Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School

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Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
The
Thomas Aveling
School

Parent Handbook
Year 10
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Message from the Headteacher

                                                           September 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

It is with great pleasure that we are able to provide you with this booklet
of key information for your child’s fourth year at Thomas Aveling. We hope
that by providing you with this information it will be possible for you to
plan the year ahead and support your child effectively with their education.
By working together your child will settle quickly into school, make greater
progress and be happy.

We hope that your child has had a great experience so far at Thomas
Aveling and is excited about starting Year 10. You will already know that
Thomas Aveling is a great school – that will be the main reason you chose
us to educate your child. We have very high standards and expectations
of children who attend our school in terms of their behaviour, effort and
dress and know that you will continue to support us in maintaining these
standards. If all children look smart, work hard and behave well, they will
all make fantastic progress and achieve well in school.

Please take time to read through the booklet, note down any dates that are
relevant and please visit some of the resources and websites highlighted.
Research shows that the biggest impact on a child’s education, after
attending a good, well led school, is parental involvement and interest
in their child’s education. It is more important than ever as your child
continues into the second year of many of their GCSE courses.

Parents have asked for help with how to assist their child with home
learning (homework) and there is a significant section on this in the
booklet. It includes advice on finding the right resources, asking the right
questions and encouraging your child to revise, with revision techniques
highlighted.
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Participation in after-hours learning opportunities is a really important
part of school that we want every child to undertake. A full offer of clubs is
included in the booklet, please encourage your child to attend at least one
club each week. It will help develop new skills and improve their mental
well being, especially in this demanding time in their school life.

One of the most significant sections of this booklet talks about reading
and literacy. Many of your sons/daughters will enjoy reading and be
fluent readers and may will have read some of the books highlighted
on our recommended reading list, which is great. The reading age of
language used in text books and exams has increased significantly with
the introduction of the new GCSEs and it is vital that students develop this
skill. Seeing you read at home, discussing books that they have read and
encouraging them to borrow books from our school library will enhance
their ability in this aspect of learning. Please help us to help your children
be confident and regular readers for pleasure.

Hopefully you know by now that we value good communication between
home and school and have several ways you can keep in touch. Email is the
most convenient way to contact us. Every member of staff’s email address
is on the ‘contact us’ page of our website. If you don’t get a response within
24 hours, please email again and copy me in and I will chase for you. If you
do telephone the school, try the house buttons first – they will be able to
help you with most things. Please visit Insight regularly, at least once per
week, to check on how your child is doing, their attendance, positive logs
and homework, so that you can have informed conversations with them.

If there is anything you think the school can do better, please remember we
have our Parent Voice Group – please get involved.

Yours sincerely

Paul Jackson
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Curriculum for the Year
Our Curriculum
Students at The Thomas Aveling School follow a very broad and balanced
curriculum. The Arts, Sport and Personal Development are valued highly.
We want students to be able to follow their own interests and use their
talents to the full and have designed a curriculum to enable this to
happen.

The Key Stage 4 curriculum has a variety of academic and vocational
qualifications for students to choose from to allow them to develop a
wide range of skills necessary to be successful in a rapidly changing
world. Many students combine one vocational subject with their
academic choices.

Here are some of the subjects including topics your child will have
the opportunity to study this year:

English
This year students engage fully with the format of the English Language
GCSE exam and develop their analytical, evaluative and comparative
skills by studying a range of non-fiction texts alongside 19th century
literature extracts. We support students transition into the exam units
by studying the elements through two whole texts: ‘Of Mice and Men’
and ‘Touching the Void’ before exploring the extract-based style of the
exam. Students also complete a separately endorsed Speaking and
Listening Unit which is a requirement of the GCSE course which aims to
demonstrate their confidence and ability in presenting and responding
to questions – a vital communication tool for the future.
Language elements:

 • Exploration in creative reading and writing - fiction extracts
 • Exploration in creative reading and writing – creative writing piece
 • Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives – non-fiction extracts
 • Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives – transactional writing
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Maths
This is the first real year of studying GCSE, students continue to build
on the excellent foundation provided in Key Stage 3 and tackle with
confidence the Edexcel GCSE syllabus.
All students continue to follow either the foundation or higher linear
programs, each program has it’s own topics to study however there is
some crossover between foundation and higher.

Students are taught to develop both calculator and non-calculator
methods and to apply their skills to real- world problems wherever
possible.

