Dear Parent/Carer

We find ourselves at the end of the very long Autumn

term and all ready for a well-earned break, looking

forward to our Christmas celebrations. As you can see

from this newsletter, it’s been a very exciting half term!

I am very sad to be leaving now after 11 years in total

at Quarrendon School/AVA. I have absolutely enjoyed

my time here and working with all the staff and students

over the years has provided me with so many positive

experiences and very happy memories.

I am very proud of all that we have achieved over the

past few years and I wish all students and staff every

possible happiness and success in the future.

We also say goodbye this term to:- Ms Beagent (D&T),

Mr Cook (Art), Miss Dixon (MFL/AD Yr 8), Miss Higgins

(Art), Mrs Neil (Maths – 13 years) and Mrs Hallam

(Media/Director of Post-16 – 12 years). We thank

them for their positive contributions to the Academy and

wish them all the best for the future.

We welcome Miss Herrera (MFL), Mr Keating (Art), Miss

Walsh (Art), Mrs Stephen (Maths and AD Yr 8) and Miss

Adetoye (D&T).

I thank you all for your support for all the staff at AVA

and we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Happy

New Year.

Mrs F Froment

Dates for the Diary

Monday 4th January 2016 Inset Day

Week commencing Monday 4th January 2016:

Students return to the Academy

Year 12 and 13 mock exams

Week commencing Monday 11th January 2016:

Year 9 Options Evening

Show Racism the Red Card

Week commencing Monday 18th

January 2016:

Year 9 Internal Exams

Week commencing Monday 25th January 2016:

Year 11 Parents Evening

Week commencing Monday 1st February 2016:

Year 10 RS visit to the Holocaust Memorial

Service

Week commencing Monday 8th February 2016:

Safer Internet Day

Year 8 Parents Evening

Half Term at 3pm on Thursday 11th February 2016.

Friday 12th February 2016 Inset Day.

Week commencing Monday 22nd

February 2016:

Students return to the Academy

Week commencing Monday 29th February 2016:

Year 11 English and Maths Mock exam

Year 12 and 13 Parents Evening

Newsletter of The Aylesbury Vale Academy

Paradise Orchard Berryfields Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0WS

t 01296 428 551 enquiries@theacademy.me www.theacademy.me

December 2015

Remembrance Day

On November 11th most students came to school thinking it’s

just another school day, but for the cadets it was something

more. On this day it would be a day to remember the brothers

and sisters who have lost their lives in wars past and present. At

10:55 the cadets formed up to honour the fallen brethren. As

the clock struck 11:00 the last post rang out not just in our

school but all over the country from Buckingham Palace to

Edinburgh Castle. As all remembered the fallen who gave their

today for our tomorrow.

Special thanks to Mrs Froment and all of SLT for organising this

event as well as the Reverend Lane for saying the prayers.

Finally another thank you to all cadets that took part in the

events on the 11th November.

Casey Nicklin, Year 11

War Poems by Year 8

These poems were written during English lessons after looking at

Wilfred Owen’s famous poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’. We

thought about the differing viewpoints of those involved in World

War 1: the soldiers themselves; those who were left at home and

also those who were responsible for commanding the soldiers.

Mrs J Harlow, Teacher of English

Looking Around by Caitlyn Fabrello

Looking around,

The battle was harsh,

Bodies lay scattered on the ground,

With the horrible scent of blood

surrounding me.

I can hardly see,

Smoke blinds my eyes like fog on a

horrible day,

As I look around,

My heart sinks and fills with sadness

I want this battle to end.

Noises of gunshots are like poison to my

ears,

This image of this terrifying place scarred

me for life.

This is a place of death and I try to keep

hope in my heart.

Waiting by Macie Illing

Waiting, waiting, waiting

For my little boy to come home.

Not knowing is he has survived and all

alone.

I just want him to come home,

Come home safe and sound

And make your country proud.

Be brave and don’t go to the grave

Do your best and end the war,

Win a medal

I don’t care

Just come home in one piece.

You just have to hope and hope.

Go and make me proud

And blend in with the crowd.

Bring our country peace,

And we’ll be able to sleep

Knowing that we

Can live a normal life.

SURVIVE by Kaie Hulme

Stolen lives from loved ones

Under attack all the time

Rightful places in heaven

Very dangerous at night

In the darkness alone

Very hard to keep going

Evacuating children to nowhere

Post 16

Well done to the Year 13 student, Shanade Hopcroft, who

achieved a Scholarship to America, starting from next year.

