Christmas Variety Show Page 10

Issue 494 - 9th January 2015
Christmas Variety Show
Page 10
Expressive Arts
Page 4
Photography and
Art Competiton
Page 8
Christmas Fayre
Page 9
www.honywoodschool.com | Tel : 01376 561231 | Fax: 01376 563067
Headlines
By Simon Mason
Future Focus
Back in October, in Gazettes
484, 485 and 486, I reminded
everyone in our community
that our school is built upon
unshakeable
values
best
captured in a phrase with which
youngsters have been familiar
since joining the school; we
require everyone associated
with our school to respect
themselves, other people
and the world around them.
As we look forward at the
beginning of the year, I’d like to
ask you all to consider how this
phrase has meaning for you as
our school continues to move
forward.
One way in which this key belief
has influenced the development
of our school so far has been its
influence on our willingness to
trust our youngsters to make
good decisions (a key quality
you’ll find in people whose
lives are happy and successful).
Because we trust our young
people to follow our respect
code, over the last four years
our youngsters have been given
real choices about how they
learn and where they learn.
At the beginning of this year,
in particular for Cohorts 7 and
8, we introduced new learning
designs that make it more
possible for learners to choose
what they learn; during 2015
we will be looking to add in a
further dimension to this choice
menu as we look to offer more
choice about the length of time
learners spend on different
aspects of their learning.
The thinking behind this
whole school development
is that when you get good at
making real choices, and you
accept the consequences
of the choices you make, you
are much more likely to be
motivated to succeed and as a
result are a more committed
learner. Every piece of
research evidence we have
studied confirms that success
(whether that be as measured in
academic test scores or in more
wide ranging definitions of the
term) is more closely influenced
by effort and desire than it is
by any other factor (for example
by some abstract concept like
‘ability’).
So as we grow the choices on
offer to our learners, does this
mean that eventually we’ll
create a school where you could
choose not to learn – something
I know worries some families?
It is clearly the case that in
any setting, school, home
or business, individuals can
choose not to do the things that
are there to be done, however,
in all these settings if you
make bad choices there will
be consequences to face. As
we develop our school, those
consequences will also be there
to be faced by anyone choosing
not to learn as, clearly, this is not
a choice that easily sits with the
idea of respecting yourself,
other people and the world
around you. As you commit to
your learning for the year ahead,
consider these challenges:
• As you make choices
this year, are you always
honest
with
yourself
about the choices you are
making? When you ask, for
example, if you can learn
away from your classroom,
are you making that choice
to avoid focussing fully or
because you’d prefer to be
engaged in ‘social’ learning
at that point in time rather
than being committed to the
study that will help you to
acquire the knowledge,
understanding
and
skills needed to succeed?
Does this also happen when
you tell your family that you
are studying in your room
at home, when what
you are actually doing is
socialising via the internet?
Will you be happy when the
consequences of these bad
choices come to you, for
example when you receive
your next school review?
•When you choose to present
your learning via a movie
you’ve made, do you choose
not to communicate your
learning in writing because
this is a skill you’ve not
mastered yet? If this is the
case, when are you going to
make the choice to put in the
practice to master this key
learning skill as eventually
you’ll have to use your ability
to write in an examination
to show what you know,
understand and can do in
each of your subjects?
•When you choose to present
yourself in a less than smart
fashion are you happy to be
seen as someone who isn’t
serious about learning? Are
you happy to accept that this
will affect how others see you
and how they behave toward
you? Are you happy to accept
the consequences of their
choices?
Our commitment to trusting
our young people is absolute.
We believe in you and know
