November Edition

A Specialist College for the

Visual and Performing Arts

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Other articles

It has been a pleasure to welcome so many members of the community into Deben over the last month, particularly parents/carers again! We have played host to Target Setting Day, Parents’ Open Forums (thank you to parents/carers who attended these this term), Open Evening on 14 October and Open Mornings (19 – 23 October 2009). I would like to thank parents/carers once again for their support of the school and for school staff and students for making members of the community feel so welcome at Deben!

I have sent two important letters home in October regarding the installation of CCTV cameras and the importance of attendance at school. There are summaries of both in this issue of the Deben News in case you missed them (in the ‘Being Safe’ and ‘Achieving Economic Well-Being’ sections respectively). If you want to read the full letter versions, please go to the school website (http://www.deben.suffolk.sch.uk and click ‘Resources’ and then ‘School Noticeboard’) to download a copy.

During the recent Target Setting Day, we asked parents a number of questions in our annual Parental Questionnaire. Many thanks to those who took part in the survey. Here are some of the results:

A message from the Headteacher ...

Areas with mostly positive responses:

Today’s review of my son/daughter’s progress was informative 96% 4%

When I have concerns about my son/daughter’s academic progress, I know who to contact

94% 6%

When I have concerns about my son/daughter’s well-being, I know who to contact

90% 10%

I receive the Deben News once a month 93% 7%

Have you heard of ‘My i-Plan’? 75% 25%

Are you satisfied with the quality of learning and teaching at KS4?

87% 13%

Are you satisfied with the quality of learning and teaching at KS3?

91% 9%

Areas which will require action:

Do you know that there is a Parents’ Focus Group? 56% 42%

If yes (to hearing of My i-Plan), has your son/daughter shown you their i-Plan?

29% 71%



“The best learners in the world walk through our doors.”

For parents/carers not aware of our Parents’ Focus Group, we have been running this now for over a year. We meet once a half term (from 5.30 – 6.30pm) to discuss issues that parents/carers can give their views on or request further information on. The dates for the remainder of the meetings in this academic year are as follows:

If you would like to join the waiting list for the group, then please contact Mrs Cumberland, Head’s PA on [email protected]

For those parents/carers that have not yet seen My i-Plan, ask your sons/daughters to show you their areas. You can see the site for yourself on https://ilp.my-iplan.com/default.aspx

Year 11 parents/carers – we have put a special page on the school website to list all of the extra support and help you can give at home and we are giving at school. Why not visit to have a look at what is on offer? Go to http://www.deben.suffolk.sch.uk and click ‘Information’ and then ‘Year 11 Parents’.Many thanks to parents/carers for their support of the 3Ps for 2009-10:

To continue to improve the pride aspect of the focus for this year, can I ask that parents/carers reinforce the expectation that students wear their uniform with pride to and from school.

One last exciting piece of news! The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) have confirmed our redesignation as a “Visual and Performing Arts College” from this term! This means we can continue to use the additional funding to make sure the Visual and Performing Arts impacts on aspirations and achievement across the school. My thanks to Mrs Lawson-Frost who spent a great deal of time on the documentation to ensure we passed the redesignation process.

Finally, included in this edition of Deben News is a parental questionnaire on ArtsWeek 2009. To help us with the planning for ArtsWeek 2010 we would appreciate you completing and returning this form to school, for the attention of Mrs Cobain, by Friday 13th November. Many thanks.

Mr Cawley

School Nursing Team

The School Nursing Team offers a Drop-in for Parents with their Primary aged children and High School students (with or without a Parent) on Wednesday afternoon during term time at Felixstowe Community Hospital, Constable Road, Felixstowe. Please report to the Minor Injuries Reception between 3.30-4.30pm. If this is not convenient, please contact them on 01394 458846 (answer machine available).

The Team includes:

Community School Nurse – Debbie BootherCommunity Staff Nurse – Cathy TynanChildren’s Health Advisor – Lesley AtkinsonClerical Support – Dawn Barker

Pride Progress Performance

AUTUMN TERM (second ½)25 November 2009

SPRING TERM (first ½)10 February 2010

SPRING TERM (second ½)24 March 2010

SUMMER TERM (first ½)12 May 2010

SUMMER TERM (second ½)23 June 2010

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The Dyslexia Shop

The Dyslexia Shop stocks thousands of products relating to dyslexia and special educational needs. To contact them call 01394 671818 or visit their website: www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk

Mrs Burn

Dyspraxia Foundation Parent Support Group (Suffolk)

The Dyspraxia Foundation Parent Support Group is a local friendly support group for parents of children with Dyspraxia or Developmental Co-Ordination Disorder (DCD). The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Centre for Voluntary Agencies, Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 9HB from 6.30-8.30pm. For more information contact Sarah Neale on 01440 708 102 or contact her by e-mail on [email protected]

Mrs Burn

Installation of CCTV

In a recent letter home to parents/carers I outlined the fact that we recently installed a CCTV system in school.