Shanade is a fantastic student, a determined young woman who

gives her studies her all. She is enthusiastic and willing to go the

extra mile, her attitude to her studies is positive, she enjoys her

learning and this is reflected in the high standard that she

produces across the board.

Shanade is a very friendly person who is very approachable.

Her calm and respectful manner has made her very popular with

her fellow students and staff alike. She is a very good team

player who is always willing to take on responsibilities.

Ms Lutchi (Director of Post 16) and Ms Freshwater ( Pastoral

Support of Post 16) would like to congratulate her once again

and wish her all the best in the near future.

WELL DONE Shanade!!! ACHIEVE TODAY, AMAZE

TOMORROW!

Post 16 Options Evening

Our Sixth Form Options Evening took place on Thursday 26th,

November 2015, showcasing our Post 16 options choices.

The event gave

parents, carers

and students a

chance to get

details of the

subjects available,

talk to subject

teachers and some

of the students

who are currently

following courses at AS/A2 Level. Staff were also on hand to

answer any questions that they had about particular subjects.

Our Career Adviser was also available and members of the

School’s Leadership Team were present to answer any questions

about the options process.

It was a very successful evening with valuable feedback from

parents and carers and many students showed an interest

towards the subjects we hope to offer, such as: English

Literature, Maths, Biology, History, Geography, Art and Design,

Media, Communication and Culture, Physical Education, BTEC

Art, BTEC ICT, BTEC Business, BTEC Sport, BTEC Performing

Arts and BTEC Arts.

If you did not have a chance to visit us, please book an

appointment with Ms Lutchi, Director of Post 16.

Year 11 Students attend Crime Conference

Year 11 Law students

had an amazing day at a

y ou th c r i me a nd

punishment conference

in London on the 21st

October. The theme was

Nature or Nurture: are

offenders born or made?

And examining whether

punishment has an

impact.

The conference was

chaired by Professor

David Wilson, Professor of Criminology at Birmingham

University and presenter of ITV’s back to Borstal. The guest

speakers were ex-offenders who gave an insight in to life inside

as well as talking about their childhood upbringing.

Students were fascinated by Noel ‘Razor’ Smith an ex prisoner

who has now topped the Times Best Seller List as an author. We

are hoping he will visit the Academy to give a talk early next

year.

Year 11 Brandon Cook retains his title

On October 25th at The Forum,

Hatfield, Brandon Cook won in style

when he fought challenger Eddy

Hibbitt for his Southern Area Title.

The fight was a five round full contact

fight and Brandon took all 5 rounds

with ease.

Brandon says, ‘he was the top

contender to fight me as he has been

beating lots of people and was on a

winning streak’. Congratulations and

well done Brandon and good luck for

your next fight

Parents Contact Details

Please could we ask parents to update their contact details, if

they think they have changed, especially mobile numbers.

Please could a second emergency contact number be supplied if

we currently do not have one.

Year 11 visit the Waterside Theatre

On the 19th November the English literature students of year 11

had the opportunity to attend a viewing of the Broadway

production of 'Of Mice and Men'. When I first read the novella

in year 10, I admit that I was not exactly taken by it. I found

Steinbeck's writing dry and repetitive and felt that the main

characters of George and Lennie deserved better than to have

fallen victims to such a predictable plot and little to no character

development.

However, within the first few minutes of the play I knew that this

would be the beginning in a change of my own attitudes. James

Franco and Chris O'Dowd excelled in the somewhat unlikely

roles of the ambitious George Milton and his unintelligent, but

loveable companion, Lennie Small. The play is set against the

backdrop of 1930s California during the height of the

Depression, and features the exploits of two friends as they aim

to earn enough money to escape the vicious cycle of their dull

and meaningless lives. Lennie and George want nothing more

than to own their own farm and tend to it in peace. Steinbeck,

however, has other plans for his leading characters.

'Of Mice and Men' is perhaps best enjoyed after having read it

twice. You are left feeling utterly powerless as you observe

George and Lennie's fixed fate unravel before you and it

becomes the sort of thing you watch or read while wondering

and hoping that somehow the ending will turn out differently this

time around.