that you will rise to every
challenge as we look to secure
success and happiness in your
lives here at Honywood and most
importantly the lives you’ll have
on leaving us. You have so much
to gain by embracing the trust
we are putting in you, but don’t
lose sight of the consequences
you will have to face if you misuse
that trust and make poor choices
– learning is what we are here
to do and there will never be a
choice about that!
Staff News
At the start of the New Year I’m
delighted to welcome some new
staff to the school. Sara Cook
and Sharon Palmer joined the
permanent full-time staff this
week as Learning Supervisors.
Miss Cook is currently studying
for an Open University degree
and has previously worked as an
English tutor and as a Learning
Support Assistant. Mrs Palmer
has worked for several years as
a Cover Supervisor having also
worked as a Learning Support
Assistant prior to this.
Re-joining the school on a
part-time permanent contract
supporting Cohort 7 learners
is former Honywood Cohort
Leader Hayley Rose. Joining us
for a shorter period as they come
to the end of their training to
become fully qualified teachers
are Tom Gribben (Science),
Dave Nancarrow (Art) and
Mike Porter (History). On
behalf of our whole community
can I wish all our new staff a
successful time with us.
Gemma Ward returned to
Honywood this week as Mrs
Ward having been married
during the Christmas break. On
behalf of our whole community
can I pass our best wishes to Mrs
Ward as she begins married life.
Thanks
To Coral Bocking (11PJe),
Charlotte Clements (11DCa),
Sophie Eggleton (11DCa),
Grace
Felstead
(11LKi),
Amy Moore (11SFa), Jamie
Murray (11MWh), Phoebe
Wickens (11LKi) and Sophie
White (11OCi) for their support
with our Cohort 7 disco at the
end of last term.
To Francesca Bell (7EFo),
Lilly Brewer (7ATo), Robyn
Collison
(7CRs),
Theo
Dyson (7EFo), Millie Felsted
(7MWo), Joe Gafney (7EFo),
Lizzie Grinter (7EFo), Maisie
Hockney (7HTr), Dominic
Hunt
(7EFo),
Spencer
King-Binks (7HTr), Kyle
Lawrence Cochrane (7ATo),
Ryan Osbourne (7EFo),
Thomas Powell (7MWo) and
Kenzy Sherif (7CRs) for their
work with one of the school’s IT
suppliers prior to the Christmas
holiday.
To Freya Fox (8CBt), Isobel
Herod (8SAr), Tom McLean
(8ADo),
Arthur
Sutton
(8CHo), Megan Whitter
(8SAr) and Grace Wilson
(8SAr) for their support with
visitors to the school this week.
Congratulations
To Iona Bradbury (10HGi)
who
received
a
‘highly
commended’ award in a recent
short story competition. As
a result has had her writing
published – an excellent
achievement!
To Charlie Baker (10DEl),
Esme Bennett (9HTo), Lucy
Bovington (7DSc), Emily
Carter (10PBl), Rebecca
Cordeiro (8DWi), SkyeLouise
Dickins
(7HTr),
Izzie Donald (8LVa), Emily
Eagle (8CHo), Rhiannon
Ellis (7SSo), Freya Fox
(8CBt),
Rosie
Fulford
(8ADo), Elizabeth Grinter
(7EFo),
Alice
Harper
(9HTo), Elizabeth Hayward
(10DEl), Alishia Hewson
(7ATo), Olivia Hodgetts
(7MWo), Lewis Johnson
(10RHa),
Sorcha
KeayChaplin
(10CMo/RHo),
Edward King (10HBr/MSh),
Ben
Lawrence
(10PBl),
Abigail Lee (7SSo), Alex
Lewis
(7HTr),
Harriet
Miller (9HFr), Josh Morton
(10HBr/MSh),
Cameron
North
(10PBl),
Sophie
Parkinson
(10RHa),
Maddie Raftery (7ATo),
India
Roberts
(10HBr/
MSh), Emelia Saunders
(7CRs), Jorja Scales (7CKh),
Maddie Smith (7SSo) and
Tabitha Smith (10PBl) for
their contributions to our end
of term Variety Show before the
Christmas break.
Parents’ Time
Simon Mason will be available to
see parents without appointment:
Monday 9.00am—9.45am
Tuesday 7.30am—8.15am
Wednesday 3.15pm—4.00pm
Thursday 5.00pm—6.00pm
Friday 7.30am—8.15am
Expressive Arts Apps
These apps are available to get on your iPad. They can help you in your learning in Expressive Arts,
but they are also a lot of fun!!
Garageband – this was previously a paid app, but lately it’s been free. In its simplest form, it allows
learners to use iPad versions of instruments, such as within the band skills project for Cohort 8. For
many projects across all cohorts it allows learners to multitrack record, which is a huge benefit for
composition tasks. GCSE learners have completed composition coursework on it.
Soundhound – a music identification app. For when they are trying to remember what ‘that’ song
is, they can either sing into the app, or play part of a song into it and the app identifies the song.
Useful for research tasks, for general musical understanding and the curiosity around music they