Schools that have used CCTV have proven that they are effective in reducing violence, theft, vandalism and other untoward incidents on the school site. The school governors have provided funding for a CCTV system to be installed across the school site. The governors have chosen to install the CCTV system to aid with the following:

• Provide a means for the security of students, staff and visitors as well as the school site itself;• To act as a deterrent to any trespass, anti-social behaviour, etc;• Allow for the identification of any perpetrators of behaviour which may be deemed against the school rules or code of conduct or which may be illegal.

The cameras have been placed in corridors facing all entrance/exit doors, on the outside of the building (front, side and rear of the site) and in corridors. We have 360° Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) Cameras fitted at those points.

The CCTV system has been installed in accordance with the Code of Practice and in accordance with the SSAIB (www.ssaib.co.uk) and also meets and exceeds the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

A map of the school showing the camera locations, a CCTV good users guide and log book is available for viewing upon written request.

If you require any further information on the installed CCTV system, the Data Protection Act or the SSAIB please contact Mrs S Flint, school Business Manager.

For more information about the Data Protection Act please visit: -www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/detailed_specialist_guides/ico_cctvfinal_2301.pdf

Mr Cawley

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Cycling

I am very pleased to see that many of our students cycle to school: a healthy way to travel. However, many school children are injured or killed on the way to and from school because of careless and dangerous riding.

Please impress upon your sons/daughters the potential dangers they may cause to themselves and other road users of their actions. The police may have cause to caution or arrest any cyclist who cannot follow the rules.

Also, just a reminder that the nights are drawing in again and that cycle lights and appropriate protective and reflective clothing should be worn when travelling to and from school in the dark.

The following websites explain all of the rules relating to cycling, should any parents/students need clarification:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalkingDG_10026401http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/focusareas/cycling?page=Advice&whoareyou_id=

Safe cycling!

Mr Cawley

Christmas Concert – Date For Your Diary!

Get into the Christmas spirit with this year’s Christmas Concert which will take place at St. Andrew’s Church, in Felixstowe on the evening of Wednesday 16th December. Tickets will be available from school shortly at £4.00 for adults and £2.80 for concessions. Since demand always exceeds the places available, please order your tickets early, by completing the slip at the back of Deben News.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see and hear the musical talents of Deben students as they entertain you with their lively Christmas programme!

Mr WrenHead of Music

2009 Suffolk Young Poets Competition For the third year running, Deben High has had the work of one or more of its poets recognised in the Suffolk Young Poets Competition, which is part of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Chester Tooke in Year 7 is one of the prize winners with a poem he wrote at his old primary school ‘My Bedroom’. Esme Watling-Smith won a highly commended for her poem, ‘My Little Trimley’.

We would like to congratulate both students and look forward to their future successes. Mrs Spink Head of English

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How much French do you know?

Congratulations from the MFL department go to Bethanie Moreton who won the French quiz at Open Evening by scoring 10 out of 10. She receives a box of chocolates for her efforts. Thanks to all who took part (there were 32 entries.) For those of you who are interested, I have included the quiz plus the answers.

1. Which three colours describe the French flag? C

a) bleu, rouge, blanc b) rouge, bleu, blanc c) bleu, blanc, rouge d) vert, bleu, blanc

2. What would you do with a “pantalon”? B

a) drink it b) wear it c) eat it d) feed it

3. Which of the following are you most likely to order in a restaurant? A

a) crevettes b) cravates c) crapauds d) christophes

4. To whom would you be most likely to say “J’ai mal au dos”? A

a) le médecin b) le boucher c) le boulanger d) le mécanicien

5. When the weather forecast says “il va pleuvoir”, what do you take with you as you leave the house? D

a) a sledge b) a woolly hat and a scarf c) sunglasses d) an umbrella

6. A “serviette” is an example of a false friend i.e. a word whose meaning is not what it seems. What does it mean? A

a) towel b) pamphlet c) tablecloth d) dishcloth

7. Which of the following sentences means “Yesterday, I found a £2 coin”? B

a) Hier, j’ai perdu une pièce deux livres.b) Hier, j’ai trouvé une pièce de deux livres.c) Demain, j’ai trouvé une coin de deux livres.d) Hier, j’ai perdu une coin de deux pounds.

