Newsletter January 2017 WELCOME. Christian Hicks, Headteacher

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1 Newsletter January 2017 WELCOME I hope it is not too late to wish all parents and carers a very happy New Year and extend a very warm welcome back to our students, who have hopefully settled into their routines now that we are in the third week of the Spring Term. 1. Welcome 2. Wellbeing 3. Library News 4. PE News 5. Music and Drama 6. The Friends of The Charter 7. Key dates The annual parent survey will be released soon, and, with this in mind, the parent forum has been postponed from the 8 th February until Wednesday 22 nd March, so that we can incorporate feedback on survey into the forum. You will, no doubt, have read about the new National Funding Formula, which means that The Charter School (along with all other London schools) will receive reduced funding in future. We would like to use the parent forum to explore any ideas parents might have for generating funds/ reducing expenditure whilst at the same maintaining the very high educational standards that we have set ourselves. Please also note on our website the consultation on a minor change to our Admissions Policy from September 2018, and feel free to provide your views on this. Although this term is traditionally the shortest one during the academic year, it is still very busy. Year 11 and Year 13 continue to work hard as they prepare for their external exams and with this in mind we are hosting two important revision advice evenings offering parents and carers more information on how to help your child as they approach this key period in their school career. This term also sees achievement evenings for Year 9, Year 11 and Year 8. Over 100 students are working hard on the school production of Hairspray which will be performed on 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd March (please note the date change). March also sees the return of the now famous Friends Quiz night on the 17 th March, hosted by Jo Brand. More information about how to secure your tickets for these two popular events will be shared with you soon. Finally, in the wintry months of January and February, please take a moment to remind yourselves of the uniform rules on page 9 of the planner, and please also note that in the event of any extreme weather we will always try to keep the school open, but will communicate clearly with parents as soon as possible if there are any issues. Christian Hicks, Headteacher

2 CHARTER WELL BEING As parents and carers are aware, we place great importance on, and continue to work hard to improve the health and well-being of students at The Charter School. We are currently involved in a number of projects which are detailed below: Resilience Project From 16 th January, we are starting our Resilience Project which will be led by Lorraine Thomas, Chief Executive of the Parent Coaching Academy. All Year 12 and 13 students will have a 2 hour session with Lorraine to identify what it means to be resilient, identify challenges facing young people today and exploring and creating solutions to become more resilient. Following the 6 th form sessions, students and Charter staff will then disseminate sessions down the school, initially to Year 11 students and then to the rest of the school. Head F1rst Head-F1rst is a brand new service for primary and secondary schools in Southwark & Lambeth which supports emotional resilience and well-being. Students in Years 7, 9 and 12 will be completing short questionnaires during the week beginning 16 th January which will help the team at Head-F1rst provide us with the most appropriate resources and support for the needs of our students. There are copies of the questionnaires at reception for parents and carers to view should they wish, and if you would like to find out more about Head-F1rst you can visit their website: Eating disorders We are beginning a project working with the Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to try and better identify young people who have eating disorders, especially bulimia. We shall be participating in some small group sessions after February half term and will also be piloting questionnaires that have been developed by the team. Any parents or students who have concerns about a young person who may have an eating disorder can also call their self-referral number Chathealth Youngsters studying and living in Southwark and Lambeth can now get health-related advice and support direct from their school nurse via text. ChatHealth is an easy way for children and young people aged to ask for help confidentially about a range of issues including bullying, emotional health, sexual health and illness, or make an appointment with their school nurse. The service is run by the School Nursing Team at Evelina London. Our school nurse, Sandra Bernard, has been visiting assemblies to explain about this new initiative. Students can text to access this confidential service. Counselling Service A reminder to all parents and carers that we are fortunate to have our own school counselling service which is provided by our Head of Counselling Emily Newman who works 5 days a week and Isabel Dragonetti who works 2 days per week. Parents and students are able to refer to the service by visiting our website and accessing the referral form

3 LIBRARY NEWS - Follow AUTHOR VISIT On 1 st March, as part of our World Book Day celebrations, hot new name Taran Matharu will be talking to as many of our KS3 students as possible. Taran s books, The Novice (2015) and The Inquisition (2016) form the first two parts of his The Summoner trilogy and have put him on the New York Times Bestseller list. Set in a fantasy world where humans live among orcs and elves and race tensions abound, blacksmith s apprentice Fletcher discovers his Summoner s Gift and must undergo his own journey of peril and discovery to find out where the most important truth lies. Books will be on sale on ParentPay in advance of Taran s visit watch out for our announcement! The Southwark Book Award The Novice is on the six book shortlist for the Southwark Book Award, a competition for the best book of the year, judged by Southwark secondary school students. The full shortlist is here: Our Year 7 readers group meets weekly in the Library to discuss the books. You can see their, and other students book reviews at Generation Read! Last term saw our first Generation Read! meeting, a new scheme that invites a small group of Year 7 students and a family adult/carer each to a half-termly party in the Library. The aim is for the students and adults to get to know our Library in a relaxed setting so that they can choose the best books for themselves, and then take part in fun reading competitions and challenges. After School Group - Reading Leaders Calling all readers, reviewers and ideas people! Would you like to choose new books for the Library and recommend your favourite titles to your peers? Fancy reviewing books on the Library VLE page, and planning special book events in school? Sounds like you should be a Reading Leader! A special assembly is coming your way this month, then please join up! The Reading Leaders group will be meeting weekly with Ms. Beck and Ms. Seed in the Library, 3-4pm every Thursday from 26 th January.