hear.
Shakespeare – this is an app for accessing Shakespeare scripts. Shakespeare is studied at GCSE
and we are introducing it into lower school so will be more openly useful.
Sketchasong – a new one to me: a free app that works by placing blocks of music into a structure,
allowing learners to investigate texture and structure, and has already been put into use in Cohort 7
songwriting. It was a Cohort 7 learner who introduced me to the app.
Virtuoso piano 3 – this is just one example of a free instrument app that learners use to access
instruments when at home, or working in a different part of the school or confined space! Some of
them just prefer using the iPad app as opposed to an actual keyboard.
Puppet pals – one we use less often. It allows learners to place characters on a virtual stage, and
include scenery and back drops etc. It is ok for putting thoughts into context when learners are
devising drama pieces, but it’s quite limited with what it can do.
WeJaam – A free software that we used a lot during our Cohort 8 Hip Hop unit. It allows learners
to combine and manipulate electronic sounds, ideal for Hip Hop.
Groovemaker – Similar to WeJaam
Classical Guitar
Free part of the Six Strings app. Easy to use, great sound. Best of the many free guitar apps we have
seen by far.
Mandala HangDrum
Cool steel drum type of instrument. Can create many different octaves. Cool for more visual learners.
Use this for pentatonic scale work.
Music Keys
A fun game that teaches you the location of the notes on a piano keyboard. A good support for
Cohort 7 songwriting where they develop keyboard skills.
Steinway Etude
A beautiful app that teaches you how to play popular pieces note by note.
GrooveMaker
Simple loop machine. Comes with one package and they want you to buy more loops. It works really
easily and anyone can create some interesting loops.
Beatwave
Simple visualize which is very cool. Create loops using your finger and pressing dots. Again a great
resource for Hip Hop.
Aweditorium
Awesome "browser" for music. Has thousands of pictures on screen. Click a picture and goes to
band. Great way to explore new music.
Componendo Music Arranger Lite
Create and record your own songs with this arranger. It has two melody instruments, pre-programmed
keyboard and bass parts that you control via creating chord sequences. These are enhanced by adding
drum loops. A great song writing app, useful in lots of our DfL but in particular C7 songwriting!
Ear Trainer Lite
Theory ear trainer. Does intervals in game/quiz format. Stretch those ears!
JamPad
Simple piano. Can create drum backgrounds and chordal backgrounds.
NLog Synthesizer Free
Simple synthesizer that is great for creating horn sounds you can’t find on other apps.
BarrelTones
The best drum app we have found. Great response and you can play along with recordings.
Radio.com or TuneIn Radio
Thousands of real radio stations. Want to know what’s playing around the world? Great tool for
expanding your listening experiences.
LoopJ
Loop dance machine. Use fingers to move between loops and beats. Surprisingly effective.
National Theatre 50 years– history based drama app based around the National Theatre,
including its development, set design, costume design. Very useful for putting drama in context.
Jimi Hendrix The Complete Experience – App detailing the works and progression of Jimi
Hendrix.
Cohort 7 Expressive Arts reflections
Where was I? Where am I? Where am I going?
Where was I?
“When I first came to Honywood School I had done a lot of dance and some music already and was
excited to learn drama as I have not done much of this before.”
Where am I?
“At the moment in expressive arts we are doing music, and although I have played an instrument we
are currently doing a Capella. I was (and still am) very excited about learning how to do this because
it is something that I have never done before. To do A Capella you need lots of different skills such as
collaboration, you need this because you need to be good at communicating in order to decide who does
what.”
Lily Goodey 7ATo
Where was I?
“I had never done Expressive Arts before I came to Honywood because we never did it in primary
school. I wasn't very confident in EA because most of my friends knew what they were doing and I
didn't because they either went to a club or did it in primary.”
Where am I?