8. What are you most likely to do in a “piscine”? B

a) change clothes b) swim c) dance d) read

9. What is the answer to this sum? Quatre x sept = ? C

a) vingt-sept b) quarante-sept c) vingt-huit d) quarante-huit

10. What is a “poumon”? C a) a tyre b) a pump c) a lung d) a pavement

Tie-break question. Approximately how big is France in square miles? (NB The U.K. is about 100,000 square miles in area.) 212,000

Mr Thomas Subject Leader MFL




Artist of the month

Fern Hussey Year 10 has been given the artist of the month award for her outstanding effort and commitment to her GCSE Art work. She has created a range of exceptional studies which are highly accurate and detailed for her Artist Research Project on Picasso. We look forward to seeing more fantastic work created by Fern in the future.

Well done (a packet of water colour pencils are on their way to Fern).

Mrs Battle Head of Art

Congratulations

Congratulations to Sophie Franks Year 13, Weronika Wojcikowska Year 12 and Ellie Dunn previous Year 13 for having their work selected by the Art department for the highly prestigious Wingfield Barns Exhibition. The purpose of the exhibition was to celebrate the high standard of creativity in the visual arts in Suffolk schools. This was a great opportunity for our students to have their work shown in a professional exhibition which is seen by other students, teachers, artists and members of the public. All three students were praised for their sense of originality and the high quality of their final pieces as well as in their sketchbooks. If you would like to visit Wingfield Barns Exhibition it is open until 8th November.

Mrs Battle Head of Art

‘Structures’, Eleanor Dunn

‘Conundrum’, Weronika Wojcikowska

‘Private Time’, Sophie Franks

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International Dance Company and TV Crew come to Deben High School When dancers from the internationally acclaimed Wayne McGregor | Random Dance recently visited for a week-long residency, the school was buzzing with creativity! A partnership between Deben High School and DanceEast enabled funding to be acquired from ACE, East to support this exciting opportunity for students from across all year groups.

During the week, the participants were joined by students from UCS, who have been working in collaboration with DanceEast and Deben High School as part of the new and exciting Community Dance Degree.

A film crew, who are currently making a documentary on Wayne McGregor’s work, also visited the school to film some of the creative learning in the workshops which is such an important element of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance’s work.

We were so excited to have the opportunity to welcome Random Dance to Deben High School. Felixstowe has an active and enthusiastic Arts base with numerous local dance and theatre opportunities. However, it is rare for us to have the chance to work with such a diverse and ground breaking company. I am sure this fantastic experience will have encouraged lots of young people to make the trip to Ipswich to enjoy the many opportunities on offer at the new Jerwood Dance House.

I also sincerely hope that more boys will get involved in dance as a result of working intensively with some inspiring role-models. It will be fantastic to watch the development of dance in Felixstowe, as collaborative partnerships with DanceEast and UCS continue to grow from strength to strength.

Some of the students performed alongside Wayne McGregor | Random Dance in a performance integrating professional repertoire and student work at Deben High School on Friday 23rd October 2009.

Mrs Lawson-FrostDirector of Arts College




PE News

Year 9 Girls Football v Chantry: Result Won 3 – 2The first game of the season and a good result. Goals were scored by Megan Spink (2) and Emily Lambert (1). The girls worked well as a team and passed the ball round well, communication was good but not always about the football!! Player of the match was awarded to Charley Hogan for her excellent all round play.

Year 9 Netball v Thurleston – Tuesday 13th October: Final Score Won 13 – 10Deben started the first half well and took an early 2 goal lead. Both teams were evenly matched for skill but Thurleston made a quick recovery and by the end of the first half had taken the lead by a couple of goals with the score at 9-7.

Deben were still in the game and needed to come out in the 2nd half both believing they could win and with a bit more fighting spirit. This was just what they did and despite a few nervous moments in the 2nd half Deben secured the win which was well deserved.

