Contact Information Narcot Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 8TP www.chalfonts.org The Chalfonts Community Victoria Lang Vice Principal Issue 4 - 6th November 2017 Chronicle “Success is an Attitude...” Tel: 01753 882032 Fax: 01753 890716 Email: [email protected]Twitter: @CCChalfonts With the rapid expansion of social media, too many of us have become so reliant on checking messages on our phones, posting on Facebook or Twitter and ‘liking’ images that other people send of their ‘fabulous’ lives; that we simply can’t function without it - but what impact does this have on our mental health? According to the health charity Place2be (of whom the Duchess of Cambridge is their ambassador) they state that: 1 in 10 children between the ages of 5 - 16 has a mental health problem, • Over half of all mental ill health issues start before the age of 14, • Amongst teenagers, rates of depression and anxiety have increased by 70% in the past 25 years, • Poor mental health costs the economy, NHS and society £105 billion every year. In a recent survey (time.com) Instagram was rated the worst social media network for mental health and wellbeing according to almost 1,500 teenagers and young adults. Why? Well, whilst the photo-based platform got positive points for self-expression and self-identity, it was also associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and the ‘fear of missing out’ - more commonly known as FOMO. Many social media posts can set unrealistic expectations and create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. As a school we are endeavouring to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone who is part of our community. As well as an amazing pastoral team and school counselling service we have also recently introduced The Hive - a peer listening scheme that is run by Year 13 students supported by our school counsellor. It has been set up to support the wellbeing of our younger students to help them develop their emotional resilience; giving them an opportunity to talk to Sixth Form students who have experienced similar thoughts in their lives. For staff, we have introduced a Wellbeing Committee that strive to create opportunities to support positive mental health for us all. The activities range from yoga to Indian cookery classes, a staff barbecue and professional wine tasting! All of which have been very successful in promoting positivity and mindfulness within our school community. So as we head for the countdown to Christmas, try to give yourself a bit more time. Down tools, leave social media alone (even for a little while) and do something just for you. I guarantee that you’ll feel much better for it. Happy half term! How quickly time flies! It’s hard to believe that we are already embarking on the second half term of this academic year - where have the past 8 weeks gone? At the beginning of the year, Mr Denial talked about not having time to waste, and in the first assembly he counted down the days and weeks for each year group in relation to an event that they needed to prepare for this year. For Year 11 it was the countdown to the first GCSE exam in 2018 - for Year 8 it was the countdown to choosing their GCSE options. Whatever the event; there is always a time deadline whether you are a teacher, student or parent and sometimes this can be mentally and emotionally exhausting! However, having just come back from visiting a friend who teaches abroad; the one thing I did feel I had more of, was time! It was lovely not clock watching each day or worrying about meeting deadlines. I actually had time to recharge my batteries, reflect on the past half term and put a plan in place for the next one. That got me thinking ... everyone needs to have a break - whether that be an hour, a day or a week; as it helps to ensure that we maintain positive physical and mental health.
Transcript
Contact InformationNarcot Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 8TP
www.chalfonts.org
The Chalfonts Community
Victoria LangVice Principal
Issue 4 - 6th November 2017Chronicle “Success is an Attitude...”
With the rapid expansion of social media, too many of us have become so reliant on checking messages on our phones, posting on Facebook or Twitter and ‘liking’ images that other people send of their ‘fabulous’ lives; that we simply can’t function without it - but what impact does this have on our mental health?
According to the health charity Place2be (of whom the Duchess of Cambridge is their ambassador) they state that:1 in 10 children between the ages of 5 - 16 has a mental health problem,• Over half of all mental ill health issues start before the age of 14,• Amongst teenagers, rates of depression and anxiety have increased by 70% in the past 25 years,• Poor mental health costs the economy, NHS and society £105 billion every year.
