ACADEMY NEWS Autumn | Issue 1 | October 2018

Head’s Update

I’m proud to give you an update on what’s happening in our Academy this year. Our students are enjoying taking part in “The Olive Way” and they tell me about lots of activities that they’re involved in. They’re working together in groups with different students and staff, and they are learning in different ways through learning “expeditions”. It’s good to see them so engaged in their learning.

We’re excited to be taking delivery of a minibus soon. This will help us to broaden our curriculum offer even more, and make sure that our students have access to cultural visits too. Our Year 11 leavers did themselves (and us) proud in their final examinations. We had the best results since becoming an Academy, and all of our Year 11 leavers had positive destinations to move on to. Some had even found themselves part time jobs to help pay their way through college too. Attendance in the Academy has also been improving and we’re already past the national average attendance figures for Alternative Provision settings, which is great news. Attending every day is so important so that we can make sure that our students keep progressing in their learning. Please help us by making sure that your son/ daughter attends the Academy every day.

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In this issue: The Olive Way Jack Petchey Trip Grange Waters Arts Award

Uniform

A polite reminder to all parents / carers that it is our expectation for all students to be in full school uniform when attending the academy. For clarification this is

Grey trousers/skirt

White shirt

Olive Tie

Olive cardigan or jumper

Black school shoes

Olive Blazer

Safeguarding at Olive Academy Thurrock:

If you are worried about a child please contact: Charlotte Wright

Charlotte.wright@oliveacademies.org.uk

Contact Us:Address: Olive AP Academy – ThurrockLeicester RoadTilburyRM18 7AX

Email: info.thurrock@oliveacademies.org.uk

Website: apthurrock.oliveacademies.org.uk

The Olive Way

This year is a very exciting year for Olive, at the Thurrock academy we have introduced ‘The Olive Way’. This is an incredible way of learning through expeditionary learning. All staff and students were put in to small groups and timetabled on a Monday morning. Each group had to come up with an expedition to deliver to students.

Through expeditionary learning students are not only learning their academic skills, they are also putting their knowledge and understanding into practice. This gives our students freedom to explore new challenges and build resilience.

The Olive Way – Chicken Coop begins

Over the last term, the ‘what does it mean to be responsible?’ Olive Way expedition has been working towards looking after chickens at Olive Academy Thurrock. The student led expedition has seen the group visit a local farm, build a chicken coop, as well as developing the necessary care routines. In this week’s Olive Way, the students learnt about bio-hazards and security. Garbed in protective masks and gloves, they removed a potential mite threat from their chicken coop.

They then went straight to the kitchen to put last week’s skills to use. Knife in hand, the boys prepared and cooked a pheasant. One member of the group quickly took to the newly found rich flavours, while another member of the group said “I’d rather eat a worm”.

Next term the group will be making their final preparations for the arrival of the chickens and starting their portfolios for a Certificate in Practical Animal Care.

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Jack Petchey Award Our Jack Petchey Leader Award winner, Susie Tyler, decided to use the £750 she won to award students with a trip to Rope Runners, in Brentwood.The trip was given to 10 students with the most Olive Character points. They were able to take part in 2 activities, High Ropes and the Army Assault course. The students reported that they had a great time, Susie said, "I had a great time, and the students were so encouraging and well behaved".A fun time was had by all.

Grange Waters

At Grange waters this term we have been on the water looking at raft building and other water based activities with the view to finding out what makes the best vehicle for moving on water.

Arts Award

It’s been an exciting time in the creative Arts lessons. Students have been working hard on a green screen animation advert, as part of their media pitch to Design Company Emperor. Students taking part in the OLIVE Way, have to create an advert pitch for their multimedia platform OLIVE MEDIA. Students in the Creative Arts have also been learning the art of

Origami Virtual reality game design Comic book creation. Lyric writing Music beat creation Story board creation Photography Movie making Green screen special effects Stop motion animation Screenplay writing Pictures are included in this email link.

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Dates for your diary

Half Term Dates:

Half term 22nd-26th of October 2018

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