Overall, this production offers a fresher and far more emotive

version of the novel, and creates a far more immersive world

than the book provides. I would highly recommend it to anyone

who has read 'Of Mice and Men', no matter what your original

opinion of Steinbeck is.

Lauren Smith, Year 11

Children In Need

A y l e s b u r y V a l e

Academy students

raised £638.05 for

Children in Need on

Friday 13th November

by donating to the charity in order to wear their own clothes for

the day. Children in Need provide grants for projects in the UK

which focus on children and young people who are

disadvantaged. This year the charity raised a colossal

£37,100,687 and your contributions will make a huge

difference to the lives of hundreds of children.

Poppy Sales at AVA

AVA Library News

Book Fair

I would like to thank all of the students and parents who

supported the Book Fair the Academy ran In October. This is the

first time the school has hosted such an event and the level of

interest was amazing. The majority of our Year 7 students paid

the library a visit to see what books were on offer and many

made a purchase. I was also my great pleasure to meet a

number of parents during the Settling In evening.

Thanks to everybody’s generosity we raised over £300 in sales

and gained a set of 30 new books for the school library. These

include titles by popular authors such as David Walliams and

Michael Morpurgo as well as a number of classics such as Pride

and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, The Hound of the Baskervilles and

Frankenstein and also some non-fiction books on subjects

ranging from IT to History and PSHE.

With the success of this first event the school will be throwing

another Book Fair later in the academic year. This will be just a

part of a week of literacy activities we will be running to coincide

with World Book Day in March. Further details as we get closer

to the event.

My most sincere thanks go to Mrs Harlow for all of her hard

work organising and running the Book Fair and I look forward

to our students enjoying the new additions to the library.

Book Trust and School Library Service

In what turned out to be a perfect storm at the same time as we

ran the Book Fair the library also received its annual delivery of

new titles from the Book Trust. They are a charitable

organisation who support child literacy, particularly reading for

pleasure, by sending free sets of books to schools. These cater

to a range of age groups, abilities and tastes with a mixture of

fiction books including novels, short story and poem collections,

graphic novels and titles aimed at reluctant readers. This year

we received Future Classics by highly regarded authors such as

Phil Earle and Benjamin Zephaniah, Short story collections

containing work by David Almond, Neil Gaiman and Malorie

Blackman and Reluctant Reader titles by Meg Rosoff amongst

others. We have also added nearly 100 new books to the library

through our subscription to the School Library Service which is a

Bucks County Council department. Again the books we received

were across a wide range of genres and subjects and cater to

students throughout the school. Many of them relate to the Read

to Succeed scheme the Academy will be rolling out in the new

year which encourages students to improve their reading skills

by selecting more varied and challenging reading material.

For KS3 students the scheme will be supported by the

introduction of a Reading Award which will encourage them to

read more often and more broadly by setting a number of fun

tasks to be completed through the rest of the school year. These

include designing alternative book covers, setting quizzes and

writing letters to favourite authors.

It just remains for me to thank colleagues, parents and carers

and most importantly the students for their continued support of

the AVA Library this year and to wish you a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year.

Mr A Cluett, Librarian

Stitch Club

The Aylesbury Vale Academy Stitch Club has been getting into

the festive spirit with two of the year 8 attendees, JieHui and

JieYing Sexton, creating these delightful Christmas trees by

hand.

Students are able to set their imaginations free at Stitch Club

and, as demonstrated by two of our year 8 girls, craft some

wonderful creations with a needle and thread.

The clubs runs on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-4pm in

B-01-09.

Year 8 Updates

It has been a very busy term for a Year 8 students. They have

already sat some formal examinations and should now have

received their marks and levels from class teachers. I would like

to congratulate the vast majority of our Year 8s, who

approached the assessments with exemplary levels of

concentration and determination and have received the levels

they deserve. Well done!

Our year group council have been elected and have already

met to discuss suitable rewards for their year group. All Year 8

council representatives will soon receive a badge identifying

their role. I hope they will wear it with pride! Callum Hatcher

and Zeba Kiani were chosen to represent the Academy Council,

which they are already doing with great enthusiasm. Well done

to them.

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that I will be

moving on to pastures new at the end of this term. The Year 8s

will have a new Achievement Director in January. I would like to

wish the whole year group the best of luck for the coming

months in Year 8, and of course the rest of their time at the

Academy.

