The official newsletter of Brune Park Community School

PARKLIFEB R U N E

Newsletter Issue 33 | Spring 2017

Fareham & Gosport Student ForumLeading the way in a pioneering new project that brings school councils together, students from Brune Park, Bay House, Bridgemary, Meoncross and St Vincent are now members of the first ever Fareham & Gosport Student Forum. At the Forum’s first meeting in December 2016, students set out their top priorities and divided into action groups. Each action group will meet regularly and work on an action plan for improving their chosen project area within schools. This year’s priorities were:• LGBTQ / Body Image / Mental Health• Substance Misuse• Life Skills & Employability• Cultural & Religious AwarenessRead more in the next edition of BP Life.

Hampshire Sports Hall Athletics LeagueOn Sunday 29 January six Brune Park students took part in a Hampshire Sports Hall Athletics League match at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth. The girls were representing Portsmouth Athletics Club, competing against Southampton, Winchester, Havant, and Aldershot Farnham and District. This competition attracts some of the most talented athletes in the country with many holding top UK rankings.The Brune Park students, who in comparison to the other athletes are relatively inexperienced, performed brilliantly, achieving some excellent results. Our best three performers were Emma Penney, Year 8, who finished 21st out of 34 competitors, Madison Griffiths, Year 8, 16th and Freya Meachen, Year 7, an amazing 8th. Freya was also selected to represent Portsmouth’s Sprint Relay team in the final race which they won and helped Portsmouth go on to win the event overall.Congratulations to Izzie Johnson, Liz Robinson and Lilia Capocci, all Year 7, who also performed brilliantly, achieving some personal best performances.

Merry Christmas Continuing our relationship with local charity F.I.S.H, over the last few weeks of the Autumn Term students and staff kindly donated food into our Christmas sleigh, which was collected by three F.I.S.H representatives on 15 December 2016. This was run as a House competition; students and staff received one point towards their House for each item of food donated. The final numbers were: Fonteyn: 167, Gielgud: 100, Hepburn: 132, Lennon: 124The representatives from F.I.S.H were over the moon with the amount of food donated. Elizabeth Young, representative from F.I.S.H, commented that the donation was, ‘Truly amazing and very much appreciated.’ Thank you to everyone for their contribution.

Community Project - ‘Get Set for Action’‘Get Set for Action’ was a community project that Year 11 students were involved with last year. The boys planned a football tournament for our feeder schools and the girls planned a pamper day for the girls from the feeder schools.They managed finances, letters to students, prizes and all the pamper equipment.“All of us worked as a team and we really enjoyed planning the events.” Drew Arkley.“The best part was working together and communicating with each other.” Courtney Barnett.“We really wanted to help the community come together.” Elisha Birchall.

School Uniform - Information to ParentsWith effect from Saturday 1 April 2017, we will hold only a limited stock of uniform items available for sale directly from school. Once items are sold out they will not be restocked at school. From Saturday 1 April 2017 onwards, uniform can be purchased directly from Skoolkit in Fareham, either at their shop in West Street or online, which we hope parents will find a more flexible and convenient arrangement. Regrettably, as prices have not risen since 2014, there will be increases to the cost of all items to reflect rising manufacturing and supply costs.Skoolkit will also come into school to sell uniform directly on our Year 6 Transition Evening in June and for a day in the last week of the school Summer holidays. Please look out for further details.

Student Joins The ISKA World Championship England SquadCongratulations to Year 8 student Annie Rosam who has been chosen to join the ISKA World Championship England Squad at the ISKA World Champions in Athens later this year. This could see Annie crowned as the best in the world at Thai Boxing under the ISKA ruling, should she win. What a wonderful, exciting experience for Annie! We wish her the very best of luck and look forward to hearing all about it.

Raising AspirationsOur students deserve the best. The programme of keynote aspirational speakers is important in challenging and raising their horizons and expectations. Throughout this academic year we will be welcoming the following speakers:February - Dr Simon Watt, The Ugly Animal Preservation Society March - Martin Cross, Olympic Gold Medal March - Captain Peter Towell, RN, HMS SultanApril - Ian Rowe, Atlantic Rowing Challenge May - Dan Hook, Managing Director, ASV GlobalJuly - Emma Goulding, Siemens Apprentice Award Winner July - Dr Stephen M Payne, Designer of RMS Queen Mary 2 July - Dr Chris Pearson, RAL Space, Infrared Light Show

Wings Flyboy - Winner Tyler CaseIn December 2016, having been nominated by Mrs Gardner, Library Manager and Mrs Latter, Teacher of Jigsaw, Tyler Case, Year 7, was one of 34 children to win a signed copy of Wings Flyboy by author Tom Palmer. Mrs Gardner and Mrs Latter nominated Tyler because even though he sometimes finds it difficult, he always works extremely hard and does his very best with his reading and writing.Well done Tyler.

Gosport Youth Speaks Competition Well done to the Brune Park students who have gone through to the Portsmouth area round of the Gosport Youth Speaks competition, which will take place at Bay House School on Wednesday 15 February. Presentation topics where chosen by the students. The issues of democracy, social media, legal highs, school curriculum and gender expectations were all hotly contested in the initial round. Youth Services chairman Ray Drake said, “Every one of the presentations were well researched and delivered in a clear and confident manner.”Colin Davey from Gosport Rotary Club said, “We are privileged to be able to give these young people the opportunity to show their abilities. Gosport is lucky to have such talented students.”

