Year 8 News & Information

Year 8 Coffee Morning - 10 February 2011

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 00:00

The next Year 8 Coffee Morning takes places on Friday 10 February, 09:15 - 10:15 in the library.  If you are a Parent, Guardian, Carer or extended family of a year 8 student, please come along and air your views - we don't just drink coffee!

Kate Sully
Heads of Year 8

Recommended Reading List for KS3

Monday, 23 January 2012 11:11

Do you enjoy reading but not sure which books to choose?  Have a look at our recommended reading list for KS3 to help you choose a gripping book or pop in to the reading room or library where Miss Roe or Mrs Wright will be happy to help you choose a book.

Download a copy of the recommended reading list (pdf, 231Kb)

Flying the flag for Stevan!

Monday, 09 January 2012 13:43

This week we have been flying the Chelsea FC flag, this is in honour of our Year 8 student Stevan Davis, pictured, for achieving a staggering 17 achievement points last term. This is an amazing turnaround for Stevan who at the beginning of November had 1 achievement point.  Stevan, a keen Chelsea supporter, was rewarded for his outstanding achievement by having the Chelsea FC flag up outside the school.

Well done Stevan.

Year 8 Coffee Morning

Friday, 25 November 2011 14:28

There will be a Year 8 Coffee Morning on 6 December at 11.30am, which will be held in the library. Parents wishing to attend should report to the main reception where they will be escorted to the library.

Kate Sully
Head of Year 8

Year 8 News Update

Monday, 10 October 2011 13:25

Reach for the Stars

Now I have recovered from the shock of being Head of Year 8 already I can now sit down and reflect on how things have gone so far this term!  Of course it does go quickly – the students have already grown so much (not just physically) but with maturity and confidence.   I am so proud of how they have developed over the last year. 

I want to take this opportunity to welcome a few new members of the Year 8 Team.  As we have sadly lost Dawn Adams to Year 10 – it’s with great pleasure that I am now working with Owen Chambers, who is our new Year 8 Inclusion Coordinator. The Year 8 team are also joined by April Jennings and Sophie Bryant who have taken over forms 8HU and 8BK (part time).  Good luck to them all – they are already making a big difference with the year group and I am so pleased to be working with them.

We are faced with lots of exciting opportunities in Year 8 - as well as lot of challenges.  I urge students to check out all of the extra curricula activities available, within the arts and sports faculty particularly, as to continue their enjoyment and involvement in school life.

Please look out for information on the website in the coming week on our Year 8 Focus Group.  This is a great opportunity for you to chat with us about your child but also about the year group and school generally.  I look forward to seeing some of you at the first meeting.

Our priorities this year are very much the same as last – however, my expectations of the students generally will be different.  Year 7 is an enormous change for our students and I recognise the transition process many take longer for some.  In Year 8, however, I am looking for the following from all our students:

• Leadership Qualities
• Excellent Attendance & Punctuality
• High Attitude to Learning Grades
• Progress against our targets – as well as their own
• Reflection on their achievement and effort
• Seek help and support from us when they need it
• Excellent manners in and around school

I know our Year 8’s have the potential to achieve great things – many of them already are.  I wish every one of them good luck for the rest of the Autumn Term.

Year 8 HPV Vaccinations - 26 September 2011

Wednesday, 21 September 2011 10:04

HPV vaccinations will be taking place on Monday 26 September for female students in Year 8, to view the time slots for HPV Session 1 please click on the link below.

Please can we ask that you return your consent forms asap to the Student Liaison desk. Details of the following jabs will follow on later in the year. Many Thanks

Click here to download a copy of the time slots for Year 8 girls HPV Session 1

Year 8 Independent Study Challenge

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 11:07

The Year 8 Independent Study Challenge is a learning based reward strategy.  For it to be a success we would please ask all parents, carers and guardians to encourage your child to take part.

The ability to undertake independent study is an important factor in defining exam success and the Independent Study Challenge is just one step we are taking towards promoting these skills in our students, helping to prepare them towards the demands of the Key Stage 4 Curriculum. Full details of the challenge can be found in the letter, which is available to download below, along with supporting documentation for the study.

Thank you.

Darren Bidle
Head of Year 8

Young Writers Mini-Sagas Competition

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 10:58

The contest is on as hundreds of students in Years 7, 8 and 9 English classes have entered the Young Writers Mini-Sagas Competition with the chance to have their work published and win up to £1,000 for the school.

A mini-saga is a condensed story that requires students to tell a riveting tale in no more than 50 words.  Students took up the challenge in English lessons prior to Easter, enhancing their vocabulary and stretching their storytelling skills as they aimed to capture readers from the outset – and sometimes finish with a twist.

Congratulations to the top five entrants from our school:

Stan Clarke, Year 8
Aleesha Nabarro, Year 9
Tom Walpole, Year 8
Georgia Williams, Year 9
Curtis Wright, Year 9

Click to read their mini-sagas.

Special mention also goes to: Ashley Kirby, Rosie Branford, Amy Turner, Emily-Skye Lines, Samuel King, Dylan Calver and Connor Oldridge for top quality work.

Congratulations to all entrants.  We wish you the best of luck, with our eyes on the top prize.

Carla Henderson
English

Golden Pants!

Thursday, 27 January 2011 00:00

After the success of the PANTS awards last year in which students were rewarded for their punctuality, attendance and attitude; We have now followed that with the Golden Pants Awards.

Each week the students who achieve the highest number of good news slips will receive a standing ovation in assembly with the overall winner receiving a box of chocolates for their form and the Golden Pants Trophy to display in form. I hope that through this, the winning students will feel proud of their achievement, and recognise that working hard in lesson brings greater rewards than simply personal attainment. When they work hard in lessons other people benefit too.

Darren Bidle presents the winners with their Golden Pants award

Congratulations to the winners and nominees so far:

Sebastian Bialasik, Sophie Butler (Winner), Tyler Crosbt, Megan Lester, Kelly Leyer, Sharna Smith, Steven Berry (Winner), Jack Bishop, Chloe Deacon, Regan Green, Ella Rose, Ben Sumser, Josh Tibbles.

Darren Bidle
Head of Year 8

Year 8 Students have the 'Big Conversation'

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 12:47

On Friday 7th January, Year 8 students had a chance to discuss their views on Norfolk County Council’s proposed budget cuts by taking part in the Big Conversation with local councillor for Sprowston Central, John Ward and England’s youngest local councillor Tom Garrod who represents Great Yarmouth.

Both John and Tom were incredibly impressed at our students’ suggestions on the proposed cuts to Children’s Services and their concerns, particularly with regard to services for students with special educational needs and cuts to post-16 student support. Their views and concerns will be passed onto the council when making decisions over the budget.

Tom Garrod said "It was good to see young people take such an interest in their communities. Having studied our proposals they presented us with well thought through arguments, which resulted in a positive debate!"

Lisa Byles and Rachel Hewitt