Topics covered this year include:
 • Measures and Accuracy
 • Equations and Inequalities
 • Circles and Constructions
 • Ratio and Proportion
 • Factors, Powers and Roots
 • Linear Graphs
 • Working in 3D
 • Handling Data
 • Standard Form and Exact Calculations

Science
Students continue into their second year of studying AQA Combined
Science Trilogy this year. They are taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics
by specialist teachers and will be examined through 6 exam papers at the
end of the course: two in Biology, two in Chemistry and two in Physics.
There will also be a series of required practicals for each subject which
will be undertaken in class and examined in their GCSE exam papers in
Year 11.

Topics covered this year include:
 • Homeostasis and response
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
continued
 • Inheritance, variation and evolution
 • Ecology
 • The rate and extent of chemical change
 • Organic chemistry;
 • Chemical analysis
 • Chemistry of the atmosphere and using resources
 • Forces
 • Waves
 • Magnetism and electromagnetism

Geography
Students will continue into their second year of studying the AQA
Geography Specification. Studying geography gives students the
opportunity to travel the world via the classroom, learning about both
the physical and human environment. Students will continue to develop
their understanding of how geography impacts their life every day and
discover the key opportunities and challenges facing the world. Students
will also participate in a fieldtrip to assist them with answering questions
in paper 3.

Topics covered this year include:
 • Coastal Landscapes of the UK
 • The Changing Economic World
 • Resource Management, focusing on Food resources.
 • Geographical Skills

History
Students studying AQA History will continue to develop a wide range of
highly valuable skills into the second year of studying this GCSE – history
is far more than just knowing ‘stuff’ about the past. It’s about critically
utilizing a range of different sources, being able to put forward and
defend an argument or an interpretation and to analyse and evaluate
the causes and consequences of events. These are all skills which can
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
be used as a foundation for further study of any subject in KS5 or for
employment.

Topics covered this year include:
• Germany 1918-1945
• Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975

Languages
Students studying a GCSE in MFL will continue to focus on three main
themes in Year 10:
Theme 1: Identity & Culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current & future study & employment
In Year 11 students will take four exams, being tested on Speaking,
Writing, Reading and Listening skills.

The topics they will work on in Year 10 are:
 • Describing a region
 • Finding out tourist information
 • Discussing plans and the weather
 • Talking about your town
 • Dealing with a hotel stay
 • Talking about travelling
 • Saying what you do and did on holiday
 • Ordering in a restaurant
 • Talking about holiday disasters
 • Giving opinions on school subjects and facilities
 • Talking about your school and schools in Italy/France/Spain
 • Discussing healthy and unhealthy living
 • Using past, present and future time frames
 • Understanding direct object pronouns
 • Using adverbs
To get a feel for all other option subjects your child will be studying the
year, please visit our website page www.thomasaveling.co.uk/curriculum
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Top tips to support your child
completing homework.
1. Talk to them daily about their homework
Give your child a chance to talk about their school work if they want to.
Even if you know nothing about a particular subject, you can still help
just by talking and listening and helping them to find their own answers.

2. Encourage
Help your child take responsibility for organising and doing their
homework and never forget to praise them for their hard work or
their improved concentration, handwriting or presentation. Your child
may need a diary or notebook if they are struggling with organising
themselves. We do have planners for those students in need.

3. Use available tools
All parents have access to Insight-our online portal that helps you keep
informed. You should find all homework posted there so that you can
check what your child has to do, when it is due to be handed in and be
able to support accordingly.

4. Help your child keep to a routine
Some children prefer to do homework straight after school, whereas
others prefer to ‘unwind’ first, or have their meal then do homework
later. Let your child decide – but ensure they stick to it.

5. Establish a study zone
It’s very important to try to create a suitable place where your child can
do their homework, ideally somewhere with a clear work surface, good
lighting and nice and quiet. Try to teach younger brothers and sisters not
to interrupt when homework is being done.

6. Allow for differences
Children are all different and have different learning styles. Some prefer
to study alone, whereas others like to study with friends or family.
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
continued
It’s worth remembering that some children like to work with music on to
keep them company, too.

7. Use resources
If there isn’t suitable space in your home for working, try a local library
or our homework club here at school. Here they can use computers to
get on the internet if you don’t have access at home and also has staff
available who will be able to help.

8. Get tech savvy
The internet can be great for looking things up and finding out more so
encourage your child to become an independent learner and to go the
‘extra mile’ with their studies.

9. Read together
If your child is a reluctant reader, encouraging them to read to younger
siblings, or other family members or friends is a great way for them to
practise.