4 The Reading Garden Progress has slowed down in the Reading Garden while we let Nature relax into its hibernation mode. However, daffodils and tulips bulbs are in, keeping cosy until they bring bloom to the Garden in spring. Our ASDAN groups are also planting seeds and varnishing our painted benches so that, come warmer days, the Garden will be open at lunchtimes for anyone who wants to read or simply be quiet in a beautiful setting. If any Parents and carers are keen gardeners we are always grateful for donations of plants or garden resources. Students, if you d like to help with the Garden, please see Ms. Seed in the Library! Library Reminders Students and families, please check in forgotten corners of home for overdue Library books and return them so others can enjoy them. There is no penalty, we just need them back! All students: Thurs lunchtime in the Library is for Years 10 & 11 only this term, with Chess Club taking place in the Atrium, and Computer-Free Friday continues every Friday lunchtime. This year let s aim to keep at least one New Year s Resolution: Read for Good, Read to Succeed! SPORTS NEWS U13 Cricket The U13 boys have followed the triumphs of the U13 girls and won the Inner London indoor cricket competition held at The Kia Oval. We entered two teams for the competition, a year 7 team and a year 8 team, but due to the luck of the draw both teams were placed in the same group meaning only one could progress. Year 8 came out on top of their group and qualified for the final with Year 7 coming a very commendable second in the group. Charter Year 8 boys faced Bishop Thomas Grant (BTG) in the final and after winning the toss they put BTG into bat. This proved to be the right decision as they removed BTGs openers in the first over. The boys bowled superbly in the final and were again sharp in the field. Alec Dickson was simply unplayable and bowled a maiden over to restrict BTG to Harri Graham and Dylan Ross chased down BTGs total in only 8 balls to win the final by 6 wickets. The Year 8 boys now qualify for the County finals held in Dorking after half-term. Follow

5 MUSIC AND DRAMA NEWS Hairspray The preparations for the school production of Hairspray are going well ahead of the performances from 1 st to 3 rd March Students are already busy rehearsing every Wednesday and Thursday until 5pm for this huge production but the hard work will really kick up a gear after the holidays where the cast will be involved in two Saturday rehearsals. The musical involves pupils from every year group in a wide variety of roles from performers to musicians, directors, stage managers, set designers and many more. Tickets go on sale via ParentPay from Friday 20 th January; families of cast, crew and orchestra etc. will have a week for priority booking before they open up to everyone else. Dates of the show: Weds 1 st 3 rd March 2016 at 7pm Ticket prices: Adults (16+) 7, Child 5 FRIENDS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL - FOLLOW As you will all know, The Friends of the Charter School work tirelessly to not only put on fantastic events for the school community such as the Christmas Fair and our now famous Quiz Night, but they also support us by raising much needed funds for projects and equipment that help to make school a more enriching environment for students. The Friends is run entirely by parent volunteers and we need more people to get involved! This can be as simple as volunteering for an hour to help clear up after an event or could be an outlet for your great ideas and organisational skills to help develop new fundraising ideas. Any time you can give up will be gratefully received!! Meetings are held at 6:30pm at the White House on Red Post Hill (next to the gated entrance to the school car park near St Faiths) and the dates for the remainder of this term are: Thursday 2nd February; Monday 27th February and Wednesday 29th March YOUR HELP NEEDED!!! School production Hairspray Wednesday 1 st March 7pm; Thursday 2 nd March 7pm and Friday 3 rd March 7pm The Friends will be supporting the school's production of Hairspray on the above dates. We will be serving drinks and snacks to represent and celebrate the cultural diversity of the school. If you have ideas or can help on those dates please the Friends on Friends@charter.southwark.sch.uk QUIZ NIGHT Our world famous Charter quiz night will be hosted again by Jo Brand on 17th March - Watch out for details of ticket sales which will go on sale w/c 6 th February and please volunteer to help on the night!

6 KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Tuesday 24th January: Year 11 Revision advice evening 5:30pm Thursday 26th January: Year 9 Achievement evening 4pm to 7pm Wednesday 1st February: KS5 Revision advice evening 5:30pm invitation only Thursday 2nd February: Friends of The Charter meeting 6.30pm Thursday 9th February: Sixth Form information evening 5.30pm Charter students; 6.30pm external students (by invitation only) HALF TERM: FEBRUARY 13TH TO 17TH INCLUSIVE School reopens Monday 20 th February Thursday 23rd February: Year 11 Achievement evening (2) 4pm to 7pm FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY: SCHOOL CLOSED FOR INSET DAY Monday 27th February: Friends committee meeting 6:30pm Wednesday 1st March: School closes at 1:10pm for 6th form interviews (external candidates by invitation only) Wednesday 1st March - Friday 3rd March: School Production of Hairspray (7pm) Thursday 9th March: Year 8 Achievement evening 4pm to 7pm Friday 17th March: Friends of The Charter School Quiz night 7pm Wednesday 22 nd March: Parent Forum 6:30pm Wednesday 29th March: Friends committee meeting 6:30pm Last day of term Friday 31st March at 1.10pm EASTER HOLIDAY: APRIL 3RD TO APRIL 17TH INCLUSIVE School reopens Tuesday April 18th 8am for 8.25am