Welcome to this week's newsletter
Students, staff and invited guests gathered today for our Remembrance Service. The service saw students from our sixth form give short readings before The Last Post led us into a two minutes' silence. I would like to thank all students for demonstrating our REACH values of empathy and humanity during the service.
Lee Towers, Head of School
Year 7 class setting
After a term of getting to know your children, and having completed assessments on their current ability in maths, science and English, we have taken the decision to change the groups in Year 7. From the start of the year, these groups had been arbitrarily assigned but by grouping students together by their needs we will be able to enhance their leaning experience. Regardless of the group that your child is in, they will receive the same curriculum and will be measured against the same intended outcomes.
Owing to the way that the timetable is organised, these groups will also apply to their computer science lessons and their culture and ethics lessons. No other lessons will be affected but the day that they have maths, science, computer science and culture and ethics may change. Students have therefore been issued with a new timetable today and it is also available on Arbor. We recognise that some students will find a change of room worrying so we would encourage them to talk to their tutor on Monday morning if unsure.
If you have any further questions about groups changes, please feel free to get in touch via email:
- Mr Turner (gturner@manor.school) – Science
- Mrs Andrew (aandrew@manor.school) – Mathematics
- Mr Brown (cbrown@manor.school) – Mathematics
KS3 Formative Assessment
As you are probably already aware, our orange Formative Assessment sheets are one way in which we keep parents/carers informed about the progress that their children are making in the different areas of the curriculum. They also offer pointers for how students can move forward further in their learning. These are completed for all Key Stage 3 students at various points in the year depending on the subject area.
Over the coming weeks in the run-up to the end of term, please look out for Formative Assessment sheets in the following subject areas:
SIX: The Musical
The Performing Arts department are very excited to be working towards SIX: The Musical which we will perform in March. This will be a KS4/5 production, and therefore we are looking for six lead roles for this musical.
If students are interested in auditioning for this exciting opportunity, they should contact Miss Barron by Thursday 17 November (mbarron@manor.school) who will provide them with audition material and a date/time for the audition itself.
Ski trip 2023
We have a limited number of places available on the ski trip to Folgaria, Italy taking place from 11-18 February 2023.
The full price to ski is £1150 and the option to snowboard is £1200. Unfortunately this cost of the trip would need to be paid in full within the next week.
If you would like further details, please email shill@manor.school.
Scalextric items wanted
We are looking to organise an after-school club aimed at KS3 students to help introduce them to the exciting world of engineering and design. The club will be based around the design and development of Scalextric cars. In order to do this, we are asking for donations of any unwanted Scalextric equipment that you may have sitting in your loft, garage or shed that we can add to our own items in order to make the club viable. Ideally we are looking for track, scenery and cars but anything you can offer will be gratefully received.
If you have any items that you think would be of use to us and are happy to donate them, please email rparkin@manor.school.
Swimming championships success
Congratulations to Aman T in Year 9 for his recent success at the East Midlands Short Course Regional Swimming Championships. Aman qualified for seven events and over the course of the weekend set personal best times in six of them, before finishing third in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals (aged 15 and under).
We are incredibly proud of his achievement and hope that he continues to do well in the sport.
Alumni news
We were delighted to see in local company T&K Home Improvements' newsletter that former Manor School student Graham Bawden recently became the first apprentice in the UK to complete the new Fenestration Installer Apprenticeship Standard.
We always love hearing from former Manor students about what they are now up to. If you have any alumni news that you would like to share with us, please get in touch.
Online safety
Please find below parent/carer guides from National Online Safety regarding the social media apps Amigo and BeReal.
SEN Parent and Carer Briefing
Please find below the November 2022 Special Educational Needs Parent and Carer Briefing from North Northamptonshire Council.
Sports & Stats Masterclass
Local Community Interest Company, Spautism, is running a free Sports & Stats Masterclass in November, consisting of three online pre-recorded webinars covering sports business, statistics, and employability. It follows a successful pilot project that brought autistic individuals together through a shared passion of sports and numbers.
Please download the file below for more information.
Sports news
In late October, our sports leaders from Years 8 and 9 spent the day being match officials for the Northamptonshire primary school tag rugby tournament. Fifteen primary schools took part in the day and it was wonderful to see the development of skills and engagement from the previous year. The young leaders consistently showed our REACH values and enjoyed overcoming challenges of leadership. They left Rushden and Higham Rugby Club with an invite to officiate the county finals in February.
On Wednesday 9 November, 14 of our sports leaders from Years 7 and 8 went over to the Pemberton Centre to lead some net/wall multiskills activities with children from four primary schools in the Rushden area. As ever, they were a credit to Manor School. Well done to Alanna B, Libby W, Darcy C, Lara C, Amelie B, Isla R, Olivia M, Mia P, Kirby B, Gianluca P, Malachy Y, Jack S, Jacob MW and Billie L.
On Thursday 10 November, two Manor teams took part in the District Basketball Competition. Year 9 beat Weavers in their final and are now district champions, winning us our first district trophy this year. Year 8 played Hatton and although they didn’t win the game they should be proud of being second in the district. Both teams displayed excellent skills and great resilience, and we are incredibly proud of all the students involved.
We also took 28 students from across Years 7-11 to the District Cross Country Competition on Thursday, where all students represented the school with a fantastic display of resilience and determination. An extra-special mention goes to the students that finished within the qualifying positions to represent the Wellingborough and East Northants District at the County competition being held on Saturday 21 January at Abington Park, Northampton. These students were: Amelie B, Isla R and Jack S from Year 7, Jim G and Robbie K from Year 10, and Finley S from Year 11.
Extra-curricular timetable
Raunds Remembrance Service
Stanwick film night
Raunds Playgroup bingo night
Mayor's Family Carols Service
Cllr Richard Levell, Mayor of Raunds, would like to invite you to the Mayor’s Family Carol Service on Wednesday 14 December at 6pm.
Chains can be worn and there will be a collection on the day for the Mayor’s chosen charities - Raunds Food Bank and East Northamptonshire First Responders.
Please RSVP by 1 December.
Cllr Richard Levell looks forward to welcoming you.
Don't forget that you can access your child's student details, attendance, REACH points and homework tasks via the Arbor parent portal app.
Credits:
Created with images by jonnysek - "track race toy as transportation background" • Artur - "Conceptual hand writing showing Alumni. Business photo text former pupil or student especially male one of particular school."