Science and Engineering Week

This week is Science and Engineering Week, but various activities are being spread over a longer period as there is too much to pack into a single week. The activities include:

1) Carbon Roadshow – All Year 9 students took part in an activity on our use of energy and its implications on our planet. They will be putting together an action plan over the next few weeks to look at saving energy in the school. They also have a page in the BP website.

2) Assemblies – During the week of 2nd- 6th March, Mr Martin delivered an excellent series of assemblies on one of his heroes, Darwin.

3) Trip to Down House – Year 12 Biologists went to Down House for half a day to find out more about the work of Darwin.

4) Quiz – There will be quizzes for all KS3 and KS4 classes to complete during tutor time during the week starting 9th March.

5) Indoor fireworks – Demonstration for KS3 students will take place at lunchtime on 12th March in A1B.

6) Live webcast – Some Year 7 and 8 classes will be taking part in a live webcast with BP on 10th March.

7) Planetarium Trip – All Year 7 students have the opportunity to visit the Greenwich Planetarium on 26th March. A second trip is planned for May to give the opportunity to more students

8) Robots – Triple Science groups will have a workshop using robots in late March.

PTA Update

Thank you to all those who supported the Family Quiz Night which saw record numbers competing to be quiz champions in 2009. Congratulations to the winners “Kings College, Cambridge”. Over 20 teams filled the school hall for a fun evening. We are still counting the money raised – watch this space!

Couldn’t make the quiz night? Come and dance the night away to rock and pop band ‘ECHO’ on Saturday 21st March from 8pm. (Tickets cost £10). Details are available on the school website.

The next PTA meeting will be on Wednesday 18th March.

Thank you for your support.

S Whittle - Deputy Head

“Keeping up with the Children” Session

As part of our newly acquired Specialist Status in Maths and IT, we would like to extend the provision of Mathematics to the community by giving parents of Year 7 students the opportunity to attend support sessions during the year. The primary aim of the course is to equip parents with skills to help their children with work being set in class. The course is free and open to all parents with Year 7 children at the school. We will use Interactive Whiteboards to help bring ideas to life and enable you to see the technology in action.

The first of these sessions ran on 29th January 2009. We are running another session which will cover exactly the same content as the one on 29th January to support parents who missed out. Parents who attended the last session need not apply for this one. This session will take place on 24th March 2009 from 6:00pm until 7:30pm.

If this is of interest please fill in the reply slip already given to your child last week and return to his/her Maths teacher. The deadline for enrolment is Wednesday 18th March 2009. Places are limited and on a first come first served basis.

Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion

Congratulations to Daniel ‘Bond’ Thomas, Stephen ‘Stevie’ Gerred, George ‘G ‘ Cornell and Enrique ‘Torosa’ Barbosa-Allwood from 8w1.

On 12th February Daniel, Stephen, George and Enrique were the drivers selected to race against Langley Park School for Boys as part of the Jaguar Cars Club. Langley has run the club for the past 4 years and we started this year. In January we accepted their challenge to race against them and the chosen circuit was Albert Park in Melbourne Australia. The race was fantastic and really exciting. Daniel ‘Bond ‘ Thomas was first during most of the race, but was overtaken by ‘Apocolipse’ from Langley Park at the last minute. The gap between the two was 0.7
seconds!!!

The next race is on 25th March. This will be the first knockout round race for the National Final set by the organisers. The chosen track is Singapore. For more about Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion check out http://www.mathschallenge.co.uk/

Academic Tutoring Day - Wednesday 11th March

Our second Academic Tutoring Day is taking place on Wednesday 11th March 2009. During Academic Tutoring Day, the normal school timetable is suspended to allow us to conduct personal interviews with students across all year groups in the school. Students will only be required to attend school on this day for approximately 30 minutes.

Students will have received appointment details this week. These can also be accessed via the school website. The Study Centre will be available to students throughout the day and a limited lunch service will be offered by the canteen.

Students should come prepared to their interview having considered the following:

What are they proud of?

What have been their achievements this term?

What are their areas for development?

Which subjects are they projected to achieve well in (in relation to benchmarks)?

Are there subjects in which they are currently not projected to achieve their benchmark – WHY?

What progress have they made in meeting their action points as agreed in November at Academic Tutoring Day? [EVIDENCE]

Has their attendance been good so far this year?

Academic Tutoring Day is a part of our ongoing commitment to ensure that students achieve their potential and are happy at Hayes School.

Mr Whittle, Deputy Headteacher

Red Nose Day

Friday 13th March is Red Nose Day and we will be holding an ‘own clothes day’ for Comic Relief. Letters will be given out next week, however remember to wear something red and don’t forget to bring your pound!

A number of Year 13 students will be taking part in a 24hr sponsored volleyball event, in the multi purpose hall, on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th March in aid of Comic
Relief. Any donations would be gratefully received.

Year 12 Higher Education Evening – March 18 2009

Letters went home on Wednesday to all parents of Year 12 students inviting you to join us on 18 March at 7pm in the main hall for this year’s Higher Education Evening. The evening consists of a presentation and Q&A explaining the process of applying for University and other HE institutions for entry in 2010. If you do intend to come along please return the reply slip attached to the letter. I look forward to seeing as many of you on the 18th as possible.

Mr R Dodson, Year 12 Achievement Co-ordinator