KINGS NORTON

HIGH TIMES

April 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

What’s jumped?

Mr D’s

message to

year 11

Happy Easter to all

our readers!

Spring Term It has been a really busy term here at KNHS. All of the usual activity which cranks up to fever pitch

towards exam time was of course decimated by an unusual week of heavy snow. I remember one

morning in that week listening to the weather forecast on my car radio which told me that it would be

a clear day while at that same moment I was looking at a blizzard and sliding slowly down Parsons Hill

hoping my wheels would manage to keep some kind of purchase on the thickly-covered road. I was

trembling when I arrived at work and many other staff were in the same condition. There were two

staff car bumps, one twisted ankle and constant radio broadcast pleas from hospital staff for schools to

close so as to reduce the number of inevitable road accidents – or at least keep off the roads at rush-

hour times. On the Friday of that week, all but one of our teaching staff had turned up for work but

only a third of students made it in. Our fantastic improvement in attendance up to that point was

badly damaged – in common of course with all other Birmingham schools. The one optimistic note

however is that the Met Office say this was a once-in-18-years occurrence so at least we should expect

uninterrupted education for a long spell from now on!

Maths and English – the National Challenge Our campaign to focus on success in maths and English at GCSE is going well and staff have been fantastic in

their willingness, as ever, to offer students out-of-hours tuition as well as a great deal of individual, personal-

ised support. This has taken many forms:

· some students have dropped a less successful subject in order to work online to improve their own tar-

geted weak areas in English and/or maths

· we have taken on a team of maths and English tutors in order to give students one-to-one or small-group

extra tuition

· we have hired extra qualified teachers so that smaller teaching groups can be formed wherever advanta-

geous

· lunchtime extra classes for a rolling programme of small groups has proved very successful, as have

after-school lessons

· the Easter school programme has been finalised; teachers have interrupted their holidays and details have

been posted home

· masterclasses and revision blocks of time have begun and last week-end the head and deputy head of

English along with the head and deputy head of maths gave up their whole week-end to take a group of

students on a revision and activity-packed residential experience in Oxfordshire

· a very small and exclusive group of students who have found it difficult to concentrate in class, and as a

consequence have disrupted others, have been working on their revision programmes alongside middle

and senior managers in order to keep focused and improve their own and their classes’ chances of passing

their GCSEs.

On our training day, Friday 3rd

April, we have had the opportunity to concentrate, as a whole staff, on our

planning, the sharing of good practice and the learning of new skills which are vital to the quality of eduation

your children deserve. These training days mean that no member of staff is left behind and, more impor-

tantly, the need for teachers to go out of school on individual courses, which would re-

quire your children’s classes to be covered by a supply teacher on a regular basis, is kept

to a minimum. Our in-house training and self-evaluation have won us a Leading Aspect

award, and much praise from Ofsted, so we feel confident that they do make a difference

to children’s life chances.

Some of the above and other aspects of our Spring Term are featured in this edition of

High Times. I hope you find them interesting.

THE HEAD’S HIGHLIGHTS

Phones in

lessons!!!

Hard at work

As part of ‘National Science and Engineering Week’ in March, a group of year 9

students visited the Thinktank at Millenium Point in Birmingham to take part in a

series of workshops run by professional scientists.

Their first task was to develop a health and safety

awareness by producing risk assessments associated

with installation and maintenance of offshore wind turbines.

Next it was exploring the possibilities and advan-

tages of incorporating data-logging devices in science investigations. The

highlight of this workshop involved trying to complete a motion sensor

challenge using their own bodies. At the end of this workshop the students

were able to sit on a mini hovercraft powered by a small electric leaf

blower motor.

At another workshop, outdoor ranger Steven Hinton, an ex-student

brought in a section of heathland from the Lickey Hills for our students to

investigate in the warm.

For most, the highlight of the day was the literally hands-on experiences with the Health Protection Agency

investigating the world of microbes. This involved constructing their own microbe and exploration into how

far germs are spread when we sneeze, what microbes are found on our hands and how effective we are at

washing our hands to remove them.

