TERM DATES - SUMMER TERM 2008

Summer Term 2008 - 18th July – End of school year
(Half-term: 26th May to 30th May 2008)

TERM DATES 2008/2009

Autumn Term 2008 - Begins 1st September 2008 Ends 19th December 2008
(Half term 27th October to 31st October 2008)

Spring Term 2009 - Begins 5th January 2009 Ends 3rd April 2009
(Half term 16th February to 20th February 2009)

Summer Term 2009 - Begins 20th April 2009 Ends 20th July 2009
(Half term 25th May to 29th May 2009)

Please note the following dates are Professional Development (non-pupil) Days.

• 1st & 2nd September 2008
• 5th January 2009
• 20th April 2009
• 20th July 2009

IMPROVED ATTENDANCE

We have been successful in improving the overall attendance rate at Kirkley in recent years. The current rate for this year is 91.2 % - above our target figure. We are grateful for the support that we have received from parents in achieving this. Equally, there is still scope for further improvement and we hope that you will continue to work with us on this key issue.

Please telephone Student Support on 01502-525300/525377 on every day of your child’s absence. Also please reply to any absence letter, text or e-mail you receive giving adequate reason(s) for their child’s absence.

As required by the Education Welfare Service and the Department for Education and Skills, if after 2 weeks, the school has not been provided with a reasonable explanation for a pupil’s absence, this absence is updated to an unauthorised absence.

Your support is much appreciated.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW HEADTEACHER

Mr. Richard Pickard has been appointed as the new Headteacher from September 2008. He is currently a Deputy Headteacher at a school in Stoke-on-Trent. He was appointed following a selection procedure involving students, several of our current staff, representing many aspects of the school, as well as the formal inteviewing panel. In all parts, Mr. Pickard was the first choice. We feel that he will make a very good Head and will carry on following the good work in improving the school which we have had during Mr. Clinton’s time as Head.

K. Urwin , Chair of Governors

BEIJING/CHINA DRAW

If you have one of the winning numbers below, please contact Mr. Shanahan at the school on 01502-525300.

• 92    £70 in Adnams Hotel Vouchers
• 44    Smoothie Maker
• 74    Coffee Maker
• 22    Kettle

BOOK FAIR

Last October a very successful Book Fair was held in the Library. This was very well supported and we were able to purchase many new books. We hope to hold another Fair this October.

The Library at Kirkley High has recently undergone a refurbishment and was closed for two months while the work was carried out. We re-opened in January and we have welcomed back our regular and new users.

Year 9 students took part in the 2008 Book Mastermind competition organised by the Schools Library Service. We also hosted the Area final in our library. Our contender was Michael Skazick, who did extremely well and came second in his group. Michael received a book token as award for being our representative.

Year 9 students also have an opportunity to participate in the local Battle of the Books competition organised by local schools in the area. The final of this competition will take place in July at Denes High School.

EXAM DATES

All year groups have important exams next term. As advised earlier in this year, it is important that no holidays are taken during the examinations period. I would ask all parents to note the following dates and to ensure that their children are in school for their exams.

While some GCSE exams start in May, study leave begins after the half-term break on Monday, 2nd June.

Year 9 National Curriculum exams (SATs):

Week beginning: Tuesday, 6th May to Friday, 9th May 2008.

Year 10 Assessment Period:

12th May 2008 – 23rd May 2008

Year 11 GCSE’s:

The whole of next term will be vital for GCSE preparation. Full attendance and commitment to revision is essential by all Year 11 students.

All written GCSE, GNVQ, and ‘A’ Level Exams take place between 12th May to 20th June 2008.

Orals/Practical’s

French/Spanish 21st April 2008 / 1st & 2nd May 2008

Drama 14th, 15th & 16th May 2008

In addition, the ICT GCSE exam is from 24th April to 25th April 2008

Year 12 AS Level exams:

The AS Level timetable will be fully under way by Monday, 12th May. Study leave for Year 12 students begins on Monday, 12th May 2008. Year 12 students will need to be back in school as usual from Monday, 9th June 2008 to start their A2 Level work.

Year 13:

A2 Level exams - Year 13 study leave will begin on Monday, 26th May 2008.

If parents have any queries about exam arrangements, please contact your child’s group tutor or Head of House.

KIRKLEY HIGH SCHOOL

ASSISTANT EXAMINATION INVIGILATORS 2008

Assistant invigilators are required to supplement an experienced and committed team of public examination invigilators at Kirkley High School. This team invigilate public examinations at KS3, GCSE and 'A' level and are required to be available from early May to the end of June. The position would be ideally suited to mature, responsible and calm individuals.

