New York Media Trip

Imagine a group of about thirty Sixth Formers, (terrible I know). Imagine taking them on a school trip, (that’s even worse). Imagine taking this rowdy bunch on a seven hour plane journey, to a country with one of the strictest law and order systems in the world, (you’d be insane!). Although this seems a nightmarish task, needing a crack team of organisers and security, just 4 brave Media teachers attempted this feat on April 19th. It was the first ever Hayes School Media trip to New York and you know what? It went well!

After everyone had been herded through check-in, security, boarding, the flight itself, immigration and baggage claim, therewas only an hour long coach journey through Queens between the travellers and their hostel. This allowed us to take in the suburban burrow of New York and the eight mile cemetery which ran through it, but gave us a view of the magnificent Manhattan skyline. There was many a craned neck and photo taken of the new, busy, vibrant setting.

After everyone was settled in and a mass room change by the boys, (much to Miss Mayer’s disapproval), the group had no time to rest as we began our trip round Central Park discovering perfect photo opportunities, including a group of friendly, stone hippos. We made it back through the wind and the rain to the hostel for a good night’s sleep.

The second day started by getting the subway to the museum of moving image, (yes there was education involved in this trip), then to the Top of the Rock, seventy stories high! Here you could really take in the landscape and the sheer immensity that is New York. After that it was the informative NBC tour followed by Times Square. Truly the heart of the city, where you were met bymany a “I’m walking here” and “Anyone got a quarter?” A million neon lights and advertisements stretched as far as the eye could see, only in America.

On the third day we rode the Lady Liberty to Liberty Island and there she stood in all her glory: the Statue of Liberty. We got some 'once in a lifetime' snaps and headed out, back to Times Square, paying our respects to Ground Zero, putting in a spot of shopping and then off to Soho.

The final day we partook of some more media activities including virtual dancing at the Sony Centre and an advertising workshop. As the plane headed for home, thirty contented students turned in for a sleep whilst four Media teachers breathed a sigh of relief, but they were kept awake by the thought of the Year 12 students wanting a repeat trip next year.

A special thanks to Miss Mayer, Miss Rowland, Mr Alden-Jones and Mr Krywko without whom none of this would have been possible.

By Ben Clements, Year 13

Extra Curricular Clubs – Summer ‘09

Welcome back to the summer term and a new range of extra curricular opportunities. We do hope that you will encourage your son/daughter to take full advantage of these. Please see attached clubs menu.We would encourage all students to attend at least three sessions each week, taking advantage of sporting, academic and recreationalclubs. For those sitting exams this year (Years 9, 11, 12 and 13), the extra support offered by departments should be accepted on a regularbasis starting on 27th April – it’s never too late to make a difference!!!There is much that can be achieved in developing understanding, skills, experience and confidence which can only help future examperformance. It is also an excellent opportunity to make new friends and try something different!!Best wishes to our students for a successful and productive term, resulting in excellent exam results later this year.My thanks and appreciation to all staff involved in the provision of such a super range of club opportunities outside of normal lessons.

Mr TW Scott, Deputy Head

Easter Revision Sessions

In the first week of the Easter holidays over 150 Year 11 students took part in GCSE revision sessions in a number of subjects. Sessions alsoran for Year 12 and Year 13 students preparing for A-level exams. These provided a valuable opportunity for students to focus on examtechnique, practice questions and revising key topics, skills and subject knowledge. I am particularly grateful to the staff for preparingand delivering sessions in the holidays and to the students for participating actively.A number of sessions continue to run this half-term in the run up to exams at lunchtime and after-school and during revision lessons. Iencourage students to make the most of these opportunities available to them. These are of course no substitute for the work studentswill need to engage in outside school and students should now have adopted the habits of revising regularly according to a revisiontimetable to secure the best possible chances of success this summer – good luck!

Year 12 UCAS Convention – 1st April 2009

I wanted to write on behalf of myself, Miss Moss, Mrs McNamara and Miss Robinson how immensely proud and grateful I am to our Year12 students for how they conducted themselves at the UCAS Convention before Easter. They were nothing short of impeccable in lightof both the date and the planned protests in the City. We could have easily cancelled the trip, however we are aware of how valuablestudents find the event; and their feedback on the day only served to confirm that we had made the right decision. We always expecthigh standards from our students, but never take it for granted and it is days like Wednesday that serve to remind both staff and studentswhy we value being part of the Hayes School community.