All the adults I spoke to at the event were very

complimentary about the appearance,

conduct and enthusiasm of our students and

it was an honour to spend the day with Jack

Ashton, Jed Astbury, Grace Branch, Alanah

Brookes, Peter Connor, Eunice Cornejo, Amy Moore, Ropa Muguta, Amy

Thompson and Daniel Turner.

Mr Taylor, Head of Science

“It has made me realize

how important these jobs

are and how exciting they

can be”.

Hands-on at the ThinkTank

This has shown me that

most jobs need science and

you don’t need to be a Sci-

entist to be involved with

Science in your job

To staff and families at Kings Norton High School 24th February 2009

I write to thank you all for your donation of HMV vouchers raised from the proceeds of a Christmas raffle.

On behalf of the children, families and staff at Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust we thank you for your

support.

Yours sincerely

LHomer Lindsey Homer

Head Nurse

Day Subject

Monday 6th

April AM English, ICT

Monday 6th

April PM English

Tuesday 7th

AM Art, ICT

Tuesday 7th

PM Art

Easter school for year 11 students

I PITY DA FOOL,

that don’t go to

Easter school!!

Wednesday 15th

April AM BTEC Science

BTEC Sport

Wednesday 15th April PM BTEC Science

BTEC Sport

Thursday 16th April AM Humanities

Thursday 16th April PM Humanitiies

Friday 17th April AM Maths revision

Friday 17th April PM Maths revision

Afternoon session

12.30 pm until 2.30 pm

Morning session

10.00 until 3.00 pm

Don’t forget— the

sessions you need to

attend were listed on

the letters sent 31/3/09.

I took part in the Red Nose day charity event at our school. I wanted to do something different, so I decided to go for a sponsored silence as I find it hard to keep quiet. I raised £32.00. On Red Nose Day we

had good lessons about how the money is spent and how we can decide who and what our money can be used for. Some of the staff and pupils did ‘Search for a Star’ - it was good but very funny. We also had red nose stickers, cakes and face paints, fancy dress (for some) and non-uniform day. It was a great day and I am very proud to donate some money for a good cause.

Liam Foley, year 9

Congratulations to all those year 11 students who are working really hard to

complete their BTEC ICT Diploma and certificate qualification.

Many year 11’s have already secured the equivalent of 4 GCSEs by completing all the

necessary coursework for their BTEC.

Special congratulations go to Stephanie and Jessica in 11x1 who have achieved the

highest marks so far: Distinction and Distinction*

For those of you who still have a little way to go remember catch-up sessions are

available throughout the week:

Tuesday 3pm – 4pm Ms Busby

Wednesday 3pm – 4pm Mr Hornsved

Thursday 1.20pm – 1.50pm Ms Busby

Thursday 3pm – 4pm Mrs Cutter

Friday 1.20pm – 1.50pm Ms Busby

Keep up the good work year 11

ICT Team

This spring, in addition, to the ‘Cook and Take-

away’ sessions that run every Monday, Thursday

and Friday throughout the year, Food Net is also

offering families the chance to cook together. So

whether you’re an experienced cook looking to

spend some more time with your children, or an

enthusiastic kitchen novice hoping to develop you

and your children’s cooking skills, why not join us

at the 3 Kings Café every Saturday morning.

Food Net is also running one-off ‘Cooking with

Families’ sessions on Thursday 9th

and 16th

April

during the Easter holidays. Come along for a

cooking good time!

Cook it!

We are very excited to announce that from 20th

April 2009, Aspens Services Ltd

will be providing the catering service at Kings Norton High School.

We are planning a number of changes to the service over the next few weeks –

the first being the introduction of our food concepts into the ground floor dining

areas, plus a brand new hot and cold food offer in the concourse.

Recipes and flavours from around the world

Freshly made grab & go sandwiches, baguettes and salad

pots

The new service for the concourse area. Hot sauce toppings for

pasta, jacket potatoes etc, plus a range of freshly made

sandwiches, baguettes, rolls and salad pots

There will be a number of promotions and meal deals throughout the school year

that will offer great value for money – starting with an Italian theme for the first

week of the new term. We will publish the calendar of events and our menus via

the school’s newsletter and web site and on the Aspens website.