10. Offer rewards
Make homework rewarding by setting up some treats like staying up 10
minutes later, spending 10 minutes extra on the computer, or having a
friend round. It can help to keep your child motivated if they need that
little extra encouragement from time to time.

www.theschoolrun.com/10-top-tips-helping-your-child-homework

                            Top 10
Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
Websites to use to help to
support your child’s learning.
SUBJECT             WEBSITE
Business            www.businessed.co.uk

Computer Sience     Craiganddave.org
                    Teach-ict.com
                    www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/z34k7ty
                    www.senecalearning.com
                    courses.exa.foundation/enrol/index.php?id=2

Design Technology   www.bbc.com/bitesize
                    www.technologystudent.com
                    www.design-technology.info/home.htm
                    www.design-technology.info/revisionguides
                    www.cat.org.uk
                    www.flying-pig.co.uk
                    cabaret.co.uk
                    designmuseum.org
English             Core content skills:
                    www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zr9d7ty
                    Mr Bruff YouTube tutorials
                    Paper 1 -
                    www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKZ_Tr2Y-CE&list=PLqGFsWf-
                    P-cB-GSeqYup7PXId4pbldQVq
                    Paper 2 -
                    www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhQIX9DCcQ&list=PLqGFs
                    Wf-P-cAlttmXkEvJXCxqT-ZzFqAN
                    Revision portal: www.senecalearning.com

Food Preparation    www.jamieoliver.com     www.bbc.com/bitesize
                    www.nutrition.org.uk    www.foodafactoflife.org.uk
                    www.deliaonline.com      www.bbcgoodfood.com
                    www.bbc.co.uk/food       www.senecalearning.com
                    www.aqa.org.uk
                    www.illuminate.digital/aqafood
                    STHOMAS3 Student Password: STUDENT3
SUBJECT     WEBSITE
French      www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
            www.wildfrench.co.uk/GCSEPapers/paperslist.htm
            www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/curriculum/modlang
            www.targetlanguage.co.uk
            atschool.eduweb.co.uk/haberg/index.htm
            www.aiglon.ch/langlink/frenchrev.html
            www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/french/index.html
            www.atantot-extra.co.uk
            www.tv5.org/index.php
            www.languagesonline.org.uk
Geography   There are many sources of information available. Some
            of the best are available by doing a specific search on
            the subject and then watching the clips- often these are
            animations. Therefore the best way to do this is for example
            type in the topic such as ‘Slum settlements in India’, click on
            videos and select the one you think most appropriate. These
            are particularly good for the physical side of things such as
            ‘how longshore drfit works’.
History     clenhistory.wordpress.com/

Italian     www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian
            en.duolingo.com/course/it/en/Learn-Italian
            www.fluentu.com/blog/italian
            www.italianpod101.com
            www.livelingua.com/italian/courses/fsi
            www.memrise.com/courses/english/italian
            www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/italian.php
            oneworlditaliano.com/english/home.htm
            onlineitalianclub.com
            www.iluss.it
continued

SUBJECT       WEBSITE
Mathematics   www.m4ths.com/
              justmaths.co.uk/2015/12/21/9-1-exam-questions-by-topic-
              higher-tier
              justmaths.co.uk/2015/11/29/9-1-exam-questions-by-topic-
              foundation-version-2
              www.hegartymaths.com (our online homework platform)
              www.mathsgenie.co.uk
              www.corbettmaths.com

Science       Kerboodle (https://www.kerboodle.com/users/login)
              Seneca Learning, (https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/)

Spanish       www.memrise.com
              www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish
              www.languagesonline.org.uk
              www.spanishrevision.co.uk/gcse/gcse_index.htm
              revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/spanish
Finance Information
Parent Pay
ParentPay is used for all transactions in school. An account is created for
each parent to make payments on line or through local PayPoint venues
to pay for things like:
School lunches
Trips
Lockers
Specialist equipment.

We believe this to be a much more efficient and reliable system to sending
in cash. Parents can keep track of payments made, what their children
are spending each day on food and even what food they are eating.

Lockers
Students can purchase a locker either 1 year at a time which costs £7.00
per year (but £12.00 in the first year because it comes with a padlock) or
pay £35 up front when starting in year 7 to keep the locker and padlock
for 5 years.
Microsoft TEAMS Guidance
Keep on it!
Encourage your child to regularly check in on the Year 7 Student Team
for all helpful posts and any support resources.
What’s On - Extra Curricular
Clubs Autumn Terms 2020
Football

                Boys’ and Girls’ Football:
                Improve your skills or join our Teams to play
                against other schools!

Girls’ and Boys’ Hockey

                Use our fantastic all-weather pitch and train
                and learn/develop your hockey skills.