They had spent some time in training before the game working on their attack looking specifically at movement, positions and spatial awareness. This was executed superbly during the match with a fantastic link from centre court to attack which ultimately made the difference between the 2 teams. The player of the match went to Ellen Spalding who played GD for the whole game. She was alert and gave 100% all match with so many vital interceptions.It was a performance they should all be proud off and they showed the ability to take something from training and put it into practice with such a positive result – Well done girls and keep up the good work!

Paarluaf at Langer – Thursday 15th OctoberMany thanks to the Year 10 girls who assisted at the Paarlauf event run at Langer School on Thursday 15th October. We had nearly 300 young students from all the surrounding Junior schools from Year 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Sportsleaders ensured the event ran smoothly by efficiently counting all scores and also running the results table.

Mrs Logan SSCo

Deben NetballMuch to the delight of many girls we have recently purchased 3 new sets of netball kit. They were bought with funding from an Extended Schools Netball bid. All the kits are of high quality material specifically designed and cut to shape for netball. Being black with blue panelling, and the school logo on both the top and skort, the kits make the teams look smart and professional and are an immediate indication to oppositions that Deben mean business.

In addition to the new kits we will also be purchasing new equipment from the grant including balls, posts and post protectors. Thank you to all of our teams for their hard work and dedication.

Good luck with all your fixtures girls!

Miss Mison PE Technician

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CongratulationsWell done to Georgia Cattermole who continues to rise up the All England rankings for Badminton. She recently competed in an All England U13 championship; she was grouped with the number one and fifth seeded U13 players in England. However, this did not faze Georgia, who beat the number one seed, yet was slightly out muscled by the number five seed, who she tells me was a foot taller than her. Good luck in the next tournament and keep practicing.

Mr Ewers Head of PE

CongratulationsOn Saturday 26th September, Peter Finegan in lower sixth took part in the British Gas Great East Swim, a mass participation open water one mile swim at Alton Water.

Peter had set himself the challenge of not only completing the mile swim but also raising money for Cancer Research UK.

The event was an amazing experience competing with almost 1500 other swimmers who swam in ‘waves’ of about 150 at half hour intervals. Peter, who at 16 is one of the youngest competitors got a great start to his wave going first before the elite swimmers and finished an excellent 11th wave in his wave. Peter ended the day in 31st place in the male under 34 category with a time of 25 minutes 3 seconds.

Also swimming was Deben Teacher Mrs Maclachlan who also achieved a great time of 33.42.

Thank you to all staff, students and parents who sponsored Peter for this event. He will eventually have raised around £150 for Cancer Research UK. Retrospective sponsors are still very welcome! Congratulations to Peter and Mrs Maclachlan on completing this challenge - a great achievement.

Mr Ewers Head of PE

PE FixturesThe fixtures lists will be available to view on Uniservity so parents and students can keep track. They will be kept as up to date as possible but fixtures can change quite frequently so if your child is part of a team please make sure they check regularly.

Miss Mison PE Technician

Instrumental Lessons

There are still spaces with our peripatetic music staff to learn to sing or play the guitar or piano. For more information regarding these lessons or to be put on the waiting list for another instrument, please speak to either Mrs Cobain (Arts Co-ordinator) or Mr Wren (Head of Music). Instrumental lessons are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Mrs Cobain Arts Co-ordinator

Lost Property

We have accumulated lots of lost property since September. If your son/daughter has lost anything please ask them to go to Student Reception after school. Any items not collected by the end of November will be disposed of.

Mrs Millan




Term Dates

Autumn Term 2009 – Ends Friday 18th December 2009Half Term: Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October 2009

Spring Term 2010 – Tuesday 5th January 2010 to Thursday 1st April 2010(Staff training day: Monday 4th January 2010) Half term: Monday 15th February – Friday 19th February 2010

Summer Term 2010 – Monday 19th April 2010 – Thursday 22nd July 2010(Staff training day: Monday 7th June 2010) Bank Holiday: Monday 3rd May 2010Half term: Monday 31st May – Friday 4th June 2010

Autumn Term 2010 - Monday 6th September 2010 - Friday 17th December 2010(Staff training days: Wednesday 1st, Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September 2010)

Half Term: Monday 25th October - Friday 29th October 2010

Spring Term 2011 - Wednesday 5th January 2011 - Friday 8th April 2011(Staff training day: Tuesday 4th January 2011)Half term: Monday 21st February - Friday 25th February 2011)

Summer Term 2011 - Tuesday 26th April 2011 - Friday 22nd July 2011(Staff training day: Friday 27th May 2011)Bank Holiday: Monday 2nd May 2011Half term: Monday 30th May 2011 - Friday 3rd June 2011

Deben ICT Club

When: Every WednesdayWhere: Room 140Time: 3pm-4pm

Mrs Shaw Head of ICT

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Open Evening and Open Mornings

Our recent Open Evening gave prospective Year 6 and Sixth Form students and their parents a taste of the experiences and opportunities for learning there are for students here at Deben.