All of our menus are nutritionally balanced and compliant with new healthy food

legislation that comes into force this year.

Over the summer break, Aspens will be refurbishing the dining area, creating a

new café outlet and over the summer term, we will be seeking the views of

students, staff and parents to help us design this new facility, which will open for

business in September 2009.

Our website can be found at www.aspens-services.co.uk and if you wish to email

any comment or query, please contact us on info@aspens.co.uk.

On Friday 27th

March 2009 the mathematics and English departments went on a revision weekend to

Stansfeld Residential Centre with a selection of year 11 GSCE students. It was to prove a successful,

although somewhat exhausting weekend!

Having arrived at 4.00 pm, it was straight down to three hours of maths and English study - students

worked solidly up until 9.30pm! Despite some initial groaning both students and staff commented at

the end of the evening, on how much they had learnt and enjoyed the evening.

“You know what? That was wicked miss!”

But we have to say congratulations to one young man

who managed to sleep in a bedroom drawer! We

hope that the weekend will have inspired all the pu-

pils to achieve success in the summer. The students

were a delight to socialise with and were a credit to

the school.

“Come on hurry up, I want a go!”

What A Weekend!!

Following a rather exhausting night, when for some sleep seemed an impossibility, the students took part in more

learning on Saturday morning and evening. During the afternoon pupils took part in centre organised activities, in-

cluding: an assault course, team building exercises and an impromptu water fight! (Thanks Miss Baker!)

On Sunday, prior to departure, we managed to squeeze in two more maths and English sessions, followed by a roast

dinner and an awards ceremony. As for the journey home, it was very quiet!

Thank you to Mrs Hammond, Miss Baker, Mr Barker and Miss Raj who gave up their weekend.

“Look what I caught!”Look what I caught!”Look what I caught!”Look what I caught!”

““““Hard at work!”

On the 13th March 2009, Kings Norton High celebrated ‘Red Nose Day’.

The theme of this year’s Comic Relief was ‘do something funny for

money’ – and you only need to look at the pictures above to see how

funny some people were. There were also a lot of different activities

planned throughout the day: fancy dress, face painting, ‘Search for a

Star’, Gladiators, cake sales and much more.

But it wasn’t all fun and games... we also changed people’s lives.

During lessons the students learned about the difference that their

money would be making to young people in the UK and in Africa. In hu-

manities the students learnt about a young girl called Mariam, who was

dying of starvation and had no education. A loan from Comic Relief

helped her father set up his own farm and business. Mariam is now

healthy and going to school and she wants to become a maths teacher.

Students and staff raised OVER £400. This money will change and save

peoples’ lives.

WELL DONE KINGS NORTON HIGH AND THANK YOU!

R E D N O S E D A Y ' 0 9

SEARCH FOR A

STAR

On Tuesday 24th

March, year 9 went on a

trip to the National Indoor Arena to

experience the U R A Star performance by

Witness.

The performance was watched by 5,000

students from the West Midlands area

with ages ranging from Year 8 to Year 11.

The performance was designed to raise

awareness to a lot of the social dilemmas

that young people encounter on a

regular basis including that of knife crime.

72 students from Kings Norton High went

on the trip and were a credit to the school

and the area with their sensitivity and

involvement in the singing and dancing at

the event.

Everyone enjoyed the trip and

found it very informative.

At the beginning of the term, several of our year 9 and year

10 pupils went to a ‘hear by right’ event held by Linda

Harrold, our educational social worker.

Inspiring!

Hear by Right is a tried and tested standards

framework for statutory and voluntary sectors to

assess and improve practice and policy on the active

involvement of children and young people.

HEAR BY

RIGHT

U R A STAR

A few weeks ago Gorgeous Bridal Studio from Cotteridge

visited Kings Norton High School with a selection of Prom

dresses and suits that are available to buy.

After a bit of persuasion pupils tried on the dresses and

jackets and looked lovely modelling them.