In a recent survey (time.com) Instagram was rated the worst social media network for mental health and wellbeingaccording to almost 1,500 teenagers and young adults. Why? Well, whilst the photo-based platform got positive points for self-expression and self-identity, it was also associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and the ‘fear of missing out’ - more commonly known as FOMO. Many social media posts can set unrealistic expectations and createfeelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
As a school we are endeavouring to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone who is part of our community. As well as an amazing pastoral team and school counselling service we have also recently introduced The Hive - a peer listening scheme that is run by Year 13 students supported by our school counsellor. It has been set up to support the wellbeing of our younger students to help them develop their emotional resilience; giving them an opportunity to talk to Sixth Form students who have experienced similar thoughts in their lives. For staff, we have introduced a Wellbeing Committee that strive to create opportunities to support positive mental health for us all. The activities range from yoga to Indian cookery classes, a staff barbecue and professional wine tasting! All of which have been very successful in promoting positivity and mindfulness within our school community.
So as we head for the countdown to Christmas, try to give yourself a bit more time. Down tools, leave social media alone (even for a little while) and do something just for you. I guarantee that you’ll feel much better for it. Happy half term!
How quickly time flies! It’s hard to believe that we are already embarking on the second half term of this academic year - where have the past 8 weeks gone? At the beginning of the year, Mr Denial talked about not having time to waste, and in the first assembly he counted down the days and weeks for each year group in relation to an event that they needed to prepare for this year. For Year 11 it was the countdown to the first GCSE exam in 2018 - for Year 8 it was the countdown to choosing their GCSE options. Whatever the event; there is always a time deadline whether you are a teacher, student or parent and sometimes this can be mentally and emotionally exhausting!
However, having just come back from visiting a friend who teaches abroad; the one thing I did feel I had more of, was time! It was lovely not clock watching each day or worrying about meeting deadlines. I actually had time to recharge my batteries, reflect on the past half term and put a plan in place for the next one. That got me thinking ... everyone needs to have a break - whether that be an hour, a day or a week; as it helps to ensure that we maintain positive physical and mental health.
‘A’ Level Art & Photography Trip - Berlin This years Art and Photography trip was to Berlin, a modern city and a leading centre for the Arts, especially
renowned for its contemporary architecture and museums. Dating back to the 13th century, reminders of the
city's turbulent 20th-century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains.
Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification.
Day 1- 13th OctoberAfter a trouble free journey we arrived at Hostel Friedrichshain our
accommodation for the next three nights. A quick turn around and we were on
the train to Alexandra Platz to see the Berlin TV tower or Fernsehturm
constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the government of the GDR as a
symbol of communist power and Berlin. Luckily our visit coincided with the Berlin
festival of lights and we were treated to a fantastic light show on the tower
before heading off for a well-deserved evening meal.
and tells the history of art in Berlin
with varying emphases. Students
studied a range of works including
Dada Berlin, the Neue achlichkeit
(New Objectivity) and the Eastern
European avant-garde. On route to
the gallery we enjoyed a photo
opportunity at Checkpoint Charlie, the
crossing point between East Berlin
and West Berlin during the Cold War.
Day 2 - 14th OctoberThe morning was spent at the Berlinsche Gallery which is organized thematically
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The Gemäldegalerie was our focus for the afternoon. The gallery
forms part of the Kulturforum which launched the cultural rebirth of
West Berlin after World War II. In the gallery students studied the
works of Hans Holbein the Younger, Botticelli, Jan Van Eyck while
others made sketches and notes for follow up work back at school.
In the evening a small number of students expressed an interest in
seeing Berlin by night from the top of the Fernsehturm (TV Tower).
After such a busy day we returned to the Hostel and spent the
evening exploring the local area.
Day 3 – 15th OctoberAnother early breakfast and we headed towards
Uhlandstr to the Kathe Kollwitz Gallery which is well
known for her prints and charcoal drawings of poverty,
hunger and war among the working class. The gallery
gave students the opportunity to look beyond the art-
work and to gain valuable insights into the mind of the
artist and political events of the day.
After lunch and in sharp contrast to Kollwitz we headed
Day 4 – 16th OctoberAfter packing and leaving our cases for collection later we headed back to the centre of Berlin to visit the
Holocaust Memorial and took time for some personal reflection on the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Our final destination before returning to catch the coach to the airport was the East Side Gallery. At 1316
metres long, the open-air art gallery on the banks of the Spree in Friedrichshain is the longest continuous
section of the Berlin Wall still in existence. Reflecting on the purpose of the wall students collected souvenir’
and recorded some of the amazing graffiti created by international artists immediately after the wall came
down. In three and a half days we experienced the life culture of Berlin but only scratched the surface on the
complexity and turbulent life of this exciting and vibrant capital city.
