11 February 2016

INASecondaryNewsletter

Oxford University

Chemistry - Art Trip P. 6

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to make you aware of some changes to absence procedures happening as we return after the half term break.

We now have a dedicated number for absence reporting which is 0208 911 6696

As always we would ask that parents/carers notify us by calling the number by 8.15am with the reason for your child’s absence, on the first day of absence and every day thereafter until your child returns to school. This is important for the safeguarding of your child.

We would also like to remind you all absences for medical appointments must be supported by an appointment card or letter from the medical service provider for us to consider authorising the absence.

In addition to this, please be aware that any student with an attendance percentage below 90% is considered a persistent absentee. In the event of any child who is persistently absent being off school we will ask for medical evidence to be provided in order to authorise the absence. If this is not submitted the absence will not be authorised and could lead to a penalty notice being issued. Every student has the target of 100% attendance, and we cannot stress how important it is to be in school every day in order to maximise progress and achievement.

We thank you for your continued support in ensuing that your child has excellent attendance.

Many thanks

Ms Abbott-JonesLead Pastoral Leader

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Dear Parents and Carers

We say goodbye to three valued colleagues today:

Mr Mustapha, ICT Technician, is relocating to Coventry with Civica. We are very grateful to him for all the support he has given to the secondary and primary schools with all aspects of ICT since September 2014.

Mr Lindsay-Addy leaves us to take on a teaching post in Enfield. He has taught English to Year 7-10 classes as well as being 9S’s tutor since September and we thank him for all his contributions to the school.

And finally we are sad to see Ms Wright, Lead Learning Assistant, leave us today. She has been at INA for nearly four years, as one of the small team of founding staff. In 2012 she was the only Learning Assistant and, together with Ms Spencer, built up the SEN team from scratch. She has played an instrumental part in the education of many of our students and I know that she will be sorely missed by them, as well as by the staff. Ms Wright is taking up an exciting new role at Gaynes School and we wish her every success and happiness in the future.

As we break up for the half term, I hope that you all enjoy a wonderful holiday. We look forward to seeing you back at school on Monday 22nd February.

With best wishes,

Rachel Macfarlane,

Principal

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The INA Year 7 Spelling Bee

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SafeguardingThe welfare and safety of our students is our priority. We do everything possible to ensure our students’ safety, both within the school community and outside of school, including working with relevant agencies to address any issues related to child protection.

At INA we have a number of trained staff who are designated to respond to any child protection concerns and to liaise with social services:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Jo Spencer Vice PrincipalDeputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Tam Broadway Primary HeadteacherDesignated Child Protection Officers: Eleanor Seal Office Manager Nazma Mataria SENCO Leanne Abbott-Jones Lead Pastoral Leader

The INA Safeguarding policy, Child Protection policy and other related policies can be found on the Academy’s website.

The INA Year 7 Spelling Bee

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Year 10 Progress meeting Thursday 3rd MarchY10 Progress meeting is calendared for Thursday 3rd March 2016 from 2:30-6:30. All students will complete lessons p1 – 4a (Y10 students will complete lesson 4a as per KS3 timings). P4a will finish for all students at 1:05. Students will return to tutor groups from 1:05-1:15. Students who are eligible for Free School Meals who request lunch in advance (via form tutors) can collect a lunch bag from the KS3 desk area as they leave. Tutors will escort students to the KS3 gate at 1:15 where students are expected to go directly home and return between 2:30-6:30 with parents. Students are expected to attend with an adult family member in full school uniform. The progress meeting will take place in the KS3 Hall. The last appointment is 6:25 for a 6:30 finish. Staff will set independent learning for Y7, 8 and 9 in advance for p5 and 6. The school will be closed to Y7, 8 and 9 from 1:15. Enrichments and detentions will not take place. If you have any questions please contact Mr Crowther-Green 02089116666.

OXFORD CHEMISTRY - ART TRIP This term a select group of students attended an exclusive trip to Oxford University an experience a day dedicated to the unlikely combination of Chemistry and Art. I personally found it very interesting and the unique historical setting of such a prestigious university was certainly inspiring. This is what the students had to say about it.

“The Chemart trip was very interesting because I learnt many things about art during the Renaissance period and how it not only impacted art, but chemistry and maths as well. I enjoyed seeing art paintings of

perspective as well.

Overall, I had fun on this trip as it made me think more about molecules”.

Adarsh

“I liked how they combined two completely different subjects, because otherwise I would have never thought they were linked. After this trip, I have learnt that science is very creative, and art

is very scientific”. Keanna

“At first I didn't know that science and art were linked through the course of history. I enjoyed the Chemart trip because I learnt

new things and I got to see what life at Oxford University was like”.