The shop is offering a discount on some dresses to pupils

from Kings Norton High School.

Pupils are currently helping to

plan the theme for the prom and

so far pink seems to be the most

popular colour with the boys!

The prom is on Thursday 18th

June 2009 at the Westmead

Hotel in Hopwood.

BELLES OF THE BALL

Super Learners Day

The tasks encouraged team

work, listening and

communicating to work

through what can appear to

be impossible but with

cooperation leads to a

successful result. In the arts

challenge the students

created a piece of art work

that was displayed in the

Central Library throughout

March. The circus skills

challenge showed the

students that through

perseverance new skills can

be easily mastered.

During the Super Learners

Day 120 students from 10

different Birmingham

schools worked together,

produced a wonderful piece

of art work and learned new

skills needed for successful

work in school.

On February 25th,

12

students from Kings Norton

High together with 120

students from schools across

Birmingham, participated in

an event organised by The

Children’s Society and The

University of First Age. The

event was a wonderful

opportunity to meet stu-

dents from other schools

and learn skills needed for

learning.

The students were put into

groups and experienced

three different workshops,

Puzzle Challenge, Arts Chal-

lenge and Circus Skills Chal-

lenge. During the puzzle

challenge, the students had

to solve a challenge by

working together and find-

ing out the answer.

Kings Norton High School was the venue for the final of the

Baverstock School Sports Partnership Primary Athletics Festival.

Over 50 year 5 and 6 students from various primary schools across

the partnership all came together to compete in various indoor

track and field events. Students

from year 11 were on hand to

assist with the event and help

ensure the afternoon ran

smoothly. All pupils had a fun

afternoon and the year 11’s

were credited for their excellent

help and leadership skills.

Year 5 and 6 Primary Athletics Festival

On Monday 23rd

March, I was asked to judge a science

competition. It was Mrs Horner’s year ten double

award group, and they had been set a topical task,

coming up to Easter: how to build a parachute for an

egg. But this was no simple task. Student teams would

be judged on their design, their fall time and of course

on the condition of the egg when it had landed.

It was that day – you know the one where that lovely

spring feeling had left us all too abruptly and in its

place we had huge grey rain clouds and an arctic wind.

When Mrs Horner had asked me along to her lesson to

help with the judging, I had imagined we would be cosy

and warm but no, we all trooped out into the icy blast,

knowing that we had only minutes before the clouds

would begin to drop their cargo on us!

The wind didn’t eggsactly (sorry!) help us and one or

two of the eggs had to be given a second drop because

they became entangled in bushes, but finally the drops

were completed and we all made our way back into the

warm.

Minutes later, we thanked all of the teams for their

imaginative and well-executed offerings. The prizes

went to Jake Sykes, Ryan McCrea, Sam Freckleton, Nick

Harris, Mollie Hansel, Agnieszka Korona. All in all a

very enjoyable and educational eggsperience!

Denise Burns

A Cracking

Experience!

Year 10 double award science were given the task of

making egg parachutes to carry egg passengers. They

then put their parachutes to the test by launching them

out of the window to see whose egg would break and

fail miserably or whose egg would stay intact and fall

with the slowest fall time. BUT if all eggs were to break

and fail miserably then they would be judged on their

fall time. Mrs Horner & Ms Burns were the events judges.

All parachutes were judged on their looks and the top

two group winners won prizes of Easter eggs. Happily, no

team went home with nothing because every member

of the competition was given a creme egg. Crackin’!

Nick Harris, year 10

Eggcellent Flyers!!! WARNING

EGG ALERT!!

Normally students are told to ‘put those

phones away’, however, in humanities

we have used our mobile phones to

retell our own version of the parable of

the prodigal son. We were able to set up

our scenes, take the pictures, send them

to our laptops and then edit them in

powerpoint.

But when she ran out of money she remembered how much her mum’s employees were getting paid so she decided to go back and not be her mother’s daughter, but an employee.

WOW! You’re back … I

haven’t seen you in

ages. What brought

you back?

MOBILE PHONES IN LESSONS!