Students are now planning their Berlin responses for an exhibition to coincide with the Sixth Form Open
Evening on 16th November.
to the National Museum of Photography. Here students had the opportunity to view the work of Helmut
Newton and others and to see at first hand the quality of one of the most well known fashion photographers
of his age. The day ended with a visit to the Reichstag at sunset to experience the fantastic Norman Foster
dome. This was without doubt one of the highlights of the trip.
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The Chalfonts Community College Association would like as many families as possible to join us for
our annual Christmas Extravaganza on Wednesday, 22nd November between 7-9.30pm.
This event is the biggest fundraiser in our calendar and in order to make it a huge success so that we
can continue to support our children’s education, we would be grateful for some additional support as
follows:
Raffle/Tombola Prizes – Can you consider donating goods, tickets or vouchers that we can use for
our Christmas raffle or tombola? Every little helps as we can make festive hampers with a selection
of smaller items or use them for the tombola, although we would of course be delighted to receive
larger donations if you are able. Please leave your donation at the school reception or contact
'Chelsea's Choice' tells a story of a group of students who discover the diary of a 15 year old girl, called Chelsea. Having fallen out with her friends and family, Chelsea met a guy called Gary, who seemed perfect! Gary was kind, understanding, had a nice car, had his own flat, and he listened to her! However, Gary was not all he seemed to be...
Chelsea felt that he understood her, really cared about her, and slowly but surely, she fell under hisspell - ending up being the victim of Child Sexual Exploitation.
The story is acted out by a cast of four who, in turn, attempt to understand what happened to Chelsea and how the situation could have been prevented.
'Chelsea's Choice' is now internationally renowned and is highly successful in raising awareness around the issues of CSE. It is an extremely hard-hitting drama which has now been seen by over 800,000 people in the UK.
Whilst watching 'Chelsea's Choice'; Year 9 would have received a greater understanding of the followingtopics:• What makes a healthy/unhealthy relationship• Safe internet use/sexting• What is consent • The Grooming Process, CSE and how this affects a young person• Where to go for advice and help
Due to the popularity of this production, Chalfonts Community College booked this production 6 months ago. Many students in other Bucks schools are also receiving this education too. All the issues highlighted in this production link to our new PSHCE curriculum which is delivered during tutor time. It covers the legal requirements set out by the government in regards to safeguarding young people.
Over the course of the rest of the Autumn & Spring terms, all our students (throughout years 7-11) will be receiving some follow up work with Banardos 'RUSafe' who work closely with the Alter Ego production company in raising awareness of potential issues that young people today are exposed to. If you would like more information of keeping young people safe- the following websites have lots of ideas for young people and their parents/careers in doing so.
More information will follow in future issues of The Chronicle so please look out for it. In the meantime
please don't hesitate to contact our safeguarding team if you need more information, advice or support.
Victoria Lang, Vice Principal & DSL
On Wednesday 18th October Year 9 werefortunate enough to watch a production of'Chelsea's Choice', performed by a theatrecompany called Alter Ego, to raise awarenessof Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
On Friday 22nd September our swimming teams competed in the regional qualifying round of the English Schools National Cup at Abingdon School. This was one of numerous events taking place all over thecountry from September to October. Once all results were collated, the top 20 quickest teams nationally, would qualify for the National Final in the London Aquatic Centre on Saturday 18th October.
All of our teams swam brilliantly, but particular credit should go to our Intermediate Boys team who smashed the course record by over 6 seconds in their 200m freestyle relay race. The team, made up of James Convery, Max McGarvie, Jack Eden and Billy Lee-Knowles swam so well in both the freestyle and medley events, that they’ve qualified for the National Final in both! Based on their qualifying times, they currently sit as the 8th best freestyle team and the 15th best medley team in the whole of England!We, of course, wish them well in the final.
