Term 1 ends - celebrations all round

Celebration Assembly

We ended our first term of sixth form with a prize giving assembly for students this morning. Heads of Department nominated students who have particularly impressed staff with their commitment, dedication and outstanding efforts with their studies. This was a very positive occasion for all concerned with staff and students celebrating academic success. Mr Baxter was also able to join us and this further created a sense of occasion.

Hannah Cherry and Shaun Bailey both received 4 nominations each and rightly deserved special commendations for this outstanding effort.

Halloween party for KS3

More examples of excellent work by the students is evidenced by the Young Enterprise group 'Spectrum' who have been organising a Halloween celebration for KS3 students. This is to be held this evening in the Performance Hall. My office is currently full of refreshments and various (interesting) decorations and fancy dress costumes. It is clearly going to be a well attended and memorable event. It is a delight to see Year 12 students working for the younger students in the school. The photographs will be on the website after half term.

Special thanks also go to Helen Oldham for her fund raising efforts and also to all the students who were involved in the fashion show with Morleys and raised over £200 for charity. These efforts are impressive and these students are a credit to this school.

...& thoughts of Christmas??

I would also like to say that this has been a really fantastic term with our Year 12 students. It has been a joy to have the building alive with the sound of noisy / laughing students who are clearly enjoying their studies. The hard work and demands of KS5 study are also apparent but so is the way that our students are now rising to these challenges.

I would like to wish all current (& indeed future) sixth formers a happy, restful and informative half-term. I genuinely look forward to next term.

I think we need Christmas decorations and a tree in the centre. I am therefore formally requesting volunteers to help me organise these for our next celebration!!

Year 12 charity work

I am delighted to be able to report that the Year 12 students have once again impressed me with their proactive approach and commitment.

This week they have been involved in raising money for charity and showing their skills of ingenuity and community spirit once again.

CANCER RESEARCH

Students have decided to show their support for family and friends by raising funds to support this cause.

CAKE SALE

Samantha Barker, Christina Namooa-Foster and Hollie Roberts persuaded the big Tesco in Bicester to donate all the ingredients for a massive cake scale. They covered the work surfaces in the post 16 cafeteria with all the home made cakes and raised a massive £127.

All the proceeds from their efforts will go directly to cancer research as the girls said they wanted to do something positive to help.

SPONSORED WALK

Tasmin Dickinson, Ellie Vickers, Charlotte Elgar, Megan Mackay, Keri Allen and Abbie Lloyd were all involved in a sponsored 5 mile walk around Bicester. They wanted to raise funds for Sobell house hospice. As Kerri said, she wanted to raise money in memory of her 'second mum' who spent some time there.

GUEST SPEAKER

To further raise awareness of the work of cancer research and to highlight key health messages, the Year 12 students will be having a talk on Friday 21st October.

Trips & visits

The staff are currently organising a range of extra-curricular activities for the Year 12 students to ensure that their learning experience at KS5 is as fulfilling and enriching as possible. The following is a sample of what is being currently offered to the students:

For Art / English students - a trip to Venice in February 2012

For Art students - visits to the 'Artist in Residence' at a local secondary school as well as a visit from an established artist, Ian Murphy who will give talks and workshops

For History Students - In 2012 a trip to Krakow, Poland to explore the concentration camps as well as plans for a day trip to London to see The Imperial War Museum

For Physics students - A Physics master class at Oxford University planned for November 2011

For Chemistry Students - In November, a day with Oxford University / UK Energy research centre as part of 'The Festival of Science'

For Maths students - a national Maths conference to be hosted by this school

For Drama students - theatre visits planned in Oxford, London and Stratford starting next week to see a performance of the national tour of 'An inspector Calls'

For Performing Arts students - a trip to London is in the pipeline to see 'Wicked'

...and that is just for starters!