Badminton

                It’s a very fierce and competitive sport using
                racquets and a shuttlecock. Never tried it?
                Give it a go in our huge sports hall!
Handball

               Try a sport that you might not have played
               before. Using some of your netball and
               basketball skills.

Netball/Basketball

               Why not shoot hoops as if you were in the
               NBA? Netball for girls, basketball for boys &
               girls - a fab way to use your energy if you enjoy
               running and jumping!

Table Tennis

               Join our table tennis coach in the gym to
               develop your serves and improve your tactics.
continued

Art and Textiles

                   A chance for extra tuition in building your gcse
                   portfolio.

Spanish Film Club

                   Explore the language and culture of Spain and
                   South America through films and series in
                   Spanish.

Music coursework support

                   For all GCSE students needing that extra time
                   to work on their GCSE pieces.
Library Assistants
                These guys are helpful people who love books
                and work with the Library staff during break
                and lunchtimes - students will be invited to
                apply to Mrs Peace.

Homework Club
                Get that homework done and out of the way
                with the added benefit of staff at hand to help.

Cooking
                Are you a wannabe chef? Or just want to
                impress with some new found kitchen skills!
                Let’s get Cooking starts in Term 4.
continued

Chess/Strategy Games & Lego
               Challenge your friends or maybe a teacher!
               Build something new and learn new gaming
               strategies.

Reading Club
               Have you ever read a book that you couldn’t
               put down? Have you read a book that has left a
               lasting impression on you? Or maybe you want
               to read a book but never know how to choose
               one? Then the exclusive Thomas Aveling Book
               Club could be for you!
Medway
Secondary School Games 2020-21
The Medway SSG is a mixture of sporting competitions that allow the most talented
students from each secondary school to compete against one another. Each sport is
scored and won separately but the overall score for the SSG tournament is determined
by the amount of points that each school obtains in those different sports.

 DATE                    SPORT
 Thu 24th Sept 2020 Indoor Rowing
                         (girls and boys all Year groups)

 Thu 8 Oct 2020
       th                Cross Country (girls and boys,
                         Years 7, 8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 and 13)

 Thu 12th Nov 2020       Badminton
                         (girls and boys KS3 and KS4)
 Thu 26th Nov 2020       Handball
                         (Years 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 girls and boys)

 Thu 10th Dec 2020       Futsal (U13 Years 7 and 8
                         and U15’s Years 9 and 10 only)
 Thu 14th Jan 2021       Sportshall Athletics
                         (Years 7 and 8 girls and boys)

 Thu 25th Mar 2021       Rugby Union

 Thu 13th May 2021       Rounders Girls only
                         (Years 8 and 9 girls only)
 Wed 19th May 2021 Super 8 Athletics
                         (Years 7 girls and boys)

 Thu 17 June 2021 Cricket
            th

                         (Years 7 girls and boys)
 Date TBC                Baseball
                         (boys only Years 7 and 8 TBC)
Top 10 tips for improving
your child’s reading ability.
Parents have a huge impact on how quickly their children learn to read.
Here are top ten tips to improve your child’s progress in reading.

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day.
Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce
significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the
decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or
preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.

2. Surround your children with reading material.
Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score
higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large
supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level.

3. Have a family reading time.
Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family
reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to
read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient to increase their
reading fluency.

4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities.
Make reading an integral part of your children’s lives. Have them read
menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time
listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they
always have something to read in their spare time when they could be
waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

5. Develop the library habit.
Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every
few weeks to get new reading materials.
6. Be knowledgeable about your children’s progress.
Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade
level. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on Insight
and through accelerated reader.

7. Look for reading problems.
Teachers do not always detect children’s reading problems until
they’ve become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words,
know sight words, use context to identify unknown words, and clearly
understand what they read.

8. Get help promptly for reading problems.
Reading problems do not magically disappear with time. The earlier
children receive help, the more likely they will become good readers.

9. Use a variety of aids to help your children.
To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer
programs, udiobooks, and other materials available in stores. Games
are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they
work on their skills.

