December 2017 Issue 4

SAXON MOUNT SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER

A message from Amanda Jagot, Head of School:

Hastings Food Bank:

As you are aware, the local charity our pupils selected to support this year is the

Hastings Foodbank. We have therefore planned two events to raise money and

collect donations for them. On Friday 15th December, we would like pupils to wear

something Christmassy to school and donate 50p or a non-perishable food item. On

Monday 18th December, we will be holding our Christmas disco. Pupils are able to

bring a change of clothes to school for the disco.

Carol Singing:

On Thursday 7th December a group of 13 pupils from

across the school performed in Priory Meadow

shopping centre. The event was organised to raise

money for St. Michael’s Hospice. The children did an

amazing job and sang beautifully. Thank you to Mrs

Torode, Mrs Preston and Mr Moss for supporting the

children and to all of the parents who came to watch

us perform.

Head of School’s Worker of the Week

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PUPILS WHO ACHIEVED THIS AWARD IN NOVEMBER:

TILLY-MAY SHERWOOD, CHRISTOPHER WOJCIK, JAMES SIMPSON

December 2017 Issue 4

Online Tips for Christmas: It's often the time of year when we buy our young people a new mobile phone, tablet or gaming system. To keep your child safe, set it up together making sure you have noted any important passwords, as adults we are encouraged never to share passwords, but whilst they are children, the adults who care for them would always need to know anything related to security settings and accounts. Check the settings to make sure your child is only getting child friendly, filtered access to the internet. Encourage your child to talk about their contacts and experience using their new device and to feel they can always share if they have any worries.

Staff information:

At the end of term 2 we will be saying goodbye to Mr. Higgins-Gooch. Mr Higgins-

Gooch has worked at Saxon Mount for 6 years and we would like to thank him for all

his hard work during his time with us. Mr Atherall and Miss Shuttleworth are also

leaving us at Christmas. We wish them all well in the future.

Joining us in January we have Mr Hitch, who has been appointed as our Science

Learning Leader and Mrs Lombard, who will be teaching Food Technology and a

range of subjects in KS3. We would like to welcome them and hope they will be very

happy with us at Saxon Mount.

End of term:

The last day of term is Wednesday 20th December and the school day will end at an

earlier time of 1:45pm. Pupils transported from school will be collected at this earlier

time by their taxis.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. I’ll look

forward to seeing you all on 2nd January!

Amanda

December 2017 Issue 4

December 2017 Issue 4

For Children in Need our year 11 Hospitality pupils organized a space

themed Café. They designed a special Menu and decorated the Food

Technology room for the rest of the school to enjoy. They sold lots of

cakes, biscuits, sausage rolls and milkshakes. They all worked very

hard and it gave them a chance to practice their customer service

skills, handling money and becoming more confident in a working

environment. A great day was had by everybody and we raised a total

of £162.90.

December 2017 Issue 4

OPEN DOORS

In November, Miss Jagot and a group of year 9 pupils were invited to visit local employers to find out about

different jobs. Local businesses ‘open their doors’ to young people so that they can gain a greater

understanding of the types of jobs that may interest them in the future.

Our first visit was to General Dynamics, where we were able to find out about some of the exciting things

made there.

Our second outing was to find out about the different job opportunities at Hastings Borough Council. We

were amazed at the range of different departments and found out about how councillors are elected.

Finally, we went to Mallydams to find out about the range of employment opportunities available working for

the RSPCA. We also were reminded of how rubbish can be very harmful to wildlife.

All of the employers made us feel very welcome. The pupils were a real credit to the school and all of the staff

we met all commented on how polite and friendly our pupils were. Well done everyone!

December 2017 Issue 4

Religious Education

This term the year 7s have be learning about Festivals. We have discovered

that different Religions have things in common and at this time of year,

many of them celebrate ‘Light’. In the completion of the topic, the students

worked hard to make Christingles.

This picture shows an Advent Wreath that was used in

one of the Assemblies this term to explain that some

people countdown to Christmas Day and the birth of

Jesus by lighting Advent Candles.

History and Geography.

In the History topic, Empire, Migration and People, we have learnt how Britain

won and lost an Empire. I have been impressed with the maturity of the

students given the sometimes unpleasant acts carried out by the British on

other countries in the name of ‘progress. Next term we will look at the

Restoration period of History and learn more about the making of Parliament.

In Geography the topic that the students have been studying is Urbanisation in

a NEE city (Rio) and a HIC city (London). The students have worked very hard

to determine the differences between the two cities and the challenges and

opportunities faced by each of them. Next term the students will study Global

Development.

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December 2017 Issue 4

PE Department News

Last Wednesday, 6th December, 12 pupils from Saxon Mount took part in a Boccia and New Age Kurling tournament held at the St Leonard's Academy. There were teams from St Mary's Wrestwood, New Horizons, Headstart and the St Leonard's Academy. Teams took part in timed a timed round robin competition.

Jeff, captain of the Boccia B team said "I liked playing against children from other schools." His team mate Jack said "It was nice to meet new people and show off our skills."

In the New Age Kurling competition Saxon Mount A came 5th and Saxon Mount B came 7th. In the Boccia competition Saxon Mount A came 5th and Saxon Mount B came 4th.

We would like to thank St Leonards Academy for organizing such a good event and congratulate St Marys winning the Kurling and TSLA winning the Boccia.

The PE programme for Term 3 is:

Year 7 TAG Rugby Target Games Tchoukball

Year 8 Dance Swimming Health and

Fitness Table Tennis

Year 9 Football Dance Health and Fitness

Year 10 Trampolining Football Table Tennis VCert

Year 11 Tchoukball Volleyball Leadership Badminton BTEC

Each term in PE lessons pupils will focus on one of these values. In Term 3 we will be thinking about passion.

December 2017 Issue 4

Saxon Mount School Edinburgh Road St Leonards-On-Sea East Sussex, TN38 8HHTel: 01424 426303 Email: saxonoffice@tasmat.org.uk Website: www.torfield-saxonmount.com

Upcoming dates for your diary:

December: Wednesday 13th December: Christmas Dinner Friday 15th December: Christmas Jumper Day Monday 18th December: Year 7 Pantomime, Year 8-11Christmas Disco Wednesday 20th December: End of term 2, 1:45 finish January: Tuesday 2nd January: Term 3 begins Friday 19th January: Td/IPV & Men ACWY vaccine for pupils in year 9 February: Wednesday 7th – Friday 9th February: Carroty Wood (year 7 and 8 pupils) Friday 9th February: End of term 3 Monday 19th February: Term 4 begins Friday 23rd February: INSET day, school closed for pupils March: Tuesday 27th March: Subject Parents’ Evening Thursday 29th March: End of term 4

April: Monday 16th April: Term 5 begins May: Examinations begin for year 11 pupils (timetable to follow) Friday 25th May: End of term 5 June: Monday 4th June: Term 6 begins Monday 18th June: Year 11 transition timetable Thursday 21st June: INSET day, school closed for pupils Friday 22nd June: INSET day, school closed for pupils July: Monday 2nd- Friday 6th July: Year 11 activity week Friday 6th July: Last day for year 11 pupils, school reports home Wednesday 11th July: Year 6 transition day Monday 16th – Friday 20th July: Residential Isle of Wight (year 10 pupils) Friday 20th July: School year ends