The evening was an opportunity for families and members of the local community to come into school and enjoy a wonderful, fun, memorable experience and to see what choosing to come to Deben is all about. A huge thank you to all students who helped make the evening such a success for our visitors – whatever part you played on the evening, it was very much appreciated and really made a difference to the whole event. So whether you were working in a department, part of the quartet playing in the foyer area, an ambassador or prefect hosting and taking visitors on a tour – you are a credit to the school and we are all very proud of you.

Special mention must go to the 5 Deben ambassadors who took to the stage to give a presentation on Life at Deben – Isabelle Houghton, Georgia Cattermole, Joshua Day, James Casburn and Karen Fuggle. Well done! You did a wonderful job!

Another special mention goes to our current Head Boy and Head Girl, Adam Flatman and Lucy Bingham for their support on the evening, both for the main school and the Sixth Form event. Also to our newly appointed Head Boy and Head Girl, William Tink and Emily Rowe, and their deputies Hannah Brennan and Sam Clarke, for expertly hosting our VIP guests which included the Mayor of Felixstowe. As Adam and Lucy’s term of office draws to a close, they are (reluctantly) handing over their badges to the newly appointed team. Thank you for all your hard work throughout the last year.

Our Open Mornings ran every morning during week commencing 19 October. Again it was wonderful to welcome so many parents and students into our school to give them a chance to see everyday learning that takes place here at Deben. A big thank you again to all those students who helped with tours and hosting on these mornings.

Here are just a few of the comments received on the feedback forms from the events.• My son was very nervous before coming but he really enjoyed himself – a credit to everyone involved• Good to see all the pupils looking smart and enjoying themselves• Everyone was friendly and helpful and there was a very positive and encouraging atmosphere around the school• We were impressed with the enthusiasm of both teachers and students

Finally, congratulations to Connor Rainbow from Trimley St Martin Primary School and to Ben Halsey from Gorseland Primary School, Martlesham, both winners of the Open Evening Quiz. Connor and Ben each received a £10 voucher for a Family Swim at Felixstowe Leisure Centre. Well done and enjoy your prize! Many thanks to Felixstowe Leisure Centre for their support in kindly donating the vouchers for this competition.

Mr Cawley




Parent Governor Election Autumn Term 2009

We are very pleased to announce that the following Parent Governors will take up their post from November 2009:

Mr T BrennanI believe that education provision in Felixstowe should promote a culture that is passionate about learning for all (students, staff, community etc) and attaining the highest standards. With your support I will work to deliver these aims at Deben High School in this time of change and rising achievements.

Mr M FranksI have been a parent governor for the last four years and am a keen supporter of the school. I would like the opportunity to continue to support Mr Cawley and the team and continue to drive the improvements that have already happened in the last twelve months. I currently have two children at the school.

Mr N WintonFelixstowe’s schools face major changes. I want to help Deben meet them. From my work at BT and elsewhere, I bring technical and business skills, but also experience of implementing organisational change. I’ve been active within the Parents Focus Group and believe that I can contribute strongly as a Governor.

Mr Cawley

Student Executive Group Handover

Congratulations go to the following Year 12 students who have been voted as Head Boys and Head Girls for the academic year 2009-10:

Head Boy – William TinkHead Girl – Emily RoweDeputy Head Boy – Sam ClarkeDeputy Head Girl – Hannah Brennan

The team will be ambassadors for the school as well as be responsible for promoting success, achievement and pride in the school.

A very special thanks go to the outgoing team, currently made up of Adam Flatman (Head Boy) and Lucy Bingham (Head Girl) and prior to that Flora Charlton (Head Girl) and Simon Franklin (Deputy Head Boy). This team was the first of its kind in the school’s recent history and they set the standard for all those that will follow.