10. Show enthusiasm for your children’s reading.
Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become
good readers.
Thomas Aveling Reading List
For Year 10 students
Monsters of Men – Patrick Ness
Maladapted – Richard Kurti
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret – Judy Blume
Hatchet – Gary Paulsen
Boy Proof – Cecil Castellucci
The Twilight Saga – Stephanie Meyer
The Amnesia Clinic – James Scudamore
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
Brighton Rock – Graham Greene
Catch-22 – Joseph Heller
The Catcher in the Tye – J.D. Salinger
The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
Dracula – Bram Stoker
Empire of the Sun – J.G. Ballard
Noah Can’t Even – Simon James Green
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
The Mosquito Coast – Paul Theroux
Shakespeare: The World as a Stage – Bill Bryson
The Old Man and The Sea – Ernest Hemingway
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha – Roddy Doyle
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Scoop – Evelyn Waugh
To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee
Burning Secret – Stefan Zweig
The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness
We Are All Made of Molecules – Susan Nielsen
13 Minutes: A Novel – Sarah Pinborough
Paper Butterflies – Lisa Heathfield
Every Day – David Levithan
Rose Sees Red – Cecil Castellucci
A Separate Peace – John Knowles
continued
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Phillip K. Dick
Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – John le Carre’
I Captured the Castle – Dodie Smith
Cider with Rosie – Laurie Lee
Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell
The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien
Hitler’s Executioners – Daniel Goldhagen
Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathan Swift
Schindler’s Ark – Thomas Keneally
Oranges Are Not Only Fruit – Jeanette Winterson
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Looking for Alaska – John Green
The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin
The Time Machine – H.G.Wells
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulkes
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
The Three Musteteers – Alexandre Dumas
The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco
The Trial – Franz Kafka
The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle
The Moonstone – Wilkie Collins
continued
War of the Worlds – H.G. Wells
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Don Quixote – Miguel Cervantes
Carrie – Stephen king
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
Cosmos – Carl Sagan
Maus – Art Spielgeiman
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriela Garcia Marquez
East of Eden – John Steinbeck
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
Dune – Frank Herbert
Flowers For Algernon – Daniel Keyes
Out of Shadows – Jason Wallace

       b u y i n g
Ma k e                t !
         a    t r e a
 book  s
Research shows that there is a clear link between high attainment and
good attendance in school. Therefore it is vital that students attend
school every day. The school has a number of support strategies in place
to help ensure that all students can achieve their full potential, these
include:

Make sure you child’s attendance stays above 96% by:

• Encouraging them to still attend
  if they have a cold or sore throat

						                             • Make any medical appointments
						                             out of school hours where possible
continued
Holidays in term time
The holiday form is no longer available as the Governors have not
authorised holiday absence for any student during term time since
September 2007. Only in exceptional circumstances will authorised
leave be granted. In these circumstances, parents should write directly
to the Headteacher.

Penalty Notices
In line with Local Education Authority practise we must advise
parents/carers that a Penalty Notice may be imposed in certain cases
where unauthorised holiday leave is taken or a child has regular
unauthorised attendance.
Term Dates

 TERM DATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 TO JULY 2021

Start of Term 1:     Tuesday 1st September 2020 (Y7 and Y12 only)
                     Wednesday 2nd September 2020 (Y7 and Y12 only)
                     Thursday 3rd September (whole school)
CPD Day 1:           Monday 19th October 2020
CPD Day 2:           Tuesday 20th October 2020
CPD Day 3:           Wednesday 21st October 2020
End of Term 1:       Wednesday 21st October 2020
Term break:          Thursday 22nd October to Friday 30th October 2020

Start of Term 2:     Monday 2nd November 2020
CPD Day 4:           Friday 27th November 2020
End of Term 2:       Friday 18th December 2020
Term Break:          Monday 21st December 2020 to Friday 1st January 2021
Start of Term 3:     Monday 4th January 2021
End of Term 3:       Friday 12th February 2021

Term Break:          Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February 2021

Start of Term 4:     Monday 22nd February 2021
End of Term 4:       Thursday 1st April 2021

Easter Break:        Friday 2nd April 2021 to Friday 16th April 2021
                     (Good Friday 2nd April/Easter Monday 5th April 2021)

Start Term 5:       Monday 19th April 2021
Early May bank hol: Monday 3rd May 2021
End Term 5:         Friday 28th May 2021

Late May bank hol:   Monday 31st May 2021
Term Break:          Tuesday 1st June 2021 to Friday 4th June 2021

