Dear Parent/Carer

I would like to wish all parents and carers a Happy

Christmas and I hope you all have a great break. In

addition, I really hope you enjoy reading about the

continued successes of AVA students. Year 11 are busy with

the final months and are really stepping up their endeavours.

I am always delighted to read of the aspirations and

commitment of our students in a vast range of contexts and it

makes me proud to be associated with them.

Mr R Burman

Executive Principal

Dates for the Diary 2016/2017

Thursday 15th December - AVA/Berryfields Carol

Tuesday 20th December - End of Term

Thursday 5th January - All Students return

Friday 10th February - Spring Half Term

Tuesday 21st February - All Students return

Chaplains Corner

Which do you prefer

M&S or John Lewis?

I’m not talking about

shops but the Christmas

advert, and most

viewers are saying they

prefer M&S’s to John

Lewis’.

When the Christmas TV ads come on TV that is pretty much

when we start to think we’re in the start of the Christmas

season. They’re Heart-warming, humorous, & nearly always

containing a moral message, these short micro-films have now

become something of a Christmas tradition.

This year we

have John

Lewis with

an over-

s t r e t c h e d

father who

longs to be

with his

family, a

girl (and her

pet dog

Buster) who

wants to bounce. Then there is M&S with a sister and her

annoying younger brother, and a highly efficient Mrs Claus

making Christmas that bit extra special.

They both reflect back to us the importance of family values &

selflessness – spending time with our loved ones, having fun,

feeling part of a family, making amends and, of course, eating

and drinking! Clearly, these are all things that people want

Christmas to be about. What I think is great though is the

marketing people have recognised people’s desire for a more

meaningful, relationship-centered Christmas and that life’s

struggles are acknowledged for what they are; even if they are

trying to sell us more stuff!

For Christians though Christmas will always resonate back to

thinking about the first Christmas when God entered into our

world as Jesus. The Bible says His reasons for entering in are

completely relationship centred, and to be alongside us through

life’s struggles so we can live a fuller life. I particularly love the

words of the angels as they gathered in the skies over

Bethlehem, in Israel all those years ago: “Glory to God in the

highest, and on earth peace, good will to all humankind.” That

amazing event continues to affect the lives of millions of people

across the ages and across the globe.

Maybe this Christmas as we’re unpacking our presents, and

eating a bit more than normal amidst family, friends and life’s

struggles we could also remember what took place 2000 years

ago and why it happened.

I’ll be praying that you all have a restful, peaceful Christmas

break and refreshing New Year and receive God’s gift this

Christmas time.

Revd G Lane, School Chaplain

Newsletter of The Aylesbury Vale Academy

Paradise Orchard Berryfields Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0WS

t 01296 428 551 enquiries@theacademy.me www.theacademy.me

December 2016

Year 11 News

As revision season is drawing closer, it’s worth reminding

students of a few revision tips and techniques.

• Start revising early i.e. months, not days before the

exam.

Don't spend ages making your notes look pretty.

Take short breaks.

Use revision guides.

Stick revision notes all around your house.

Get yourself healthy drinks and snacks.

On the website and on Show My Homework, all year 11

parents and students can access a booklet with revision

tips and techniques specifically for their subjects.

Below is a reminder of the revision sessions we run after

school. All students are encouraged to attend a session

every night.

Important dates coming up:

Mock results: Monday 9th January

Parents’ evening: Thursday 12th January

Getting the grade: Thursday 23rd March

If you would like more information on how to

support your child through their exams, then please

do not hesitate to contact me or any of the year 11

team.

Miss Gibbs

Achievement Director Year 11

Berryfields Science Week

The Science Department

at Aylesbury Vale Academy

were delighted to support

Berryfields Science Week

at the end of October.

Berryfields staff and

students spent the week

focusing on Science in

their lessons. Aylesbury

Vale staff were lucky

enough to be able to visit

the school and ran

sessions for Reception,

Year 1 and Year 2

students enthusing them

with the colourful world of

chemical reactions.

The students enjoyed

seeing all the colour

changes and the

elephant’s toothpaste

experiment is now a

popular request for

Science week.

We were also pleased

to welcome the Year 3

and Year 4 students

over to the Academy to

take part in a STEM

challenge of making a

balloon powered car. A

great time was had by

all and we look forward

to working together

again for the next

Science week.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

English C-02-08

Maths JFE

E-01-10

Science GCSE/BTEC

C-00-07

Maths E-01-10

BTEC Art & Design/GCSE art CDA/NWA B-01-19

BTEC Sport NLA

C-01-10

Spanish C-01-11

Geography DMI

E-02-02

Computer Science

NLI E-01-04

Catering FAD

B-00-08

GCSE PE CBA

C-01-10

Business Studies ECC/AIN B-01-09

RS SMO

E-02-08

ICT NLI

D-01-03

Engineering MFR

E-00-01

Media MBR/IFE C-02-02

Graphics DAN

B-01-08

History KTH

E-02-04

Music GCSE/BTEC

CHA B-02-06

PE News

It has been a very busy term for the PE department. We

have had so many extra-curricular clubs going on this year

that we are overwhelmed with the students responses to all

of the opportunities offered to them. We currently have

clubs in Rugby, Karate, Zumba, Basketball, Football,

Netball and Badminton. Remember to keep your eye on

the enrichment timetable to see what is going on.

