Ortu Gable Hall School Newsletter Issue 16 - Summer Term Thursday 14th June 2018

Diary Dates

Thursday 14th June Art & Photography Exhibition

5.00pm - 6.00pm

Monday 18th June Strictly Ballroom Theatre Trip All Years - 5.00pm - 11.00pm

Friday 22nd June

Danbury Trip Returns

Saturday 23rd June

Tuesday 26th June Year 6 Intake Evening

Thursday 28th June

Sports Day - Year 7, 8, 9 only

Monday 2nd July Year 6 Transition Week

Tuesday 3rd July

Year 11 Leavers Ball

Thursday 5th July Year 9 Girls HPV 2 Vaccination

Ortu Gable Hall students have stepped into the Spotlight, having created a new video promoting the sexual health services that are available for young people. Officially launched on Thursday 24 May, the video stars students from Ortu Gable Hall School talking about the various sexual health and contraceptive services available in Thurrock. The video was launched as part of a unique partnership between the students and Thurrock Council Public Health Team through the Thurrock’s Next Top Boss (TNTB) programme 2017/18, to both promote the services available and help reduce the stigma and embarrassment associated with accessing these services. Following feedback from the Thurrock Youth Cabinet in 2017 which indicated a lack of awareness of sexual health and contraception service, a business case for an age-appropriate video on the local services was briefed to the TNTB team. The Public Health team were so impressed with the video produced that they commissioned its production in April 2018, tying in with the launch of a new sexual health provider; Provide, Thurrock Sexual Health Service. To celebrate the launch of the video more than 1,500 students from Gable Hall School came together to watch it, sparking a conversation about the local services available. Sareena Gill (Public Health Programme Manager for Sexual

Health at Thurrock Council), Yvonne Evans (Employer

Engagement Officer at Thurrock Council), Michele Lucas

(Interim Assistant Director or Learning, Inclusion and Skills

at Thurrock Council) are pictured here with TNTB Students,

Mrs Feeney and Mr Stokes.

Students involved: Beau Watson, Isabel Hillion, Lucy Braybrook, Eva Fogg, Bradley Allen,

Emma Vincent, Teni Adigun, Gracie Grafton, Daisy Ervin and Abby Verney.

New sexual health video launched by Ortu Gable Hall Students

Year 10 end of year mocks will start the week beginning Monday 18th June A timetable will be sent out by intouch to parents, if you do not receive it, please collect one from the exams office.

If you have not done so already, please can you return your sports day slip to your child’s form tutor asap.

On Monday 4th June we took our two Year 7 Steps to Success classes to Coalhouse Fort for a History trip comparing the Fort to

‘Motte and Bailey’ castles. The students were a credit to the school and we are very proud of them all.

Recently on the school farm we got some new hens and a cockerel. As you can see, all are happy and love to roam about the farm. Here they are having their dust bath to keep those beautiful feathers in glossy condition. The cockerel is usually the sound you can hear first thing in the morning and when the students arrive to school, as he and the hens know that there is going to be food on the way.

If you would like to come and feed the animals, clean them out or just tidy up the farm and nature reserve the farm club is running every morning from 8:00-8:40am with Mrs. Hendy and Mr. Cobb. There is also the farm club that runs every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:15-4:00pm. The animals look forward to seeing you!

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

On Thursday 7th June 2018 History students from Year 10 travelled to London to take part in a ‘Jack the Ripper’ Walking Tour of Whitechapel. Students had the chance to see the sites where the infamous murders occurred and took part in questions and answer sessions with the tour guide to showcase their knowledge of the subject. We walked around London in the hot sun for two hours in total but we heard no complaints from anyone - the guide was too entertaining to be bothered by the heat or hurting feet!

From the start to the end of the day these students represented themselves and the school impeccably, with the guide commenting on how fabulous a group they were, partly due to their eager questions, but also due to their desire to enjoy the day. Unfortunately the weather was too nice to use the tour company’s ‘Ripper Vision’ projectors, but we were treated to original crime scene photographs and sketches from the investigation to help with imagining the area as it was in 1888. It was a day full of entertainment and learning that will inevitably help these students when they sit their exam on Whitechapel at the end of next year and it was a pleasure to see every member of the group taking part so actively.

We ended the day with lunch at Spitalfields Market before heading back to the train station for the journey home. Mr. McDonald and Miss. Bendall-Crawley were thrilled with the students’ behaviour and perseverance in the heat. Well done to all who attended!

School Farm

Coalhouse Fort Trip

Year 8 & 9: Are you interested in taking part in a once in a lifetime opportunity? If so then make sure you sign up your initial interest to become one of the 24 privileged students who will be going to Space Camp during October half-term 2019. Key information:

All inclusive 9 day visit to Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

5 day Advanced Academy course at The Space & Rocket Center.

Students will experience Area 51, Rocket Construction, Gravity Chair, Multi-Axis Trainer, Engineering tasks, Space Anomalies and much more in depth training on the mission floor before participating in a fully

simulated 'Mission to Mars'. All students will also participate in a graduation event from the academy.

Plenty of tourist attraction opportunities such as American football/ Ice hockey game, food challenge competitions, sightseeing, shopping etc. All students will receive an informative assembly in the coming weeks. For eager students who wish to place their names on the ‘reserve a place’ list please see Miss. Boileau in room 111. An official letter with likely dates and a cost-breakdown will follow shortly.

Space Camp 2019

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS….. Congratulations to...