Yasmin

“I enjoyed the Chemart trip because we got to see many paintings from different eras of history; I also learnt a lot about molecules and visualising them in different ways. Overall, it was a great trip!”Rajan

“I really liked going on the Chemart trip because it was interesting learning about perspective, and is useful in almost all styles of painting so I could use what I learnt during my art and chemistry lessons!!!!!!!!”Amrit

A.Clift-Matthews, Head of Science

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It’s not every day – thankfully – that the most-sued man in Britain walks through the doors of INA. But, if the rumours about him are to be believed, that is exactly what happened last Friday, when satirical journalist, Ian Hislop visited INA.

Famous for being the editor of satirical magazine, Private Eye, as well as being a permanent panellist on TV quiz show, Have I Got News For You, Ian’s talk attracted the interest of forty Year 10 students, as well as several members of staff.

During the hour that he was with us, students asked a range of questions including where he’d gone to school, which courses he chose and why, what he thinks Russell Group universities like Oxford are looking for, as well as what employers in the media, or indeed any career, are looking for from them. They also pushed him on his political views, and about the legal battles he’s been embroiled in.

Many students were grateful for his honesty, remarking that ‘so many of the speakers that come in will tell us what they think we want to hear, and are afraid to say what they actually think’, and that, compared to them, Hislop seemed refreshingly ‘blunt’.

Perhaps that isn’t surprising for a satirist, but many were surprised to see he ‘had a soft side too’. Several students said that it was ‘nice to see that he thought it was ok to make mistakes’, and that he had inspired them to continue to a career that they’ll enjoy, rather than forcing themselves to do something someone else wants them to do.

Others, who had been worried that he would satirise them, were pleased to find that he made fun of himself just as much as he made fun of politicians and the like. ‘He’s just as funny in real life as he is on TV’ one student told me afterwards, ‘but luckily he didn’t make fun of us’.

Whilst he admitted his sense of humour had almost certainly helped him get into TV journalism, he made it clear that the best route in to any role in the media is to get started now. Writing comedy sketches, poems, plays, prose, articles, or editorials for your peers now will provide valuable experience for work in the industry when you’re older, Ian suggested.

I’m sure that after Friday’s there are plenty of students who’d be queuing up for work experience with Ian any day, and who I hope therefore will act on his advice!

-Ms Rudd

Ian Hislop visits INA

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VISIT TO THE OLYMPIC BMX TRACK

On Tuesday INA had the opportunity to take a group of students to the BMX track at the Olympic Stadium. 12 students signed up for the trip – 4 from year 7 and 7 from year 10, all boys except one brave girl from year 7. We took the train to Stratford and then had a 20 minute walk to the Velo Park. When we arrived we were allowed to have a look around the Velo Track which is where lots of athletes won medals for Team GB in 2012. The students were then given their equipment and a short induction before being allowed to test the track and all its high and lows. They all had a great time but towards the end an hour of cycling started to take its toll and some of them had run out of energy so they missed the last few circuits out. We definitely had some tired students on the way home which was evident from the lack of chatting on the way back. The most rewarding aspect for me was that some of the students were really appreciative and they are talking about going back with their friends in the holidays after being introduced to the activity through the Academy,;it’s great to get kids out and active.You can find out more information about the pay and ride sessions for both the BMX track and the mountain bike track through the Lee Valley website.

https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/velo-park/bmx/

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GCSE PE Students visit the London Velopark for a Mountain Bike Taster Session

The Horniman

Museum trip

Last Saturday the Drop Everything And Draw Society of INA students and

I went to a trip to the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill. It was great

fun because there were many animals and interesting things to draw. I went to the

aquarium with a small group of my friends and there were many incredible animals. We saw jellyfishes and seahorses! It was

a great experience and I hope to go back there another time.

Mafusa Haque 10

This week 8 GCSE PE Students had the opportunity to try out the mountain bike trails at the Olympic Park in

Stratford. There was some tough terrain covered, including steep inclines, jumps, water and sharp turns. I was really impressed with the students' hard work and determination, despite many of them coming off their bikes at some point during the afternoon!

The mountain bike trails are really well sign-posted with 3 levels of difficulty, red being for beginners, blue intermediate and black for the real dare devils. I would recommend students to go and have a go, as it is such a great facility and very local to school. You can hire mountain bikes at the velodrome or take your own. Just be prepared to finish the course a little muddier than when you started!

Ms Abbott-Jones

Breakfast/break snack tariffs

Attached to the newsletter is a copy of the breakfast and break snack tariffs with effect from 22nd February 2016. Please remember to ensure

that your son/daughter’s account is regularly topped up on Wisepay.