Last July the district PE departments decided to condense

the football league to between January and March. This

saved teams playing games every few weeks and will give

the competition more of a tournament feel. Be

prepared… all the games start in January!

The Badminton League is starting to get fired up and well

done to all our committed players for attending training

and matches.

In our Key stage 4 Core PE lessons our students have been

developing their leadership skills. This has now got to the

stage where they are leading PE lessons with students from

Berryfields school. These students are excellent

ambassadors for the Academy and are well organised and

prepared.

Year 7

So the first term for year 7 draws to a close and it has

been a really positive start to their time here at the

Academy. Everyone seems to be settling in well and

learning how to cope. Every individual child will have had

a slightly different experience and some have adapted

sooner than others but it is great seeing all change and

grow as the year progresses. English, Math and Science

have sorted students into new groups enabling them to

make greater progress and receive support where

required.

Students are becoming more organised, coping with

homework quantities and deadlines as well as ensuring

they arrive on time with all the correct equipment.

I am very pleased to say the year group makes me feel

very proud with their approach to Academy life. They look

smart in their uniforms and move about the building in a

calm and sensible manner. I was particularly impressed

with the 72 students who embraced my good citizen

service challenge, not only giving it a go but going all out

to complete every task that was suggested. They have

been suitable awarded with achievement points and

should feel very proud of themselves.

The student council have begun a charity focus through

the direction of two peers Weronika Skierkowska and

Maddie Shirran. Over the coming term they are going to

be organising as many opportunities to raise money for

the WWF as possible, so keep your eyes peeled for

opportunities to get involved and support his great cause.

Remember if you ever have any concerns or questions

related to your child and the Academy please feel free to

contact their tutor or myself.

The Team:

Nobel 1 Ellen Hayes Jamie Cooper

Nobel 2 Jodie Farnham Leo Peacock

Nobel 3 Ezra Morris Mohammed Bilal

Franklin 1 Selma Adel Davis Ageyi-Baah

Franklin 2 Michelle Morley Jordan Mangena

Faraday 1 Emily Brooker Jerry Adeshina

Faraday 2 Jodie Hatcher Danny Byrne

Faraday 3 Sophie Druitt Cezar Dulgheru

Nobel 1 Miss Packham

Nobel 2 Mr O’leary

Nobel 3 Mrs Thomas

Franklin 1 Miss Street

Franklin 2 Mrs Adetoe

Faraday 1 Mrs Lu

Faraday 2 Miss Kissick

Faraday 3 Mr Fromont

Achievement Director Mrs Lambert

Assistant Achievement Director Miss Street

Pastoral Support Ms Toohey

SLT link Mr West

On Monday 12th December we held out 2

nd rewards

assembly. Teachers were asked once again to nominate

students according to the Academy Values. It was a

pleasure receiving so many nominations recognising all

the hard work and excellent effort the students have been

putting into their work, unfortunately there can only be one

winner per category and they are as follows:

Attendance is very important as every missed day of school

can impact on the grades achieved in year 11. I am

pleased to report that Year 7 have the highest average

attendance of all the year groups and 54 pupils are on

100%.

Students have been working very hard and taking on extra

opportunities throughout the academy in order to earn

Achievement Points.

Year 7 are fully embracing being the BEST and are taking

advantage of all opportunities and challenges. They have

made me very proud so far with the best turn outs for both

boys and girls for the intercollege Football and Basketball

competitions. It is also great seeing so many students

attending the Enrichment clubs, make sure your child

shows you the Enrichment timetable and identifies which

clubs they are going to attend. There is something every

night and all are free to attend with no pre signup

required. This includes homework club up in Summit

where they can get help and advice when doing their

homework.

Year 7 Top Achievers:

Year 11 Travel to London

On Thursday 17th November, year 11 students travelled

to London to watch the National Theatre's production of

'An Inspector Calls' at the Playhouse Theatre. Famously

revived by Daldry at the National Theatre in 1992, this

interpretation of the play allows students to really grasp

the significance of the context and the stark contrast

between the privileged lives of the Birlings and the less

fortunate lives of those they employ.

'An Inspector Calls' is a significant part of the English

Literature GCSE course and students will respond to a

question on character or theme in their final exam. The

opportunity to see a live performance of the play is

invaluable as students will need to be able to discuss the

audience reaction in their responses.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the performance and it was a

real honour to visit the theatre with such an enthusiastic

group of year 11s.

Miss E Kitter, Assistant Principal

Faith Jamie Hayes

Aspiration Emma Eldridge

Creativity Weronika Skeirkowska

Service Joseph McLennan-Parish

Respect Jawad Ahmad

Equality Caitlin Allard

Achievement Directors Award Emily Brooker

Principles Award Alexandra Moore

50 Achievement points 34 Students

100 Achievement Points 56 Students

150 Achievement Points 88 Students

250 Achievement Points 20 Students

300 Achievement points 5 Students

400 Achievement Points 0 Students

Student Total Points

Michelle Morley 350

Selma Adel

Jodie Farnham 330

Sarka Slavikova 325

Hannah Morgan 315

Samera Shah

Abbie Smith

Jack Davis

290

Kodi-Leigh Murphy 285

Jack French

Faryaal Munir

Perry Havor

280