Welcome to this week's newsletter
It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces at the Raunds Mayor’s Show on Sunday. I was really impressed with all of the school performances from the children and young people of Raunds, all representing their school so well. However, I was most impressed by the performance of our very own Amy C who delighted the audience with three songs. She was a little apprehensive when I spoke to her before she went on stage but it was great to see how happy she was afterwards. Amy certainly did the school and parents really proud. Amy showed the school values in abundance to get up on stage and sing in front of such a large crowd. She received a huge and well deserved round of applause from the audience at the end of her performance. Well done Amy!
Have a great weekend one and all!
Lee Towers, Head of School
WisePay catering accounts
From Monday 5 June we are changing the way that overdrawn catering accounts on Wisepay are managed. This purpose of this change is to support parents/carers to help manage their child’s balance and also to ensure that students have access to food, should they need it. Unfortunately, Wisepay doesn't automatically give us the facility to notify parents/carers when their child’s account is overdrawn. As a result, you will now be notified via email when your child’s account goes overdrawn by any amount. This message will be sent daily until your child’s account is cleared or has a positive balance. Students whose accounts are overdrawn will only be able to purchase a meal or meal deal at lunch time. If the account balance exceeds -£16.00 (the cost of a main meal deal for five school days) their account will be frozen until the outstanding balance is cleared.
If you have any worries or concerns in relation to your child’s Wisepay account please contact your child’s Progress Leader:
- Year 7: tpool@manor.school
- Year 8: pcrowther@manor.school
- Year 9: sbishop@manor.school
- Year 10: pkelsall@manor.school
- Year 11: bcousins@manor.school
- Sixth Form: choltman@manor.school
If you think that your child may be eligible free school meals, please follow this link for information and application process.
This information does not impact those in receipt of free school meals who are able to continue to purchase a main meal daily.
Uniform update
As the weather warms up, we allow students to take off their blazers for the whole day. Each day, their tutor will inform them if it is a non-blazer day. Students should therefore bring their blazers to school every day.
All Year 7 and 8 students in the 2022-2023 academic year are expected to wear the new Manor School uniform. Students in Year 9 to 11 are permitted to wear the legacy uniform until the end of this academic year.
If you are buying new uniform, please ensure you are purchasing the new uniform. Details can be found here. Please note that leggings, black jumpers and Converse-style trainers are not permitted.
Instrumental lessons
This is the last opportunity to apply for students to begin or to continue to receive instrumental lessons next academic year. Please note that music production lessons have now been added to the options available.
Full details plus an application form are available to download below. Completed application forms must be returned by the end of Friday 26 May.
Word of the Week
Each week, the English department focuses on encouraging students to use one ambitious word – it is displayed in classrooms and discussed during teaching. It would be great if adults at home could try to encourage the use of this word too. You could try to fit into a conversation or even question your young person on the meaning. It will be fantastic for the students to see us all working together to help improve their language. Thank you for your support.
The Word of the Week for 22-26 May is enigma.
Mental Health Champions
Before the Easter break, Mrs Radd spoke to students about their chance to become a Mental Health Champion (MHC) for our school. Whilst everyone in school will have some MHC sessions, we need 40 students to become qualified Mental Health Champions. Training for this group will take place in June and will cover everything they need to know to confidently support others.
If your child would like to be considered for one of these important roles, they should collect an application form from Mrs Radd. The closing date for applications is Friday 9 June.
Year 11 leavers hoodies
As a memory for their time at Manor, we would like Year 11 students to be able to order leavers hoodies. A choice of designs is available, and ideally we would like to include all student names. In order for this to go ahead, we are required to obtain consent to share personal data. If enough consent is not received, we will choose a design that is personalised with Manor School only. Please click on the link below for further information and to provide consent for your child's name to be used.
Please note, by giving consent you are not agreeing to purchase a hoodie, just that your child's name can be used on the design. Could we kindly ask that even if you are not purchasing a hoodie, you consider giving consent so all Year 11 names can be included. An online shop will then be set up in order for you to place your order which can be personalised further with individual names/nicknames.