Commendations 188 Students received an award last Term. Letters have been sent home - Well done!

Maths Challenge at Cambridge University

On Thursday 19th April, students from Ortu Gable Hall travelled to Cambridge University to take part in a Maths challenge and compete with other schools from across England and other countries such as Belgium! We took part in 4 rounds which were all very different from each other. It was a lovely day and whilst we were there we also got the chance to see many buildings which are part of Cambridge University, including some where influential people, such as Stephen Hawking, had walked. It was a great experience and the students learned many things in Maths which they did not know before from palindromes to learning how to solve complex questions amongst multiple other things. Cambridge is a wonderful and picturesque place, where you can imagine students would love to live and study. Overall, the team had a great day there, representing Ortu Gable Hall and we gaining a lot from the whole experience.

Mia Lempriere—Year 9

Congratulations to Mia who

played in a Under 14’s

Essex County Schools FA match

on Saturday 24th February 2018.

She scored a goal during the

game, and her team won 3-2.

Congratulations on your

achievement!

Above & Beyond Awards 86 Students received an award last term. Letters have been sent home - Well done!

Lacey Collins - Year 7

Lacey gained a high distinction and Platinum Award in her BTDA Grade 2 Ballet Exam 90/100 Lacey won two trophies and qualified for Championship Finals where she attended the ‘Follow Your Dreams’ heat at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. Lacey got through her Song and Dance and Modern solos. Lacey entered Move It Shake It at Seevic, Benfleet and won three trophies with 1st place in her song and dance, 1st place in her lyrical duet and 1st place in her acrobatic troupe!

GCSE Exams are going well. Year 11’s keep up the revision and good work!

Race for Life in memory of Kimberley

This year Ortu Gable Hall will be hosting a Race for Life event in memory of Kimberley Smith, a pupil who we sadly lost earlier this year to cancer.

The event will be held on Wednesday 11th July during P3. We are hoping to raise lots of money for Cancer Research by holding this event. If your child wishes to complete the 5k course they will need to pay the minimum sponsorship of £5 via their squid account (prior to the event taking place).

Should you wish to raise money on top of the £5 minimum, the Just Giving page address is https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/gable-hall-school. Paper sponsorship forms can be obtained from Mrs Marks (PE) and Mrs Oakley (Dance).

We hope to see lots of children taking part in this event as it is such a worthy cause. Every person that enters will receive a medal for taking part.

Speaking your Teen’s Language Free Course for Parents/Carers

When: Every Thursday, Starting: Thursday 7

th June – Thursday 28

th June

Time: 10:00-12:00 Where: Thurrock Adult Community College, Richmond Road, RM17, 6DN, Grays This free course is designed for parents and carers who wish to learn how to meaningfully express love to their teens and discover how to stay connected with them, maintain influence and help them grow into a healthy adult. Developed, with permission, from the book, 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Dr. Gary Chapman you will explore the extraordinary concept of the different ways love is shown and received. Call 01375 372476 or drop into the Grays Adult Education Centre to book your free place.

Parent Surgery Monday 18th June 6.00pm - 7.15pm Monday 25th June 6.00pm - 7.15pm

Please wait in the old reception, only if the new reception is closed. Thank you!

Contact us

Key Stage 3 Co-Ordinators YEARSEVEN@gablehall.com

(Mr McCabe) YEAREIGHT@gablehall.com

(Ms Boyce) YEARNINE@gablehall.com

(Miss Davies)

Key Stage 4 Co-Ordinators YEARTEN@gablehall.com

(Miss Nancolas) YEARELEVEN@gablehall.com

(Mr Squires)

Gable Hall School Latest News and most recent letters sent home can be found on the school website:

www.ortu.org/Gable-Hall

Create Complex Passwords. We know you’ve heard it before, but creating strong, unique passwords for all your accounts really is the best way to keep your personal and financial

information safe. Remember—Never share your passwords with anyone!

E-Safety Tip:

The following school uniform and equipment is available to buy from the school office:

School Tie: £ 4.50

School Badge £ 3.00 (For Blazers)

Pupil Fax £ 2.50

Casio FX GT Plus £ 6.00 Calculator

Change to free school meal eligibility under Universal Credit

There have been some changes to free school meals with the introduction of Universal Credit and letters to inform parents/carers were sent out via InTouch. However, we are aware that some people do not receive messages; therefore, if you would like to have copies of what has been sent, please visit the main school office and they will provide you with paper copies.

Parent Council

Gable Hall’s Parent Council met on 3rd May to discuss issues around wellbeing, homework and transition. Feedback from the previous meeting included the following:

Putting a more easily accessible central hub for parents on the new updated Ortu website.

More social media feeds from trips, visits and events - trip leaders will forward to our social media officer to be put online.

Mental health – who can help cards for pupils created and mental health and wellbeing links added. Parent information was on the previous Gable Talk.

Fairer balance of trips linked to year groups and cohorts within. Transition Key points for successful transition:

Developing good relationships between pupil, teacher and parent

Informing parents if issues related to behaviour or underachievement early on so this can be addressed.

Communication lines sent out early to parents regarding who to see for help.

Up to date information on the website linked to curriculum and assessment.

Homework guidance and an overview of the projects set in each subject spread across the year.

Our final meeting this year will be on Thursday 12th July at 6.15pm. We have the following Agenda items:

Promotion of Parent Council for new members

Website

Parent and Child learning Together

CARR model – Promoting independent and motivated learners in our children

Events for next year.