Wow, what an amazing start to the term! It has been a real pleasure to pop into lessons and see the fantastic learning going on, from year 7 students singing the days of the week in Spanish, year 10s testing the rates of chemical reactions in science and year 13s working very hard solving mathematical equations. Our values of Kindness, Positivity and Belonging are being embedded across the school and have been the focus of assemblies and tutor times, with students contributing to what these values look, feel and sound like.
On top of this, we have had so many extra activities and opportunities for enrichment for all students. Last week we had the year 12 parents' information evening. Our after-school clubs were launched, including sports clubs, STEAM, cooking, art and many more. The school was also represented at the launch of the Wiltshire’s Affordable Schools Strategy, with the aim of making every aspect of school affordable to all to ensure universal provision.
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Mrs Tuckey and her team took over 100 year 11 students to Studland to complete their coursework, which was a huge success. We also had the Y13 Biologists visit to Bath University, the PGL parents' information evening, and then we come on to Open Evening!
Last night was such a highlight of the year and really showcased the culture and ethos of our school. If your child was one of our student volunteers, then they really did us proud, and we received so many positive comments from parents and their children. And as always, our staff were fantastic, sharing the passion for their subjects and the school as a whole – we could not do it without them!
Next week we look forward to taking over 200 of our new year 7 students to PGL for their residential, where they will be participating in a range of team-building activities, including trying to stay dry whilst canoeing, swinging from a trapeze and becoming a detective to solve the murder in human Cluedo. Regular updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
Dear Parents and Carers,
We would like to introduce to you a new regular feature of our newsletters looking at the use of technology and how we can work together to keep our children safe.
The world our children inhabit is exciting and full of opportunities especially where technology...
The Island after school club has been running successfully since January, with about 20 young people coming regularly - about half of whom are from JoG. It's a free, warm, safe space for games, drinks and snacks, chat or even to do homework. There are a number of current or retired teachers amongst the volunteers who staff it. It runs weekly on Tuesdays during term time 3-4.45 pm for year groups 7-11.
Photograph the QR Code on the advert (obviously not in school!!!) and then fill in the form which will then trigger an email to a parent for their consent - they cannot attend the group without parental consent.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Your child’s Annual Nasal flu vaccination is now due.
This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu.
Please complete the consent form using the following link:
Please ensure you complete your child’s consent 48 working hours before your school session to ensure your child receives their vaccination.
We are visiting your child’s school on 3rd and 4th October 2023
The vaccination is free and is a quick, simple and painless spray up the nose. Even if your child had the vaccine last year, the type of flu can vary each winter, so it is recommended to have it again this year, or they won’t be protected.
and includes details about the small number of children for whom the nasal vaccine is not appropriate. The nasal spray vaccine contains a very small amount of purified porcine gelatine as an essential ingredient to keep it stable and able to work. For those who may not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine, a flu vaccine injection is available. Since the programme was introduced, most children offered the vaccine in schools have had the immunisation.
If you have any queries, please contact the School Aged Immunisation Team on 0300 247 0082or email us using vcl.immunisations@nhs.net
Yours sincerely,
Roanna Ellis
Acting Professional Lead for School Aged Immunisations
If your child becomes wheezy, has a bad attack of asthma, or has started oral steroids for their asthma after you return this form, please contact the healthcare team on 0300 247 0082.
If you decide you do not want to vaccinate your child against flu, please complete the consent form giving the reason. This will help us plan and improve the service.
Year 11 Geographers had a successful field trip to Studland sand dunes earlier this week. They were a credit to the school and collected lots of useful data for their summer exams.
Well done Year 11.
Every Name Matters
We would like to share with you an exciting new initiative called ‘Every Name Matters’. If you are a parent/carer with a child at the school, you would have received an email/letter.
As a school with the new values of Kindness, Positivity and Belonging, we want to create an inclusive environment where all students feel recognised, respected and valued. An important part of this is the correct pronunciation of names.
Research has shown that name pronunciation has an impact on students. In a Nottingham Trent University study, students revealed that they see pronunciation of names as an issue of respect, equality, and inclusivity, and appreciated any efforts to try to say their name correctly. This issue has also been covered by the BBC and other news outlets.
Step 1: Phonetic Spelling
“If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Michelangelo and Dostoyevsky, they can learn to say Uzoamaka” Uzoamaka Azuba’s mother
The first step is to receive the pronunciations from parents/carers. To achieve this, if your child’s name is frequently mispronounced, or is pronounced differently from the way in which it appears, please may I ask you to complete the Microsoft form (the link is in the email mentioned above) with the phonetic spelling of their preferred name and/or surname. An instruction sheet with examples has also been sent alongside the letter.