Start of Term 6:     Monday 7th June 2021
CPD Day 5:           Friday 2nd July 2021
End Term 6:          Friday 23rd July 2021
Other important
dates for the diary:
 Thurs 1st Oct – all day                      Wear it grey event – Cav students only
 Mon 5 – 9 Oct
           th             th
                                              Assessment week
 Thurs 12 Nov        th
                                              Parents’ Evening
 Mon 16th Nov                                 Progress report available
 Fri 4 Dec
     th
                                              Santa & Elves fun run (Cav and Res)
 Wed 16 Dec     th
                                              Christmas music concert
 Mon 4 – 8 Jan
           th             th
                                              Assessment week
 Mon 25th Jan                                 Progress report available
 Thurs 4 Feb 6pmth
                                              English revision evening
 Sat 6 – 9 March
      th             th
                                              Amalfi trip
 Mon 15 – 19 March
                th             th
                                              Assessment week
 Mon 15th March 12-4pm                        SEND afternoon
 Wed 31 March   st
                                              Easter Music concert
 Mon 19 April   th
                                              Progress report available
 Mon 14 – 18 June
                th             th
                                              Assessment week
 Thurs 17th June 6-7pm                        Annual Dance Show
 Tues 22 June   nd
                                              Sports Day
 Tues 30 June   th
                                              Dance exam
 Mon 5 Julyth
                                              Progress report available
 Thurs 8th July                               PA exam performance
 Mon 12 and Tues 13 July
                th                       th
                                              TED days
 Wed 14 and 15 July
                th                  th
                                              Geography field trip

We will keep you posted on LOTS of trips that are due to be organised but
venues are yet to confirm opening arrangements due to COVID.
Do not suffer in silence!
We are always here to help. Please contact us with any concerns you may
have regarding your child. Even if something has happened at home,
it is always useful for us to know so please keep us informed. We want
your child to be happy and thrive, so if there are ANY problems – do not
hesitate to get in touch.

Remember it is important for you to keep up to speed with all behavioural,
homework and attendance information via insight. There is also lots of
information on our website.

Doing our bit for the
Environment
Students at Thomas Aveling school are keen to improve our environment.
An Eco-committee is currently being established. These students will
work towards achieving the international Green Flag Award, focusing on
key environmental areas that we can improve on as a school. As part of
this, we will try to limit paper use wherever possible so please appreciate
that most communication will be via email.
Children’s team
At Thomas Aveling we have a huge team dedicated to the welfare and
safeguarding of our students. The Children’s Team is run by Ms Latchford
and they work with parents, staff and students to ensure the wellbeing
and safety is paramount.

Children’s Team

  Ms Chew       Ms Rosina    Ms Latchford    Mrs Rodwell     Mrs Williams
      **          SENCO           **              **          Transition,       **
  Assistant                   Children’s     Home School       CLA and        Child
 Headteacher                 Team Leader       Support         Welfare      Protection
  Safeguard                                     Worker       Coordinator      trained
    Lead
 Mrs Bushell    Mrs Harris    Ms Tuffrey     Mrs Stratford   Mrs Massey        Mrs
   Raising       Assistant   Interventions     Student         ADOL for     Singleton
 Aspirations      SENCO         officer        Services,       Achilles         **
   and KS3                                    Attendance                     ADOL for
   support                                    and Welfare                     Victory
                                                Officer

 Mrs Martin        Mrs        Mr Coley        Mrs Johal       Mr Capon      Mrs Malone
   Hearing      Richardson   Anti-Bullying        **           ADOL for         **
  Impaired        SENCO          Lead          Student         Resolute      ADOL for
 Lead Teacher     Admin                       Wellbeing                      Cavalier
                                              Advisor and
                                             Safeguarding
                                                Officer

If you have any safeguarding concerns please do not hesitate to contact
the team on safeguardingconcerns@thomasaveling.co.uk
Online Safety
In a growing age where teenagers rely heavily on their phone and
gaming platforms, there are some key areas where parents can monitor
and encourage responsible use of the internet:

  1. Most social media platforms have an age limit of 13. This means no
		 Year 7s should have Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram.

  2. NSPCC has an app called ZIPIT. Which goes though advice and
		 ideas on how to handle inappropriate messages from social media
		 platforms.

  3. For overall monitoring please look into apps such as Family Time
		 https://familytime.io/ which allows parents to limit screen time
		 and block a number of applications that are not suitable.

  4. If you are concerned about inappropriate or abusive contact online
		 in anyway please report the user through the usual methods on that
		 particular platforms.