Please write for an application form and job description to the
Examinations Officer,
Kirkley High School,
Kirkley Run,
Lowestoft,
NR33 0UQ

Thank you for your help.

JEWELLERY

The school jewellery policy has not changed. It is important that all students keep to it for their own health and safety.

Students should not wear excessive jewellery or any personal item that constitutes a hazard. Personal jewellery should be kept to a reasonable minimum for school - a watch, neckchain, finger rings and a limited number of earrings/ear studs. All items of jewellery must be removed for certain lessons such as PE.

Jewellery such as eye-brow rings, tongue studs, lip studs and nose rings are therefore inappropriate for school. These can also be difficult to remove. The long (and sometimes heavy) decorative chains that some students attach to their belts are also inappropriate and can be dangerous.

Students who do not comply with these rules will be referred to the Head of House. If the item of jewellery causing an issue is not removed, students will be placed into internal exclusion and their parents contacted. If the problem persists, students will be externally excluded.

MOBILE PHONES

I would like to remind parents that if students bring mobile phones into school they do so entirely at their own risk. Also, they must be turned off and must not be used in lesson time. Students who abuse this will be banned from bringing their phones into school. If you need to contact your child in school time, please contact the School Office rather than trying to contact them direct on their mobile phones.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Please find attached an application form for free school meals. We believe that there are some families who are not accessing their entitlement and therefore pupils are missing out on accessing regular hot meals at school.

The form is simple and there are some notes to assist you. If you are not entilted to free school meals then ignore this letter. You may want to keep hold of it in case your circumstances change.

Your child will able to get free school meals if you get any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
• Pension Credit (guarantee element)
• Child Tax Credit as long as you do not get Working Tax Credit and your taxable income is £15,575 from 1st April per year or less
• If you are an asylum seeker and are getting support undert Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If you are a young person aged 16-19 and claim any of the above benefits in your own right and you are still in full time education, you are also entitled to free school meals.

To claim for free school meals complete and return the attached form or contact:
Children & Young People’s Service on: 01502-405169 (Northern Area)

Alternatively if you have any concerns about applying for free school meals please do not hesitate to contact John Shanahan (Deputy Head Teacher) at school at you earliest opportunity.

FEATURE ON UNDER-16 GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM

English Schools Football Association National Cup Finals

The U16 Girls Football Team have reached the Finals of the English Schools Football Association National Cup, sponsored by the Royal Air Force. It’s been an exciting cup run, with several matches going in to extra time, nevertheless, the girls have always shown the will to win and thoroughly deserved this success. To qualify for the National Cup you have to be a county finalist, so it involves the top two teams from every county in England. Our first round match was away against a school from Norfolk, where we fought hard to come back from 2-1 down with only ten girls on the pitch due to injuries, to win 4-3.

Our second round match was at home against a school from Middlesex, where again we worked hard to overcome their early lead to win 5-3 after extra time.

The third round match was away against another team from Middlesex, where Kirkley won 4-3 during extra time which took us in to the Quarter-Finals. This was played at home against a team from Essex and Kirkley had to battle hard, even after taking an early lead to win 2-1 with the prize of a place in the Semi-Finals. This was played at RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton and was watched by representatives from the Royal Air Force and the English Schools Football Association, and was against a team from Worcestershire. Despite a very able opposition, Kirkley showed great team spirit and motivation throughout the match, and came back from the opposition’s first half lead to bring the match level at full time to 2-2, with goals from Jodie Ellis and a fabulous 30yard free kick from Captain Paige Shorten, along with some crucial last minutes saves from goalkeeper Abi Battisto. With 20 minutes of extra time to play, Kirkley dominated and showed great drive and determination to win 3-2 with a goal from Sophie Allport which was set up by Jade Spooner.

The Final is played on the 28th April at Manchester City’s stadium against a team from Shropshire, for which the team are already in training for. We hope to be victorious and bring the National Cup to its rightful home at Kirkley High School!

Congratulations to the squad and good luck for the finals!

U16 Girls Football Team Squad: Abi Battisto, Sheree Greenway, Nicole Richardson, Ellen Catchpole, Grace Lawrance, Paige Shorten, Jade Spooner, Rio Darlaston, Carly Ogogo, Sophie Allport, Louise Sturman, Jodie Ellis, Lauren Jones, Becky White and Melissa Brady.

Also thank you to our managers Mr. Seadon and Miss Greenacre for all your support with our fantastic cup run!

By Abi Battisto.