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Well done to the following students who are this week’s Mathematicians of the Moment. Please collect a merit from Mr

Dukes

7I 130 7S 40 7A 130 7C 30 7N 330 7E 90 7W 230 7T

8I 8S 90 8A 500 8C 30 8N 100 8E 10 8W 8T

9I 9S 9A 890 9C 9N 1070 9E 320 9W 540 9T 1200

Here are the scores so far

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The Mathematics department would like to encourage all students to enter next week’s Mathematician of the Moment competition. Have a look at the problem below.

Answers to be written on a Maths postcard to be placed in the Maths post box no later than 4.10pm on Wednesday 10th February. Good luck and may the best form win!!!

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Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 C 294 C 226 T 171 N 137T 156 N 215 E 97 W 112 N 147 S 198 N 92 S 85S 144 A 195 S 74 E 77W 127 I 164 C 70 T 73I 93 W 156 A 55 I 66E 44 T 153 W 52 A 51A 34 E 125 I 29 C 0

Praise &Recognition

Merits - a change has been made!

Jennifer ByrneYear 9 Pastoral Leader, i/c Praise and Recognition

Ahmed was well known for being kind, for helping others and for being extremely polite. He was also someone known for his hard work and absorption; the idea, therefore, is that the winner should be someone that encapsulated one of these qualities in that week.

Year 7: to be announced next weekYear 8: to be announced next weekYear 9: Paramveer Singh 9EYear 10: Rawdah Hosenee, 10I

Ahmed Al-Khafaji Award (Peer Commendation Award)

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How we build learning power and develop character at Isaac Newton Academy

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton

The secondary BRIDGES programme commences on Monday 14th September. BRIDGES are habits of mind or learning characteristics that develop a student's character and learning power and enable them to grow into well rounded individuals and resilient learners.

On a two weekly cycle throughout the year, Year 7 and 8 students are introduced to one or two new habits of mind or learning characteristics that will permeate throughout the curriculum. This will take place through a range of interactive activities. In addition, the students will experience BRIDGES learning objectives in each and every lesson throughout Isaac Newton Academy. Year 9 BRIDGES lessons will focus on strengthening certain BRIDGES learning characteristics through exploration of PHSE topics and themes.

Each fortnight you will find top tips in the newsletter of ways of supporting your child to develop the BRIDGES habits of mind and learning characteristics within the home.

B R I D G E S

Regular attendance is a crucial factor in students’ educational development and ability to achieve their full potential.

At Isaac Newton Academy every student is set the target of 100% attendance. We know that attendance has a direct link to progress, and would urge you to really consider if a day off school is necessary.

Ms. Abbott-JonesLead Pastoral Leader

7E 99.1 8C 99.5 9A 99.1 10S 98.7

7N 99.1 8S 99 9E 99 10A 98.1

7T 99.1 8I 97.9 9C 96.4 10I 98.1

7C 98.7 8W 97.8 9I 95.5 10W 95.7

7I 98.6 8T 97 9S 94.3 10E 95

7A 97.9 8N 95.8 9N 94 10T 95

7S 97 8A 93 9W 92.3 10N 91.7

7W 96.4 8E 93 9T 89.9 10C 90.5

ATTENDANCE

Year 7 98.2%

Year 8 96.6%

Year 10 95.4%

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E x p e r i m e n t a t i o nI N A B R I D G E S

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E x p e r i m e n t a t i o n

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Key Dates for the Spring Term 2015: Secondary

Spring TermMonday 4th January - Thursday 24th MarchHalf Term 15th - 19th FebruaryINSET days: Monday 4th January and Friday 12th February

Tuesday 23rd February Debate Competition Friday 26th February Science Live Trip for Year 9sSaturday 27th February Modern Languages and Linguistics Saturday Stretch: Cambridge University Monday 29th February Year 10 Jaguar Land Rover tripThursday 3rd March Year 10 Progress Meetings (2.30 -6.30pm). Years 7, 8 & 9 studying at home in the afternoonThursday 3rd March World Book DayFriday 4th March Year 10 Study Skill WorkshopFriday 4th March Year 9 Maths Exam Friday 11th March Guest speaker from Institute of Civil EngineersMonday 14th March Year 7 Progress Meetings (2.30 -6.30pm). Years 8, 9 & 10 studying at home in the afternoonWednesday 16th March UK Team Maths Challenge FinalsWednesday 16th March PE Spring SpectacularWednesday 16th March Natural History Museum Trip (Triple Science students)Thursday 16th March Natural History Museum Trip (Double Science students)Friday 18th March Year 9 Maths ChallengeFriday 18th March Year 9 Battle of the Bands Saturday 19th March Biology Saturday Stretch: Southampton UniversityMonday 21st March Year 8 Big Band CompetitionWednesday 23rd March Spring ConcertThursday 24th March Awards Assemblies. End of Term. Half day.

Summer TermMonday 11th April - Wednesday 20th JulyHalf Term 30th May - 3rd JuneINSET days: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June, Friday 8th July

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