Welcome to this week's newsletter
Thank you to everyone who came along to support our Christmas Concert this week. I have heard so many brilliant comments throughout the day today about how well the students did. Also, thank you to the staff involved in making it happen.
Competitions Week has been a huge hit this week. So many staff and students got involved, representing their houses in a range of different competitions and events. My thanks go to all those students who got involved and also to those colleagues who have organised and contributed to the week, including our brave participants of "I'm A Teacher... Get Me Out of Here!" (congratulations to Miss Walker and Mr Cousins who won for Betula house). Look out for a full list of winners for each competition in a future edition of the newsletter.
The Christmas Jumper Day was very well supported by our staff and students yesterday, raising much needed funds for a very worthy cause. We have also been supporting two projects at a local level, which we value your support in if you can help. We are running our annual collection for the food bank in Raunds, which there is still time to contribute to. Thank you to all the families that contributed to the toy collection for the Nene Valley Church. This will make a real difference to many local families struggling at this time of year!
Lee Towers, Head of School
Christmas Jumper Day
Thank you to all staff and students that participated in this week's Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children. There was an array of Christmas jumpers to be seen across the school, bringing festive cheer to all. The current total has seen us raise over £300 for the charity.
Christmas Gift Shop appeal
Thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Gift Shop appeal for Nene Valley Church.
Nene Valley Church are working in conjunction with Raunds Food Bank to make sure every child receives a gift this Christmas.
Christmas Hamper Appeal
We are asking for donations of food cupboard items, as well as any hygiene and cleaning products, for our Christmas hamper appeal.
Students are to hand in any donations to their tutor by Wednesday morning.
Hampers will be collected by Raunds Food Bank on Thursday 15 December.
Year 11 comprehension tasks
Every Monday in form time, Year 11 students will be working on their comprehension skills. This week they will have read the below extract and completed a series of tasks on this extract.
Please support your children at home by reading over the extract again with them and then completing the follow-up comprehension tasks with them. Although this is a Year 11 task, all year groups would benefit from this.
For any support, please contact kdicker@manor.school
Bebras Challenge
During November just under 500 students took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge organised in partnership with Oxford University. 18 students earned Gold Awards, achieving a special invitation to the next round of the competition in February.
A special well done goes to Felix P (Year 13), Leyton H (Year 10), Samuel B (Year 8), Merissa D (Year 7), Jack S (Year 7) and Alexander L (Year 7) who scored highest in their categories.
Year 11 Prom
Students wishing to attend the Year 11 Prom should ensure payments have been made via Wisepay and return slips have been signed and returned to their tutors by Friday 16 December.
Spain trip
Thank you to those invited that have expressed an interest in attending next year's trip to Barcelona, Spain. It has proved to be extremely popular, with the school receiving over 80 replies for just 40 spaces available.
Confirmation letters will be sent out early next week confirming if your child has been successful in obtaining a place.
Saxophone lessons
We are looking to encourage more students to learn the saxophone in particular. If your child would be interested, please email Miss Barron on mbarron@manor.school to register interest by the end of term.
Online safety
National Online Safety have created two guides for parents/carers to help with supporting children to deal with upsetting content, as well as advice on mental health with regards to social media.
Trial examination results
As you are aware, Year 11 and 13 trial examinations have now taken place and we are in the process of marking, standardising and moderating student responses. The purpose of the trial examination period is to replicate, as far as possible, the experience that students will have in the summer so that they are as prepared for the real examination window as they can be. With this in mind, we will be releasing examination results to students in an assembly on Monday 9 January and communicating them to parents and carers later that week.
Exam certificates
Exam certificates for our 2022 Year 11 and Year 13 leavers will be ready for collection from main reception during school hours from the week commencing Monday 12 December 2022.
Students must provide identification when picking up their certificates. A proxy can be nominated to collect the certificates on behalf of a student, but that proxy must have signed permission from the student concerned. Reception will not release certificates without proof of ID or proxy signed permissions.
Current Year 13 students will receive certificates for any external exams they sat at the end of Year 12 via their tutors. They will need to sign a form on collection.
Sports news
Congratulations to our U13 girls football team for finishing as runners up in their district tournament this week. There were nine schools participating in total and the girls did a great job representing the school.
A big well done also goes out to the Year 7 boys football team who won their district tournament, with eight schools in attendance.
Extra-curricular timetable
Please note that all PE after-school clubs (except dance and basketball) will be cancelled next week. No clubs will take place on Friday 16 December. A new set of clubs will be on offer after the Christmas break.
Mental health drop-in service
Youth drop-in group
Stanwick Film Night
Don't forget that you can access your child's student details, attendance, REACH points and homework tasks via the Arbor parent portal app.