Gifted and Talented in PE and Sport The PE Department have recently revised and updated the ‘Gifted in PE’ and ‘Talented in Sport’ registers. Parents and students involved will have already received information stating the intentions of the school to provide opportunities for such students to be introduced to new experiences and opportunities. Coaches from various local clubs will be invited in to deliver some taster sessions so that our students can try out new or different activities. From these experiences students may wish to pursue this activity further and join the club!There are already Athletics sessions taking place every Wednesday 2.30pm - 3.45pm, available to ALL students. These sessions are currently delivered by Portsmouth Athletics Club Chairman and Coach Phil Budd, with a plan to bring in Bronwin Carter, an experienced ‘throws’ coach also from Portsmouth.

St Vincent Climbing WallIn January a group of Year 7 and 8 students were taken to St Vincent College, Gosport, to experience climbing on their indoor climbing wall, with some trying this activity for the very first time.This was a great success as students not only enjoyed the occasion but they were able to meet staff and look around some of the facilities of the college as well. Many thanks to St Vincent College for their continuous support and for making the Brune Park students feel so welcome.

House StarsCongratulations to the following students who gained the most merits in their House during the second half of the Autumn Term.

There were 4 winners from Fonteyn who all tied with 17 points each:Tyla-Jade & Craig, Year 7, and Erin & Jake, Year 8

Alex Thompson during his visit to Brune Park in September 2016

Jacob Nelson receives athletics awardOn Saturday 4 February the Portsmouth Athletics Awards evening took place at Fratton Park, Portsmouth. Year 9 student Jacob Nelson, won the ‘Team Manager’s Award’ having been recognised for his hard work, effort and commitment to the club.Jacob joined Portsmouth Athletics Club shortly after winning the Great School Sprint back in Year 7, and hasn’t looked back! Jacob trains several times a week and competes in various events when asked, concentrating mainly on 100m and 200m.Congratulations Jacob!

Tyla-Jade Craig Erin Jake

Olivia, Year 11 Jessica, Year 7 Joshua, Year 9

Alex Thomson – The Vendee GlobeHaving recently completed the Vendee Globe Race, Gosport based British sailor Alex Thomson, who first visited Brune Park students in the Autumn Term, will be back with us later in the year to give an inspirational and encouraging talk about his Vendee Globe adventure and life as a world class sailor. On Friday 20 January, after 74 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes at sea, Alex reached the finish line of the Vendee Globe Race. Having suffered potentially race-ending damage to his boat, HUGO BOSS, on day 13, his outstanding achievement of finishing 2nd place and breaking his own British record of 80 days for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in a monohull, is all the more extraordinary.

Brune Park Community School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 3BUTel: (023) 9261 6000 u Email: info@brunepark.co.uk u www.brunepark.co.uk N

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Dates for your Diary 2017SPRING TERM Tues 3 January 2017 to Fri 7 April 2017Spring Half Term Holiday Mon 20 February 2017 to Fri 24 February 2017Easter Holiday Mon 10 April 2017 to Fri 21 April 2017SUMMER TERM Mon 24 April 2017 to Tues 25 July 2017Summer Half Term Holiday Mon 29 May 2017 to Fri 2 June 2017Summer Holiday Wed 26 July 2017 to Fri 1 Sept 2017INSET DAYS Mon 24 July 2017 Tues 25 July 2017SUBJECT EVENINGS Year 8 Wed 26 April 2017Year 7 Wed 7 June 2017Year 10 Wed 5 July 2017Year 10 Work Experience Mon 20 - Fri 31 March 2017Year 9 Options Evening Wed 29 March 2017Year 11 Drop in Clinic Wed 3 May 2017Parent Workshops Wed 16 November 2016 Wed 8 March 2017Parent Partnership Brune Park Means Business Events / Meetings Mon 17 July 2017

CrosswordAnswers for this newsletter’s crossword will appear in the next BP Life along with the next crossword.

Across2. trip; journey

6. moist; sticky

8. without colour

9. party election badge

12. fast flowing current

Down1. commit crime; insult3. heighten; increase; raise4. cheat; defraud5. parcel7. loveable10. sully; soil; stain11. scatter; savoury paste

Answers to last issue’s crosswordDriver; invoice; lupine; rabbi; foreseen; verruca; lobster; devilish; engrave; anglican; stencil; alibi

Communication Effectiveness Survey for ParentsWe value your feedback. Please complete the online survey:https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BPeffectivecommunication to give feedback on how effectively you feel the school communicates with you and how well informed you are about your child’s experience of the school and the events and activities taking place.

School Uniform Donations The PTFA appreciate any donations of school uniform. If you have any good quality items of school uniform that you no longer require, please deliver these to Main Reception. We thank you in advance for your donation.

Poppy Appeal 2016 In January we received a postcard from The Royal British Legion thanking us for the donation of £441.77. A brilliant effort! Thanks to all those who donated.