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Throughout their time as Head Boy and Head Girl, Adam and Lucy have undertaken the following roles for the school:• Worked closely with the Senior Leadership Team to lead the Student Executive Group;• Acted as ambassador for all students in school and representative of the school at events and functions;• Worked with the Marketing Manager to plan and take a crucial part in many of the school’s events and functions;• Been a member of the School Student Council; • Motivated the school community to become involved in the Connecting Youth Around the Globe project, helping to raise money for a school in India;• Organising many charity related events in the Sixth Form;• Being an ambassador for the Sixth Form and raising money for the improvement in facilities.

I wish Adam and Lucy the best of luck concentrating on their Year 13 studies and William, Emily, Sam and Hannah the best of luck for their roles over the coming year. I look forward to working with them!

Mr Cawley

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students will be attending their work placement on 22nd to 26th March and 4th to 8th October 2010. Ms Reilly should have received students CV’s and letters of application by 31st October 2009. Orwell and Deben will be out on the same dates and therefore competition for places will be rife. It is imperative that students see Ms Reilly if they are unable to find their own suitable placements.

Ms Reilly, Work Experience co-coordinator

eStart

As you know just like schools, doctors, libraries etc Children Centre’s also require families attending to register with them. This system is known as eStart and is a system required by government to show what services are being accessed and by how many people etc. Therefore we are re-launching our eStart registration system at the Oaks and Sea Breeze Children Centres - so any families with children aged 5 and under are welcome to come along to the centres and fill out their own registration forms. As a thank-you for registering each family will receive an exciting free gift and the chance to win a family holiday! We appreciate all the support we receive from each school in the cluster and wish all families taking part very good luck.

Serena O’Gorman, Family Support Co-ordinator, The Oaks and Sea Breeze 01394 694750/07920 466305

Youth and Connexions Service Facebook

We have just begun a new service, taking some of the key material from The Source website for young people (www.thesource.me.uk) and making it available on Facebook, which is a platform commonly used by the audience we wish to address – young people in Suffolk aged 13-19. So far our Facebook page has met with success, attracting 85 “Fans” in just 3 weeks. The process of becoming a Fan is that a visitor comes to the page and simply clicks on a button named “Become a Fan”. Becoming a Fan then automatically alerts them to updates on the page from that point on. If you wish to look at our page and have access to Facebook the address is www.facebook.com/suffolkyouthconnexions.

Suffolk Youth and Connexions Service




School Council Update

The School Council elections took place earlier this term and representatives from each house are as follows:

Name House Name HouseClaudia Bain Britten Harry Lymer Hambling Laura Harvey Britten Jessica White HamblingMichaela Frost Britten Sasha Lawson-Frost StoppardEmily Ley Dench Pippa Cowburn StoppardKim Hines Dench Jessica MacLeod TurnerRosie Engstrom Glennie Imogen Tink TurnerWade Ablitt Glennie

Over the coming year we will continue to focus on our fundraising for the CYAG project (Connecting Youth Around the Globe). For those of you who are new to Deben, CYAG is a world wide charity which aims to raise money to build community facilities in developing countries as well as providing education and leadership opportunities for fundraising schools.

Along with five other schools in the UK and USA, we have committed to raise money so that a school and community centre can be built in one of the poorest parts of India. The facilities will include a crèche, flexible educational space for children and adults and a kitchen garden to grow food for the community.

The School Council are leading and co-ordinating this project, with the aim of raising at least £2,000 by March 2010. Their work and efforts really will make a difference.

Fundraising activities so far include the launch event, cake stalls and Mrs Selley’s amazing TGO challenge - all of which has raised a total of £860.85.

Just before half term the PTA organised a ‘Grease Night’ and they very kindly agreed to donate money raised from the raffle and the quiz to the CYAG project. We would like to say a huge thank you to the PTA for their support and for the £128 which has been added to the fundraising pot.

This means that so far we have already raised just under £1000.

Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution towards this – how ever large or small, whether time and energy or pounds and pennies! Thank you!

So now we are full steam ahead on future fundraising ideas to make sure we hit our £2,000 target!

Miss WilliamsSchool Council Link Teacher and Head of Skills Based Curriculum

Bringing the CYAG Fundraising into the Skills Based Curriculum

As part of the Year 7 Skills Based Curriculum this half term the Year 7’s will be working on an enterprise based project during their Flexible Fridays. The aim of the project is to design and create some Christmas gifts and cards. The project will help develop their skills and knowledge in budget management, design, production, promotion, advertising, sales and marketing.

One of the Christmas Card designs will be chosen as the school corporate Christmas Card for this year and others will be selected for printing and packaging for the students to sell to help raise funds for CYAG.