  5.   CEOP are available for self, school and parent reporting of accounts
		     that are inappropriate or/and abusive. https://www.ceop.police.
		     uk/safety-centre/ Please use them if you have any concerns. Or
		     contact the school and we can report the account for you.
Handling the pressure of external exams
Information for parents and carers

Did you know?                                               Survey research has identified that exams are a
                                                            significant source of stress and worry for pupils in
                                                            secondary school. In particular, failing important
                                                            examinations, and the consequences of failing
                                                            these examinations, are rated as more important
                                                            than a range of other personal and social worries.
                                                            (Optimus education)

                                                            The NHS highlight that Children and young people
                                                            who experience stress may:
                                                            • worry a lot
                                                            • feel tense
                                                            • get lots of headaches and stomach pains
                                                            • not sleep well
                                                            • be irritable
                                                            • lose interest in food, or eat more than normal
                                                            • not enjoy activities they previously enjoyed
                                                            • seem negative and low in their mood
Exam stress can be really challenging, not only for         • seem hopeless about the future
children but for those that live with them. Research
shows that having someone to talk to about their
work can help. Support from a parent, teacher or
friend can help young people share their worries
and keep things in perspective.

What can you do?
Watch out for signs of stress and encourage your            normal. Support them to be organised, have a routine
child to talk to a member of school staff or someone        and build a revision timetable. Try not to add to their
who they feel is supportive. If you feel your child isn’t   pressure by being flexible with them. Talk to them
coping, it may also be helpful for you to talk to their     about how they feel, remind them of their goals in life
teachers at school.                                         and motivate them to stay focused. Staying calm will
                                                            help them remain calm - and exams don’t last forever.
Encourage and support your child to build and
maintain healthy habits before and during the exam
period, such as eating a healthy balanced diet, staying
hydrated, getting enough sleep, doing exercise, having
time to relax and to socialise with friends.

Remind your child that feeling nervous and anxious is

                                            better future - brighter hope
Helping your child get into good habits
Information for parents and carers

Did you know?                                              Healthy habits are essential to living a long and
                                                           happy life, and they are important to instil in
                                                           children from a young age. If you help them form
                                                           these habits now, you will be giving them the tools
                                                           to navigate any obstacles they may face as they
                                                           grow into adulthood.

                                                           Research highlights that the late teenage years
                                                           have been identified as the peak age for exposure
                                                           to health risks with lifelong implications. The
                                                           report, by the Association for Young People’s Health
                                                           (AYPH), revealed teenagers eat eight times the
                                                           recommended sugar allowance and almost half
                                                           have tooth decay. This worrying research also found
                                                           out that most smokers start by the age of 25.

Research reveals that there is a strong link between
healthy habits and pupil achievement. Poor health
habits add up to poor grades, and research suggests
that healthy habits and good health-related decisions
can lead to improved academic performance. For
instance, research has shown that students who
eat breakfast exhibit improved concentration when
compared to their peers who skip it.

What can you do?
Cultivate healthy habits by being a role model to your     Help and encourage your
child. Try to exhibit good habits, offer health advice     child to get enough sleep,
and build fun healthy activities into your family life.    live a physically active
Examples include being active as a family, having          life and feel good about
evening and sleep routines, providing a water bottle to    themselves. Work with
encourage hydration, or making family meals together.      them to map out their
                                                           week to include healthy
Good nutrition can help improve concentration, so pay      habits such as exercise,
attention to the food you buy for your family. Provide     relaxation and seeing
a healthy balanced diet of meals which include fresh       friends. Set some healthy
vegetables, fruit, proteins, good fats and whole grains.   lifestyle goals together, and keep each other motivated
Encourage your child to snack on low sugar foods and       to stay on track.
drinks, which you could make together.

                                          better future - brighter hope
Relaxation
 Information for parents and carers

 Did you know?                                                Research shows that young people face many
                                                              different kinds of stress, worry, anxiety and can feel
                                                              overwhelmed for various reasons. Relaxation has
                                                              been defined as a ‘state of being free from tension
                                                              and anxiety’. We often forget to switch off as adults
                                                              but it is important that we do that in order to help
                                                              children learn important skills.

                                                              Many studies highlight the benefits of relaxation
                                                              and here are a few:

                                                              •   Slowes the heart and breathing rate
                                                              •   Improves concentration and mood
                                                              •   Reduces anger and frustration
                                                              •   Reduces the activity of stress hormones
                                                              •   Improves digestion
                                                              •   Increases blood flow to the muscles
                                                              •   Relaxes the muscles
                                                              •   Improves sleep quality

An important part of teenage life should
be relaxation. It is an essential part of
maintaining health and wellbeing and
being able to calmly deal with stress
and pressure which, as we know, can be
quite intense during the school years and
especially being an adolescent.

