Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
Inspiration & Success
Dear parents/carers
Inspire and Succeed are two words that drive much of what we do at John Hanson. We hope that both within the classroom and through wider educational opportunities, John Hanson students are inspired to succeed in everything they do.
This is why we strive to acknowledge student success in all its forms, but also encourage students to share the many successes they achieve beyond the walls of John Hanson.
I would like to share with you this week one such success that most of you will know nothing about.
My name is Heather Young and I am in year 11.
I started BMX in August/September 2016. My coach encouraged me to try racing properly in December 2016; at the south region winter race held at the local track in Charlton, Andover- I won all four of my races! What most amazed me was that nearly all the other racers had been riders since they were 8 years old! It was hard work but thrilling- I was hooked.
In my first South Region Summer series in 2017, I won 2nd place over all. (Missed out by 0.5 of a point). I was awarded my trophy in Derby, August 2017. (British championships 2017).
I won the Deep South Winter Regional series - females 15-16 years old. I was racing above my age group (in the 17+ championship women). I received my trophy in March 2018.
My coaches suggested that I try for the Nationals Series (as well as doing the South Regional summer series 2018). This was twice as hard, but just as fun. I loved travelling to all the different places across England as well as making new friends. In the nationals I also had to race in the 15-16 bracket.
In the first few rounds of the Summer South races I raced in my own age group but then when one of the races came to Andover I decide to sign up and race in the 17+ championship women – I ended up placing 3rd.
My best achievement, by far, was placing 12th nationally! This means I will be able to race in Heusden Zolder, Belgium in July 2019 where I will be representing Great Britain.
Enjoy the weekend with your children
Regards
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
Andover Street Pastors
On 5th December we were fortunate enough to welcome three of our Andover Street Pastors into school to speak with our year 10 and 11 Religious Studies students about what they do and how their own personal faith motivates them to serve others on the streets of Andover at night.
The students were interested and engaged; listening to the help and support they willingly give to others and looking through all of the support items they have in their rucksacks, including bottled water, lollies, flip flops, rape alarms etc.
Street Pastors feature on the RS syllabus as a brilliant example of Christianity in action, therefore their visit gave the students an excellent academic opportunity and also a sense of reassurance that there are kind and compassionate people sacrificing their time to help others.
Millions of children across the country will unwrap internet related gadgets this Christmas and as a school we are encouraging parents to discuss staying safe online and the consequences of not doing so.
Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops etc. open up a world of exploration, learning and fun for children and as a Computer Science teacher I would encourage this wholeheartedly. However, the internet is another world and in order to protect children we need to ensure they understand how to stay safe while they are using these digital devices.
Over the last few months we have posted a number of entries on how children can protect themselves whilst using the internet. Below is a summary of how children can do this:
Explain how children can use privacy settings to make sure only approved friends can see posts and images, and warn them about sharing personal information
Check if any of the mobile apps they use have location services enabled, and disable this if they do not want to be tracked
Show them how to report offensive comments or block people who upset them
Check ‘tagging’ settings so that when others are posting or sharing photos online, your child’s identity is not revealed
Encourage your child to come and talk to you if they see anything that upsets them
Ask them to show you which social media apps they use, what they like about them and talk about how to use them safely
If your daughter/son is planning to apply to college for entry September 2019, then they need to be doing this now. Some colleges have closing dates and by leaving the application late, the application may not be considered or they may not be offered their first choice of subjects.
Some colleges still have open dates this year, should you wish to visit:
Andover College: Closing date for applications 25th January 2019
Basingstoke College of Technology: contact the college
Peter Symonds - closing date 17th December
Queen Marys College – applications in by 31st December
Salisbury Sixth Form – closing date 17th December
Sparsholt College – Open event: Saturday 17th December
South Wilshire Technical College – contact the college
The Wellington Academy – contact the college
Wiltshire College – Salisbury campus – contact the college
Some of the college interviews will be take place in school:
Andover College 5 – 7th February
QMC: 8th January
Peter Symonds: 6 – 8th March
Students can apply for more than one college if they are undecided at this stage. If unsure of what subjects to take, our Careers Adviser, Lynn Richards is available Wednesdays and Thursdays in school.
Non-Uniform Days coming up . . . .
Friday 14th Dec is National Christmas Jumper Day and we are supporting it. Staff and students to wear Christmas Jumpers to school and pay a £1 donation to Save the Children. The Christmas Jumper for students replaces their school jumper and blazer on that day. All other uniform expectations are the same. Donations will be collected on the day by prefects during tutor time/assembly.
Friday 21st Dec is Non-Uniform Day. £1 payable in advance to prefects during tutor period. Collections start at the end of next week. All money raised goes to the school production of Matilda. Outfits must be “respectable” .
CHRISTMAS 2018
Collect your tickets for SingUp for Christmas - from Mr Adams
Date for your diary:
Thursday 20th December 7pm
Tickets can now be booked online via ParentMail - tickets are free but do need to be booked fast. Alternatively email mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk to make a booking.
Please join us for our festive concert
'Sing Up for Christmas'
- we would like to invite all Year 7 students, families and friends to join students and parents from other year groups too. An evening of fun Christmas Music, lights and decorations to get you in the mood for a fantastic Christmas.
Christmas movie night for Year 7
It is on the 18th December from 3.30pm in the main hall. You can wear a Christmas jumper if you want to. The Christmas film will be decided on the night by majority vote. It is £3 and you get a small bag of popcorn. All money raised will go to new school equipment.
Music Tuition at John Hanson CommunitySchool
Calling all musicians who play an instrument - School band continues on Monday 3rd December 3-4pm in PA1 Bring your instrument and join in.
Students are requested to visit the music department at the start of the day to check their lesson times. Singing lessons - we are still waiting to hear from Hampshire Music Service when these will take place.
Rehearsals have now started for our production of the musical 'Matilda' based on the story by Roald Dahl. Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Wednesdays - Choir for Matilda - soloists and chorus from 3 - 4 pm PA1
Thursdays - Drama reahearsals - cast from 3 to 4.30 pm
All students are invited to attend if they wish to sing in the show - we are especially keen to involve our new Year 7 students - so please encourage your son/daughter to come along.
No audition - just come along and join in!
The show will be on stage for two nights
May 15th and 16th 2019