Mr Dodson, Year 12 Achievement Coordinator

Revise, Get Good Grades and Save the Planet!

The SAM Learning Biodiversity Programme means that our school can help make a positive contribution towards improving theenvironment and creating stable wildlife habitats. Trees are the basic building blocks for much of our environment, providing habitatsfor a wide range of plants and animals. Last year there were over 2 million SAM Learning usage hours completed. So this year, for every3,000 hours of usage, SAM Learning will plant a tree in a UK managed forest. A dedicated page on the website will show visitors eachweek how many usage hours there are and how many trees have been planted www.samlearning.com

Microsoft Disks

More Microsoft disks are available at a cost of 50p from the Finance Office

Puzzle Club – Code Breaking Course for Year 7

Are you interested in Code Breaking? Do you want to learn how to write incode? Then this course is for you. This is a two hour course and will teachyou basic skills and the foundation of code breaking. To enrol you need tobe a Year 7 student with enthusiasm for learning new things. This coursewill be spread into two weeks during puzzle club sessions. The first courseon offer will take place on Thursday 30th April and Thursday 7th May from3.00pm-4.00pm in A1H. It is important that you are able to attend bothsessions as they complement each other. For more information pleasecontact Joana Rabumba in the Maths department.

Head Boy/Head Girl Applications

Applications are now invited, from Year 12 students only, for the positionof Head Boy and Head Girl. These roles are vital to the running of theschool and to the profile of the Sixth Form. The roles require dedication,commitment and flexibility. You will be expected to give up a largeproportion of your spare time in order to fulfil these roles properly. If youbelieve that you have the necessary skills to take on these roles, we wouldlike to hear from you.

Deadline: Friday 1st May at 4.00pm

Requirements: A letter, addressed to the Headteacher, outlining yourexperience and skills which you believe make you an ideal candidate forthe post. Your letter should also outline any changes you would make ornew ideas that you would bring to the job. Letters should be given to MissMoss prior to the published deadline. Applicants will be contacted duringthe week beginning 4th May 2009.

Floodlights for All-Weather Courts

We are pleased to confirm that we have received planning consent toinstall floodlights to our all-weather sports courts. We have top qualitycoaches that coach and train our students after School, and the installationof these floodlights will allow us to continue this coaching on the outsidecourts during the winter months, rather than finishing at 3.30 p.m. Furtherinformation on all the after-school clubs and training sessions is availableon the School’s website.

Overdue Library Books

Please return all overdue library books to the Study Centre by the beginning of next term, Monday 20th April.

Ms J Guiver, Study Centre Manager

Year 10 Science Exams

Year 10 Triple Scientists
Biology - Wednesday 20th May PM
(covering modules B1, B2, B3)
Chemistry - Thursday 4th June AM
(covering modules C1, C2, C3)
Physics - Wednesday 10th June PM
(covering modules P1, P2, P3)
Any other students in Year 10 will be sitting the following examination:
Science - Friday 12th June AM
(covering modules B2, C2, P2)

Year 7 Visit to Greenwich Observatory

On 26 March Year 7uv population visited the Royal Observatory in Greenwich as part of their Year 7 Science course.

Katherine Roberts 7DRT summarised the whole day as follows:
“We did lots of activities like seeing a model of the Earth and the Sun. It showed how we get night and day as well as seasons in a year. Inside the Planetarium, we saw a projection which showed why the Sun is high in the sky during summer than in winter which affects how much light there is. In the galleries there were lots of activities to see and do.”

Jordan Eels 7SEM said “The science trip was very informative and I learnt a lot about space and stars. It was very amazing with a lot of technology inside the planetarium.”

Victoria Hesketh 7PK commented “I think the trip was fun and I also learnt a lot.”

Sophie Drew 7HMS “I thought the trip was really good especially the planetarium because you could see what the planets look like. It was really interesting as well to learn about stars.”