is lower than this. Missing a day’s learning does have an impact on your child’s education and their potential future. Please do your very best to get your child into school each and every day. 100% attendance should really be the norm for every student. Thank you very much for this in anticipation.

We have had some concerns raised from the residents of Fairlee Road. Please could I ask that parents collecting students do not obstruct the driveways of the residents and can parents of those catching buses into Newport ask their children not to enter the gardens of the houses.

I look forward to meeting our parents at the Parent Voice meeting on the 3rd October, 6.10pm in the Library.

Thank you for your continued support, have a lovely weekend.

Diary Date:

Thursday 27th September 2018Year 7 Tutor evening (letters will be coming out about this)

Friday 28th September 2018Year 8 Girls - HPV [1st dose]

Tuesday 2nd October 2018 Year 11 Careers Information evening, Theatre and Sports Hall

Wednesday 3rd October 2018Shakespeare Schools Workshops

Tuesday 9th October 2018Medina Year 6 Open Evening 6.00 - 8.30pm

Thursday 11th October 2018Carisbrooke Year 6 Open Evening

Thursday 18th October 2018Noel Turner Physics Festival at Cowes Enterprise College for Year 10 students

Monday 22nd through to Friday 26th October 2018HALF TERM

Week beginning 05.11.18Year 11 Mock Exams

Tuesday 6th November 2018HEAD ON

Thursday 8th November 2018Shakespeare Schools Show Day and evening performance

A complete list of events for this academic year can be downloaded from the College website:www.medina.iow.sch.uk

An excellent book for young people:

You are awesome: Find your confidence and dare to be brilliant at (almost) anything.Authors: Matthew Syed and Toby TriumphFormat: BookSummary: Informal illustrated book showing how young people can fulfil their potential and how to achieve it. Gives tips on how to improve your self-confidence and succeed in whatever area you set your mind to.Publication details: London: Wren and Rook, 2018

Safeguarding News

Medina College Parent Voice NewsA warm welcome back to all parents and carers. Here’s some info about Parent Voice for those who aren’t already familiar with it, plus the meeting dates for this year.

Parent Voice is run by parents of Medina College for other parents or carers, with access to the school’s leadership team and governors. We’re here to help promote good communication between home and school.

We meet once per half-term in the Medina College library. Anyone with a child at Medina College or at the Island Innovation VI Form Campus is welcome to attend. It's a great chance to find out more about what’s going on in school, meet staff and other parents and share news and ideas.

Parent Voice meeting dates for 2018/19 (all 6.10pm in Medina College Library):

1. Wednesday 3rd October 20182. Tuesday 27th November 20183. Wednesday 30th January 20194. Tuesday 26th March 20195. Wednesday 15th May 20196. Tuesday 16th July 2019

On 3rd October we've invited Mr Wiseman, Head of Faculty – Creative Arts and Technology, to talk about the thriving Music department at Medina College: the Music (and Music Technology) curriculum; the Medina Maestro programme, which offers additional music for enthusiasts in Years 7 and 8; peripatetic instrumental tuition in small groups or 1:1; the many extra-curricular music clubs on offer at the school; plus a run-down of the 2018 Music GCSE and A Level results.

Karen Penn from School Pastors will attend to chat about the voluntary role school pastors play in supporting students at Medina College. Plus there’ll be news updates from Head of School, Miss Begley, a chance to ask questions, and opportunities to get involved, if you wish.

If there's anything particular you'd like to raise, please email me and I'll pass it on ahead of the meeting.

Hope to see you soon!

Wendy VarleyThe Parent Voice team

Email: medinaparentvoice@gmail.comParent Voice facebook page:facebook.com/MedinaCollegeParentVoice

Support Abi with her fundraising! Abi Williams, one of our Year 8 studends, is having her hair cut off for two charities: the Princess Trust, who make wigs for children suffering from cancer and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. If you would like to support Abi with her fundraising, then please follow the link below:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abi-williams-haircut

© The Key Support Services Ltd. www.thekeysupport.com 1

Fortnite is an online video game where players compete to be the last person standing in a post-apocalyptic world. The most popular version is Fortnite: Battle Royale, which sees up to 100 players pitted against each other to stay alive on an island. Players can build and demolish structures, and collect weapons, supplies and armour to help them along the way.