 What can you do?
 One of the simplest relaxation techniques is to practice     follow a simple Yoga session on YouTube. Other things
 breathing. Teach your child to take deep slow breaths        could be having quiet time to read, going for a walk,
 when they are feeling anxious. Just a few deep breaths       listening to music or watching a feel-good film.
 can provide an instant calming effect that can help
 reduce stress. Look out for mindfulness apps or video        Another technique for your child to try is ‘imagery’,
 resources on YouTube that offer example breathing            having a vision about a happy place so their brains can
 exercises, such as Headspace or Calm.                        take a break. Ask them to write down a description of
                                                              their happy place which includes how it looks, feels,
 Learning to relax is something that you can do               smells and sounds. When they are stressed out, ask
 together as a family. Try having a go a Yoga or a            them to close their eyes and to think about it. Just like
 relaxing activity together. Yoga will improve flexibility,   new skills, relaxation techniques require practice so
 posture and give you and your child a sense of inner         keep prompting them to find out what works for them.
 calm. Encourage your child to go to a local class or

                                              better future - brighter hope
Screen Time
Information for parents and carers

Did you know?                                              Battles over screen time and devices have become
                                                           a depressing part of family life. Recent research
                                                           has revealed that it’s not so much the length, but
                                                           the nature of the screen time that matters. What
                                                           is important is that whatever young people are
                                                           watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-
                                                           appropriate and safe.
                                                           The University of Oxford examined 120,000 UK
                                                           15-year-olds in 2017 and found that among those
                                                           teenagers who were the lightest tech-users, it
                                                           was found that increasing the time spent using
                                                           technology was linked to improved wellbeing -
                                                           possibly because it was important for keeping up
                                                           friendships. In contrast, among the heaviest users
                                                           of technology, any increase in time was linked to
                                                           lower levels of wellbeing.

  Further research has shown that more than two hours of smartphone use on a weekday, and more than
  four hours on a weekend day, was linked to lower wellbeing. Several other studies suggest that higher
  levels of screen use in children and adolescents is associated with reduced physical activity, increased risk
  of depression, and lower wellbeing.

What can you do?
The British Psychological Society recommends that         instead of screen-based inactivity. This could be new
parents and carers use technology alongside children      hobbies, going for a walk, playing sport, being creative
and engage them in discussions about media use.           or joining a youth group. Role model good behaviour
Help your child get into a screen-free bedtime routine.   by being mindful of your own screen time.
Screen time in the evening is especially bad for sleep
patterns.

Set limits like no screens during meal times or no
screens after a certain time. Suggest having one day a
week with no screen time like Screen-Free Sundays. If
they have a smartphone, encourage them to turn off
as many notifications as possible and to turn on flight
mode when they’re with friends and family.

Encourage your child to do new physical activities

                                          better future - brighter hope
Sleep
Information for parents and carers

Did you know?                                              The Sleep Council highlights how quality sleep is
                                                           essential for growth and development and that
                                                           your child needs between 8-10 hours sleep every
                                                           night. Teen’s body clocks naturally shift to make
                                                           them feel tired later in the evening, but early school
                                                           starts do not enable them to sleep in the mornings.
                                                           Chronic sleep deprivation can have a huge effect on
                                                           a teenager’s life and mental wellbeing.

                                                           Further research shows that there is a link between
                                                           getting enough sleep, sleep awareness and student
                                                           performance. Numerous studies have shown that
                                                           not getting enough sleep can negatively affect
                                                           school performance and impair cognitive function.

  Teens need more sleep than adults. Research shows that the brain’s ability to process information
  declines with lack of sleep. Our emotional responses, empathy towards others and tendency to do silly
  things all goes up with lack of sleep. Long term sleep deprivation can suppress the immune system, lead
  to forms of cancer, heart disease and metabolic abnormalities.

What can you do?
Help your child establish a good sleep routine.            Try to get your child to go to bed at the same time
Encourage them to limit screen time before bed and to      each night and wake up at the same time each
read a book or magazine instead. Get them to keep a        morning – even on a weekend. A consistent sleep-
sleep diary over a two-week period to see how much         wake cycle is really important for them to function
sleep they are getting and how they can improve it.        well. Know the signs of sleep deprivation and work
Have a conversation with your child about their sleep.     with your child to find a routine that works for them.

Eating late at night is not good for digestion or aiding
a better night’s sleep. Make sure your child avoids
sugary and heavy foods late at night and doesn’t drink
caffeine or energy drinks from lunchtime onwards.
Healthy habits such as warm milk or camomile tea,
daily exercise, relaxing in the evening and having a
calming bedroom environment, can all help your child
get a better night’s sleep.

                                          better future - brighter hope
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education and research.
                                                                                FLI Sep 2020
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