Summer water safety
A reminder that with the warm weather, lots of students are tempted to swim in the open water around Northamptonshire. With this in mind, tutors have spoken to their groups about potential dangers, even if they are experienced swimmers. We want our students to enjoy their holidays safely, so please find below a link to an article on summer water safety produced by the Canal and River Trust.
Careers and further/higher education update
Year 10
During Work.World.Wellness. lessons on Monday 22 May, Mr Hill spoke with students to outline the following series of assemblies on post-16 destinations:
- Friday 9 June: Apprenticeships
- Friday 16 June: The Bedford College Group
- Friday 23 June: Moulton College
- Friday 30 June: Manor Sixth Form
- Friday 7 July: Northampton College
- Monday 10 July: Pathways roundup with Mr Hill
Year 11
Our Sixth Form induction will take place Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 July. The induction programme gives students the opportunity to attend taster sessions for their chosen subjects as well as find out more about the Key Stage 5 experience at Manor School.
Year 12
Year 12 students had an assembly on Monday 15 May to provide guidance on UCAS/CV personal statement content and structure. On the same date, targeted 1:1 careers meetings started with Mr Hill.
Students should continue to speak to Mr Hill or Mrs Smedley if they have any queries about careers and further/higher education.
Year 10 and 12 trial examinations
During the weeks beginning 19 and 26 June, students in Year 10 and Year 12 will be carrying out a programme of trial examinations. They will sit at least one examination under examination board conditions in all subjects where a terminal exam forms part of the assessment process.
Trial examinations are an important part of the learning process as they allow students to experience the intensity of an examination period and answer the types of question they will encounter in the real examination under the same conditions. They are also a useful tool by which students, teachers and parents/carers can judge the effectiveness of the learning process.
We request your support in the run up to these trial examinations to ensure that students are revising and preparing properly. This is vital if they are to gain full benefit from the experience. It is also very important that students are present at school during this time. We will endeavour to provide an opportunity for students to sit these trial examinations at a later date if they are absent, but it will not have the same value as the intensity of the examination period cannot be replicated on an individual basis.
Most of these trial examinations will take during normal lesson times, but there will be some examinations which take place in the sports hall. This will allow students to experience the same exam conditions they will encounter next summer. Timetables for the examinations can be found below and we will notify students of the specific locations for the exams after the half term break.
Half term revision sessions
We are running the following revision sessions for Year 11 students during the half term break:
- Tuesday 30 May, 10am-12pm: 11n1 Biology with MHU
- Wednesday 31 May, 10:30am-3pm: English with KDI
Year 11 exam timetable
On return to school after half term on Monday 5 June until the end of the exam season, students will be required in school for exams and booster sessions. Normal lessons will continue to run until a subject has completed all exams for that subject. For example, maths lessons will continue to run until their final exam which takes place on Wednesday 14 June.
When student attendance is not required in any of the sessions as outlined, students are able to use the restaurant for independent revision or they can sign in and out via main reception providing we have received consent from parents/carers. Students for whom we have not received consent will be supervised in the restaurant during their times not in timetabled sessions as outlined above. Students will only be allowed to sign out when they have finished for that day, not between sessions or over break or lunch times.
30 Days Wild
30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trusts' annual nature challenge where they ask the nation to do one 'wild' thing a day every day throughout June. We are encouraging students to take part by suggesting an activity for every school day in June, with students able to receive REACH points for participating by informing their tutor.
The suggested activities for the first week of June can be found below.
Wellbeing Café
Sexual Health Needs Assessment
North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council Public Health teams are undertaking a Sexual Health Needs Assessment to improve sexual health and sexual health services in the local area.
The survey aims to better understand experiences, concerns and perceptions of sexual health services in Northamptonshire. They are keen to know what is working well and what they can improve to help shape the future sexual health strategy and commissioning of sexual health services in Northamptonshire.
There are also services and clinics in Northamptonshire that offer sexual health advice, contraception, and support to young people (under the age of 25), therefore they are asking those who are over 13 years old to also take part in the survey if appropriate with consent from responsible adult/parent.
The survey is for all residents aged 13 or older, and those who are educated in Northamptonshire. They would also like to hear from those that work in Northamptonshire and have used local sexual health services.
Junior parkrun
Premier League Kicks
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