“I am now confident in my learning because I have had a little session of every subject in EA so I am
much more confident, I think I have developed my collaboration skills because I have worked in groups
for most of this and I have gotten to know my friends a bit better.”
Where could I be?
“I would like to be able to learn bass and harmony not just beat boxing, because that is what I am doing
at the moment. I would also like to be able to work with a variety of people.”
Anya Sullivan 7ATo
I have really enjoyed everything in Expressive Arts because it is lots of fun and I think it has improved
my confidence quite a bit with all the performing. I think I have used my creativity throughout the whole
year performing in front of people and doing my showcase; for one of my Expressive Arts showcases
I did a five minute cover of the Wizard of Oz and I played every single character in it and wore lots of
different costumes. I also had to change my voice to become lots of different characters and I learnt a
lot about that.
Sasha Warwick 7MWo
Where was I?
“In primary we never really did any drama, dance or music but since I've come to Honywood I've really
enjoyed it. At the start I wasn't very confident when showing my work and expressing my opinions in
class. Another thing was that I was scared sometimes of getting the answer wrong and looking like a
total idiot.”
Where am I?
“After this first term I've been much happier to share my opinions and I am confident when showing my
work whether it is to friends, the class or anyone. I am also not worried about getting the answer wrong
in class but I still don't like getting it wrong. Another thing is I have become much more creative and
do things differently since the start of term. Finally I have improved my cooperation skills with friends
and started know them better.”
Where could I be?
“I want to be able to work with more of a variety of people maybe and learn how to beatbox and do
harmonies with people not just doing the bass.”
Alex Turner 7CKh
Why take Expressive Arts at GCSE?
A Cohort 9 perspective.
DRAMA:
Drama GCSE is exciting and a fun course to take as you learn many things and build your selfconfidence so you can perform in front of many people, but also talking in front of the public. If
it's another topic that isn't drama, that's why you can use drama in other subjects as well as drama
itself. I've never disliked going into a drama lesson and thinking I don't want to do drama today.
I've thought the opposite. I've always been happy to walk into drama and learn things that I want to
learn. So far we have learnt about seven deadly sins, theatre in education and physical theatre. As
we went along I found it more interesting and learnt more and more and now I can say a lot about
all of these topics. If you take drama and want to learn, you will enjoy it, for sure.
Benjamin McKeown 9HFr
DANCE:
Dance GCSE is amazing! This half term I have learnt a lot. When I first stepped into the GCSE dance
room I really didn't know what to expect. I had heard rumours about it such as the theory isn't
great and other things like the theory isn't anything to worry about- and it really is nothing to worry
about! But dance isn't all about dancing, well it is but you also need to make sure you have a good
relationship with the subject and your class mates as that is very important when you come to work
with them. My class have recently been working on unit 2 which is where you choose between two
dances, the dance you pick you need to learn quite well and it needs to be almost exactly the same
as the dancer on the video. You need to remember all the small things such as timing and pointing
or flexing your toe. I think dance GCSE is an amazing option to take but at the same time you need
to remember to focus and work because it's not just going off and making up a minute long dance.
Harriet Miller 9HFr
MUSIC:
Music GCSE is a great subject to take. You build lots of different skills and relationships with
instruments and with your class mates. I have definitely learnt this through my own experience, as
my confidence has grown. This was proven as at the start of the year I was too scared to perform in
front of my class mates and then I managed to perform in the Christmas concert in front 250 people.
So far we have done band skills, single performances and covers of an Artist of our choice. I would