Our other teams, despite some terrific swims, weren’t quite able to qualify but should never the less be proud of their times and performances. The junior girls’ team of Sophie Ratcliff, Cerys Skyrme-Davies, Oliv-ia Convery and Jenna Chick finished 215th in the freestyle and 206th in the medley. The junior boys’ team of Harry Lee-Knowles, Alex Austin, Oliver Sleight and Brodie Stanhope finished in 16th in the freestyle and 95th in the medley. And, finally, the senior boys’ team of Luke Moloney, Llewelyn Woodman, Jamie Nottage and Oli Jackson finished 104th in the freestyle and 96th in the medley.
When you consider that there are over 3000 secondary schools in England, you’ll agree that all of our teams have done extremely well. Well done to all!
Howard D’Arcy, Leader of PE
Page 9
On Monday Amelia Curtis and I took part in The British Schools
and Colleges Open competition at Edlingtree Golf Club in
Northampton. Amelia and I did not just have a day off school but
had a hard day on the golf course playing the game we love and
making new friends from other schools. Amelia did really well
winning the U15 gross prize and I won the U12 net prize.
The Chalfonts Community College came 3rd overall. This is a great
achievement and we both look forward to taking part in the next
competition and doing our school proud.
I am also an ambassador for Gold Girls Rocks at Wexham Golf
Club working alongside the PGA coach helping other children
develop their golf skills and encouraging them to enjoy the game
as much as I do.
On Sunday 12th November, Reading Women host Chelsea Ladies at Adams Park in the Women's Super League One, kick off 12:30pm.
Here at Reading FC, as part of our commitment to help grow the Women’s game we see this as anexcellent opportunity to invite local schools to this fixture, completely free of charge.
To register for your complimentary e-tickets, please click the link below! It will take less than a minute; https://goo.gl/forms/BqNwOAvm4AcCeyKj1 Once registered, we will aim to send you your tickets via e-mail within 7 days.
These complimentary tickets have been sent onto local Buckinghamshire schools and a select number of grassroots football clubs in the High Wycombe area. Kind regards,Joe Manns, Women’s Marketing Officer
Therefore I would like to encourage other children to do the same, so if any girls are interested in trying
out golf for the first time please let me know and you can come and join me on Saturday afternoons.
By Rachel MacKinlay Year 7
Page 10
Sixth Form NewsMartyn Way
Leader for sixth form
At the time of writing we have 5 students who have already submitted their applications for
universities or music/conservatoires and most have already received offers of places. Three
students have applied to Oxford and are sitting their entrance exams this month; we wish them
the best of luck!
Just a reminder that Year 13s should now have completed a final draft of their Personal
Statement for their UCAS application. If they still need help with this they should speak to their
tutor in the first instance, or book a lunchtime appointment with Mr Way.
Recently we have sent out a questionnaire to Year 13s to help those students who are not
applying to university with their next steps. Those who are thinking of applying for higher
apprenticeships and other direct employment will be offered the chance to get help with
compiling their CVs, refining their interview skills and searching for their career choices.
The link to the on-line questionnaire for Year 13s can be found on Show My Homework.
Page 11
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We would welcome donations of PE kit that students have grown out of or no longer need. This
includes old trainers and football boots too.
The PE department need as much spare kit as possible. It’s extremely useful for when students
forget to bring theirs in. We can then give them spares to participate.
Please deliver to reception
Chalfonts Community College is working in partnership with School Lettings Solutions to utilise
our facilities during evenings, weekends and school holidays, creating a community network with
clubs and groups within the area.
SLS have a dedicated School Leisure and Sports Manager who is responsible for taking bookings
of the facilities, ensuring that the main focus for school staff is pupil attainment and day-to-day
responsibilities.
Facilities include an astro turf pitch, gymnasium, grass pitches & much more. To hire a facility or
for more information about what SLS can offer, please visit their dedicated lettings
website http://chalfonts.schoolbookings.co.uk/ or contact the School Leisure and Sports
Lost PropertyThere is still a lot of ‘lost property’ being generated – please encourage students to look after theirbelongings – especially items of PE kit.
All named lost property is returned to its owner via e-mails to the students’ tutor, so please name anything that is likely to get ’lost’. Un-named lost property is put on the table in the corridor outside the medical room for anyone to claim and is recycled after a couple of weeks as there isn’t any storage space for the quantities of items received.