Miss K Dixon, Year 8 Achievement Director

Year 7 students Daisy Frankland and Oscar Demain check out the

books at the Book Fair.

On Thursday 19th November Year 7 students went to Kidzania London as an opportunity for them to try jobs and see

what they may like to be when they ‘grow up’. Kidzania is its own mini city on top of Westfield shopping centre. Once

they had checked in through airport security they were each given a security bracelet and 50 kidzos as a start

they were then free to wonder around the city and chose to buy things or experiences as well as earn more by working

(students quickly clocked onto this). With over 60 jobs to choose from there was something for everyone. It was brilliant

seeing students analysing and discussing with others about what things they wanted to, how much they could earn, was it

worth the time needed to complete the activity? etc, some even had the difficult task of moving away from their usual

friendship groups as they discovered they wanted to try alternative jobs. After a short stop for lunch it became clear that

the students had a new goal….. to open a bank account! They wanted the power of the plastic card, some worked extra

hard and saved enough to go and open their account, others clubbed together and shared the privilege.

Throughout the day the students looked to be having fun, becoming richer in kidzos and knowledge from their

experiences and for the first time ever as a member of staff we actually had to stop them and drag them away at the end

of the day!

Georgia Bell: ‘The first thing that I did

was make Cadbury chocolate. We

learnt about where the coc beans are

from and where all the different

ingredients are from. We also learnt

about all of the machinery to create the

lovely chocolate we know and love. At

the end of the day we had to go and

collect the chocolate that we made.’

‘I experienced many jobs such as:

shopkeeper, surgeon, courier, chef

(gourmet burger kitchen), baker (eat

natural) and midwife. My two favourite

jobs were midwife and surgeon and I

could seriously picture myself as one of

them when I am older.’

Amy Sear: ‘While we were there I got to be a

midwife, a designer, a vault, an air hostess and

lots more other exciting jobs. We got paid in

Kidzos and spoke there special language, Hello

was Hi was ki! While I was there I found it

amazing to be in this fake city that felt so real. I

really enjoyed my experience in Kidzania because

it was incredible and was really grown up. I felt

like it showed people that I was so amazing and

could do any job they wanted me to do!’

Sahara: ‘I had a magician’s job

which was really easy. After we

practised the trick we took to the

stage and performed!’

Student comments:

Ilija Kolev: ‘When I went to kidzania I tried

out many different jobs such as being a

super-market employee, learning about

recycling and learning about some parts of a

car. We were also lucky enough to unscrew

the bolts in one wheel on a car and screw

the wheel back on again. I enjoyed doing

this and it was very useful for if you want to

work for a F1 team like Mercedes. I still want

to be a footballer but if I don’t make it I

would want to become an engineer.’

Imogen Ecob: ‘There was an H&M

photo shoot where you went into a

room that looked like a shop and

dressed up in H & M clothes and

had a photo shoot with your friends

or on your own’

Suman Ijaz: ‘what I enjoyed most was

going around with my friends and

being a police officer and a delivery

girl because I have never ever done

jobs like this before.’

November Year 7 students went to Kidzania London as an opportunity for them to try jobs and see

what they may like to be when they ‘grow up’. Kidzania is its own mini city on top of Westfield shopping centre. Once

they had checked in through airport security they were each given a security bracelet and 50 kidzos as a start-up fund,

they were then free to wonder around the city and chose to buy things or experiences as well as earn more by working

(students quickly clocked onto this). With over 60 jobs to choose from there was something for everyone. It was brilliant

seeing students analysing and discussing with others about what things they wanted to, how much they could earn, was it

worth the time needed to complete the activity? etc, some even had the difficult task of moving away from their usual

friendship groups as they discovered they wanted to try alternative jobs. After a short stop for lunch it became clear that

the students had a new goal….. to open a bank account! They wanted the power of the plastic card, some worked extra

hard and saved enough to go and open their account, others clubbed together and shared the privilege.

Throughout the day the students looked to be having fun, becoming richer in kidzos and knowledge from their

experiences and for the first time ever as a member of staff we actually had to stop them and drag them away at the end

Amy Sear: ‘While we were there I got to be a

midwife, a designer, a vault, an air hostess and

lots more other exciting jobs. We got paid in

Kidzos and spoke there special language, Hello

was Hi was ki! While I was there I found it

amazing to be in this fake city that felt so real. I

really enjoyed my experience in Kidzania because

it was incredible and was really grown up. I felt

like it showed people that I was so amazing and

could do any job they wanted me to do!’