Players shoot each other using a range of lethal weapons, but the brightly-coloured, cartoon-style graphics and lack of bloodshed mean it doesn’t feel too gory or graphic.

To play, the age recommendation is 12 and above due to ‘mild violence’, although you don’t have to provide your age when creating an account, so younger children can still log on easily.

Fortnite: Battle Royale is free to download on PC/Mac, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch and iOS devices (Apple phones and tablets). It’s coming to Android soon.

It has about 45 million monthly users worldwide including the England football team, who reportedly played it in their World Cup downtime.

What are the concerns?

You may have seen news reports or heard concerns raised about the:

Communication between players: a chat function allows players to talk to each other either over a headset and microphone, or using messaging. Children could use it to speak to strangers, or it could put them at risk of cyberbullying

In-app purchases: players can build up large bills on their parents’ accounts by buying cosmetic items like outfits for your character and better-looking weapons (otherwise known as ‘skins’)

Addictive nature of the game: anecdotal stories tell of children staying up all night to play, or falling asleep in lessons after playing for too long. Some commentators attribute this to the communal feel of the game – you can play with your friends – and the game is different every time you play, keeping it fresh

What safety options are available to parents? Use the parental controls on the gaming device Most devices allow you to set time limits on game play, set age limits for content, and restrict in-app purchases. Visit the website ‘ask about games’ for links to detailed instructions on the device your child uses – the site covers Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Apple and Android phones, and Nintendo Switch. Ask About Games www.askaboutgames.com/advice/parental-controls The battles in Fortnite last around 20 minutes. When trying to limit your child’s screen time, make the most of this natural stopping point. Set a limit in terms of matches rather than hours and minutes, or set time limits in 20 minute increments. Turn off the voice chat feature Speak to your child to make sure they know this feature exists, and encourage them to use the options below if they encounter someone who is offensive or inappropriate.

Child safety on Fortnite: parent factsheet

© The Key Support Services Ltd. www.thekeysupport.com 2

You can disable the voice chat function in the game if you:

Open the settings menu (the 3 lines on the right-hand-side of the screen), then choose the ‘cog’ icon Select the ‘audio’ tab You should be able to turn off ‘voice chat’ by tapping the arrows next to it

You can also ‘mute’ individual players in the game by:

Pausing the game Hovering over the player you wish to mute Selecting the mute button (a loudspeaker icon)

Make sure your child knows how to report inappropriate behaviour You or your child can report players who make them uncomfortable using the in-game feedback tool (located in the main menu). You can also use the ‘support’ section of the Epic Games site (the makers of Fortnite). You’re asked to select the platform you play the game on, the game mode you’re playing, and then you can select ‘report player’. You can provide more detail such as the player’s name, and attach a screenshot. Support, Epic Games https://fortnitehelp.epicgames.com/customer/portal/emails/new?b_id=9729&q=email+us What else can I do? Further tips

Download and play the game to help you understand it Talk to your child about what they’re doing online, and make sure they know they can talk to you about

anything that has upset them Check your bank statements and gaming system account balance regularly to look for in-app purchases

you’re not happy with, and to make sure your child isn’t getting around any passwords you’ve set up More sources of support

Non-profit organisation Internet Matters has put together 5 top tips to manage children’s screen time. https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/guidance/5-top-tips-to-manage-childrens-screentime/

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has a range of resources for parents

on internet safety. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

The NSPCC has also teamed up with O2 to offer advice to parents. You can call their free helpline on 0808

800 5002, or make an appointment with an O2 Guru in an O2 store. https://guru.secure.force.com/O2DeskStoreLocator