recommend this subject to anybody who has an interest in music, it is a great opportunity to widen
your skills as a performer and give you more knowledge on how to appreciate good music even when
it's not my preferred genre of music. I would definitely recommend it to a year 8 who was about to
choose their GCSE's because if you have a passion for music, can play an instrument or even just
enjoy singing in your bedroom, you will love playing or singing and working with new people, who
you probably would never meet otherwise.
Nikita Wilcox 9LJo
Photography and Art Competition!
Do you have a passion for photography? Are you a budding artist?
This competition is for you!
The theme is “The Great Outdoors”
Produce a piece of artwork or take a photograph with
this theme in mind and submit your entry, with the 50p
entry fee, to FS20 on Friday 16th January 2015 at
lunchtime.
Photographic entries can be emailed to
[email protected] but don’t forget to
bring in your 50p to FS20 as well, otherwise your entry
cannot be accepted.
The short list of entries will be displayed in the “ArtSpace” from the
19th to the 23rd January for the school community to vote on the
winners.
Winning photograph (from all cohorts) will be awarded a
£10 iTunes voucher.
Winning piece of Artwork (from two categories –
C7/8 and C9/10/11) will win Art supplies.
Make sure name your piece of work ie. “sunset in the woods” and
you have your name and Learning Group on your entry!
This year for the first time we ran a Christmas Fayre and it was a massive success. The fayre was organised
by all of the Learner Leadership and Creative teams from every Cohort in the school along with our Lead
Learners.
The hall was jam packed over the lunchtime with all of C7 and C8 joining us first during LS3 before C9, C10
and C11 joined us at lunch.
The Fayre had a large range of stalls with loads of different things on offer from stalls where you could win
sweets for popping Rudolph’s nose to stalls where you could get yourself a festive (temporary) tattoo.
The Fayre managed to raise an impressive £352 for which can now be used by the Learner Leadership teams
to help improve the school!
Here is what a few people had to say about the Fayre...
“The Fayre was fantastic, we had loads of fun running a stall with our friends and we
managed to raise loads of money for the school”
“My favourite stall was the Christmas Tattoos”
“I hope we run a Christmas Fayre again next year, I really enjoyed it and it was a nice way
to end the term”
The end-of-year Variety Show was a great success, with some truly fantastic acts coming forward
and showing off their talents in front of a wonderful crowd!
All of the acts were musical, and most involved singing – but Elizabeth Grinter, and Alice
Harper and Harriet Miller bucked the trend by playing piano and dancing respectively. Dancing
was also on the Christmas menu courtesy of the Honywood Cheerleaders. There were also some
great displays of guitar heroism courtesy of Em Carter and Cameron North with Sorcha KeayChaplin.
Plenty of Cohort 7 learners showed pluck and presence by getting involved, such as Lucy Bovington
as well as Alishia Hewson, Rhiannon Ellis and Skye Dickins. Cohorts 8 and 9 gave plenty
of welcome support, including Rebecca Cordeiro and Mia Bentley opening the show, and
Esme Bennett and India Roberts proving the 90s never died. Cohort 10 excelled in some
show-stopping numbers, especially Sam Baslington and Tabby Smith, Lizzie Hayward and
Sophie Parkinson. The big band finale was tremendous thanks to Josh Morton, Ed King, Ben
Lawrence – and kudos to Charlie Baker for his fine rapping!
“I was involved in it as a singer with two of my best friends I really enjoyed it because I love to sing
and it was successful because we all worked together.” – Skye Dickins 7HTr
“It was great to do and to help me overcome my stage fear. It went well because everyone was
supportive towards each other and helped through the rehearsals and the real performance. I wish I
could do it again in year 11.” – Em Carter 10PBl
Sharon Palmer
Learning Supervisor
Sara Cook
Learning Supervisor
Dave Nancarrow (Art)
Tom Gribben (Science)
Honywood
Community Science School
Teacher of Maths
September 2015 or Earlier
Annual Salary £23,763 - £32,186
We require a talented teacher to join our Maths team; this opportunity would ideally
suit a Newly Qualified Teacher.
We offer:

A high achieving, over-subscribed school producing excellent examination results
(66% 5 A*-Cs including English and Maths, 75% Maths). We converted to Academy
Status on 1st May 2011.

A challenging learning environment where you will be asked to expand your thinking
about the education we offer our young people.

Excellent induction and outstanding on-going staff development which will prepare
the post holder for progression in their teaching career.

A well-resourced Subject team with the support of experienced, successful
specialists.
You will need:

The ability to teach Mathematics to GCSE level and preferably to ‘A’ Level.

The mental agility to push your own learning and thinking whilst leading the
learning and thinking of our youngsters.

A willingness to participate fully in extra-curricular events including residential
experiences.

A willingness to learn every day as you consistently strive to increase your impact on
our youngsters’ learning.
For an information pack, or to organise a pre-application visit, contact Mrs S. Pattison
([email protected]), Honywood Community Science School, Westfield Drive
Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1PZ (Telephone: 01376 564706).
Closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th January
Honywood
Community Science School
Teacher of Science
September 2015 or Earlier
Annual Salary £23,763 - £32,186
We require a talented teacher to join our Science team; this opportunity would ideally
suit a Newly Qualified Teacher.
We offer:

A high achieving, over-subscribed school producing excellent examination results
(66% 5 A*-Cs including English and Maths, 78% Science). We converted to Academy
Status on 1st May 2011.

A challenging learning environment where you will be asked to expand your thinking
about the education we offer our young people.

Excellent induction and outstanding on-going staff development which will prepare
the post holder for progression in their teaching career.

A well-resourced Subject team with the support of experienced, successful
specialists.
You will need:

The ability to teach Biology, Chemistry and Physics to GCSE level and one of these to
‘A’ Level.

The mental agility to push your own learning and thinking whilst leading the
learning and thinking of our youngsters.

A willingness to participate fully in extra-curricular events including residential
experiences.

A willingness to learn every day as you consistently strive to increase your impact on
our youngsters’ learning.
For an information pack, or to organise a pre-application visit, contact Mrs S. Pattison
([email protected]), Honywood Community Science School, Westfield Drive
Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1PZ (Telephone: 01376 564706).
Closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th January
We can offer places, at no charge, for parents and/or carers of
young people in Cohort 7
It is a step-by-step programme that covers topics such as:
Power struggles
Listening
Praise
Consequences and
The brain development of a teenager
We aim to give parents a greater understanding of the
development process of a teenage child it runs for
10 weeks and is held for 2 hours every week
We offer support and care wherever it is needed
The next UOT group course begins on
Wednesday 14th January 2015 at 7PM
“Comments from parents that have attended the course this year….
“The recovery and de-escalation
session was very good”
If you have any further questions please do
not hesitate to contact us on 01376 561231
EXT 277 or email us at
[email protected]
“Very good laugh, as well as
informative”
Careers
Open Events:
Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road,
Colchester, Essex, CO3 3LL
www.colchester.ac.uk Tel: 01206 72000
Tuesday 27th January 2015 4pm – 7pm
The College at Braintree (Colchester
Institute), Church Lane, Braintree, Essex,
CM7 5SN
www.colchester.ac.uk Tel: 01206 814000
Thursday 5th February 2015 4pm – 7pm
Chelmsford College, Moulsham Street,
Princes Road Monday 19th January 2015
Monday 20th April 2015
Register online www.chelmsford.ac.uk,
email: [email protected] or
tel: 01245 293031
MLC
Week Commencing
12th January 2015
English
C7
Would you like support and additional
guidance when designing your detective
story?
C8
How much do you know about ghosts
and how to write about them?
C9
Have you fully prepared for your
‘Woman in Black’ assessment?
C10
Would you like to revise questions 1, 2 or
3 of the iGCSE exam paper?
Book a MLC appointment today using
the calendar link.
Family Learning Team
Drop in sessions every
Tuesday 11am-12 noon
Well done
to our Cohort 8 Duty Receptionists
Hayden Cole
Scott Collins
Troy Collins
Anjelina Fox
Honywood School
Presents
Dance ‘til we drop!
Thursday 5th February 2015
Doors
Doors open:
open: 6:30pm
6:30pm
Show
Show starts:
starts: 7:00pm
7:00pm
In Main
mh1Hall
Tickets available from
learner reception
Adults £5.00
under 16’s £3.50
Upcoming Sports Fixtures
District Indoor Futsal Tournaments at
Notley High School
Monday 12th January - Cohort 11
Tuesday 13th January - Cohort 10
Wednesday 14th January - Cohort 9
Thursday 15th January - Cohort 8
Wednesday 21st January - Cohort 7
Netball
Wednesday 14th January Essex Cup
Honywood v Anglo European School

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