The students are planning to hold a Christmas Fayre in the USH on Saturday 12th December 2pm-4pm, where they will sell the products they have made to help raise

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funds for CYAG. Please put the date in your diary and tell family, friends and members of the community! The more the merrier!

There will be a great selection of gift ideas – perfect for Christmas presents – as well as a selection of Christmas Cards - all created by the Year 7 students!

More information will follow via your son/daughter in the next few weeks.

Please support the students in their fundraising efforts - every penny counts! Thank you.

Miss WilliamsSchool Council Link Teacher and Head of Skills Based Curriculum

Attendance = Learning = Achievement

As I said at the beginning of the Deben News, a summary of the recent letter I sent home on attendance would be included in this section.

It is important that parents/carers understand why attendance at school is so important. An article on the BBC News website after the GCSE results in 2006 had some very important information. It stated:

“Research from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) . . . suggests 22% of employers would not recruit workers without five good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent.

The LSC spoke to 412 employers and found 15% ignored CVs if the job applicant did not have five good GCSEs.

Some 79% believed such applicants would struggle in their company, while 30% thought they would show less commitment than those with higher qualifications.

On average, employers said they would pay someone a starting salary £1,700 higher (17%) if they had five good GCSEs.

The director of young people’s learning at the LSC, Julia Dowd, said: ‘By not dropping out, young people significantly improve their job prospects and earning potential.’ “

The article is still online at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5278774.stm

Research by the DCSF has shown that:“Pupils with persistent absence are often those unlikely to attain at school and stay in education after the age of 16 years. They are also significantly more likely to engage in anti-social behaviour and youth crime and are more at risk of other negative outcomes (including teenage pregnancy, and drugs and alcohol abuse)”

Absence of more than 14 days in a school year can result in poor GCSE performance (under 5+A*-C grades) which can affect the rest of their lives.

What is the school doing to encourage students to attend?• Various financial rewards for 100% attendance, every 4 weeks and termly;• We work closely with the Local Authority Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) to track attendance, identify problems and put strategies in place;• Keep parents/carers informed of their child’s lateness and absence through a computerised system;• Tutors monitor lateness to lessons, placing students on “report” where necessary.

What can YOU do as parents/carers to support your child?• Medical and dental appointments: wherever possible, make these outside school hours;




• Holidays: do not take these in term time;• Medical issues: please assess carefully whether your child really does need to miss school. Only keep them at home if they are genuinely unwell, and phone the school daily, sending in a covering letter on the first day back.

Should you not be able to meet the requirements of the law:Should the school and Local Authority feel that this is not being met, legal action will be taken. 10 missed sessions at school (absence or unacceptably late – code U) will generate a warning letter for a Fixed Penalty Notice. In turn this can lead to prosecution should attendance not improve after a given period of time.

If you have any issues with attendance, then please contact Mrs Baker at the school.

Mr Cawley

Attendance

The 100% attendance for the four weeks up to 2nd October 2009 are as follows:

Year 7 Jacob Woods 7S Year 10 Elizabeth Allum T1Year 8 Owen Harman G4 Year 11 Samuel Rue S4Year 9 Rebecca Hopkins B1

Mrs Baker Assistant Headteacher

At the first Parent Focus Meeting of the new school year, Mr Cawley welcomed plenty of new parents as well as original members. Mrs Cumberland, our magnificent minute taker, was introduced, alongside Mr Rearden in his capacity as Director of Learning Achievement. We were reminded that the aim of the PFG is to discuss general school issues, with any individual concerns to be dealt with at a more appropriate time.

We began our discussion with the most pleasing subject of Deben’s examination results this summer. The Deben News has elsewhere reported the great improvements at both GCSE and ‘A’ level. I usually glaze over at the production of graphs (apologies to the Maths’ Department!), but these showed such good news that even I paid attention! Apparently, only AS level results were slightly down, and that follows a national trend. There was more good news in that more students than ever have come into the Sixth Form at Deben this year. Mr Cawley answered questions regarding the school’s policy of setting high targets for students that can result in disappointment, but in the main, encourages students to grow in confidence. We were also told about the support and advice the school offers to those who do not get the results expected.

The spotlight then turned on Mr Rearden to give us a full explanation of the new Reporting System. The new process will involve all teachers setting each student targets in every subject they study - the target will be high, but not unattainable.