Step 2: Audio recordings
The second step will be to use the form submissions to identify students who we will ask to provide recordings. These will be organised during tutor time and the audio recordings will be only accessible to staff.
In summary, once you know someone’s name, you are no longer strangers. People warm to surroundings where they feel known and understood, and the name is the first opportunity to imbue a sense of belonging. To quote Dan Carnegie, who wrote in How to Win Friends and Influence People: “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
Year 7 having lots of fun during their first practical, we are learning about the rubbing in method and how this creates a short crumbly product, caramelisation and of course – washing up!
It was a joy and pleasure to meet these young students and made my job today very easy.
All our key stage 3 recipes including gluten-free recipes can be found by clicking the link –
School Gateway - The easiest way to interact with your school
Welcome to School Gateway
We use School Gateway, an essential tool to keep you informed about what’s going on at school. It keeps everything in one place, behind one login, so you can easily keep in touch.
Trusted by over 2 million parents
“I work full time so finding the time to notify my daughters school about absence etc is difficult, this makes it really quick, and I can do it from my desk. So glad our school is moving with the times.”
- School Gateway user “Both my husband and I have School Gateway accounts as the school have both of our details, so we can both view all the information at any time.”
- School Gateway user
Attendance
Advise school of absences and keep track of your child’s attendance rate.
Reports & Achievements
Receive school reports straight to your phone, so you stay up to date with your child’s progress.
Timetable
View your child’s school timetable via the app, website and now the Apple Watch. A good conversation prompt and can help save last minute P.E kit dramas
Creating an account is simple and will take no more than a couple of minutes:
1. Register
Register using the same email address and mobile number held by the school
2. Four digit PIN
School Gateway will send you a text with your PIN
3. Login
Login, you are ready to go
Download the FREE app
The John of Gaunt School t: 01225 762637 e: office@jogschool.org
If you’ve recently changed your email address or mobile number, let us know so we can update our records.
The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings
Ever felt anxious or alone? Like you don't belong anywhere? Like you're almost... invisible? Find your kindred spirits at The Sad Ghost Club.
This is the story of one of those days - a day so bad you can barely get out of bed, when it's a struggle to leave the house, and when you do, you wish you hadn't. But even the worst of days can surprise you. When one sad ghost, lost and alone at a crowded party, spies another sad ghost across the room, they decide to leave together. What happens next changes everything. Because that night they start The Sad Ghost Club - a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don't belong.
For fans of Heartstopper and Jennifer Niven, and for anyone who's ever felt invisible. You are not alone. Shhh. Pass it on.
Lize Meddings, a Bristol-based author and illustrator, brings us the most fantastic graphic novel with a strong emphasis on mental health in teenagers and how stress can effect them. But ultimately, a heart-warming tale, with beautiful illustrations and dashes of humour.Itotally adored this graphic novel!! I could really relate to this, and I just loved the mental health rep in this book. I also really enjoyed the ghost metaphors and the illustrations. Can’t recommend this enough! Volume 2 and 3 are also available from the library.
Happy Reading!
Mrs Bruton
Harry Potter characters from last night's Open Evening
STAVERTON ROAD CLOSURE - Changes to School Buses from September 2023
During the closure of the main road through Staverton village for up to 5 months, there will need to be some changes to school bus services from September.
Pupils living in:
HORSE ROAD and PAXCROFT MEAD
MORNING Bus X77 will continue to operate as usual Paxcroft Mead at 0752 and Horse Road at 0803. Fare paying pupils can also use bus X34 from Paxcroft Mead/Horse Road at 0754 or 0809.
AFTERNOON will need to use bus Faresaver bus X34 from The John of Gaunt Bus Park at 1515.
STEEPLE ASHTON, KEEVIL AND BULKINGTON
MORNING Bus X77 will continue to operate as usual from Bulkington at 0730, Keevil at 0734, Steeple Ashton at 0741 and Paxcroft Mead at 0752 and Horse Road at 0803
AFTERNOON will need to use bus Faresaver Bus 77 from The John of Gaunt Bus Park at 1520.
STAVERTON - This new route is currently out for tender, so the name of the bus company is not yet known.
MORNING – bus 68 commencing at
Marsh Road at 0800
Cottles Barton 0801
Canal Road at 0805
Arriving Trinity Church 0818
AFTERNOON Pupils will now need to walk to bus stop opposite Trinity Church near Skateboard park. There is a new temporary bus service bus 68 which will depart from TRINITY CHURCH (SKATE PARK SIDE) at 1525.
HOLT
MORNING will continue to use Bus 68 but will divert via Bradford on Avon times are not changing.
AFTERNOON will continue to use Faresaver bus 68 from The John of Gaunt Bus Park at 1515.