Sources for this factsheet This factsheet was produced by Safeguarding Training Centre from The Key. Fortnite, Epic Games https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home ‘Fortnite chat raises stranger danger fears from NSPCC’, BBC News, 3 May 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43988210 Fortnite: all you need to know, Net aware, from the NSPCC and O2 https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/fortnite-all-you-need-know/

Our first rehearsal was so fantastic – there were over eighty students from all year groups having great fun on Wednesday afternoon. We are still welcoming new team members and will be for the next couple of weeks. If you couldn’t make the first rehearsal – please don’t worry but come along and join us next week. As a one off we are meeting in MI9 in the English block at the start of next week’s rehearsal so come here first.

ROCK

CHALLENGE IS BACK!

This Autumn Menu is available on the following week date commencing; 24/09/2018Lunch Menu

Week 1Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Main Mealof the Day

Traditional Macaroni

Cheese served with a twist!

your Choice of Topper, Side

Salad & Garlic Bread

Destination China

Sweet and Sour Chicken & Rice

orChinese spiced

Vegetable Noodles

Served with Spring Roll,

Prawn Crackersand Stir Fry Vegetables

British Food Fortnight

Roast Pork Loin with Stuffing and

Gravy

or

Quorn Sausage Hot Pot

Chicken Curry & Rice

or

Goan Vegetable Curry & Rice Served with

Naan & Sides

British Food Fortnight

Battered Pollock with

Lemon Wedge

or

Cheese & Onion Pasty

On the Side

Choose from our selection of fresh vegetables, salad, potatoes, rice and pasta. Our daily menu will confirm the days offer.

Chips are served on Fridays.

Pizza Market

Try our home made Tugo Pizza topped with mozzarella & tomato sauce A selection of meat & vegetarian options available.

Pasta Kitchen &

Jacket Bar

Pasta Kitchen and Jacket Bar, add your choice of hot topping from our freshly prepared selection;

we will offer both meat and vegetarian choices every day

find out more about us at www.caterlinkltd.co.uk

Find us on Twitter-@Caterlink_ltd@CaterlinkIOW

Updated June 2018

Special Diet / Allergy Form

We are committed to providing meals for children needing special diets for medical requirements, where possible. Caterlink work closely with their suppliers and aim to be as accurate as possible but it must be noted that they can only be guided by the information the suppliers provide, similar to the process of a parent catering for a child’s special diet.

It is essential that all parties concerned work together when providing a safe special diet and that this is reviewed with every menu change. Therefore please ensure this form is fully completed.

It is vital that all forms are accompanied with a referral letter from a medical professional (G.P/ consultant /dietician), It is important the unit manager and kitchen team or servery supervisor have met the child requiring the special diet to ensure they give the right meal to the right child. This form must be handed into the school (not the Caterer) and discussed with them.

PUPILS DETAILS Child’s Name

MALE / FEMALE

Class

Allergy information please circle

Peanuts Nuts Gluten Milk Fish Eggs Crustaceans Molluscs Lupin Soybeans Celery Sesame Seeds Mustard Suphites *Other – please state

Further information i.e. Allergy or intolerance; minor or severe; specific type of nut, gluten or other allergy

School Details School Address (in full)

Mid Day Supervisor or School contact regarding special diets / allergies

Parent / Guardian details Signature: Main Contact Name & relation to child

Main Contact - Phone Number(s) / E-mail address

Second Contact Name & relation to child

Second Contact Phone number Other information Has a photo ID form been completed and issued to the kitchen?

Has the unit manager been informed?

If Epipen / Medicine is needed who is to be contacted and is it kept on site

Data Protection - please tick where you agree / give permission Tick: I’m happy for my child’s allergen information and photo (where provided) to be passed to the Caterlink to enable them to assist the school in correct food provision.

I’m happy for my child’s allergen information and photo (where provided) to be displayed next to the main servery area to enable the catering staff to check allergy information

Forms should be returned directly to the Kitchen at Medina