From November, parents will be given a half termly grade to record the current progress of their child in each subject. The new Planners that each student has will be used for recording target grades. We benefitted from an on-screen presentation of the Schools’ Information Management System (SIMS). This computer system will enable teachers, students and parents to have instant access to data on a student’s progress within the school. It will also encompass daily registration and all other information about the student, previously gathered under separate systems, and will be used across both Deben and Orwell school sites.

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Deben has signed up to the ‘My i-Plan’, owned by the student, enabling them to write about their school experiences, and outside events, which will sit side by side with their academic information - proving a very useful record and basis for CVs at the end of their time at the school. This system should promote good interaction between staff and students and will provide a year by year overview of their lives.

Parents had lots of questions regarding communication through the planner, continuity of grades if there is a change of teacher, indications of a student’s effort not just results, teachers having time to input the data, personal contact for parents with the school remaining in place, and information parents will be getting about how to use this new system. Mr Rearden was reassuring about the changes, confirming that continuity of information to parents would be assured, as departments would decide target grades, not individual teachers, there would be a period of time for teachers to input all required data into SIMS which would fit in with marking plans already in place. All targets would be checked by Mr Rearden.

This was a lot of change to ingest, but on the whole the PFG response was very positive as easy access to information about our children has got to be a good thing. We will be given clear information from the school on how to access the new technology. Thanks to Mr Rearden for his most informative presentation.

Under Any Other Business, parents brought up the issue of the future status of Deben and Orwell High Schools. We were told that a decision has been made to turn both schools into one single Academy, run by a company called Academies Enterprise Trust, based in Essex. Much discussion ensued as to the merits of this situation and the reasons behind it. PFG members raised many concerns and it was agreed that parents of both schools need to be made aware of the situation to help them support the future education of Felixstowe children.

The meeting drew to a close on this unsettling note. Our thanks to Mr Cawley, Mr Rearden and Mrs Cumberland for their time, and as always to the catering staff for the refreshments.

Mrs Tink

Christmas Concert Ticket Application Form – 16/12/09

Please return to the Student Reception

Number of tickets: Adult £4.00 ............. Concessions £2.80 .............

Please find enclosed cash/cheque for £………………….. (cheques made payable to Deben High School).

Name of Student …………………………………

Form ………………..

Signed …………………………................ Parent/Carer

Date …………………

Parent/Carer Name …………………………........… (Please print)

Posters: (1) Bloom’s Taxonomy (2) De Bono’s Thinking Hats

At the back of Deben News there are two posters which we display in classrooms and throughout the school to help show students how to learn. Please discuss these with your son/daughter.

Parental Questionnaire

1. What pathway did your child take part in during ArtsWeek 2009? □ A1: The Isle of Wight □ A2: PGL □ A3: The Media Team □ A4: The Art of Movie Makers □ A5: Exposure: Digital & Darkroom Photography □ A6: The Art of Song Writing □ A7: Pret a Porter □ A8: The Art of Systems & Networks □ A9: The Art of Speed □ A10: The Art of Sport □ A11: The Art of Skating □ A13: The Art of Musical Theatre □ A14: The Art of Forensics □ A15: The Art of Sculpture □ A17: The Art of Flight □ A18: The Art of Stress □ A19: The Art of Fashion, Design & Construction □ A21: The Art of Cooking □ A22: Fred’s Flying Circus □ A23/24/25: The Art of Art □ A27: The Art of Dance □ A28: The Art of Football □ A29: The Art of Tennis & Table-Tennis □ B1: Revision and Study □ B2X: Games & Quizzes □ B2Y: Games & Quizzes □ B3X: Outdoor sports & Activities □ B3Y: Outdoor sports & Activities

2. How do you rate your child’s enjoyment of ArtsWeek? □ Fantastic □ Good □ OK □ Did not enjoy

3. Did your child learn a new skill during ArtsWeek? □ Yes □ No

4. Did your child develop an existing skill during ArtsWeek? □ Yes □ No

5. Did your child have an opportunity to work as part of a team during ArtsWeek? □ Yes □ No

6. Do you think your child’s team work skills have improved as a result of ArtsWeek? □ Yes □ No

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7. Do you think the pathway your child participated in was good value for money? □ Yes □ No

8. What is your preferred payment bracket per child?□ £0-10□ £10 - £25□ £25 - £50□ £50 - £100□ Over £100 (for special trips/experiences)

If you have any new ideas you would like to be considered for ArtsWeek please note these below:

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Documents

November Edition