Sahara: ‘I had a magician’s job

which was really easy. After we

practised the trick we took to the

Year 10 News

Year 10 have made a successful and exciting start to their GCSE

subjects. Students have now received their “working at” grades

for all subjects and are showing signs of making progress

towards their final target grades.

October saw our first awards assembly where form tutors and

subject teachers nominate students who have upheld the values

of the Academy. The following awards were given:

A number of Year 10 students have been helping to mentor

Year 7 students, guiding them through their first term in their

new school, providing a friendly face to offer support and advice

with any questions they have. Thank you for contribution this

term; Hussain Ahmed, Aiden Fabrello, James Anderson, Megan

Stedman and Keeley Ashley.

All year 10 students have the opportunity to go on a work

experience placement in May. 9th May to the 13

th May. Students

will be able to gain an invaluable insight into the inner workings

of a career of their choice. Work experience forms have now

been distributed to all students. If you could not attend the

information evening held in November, or if you have any

further questions on helping your child filling in their form,

please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Benyon or myself. The

deadline for the forms is 15th January. In order for all students to

be placed this must be met.

Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Miss J Gibbs, Achievement Director Year 10

Chaplain’s Corner

“There was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7)

I love Christmas time as we walk around Berryfields Primary and

the AVA we find: Christmas trees, decorations, food, cards and

presents being traded, nativity plays and Carol services being

prepared, for some glad their mock exams are over. But for all

there is that eager anticipation for the school holidays ahead.

At Christmas we are celebrating something special the birth of a

baby 2000 years ago in the Middle East. The Bible recounts the

words of the angels as they gathered in the skies over

Bethlehem, in Israel: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace, good will to all humankind.” That first Christmas

continues to affect the lives of millions of people across the ages

and across the globe.

The sad thing though is that today in the Middle East there isn’t

peace, our television screens and our newspapers show the

plight of refugees fleeing the war, persecution and hardships of

life in Syria and Northern Iraq.

This photo is of a Syrian father and mother carrying their young

son, all of their possessions crammed into two small backpacks.

But this image reminds us that 2000 years ago there was a

family fleeing for their lives. The Bible account after the Birth of

Jesus tells of how Mary, Joseph and Jesus flee to Egypt as

refugees.

I wonder if they came to your home or to seek refuge in your

street, your school, how would you treat them? Would you or I

get to know them, include them? I wonder if we’d have given

them room.

Maybe this Christmas as we’re unpacking our presents, having

food and relaxing, we could remember what took place 2000

years ago; and what is taking place right now. Could we AVA

students and staff be the ones offering goodwill to humankind

around us? I’ll be praying that you all have a restful, peaceful

Christmas break and refreshing New Year.

Revd G Lane, School Chaplain

Aspiration Callum Scally

Creativity Ambrine Kalsoom

Faith Nadeem Khan

Respect Aiden Fabrello

Equality Andrew Carrington

Service Olivia Algar

Achievement Director

Award Amer Jan

A Syrian Refugee Family in Hungary Oct 2015 David Darg

Enrichment

Below is the winning entry from the short story competition,

written by Rebecca Bennett, Year 10.

Carol Concert and Craft Fair

The annual Christmas Carol Concert and the first Christmas

Craft Fair took place on Thursday 10th December. Both were a

huge success with many members of staff demonstrating their

crafting talents, whilst AVA and Berryfields students showed off

their wonderful singing voices as part of the carol concert.

A huge thank you to all of those involved in both events, it

proved to be an extremely enjoyable and festive evening.

Miss E Kitter, Assistant Principal

The clouds are dark and dull,

White specks falling,

Covering the ground,

In a blanket,

On the ground.

The icy crystals,

That they are,

Flittering and twirling.

Across the dull sky.

They lay untouched,

Pure and white,

Laying, laying,

On the cold ground.

And as the night falls,

I sit and wonder,

Wishing on the icy stars,

On the eve of joy and hope.

Christmas and Eid Card Competition

The winner of the Christmas Card competition was Mayumi Bueno Sharples 8 Faraday 2 and the winner of the Eid Card competition

was Shoaib Muhammad 8 Faraday 2.

CHARITY EVENTS