Page 15
Gayle Romney Medical Administrator/First Aider/Lost
Use of the Medical RoomReminder for students that the medical room is open at break and lunch-time for students to ‘Drop-In’.It is only open during and between lessons for accidents and medical emergencies.
Medical ConditionsIf your son or daughter are diagnosed with any medicalconditions, or are prescribed any medication that they may need during the day, please contact Miss Romney so that the information can be recorded.
Medical Time-Out cardsStudents diagnosed with a medical condition, which may necessitate them leaving a lesson, are issued with a Medical Time-Out card so that they can leave the lesson, without having to explain the rea-son to the teacher and with as little disruption as possible to the rest of the class.
Most students issued with these use them very responsibly but last term a small minority abused their use of them.
If your child is issued with an M T-O card, please will you remind them that they need to use it sensibly as they are issued for their benefit. i.e. they don’t need to explain to each teacher why they need to leave the room.
News from the Medical Roomand Lost Property
Students using crutches following an operation or injuryPlease advise Miss Romney if your son or daughter has an operation, or sustains an injury, and needs to use crutches on their return to school, as we need to ensure that they are given anysupport needed to keep them safe. This includes a risk assessment being carried out.
Dear Parents, Family, Friends, Governors and Staff,
50 Club The PTA will be raising funds by running a ‘50 Club’, which is a type of lottery. Tickets are purchased at the beginning of the school autumn term and are then valid for an entire academic year. At the beginning of each month a ticket will be picked and a prize of £50 will be won. There will be a bumper prize of £150 in December. Tickets will be available to purchase by cheque for a price of £12 per ticket. Any number of tickets, at £12 per ticket each, may be purchased by parents, governors or staff. The tickets must be in the name of an adult (over 16’s only)) and tickets are not transferable. Tickets are purchased at the beginning of each year with no further financial outlay required. A copy of the ticket will be given to each purchaser and the owners of winning tickets will be notified of their wins as quickly as possible. For this fundraising initiative to be viable, as many tickets as possible will need to be sold.
Please join this club and help us to support our school! To be eligible for the ticket draws, please return request slip below, to the school office, as soon as possible, but no later than Monday 27th November. Please write address, including postcode, as clearly as possible as winning letters are sent in the post. Draws for September, October and November will take place together. Cath Smith CCCA
Please Detach Here – Return to CCC PTA, c/o The Chalonts Community College, Narcot Lane, Chalfont St Peter, BUCKS SL9 8TP
50 Club I would like to have …………….……. tickets @ £12 each and have enclosed: ParentPay (Recommended) Cheque (made payable to CCC PTA) for a total of £……………… Cash for a total of £………………………….. Name…………………………………………………………………….Contact number……………………………… Child’s Name.……………………………………………………………………………….Class………………….…… Address.…………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………… Postcode…………………………………………. Email .………………………………………………..…... Name for each Ticket (if different to name above): …………………………………………….............................
“Success is an Attitude” We are committed to Keeping Children Safe in Education
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students of Years 10,11 and 12
Working in partnership with World Challenge, we’re excited to bring you something out of the ordinary – an expedition travelling to Madagascar in 2019. This once in a lifetime opportunity that will set students apart, empowering them to stand strong in front of employers and universities. Join us on Wednesday 8th November; we’d love to tell you more about it.
Much more than a school trip We share a belief that by empowering the students to lead their own expedition, they will go on to live a life of courage, kindness and adventure. From tough treks to new cultures, the day-to-day challenges of expedition life encourage students to develop life skills and build deeper confidence, resilience and empathy.
You’re in expert hands With over thirty years’ experience taking away over 8,000 students every year, World Challenge lead the way in quality, safety, ethical community engagement and learning outcomes. Guided by an adult leadership team, they will step out of their comfort zones and take on roles and the leadership of their group, managing a budget, planning meals and choosing accommodation.
We look forward to seeing you Join Hannah to hear more. Come along to find out ideas about how to raise the expedition fee in the build-up to departure, to the depth of safety and support.
Wednesday 8th November at 6.00pm
We’ll see you there!
Yours faithfully,
Mr Howard, Miss Keitch & Hannah Power (World Challenge)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Reply To: Rachel MacKeith, Administrator, The Chalfonts Community College, Narcot Lane, Chalfont St.
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